"Did he run away?"
"Maybe, I mean, I don't see him anywhere around in the arena."
"Seriously, after the Vampire Queen made a deal!"
"I told you, didn't I? That guy was just a coward, and he only won due to the Vampire Queen's interference; otherwise, he would never defeat our Hero."
Chatters and speculations spread like wildfire around the arena, creating a buzzing atmosphere that made it hard to discern any single conversation.
On the higher platform, Adriana's expression turned to a frown as she observed only Theo standing for the race. The once battle-ready arena had seamlessly transformed into the perfect racecourse.
"Where is that boy, Vampire Queen?" Carter asked, his frustration evident in his frown.
".... He will be here any moment," Adriana responded with an air of certainty.
