Realm of Token

The Demon Queen was regal and beautiful in every aspect of the words. She had pale skin, long straight hair the color of copper, and piercing bronze eyes. Her smile was captivating, yet rarely seen. Her dresses were another matter, entirely. They all consisted of the finest materials, with elegant designs that always complimented her beauty. The color scheme was consistent with rich reds and dark blacks, and they all clung to her figure like a glove. Her heels clicked against the ground whenever she walked, creating a melodic beat that was both hypnotizing and terrifying. She was the definition of perfection.

The Demon Queen had the respect of all of those under her rule. The men admired her beauty, the women admired her clothing choices, and the children looked up to her as a role model of who they wanted to become in the future. While her reach in her rule was limited, she still had the potential to be a great leader. That being said, she was still just that, a Queen. A Queen who held no true power, despite the grandeur of her title. All her Demon children served under her with unbound loyalty, but her power only contained them and nothing else. Being the queen of a small village was surely nothing brag-worthy, and it irked her deep in her bones. She wanted to spread her power throughout the entire realm of Token. Her thirst for power was insatiable, much like every other king or queen.

The arena was a making of her own doing. While she couldn't leave the village limits, she could still expand the village in the name of recreation. The arena was built in a grand style and was a large stone building with many entrances and exits to accommodate all her subjects. In an effort to expand her now weak and feeble army, she had instilled the arena in order to train new soldiers in the ways of combat. They were given the task of training with the Queen's personal guards, and if they proved themselves worthy, they were given the title of Soldier. Her guards were the strongest of all the demons, as they were born with immense strength and speed, which primarily came from their Havoc Demon blood.

The main purpose of the arena was to pinpoint the Demons in Bellcrest that demonstrated the most potential. Once the Demons proved themselves strong enough to be a member of the army, they would be given the opportunity to serve under her. While many jumped at the chance of working under the Demon Queen, only the strongest and most powerful were given the honor, while the weaker ones would need to continue training. So far, from what the queen was seeing of this year's selection of students, they weren't showing much promise.

"This is pathetic." The queen grumbled lowly, narrowing her eyes at the young Demons sparring down below on the sandy arena floor. "I've never seen so many failures in my life."

"Perhaps we got a bunch of duds this year," Her guard, a large and barrel-chested Havoc Demon with a rather unattractive buzz-cut, said, scratching the back of his neck. "It happens every once and awhile."

The Demon Queen narrowed her eyes. "No. This can't be normal. The last time we got duds, the population of Demons were on the verge of extinction. I cannot allow this. How shall my army grow when I can't find a single Demon worth anything? Haven't they been training since birth?"

"In most cases, I think so," He responded, watching the fight thrive on. "But the truth of the matter is that not everyone can become a soldier. Only the ones that are born with these combat skills can even come close."

"So, what do we do, then? I can't let these weak Demons go on to reproduce and spread their genes throughout our future generations." The queen gave a huff, resting her hands in her lap. From her viewpoint, she could see the entire arena floor and the viewer levels surrounding her. The seating areas for the viewers were stacked in multiple rows of stone benches, including a few binoculars for those who wanted an even better view of the blood and savagery.

"I'm afraid I don't know. If we had a way of getting rid of the weaker demons, then we could increase the potential of our army."

The Demon Queen smirked. "I believe we may have a way of doing just that."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, only time will tell." Her grin widened as she watched the young Demons brawling on the arena floor. "The rest of the demons won't be able to get rid of them on their own. They are too weak. But, what if we had a group of people that would do it for us?"

"A group?" Her guard leaned down low to whisper. "Like...mercenaries?"

The Demon Queen scoffed. "Those fools wouldn't even consider taking my job. No, I need someone who can be paid by the deed itself. Someone who would want to take out the weak demons in exchange for something they want in return."

"You're not saying..."

"I am. I've been holding onto this for a very long while. I think it's about time I let this little gem see the light."

