In a wide, black expanse, the only perceivable things were a vague sense of anxiety and heat. It was uncomfortable, especially in how it persisted.
Both the temperature and the fear fluctuated just often enough and just randomly enough to perpetually draw attention to themselves. Further, they were unconnected to one another; the heat could spike while the anxiety remained at a rough plateau, and vice versa.
Of course, these details were utterly lost on the sole occupant of this expanse. All that mattered to her was the perpetual discomfort that plagued her weary mind.
Soon, a sultry woman's voice suffused the space. "Hmmm… how dreadfully dull. I'm so bored, what am I to do with myself? Hmm? What's this?"
After a brief pause, she continued, "Oh, my, I'd forgotten about this sweet sapling! Dear, oh dear, she's been tampered with, that's right! I wonder, how can I help…"
A more familiar voice interrupted, "Wait, your Eminence! Please wait! She's in the middle of my Storytelling Games, if you fix her now, it'll ruin everything! I beg of you, this once, please forgive my impertinence and refrain from interfering!"
The heat in this place violently skyrocketed, the woman's anger palpable.
"YOU!" She bellowed, "You insolent wretch!"
Then, her anger cooled, and the temperature returned to being, just barely, mildly too hot for comfort.
"Fine. I shall take her to my domain. She shall be excluded from your Games henceforth. I assume she was a Participant due to taking on the debt of another? What is the price of her freedom?"
Zorhellian sounded resigned to his fate, though still reluctant. "The man's debt was substantial. Including interest, various fees, and the price of disrupting the Games, that's 300 million mithril bars, my Goddess,"
"Hmm. That sum will take a brief while to collect," the woman sighed, her voice thick with disappointment. "Whatever, I'm bored again. I'll be back to get her later. Or, maybe not."
"Very well, your Eminence," Zorhellian said respectfully. "I'll await you with eagerness."
"Hmm, perhaps I will hasten to return, then…"
Something in her voice suggested that she spoke with a twinkle in her eye.
----
Alesha gasped awake, doused in sweat and coated in sand and still-wet blood. She was no longer in pain. Had she healed already?
She sat up abruptly, looking around.
Almost as soon as she did, the announcer's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"Aaaaaaaand that's a wrap! With a powerful surprise attack, the resurrected Hatil dealt a deadly blow to the arrogant Ryker, freeing Collin from Absolute Hypnosis and ending the match!! What a maaaaaaarvelous game!"
"Seriously? It's over?" Alesha muttered.
[Indeed it is,] Rogork said, sounding strangely sober.
"What, did you want me to be the protagonist of this event or something?" Alesha teased.
Rogork didn't respond.
"Seriously?" Alesha asked, surprised. "You really wanted me to be the protagonist here?"
[You were unconscious, so you couldn't get as much XP to evolve, that's all,] it huffed in response.
Alesha's mirth died down as she realized how likely that response was to be the case. It was very likely. Had she been projecting fondness onto Rogork where there was none?
… No, if that were the case, it wouldn't have responded in a sulking manner.
Wait, wait, wait, Alesha thought. Does this mean Rogork wasn't totally lying when it said it cares about me?? That can't be it, so why…?
Her contemplations were interrupted when Lotte' approached, extending a hand.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yeah, I am now," Alesha answered. "Getting slashed in two really sucked, but I'm good as new now!"
Lotte' looked at Alesha with a mix of admiration and concern. "Ya sure you're okay? Seriously, that looked f*cking painful."
"Yeah, haha," she managed.
Her mind was elsewhere.
Just what was that dream about? She wondered. Did I seriously have a dream about Toltura and Zorhellian talking about buying me out of the Games? At this point??
[EEEEEEE!]
Alesha blinked several times, wondering if she'd heard wrong.
But no, Rogork did it again.
[EEEEEEEEEEEEE!]
The heck??
However, Lotte' was watching, so Alesha did her best to ignore as Rogork made several more high-pitched squeals.
When Lotte' turned around, Alesha asked Rogork, What on Elantris are you doing??
[Can't you tell, can't you tell? Aren't you excited? Why aren't you excited??]
Its rapid-fire questions and their content made it click for Alesha: Rogork had been squealing with excitement at the prospect of meeting Toltura.
I thought you didn't care all that much about her??
[Why wouldn't I care?? She's the Goddess of Chaos, embodiment of all that is Chaotic, and she can probably fix us!!]
Alesha didn't believe that for a second. Toltura, Goddess of Chaos, offer to help? No way. She probably had some sort of ulterior motive for having any desire to "rescue" her from the Games, after all. Just because she no longer believed Toltura was behind all the misfortune in her life didn't mean she was willing to trust her.
[Suit yourself,] Rogork huffed. [You sit in your distrustful little corner, and I'll look forward to the help of the Goddess.]
Sure, sounds good, Alesha thought.
If she were ever to put her trust in a deity, she would never choose the Goddess of Chaos, of all things.