Liliana and Koth’talan watched the illusion after Basil left. There were only the two of them left remaining in the room now, besides Liliana’s resting bonds. The silence was almost oppressive, weighed down by all the friends who had been here and were gone now.

“Are you ready?” Liliana asked quietly.

Koth’talan looked at her, his fiery orange eyes assessing. Liliana appreciated that he did not have a response on the tip of his tongue, that he seemed to be weighing the words before he spoke them.

“I’ve been waiting my entire life to face my own siblings,” Koth’talan spoke softly, but his words held a weight to them. “The Alfein court is not a soft place, the empire is a deadly place, and will quickly break an unfit ruler under its heel.” Koth’talan looked down at his sword, testing a thumb against the edge, not even wincing when the razor-sharp blade bit into his flesh.

“Since I was born, it has been my destiny to face those I share blood with at the end of a blade. To either cut them down, or be cut down in turn.” Koth’talan slid his blade into the sheath sitting on his hip, the harsh sound of metal against leather far louder than his voice.

“So, am I ready to face my brother in a school contest where blood can not be spilled?” Koth’talan echoed Liliana’s question, an almost sardonic twist to his lips.

“I am ready to see if the skills I’ve been taught will be enough for me to keep my life, or if I’ll find that the only thing keeping my head on my shoulders is the sentimentality and softness of this country.” Koth’talan finished, leaning back in his chair as Basil and Upperton agreed to the rules on the sands.

Liliana watched the dæmon for a long moment as the fight was called to start. Flashes of greenery flickered in her peripherals, but the prince sitting before her held her full attention.

“Sentimentality, softness.” Liliana murmured, tasting the words on her tongue and finding them inadequate.

“If Alfein, there would be no shields. Death would be seen as a preferable outcome to loss in my country.” Koth’talan nodded at the illusion, where Upperton was using her Earth affinity to keep Basil from growing his plants, forcing him to only make use of his martial skills. It meant Upperton had to devote her Earth affinity and attention to keeping Basil from summoning anything, and put them on even ground.

But Basil was not a fighter, not like Liliana, or Koth’talan were.

“I think,” Liliana said quietly, eyes flickering to the illusion for a moment before she looked back, “that you’ve fallen for the illusion Cista weaves.” She finished, fingers drumming against the handle of a dagger.

“You think we’re soft, but you don’t realize, the most deadly predators are masters at camouflage. They wait for their prey to relax their guard under the illusion of safety. Never realizing they’ve walked right into the jaws of the death.” Liliana finished and let her attention switch to the illusion, where Basil was trying to avoid Upperton’s needle like daggers.

His orange shield showed that he had not been successful thus far.

“Perhaps, Lili,” Koth’talan spoke up as Basil fell under a brutal, lightning fast assault from Upperton. Liliana’s heart ached with the latest loss, but she had almost expected this. Now all that was left of their original group was Koth’talan and her.

One of them would be the victor of this tournament. Liliana would accept no other outcome.

“If I fail, in my battle against my brother, you can put truth to your words. And show my brother those fangs you hide behind your mask of civility.” Koth’talan tilted his head, a challenging smirk on his face as Liliana stood. Her fight was next.

“Have I ever hidden my fangs?” Liliana asked as Polaris and Lelantos stretched, standing.

“You always do. You defeat your enemies, and most will never realize you’re holding back. But I’ve seen it. The ruthlessness you keep on a tight leash.” Koth’talan leaned forward, eyes glimmering with something Liliana couldn’t decipher.

“Well, don’t lose then. So I can keep my image.” Liliana teased with a half smirk.

“Just once, Lili. I’d like to see you give a fight everything you have. I think it would be something glorious.” Koth’talan shrugged a shoulder, leaning back as Liliana walked to the door.

“Or something terrifying,” Liliana whispered so quietly she hardly felt the words on her tongue as she gripped the door.

She knew, better than anyone, what darkness lurked under her surface. Under that mask of civility, as Koth’talan called it. She knew what she was capable of, and she wasn’t sure anyone, least of all herself, was prepared for what would happen if she released the shackles she held herself bound with.