With that, the Demon Queen pulled a small purple orb from her pocket. She turned the orb around in her hand, smirking. It had a few scratches here and there, but otherwise, it looked just as she had received it. She couldn't wait to see what it could actually do. She had gotten in a great many years ago, and the old man who had entrusted it to her had told her that it was only meant to be used as a last resort of sorts.

The fight came to a close, meaning that the next round would begin in a short time.

Jester and Kurja made their way down to the arena floor, both shaking off their nervous jitters, Jester more so than her sister. Looking up, she saw the special balcony reserved for the queen, but the bulky guard blocked her full view of the queen. All she could see were her long legs, one draped over the other, a dark red dress falling over the side. She was leaning forward, her face hidden from view. It only added to her panic and nervousness.

She shook out her hands and let out a deep breath, refusing to look at her mother and father. She knew they were watching her, and she didn't want to seem weak in front of them. She knew that no matter what, she had to win. Not just for herself, but for Kurja, too. Knowing that her father already doubted her skills made her tense, her brain clogging with random thoughts working against her.

"Okay, just remember what I taught you, Jester. We're going to be on the same team, so make sure to listen to what I say. This is going to be easy, so don't worry. I'll take care of things. You just focus on doing what I say, okay?" Kurja whispered, holding tightly to her spear.

"Okay..." Jester mumbled, and a red glow bubbled to life in her hands, and her small daggers spawned as they had during the mock arena battle. The slim silver blades reflected the lights around her, giving them a strange purple hue.

Suddenly, the crowd cheered loudly as the announcer's voice boomed, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the final round! It's time for our warriors to show off their skills as they fight for the glory of Bellcrest! Will they make it to the arena, or will they perish? Will they be our new champions, or will they be crushed by their competition?"

"He doesn't sound like he's on our side," Jester grumbled with a huff.

"He's not on anybody's side, he's just an announcer." Kurja replied dryly.

"And here come the competitors!" The announcer called, and the crowd went crazy with clapping and cheers and chants.

Four doors opened simultaneously, each one opening to reveal a different team. The first team was two large Demons with equally large axes and armor. Their size gave them away to be Havoc Demons. They had bright red hair and dark skin, scars littering their bodies like a painting. The second team was two smaller Demi-Demons with lighter yet more versatile weapons. They appeared to be more agile, which was good. The third team was composed of two Deity-Demons with spears and shields. They were the type to rush in and strike when you least expected it, which was troublesome for the easily distracted Jester and the strategy-thinker Kurja. They all walked to the center of the arena floor, each glaring at the other with a competitive roar in their eyes.

"The teams are lined up! It's time to begin the fight!" The announcer shouted.

"Here we go, Jester. Just watch me and do what I do." Kurja said, tightening her grip on her spear.

"I know how to fight, Kurja." Jester whispered back, swishing her tail back and forth in apprehension. "I can do this."

Kurja turned and smiled at her sister. "Of course you can." She turned back to the field. "Let's win this thing."

The announcer, who stood leaning over the railing with a bright smile, raised his arm, then lowered it.

The queen smiled to herself, leaning forward. "This should be good."

The second the announcer's arm fell, the Demons in the ring charged each other without the smallest bit of mercy. Swords, shields, and axes clashed together with deafening clangs, and the sound of steel on steel filled the air. The crowd cheered and screamed, pumping their fists and yelling as loud as they could.

Kurja and Jester moved in unison, each working together to fight off the larger Demons. Jester's small size worked to her advantage, and Kurja's speed and agility kept the Havoc Demons at bay. With their combined efforts, the other Demi-Demons were quickly knocked down, leaving only the Deity-Demons and Havoc Demons to defeat.

Kurja spun her spear around her body, slamming the blunt end into the stomach of one of the Havoc Demons. He grunted and staggered back, clutching his abdomen. He snarled and charged at her again, swinging his ax wildly. She ducked under his strike and kicked him in the stomach, sending him tumbling backwards. Her strength was minimal, so she relied heavily on her intense training to pull her through. The best thing about rigorous training was that it made her body and mind accustomed to stressful situations.

"This is actually kinda fun!" Jester called out, kicking a Havoc Demon in the face, then elbowing him in the throat. He gagged and wheezed, dropping his sword. She grabbed it and swung it around her head, laughing loudly.

