Half an hour's meditation might net you enough mana for another two, maybe three spells - not really worth the risk of dropping your guard in what you're forced to classify as unfriendly (just shy of hostile) territory. And while the idea of finding a good hiding spot and making like a Leever appeals to your latent Gerudo bandit memories, things could go very badly, very quickly if you were discovered alone, with no witnesses around.

So you decide to stay near the arena and scope out your competition. Accurate intelligence will be more important than a few more motes of magic. You also make a point of linking up with Cordelia and Briar from the start this time around. After Lu-sensei's run-in with ninjas and what he told you about a freaking demon army showing up at the last tournament, you'd much rather have your friends at your side where you can mutually-support one another in case of emergencies, as opposed to running around vulnerable to whatever weirdness pops up. On that note, you also try to locate some of the kids you talked to yesterday. More backup is seldom a bad thing, and if you're going to call these people your friends, you ought to treat them as such and make sure they're aware of the potential for ninja shenanigans.

Most of the participants have already arrived. The majority are standing by themselves, with as much space as possible between them and the rest of the growing crowd in the "waiting area" below the seats. Aside from you, Cordelia, and Briar, there are a few other groups: the Kurokami girl and her friend the kicking boy are standing together, she evidently offering more advice on how he should handle his first opponent; Liu Kang and that odd Krillin boy are sitting together and just talking, not looking at all like they're about to fight each other; and Ayane and Kasumi have been joined by the girl in purple, Taki, for one of those girls-only huddles that always seem to involve covert glances and giggles. Tatsuki has just emerged from the changing room, and is taking her first look around at the field. Glancing at the seats, you can make out the distinctive hair of the Kurosaki mother-and-son, but you don't see Kahlua - a mixed blessing.