After walking back to the door I entered in, a couple of angels speak to me in the chamber. “Do you feel any lingering urge to hurt others, Miss Everlock?”

“None that I’ll act upon.”

With a moment of silence, the other asks, “Do you feel anger or resentment towards those you fought?”

“I hope you ask them the same. The answer for me, though, is no.”

“Good. Do you feel ready to see them again?”

“As long as they don’t lash out at me, yes.”

“Good. Come along, Miss.” They take me out of the room and down a few new hallways I have not seen yet. We arrive at a set of double doors and they open them for me, allowing me in. I step in and see a lounge, of sorts. The three: Nefita, Zitse, and Nasashi, are all sitting around a small table with different drinks in their hands. When they see me, I see mixed reactions of fear, anger, and annoyance.

I go over to the bar where a waiter stands ready and ask, “I’m famished, sir, is there anything I can get to eat?” He provides a menu for me and I order a sandwich and tea, then go to sit down with the others.

“Must be real hungry after mutilating our corpses,” Nefita hisses.

“Was a show,” Zitse answers for me. Thankfully, he understands my reasoning. “No honor between us, Elly,” he says to me.

“Of course,” I smile at him, to which I receive a half-smile back. I look to Nasashi, who still appears horrified. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” I tell him.

“Keep yourself looking like that and I’ll forgive you,” he says with one gaze in my direction. “The workers gave drinks to calm us down. I hardly remember what even happened in there.”

Well, that’s wonderful. Although… “Unfortunately, I had to watch the rest after I got out,” Nefita says, glaring at me. “You are disgusting, Everlock. If you are really capable of that, then you should be imprisoned.” My sandwich and tea are given to me and I thank the waiter, but she continues talking. “Do you really think that is the kind of nonsense we should be showing the people who watch? We are competitors, you are a murderer. What are you going to do next time, cut your victims apart one piece at a time?”

I lift my sandwich, then shoot her a glare back. “Keep talking like that, and the next food I eat will be your flesh in that cage,” I growl at her before taking a bite.

Zitse, after having not spoken for a bit, says, “Overall, was enjoyable.” Around the table, the silence serves as a bit of an agreeance among us; we all had fun. It was a mess and a new experience, no doubt, but it was the most fun I’d had in years. I really, truly felt alive when I was in there. I’ve got to go in again.

After our break in the lounge, we are brought back up to the command room where we first met. I receive multiple different glances from everyone in the room as I sit down, but I ignore them. “That was quite a first battle,” Argoncin says, seeming satisfied. “Congratulations, Everlock, on your victory. Do not celebrate so quickly, however, as we are already receiving requests to send more and more competitors into the arena. While the Creuzetz will certainly be used to settle disputes, it will also be used for entertainment.”

“Argoncin,” Yhanna says, giving her first words since the end of the battle. “Please tell me this is not for fame or money.”

“Of course not,” he replies. Of course, gods and goddesses may be powerful, but they are still withheld to the same standards as those in the living world in terms of currency. However, those with more social standing (Yhannason, Argoncin) are on a payroll just for existing. “It certainly is beneficial to let those participating make a living off of this, but it is not a top priority.” I expect as much; I’m going to be molded to standards to make more money for the people running this. This isn’t about settling disputes or wars, it’s about power and fame. “I understand each of you have been debriefed for any lasting medical or mental issues, so you are free to take your leave. Thank you for your help, being our experiment testers and all.” With that, he gestures for us to go.

Before I leave, Yhanna grabs my wrist, then snaps something onto it. “This is like the Lightwave-" (my light tablet) "-I gave you, but smaller and easier to use. I already put in my details so you can call me on it. Keep it on you for later, alright?” I nod to her and exit the room, then look down at the device. It’s made of the same transparent, dimly glowing material as my light tablet, but it is like a large watch on my wrist. Interesting how technology can progress so quickly that we have new toys every day.

As I’m making my way down the halls to leave the stadium, I get stopped by a small group of teenagers. One, a girl with long, blonde hair and white, folded wings, says, “Hi, Miss. We were wondering if we could get a picture with you.”

I probably look dumbfounded as I ask, “With me? Why?”

Another speaks up, “You’re so cool! How you beat up all those people and won the tournament, it was so awesome!”

“Wait,” I say, lifting a hand to point behind me. “They let you watch that?”

“Uh huh!” Oh no, maybe I need to censor myself out there.

They keep waiting until I say, “Alright, fine.” They smile and then gather around me while one points a miniature camera at us. I give a kind smile to it, then I hear the camera-girl say, “Give us an angry face!” Of course, I know which one they are talking about, so I take a moment to focus my power to transform my head and neck into the Void creature. With fangs showing, I give an evil smile to the camera until I hear multiple clicks from it. When the camera-girl gives the OK signal, they gather in front of me in awe. “Woah!” they let out while gawking at my appearance.

In the back of the group, I see the camera-girl prodding one of the two boys out of all of them forward. Probably infatuated is my guess. Finally, he comes over and asks me to give my autograph, my signature. He hands me a very high-quality picture of myself from the battlefield when I was waiting for Nasashi to wake up. “He thinks you’re pretty,” one of the girls tease.