"Jester, focus!" Kurja snapped.

"Oh, sorry." She immediately dropped the sword like a hot potato.

Kurja watched as her sister took on a Deity-Demon twice her size, swinging a heavy battle-ax with a wide arc that cut through the air. Deity Demons were not packed in strength, but their senses were extremely high, especially in battle. This particular Demon had a long black mane of hair and two thick, spiraled horns that curved upwards. His skin was bright and scarred from years of battle, and his teeth were filed down to points. He towered over Jester like a titan, and she gulped as she took a step back.

"I'm not scared." She whispered to herself, tightening her grip on the handle of the ax.

With a grunt, the Deity-Demon swung his weapon at her again, slicing through the air with a loud whistle. She ducked, and the blade struck the ground, sending up a cloud of dirt. He yanked the blade out of the ground and swung at her again, this time catching her on the side of her leg. The fine blade sliced through her jeans and nicked her skin, causing her to let out a small gasp. Blood dripped from the cut, and she looked down at it in shock. The wound wasn't very deep, but it still stung like a swarm of bees. She hissed and jumped to her feet, clutching her daggers.

Her mother, watching intently from the stands, gasped lightly and looked quickly to her husband. "Is this not too much? I fear that our daughter may be in trouble." She said, her voice laced with worry.

He said nothing in return, chewing absently on the inside of his lip. All his previous concerns for his youngest daughter sprang back up to his mind, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 

Kurja tried to come to her sister's aid, but decided against it at the last second. If she came to Jester's side whenever anything happened, she would become dependent. She needed to learn how to handle stress, especially in a battle situation.

The Demon Queen watched in silence, her eyes darting between the two. She could see the hesitation in Kurja's actions, and she could see the nervousness in Jester's expression. She flicked her attention to the other side of the arena, where a Havoc Demon spun an axe over her head, bringing it down on a Deity-Demon's shoulder. He growled in pain, and she chuckled at the sound of the blade sinking into his skin.

Jester somersaulted to the side, dodging the harsh swing of a Deity-Demon's sword.

"You're dead!" He shouted, lunging forward. "You're not going to send me to the gallows! I will not lose to a Demi, all of creatures!

She held up her daggers, blocking his strike. The force of the blow sent her skidding backwards, but she quickly regained her balance and kicked him in the side. Due to his size and mass being greater than her own, he barely flinched, and instead brought his blade down upon her once more. She threw her hand up, and the dagger in her grasp met the sword in mid-air. A loud clang echoed off the walls as metal collided with metal, the impact nearly knocking the weapon from Jester's grip.

Lenix, from where he sat in the stands, examined the Deity Demon closely. All Deity's were naturally gifted with superior reflexes and senses, so they could detect attacks from any direction. And their strength was unmatched. The only way a smaller Demon could beat one would be to outsmart them, and that was not something many Demons could do, especially one who had the mental capacity of a five year old such as Jester.

As she dodged his blows, she looked around. There was no way she could defeat him by brute force, so she needed to think of something clever. He had already managed to land several good blows on her, and she could feel her arms and legs beginning to grow heavy. Sure, combat was her favorite pastime, but not when the stakes were so high. If she lost, she would fail her sister and her family, and she would never feel anywhere near as accomplished as she had felt before.

Glancing up at the bleachers, she spotted the Demon Queen in a faint stretch of light. She was watching her with a look of amusement on her face, almost as if she had already written her off.

"What's the matter, Demi-Demon? Can't fight a real Demon?" The Deity Demon laughed, drawing her out of her thoughts by swinging his sword in a wide arc.

Jester ducked underneath the swing, then spun around to face him. "Oh, I'm sorry, were you speaking? I thought I heard someone, but it was just you breathing heavily."

He stopped for a second, confusion etched across his face. He then roared in anger and slashed his sword downward, missing her by mere inches as she moved aside.

Lenix sat up further in his seat, his eyes wide. Damn, he thought, feeling a small smile draw itself on his lips. She's not half bad.

