Arie's POV

  I saw a dove pass by. The robbery dove. What was it doing here? It wouldn't be able to find food here unless it wanted prisoner food. I should ask Carrie about it.

  "Do you know about the robbery dove?" I asked, holding the plant stem.

  A voice came out from the flower. "The bird just now? I only knew from you."

  "Oh." I said in disappointment.

  Suddenly, the plant stem slithered out. Without saying goodbye.

  I poked my head out of the window and saw guards approaching Carrie's cell.

  That was fast. Skymint just battled.

  They opened the door and escorted her.

  She looked at me with a frown. Something's wrong, but I can't quite place my finger on it. Their footsteps faded away; they'll go to the same underground room where Skymint was brought. I wonder where they stored all the fruit cubes, and whether the gladiator would go the same path back to the prison.

  I veered my eyes down to my handcuffs. These were also enchanted to turn off elemental abilities. It's horrifying that a spell could turn off the power granted by a Magical Fruit. It would be able to hijack even a Class 5 fruit master. Like Felipe. I thought of binding him in these metal bands, unable to fight back. But still, his brute strength is powerful. So far, he's the largest Wolfman I've seen.

  I feel like King Jamaico's looking at me again. I searched the arena down below, and no, he's watching the current battle. Maybe I'm being paranoid. It doesn't help that this window is open, too many eyes below. If only it were large enough that I could escape without my chains, it would at least be helpful.

  Why wasn't King Jamaico attacking Glacia? Is he afraid of Felipe? I wished the Glacian army would charge here and save the heir to their throne, but with this outer arena's structure and dozens of sandstone buildings in this vast kingdom of desert, it would take ages. I still had to find the previous Ice Queen, who is none other than my mother.

  Two humans were fighting in the scorched sand, each one yearning for survival. The harsh sunlight burned on their skin. I've read somewhere that there were Magical Items with heat resistance. Hopefully I could find one here. I would be dying from the heat now if King Jamaico had placed me in an ordinary cell. That's a horrible experience for a Glacian.

  I've told myself I won't watch anymore, but my curiosity wanted me to keep going. Maybe deeper than that.

  If I don't, I would dwell on every passing second, wondering if something bad had happened or will happen to my cousin. She's like my best friend. I missed the times when we were just playing innocent games, wondering about our dreams, and living in a happy family.

  I don't want to lose my cousin. I've lost too many already. I don't want another one.

  Maybe the sorcerer that wrote on my wall could help me. They would be able to counter this kingdom's Dreamer's Magic user. I don't even know who they were. Why am I even thinking of seeking their help?

  Suddenly, a bang.

  The fight had ended.

  Metal cuffs were being bound to the champion's wrists again, but they attacked with a burst of rock before they could be locked. The guards deflected the attack, and they hurled the prisoner to the sand, whipping him, then shot a cactus spine into his neck.

  Then I remembered. Maybe Skymint's unconsciousness wasn't unintentional. They made him temporarily asleep so he wouldn't attack or see where they brought him after winning, because King Jamaico might already know what we were planning.

  The dead bodies remained from the very first round. Carrie might throw up upon encountering them.

  "This time, we'll have a princess in our arena after a long time!" The herald declared.

  The crowd gasped in surprise.

  "All hail to Carrie Windcore, the Plant Princess of Fresha!"

  The Sunstarians gave a wave of applause, while she stood there, shivering. It hurt my eyes. I wished she just didn't come with me and Skymint. She would have been in her comfy palace.

  "All hail to Royalty Thornveil, the Plant Princess of Nyfera!"

  Another round of applause came.

  My heart pounded in my chest. How the heck were they able to get a princess from Nyfera? That kingdom's all the way in the southeast, deep in the jungles. We're in the northwest, in the Sunstar Kingdom. It doesn't make sense. Nyfera isn't the type to hand over royalty, especially not a princess. Now it made me wonder how many Ice Princesses exist in this world.

  The guards released their fruit cubes before leaving.

  Carrie unleashed her raspberry glowing in green aura, which is named Bloomberry.

