"You're being insensitive," Celanae explained.

"Am I?" I pointed to the letter. "The more I learn about this creature you call a dad the more I dislike him. Sereza isn't a daughter to him. She's property. Like a stray puppy he decides is valuable enough only if he can show it off."

"That's her father, Cyrus. Horrible man or not, he's still her parent. Some sensitivity and thoughtfulness would go a long way for someone you claim as your friend."

I shrugged. "I'm not saying we have to go out of our way. Simply, if he's around and becomes a problem, you show no remorse. What's wrong with that?"

"Cyrus," she sighed exasperated.

"No. I agree with him. If that man is anything like my father then fuck him. He's right. We don't have to murder him, but as far as I'm concerned, that man is as good as dead," Isaac said.

"Exactly. Sereza owes him nothing. He's quick to take everything away from her and still considers her less than a person. Could you imagine Teddy's parents doing that? Hell, Cal isn't even my father but I'm more of a son to him than that," I said.

"Why don't we ask Sereza herself instead of speaking around her," Eodyne cut in.

We turned to look at the felkin. She stared at the floor with her face downcast, making it hard to see her face. I contained a growl and squashed the irritation bubbling inside my chest.

Shit. I am being insensitive.

I wasn't sure why the gremlin had his claws sharpened after reading the letter, but it did. It scratched at my senses, poking at my thoughts with irritation. However, none of that mattered. The bastard of a man aside, Celanae was right.

"I'm sorry, Sereza. I was being rude," I started.

Sereza's tail pierced the floor and she looked up with hard eyes. "No. You're right. He does view me as property. He's a coward of a man and a terrible father. He doesn't deserve consideration." Her voice was flinty. She stared beyond me, beyond us in the room. As she spoke again, the steel faltered, losing its edge. "I know this. He's always been uncaring of others and even cruel at times. But… I'd rather not think about it for now. He scurried off and fled into the shadows. It could be years, decades even before I see him again. Let's… Forget he exists. It doesn't matter, he's not here and I have other things to worry about."

"Of course. We'll respect your wishes," Teddy declared. "Isaac, do you mind?"

Isaac slipped into the floor and we waited awkwardly. The others resumed their chatting but I didn't feel like participating. It helped that they were used to me brooding. Eventually, Isaac returned seven minutes later.

He shook his head and flopped onto the couch. "Anti-tamper runes beneath anti-tamper runes. The manor went up in flames as soon as they isolated the enchantments. The guards stopped it from spreading but that bastard is paranoid."

Sereza said nothing. She grabbed some food and leaned into scratching Arturous' fur while we waited for the arena to fill up. When they did, the announcer floated into the center of the arena and cleared his throat.

"Goooood morning, folks! We've seen blood shed, sweat staining the sand. Those who survived the first rounds won through skill and hard work," he paused and winked. "Or through a little luck."

There was some playful protests and hollering from the audience, but the announcer took it in stride. He laughed with them and sported a wide grin.

"Plenty of excitement to go around and the free-for-all matches didn't disappoint! We saw explosions! We saw fire! More than a few learned what it means to take a fist to the face," he chuckled. He floated higher and higher until he stopped at his usual spot above the arena. He raised a single finger adorned with a rust-colored ring. Mana gathered at the tip of his index, shining a bright yellow. "We've whittled the competition down to those who weaponized that skill and grabbed their chance when it presented itself. The fights will be fierce, and the fighters will have to carve their victory from their opponent's grasp! Who will win? Who will proceed? Who… Will rein king in the arena today?! Let the King's Pillar… Begin!"

At the end of the announcer's declaration, the yellow orb shot from his finger and into the center of the sand pit. Yellow and grey lines lit up like a christmas tree underneath the sand before the mana collected at the center in a central sphere.

A rumbling shook the arena as grains parted revealing a pointed triangle of stone below. The monolith rose from the ground revealing carved, intricate lines. The more it revealed, the more scenes were exposed to the light. I scanned the monument, quickly finding a carving of me with my hands extending into the air. It displayed a crude version of Zharia's form surrounded by a sphere of flames.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I whistled. "They really go all out for these things."

"They've more than enough money for it. It's not even well done, just good enough to wow the audience. Look at them, they're lapping it up," Isaac said.

"Let other people have their fun," Igas said.

"I bet they will. We making bets on the idiot doing something crazy?"

"No deal. Of course he's going to do something crazy."

"Hey, I'm right here," I said.

"We know. That's why we're not betting on something so obvious," Eodyne added. She flipped a stack of coins onto the table. "Ten gold he breaks the pillar."

"Eodyne…"

"Alright. Ten that he eliminates them all before the match ends," Igas said, tossing his own stack of coins.

Isaac caught them with a tendril and tossed them back. "No way. That's too easy. Bet something else. Has to be crazy."

Igas grunted. "Fine. Then I bet that he'll use the pillar as a weapon."

"Accepted," Isaac grinned.

"I hate you all," I declared.

A third stack joined the table and I turned with a look of betrayal at the felkin. She grinned and patted my shoulder with her tail.