The Deity Demon lunged forward, swiping at her with his sword. She jumped back, but was not able to avoid the attack completely, and she hissed as the blade left a small scratch on her shoulder. She quickly brought her hand to her wound, looking at the blood on her fingers with a mixture of surprise and excitement.

"Come on, come on, come on." She whispered, watching him closely as he approached her. She ripped off a piece of her sleeve and tied it around her wound tightly, then backed away slowly. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a plan. She needed something clever, something that would really impress the Queen. But what would that be? How could she win a fight with brute strength when she lacked any sort of muscle? All her skill resided in her size and powers.

Powers...she thought, feeling a plan forming on the tip of her tongue. Of course! Why didn't I think of that earlier?

The Deity Demon was closing in on her, so she quickly tossed her daggers aside and placed her hands flat on the ground. A red glow buzzed to life, illuminating around her like a spotlight on a performer. The Deity Demon stopped and watched her curiously, and even Kurja froze from her own battle to see whatever it was that her sister was up to.

"What are you doing?" The Deity Demon asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Last ditch effort at winning?"

Jester huffed, a smile plastered onto her face. "What's a place you've always wanted to visit?"

The Deity Demon blinked, confused by the question. "Uh...I don't know. Mirstone, I guess? Why do you ask such-"

"Great! Have a good time!" She slammed her hands onto the ground and shut her eyes tightly.

The red glow shot from her hands and traversed along the sandy ground, zooming around the Deity Demon in a perfect circle. The glow intensified, and from under the Deity Demons feet shone an even brighter red, almost like a vortex of red swirls and black hues.

"What the..." The Deity Demon said before his words died in his throat. He dropped down rapidly into the circle, realizing at just the wrong moment that it was no ordinary circle, but a portal to some place unknown to him, but he guessed it to be the place he stupidly named. His scream was drowned out as he vanished, leaving behind nothing but a slight breeze that fluttered Jester's hair around her shoulders.

Jester stood up, breathing heavily as she looked at her portal with wide eyes before it vanished in a dull fashion, the glow seeping back into her hands. "Phew, that was tough. I wonder if he'll be able to walk back from there."

The Demon Queen sat up slowly, her eyes transfixed by the work done by the Demi-Demon. She had seen many things in her life, but never had she seen anything like this. It was truly impressive.

Kurja blinked, her face blank of any expression. She wasn't sure how to react to her sister's actions. One second, she was trapped in a corner by the Deity Demon, and the next second, the Demon had been sucked into a portal and sent to who knows where. Truly, Jester was great at improvising.

Before a full minute could pass, the other Demons in the ring seemed to see Jester as a more favorable target. They all turned on her and began running towards her, their claws outstretched and fangs bared. Kurja, seeing the imminent danger to her little sister, immediately ditched her opponent and took off across the arena floor, her heels hitting the dirt with a sharp thud.

Jester's eyes widened. "Oh, crap." She quickly spawned new daggers and assumed a sloppy battle stance as Kurja joined her side.

"We need to form a plan. We can take them all on with brute force, or we can strategize." Kurja said, examining each opponent rushing towards them.

"That's what you're good at, not me!" Jester said quickly.

"Come on, Jester, you can do it! Just think, and remember all the strategies I taught you." Kurja said, glancing at her sister before turning back to the other Demons charging forward.

Jester released a breath and gripped her daggers tightly, to tight that her hands turned white from the pressure. She closed her eyes, trying to remember all the combat and strategy lessons Kurja had given her. She could almost feel herself in her classroom, listening intently to her sister's words. Her sister's voice echoed in her ears, and she could see the words floating around in front of her, like a giant chalk board.

Kurja's voice echoed in Jester's head, and she opened her eyes.

Kurja looked at her sister. "Well? Do you have a plan?"

"Yes...I think so. We can do this." Jester said confidently, a grin on her face. Then, without a warning, she darted forward.

"Wait, what?" Kurja shouted, but Jester was already gone.

"Hey, you guys!" Jester called out to the Demons rushing towards her. "You wanna fight me? Come on, then! Let's do this!" She ran past one of the Demons and sliced at his leg, making him stumble.