How appropriate, for a dæmon to see the demons Liliana kept hidden.

“You called me Lili.” Liliana slipped a smile on her face as she stepped out of the door after her bonds, leaning her head in as she looked at Koth’talan with a mischievous grin.

“Only my friends call me Lili.” Liliana shut the door just in time to avoid the projectile sent her way. Hearing the thud against the door, she giggled, turning to walk down the tunnel once more.

With every step she took closer to the arena, Liliana felt the calmness of battle settle in her bones. Her smile falling as adrenaline pushed into her veins. Her heart setting a familiar tempo, her feet instinctively matched it. Thoughts of friends losing before her eyes fell away, replaced with tactics and strategies.

“Levy uses a deadly gas mixed with his Acid affinity. [Poison Resistance] won’t do anything for it. However, his gas moves slowly, and does not rise quickly either. Best maneuver would be to take him down, quick and from above.” Liliana spoke to her bonds as they walked.

“Using poison to take down prey while he waits to strike when they have become weakened. He fights like a snake. This is a human I approve of.” Nemesis hissed lowly in Liliana’s ear.

“Acid, but it is similar to poison.” Liliana corrected as the stone under her feet turned to sand, light once more assaulting her vision in time to the roar of the audience in her ears.

“Lelantos, you take point. Charge and keep his attention. I’ll stay on your back and come from above and the front. Polaris swing from behind Levy and above. We’ll take him down in a pincer move.” Liliana shot off her orders as she met Levy in the middle of the coliseum.

“Before we start, I just want to say. I’m impressed by your tactics.” Liliana called out, giving Levy a smile. The boy blinked at her from behind thick black hair, and Liliana could finally see that his eyes were such a rusty red color they could almost be seen as brown.

“If it was anyone else from my class you were facing, I’m sure you’d win.” Liliana shrugged with an apologetic smile. “But you got me. So I’m sorry for what is going to happen.” She finished and Levy let out a soft snort, closing those inhuman eyes for a moment.

“Confident.” His voice was so soft it was hard to hear over the crowd, like the quiet shush of paper rubbing together.

“Realistic.” Liliana corrected with a smirk as the rules were read.

They both nodded to acknowledge them. A flash of light and their shields settled on them, the professor vanishing as the start was called.

Before the echo of the words had faded from the air, Liliana’s naginata was in her hands, daggers ripped from their sheaths as [Threads of Control] grasped onto them. Power flooded her veins beside adrenaline as her Start Up combo activated.

Liliana’s feet left the earth as she activated [Leap], landing astride Lelantos as he roared and charged, his body growing under her. Polaris was already gone, a blur of fur and wings. Levy must have been watching her previous fights, because as soon as the fight began, gas was billowing out of him like he was a faucet.

It wouldn’t be enough. Liliana had watched his fights. Even against Rathwater, he couldn’t produce the gas fast enough to out speed someone like her. It was his weakness.

Even as the gas came up to his hips, Lelantos was too close for him to stop. Liliana saw her bond’s health ticking down, his shield turning yellow, but she would have all the time she needed to finish this fight.

A yard from Levy, Lelantos came to a sudden stop. Liliana used the jolt to throw her into the air. Levy took a startled step back as Liliana flipped in the air, [Wind Surge] shooting her like an arrow at him. His attention was so focused on her, he never saw Polaris coming from behind and above.

The Kitsune was faster than her and hit first. The force of the hit of [Havoc Claws] and [Chaos Breath] sent Levy falling forward. Right into seven glowing blades as Liliana shoved her naginata and daggers into Levy’s shielded body.

Seven hits of [Radiant Edge] and [Radiant Ignition] on top of a point blank hit of two Rank 4 attacks were enough to drop Levy’s shield to red. Liliana’s feet hit the ground on either side of Levy, her blade keeping him pinned.

“You should’ve run,” Liliana whispered as the fight was called to an end. She pulled her weapon back, letting it vanish into her storage as her daggers slid back into their sheaths. Liliana’s active skills and spells dropped in time with Levy’s deadly mist.

