"Welcome ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, to the second day of our fabulous games! Yesterday, we witnessed a series of epic clashes between three high-powered groups, that led to a clear winner: The Wood-Wearing Wanderers!"

Seated beside her mentor in the large arena, Lucinda half-heartedly joined the crowd's loud cheer. Her enthusiasm for the day's events was still palpable, but the defeat of the group she'd been rooting for still stung.

"Today we'll be watching the chosen trio take on the formidable challenge that is the one and only, Sporga Gauntlet!" Another, louder cry boomed out from the arena stands. "But, as the final preparations are made, let me briefly explain the rules. Our group of mighty warriors will take on a series of increasingly difficult foes, with almost no time for recuperation between bouts! To encourage them to try their very best for your entertainment, we offer some delightful sums of money for each encounter they overcome, starting from a comfortable 300 gold, climbing all the way up to 2000 gold pieces!"

Wow! 2000!? Ahh, when can I become a gladiator?

Stunned by the declaration of the immense reward, Lucinda failed to join in the sudden eruption of noise that emerged from within the arena. It wasn't until the volume began to fade back to more normal levels that the announcer continued.

"As always, the Sporga Gauntlet features foes with an exciting theme! And at last, I can reveal today's: Raklatok's Strangest Creations! Expect to see creatures the likes of which you've never before laid eyes upon! How will our challengers deal with such foes!? Will they be able to overcome the unknown!? Find out… Right now!"

To the raucous cries of the gathered spectators, three familiar figures soon emerged into Lucinda's line of sight. The men looked almost the same as she remembered, each equipped in the same type of armour as the day before, and wielding the same weapons, though the Fighter and Rogue both wore armoured headgear, that completely hid the former’s mask, and covered but did not entirely obscure the latter’s.

Although Lucinda’s seat once again blocked off sight of where the gladiators had emerged from, there was a large gate that she could see, and it was from there that the first wave of challengers emerged. She gasped along with many other spectators as she caught sight of what the gladiators would face.

What kind of horse is that!?

The lone creature that appeared looked largely horse-like, but such a description could not hold up for long. Its body was entirely shaded a green so deep as to be almost black in colour, while from along its head, neck, and back, what almost looked like rough strips of wet cloth sprouted outwards and down its sides. Along with its only facial feature being a mouth, and its size that was at least half again as large as a standard horse, it made for an intimidating sight.

Would I even want to acquire something like that? Ah, it’s probably much too high a level anyway…

“Revolting, isn’t it folks?” the announcer called out above the fluctuating murmurs of the audience. “But, that’s what makes it so exciting! Am I right!?”

“Yeaaaaah!” the crowd cheered loudly in response.

“Then let’s not wait another moment. Let the Sporga Gauntlet commence!”

Lucinda fully expected the Wanderers to vanish, as seemed to be their trademark opening, but instead the Fighter and Rogue stood facing their opponent with weapons at the ready, while the Wizard began casting a number of defensive spells. Perhaps equally uncharacteristically, the mysterious horse-like monster had made no move since emerging into the arena, other than a few to and fro twists of its bizarre head. All in all, it wasn’t the most exciting start to an arena battle. Fortunately, that soon changed.

As the Wizard began his fourth or so spell, his compatriots began striding towards the dark horse. The Fighter with his two-handed mace held at the ready, and the Rogue with his daggers just a step behind. It turned out to be part of a well-coordinated opening, as several bright shards of ice suddenly shot out from the Wizard’s outstretched hand, just as the two melee gladiators reached their enemy.

However, just before the magical assault landed, the monstrous equine shot off along the arena wall, narrowly avoiding getting hit by the icy shards, and bringing it swiftly out of reach of the two other Wanderers.

“You missed!” came a sudden shout from somewhere in the stands, producing a rippling wave of laughter in response.

The laughter didn’t last long, as while the gladiators readjusted their positioning to press the attack, the unseemly four-legged beast stopped its sudden dash, and subsequently threw up all over the sandy floor.

“Eww…” Lucinda groaned out loud as she observed the most unwelcome action.

Her own verbal comment was similarly met with laughter, though it was considerably more localised, but that too died out quickly as the dark green sludge the monster had ejected began to move.

Oh… what is that!?

A fresh wave of noise erupted from the crowd, sounding as shocked and disgusted as Lucinda herself still was, and the volume only increased as the puddle slowly formed into a miniature version of the creature that had so recently spewed it into existence.

The gladiators too seemed to have been affected by the strange turn of events, but they recovered before long and resumed their attack all the same. The Wizard and his recently conjured illusory clones cast another spell in perfect synchronicity, though aimed at the smaller horse-like creature, which seemed far more intent upon attacking than its creator.

A simple barrage of more ice shards, and a single swing from the Fighter’s mace was all it took to fell the lesser beast, but even before it had completely perished, two more such creatures had emerged from the main foe. Lucinda felt a mild sense of dread wash over her as she realised the predicament the gladiators were in, though others obviously felt differently.

“Hah, that could be a problem,” Waflaw said, sounding entirely amused by the situation.

