The arena lights dimmed before shifting focus to the stage once again. The announcer's voice echoed with practiced excitement:
"Up next! Selene von Iskandar of the Imperial Academy of Valor… versus Varek Moltan of the Academy of Velmora!"
A wave of noise surged through the coliseum—shouts, applause, and some particularly loud roars from the Velmora section.
From the right tunnel, Varek stepped into the light.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in black armor with deep red accents. Two curved horns jutted from his forehead, and though the rest of him was human in appearance, there was something unnatural about the way fire and shadow magic crackled together across his arms. He looked ready to destroy anything in front of him—and the crowd loved it.
Up in the higher seats, Balthor leaned back, smug.
"I've got fifty on the horned bastard," he said, flashing his betting slip.
Noel glanced over. "You bet against Selene?"