“Would it have mattered?” Levy asked, voice bitter as Liliana stepped to the side.

“Maybe.” Liliana shrugged as she bent over and held out a hand to the boy. He blinked at it for a moment, eyes narrowing as he looked at her face, then her hand, as if waiting for the trick.

“I won’t bite.” Liliana sighed and Levy finally took her hand. She pulled him to his feet easily, shaking his hand once before releasing her hold.

“I’m excited to see you in class S. Perhaps next time we fight you’ll win.” Liliana smiled, honest in her words. Levy still looked like he was waiting for some hidden motive behind her actions, but he at least wasn’t sneering at her.

“It’s a promise.” Levy told her, eyes glinting. Liliana grinned as she turned to leave the arena.

“Can’t wait, Levy.” Liliana called over her shoulder as she stepped back into the tunnel.

“You could have given me a longer respite.” Koth’talan said to her a few feet inside the tunnel, leaning against the wall.

“Now we both know that is an unreasonable request.” Liliana teased as she crossed her arms.

“I suppose it is.” Koth’talan shrugged, pushing off the wall and looking past her at the arena. Where he’d face his brother.

“I’d rather face you than him when it comes to the finals.” Liliana admitted, lifting her chin defiantly when Koth’talan’s gaze fell on her.

“Confident you’ll make it there?” Koth’talan’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“I know I will.” Liliana corrected him and Koth’talan’s shoulders shook in a silent laugh.

“Yes, I suppose you will.” He agreed with a shake of his head, starting to walk past her.

Liliana’s hand reached out and grabbed him by the wrist, and for a beat her mind returned to a moment almost six months ago. When Koth’talan had stepped between her and his brother. When Liliana had reached out to grab him, exactly like this. To thank him for doing something he had not needed to.

“Beat him down, so badly he won’t get back up.” Liliana’s voice had lost its light edge, laced now with steel and fire. “Barring that, make him work so hard for his win it’s not even worth it.” Liliana finished, hand tightening on Koth’talan’s wrist, ignoring how hot his skin was, almost hot enough to burn.

“If my brother wins, it will cost him.” Koth’talan promised, and Liliana nodded, releasing her hold.

“If you lose, I’ll be sure he regrets it,” Liliana told him, as he stepped forward and out of her reach. Koth’talan raised a hand in acknowledgment to her statement as he walked onto the sands.

She stayed there for a moment longer before she turned and walked down the tunnel, returning to an empty room, nothing but her bonds and an illusion to keep her company.

At least, if Koth’talan lost this round, he could return. The losers of the next two fights would need to fight for the third place position. So neither would be exiled to the audience until their fight was done.

And then there would be the final match. The two best fighters of their years, facing off against one another. The victor would be declared the strongest of their years.

Liliana meant to hold that spot in this tournament and every one afterward.

Liliana sat down on the empty couch, Polaris jumping up beside her and resting his head in her lap, his body taking up almost the entire couch, his tails hanging off the end. Lelantos settled at her feet, his body so large he came up to her neck, even lying down.

Liliana watched, hand buried deep in black fur, as Koth’talan faced his brother on the sands. She could see Zir’elon saying something to Koth’talan, though the words themselves were lost to her. Based on the way Koth’talan’s shoulders tensed and his grip on his sword tightened, she could only assume it was an insult.

As if she had expected any better from him.

Koth’talan said something in return that had Zir’elon’s face darkening in apoplectic rage as his violet eyes glared. The rules were read and both dæmen spat out affirmatives. Shields dropped, and the fight was called to start.

Immediately, the two brothers charged, swords drawn and clashing. Runes glowed on every visible inch of Koth’talan’s body, blazing as if they were a physical representation of his hatred. Zir’elon’s sword burned with fire so hot, Liliana wondered if the metal would melt.

Again and again, blade met blade as the brothers clashed across the sands. Sparks flew as fire raged, both brothers emitting flames that blazed so hot they flared a blinding white.