“Aye, you said it,” another man sitting nearby replied.

Fortunately, it quickly became clear that the wandering trio had been pacing themselves, as their efforts ramped up in intensity to counteract the strange creature’s own actions. The Wizard transitioned into casting a far more potent spell, that manifested as a large column of spiked ice; the Fighter, lunging charges of sufficient force to produce vast clouds of sand upon impact; and the Rogue, devastating rear attacks, that followed on from an ability that seemed to allow him to travel short distances in the blink of an eye.

Lucinda’s mood swiftly changed to one of joyous enthusiasm as the gladiators did battle with their opponent, and if the encouraging cheers of the other watchers were anything to go by, she wasn’t the only one enjoying the show. With their tactics adjusted into the aggressive side of things, the encroaching army of smaller horses was brought under control, even when their goopy remnants started to explode, and it was that adjustment that ultimately led the team into a position to put an end to the disgusting horse-like menace.

“There we have it, folks! The queerest horse you’ve ever seen, bested by our brave gladiators! But, this is only the beginning! In just twenty seconds, the gate will open once more, and their next foe will emerge! Will they likewise defeat it!? Or will the second of Raklatok’s strangest creations prove to be their match!?”

As the three gladiators regrouped near the centre of the arena, facing towards the gate, the area filled with the low voices of the crowd. Lucinda let her imagination run wild as she considered what might appear next, but was soon interrupted by Waflaw’s voice.

“Who are you rooting for?” he asked.

Lucinda couldn’t help but laugh in the face of Waflaw’s question, and turned to smile at him with no real intent of answering. But, almost as soon as their eyes met, the sound of the distant gate opening reached her ears.

From the dark interior of the arena, emerged several small forms that did not fail to alarm Lucinda in entirely new ways, and it was a sentiment shared by nearly everyone in ear-shot as far as she could tell. There were five creatures in total, almost identical in appearance, but equally disturbing in their own right. Two-headed lions was a reasonable description of their form, yet the second head was attached to a second upside-down body, that had not quite fully sunk into the back of the other, leaving its withered limbs flailing in the air.

Ugh, that’s just wrong…

Unlike the previous foe, the newcomers attacked immediately, which quickly brought a series of cheers into the air – at least from those that weren’t stunned into a disgusted silence like Lucinda was. Of course, typical lions were hardly a threat for powerful individuals, but the two-headed lions were considerably larger than they had any right to be, with their shoulder height appearing to be on par with even the tallest among the three gladiators. Combined with their unnatural broadness, Lucinda was sure that facing five of the beasts simultaneously was wholly unfair.

What even happens if they do lose? The announcer didn’t say anything about that…

The commencement of the second confrontation was fierce, with the five beasts attacking in quick succession using a level of coordination that hinted at reasonable intelligence. However, the two melee gladiators expertly proved their worth, with the Fighter keeping them at bay with savage swings of his large weapon, while the Rogue conducted more surprise back-attacks. Of course, while their efforts kept the menacing creatures away from their spell-casting friend, the two men were not immune to damage by any means.

Although the Wanderers clearly had the upper hand, their position became far stronger as the Wizard unleashed an ice spell that was without a doubt one of the most impressive spells Lucinda had ever seen. As if on cue, the two melee gladiators darted closer to their ally, just as a massive circle of jagged ice sprung forth from the sandy ground. The nearer lions were immediately caught within the roughly three-meter radius, but less than a second later, the circle expanded further, bringing more ice into existence, and firmly trapping the remaining creatures within it as it did.

“Wow…” Lucinda voiced as the crowd erupted into applause throughout the arena.

“I think you mean: Cool,” Waflaw shouted directly into Lucinda’s ear, causing her to roll her eyes, even as a few laughs emerged from her smiling lips.

As the ice disappeared, it became clear that the two-headed beasts were injured and debilitated, but not quite defeated. That state of affairs did not last particularly long, as the lingering chill from the Wizard’s spell pushed the ensuing melee heavily in favour of the Wanderers, who gradually dispatched the hideous creatures, one after the other, while receiving barely any damage in return.

“Another incredible showing from our mighty gladiators! Can nothing stop them!? Will they make it to the 2000 gold grand prize!? Don’t leave your seats folks, for in just forty seconds time, the next of Raklatok’s challengers will emerge!”

They don’t seem tired… Or injured. But, how many more rounds are there?

Lucinda's internal monologue was interrupted by a new commotion on her left side. The spectator sitting next to her – who she had only shared a terse greeting with since sitting down – suddenly shifted along to make room for two men. The closest was dressed in leather armour that was closer to black than the brown of her own, and she couldn't help but notice the twin sheathed daggers that were displayed openly on his waist. However, it was the man's handsome face that really grabbed her attention. With his strong clean-shaven jawline and dark green eyes, the smile he offered her was enough to cause a faint feeling of butterflies in her stomach.

“Hey there,” the closest man said in a deep but clear voice, as his gaze quickly wandered over her before finding her eyes.