The Demons changed course, now heading towards Jester instead of the Kurja, who stood looking mildly confused.

The Demon Queen leaned forward in her seat, a small smile curving onto her face. "What little trick does she plan to pull now?"

Jester charged up a bright ball of her energy into her palm, the light illuminating her features and making her look ethereal. She threw her hand forwards, releasing the power and causing a brilliant explosion in front of her. A great boom shook the stadium, the walls shaking as large cracks appeared and spread through the surface. Dirt flew everywhere, landing on both Kurja and Jester. The other Demons in the bleachers seemed shocked at the sudden change of events, especially the queen herself. The blast was powerful enough to launch every Demon in her line of sight into the air like confetti, and caused the entire ground beneath her feet to shake violently.

Kurja covered her head with her arms and shielded her eyes from the dirt and cement blocks falling from above them, slamming onto the sandy ground and spewing the small grains in every direction.

Jester skidded to a halt, her feet slipping on the sand granules, causing her to face-plant directly onto the ground. Smoke fizzed around her hand before slowly disappearing, leaving behind only tiny wisps of red. She grunted and stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes, and looked up at the result of her power.

All the Demons surrounding her that had previously tried to kill her lay sprawled across the floor, either unconscious or too stunned to move, some with twitching limbs or lolling tongues. She glanced around the arena for a moment before sucking in a deep breath, clenching her hands into fists. She suddenly felt a thousand pairs of eyes boring into her, like she was the center of attention. Turning her head, she saw the shocked expressions of her mother and father, the O-shape of their mouths, and the look of amazement on their faces. Looking away, she brushed a few strands of hair from her eyes and gritted her teeth. "So, that wasn't so hard, huh?"

Kurja walked up beside her, staring at the pile of unconscious Demon bodies jumbled together. "So...that was your plan? Take them all out at the same time with...some type of energy blast? What would you even call a move like that, anyway?"

"You'll figure it out when you become stronger, Kurja," Jester said with a playful grin, lightly punching her shoulder.

"Don't mock me!" Kurja snapped sharply. Jester only giggled.

"The fight is coming to a close! Who will win now? The last two competitors are left standing!" The announcer voice boomed loudly, his voice bouncing off the walls and amplifying itself.

"Huh?" Jester cocked her head. "What's he talking about? We won! The fight's over."

Kurja realized it far too late, and a sinking feeling overcame her. She took a step back and sighed. "...Oh..."

Jester grinned and began to dance around, clapping her hands happily. Kurja's glare quickly faded and she raised an eyebrow in amusement, but it quickly morphed to frustration. Only one was allowed to win the Tournament. That was the whole purpose. Each round, one Demon was allotted the victory, giving them a spot in the army. There couldn't be two victors in one round. It didn't work that way. Meaning, as much as Kurja hated to admit it, but it was her against Jester. And Kurja had worked too hard to get to where she was. She wouldn't allow herself to fall into the bottom ranks again, after everything she had done to get this far.

As Jester danced and joyfully skipped around the ring, Kurja gripped her spear tighter, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. She had to win. She ignored the fact that Jester was her sister. She ignored the fact that Jester was stronger than her. She even ignored the fact that there was no other competitor left to fight. All that mattered right now was the outcome of this match. Her future depended on it.

Jester seemed to notice her sister's change in mood, because she stopped dancing and turned to gaze at her, her eyebrows raised in confusion. "Kurja? Why aren't you celebrating with me?"

Kurja, with her eyes locked to the ground, released a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "I'm sorry."

She flipped her spear and lunged forward, jabbing the blunt end of the staff into Jester's chest. The breath was knocked from her lungs, and she was sent flying backwards. She slammed into the stone wall behind her, and then tumbled down to the ground. The crowd roared, some in support of Kurja, and others in support of Jester. Their mother and father jumped from their seats, both stunned into silence by the sudden change in events. Even Lenix perked up, his eyes wide and full of shock. He looked over at the Demon Queen, who looked deeply impressed.

