.:Mavrik:.

Lunar shifted alongside him uncomfortably, the energy in the room stifling as competitors waited for their turn in the arena. The crowd erupting in response to the current fight, "that elf, the announcer. That's Cole. He only makes appearances during fights, I have never caught sight of him outside of them" she leaned closer to whisper her plan to him. Watching as she melted into the shadows at the edge of the room, unable to track where she had gone after a moment.

Mavrik sighed heavily, the plan was a mess. He didn't like it. It's why he couldn't let Delilah have any part of it when he realised what the Tabaxi had in mind. If the young tiefling was called into a fight, he didn't know if he would be able to get to her if it went side ways, and that was a risk he wasn't willing to take.

His attention was drawn to a burly man who pointed to him "You. You're next. What do we call you?"

"Brin."

"Alright, was nice knowing ya Brin. Off ya go."

He stepped through the door, ignoring the deafening cries of the people that surrounded the makeshift arena. Looking at the showy elf that introduced him over head, he stepped over the strewn body of the previous contestant, raising his weapon cautiously. Taking in the huge Bone Naga. Perhaps Lunar's hunch was right, because if not, where in the nine hells was this elf acquiring these creatures?

Sighing heavily, he shifted his stance and waited for the beast to strike first. Both of them assessing the other for a few long moments. The Naga eyed Mavrik calculatedly before finally striking forward, he tumbled to narrowly avoid its wide fangs. Righting himself as it came at him again, slamming its tail against his shield as he raised it in time.

Mavrik grunted, feeling it's coil and snake around him.

"Fuck" he muttered as the beast constricted him tighter, feeling the air escape his lungs in response to his straining against its bones.

It lunged forward, mouth wide as he raised his hand, his fingers around one of the huge fangs. Trying to keep it's mouth at bay, he yanked his other arm free as he focused the last of his fading air starved strength into a powerful swing of his Morningstar.

It ignited with a radiant glow a heart beat before he cracked it over the beast's skull with a sickening sound, the bleached bone bearing a gaping crack.

Delilah?

No, it couldn't be. He had told her to go back to the manor.

The snake screeched, recoiling back from the hit as it shook its head frantically and released him. Mavrik fell to the floor, clenching his fists as heat rose through him, catching his breath and looking around in a mix of frustration born from concern.

His thoughts confirmed when the crowd parted around an all too familiar cloaked woman.

"Ah, looks like we have a cheater on our hands folks! And you know what that means!" The elf boomed as two of his men swiftly grabbed the small woman. Ripping her hood down, causing the surrounding crowd to scream and jeer.

"A Tiefling?? What a turn of events folks. My Naga will eat well tonight!" Cole crowed as Delilah was dragged to the arena, kicking out at the men who roughly man handled her.

"I thought I told you to go back" Mavrik could scarcely keep the fury from his voice as he glared down at the sheepish woman once she was shoved into the arena.

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"You didn't tell me I couldn't spectate" she defended.

"I wouldn't call this spectating, Delilah."

"I-I.. you.." he raised a hand to stop her, taking a beat to quell his frustration. He crouched and lifted his shield from the ground, "What's done is done. Now let's not get killed."

He watched as Delilah drew her short sword, stepping alongside him with a nod. The Naga had recovered by now, hissing and snapping defensively.

He resisted a glance at her, grunting when the Naga flicked it's tail in a wide arc, blocking it once again with his shield.

"I think it's him." She panted as she narrowly avoided the strike, winded from her struggles against the men who had dragged her.

Mavrik felt the heat of her sword as it set ablaze, swinging at the Naga when she saw an opening.

"I don't think the monsters are real."

Mavrik felt a twinge of pride at her observation, lunging forward and seizing the opening that Delilah had created.

"You're right" he affirmed. Hearing the sounds of a scuffle over head as the Naga wavered, the crowd gasping and whispering in confusion.

Overhead Cole broke away from the lithe snowy figure of Lunar. Throwing himself off of the edge as he spread his hands wide and slowed his descent into the arena.

Recalling the whispered information Lunar had given him.

"I believe Cole is a summons mage, there is no way if those monsters weren't summoned that they could contain them. But I need him to be distracted by a good fight to catch him off guard."

Cole doubled over as his feet touched the floor, clutching his side. Naga stood between them, it's existence in this plane stabilising once again.

"Wh-what is this?!" Cole stuttered.

Mavrik watched as Lunar leapt from her vantage point, gracefully landing alongside him. The silver fur of her back thinner in places due to deep scars that followed the line the of her muscles that rippled under her pelt.

Cole raised his hand, coated in his blood as the Manticore reappeared alongside the Naga.

The foul creatures lunged towards the trio, Mavrik instinctively stepped in front of Delilah, catching movement from the corner of his eye as Lunar threw herself forward. Dancing nimbly around the manticore with ease, she ducked and dodged around its lashing tail, landing a solid strike and raking her claws across its eyes.

He focused on the Naga, eyeing the huge crack running through its skull bone from the previous hit. Freezing as he heard Delilah yelp, thick vines wrapping around her legs as they broke from the ground below her feet, surging up her body and snagging around her throat. He reacted, attempting to pull at the vines with his hands. Before he could lay a hand on her, the Naga swung it's tail and separated him from her, forcing him to back up. Cole chuckled as he looked up from the summoning scroll he had pulled out, Naga coiling back and lunging forward at Mavrik.

He grit his teeth, the elf swiftly becoming his new objective as he dodged around the Naga. Cole shouted in shock, snatching at another scroll, but Mavrik was faster, swinging at the elf with a closed fist. Glove crunching into his nose and sending him reeling, the summons and most of the audience around them waivered before vanishing.

Lunar appeared behind Cole as he flailed, rapier drawn, she caught his shoulder and pulled him towards her, plunging it clean through his back. The elf spluttered, staring down at the slender blade protruding from his chest as blood dripped down his chin, slumping to the floor.

The tabaxi nodded to Mavrik, easing her blade from the body and running her fingers along his collar. Drawing a talisman from around his neck and yanking the chain free, she stood and pocketed the proof of kill as she glanced around.

The arena was mostly empty now, save for a few dozen townsfolk who looked around in confusion. Mavrik realised many of the members of the crowd must have been illusions, looking at the slain competitor who still laid cold and still on the ground.

He heard Delilah approach, eyes scanning over the young woman and feeling a tinge of relief that she appeared to be unharmed.

"I'm sorry if I ruined the plan.. I didn't mean to" She began, wringing her hands together.

Lunar shook her head "no, I think the plan went better with that stunt you pulled. Cole almost saw me until you created that stir."

He sighed, not approving but reluctantly even he had to admit, Delilah's entrance had helped him. To her credit, she continued to shoot guilty glances at him clearly not taking pride in ignoring his instruction. He sheathed his Morningstar, not liking the niggling conflicting feelings he felt stir in him under her gaze.

"Come on, lets get a drink. Call it a tradition." Lunar flicked the blood from her rapier before returning it to her hip "I know just the place".