“…Hi,” Lucinda replied, returning the man’s wide smile with a shy smile of her own.

“Name’s Andil.”

“Lucinda.”

With her face lightly flushing from the man’s intense scrutiny, Lucinda turned back to the arena, at least until her newest neighbour revealed that he had other plans.

“Come here often?”

“Weak,” the faint voice of the second man added, bringing Andil’s attention away from her for a moment, before a slightly less faint yelp of pain reached her ears. “He’s just jealous he lost the toss,” Andil said in way of explanation with an amused smirk on his face.

Leaning forwards to see Andil's friend, Lucinda found another almost equally handsome face awaiting her. She offered him a smile before sitting back and addressing Andil.

“What toss?” she asked, which seemed to further amuse the man.

“We flipped a coin to see who’d get the chance to… talk to you. And I’m sure glad I won.”

“Oh… Right.”

Should I be flattered, or creeped out? He really is nice to look at…

“You going to answer my question now, Druid Lucinda?”

“Who says I’m a Druid?” Lucinda replied, but before the man could respond the announcer’s voice once more boomed out through the arena.

“Here we are, folks! The third challenge for our persistent gladiators! How about some noise to spur them on?!”

To the deafening cry of the assembled audience, the large gate squeaked open, signalling the commencement of the third round of the Sporga Gauntlet. Yet, try as she might, she could make out no hideous monster of any kind. The remaining voices of the spectators soon faded as they too observed nothing of interest until the area was eerily void of noise.

“Leather armour, and the staff at your feet,” Andil spoke in a near whisper beside her, bringing Lucinda’s gaze away from the arena floor with no small amount of reluctance. “Or is that all a ploy?”

The fact that the man had noticed her staff gave her pause, as it was lying on the floor beneath her and Waflaw’s feet, making it fairly obvious that she and Waflaw knew each other. With a quick glance at her mentor, who returned her look with a small smile, Lucinda made to respond.

“Maybe I’m a Cleric?”

“Heh, maybe. Can’t say I see any religious markings on that lovely armour you're wearing.”

The man’s presence and words were definitely distracting Lucinda from the games she’d come to see, but even as she nearly missed the delayed beginning of the third round, she wasn’t entirely sure if it was a bad distraction or not. Either way, the sudden appearance of another of Raklatok’s creations was more than enough to refocus her attention on the Wanderers and their continuing struggle.

The announcer’s words proved to be correct for the third time, as the strange creature that revealed itself was absolutely unusual. Bursting from beneath the sand in a most startling fashion, the beast seemed to be a hybrid combination of a badger and some kind of aquatic dwelling animal. It was much larger than any badger Lucinda had ever seen, but the shape of its upper body – apart from its oversized mouth – and the powerful claws it possessed were very familiar to her, even if the fur was almost entirely a light sandy brown. Below the waist, things were not quite so clear, as a large finned tail sat where legs would otherwise have been.

Lucinda failed to gasp along with the rest of the crowd as the creature made its debut, but her reaction was only slightly delayed.

Does that make it aquatic? Ah, can it even dig through anything but sand?

The mace-wielding fighter had been the chosen target of the beast’s first assault, but he deflected its attempt with seeming ease before the creature sank back beneath the sand.

“They call ‘em Shadgers,” Andil commented as the atmosphere grew quieter once more. “Dangerous, if you don’t know how to deal with ‘em. ‘Course, I do.” The dagger-wearing man flashed a toothy grin that was infused with obvious self-confidence. “So, which God is yours? No, wait. Let me guess. Jalavot? You’ve definitely got that aura of beauty around you.”

“Umm, thanks,” Lucinda replied as she flushed more noticeably at the compliment.

Waflaw suddenly leaned forwards in his seat. “We can swap if you like,” he said.

“Not bothering you, am I?” Andil replied immediately with a grin in Waflaw’s direction.

“It should be obvious that you’re asking the wrong person,” Waflaw replied calmly.

Maybe I should switch… I came here to watch the games…

“Thanks, but I’m okay,” Lucinda said to Waflaw, flashing him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

“Heh, ’course she is,” Andil added.

Unsure of whether she had made the right decision or not, Lucinda’s eyes were drawn back to the arena as a sudden cry from the crowd echoed through the stands. The cause was not hard to determine, even in her distracted state, as the odds had suddenly shifted with the emergence of a second so-called Shadger.

A short uninterrupted session of watching the arena was all it took for Lucinda to realise the full extent of the situation the Wanderers were facing. The two creatures were hunting the party from under the sand, only emerging to attack with vicious bites of their immense jaws.

I wonder if there are Earth spells for stopping underground enemies? Not that they’d have any… Oh, crap!

While the Wizard had already demonstrated his lack of earth magic, the creatures had suddenly demonstrated that they did, in fact, possess such power. What had been an already tense situation, worsened as a large stalagmite of rocky earth burst forth from the sandy ground, almost skewering the Wizard and Rogue as it did.

How is that fair!? They can hide underground, and attack with magic!