"I bet he'll pull something suicidal again. Takes out everyone and himself before he wins."

"Accepted!" Isaac cheered.

"Oh come on! How is that allowed but mine wasn't," Igas argued.

"Because hers was more specific. Duuuh." He gestured to the others. "What about you guys? Khrem? Got to bet something."

"Are we assuming that no matter what, Cyrus will always do something crazy?" Khrem asked.

"Yes," came a round of replies.

I shook my head and ignored them. The arena changed beyond the pillar. Plants sprouted from the sand and spewed colored paint over the areas. Top left turned dark red, top right turned dark blue, bottom left became dark green, and bottom right became more yellow.

The quarters are equally spaced leaving an undyed ring around the pillar. Whenever the competitor secured the king's pillar, the ring would change color according to their color.

All in all, it made for a subtle but ingenious way to replicate how modern game shows worked on earth.

I poked Sereza with my tail. "If we are put in the same match, I want you to hold nothing back. Got it?"

She adjusted the bandolier slotted with poisons around her chest. "You sure about that? I still have some of the mixture I used on Lolthis."

"Bring it on," I teased. "It'll be a waste, but if that helps you feel better."

"Áine is a cheat."

"Not as much as you think. During the charity day I actually treated a few patients with toxins in their blood. It's harder for her to target and destroy the toxin then it is to heal. It's slower than I'd like but I can't complain. From what I learned from Syrreisha, having a skill that can heal poison away is rare."

"You're saying she isn't a cheat by explaining how she is a cheat?"

I tossed a wrapper. "Pretty much. So? Promise to go all out?"

"Of course," Sereza agreed. "Only if you promise the same."

"Of course,"

"Good. Then we agree."

"I'd say I doubt they'd place you guys together but I've been wrong before," Teddy said.

"Eh, if they do or not, it doesn't matter. It's not like I care if I lose or win."

"That, I doubt."

"And why is that?"

"You may hide behind a mask, Cyrus. Even if you think you're playing a character on a stage, it doesn't mean there's not some truth to it."

"You think Mordred the supreme edgelord is real? Really?" I asked deadpan.

He laughed and batted away Arturous' snout before he ate his sandwich. "You tell me. Is the part of you that loves to battle false? What about your reaction to nobles and their puffed chests and preened feathers?"

Damnit. He's not wrong.

"Alright, I admit it feels good. I'm not Mordred though. It's fun to kick back and cut loose, but the whole villain monologuing is too much. And I sure as shit don't need groupies wearing knockoff hoodies."

His smile softened. "Your reputation will follow you, Cyrus. Even as mere adventurers it's something you'll have to consider moving forward. We don't show it much, especially when we're around you, but your name will carry weight. Broken Tower comes with a reputation. That reputation comes with expectations. Not saying you have be beholden to it, but know it's not so easy to ignore."

What the hell? Why the sudden lecture?

"Yeah. I don't think Mordred the Tyrant will have to worry about the problems as a team of incredibly competent and reliable adventurers."

"Maybe not," he chuckled. "But you'll be surprised. I mean, even Isaac has to fend off praise and hugs from children and parents alike."

"Oh yeah, they love praising him. Remember Tildofen? That mistress really showed her thanks!" Igas shouted.

Isaac groaned. "Don't remind me! It took ages to forget those sandbags. They touched the ground! They crushed a spider!"

"Do I want to ask?" I said.

"Better not," Igas warned.

The arena prep finished but the first round hadn't started yet despite the hunger from the audience. I searched for him, expecting to see him flying in the sky; and I did, but my eyes narrowed.

The announcer exited a booth on the opposite side of the arena. A tall burly beastkin dressed in all black closed the door behind him. He wore a scowl and brushed himself off before looking around.

Well that's suspicious.

It took a second but a second scan through revealed an interesting detail. Usually you'd find an attendant or two spaced between the booths. That wasn't the case near the booth the announcer had exited from. The top row had an overflow of people milling about but none payed attention to the announcer.

When he floated into the air he flew before lowering into his usual position.

This is going to bite me in the ass isn't it? Eh, fuck it. Bring it on you jerk, I'll crush the idiots you throw my way.

I blinked and reevaluated what I said before sinking into the cushions.

Sereza glanced over. "What's wrong?"

"I think Teddy's right. I need a break from myself."

"I don't think he said that."

Suddenly, the announcer cleared his throat and clapped his hands. A ring of light formed around the pillar's peak and slowly slid down its length.

"Are you ready for the first match of the day?" he paused for the cheer before raising his voice. "Then let's get to it. Let's begin the first round of King's pillar!"

I glanced toward my bracelet but it remained inert. Sereza held hers up and shook her head. It looks like we'd get to observe a round for ourselves before we participated in the fun.

"Anybody we know?" I asked.

Isaac grinned and slammed his grubby finger into the enchanted display. "Oh look, they gave red to the red guy. How original."

I leaned forward and honed in on the walking brute. He raised a fist and looked into the enchantment. He mouthed to the screen to only one person inside the arena.

"Enjoy the show."

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