"It seems that Kurja has made the decision to advance in the tournament!" The announcer said, his voice echoing off the walls.

Kurja felt an awful feeling bubble up in her chest. She told herself that it wasn't a stolen win, despite Jester doing most of the work to get them this far. Jester was an amazing fighter, and she had the skill to prove it. But the fact that Kurja had won the battle against her sister still made her feel guilty. She tried to convince herself that it was because she had gotten lucky, but deep down, she knew that it was because of her greed. Her desire to win overcame her. She wasn't always competitive, but the amount of effort she had put into becoming a member of the Demon army had finally caught up with her.

The crowd cheered and applauded, some even yelling out insults and jeers towards Kurja. She ignored it all, however. She stared straight ahead at the stone wall of the arena, her eyes distant. Jester was slowly sitting up, though she didn't appear to be hurt. She rubbed her chest with a small frown on her face, confusion mixed in with her look of pure shock.

Kurja was crowned the winner of the second round, meaning that she would advance to the next round, and so on, until she was the last victor left in the ring. Jester and the other Demons who had suffered a loss were escorted from the ring by the Queen's royal guards, all the while the crowd kept losing their minds at the spectacle that was the entire second round. While Jester was dragged to the arena exit, she cast a look at Kurja. Not one of anger or sadness, but of confusion. Kurja couldn't help but feel even worse.

"Kurja! Kurja! Kurja!" The crowd chanted, stomping their feet on the ground.

Kurja bowed stiffly to the crowd, then turned and walked off the sandy arena floor, refusing to look in her parent's direction, or Jester's.

Lenix stood from his seat, shaking his head with a scoff. "At least I didn't have to pay money to get in here."

The Queen's royal guards led the failed Demons to the infirmary, where they would be given a brief checkup to make sure that there was nothing serious to report. This was mostly to avoid any legal issues that could come up from the Queen herself. She may not seem like much, but when it came to the law and order of her kingdom, she took things very seriously. The last thing she needed was to have a lawsuit filed against her because one of the Demon fighters had broken another's arm in the midst of battle and the mother wouldn't hear of it.

Jester sat down on a small wooden bench with a huff, staring at the floor. The other Demons in the room didn't dare approach her, as if she were sick with some unknown illness. The last thing they needed was to be infected with whatever crazy-girl disease she had. But at the moment, her only concern was on Kurja. She tried to wrap her head around what had happened, but it was all too fast. They had been so close to winning, but now she was sitting by herself in the infirmary and her sister was being hailed like some goddess. She sighed heavily, frustrated that she couldn't understand. She decided to take note of everything she had done in the battle. Maybe she had done something to make Kurja mad. Mad enough to steal the win right from under her feet.

She thought back to the fight, replaying each move and motion over and over again, trying to pick out a flaw. Something that had made her lose. It wasn't until she was halfway through the battle that it dawned on her: it was her fault. She had messed up. She had moved too slow, she had hesitated when she should have attacked, and she had gotten hit when she could have blocked. Kurja had been calculated and calm, and Jester had been running wild and acting like an idiot. She didn't blame Kurja for taking the win. Jester knew how hard she always worked, so maybe she deserved a victory.

"This is stupid..." She muttered, rubbing her eyes. She stood up and walked to the door, only to be stopped by a guard.

"Where are you going?" He asked, blocking her way with his rather bulky arm. "You need to stay here."

"I'm not injured, though," Jester said with furrowed brows.

"Rules are rules. You are not permitted to leave until you have been given medical attention. We don't want you passing out from your injuries during the walk home and suing the Queen. You wouldn't win, but still. Have a seat."

Jester rolled her eyes and tried to push past him. "Look, I'm fine! I don't need any attention, and I'm not going to sue the Queen for anything. I just wanna go home. Come on, please?"

The guard gave her a hard stare, then slowly shook his head. She groaned and stomped back to her seat, crossing her arms firmly over her chest.