The aftermath of the sudden magical assault was intense, as the unbalanced gladiators were almost caught flat-footed by the subsequent melee attacks of their monstrous enemies. Fortunately, the defensive spells of the Wizard protected him, while the Rogue still managed to dodge aside.

“Are you a follower of Jalavot then? Or just a naturally beautiful Druid?” Andil asked.

Though Lucinda found herself blushing again, the sudden dramatic showing by the gladiators forced her to a decision.

“Sorry, but… I’m trying to watch this.”

“Rejected,” the faint voice of the man’s friend called out, followed by a pained intake of breath.

“That’s cool, didn’t mean to stop you,” Andil said with a grin and a shrug of his shoulders.

With the reveal of the sand-dwelling creature’s magical capabilities, the Wanderers were quick to reveal a new strategy of their own. With the Fighter and Rogue protecting their more susceptible ally, the Wizard cast an entirely new spell that created a platform of solid ice directly underneath him. The square platform wasn’t too much wider than the man that had cast it, but as it raised several metres from the sandy arena floor, Lucinda marvelled at the apparent protection it would provide against the direct attacks of the sand-bound monsters. However, the same was not true for the Fighter and Rogue, who were still forced to contend with the constant threat of surprise attacks, but the tactical adjustment still proved its worth before long.

It began when the Fighter side-stepped one of the leaping Shadgers, and then hit it with such force as to launch it further into the air. The crowd’s response was loud, helped along by Lucinda’s own contribution, but grew louder still, as the Wizard pelted the airborne creature with several ice shards, before it fell back into the safety of the sand.

Noticeably bolstered by the successful attack, and the crowd's encouragement, the Wanderers managed a few more solid attacks in the ensuing minutes, though it wasn’t all plain sailing. One particular ambush by the strange creatures knocked the Fighter to the ground, where a potentially deadly follow-up attack just narrowly missed thanks to the quick reactions of the party's Rogue. However, the next step in the group's strategy involved another new spell by the Wizard. At first, it caused no noticeable effect, but that changed as soon as the next Shadger emerged from beneath the sand, as a sudden explosion of ice magic caught it head-on. The exact nature of the spell was hard to determine, but Lucinda did notice that the ground-bound Wanderers relocated to certain spots for further explosions of the same kind.

With the aid of the newest spell, the creatures were gradually worn down, and ultimately defeated. Lucinda threw herself into cheering along with the rest of the crowd as the final blow ended the third part of the gauntlet, before they were drowned out by the announcer’s magically amplified voice.

“Amazing! What a battle! They’ve done it again! Can they make it all the way? Hold tight for just sixty seconds, and we’ll get right onto the next bout!”

As the crowd’s cheers faded shortly after the announcement, Lucinda wasn’t surprised to hear a familiar voice reach her ears.

“Didn’t mean to pry ‘bout your class,” Andil offered with a charming smile. “It’s hard to resist taking a guess, sometimes your life depends on it, you know?”

“It’s okay,” Lucinda replied politely.

“I’m a Rogue, in case your wondering. Daggers prolly gave it away though, yea?”

“They did.” Lucinda found herself matching the man’s amused grin as she responded.

“You fighting in the mêlée after this? ‘Cause I promise to go easy if you are. Might even let you beat me. If you’ll come drinking with me after.”

“…What’s the mêlée?”

“Hah, you’ve not even heard of it? Anyone here,” Andil said indicating the stands with a one-handed circular gesture. “Gets to go down to the arena floor and battle it out. All at once, I mean. It’s crazy good fun. Pays great too, for the winners at least.”

“Anyone?” Lucinda let her eyes roam over the nearby spectators, looking for other people that might take part in such an event.

“Yeah, anyone. I told you it gets crazy. But, if you’re not joining, that means you have to cheer for me.”

“Do I?” Lucinda asked somewhat teasingly in response to the man’s continuing grin.

“Damn right. Then when I win, I’ll treat you to lunch at the best tavern in the city. You’ll love it. Great food, great atmosphere, and you’ll have great company too.”

“But, what if you lose?”

Andil laughed loudly. “I won’t. Top five get a reward. Piece of cake.”

“I’ll…”

“Who’s ready for more!?” the announcer’s voice cut across Lucinda’s words, forcing her to laugh and shrug her shoulders at Andil, as the crowd erupted into noise around her. “Here it is folks, the final challenge for our indomitable gladiators!”

As she turned her attention back to the arena floor, Lucinda was sure she couldn’t agree to the man’s wishes. But, regardless, her mood still improved in the face of the offer from someone who was both pleasant to look at, and friendly enough to not cause her worry.

The distant squeak of the large gate as it opened signified the beginning of the fourth and final round of the gauntlet, and Lucinda was practically on the edge of her seat in anticipation of what might transpire. Unlike the previous round, she didn’t have long to wait.

An oversized flat-bedded wagon rolled into the arena, and atop it sat the creature. It looked very much like the shell of a tortoise, but was round and entirely symmetrical as far as Lucinda could tell. It was undoubtedly huge in size, but didn’t seem especially threatening, and another silence soon filled the arena as everyone within in waited for something to happen.

