Natasha watched in awe as the King ascended down from the sky to his private box of the Auric Arena, his magical aura filed the area. Gathered by countless nobles who would sell their souls to get a glance at the holy ruler, the King greeted them with arrogance.

"Let the match begin already!" He announced with impatience. The nobles scurried off like sewer rats to the courtesy of the great monarch as he sat pridefully onto his velvet seat. The servants came over from the side, holding up trays of refreshments as the King sighed with satisfaction.

Being in the lower classes meant Natasha has to sit in the bottom rows of the arena. The many citizens of the island filled the pit, the sandy ground smelled of blood and iron.

Natasha knew of the cruel games she has been attending since she was a child, and she was not a big fan. Every two months, the King selects young men from the island to participate in the match, the bloody match filled with sanguine. The men fight each other to death, the one who wins receives glory and even the privilege to magic, the one who loses gets forever buried in this sand pit of cruelty.

Horns blow, and the audience settled down. The arena was quiet, and everyone anticipated the contestants. On the two sides of the pit, giant wooden door pivoted to reveal the two competitors. On one end, a handsome, confident blond man walked in, flexing his muscles as the ladies on the sides gasped. The door on the other end revealed a skinny figure, a dark haired boy with olive skin fearfully gazed at his opponent.

Natasha could have recognized that stance from anywhere, the familiar boy was no other than Kaelan, her childhood best friend.