Through the walls, she could hear the roaring crowd and the cheering of the Demons. She could even hear the Queen's voice echoing over the crowd, telling them about the next match. Apparently, some guy named 'Echo' would be fighting someone called 'Necro'. It sounded like a boring match, but Jester couldn't care less at the moment. She was far too annoyed by the fact that she was trapped here against her will. She would have to wait until someone else was injured enough to get medical attention. They would be her distraction, and she would be able to possibly speak to Kurja about her surprise attack.

While Jester was being held medically hostage, Lenix was struggling to exit the bleachers. It was impossibly crowded, something he hated more than anything. He had only attended the arena to watch Jester fight, and since that fight was over, he didn't see a need for him to stay and watch the rest of the battles. Just the sight of blood alone would make him vomit.

But no matter how hard he pushed or shoved, he couldn't get out. The Demons around him were far too invested in the battles, so they didn't notice or care that Lenix was trying to slip past them. He finally decided that it was pointless and that he'd have to wait for the fights to be over. He found an empty spot near the wall and sat down, placing his chin in his hands. He was grateful that no one was seated next to him, which gave him a slight moment of comfort before all the shouting wafted towards him. 

"Not too many capable Demons this year. What a disappointment." A honey-like female voice spoke. Lenix perked up and looked around, spotting the Demon queen seated a few feet away from him, speaking to one of her guards in a hushed voice, though his enhanced hearing managed to snag a few of their lines.

"We can't exactly control the number of Demons that are interested in participating, your majesty." The guard replied, his voice soft and gentle.

The Queen sighed. "I suppose you're right. But that one young thing...with the red hair. What interesting power she has. How old was she? Do you know?"

"I do not, your majesty."

"That was an excellent performance. It's not often we see a girl fight so fiercely. And that portal magic was certainly very flashy. What a shame she lost. She would have been an excellent candidate for the army."

"What should we do with the ones that lost? Are you really serious about..." his voice trailed off, almost like he was afraid to finish his sentence.

The Queen waved her hand, as if swatting away a fly. "Of course I'm serious. The only reason I started these tournaments was to find capable warriors for my army. It's a shame that more Demons don't come out and participate. And the way I see it, the only way to encourage my little underlings is to weed out the weak, as that saying goes. Kill the ones that don't impress me, leaving room for only the strongest."

Lenix tensed and leaned back in his seat, his stomach churning. Of course he knew that the Queen was ruthless and that she would kill whoever she pleased, but he never expected her to be so blunt about it. 

She's really going to kill the ones that lose? He thought, biting the inside of his lip. I thought this tournament was just a silly way to let the Demons show off their powers. I didn't think people were going to die.

His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the sounds of the screaming crowds. Without realizing it, his mind drifted to Jester. He pictured the Queen towering over her lifeless body, a wicked grin on her face. No, it couldn't happen. If anyone was going to die, it wouldn't be her. He refused to let that happen.

A loud roar from the crowd snapped him out of his thoughts. One of the Demon fighters had ripped the arm off of another fighter, and was now covered in his bright red blood. Lenix fought back a gag.

"The ones that were taken to the infirmary...make sure they don't leave." The Queen said, elegantly taking a sip from a gold wine glass. Her copper eyes surveyed the crowd, as if just looking for her next targets.

The guard bowed deeply, his hand over his chest. "Yes, your majesty."

Lenix sprang to his feet and shoved his way through the crowd, ignoring the annoyed grunts and shouts that he received. He kept glancing back at the guard, who was taking his own route to the infirmary. He huffed and pushed harder through the throng of bodies, even going so far as to jump over them. He slid down the narrow staircase and burst through the infirmary doors with a resounding clang.

The main office opened before him, with chairs lining one wall and a reception desk against the other side. The actual infirmary building was just on the other side of the double doors across from him. But it was what was behind the reception desk that stopped him. 

A tall man stood there, dressed in the royal guard's armor. His long black hair was tied back in a ponytail and his hands were resting on the hilt of his sword. His red eyes stared at Lenix with a cold glare. He definitely didn't look like friendly reception.

"What are you doing?" The guard asked, stepping around the desk towards him.

Lenix looked up at him and swallowed thickly. This is gonna suck.