Lucinda caught herself a tiny fraction of the way into turning towards Andil, and instead turned to Waflaw, who smiled and shrugged in response to her silent question.

Is it a turtle? It’s big enough that it might still be dangerous… Or maybe it’s magical?

The trio of gladiators made no attempt to engage their dormant foe, instead, they seemed content to patiently wait, though the Wizard did cast a few defensive spells from his icy vantage point. However, as the strange shell remained motionless, agitated exclamations began emerging from around the arena.

“What are ye waitin’ for?!” someone cried out.

“Bleedin’ attack it will ya!?” another added.

It didn’t take much more prompting to instigate a shift in the attitude of the group, which Lucinda was happy to see, even while sympathising with their plight. It was the Fighter that made the first move, wandering towards the creature at a steady pace with his large weapon held at the ready. The complaints of the watching audience ceased rapidly, replaced by an anticipatory quiet.

The plate-clad man made it to the side of the wagon without issue, further building the mix of excitement and worry Lucinda was feeling, while also reaffirming just how large the creature was. With her best estimate being that around ten people could stand atop its shell without difficulty.

As the man glanced back at his party, something finally happened. From beneath the white-grey shell, a single thick appendage emerged, before lashing out towards the Fighter at terrifying speed. However, its victim was not caught off-guard, as he reacted by bringing his weapon up to block the blow. There was a loud clang of metal as he succeeded, but the force of the blow still forced him to stagger back several paces.

Woah… That’s no turtle… Oh!

In quick succession, several additional tentacle-like appendages emerged from beneath the creature’s hardened exterior, until fourteen of the agile limbs were slowly weaving back and forth in the air above it. They were all identical, with alabaster coloured skin along the multi-metre length of them, except for the tip which was rounded and darker in colour. With how far Lucinda was from the arena floor, it was difficult for her to judge the dimensions, but her best guess placed the tips as being somewhat larger than a typical human head, while the limbs themselves appeared to range from a thin human waist in diameter at the base, to a slightly oversized human neck near the end.

Even having revealed its true nature, the creature remained stationary atop its wagon home. Unsurprisingly the Fighter backed out of range of the flailing limbs, where his Rogue ally joined him.

“What’s that called then?” Lucinda asked Andil in the silence that followed.

“An Octoise,” he replied without pause. “Tough critters, for someone that isn’t me.”

“It’s got fourteen tentacles…?” Lucinda looked back at the distant creature in confusion as she spoke.

“Didn’t stop me killing the last one I met.”

“…That’s not…”

Lucinda’s sentence was cut short as the familiar sound of exploding ice magic filled the arena. Despite their earlier caution, the Wanderers were clearly adopting a newly aggressive strategy, as the Fighter and Rogue had wandered back into range of the flailing limbs to do battle. While they blocked, parried, dodged, stabbed, and bashed away in melee, the Wizard was sporadically firing off spells from atop his icy bulwark.

If it can’t move, magic is safer, but what can he do against that thing? At least the Fighter and Rogue can damage the tentacles…

With the Wizard’s repertoire of spells either being avoided entirely, or bouncing harmlessly off the creature’s hardy shell, Lucinda’s conclusion seemed accurate enough. However, another spell was soon revealed to the audience, that appeared in the air as a fine mist around the creature. Though slightly obscuring the beast, the effects weren’t hard to determine, as the speed of the fearsome tentacles slowed noticeably.

That a single spell could alter the tide of battle so dramatically came as something of a surprise to Lucinda, but it was a truth that could not be denied. The Fighter and Rogue’s attempts in melee became more successful, and the creature’s counter attempts, considerably less so. It was perhaps only 10 seconds after the icy mist had appeared, that one of the pale tentacles was brutally severed, causing it to soar through the air for just enough time for the crowd to fully build up into near-deafening cheers.

The creature reacted violently to the wound, lashing out with all thirteen of its remaining limbs. The Fighter took a solid hit to his helmeted head as a result, bringing gasps from Lucinda and many other crowd members, while the Rogue too did not escape unharmed. But, it wasn’t enough, and soon the first severed tentacle was joined by another, then another, until eventually none were left, and the beast ceased moving altogether.

“Yeaaaaaaaah!” the audience roared, and Lucinda along with them.

“That’s it! They’ve done it!” the announcer’s voice shouted out over the din of spectators. “The Wood-Wearing Wanderers have proven their worth in the Sporga Gauntlet! And what a showing it was! The 2000 gold is all theirs!”

The cheering only reached new heights, but Lucinda was too caught up in the excitement to shield her ears. With their job done, the Wanderers began waving towards the stands, while moving around their defeated foe. The Rogue even leapt atop the shell to further accentuate their overwhelming victory.

“Here comes their reward now!”

From the same hidden gate the gladiators had used, emerged two women. They were both obviously pretty, and scantily clad, but Lucinda’s attention was more thoroughly drawn to the open chest they carried between them, and the glistening gold pieces that laid within.