He protests, but I take the black utensil in his hand, a pen, it’s called, and form a solid piece of Void rock in my hand with magic to write on. While letting my appearance flip back to that of a Human, I use my best handwriting to sign my name on the photo. To make it more lasting for the boy, as I’m sure he is going to show the picture off in the future, I put ‘Lots of love, Emily Ann Everlock’ on it, then hand it back. I see a blush form in his cheeks and the girls start giggling. They thank me and go off on their way, making sure to hand the photo around to look at. Oh, kids, they’re wonderful at boosting my confidence.

Later, in a hotel room in Ascentia, I lie down on the bed while watching the television. On it, I see two news reporters talking about the first Creuzetz. “And on the field of battle, Everlock, representing the Goddess of Love, Yhannason, proved just how powerful she still is.”

The other speaks up, “You know, it’s interesting that we see her come up in a place like this with a goddess like that. I think she is more well-suited for a Descentian deity, or maybe she should simply represent the Void as a whole.”

“The Void, from my understanding, will have no one representing it, so I suppose someone had to take her in. After all, it was only a matter of time before she reemerges for the next trick up her sleeve.” These people gossip too much.

“I’m excited to see what comes of this, folks. Now, let’s talk about-“ I stop listening as my Lightbeam (the watch-thing) begins shaking vigorously on my wrist. I lift it up and see Yhanna’s name with a little green check and red ‘X’ under it. I press the green check and the screen says I’m connected, then a green side-profile picture of a camera shows up with ‘YHANNA is trying to video call you.’ I press the button and a projection appears above my wrist, emitting from the Lightbeam. It’s Yhanna, and she looks like she is moving.

“Did you get it working? Good! Emily, where are you?”

I sit up in bed. “In the Crossing Hotel, it’s not too far from the Creuzetz stadium. Why?”

“Thank the gods you didn’t go home. Hey, order some food for us, I’ll be there soon.”

“Alright,” I say. She waves, then the projection flickers off and the tiny speaker in the device goes silent. I go to my bag and grab my Lightwave to bring up the Internet, then look for any restaurants nearby. My, I feel so famous today, being asked for pictures and autographs then eating out like it’s nothing. I find a place that delivers food, then order some pizza (a delicious mixture of dough, tomatoes, meat, and cheese) for Yhanna and I. After, I rearrange the things in the room to make it more comfortable for her when she gets here (as in, I pick up my discarded clothes off the floor). When I’m settled back down, I start fiddling with the Lightbeam. I see that she already put in other contacts as well, like ‘HOME.’ I decide to press the screen where it says I can call home, and I see the screen say it is ‘dialing’ the contact. I wait for a bit, then hear a sound with a notification that says I’m connected.

“Hello?” I hear a voice on the other end.

“Arielle? It’s Emily.”

“I know, you programmed me to remember yours.”

“Uh… right. Where is Lucelle?”

“The Madam is out at the moment. Perhaps you are more interested in speaking to someone else? Maybe Allu?”

I sigh. “Fine- Oh, wait. Arielle, about last night… I wasn’t too-“

“Thank you for the apology, Emily,” she simply says. Great, I screwed up big time. “Allu will answer soon.”

After a few moments, I hear, “Emily, that’s you?”

“It’s me, Allu. Where is Lucelle?”

“She’s spending the night at a gathering with Elysewhyr. What, you didn’t want to talk to me?”

I cross my arms and rest my back against the bed’s headrest. “I suppose I do. How are things?”

“Things are good. You can come home to stay anytime you want, Emily. She isn’t mad at you.”

“Even after last night?”

“Ohhh. We agreed not to talk about last night when you got home. The goddess explained the situation today and told us how upset you were with yourself.”

“Well, at least it was explained. I’m sorry, I don’t remember what I did, but from what she told me, it sounds like I made a fool of myself.”

“Don’t worry, alright? I want to talk about where you were today.”

“Where I was today? Oh.” Right, that.

“You see, on the TV (television), I’m seeing all this news about some gladiator match in Ascentia. Apparently, the victor was one of our own.”

“Right. I’m sorry, I wasn’t-“

“Look, Emily. You’re a grown woman. You can do what you want with your life. Just be wary, you know? You keep going out like this and leaving us behind, we might not be here the next time you come home.”

“Allu, please-“

“Did you know I have a girlfriend now?” His voice is so calm, it hurts to hear. “She’s an Elf in Everencia who works in a boutique. You would know if you spent more time with us, but I guess not. I don’t know, maybe I’ll end up moving in with her.”

“Alright, I get it,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I have to go, I’ll see you all later.”

“Bye,” he says before disconnecting. I put my hand to my forehead and take a few deep breaths. Just wonderful, another great man I now have no chance with. Doesn’t matter, though; I’m destined to be alone anyways.

A knock at the door signals that my brooding time is over, and I slide out of bed to answer it. A handsome angel in reddish robes hands me my food, then says, “Wait, I recognize you. You’re Everlock, the woman in the fight?” I nod and he smiles at me. “This one’s on me, Miss. No charge.”

I shake my head. “No, please, I’m not that important.”

“By the gods, anything but! With everything you’ve been doing, you’re becoming an idol for anyone struggling to stand up to Descentia.” With that, he waves goodbye and leaves without taking payment. Huh, maybe this whole fame thing isn’t so bad. I go sit down with the pizza, then open the box. My hunger, previously underlying, rumbles to life, though I keep myself strong and close it for now. Come on, Yhanna, you can make yourself walk into whatever room you want from anywhere; it shouldn’t take you this long.