The Beast in a Cage

   Lilith’s eyes stayed glued to the massive screen showing the unfolding duel. Her hands were tightly clasped together, betraying her nerves despite her outwardly composed demeanor. In her mind, thoughts raced.

   Noah… You will win, right?  she wondered, biting her lip anxiously. The sight of him charging into the fray, surrounded by Liam’s golems, filled her with a mix of hope and doubt.

   “Elizabeth, is everything okay?” her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts, startling her.

   Lilith turned toward her, her expression momentarily flustered. 

   “N-no, everything is fine,” she stammered, her tone betraying a lack of conviction.

   Sylvia Vermillion, her mother, sat poised beside her. She was the very image of elegance, her beauty strikingly similar to Lilith’s, though tempered by a maturity that only time and hardship could bring. Her pink hair was tied neatly into a braid that fell over her shoulder, and her sharp crimson eye radiated quiet strength. Over her right eye, however, rested a black, intricately embroidered eyepatch—the reminder of a wound that had never fully healed. The patch did little to diminish her allure; if anything, it added an air of dignity to her presence.

   “In that case, good,” Sylvia said, her voice calm yet thoughtful. Leaning back, she narrowed her visible eye at the chaotic battle unfolding on the screens. 

   “However, the situation has truly become quite turbulent. As expected of Zephyra’s son. They’re like two drops of water.”

   Her words struck a chord deep in Lilith. Guilt welled up, tightening her throat.

   “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice so faint it was almost lost beneath the crowd’s cheers.

   Sylvia turned toward her, her stern features softening. 

   “Don’t worry,” she reassured her gently. “I know you only meant well. I understand how much you want to help, but I’ve told you many times—we’ll manage somehow. You’re still a child. You should just do what you want to do.”

   Lilith’s heart twisted, irritation rising like a spark. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping slightly against the floor. 

   “I need to go to the restroom,” she said curtly, sharper than she intended.

   Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out. The hallway outside was quiet, a sharp contrast to the roar of the arena. Each step echoed faintly as she made her way toward the restroom, trying to collect the storm inside her.

* * *

   Lilith stood at the sink, the cool water running over her hands. She stared at her reflection, her mother’s words circling endlessly in her head.

   You’re still a kid, you should just do what you want to do.

   She scoffed quietly, her lips curling bitterly. 

   “And what if this is what I want to do?” she muttered.

   The creak of the bathroom door opening drew her attention. She lifted her gaze and found Zephyra striding in, her confident gait carrying its usual ease. Her lips curved in a casual smile.

   “Hi,” she greeted.

   “Aunt Zephyra?” Lilith blinked, surprise flickering across her face.

   Zephyra leaned against the tiled wall, folding her arms. “Are you okay?”

   Lilith straightened, forcing composure. “Yes. I just needed a little time alone.”

   Zephyra didn’t answer immediately. She stayed where she was, arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on Lilith. Silence stretched, heavy and insistent. Under that gaze, Lilith fidgeted, her eyes drifting away.

   Finally, the weight became too much, and she spoke, her voice smaller this time. 

   “Do you think… Noah will win?”

   Zephyra tilted her head, considering. “This is his first real duel—and the first time he’s using magic in actual combat. Liam, on the other hand, has years of experience. He’s a veteran.”

   Lilith’s chest tightened. Her eyes dropped to the sink. “So his chances are pretty low, huh?”

   Zephyra’s lips curled into a smirk. “I’ve seen a few of Liam’s fights on TV. I won’t deny it—he’s a genius. Against an ordinary opponent, he’d dominate easily. But…” she pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “…my kid is different.”

   Lilith blinked, confused by the sudden confidence in her tone. 

   “What do you mean?”

   Zephyra rested a hand casually on the sink beside Lilith. “When you cage a beast, it doesn’t get weaker—it gets more aggressive. More unpredictable. That boy is exactly a beast like that. That's why I know, he will definitely win.”

   Lilith’s mouth parted slightly, but didn't say a word. 

   Is it okay to call your own son a 'beast'? 

   "I-I see..." She glanced at her reflection, and to her own surprise, found a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I’m a little envious,” she murmured under her breath.

   Zephyra raised an eyebrow. “Hm? Did you say something?”

   Lilith straightened quickly. “No, nothing. We should go back now.”

   Zephyra studied her for a beat, then nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

   Together, they left the restroom and headed back toward the VIP area, the distant roar of the crowd greeting them again.

* * *

   The forest arena reverberated with the crash of stone and the sharp rhythm of my breathing as I darted through the endless assault of Liam’s creations. Every movement demanded precision—every heartbeat was survival.

   A spear whistled past my ear, close enough to slice a strand of hair. I dropped low, palms brushing the mossy ground before springing back. A low-hanging branch snapped under my grip as I vaulted upward, flipping into the air. From the height of my arc, I yanked two Arcana cards free. They pulsed red like molten iron before shattering in my grip.

   FWOOM! 

   Twin firebursts erupted below, engulfing a cluster of golems in a wave of heat and smoke. Stone fragments exploded outward, scattering across the forest floor.

   I landed lightly, momentum carrying me into a spinning kick that shattered an advancing golem’s arm into rubble. The rush of battle filled my chest, and I couldn’t stop the grin tugging at my lips.
“Not bad,” I muttered, exhaling hard.

   But my moment of satisfaction was short-lived. Shapes emerged from the drifting smoke—more golems, stepping from the shadows like an unending tide.

   “Where the hell are you all coming from?”

   The ground trembled beneath me. I spun, only to see a massive stone fist breaking through the tree line. Instinct kicked in—I raised my forearms just in time. The impact roared like thunder. Pain shot through me as the blow sent me crashing into a tree trunk.

   BEEP—WARNING: 60% LIFE POINTS REMAINING.

   A mechanical voice from my bracelet chimed in:

   I slid down the trunk, groaning, one arm clutching my torso. 

   “Tch… You bastards hit harder than you look.” My arms still glowed faintly, runes of reinforcement sparking across my skin. Without it, I would’ve been probably finished already.

   The earth shook again. Heavy footsteps. More of them, closing in from every direction. The forest pulsed with their advance, an army of stone surrounding me. My breath came rough, but my grin returned—wider this time.

   Why is it… that I feel so alive in situation?

   I pushed myself up, one hand braced against the scarred tree. Slowly, I reached into my pocket. My fingers closed around cool metal.

   Click.

   I slid on the sunglasses, the world around me reflecting sharply off the tinted lenses. My grin sharpened into something feral.

   “So…” I whispered, closing my eyes for the briefest moment.

   When I opened them again, my irises were no longer their usual shade. They shimmered with kaleidoscopic colors, twisting and swirling like living gems beneath the dark lenses.

   A wicked smile stretched across my face.

   “It’s time to get serious.”