Oh, wow…

“An incredible sum of coin if ever there was one! And after a short break, all of you dear spectators will have…”

The announcer’s voice halted as a loud cracking sound filled the air.

“… All of you will have…”

But, once again a similar noise drowned out the announcer’s words, prompting a deathly hush to fall upon the entire arena. All but sure of the source, Lucinda’s eyes homed in on the shell of the defeated creature, and she only had a moment to wait before her suspicion was confirmed.

Before the eyes of all present, a new wave of tentacles burst forth from the stationary shell, fully catching the Wanderers off-guard. The Fighter was hammered into the sand by a rapid series of blows from two of the powerful limbs, his mace slipping from his grasp as the clanging impacts sang out through the air. The Wizard was caught in the midsection by another, sending him flying across the arena to careen into the inner wall. But, the Rogue got the worst of it, as from his place atop the creature’s shielded body, there was simply no chance of avoidance even for such an agile individual.

As the creature’s limbs swarmed upwards, line of sight to the leather-wearing man was lost, but that only lasted until his allies were subdued. Then, from within the writhing mass of tentacles that appeared to be far greater in number than before, one emerged with the Rogue firmly held in its grasp. Lucinda and the rest of the crowd had only a moment to wonder about the man’s fate, before the tentacle flung him upwards into the sky with tremendous force.

Oh, that’s not good!

“Shit,” Waflaw muttered just loudly enough for Lucinda to hear. A hand appeared upon her shoulder, bringing her eyes to him despite the unfortunate scene in front of her. “Stay here.”

“What…?”

“Don’t panic folks,” the announcer’s voice rang out, sounding anything but reassuring. “Everything is under control! Just remain in your seats. This is all part of the show!”

Waflaw made no response as he stood up and barged his way up the rows to the rear of the arena. Lucinda watched him go with a puzzled look plastered across her face, at least until realisation hit her.

Is he going to…?

As Waflaw disappeared out through one of the gaps in the exterior arena wall, Lucinda turned her head skywards in search of the flung Rogue. The apparent Strength of the creature became staggeringly clear as she just picked out his distant form high up in the air. But, a smile soon spread across her lips, as the familiar flight-capable form of her mentor appeared in her view, flapping his large wings at a rapid pace as he climbed upwards after the airborne Rogue.

A sudden clang of metal drew her eyes back to the arena floor. Several more people had emerged out onto the sand, six of whom she recognised as the Stone-Shrouded Sisters, and the Metal-Masked Marauders, but there were at least another four or five individuals she didn’t know. The Sisters were in the process of rescuing the fallen Fighter, with their two Fighters shielding against the onslaught of blows from the many-limbed creature. Meanwhile, the Wanderers’ Wizard was already on his feet and had resumed attacking the beast alongside the other magic users.

All part of the show? Like anyone would believe that…

Fortunately, with the small army that had appeared, the creature’s transformation proved to be more than manageable. An almost continuous barrage of spells of differing types, multiple volleys of arrows from two ranged individuals, and the coordinated attacks from the host of melee specialists, soon removed the new set of tentacles the monstrosity had sprouted. In fact, by the time Waflaw touched down upon the arena floor, with the Rogue on his back, the fight was practically over.

“And there we have it, folks! The end of the small bonus round of entertainment we had planned for you all! Rest assured the champions of the Sporga Gauntlet will still receive their prize, and our planned mêlée will go ahead after just a brief break. For those interested in taking part, and having a chance at winning a portion of the 200 gold reward, simply make yourself known to one of the arena crew. Please keep in mind that signing up requires a Status check, and that those under level 20 are unlikely to fair well.”

“That’s my cue to leave,” Andil said shortly after the announcer had finished speaking. “Can’t wait to hear your beautiful voice cheer me on.” The man’s words and bright smile had Lucinda’s cheeks heating despite herself. “Looking forward to our meal later, too. We are still on for that, aren’t we?”

“Umm… I don’t think I can…”

“Heh, just wait ‘till you’ve seen me in action,” Andil replied without missing a beat. “It’ll be a treat, trust me.” Andil and his friend stood up from their seats. “Catch you in a bit, and don’t forget that cheering.”

“…Yeah, okay. See you.”

Lucinda returned the man’s wave and then watched him walk off down the row of seats.

Even from behind he looks nice…

“Good to see you making friends,” Waflaw’s voice suddenly spoke out from behind Lucinda, causing her to jump in surprise.

“Waflaw! That was awesome!” Lucinda exclaimed as she met her mentor’s gaze and smiled widely at him.

“Hmm? I have no idea what you mean. I just stepped out to relieve myself.”

“Umm, right…” Lucinda said, before bursting into giggles.

“Yeah, like we’re gonna believe that, friend,” one of the men on the row behind said.

“Fine bit of flying,” the man next to him added, followed by a small chorus of agreement from those nearby.

Waflaw chuckled briefly before responding. “I appreciate it. Just as I’d appreciate it if you could keep quiet about it.”

“Aye, I can respect that,” one of the onlookers offered, prompting a bout of acknowledging grunts from the others.

