The Champion was still sprawled on the floor, his ornate armor slightly askew, his breathing even.
 
 I looked around, noting the disarray, removed the cloak, and hung it back in the wardrobe.
 
 Kneeling beside the Champ, I gently shook his shoulder.
 
 He stirred, groaning as he opened his eyes.
 
 They blinked a few times before focusing on me, a mixture of surprise and grogginess.
 
 “What… where am I?” he mumbled, rubbing his temples, trying to sit up.
 
 “In your cell,” I replied, my tone even. “You blacked out last night.”
 
 He paused for a moment, trying to recollect. “Did we… uh,” he hesitated, looking up at me with a hint of playfulness, “have a good time last night?”
 
 I smirked, deciding to play along. “Oh, absolutely. That was why you blacked out. You pushed yourself so hard. You were a total sex machine.”
 
 A self-satisfied grin spread across his face. “Well, I always strive to give my best performance,” he boasted, stretching his arms and yawning.
 
 I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
 
 Shuffling to a seated position, the Champion looked at me with a sly glint in his eyes. “So, how about round two… or three? One more before you return to the Prize Pool?”
 
 “No,” I said firmly, standing up. “Last night was enough.”
 
 The Champion raised an eyebrow, perhaps surprised at a Prize taking control. “Oh. Okay. Wait a second. I’ll escort you back to the Pool.”
 
 “There’s no need,” I said. “I can take care of myself.”
 
 I exited the cell, the weight of my feelings for Kuana pressed on me, reminding me of the complicated path ahead.
 
 The love I felt for him was undeniable, but there was a lot we needed to work through.
 
 Closing the cell door behind me, I realized that while Kuana might have changed in some ways, my feelings for him hadn’t.
 
 They had only deepened, evolved, matured.
 
 And though the path ahead seemed uncertain, I was ready to face it head-on, to understand the Tok he had become, and to reclaim the love story that had once defined both our lives.
 
 I turned to march down the hall when I bumped into something — or, rather, someone.
 
 “Excuse me,” I muttered as I shifted to move around them.
 
 But as I moved, they stepped with me.
 
 Oh, great. Now I’m going to have to box this clown?
 
 A large green hand landed on my shoulder, its claws black and sharp. “Come with us. Ikhax wishes to speak with you.”
 
 I gulped.
 
 I thought I would have more time.
 
 But it appeared fate had other plans.
 
 6
 
 VIOLET