  Meanwhile, her opponent unleashed a berry fruit too, and with the same aura. My jaw dropped. It's a plant vs. plant. And Carrie doesn't like destroying plants.

  King Jamaico knows well how to destroy his gladiators.

  Once the guards had dissipated, Royalty summoned a series of pale green cactuses growing straight toward Carrie. She quickly dodged, barely, almost getting hurt. More cactuses appeared around her, daring to trap her. It's no surprise. On sand, only desert plants like cactuses and deep-reaching roots can be summoned from the ground.

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  Carrie kept on running, utilizing her enhanced stamina. Her palm materialized a sword made of a sturdy plant, ridged and sharp. They could summon any plant through their palms, just like summoning abilities in other elements of outer magic.

  Meanwhile, Royalty summoned vines from her hands, and Carrie dodged instead of slicing them. My cousin would never hurt plants. She never wanted that. But here, that won't work. She has to fight back for her survival.

  Running would drain her stamina faster than Royalty, who also has enhanced stamina. She'd be at a disadvantage if she got exhausted. After a while, she did.

  I felt a shiver down my spine.

  Carrie stood at the side, panting. Royalty slowly took a step forward and summoned thorns that ensnared my cousin. She got yanked to the center, still gripping her sword hard.

  She screamed, ensnared, the thorns tightening. Her sword wilted slightly in her hand.

  No, please stop her. Slice the thorns. I wondered if Royalty knows how to make poison flow through vines, but this is not the time to think about that. That was a strange thought.

  Instead of getting gripped by the thorns, Royalty freed her with an eerie calmness and summoned pale cactuses underneath, causing Carrie to fall on them. She sprawled on the spines and let out a shriek.

  Those weren't just cacti. They were poisonous.

  The crowd started yelling, even the prisoners spectating. The sounds of banging in the metal prison rumbled.

  "Fight back!" One shouted.

  "Let me replace her!" A prisoner yelled.

  "No, let me fight for her!" Another one cried. It was the voice of Caron.

  I thought about helping her, but yelling would do nothing. But King Jamaico, sitting comfortably on his podium, was unbothered. He won't compromise as long as it serves him entertainment. I just hoped my cousin would be able to overcome this. I'm helpless.

  All of a sudden, she quartered the cactuses using her plant sword. Her body had paled, not only from the poison but from destroying plants. It could have been better for her if her opponent were a flame fruit master. But this whole arena fighting is undoubtedly the worst.

  Carrie formed a hard, large leaf for protection, holding it in one hand with her sword in the other, making her look like a warrior. She was defended from Royalty's plant attacks, and she made her way to reach her closely. She moved faster than before, the poison driving her to be reckless.

  The Sunstarians erupted in applause. It clashed with the storm stirring inside my cousin and the bitterness that I feel toward the fight.

  She sliced through the air, attempting to hit Royalty, but I could sense her hesitation in the way she wielded the sword.

  Royalty moved fast, her gray hair dangling in the air. Her pale complexion was visible beneath unhealed wounds, and her dress was dusted. Just before Carrie could give her a new laceration, mushrooms came out of her palms. Carrie sliced through them, and they exploded with a purple fog.

  Again, she bellowed with rage.

  And it confused me why the poisons weren't affecting her. I'd never heard of her having resistance. It wasn't written in any books. Maybe plant fruit masters are all immune to poison, and only a few ever dared to find out. Just like how I'm resistant to cold as an ice fruit master, but I don't need to freeze myself to know that. I shook my head.

  Carrie staggered back, coughing in the purple fog. Her leaf shield was now wilted at the edges, and her stance had grown shaky. But even through the haze, she kept her eyes on Royalty, trying to find a weakness.

  Royalty stepped forward, calm and composed. The purple fog drifted behind her. She didn't summon anything, not vines, not spores, not even a thorn. Instead, she paused. Her pale gray eyes studied Carrie, almost as if she were waiting. The silence stretched, only broken by Carrie's ragged breaths and the distant chants of the crowd.

