"You ready?" I asked.

Sereza nodded. "Since yesterday. Although, if I lost in the first match, I might have to jump off the third ring."

I willed my inventory to open and launched the summoned Warhead at her ear. Her tail smacked it into her hand and she swallowed the candy, wrapper and all.

"That's not... Nevermind. You're not going to lose. Just try not to melt too many limbs. Don't want you disqualified for being too effective."

She spit out the wrapper and gave me a double thumbs-up. Arturous snuck in a lick as she bolted out of the booth, shutting the door behind her.

"Well, are we betting?"

"What? Not so confident she'll win? Was all that bravado?" Isaac teased.

"Listen, buddy, I'm not above squirting hot sauce into your food. You know that's not what I meant."

"Hmmph. I bet her opponents a beastkin. Brawler type."

"Elven rogue, physical enhancements," Eodyne chimed in.

Igas tapped his chin and shrugged. "Beastkin, archer."

I turned to Teddy, who stared beyond the booth and down into the pit below. "And you? Any guesses?"

He turned and smiled. "Human, and caster. I think the arena would love to pit those two together."

"Why's that?"

"Whoever strikes first. Either Sereza goes down in an explosion of mana, or she slams a dagger through their neck and forces a victory."

"You okay?"

His face softened and he reached for Arturous, deftly avoiding the clumps of sticky honey and saliva to run his fingers through his fur. "I am. I was just thinking that my parents were surprisingly tame this morning."

Isaac bolted to the edge of the couch, eyes wild. "By the gods, I didn't even think of that. Why aren't they here? There's no way they didn't know he would be making a grand speech. Are they sick? Did Cyrus do something to them?!"

"Thankfully not. I believe they are being more careful about how much they disrupt. I think Uncle Allaron talked with them. I saw his crystal in their study the other day."

"Well, that's boring. They should have crashed the ship. Preferably on top of him."

An exchange of banter lasted for another minute, but the others stopped when the announcer came to life.

"Fine folks, and citizens of Solunaria! On the left field, a member of our proud city and a registered adventurer. A lady who knows how to pick her poison! Sereza!"

I clapped and cheered, adding my voice to the cacophony.

Celenae had the betting board ready as the announcer motioned to the other side of the arena.

"On the right field, an up-and-coming adventurer who's eager to prove himself! A martial talent who wields flames as easily as one breathes! The great, and the mighty; Lute!"

The others groaned. Teddy had an easy smile as he basked in the others' complaints.

"Told you. I'm guessing neither of them has visited the arena before and they don't have much to go on. If either of them wins, it'll help showcase their skills and settle them into the proper pools to be seeded."

I pointed a finger at the emerging robed man. "This isn't exactly fair for Sereza."

"Maybe not, but I suspect that they believe she'll be the winner. And a victory hard-earned goes a long way to drawing the crowd's favor."

"And why do you say that?"

He smirked. "Just a hunch."

I groaned. "Alright. Well, I'm not betting if she'll kick his ass or not. I know she will."

Nobody argued against my statement and we moved to the edges of our seats to see the two combatants meet in the middle.

The floor was covered in a light layer of sand that rested atop the stone underneath. The painted lines marking the two arena halves were visible but as far as I saw during the previous duels, there was no limit on where a fighter could move.

The young man held out a staff and gave it a lazy spin. Flames sprouted from the tips and spread up his arms to iluminate the scraggle of a beard hanging from his chin.

He looked young, but if he was tier one, it had to count for something. His body was toned and fit, his stance confident.

Unfortunately for him, Sereza was a devilish beauty who ignored him to wave at the crowd. When she stopped near the middle, her tail flicked and dripped acid onto the sand by his feet.

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It hissed and gray vapor rose as the wind blew, sending the acrid air into his face.

"I'll take you down in ten seconds. Your tail won't even come close," he taunted.

Sereza shrugged and slid her daggers free. She casually dipped it into a vial along her bandolier and backed away as the first gong chimed.

Her opponent scowled but did the same, the flames growing as they stretched higher into the air.

"So. Ten seconds, right?" Isaac asked.

"Could be nine, to really prove a point. It's only a hundred meters."

I shook my head. "Ten."

"What's your reasoning?" Celenae asked.

"To prove a point."

The second chime rang, and the crowd cheered, the excitement going strong even after hours of nonstop matches.

While her opponent continued to build the flame, Sereza bounced from one foot to the next, her tail lowering as she stretched.

He's going to use most of his mana on one big attack. What an idiot.

As Sereza leaned forward, arms by her side, the third chime rang and the crowd audience exploded.

Within the first second, the man swung his staff forward and the flames leapt from his arms and rushed down his staff. The fire at the tip pooled together into a massive ball of angry mana that singed the air.

"Burn!" the young man shouted.

My eye twitched.

He actually shouted burn? Ughh...

Sereza continued forward, a green shadow as she swerved out of the way. But the man swung his staff and the ball changed directions, forcing itself into her new path.

Seven seconds left.