“I miss anything?” Waflaw asked as he sat down once more.

“Not really…” Lucinda replied.

“Not even confirmation of a date later today?”

“…You’re not mad about that are you?”

Waflaw’s subsequent smile put most of Lucinda’s concerns to rest even before he spoke. “I’m not your Father, or your boyfriend, as you well know. But, as your friend and mentor, I’d say you could do better than that cocksure Rogue.”

Lucinda smiled as she looked down into the arena floor.

“That said,” Waflaw continued in a quieter voice. “If you’re just planning to share a night with him, I can hardly stop you.”

“I never said that!” Lucinda exclaimed in embarrassment as her mentor broke out into a deep laughter.

After sighing to herself as she tried to regain control of her freshly heated cheeks, Lucinda forced a change in topic.

“Was that really an Octoise?”

“As far as I know the monsters we saw today were new, or at least rare. Either way, I doubt they’ve been officially named as of yet. Just as I doubt ‘Octoise’ is what they’ll end up being called.”

“Mmm, I thought so…”

“Now where’s some food when you need it?”

Lucinda chatted with Waflaw as they both snacked on the food that eventually passed their way. The atmosphere inside the arena remained lively throughout the break, and Lucinda’s anticipation steadily grew, even as she doubted that the finale could be quite as exciting as the Sporga Gauntlet. Finally, not long after a check-in with Marrow, a number of people began emerging into the centre of the arena.

“Is it really worth showing off like that?” Lucinda asked Waflaw in a hushed tone.

“That’s up to them, isn’t it. Though, it’s only the winners that will get much recognition I imagine.”

“I guess so.”

“I’ve heard rumours that some people are quite fond of that whole gold thing as well.”

“How weird…” Lucinda managed before laughter took her.

“Welcome back folks!” the arena announcer boomed out a short time later. “We’re finally ready to begin the final event of this gladiatorial games! Of the… 31 participants that have signed up today, the best five will earn rewards for the demonstration of their prowess! I know I’m excited.”

A loud chorus of agreement echoed out from the crowd.

“Let me just run through the rules before we kick off the mêlée proper! Like with our gladiators yesterday, outside interference is barred, as are direct attacks above the shoulders. Potions are allowed, but each contender has been given only a single health or mana potion. Furthermore, in the interest of fairness, and ensuring we provide only the very best in terms of entertainment, we’ve prohibited use of some of the more powerful magical artefacts that were in the possession of those you see below.”

“Do you think there’s any… unusual classes?” Lucinda called out into Waflaw’s ear.

As the announcer moved onto to describing the free-for-all nature of the imminent event, Lucinda was forced into more laughter by Waflaw acting out the consumption of a non-existent hat.

“And that’s it! Here comes the countdown: Three… Two… One… Fight!”

To the ecstatic cheers of the audience, the mêlée began, and with so many participants, it was pure and utter chaos right from the get-go. Lucinda had spotted Andil and his friend without trying, but she settled upon watching a robe-wearing woman with blonde hair as the madness commenced. Unfortunately, her choice managed only two defensive spells, before a hail of arrows pierced her torso.

Even with the arena people helping with injuries, it doesn’t look very safe…

Lucinda’s eyes found the man responsible for the ranged takedown, but after watching him dodge away from the blades of a chainmail wearing combatant, she looked for someone else to root for. It was almost on the entire other side of the arena, that she found that which she sought.

A Druid!?

The person in question was fighting fiercely in the form of a large, sand-coloured cat, that blended in extremely well with the surroundings.

It must be… In mountain cat form? That’s fitting. Really fitting… A Shifter?

Regardless of what class the shapeshifted individual was, their prowess was plain for all to see. As more and more combatants were forced to concede defeat, the large cat bested those that stood against it, and Lucinda was completely enthralled by the spectacle.

The Druid was as swift as one would expect from a feline creature, yet undeniably powerful, and tough if their ability to seemingly shrug off the various attacks that managed to connect with their furry hide was anything to go by.

As the number of active combatants gradually dwindled, Lucinda remained fixated on the highly capable Druid, though she didn’t fail to notice the distinct lack of spell casters that had survived past the opening minutes. It was hardly surprising, as Lucinda knew full well how vulnerable one was when openly casting spells, but it was a little disheartening for the part of her that was still wondering what it might be like to be a gladiator in the future.

When the surviving participants reached less than a third of the original quantity, Lucinda was somewhat surprised to spot Andil amongst their number. Taking a moment to watch as he battled and ultimately defeated a ranged opponent, Lucinda was forced to concede that he wasn’t just an attractive boaster. However, her real favourite soon put an end to the Rogue’s chances of claiming victory, as the leather-clad man was pounced upon and savagely violated by tooth and claw.

I guess our date’s off then… Although, I wonder what that Druid is like… Ah, maybe it's a she, I think the males are a bit larger?