  They paced in a slow circle, steps moving with caution. The fog was beginning to thin. I can't hear what they're talking about, but Royalty's movements were sharper and more deliberate, like she had something to prove. Carrie's shoulders were tense, her hands twitching like she was resisting the urge to strike.

  And then the roots broke through the sand.

  Royalty leaped at the same time, but a root's growing end struck her abdomen, painting it red. All of Carrie's screams combined went back to her, facing a pain no poison could surpass. Her eyes went white, never seeing the light of day again.

  Carrie clasped her hands over her mouth, frozen in place. She had dropped her plant sword and shield when the root struck. Her eyes stayed fixed on Royalty's agony. It was too late to shrink her plants, not when she was in shock.

  "Carrie Windcore wins, acquiring her first victory!" The herald announced.

  The Sunstarians clapped and cheered, while the sun blazed in the sky. It contrasted harshly with what had just happened. And I hated myself for being numb about it. I was just as shocked as my cousin.

  The guards dragged her like a doll, clasped her hands in cuffs, and proceeded back to the arena gate. Back to her cell.

  Another battle began, and I realized I was the next one. After watching my cousin, I felt like I should stay here to comfort her. But it wasn't long before I heard the cell beside me open.

  I peeked out and eyed the guards. "Please heal her wounds!" I pleaded.

  "We only take orders from the Sand King." One of them answered.

  "She's resistant to poison, isn't she?" Another asked.

  "But she's wounded." I stated. "She's not just some prisoner."

  "And what could you offer us, Ice Princess?" The third guard asked.

  I paused. Hearing my title sounded strange now, like it belonged to someone else. Someone who could actually do something.

  "See, you have nothing." He said. "Our prisoners have endured their pain, surely she can too."

  He's right. I've got nothing.

  And they turned to walk away. Aren't they going to bring me to the waiting room? It seemed worse than having to fight right now. It dreads me. Still, the guard seemed to be exploitable, might benefit me later. This is a bad idea; I shouldn't be thinking of manipulating others.

  I slammed my fists against the metal wall, the sound echoing off multiple cells adjacent to mine, but I didn't care. If only I had an inner magic, I would heal my cousin. And maybe, those guards would learn their lesson. Suddenly I remembered my father's death. He was killed by a curse. It won't do any good.

  I should be mad at King Jamaico. Well, just Jamaico now. I don't respect those who have hurt my loved ones.

  A crackle of heat sliced through the stale air.

  I stepped back just as the space in front of my cell shimmered and then warped into a column of golden light.

  I almost screamed.

  Jamaico stood in front of my cell, as though my hatred had summoned him. Not only is he a sand fruit master, but a light one too. A double-elemental.

  "Just a reminder that the Wolf King's looking for you. So I thought I'd give you a little more time in my arena before he claims what's his. It would be a waste if he took you too early." He said, his voice smooth.

  "But he would kill me!" I yelled.

  He let out a laugh. "Actually, that's not what his intent is. As far as I know."

  "What do you mean?" I asked, confusion rising on my face.

  "Don't know. At least he would give me the outer village of Glacia in exchange for you."

  "He could be lying." I stated. "I—"

  I cut off my words. I realized I was becoming desperate. I shouldn't say things that I won't do.

  "You would become the Ice Queen and give me the land?" He said before I could. "Sure, but you must survive my arena first."

  "GUARDS!" He shouted. "Take her to the underground chamber."

  The metal door opened, and they uncuffed my wrists.

  "No, no!" I thrashed in their grip as they brought me out of my cell. I remembered the Wolfmen disguised as guards in Glacia.

  I complied and clenched my fists, walking with them toward the stairs. We went to the left, so I wasn't able to glance at Carrie and Skymint.

  I passed by unfamiliar faces peeking out of their windows, and I did my best to remain composed, hiding my fear.

  In the following days, maybe tomorrow, or the other day, I'll be handed to Felipe. And I don't know what he wants from me, but I'm sure I wouldn't like it. Not after he burned my brother along with the ice palace. Not after he ruined my life.

  I'm not his prize. I'm going to find a way to escape before he claims me.