It became clear as the fight progressed that when it came to swordplay; the brothers were almost equal. No matter the speed one attacked with, the other was ready to block. They settled into a rhythm that had neither of them on the upper hand.

Liliana had never put much thought behind the fact that Zir’elon and Koth’talan were brothers. Other than it being the reason that the two so deeply despised each other. They were vastly different, in appearance, temperament and personality, that if one did not know they shared blood, it would never be clear. Yet watching them fight, so perfectly matched it was like watching a mirror performance, Liliana could finally see it.

It was as if they had been trained in tandem by the same master.

Or by the same father.

There were some inconsistencies that broke the illusion, that made it clear their differences. The way Zir’elon’s mouth constantly moved, spitting out taunts even as they fought. How Koth’talan kept quiet, but perfectly in tune with every move his opponent made. How Zir’elon kept an eye on his environment, even in the thick of battle. How Koth’talan tried to use the environment to his advantage, turning sand to slick glass underfoot, or opening lava pits in the hopes of tripping Zir’elon into one.

Despite the distaste Liliana had for Zir’elon, she could admit he was a good fighter. A great one, even. And far smarter than she had ever given him credit for. Every trick Koth’talan tried to use to trip up his brother, Zir’elon subverted. Jumping backwards over pits, stomping down on glass to shatter it.

The fight had reached the six-minute point when Zir’elon disrupted the rhythm, dropping low under a swing from Koth’talan, one hand skating across the ground. He popped back up, tossing the sand he’d gathered right into Koth’talan’s face.

A dirty trick, but effective even in its simplicity, as Koth’talan jerked back, blinded for a second by the debris. Zir’elon leveraged his advantage, his sword cutting painfully into Koth’talan’s side, sending him stumbling. As Koth’talan struggled to regain his rhythm and balance, Zir’elon pursued, sword pummeling into his brother’s body without remorse or hesitation.

It took too long for Liliana to realize Zir’elon was pulling his strength back as he beat his brother across the arena. Holding back just enough that none of his strikes ended the fight too early.

He was trying to embarrass Koth’talan. To humiliate him in front of the entire school.

Anger burned hot and fierce in Liliana’s chest as she watched. Koth’talan put up a valiant fight, preventing Zir’elon from kicking him up and down the arena, but he’d lost the tempo of the fight. Liliana feared this would be where Koth’talan lost the fight, her teeth biting down into the soft flesh of her lips as she watched.

Koth’talan turned the fight around, regaining his rhythm when he swept Zir’elon’s feet out from under him. His runed blade came down heavy on Zir’elon’s stomach, sending him down, but the other prince rolled away from the strike aimed at his head. Zir’elon flipped to his feet, flames pouring out of him and forcing Koth’talan back. Zir’elon burst from the flames and the fight continued, blade meeting blade once more.

Neither brother had a clean shield. Koth’talan’s was an orange that matched his hair and eyes, Zir’elon’s a dark yellow bordering orange. Both brothers were panting from obvious exertion as the fight dragged on. It was late afternoon by now, and both princes had been fighting all day.

Their swords clashed together once more, and in a move that had Liliana gasping in the empty room, Zir’elon dropped his sword. Using the fact that Koth’talan was now unbalanced and overextended, Zir’elon slid underneath his guard, one hand coming up to press against Koth’talan’s face as flames erupted in his palm.

Koth’talan stumbled back, blinded a second time. Zir’elon twisted, elbow connecting in a painful hit that sent Koth’talan further off balance. Zir’elon grabbed his brother’s sword from his weakened grasp as he continued his turn.

Gripping the sword with both hands, Zir’elon stepped forward, using his momentum to send his stolen weapon into Koth’talan. The dæmon was sent flying, his shield turning red as he landed.

Liliana let out the breath she was holding as her eyes closed.

So, it would be her and Zir’elon in the finals match then.

Liliana raised her head, glaring at the illusory image of Zir’elon raising a hand in victory as he tossed his brother’s blade next to Koth’talan’s body as if it was trash.

Soon she would personally rip that smug smile from his face.