There were just five remaining as the battle firmly transitioned from the initial chaotic mess it had started as, to something much more neat and professional looking. Two were dressed in heavy plate armour, one a typical silver in colour, the other a faint blue that Lucinda couldn’t help but admire the look of. Another was the chain-wearing man she had noticed earlier. Leaving one leather-clad man, and then finally, the Druid in cat form.

However, shortly after the Druid’s victory over Andil, the blue plate wearing man bested the leather armour wearer, bringing the combatants down to just four. The Druid wasted no time in engaging the man, who answered the challenge with several thrusts and sweeps of the spear he wielded, and from there the two flew into an intense back and forth series of attacks and counter-attacks.

She's fast, but spears are so unfair!

Unfortunately, as the engagement dragged on, it became clear that the Druid wasn’t making much headway in defeating her spear-wielding opponent, and as the pointed weapon caused minor wound after minor wound, Lucinda was left wondering about the potential reasoning behind her decision to remain as a cat.

A sudden increase in the crowd’s cheering brought her wondering to an end moments later, as the other pair of combatants finished their duel, with the chain-wearing, sword-wielding man emerging victorious. Then, what could have been a three-way stand-off, instead became a new duel between the spear user and the sword-bearer, as the Druid dashed off and began casting an easily recognisable healing spell.

The ensuing battle was tragically short, with the spear holder proving just how inadequate the swords were at overcoming the reach disadvantage – though Lucinda was sure there was also a level or skill difference in play. That left just two combatants, but to Lucinda’s great surprise and disappointment – as well as the rest of the crowd’s – the Druid laid down on the arena floor, signalling her surrender.

“And there we have it, folks! Let’s hear it for our victor!”

The noise of the crowd in response to the announcer’s plea shattered all previous records, and Lucinda herself held back little as she added her voice to the jubilant cries. While the shouting continued, the arena staff finished carting off the injured participants that hadn’t made the top five, which included the handsome Rogue, Andil. Lucinda even sent a wave in his direction as he departed, but the man didn’t seem to notice.

“Hello, hello!” the announcer shouted out, as a man dressed in a flamboyant pink robe emerged onto the sandy arena floor. “It is I, your announcer! Here to dish out the lavish rewards to our brave mêlée champions!”

The crowd’s cheering resumed as the five victors were encouraged to line up in order. The announcer, flanked by three of the same scantily clad women carrying five sacks of varying size between them, moved over to the man who had come fifth.

“In fifth place…” the announcer called out. “Leather King!”

What…? Oh, they have to come up with names too? What would mine be…?

“In fourth place… Denied my Best Item!”

Lucinda laughed along with many of other spectators as she watched the silver plate equipped man receive his sack of gold.

“Third place… Should Have Gone After the Darned Cat! And in second place…”

Annoyingly, the Druid has remained in cat form since the mêlée had ended, preventing Lucinda from learning anything more about her, and if she was even a she. Additionally, her stubbornness seemed to extend to declining to provide a name for the announcer to call out.

“… An unnamed mountain lion! Which just leaves our first place champion! Let’s hear some appreciation for our indomitable victor!” A loud wave of fresh cries met the announcer’s demand, who waited for things to quieten down once more before continuing. “In first place… Piercing Blue!”

After some more cheering, and then some patient waiting, Lucinda and Waflaw eventually emerged back outside into the city streets. Moving along with the other departing spectators, Lucinda was brought to a halt by the sound of a familiar voice.

“See, I went easy on you! Least you can do is buy me a drink!”

The voice belonged to Andil, who was standing further along the outer arena wall next to a dark-haired woman dressed in leather armour.

“Oh Hun, I went easy on you,” the woman replied with a smirk on her face. “But…”

Standing apart from the flowing mass of traffic, Lucinda watched curiously as the woman leaned forwards and whispered in Andil’s ear. Whatever was said, the Rogue seemed quite pleased with it, as his demeanour turned decidedly eager in a flash.

“Hah, knew you couldn’t resist my charms,” Andil said, causing the woman to roll her eyes even as she smiled at the comment.

“Less talking, more walking.”

The pair moved off without delay, leaving Lucinda watching after them feeling faintly amused, and slightly jealous, though she wasn’t prepared to acknowledge the latter even to herself.

“No big loss,” Waflaw said beside her, bringing an almost inaudible sigh from Lucinda’s lips.

“Do you think she was a… Druid?

“Yes. No bear dancing for you today my apprentice. Not without a bribe anyway.”

“…Sorry, I’m all out of coin.” Lucinda replied around barely suppressed laughter.

“Pity,” Waflaw said with a wide grin. “Come on, let’s get moving. Something smells great, and I’m famished.”

“Sure, okay,” Lucinda said, as she too took a whiff of the air. “Mmm, that does smell good. Chicken?”

“Hmm, smells more like Octoise meat to me.” Waflaw’s added wink sent Lucinda into a fit of giggles. “But, maybe it tastes like chicken.”

“…You said it wasn’t called that!”

“You’re right. I did, didn’t I?” Waflaw replied, but made no further comment as he turned and resumed walking away from the arena building.

With an amused shake of her head, Lucinda fell into step beside her mentor.