Spectator Sport

If that is Xew... I need to get closer. I draw my blades and move.

The rotund beast steps in my path, deep gash bleeding. It levels its pistols at its attacker—Umatoko. I spin on my toes, turning to the right to slide behind the hippo man.
But then an explosion knocks me off balance. I teeter, arms held out to keep myself from falling over, stumbling ever closer to the doctor.
The field to my left gets swallowed in darkness. Mordax is wrestling with the demon, trying to force it out of the arena. With the beast engaged with Umatoko behind me, I take aim at the doctor. Just get his attention. Everyone else is occupied. I gather power, slowing my pace.
"Vis—" I begin, but suddenly the demon interposes itself between me and the doctor. How did it get over here so quick? No, not a good idea. Confused, I turn and release my spell against the hippo man. "—ke."
He immediately turns and runs off the field, simply stepping into the water. I blink. What happened?
"Nalfeshnee, do your work!" The doctor's shrill voice snaps my attention back to him. The demon grins, its wings flutter into motion, and it flies at me.
_Gulp.
Then I'm wrapped in darkness, unable to see the demon. My breathing doesn't slow. I stay alert, trying to hear noise from the demon over my panicked heartbeat.
There, to my left. Pain lances across my shoulder and ribs as the demon's teeth pierce into my flesh. Too slow. A pained scream peels from me. I flick the sword in my right hand at the demon. It parts its maw and releases. I stagger back, still blind, yet still searching. I need to get out of the darkness. It's not stopping the demon.
An uninvited and malicious voice enters my thoughts. "That means you destroyed his journal."
I freeze. It's going to tear me to pieces. You'll die. Alone.
I turn and run. The darkness around me seems to tighten around me. Suffocating.
Then light blesses my eyes. I look around, frantic. Did it follow me? No. I find the demon standing close to Xew again. Umatoko is nowhere to be found. I take a steady breath. The doctor locks eyes with me. "You!" A fury burns in his eyes. "You burned my journal!"
This is it. An introduction to entice for a bargain. I smirk. "Oh, you mean the one that we recovered and I have in my care?" Well, I didn't have it. Luban is still holding onto it. But the doctor doesn't need the details; only take the bait of the offer. How much does he value the journal? Enough to fix me, and do nothing nefarious? My smile turns to a snarl. "Viske!"
This time, the doctor recoils, pinching the bridge of his nose as blood drips down.
And the demon comes straight for me. "You will return the Master's tome." I ready myself as it closes in with quick speed. It attacks, clawed palm sweeping up. I dodge it, stepping back.
But I don't account for the demon's continued momentum.
Its other hand swoops down from my right. Claws tear through my side—ribs, stomach, hip. My short gasp turns to a pained cry. I stagger and fall back, down, the breath knocked out of my lungs as I hit the ground. The demon's smug smile is the last I see.

---

My eyes focus on the ceiling of the pits. I sit upright.
And immediately regret it as pain rockets down my side. The cleric attending me scowls. I wince and peer into the arena.
There are only three opponents left; the troll, the demon, and the doctor. Wander summons a wall of fire around doctor and demon, cutting them off from my allies. I watch as Xew burns and disappears out of the arena. I clench my jaw. If only I could go and find him now. The demon rushes out of the fire and charges Luban. Luban manages to disengage, but his chest is covered in blood.
The demon turns from Luban and suddenly beelines for Shen Po—presumably—as it disappears into the darkness. Then the darkness vanishes, Shen Po appearing unconscious next to me.
Mordax and Wander work together to force the bleeding troll out of bounds. Mordax shoves it back, his muscles bulging and flexing under his red skin. Snake-form Wander lunges at the troll, jaw agape. The troll grabs her jaws, resisting. But then her tail reaches around, pulling the troll's leg out from under it. It topples into the water, leaving a pool of red.
The pair turn their attention to Luban and the demon. Luban is barely keeping out of the demon's reach, but the demon has several arrows in its body.
The demon gives up chasing Luban and turns to Mordax as he approaches. Surprised by the sudden target change, Mordax doesn't manage to avoid the demon's mauling. Claws rake into Mordax's flesh. He furiously retaliates, but the demon steps out of reach, smiling. The demon's claws tear into Mordax yet again and hold him in place as the demon opens its mouth and takes a deep bite. Mordax vanishes.
The demon then vanishes and reappears next to Luban, leering. Wander chases it down. It turns and swipes a claw into Wander's scaly skin. It doesn't look like she can hold that form much longer.
Luban feathers the demon and moves away.
Wander struggles against the demon. Another swipe from the demon knocks her out of her snake form. She quickly gestures and magic slams into the demon. It winces. And then snarls. Its claws tear into her, more viciously than before. Wander vanishes.
Another one of Luban's arrows pierces into the demon's mass. It flaps its wings and crosses the span of the arena far faster than it had ever done. Luban braces himself as the demon reaches him and starts pushing Luban to the edge.
My breath catches in my throat. This is it. Luban's feet slide across the stone. Come on, Luban.
Luban's heels hover over the water. Then the demon smiles. "My contract is fulfilled," it says. And then it disappears out of the arena.
My brow knits in confusion. What had just happened? Then I notice I'm standing. When had the cleric finished her work?
Suddenly I'm standing in the arena next to everyone else on a raised platform. I give a polite smile and wave as coins and other similar items are tossed to us by the spectators.

---

I pile back into our room in the seventh tower. I blink and squint through my weariness, trying to focus on what seemed different. It's definitely still cramped but spruced up now. On each pillow is a small gold trophy. I pick it up and read the inscription. "For excellence in combat of the Immortal King Julius's tournament of Acheron. 8-10-2-52". Then I turn my attention to the more exciting object on my pillow.
A small basket of chocolate-covered strawberries.
I pop one into my mouth as Shen Po opens the letter on the center table. He sighs. I eat another delectable strawberry.
"It says tomorrow is when we get our audience with Julius."
I glance at the window. Stars twinkle in the folds of the night sky. I move the trophy and strawberries off my bed, popping one last strawberry into my mouth. Then I crawl under the newly added silk sheets and fall to sleep.