Cortist Venatus remained frozen in shock, his mind unable to process what he had just witnessed. His brother Aster had been consumed by the demon's blast, devoured by that terrible light, and now the young panther could only stare ahead with his mouth hanging open as his legs gave out beneath him.
The arena sand was warm against his knees, but he didn't feel it. He didn't feel anything except the hollow emptiness where his brother used to be. The loss had stunned him so completely that his world had shrunk to nothing... no sounds, no movement, no awareness of anything beyond the space where Aster should have been standing.
Behind him, something stirred. Something massive and ancient, awakening from its slumber where the human mage had just been standing. But Cortist's shock ran too deep for him to register the great beast rising to its feet, even as it prepared to unleash its fury upon the arena.
His father's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"CORTIST! MOVE!"