She lowered her head and raised her daggers. The fire rolled across the ground, leaving behind a trail of glass.

Six seconds.

The two collided, and the ball exploded, flames billowing in a cascade across the ground. They entirely engulfed Sereza’s form, her body invisible underneath the glowing mana.

Five seconds.

The audience hushed as if on bated breaths; they watched the flames lick and spark and pop. With slow confidence, he spun his staff and directed the flames again, spreading it sideways.

"Never had a chance," he chuckled.

Four seconds.

"Idiot," I muttered.

He couldn't see it, so affixed on the flames below. But I already knew what to look for, and it was unmistakable, even with the fire drawing the audience's attention.

His smile began to drop and he swung his staff, shoving the flames aside.

Three seconds.

There was no body.

"What is this?!"

Two seconds.

I cheered as loud as I could and the others relaxed. Before the fool could shout something idiotic, Sereza dropped her skill.

The cloud of green materialized with her blade at his throat and her other arm around his waist.

One.

He crashed to the ground and froze. Sereza's dagger drew blood, as did her tail, which had impaled his hand. It wasn't deep, but she only needed to draw blood.

"Ten," she whispered into his ear. Her voice was magically amplified and broadcasted throughout the arena. "Learn to look up. It'll keep you from getting killed."

His lips parted, but in the next second, his eyes rolled back and spittle shot out. Sereza released him and stood up; the crowd was silent until she bowed.

It took some time for the audience to process what she had done, but noise returned to the arena when their brains caught up.

Some cheered, some booed and I shoved another piece of candy in my mouth.

"Told you," I teased.

"Yeah, yeah. It's not like we doubted her," Isaac grumbled.

As nice as it was for the crowd to see the vanishing trick Sereza pulled off, the fight was too short to truly sate their bloodlust.

By the time she left through the winner's side, they had already moved on and found other things to discuss.

The young man was lifted by a grasping vine and dragged through the loser's tunnel—one of the roots having separated and stabbed into his arm.

I sent the memory to Áine for her to think of later and continued to eat the rest of my food.

It wasn't long before a knock chimed through the door and Sereza was allowed inside. As she did, she bowed and plopped into her seat.

"That was fun," she said.

"You looked great out there," Celenae remarked.

"Good to show the young and stupid the error of their ways," Eodyne added.

I tossed over a few more pieces of candy. "What poison did you use? I don't remember the paralytics making their eyes roll back."

She stuck one of the candies in her mouth and started to suck before she fidgeted with one of the flasks along her bandolier. After tossing it over, she relaxed and pointed with her tail.

"New blend. Specifically keeps them breathing but cuts off enough circulation to make them pass out. For a tier one, his constitution is shit."

"He might have been in mana fatigue as well. There's a good chance he threw everything he had in that attack," Teddy said.

"Idiot."

"That's it? The fireball wasn't that big."

I ignored the pointed looks and helped Áine exit my hoodie. She flew over and booped Sereza's nose before diving into the cup of cold juice I had prepared.

"Thanks, Áine," Sereza said.

She received a tiny thumbs-up and we all watched the fairy slip her body into the sweet extract.

"Anyway," I said, drawing attention away from my familiar. "Was the next round explained to you?"

"Yes. The arena master sort of grunted at me before I left, but she basically said that the next set of matches would start after the first. The third will be held tomorrow, along with something more elaborate to whittle down the final batch of contestants. I'm assuming the third day will be the semifinals, and the fourth will be the grand finale, followed by the reward ceremony and a party."

"Four-day tournament? Not the worst way to spend the week. What do you think is elaborate enough for this?"

"A death match?" Isaac offered.

Igas buried him in a headlock and Teddy shook his head.

"Probably something more open-ended then one on one duels. It'll have to be entertaining enough while drawing speeding things along. After all, the tournament isn't the real draw of this. It's the auction after."

It made sense.

Another half hour passed and I felt the runes activate along my bracelet before it lit up. I watched it pulse and send a polite jolt across my skin before the enchantment died and the glow continued.

I stood up, collected Áine from her juice bath, and headed for the door.

"Cyrus," Teddy called out. I turned and he gave me an easy smile. "Kick butt."

I chuckled and pushed the door of the booth open. "Sure. And don't let Sereza eat my fries!"

"Hey!" I heard her call out before the door shut and sealed the room.

I made my way through the crowd, drawing a few excited eyes as they noticed my bracelet.

When I reached the under arena, the bracelet pulsed once more, the second jolt slightly stronger than the previous.

There were fewer combatants, a good majority having gone through their first match. Those who were left glared my way.

I ignored them and stepped toward the arena master. She snarled and jerked her thumb to the left tunnel.

"Get your ass moving. And don't do anything stupid," she growled.

It was tempting to salute, but I kept my sarcasm contained and walked down the tunnel. At the midway point, I summoned my spear and ran mana through the shaft. Poison collected at the tip and I twirled it around as I started to whistle a tune.

"Either a fool or a genius. An elemental prodigy in the making! Welcome the newcomer, another registered adventurer. Mordred!"