It was the first thing I saw when I awoke, and it was beautiful. The brilliant light shone into my eyes, and although it stung, I couldn't bring myself to look away. It made me feel wonderful, yet distraught. I felt like I could run a marathon, but I was unable to move a muscle. I could feel my heart swelling in my chest, and I was so sure it was going to burst.

"I think you have had enough of that for now." A shadow fell onto my face as a figure stood between me and the source of the light. I knew that voice, but my mind was so hazy.

"Congratulations, Miss Kapoor," it continued, "you have passed the first real test of the Shaman Fight!"

With that my mind snapped back into focus. "Bron! What are you doing here?" I exclaimed.

"I live here." He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'm in your house?"

"Not quite, I live down the road. But, you made it here: To Patch Village!"

"I was gonna say! Nothing against you – of course – but I've only met you a few times. Waking up in your house would be a little strange." Whilst talking to Bron, I couldn't help but shift over hoping to catch sight of that beautiful light again. "So how did I get here?"

"Well, you came via the ruins entrance, and upon seeing the light, you fainted. We then bought you to one of the many room reserved for contestants. Stop trying to look around me!" Bron held up his cape, blocking the whole window from my sight.

"Oh, come on, Bron! Just one more peak, it's so—that is to say it is just—"

"No words can describe the Great Spirit, everyone tries, and they all fail."

"So, that's—"

"Yes. The Great Spirit has no form, made solely from – well – souls!" He chuckled at his own pun.

I ignored his attempt at humour and stared straight at his cape, hoping that, if I focused hard enough, I'd be able to see through it and at the Great Spirit. "So, that's my goal." I breathed. A spark lit behind my onyx eyes. "What do I have to do next?"

Bron looked at me in shock. "Are you serious? You've only just woken up!"

"I know, but I won't be able to win by staying in bed. It's time to start preparing. Eva!" I stood up, only to immediately sit back down due to head rush.

Eva is a 12th century spirit from Suffolk. She wore a powder blue dress with narrow sleeves. At the end of the sleeves were over exaggerated cuffs, in a darker blue, which almost reached the ground. The dress was laced up at the back with a brown leather cord. Around her head, and tucked into the neckline of her dress, Eva wore a white wimple. No matter how many times Eva tried to push it back, a lock of her golden hair would fall from under the wimple and get in her blue eyes.

Eva was by my side before I had fully fallen back down, her eyes full of worry. "What have I told you about over exerting yourself? You must rest!"

"I've been asleep for ages though! Don't worry about it; I just stood up too fast." I insisted. Eva took a step back and straightened the skirt to her dress, like she does every time she resists herself from arguing back to me.

I stood up successfully this time, and walked over to my bag and pulled out a plain white shalwar kameez. The shalwar were loose around my legs, but the fabric was held together with a plain bit of fabric around my ankles, giving me plenty of room to move around without getting in the way. The kameez was a straight cut tunic with a mandarin collar. It had a comfy fit, though it wasn't too tight, and the sleeveless design helped avoid any restriction to my movement. I had managed to pick it up on the flight from the UK to Japan for the preliminary fights. "We should get some food, Eva, and then go for a good run."

"Do I have to come?" Eva whined, she's never been fond of going out in public.

"Yes, I don't know my way around, and I can't get lost on my first day in the famous Patch Village!"

Eva sighed and conceded, while Bron was still hovering to the side. "Are you sure you're okay to go out?" he asked.

"I'm sure I'm sure! Now I need to get dressed. Thanks for all the help, Bron!" I showed him out and shut the door behind him.

It took me a while to find a place to eat, and once I had food, there was nowhere to sit. I finally found a seat on a bench already occupied with three other shamans, where I could partake in my favourite pastime; people watching. Naturally my eyes went to those closest to me - the three shamans on my bench. There were two guys and a girl. One of the guys was huge with dark hair; while the other wasn't as tall, but not short by any stretch of the imagination, with blonde hair; finally there was the female, who had blonde hair, and didn't seem to be as active in the conversation. All three were definitely European, but apart from that I had no idea as to where they were from, their voices too low to catch a language or accent.

A group of three men – either from southern USA or in love with it, seeing as they were all wearing denim jeans with cowboy boots and hats - walked past. The two smaller shamans were laughing hard, whereas the third was walking with his arms crossed tightly across his chest, clearly put out by his friend's amusement.

Three short old ladies then made their way past me to the counter, before ordering more food than I thought could physically fit in them. When they turned around, I saw how wrinkled their faces were, and couldn't help but think back to the stories of old witches from my childhood. I smiled to myself as I imagined them jumping on broomsticks and flying off into the moon.

There seemed to be a pattern emerging. "Hey, Eva." I said, catching her attention.

"Yes, Grace?"

"Have you noticed how everyone is in a group of three?"

"I was just thinking about that myself." Eva said looking all around us. "I don't think there is anyone who isn't in a group of three."

It's then that it occurred to me that I could be the odd one out. I pulled Eva down so her head was right next to mine, as I said in a hushed voice. "Do you think it's a shaman thing? Apart from the fights, the only shaman I've ever met is my mother."

She rolled her eyes, and sat back up. "If that was the case, wouldn't they have all been in groups of three at the opening ceremony, or when we took the jumbo to America."

I thought back to the earlier months in which those events had taken place. It is true that there didn't seem to be a pattern to how people were grouping up. I definitely wasn't the only person on my own then. "I wonder what it could be." I pondered.

I felt a tap at my shoulder. It was the big guy from the end of the bench. "Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing, but, don't you know?"

I exchanged looks with Eva. "Know what?" I asked.

"That the next part is a team battle."

I felt like I had been punched. With a meek voice I said. "But I'm not in a team."

"Well, then, you won't be able to take part in the next round."

Coldness spread from my stomach through the rest of my body. He was just so matter of fact about it.

"Wha- what do I do?" My voice was beginning to crack, and I blinked away the tears which were forming at the corners of my eyes.

The blonde male pushed him to the side and gave him a dirty look before turning back to me. "Find a team. That's what."

"You have four days to register your team. You need three members in total." The first guy said again.

I thanked them and rushed away. From behind me I heard them talking to each other.

"Why did you have to go tell her? We had to find out for ourselves!"

"I felt bad. Besides, what are the chances of her finding a team in four days? Everyone has already grouped up."

Pfft, what do they know? Four days is plenty enough time! There's bound to be others who have either just shown up or weren't aware that we needed to be in teams. Heck, there may even be a team which has had an argument and have now split up.

I started my search at the notice board by the fountain in the centre of town, it's where I'd put a sign up if I needed a team. There was a poster by someone offering their skills in fixing clothing ($20 to sew on a button! I could buy a new shirt for that), one about a variety show the Patch Tribe will put on to entertain the contestants tomorrow night (apparently Namari's voice isn't to be missed), a lost cat (this seems to be a global standard), and in the top corner was a number to call if you wished to donate money to the Patch Village. Though there was nothing about any shamans looking for a team.

"Well, I suppose we could just ask around." I sighed to Eva, trying to look as hopeful as possible.

"Er..."

"Don't worry Eva, we shouldn't take too long!"