What happens goes like this:

The crowd roars in excitement. They roar in veiled fear. Perhaps even in anger.

Really, this was a perfect time to shout out your frustrations. No one would be able to tell them apart from any of the other screams.

But blood rushes through Soe’s ears and she can’t make out the announcer’s words. Can barely make out the shouting of the crowd. All sounds muffled and Soe can only stand stand like everyone else. And stare down below.

The Dark Emperor stands far below, arms stretched out. He even bows elegantly.

The crowd in the stadium ‘boo’s down at him like he’s some kind of comic book villain and not a man with blood on his hands. A man who could - and has - killed crowds of people like this very one.

He stands hundreds of meters away and it isn’t far enough. He could stand on the other side of the world and still never be far enough from Soe. Never far enough from Airin.

Coming here was a mistake.

Soe grabs at one of Airin’s outstretched arms, thrown up in the excitement. She meets Airin’s eyes.

“We need to get out of here, “Soe shouts, but the constant roar of the crowd drowns it out. Airin can read Soe’s face though, and her own face goes solemn, too.

Then-

“And here, the man you’re all waiting to see: The Chosen One!” is announced and Airin’s face lights up.

And then Airin is cheering right along with the crowd again and Soe has lost her.

The Chosen One stands on his pedestal. Silently, he raises his great sword.

It was moderately reassuring.

Soe sits tensely in her seat and fiddles with her knife. She sits when the crowd cheers. She sits while the crowd ‘boo’s.

Peace is near, Soe reminds herself.

Magic crackles in the air - even at this distance - and colorful lights sparkle at center stage. And Soe hates every minute of it.

Peace is near.

A flare of magic whips out towards the audience and Soe’s breath catches in her throat. But the magical barrier blocks it, visible for only the moment of contact.

Soe hesitantly lowers her stiff shoulders.

Breath in.

She stares at the knife in her trembling hands and slowly turns the knife a few times.

Breath out.

Slowly, Soe starts distinguishing the noise around her. The roaring crowd around her is no long the dull murmur it had been. Soe flicks her eyes up to watch the ensuing fight.

The clash of magics below hiss and spew. The air smells of ozone.

The Chosen One lifts his great sword - blindingly bright and visible even from Soe’s seat - in a killing blow.

The crowd cries out in excitement. They cry out in veiled fear. Perhaps even in anger.

And then he falls.

--

What happens goes like this:

A Dark Emperor rises to power, like the Legend said.

The Chosen One and The Dark Emperor meet at the Lunaris Stadium, like the Legend said.

The Chosen One and The Dark Emperor clash in a battle of magics, like the Legend said.

But.

The Chosen One is the one to fall.