"In rounds it is," Philomel raised her hands, the right still holding the white sword Nameless with two fingers by the hilt, and letting it point at the ground, blade first. It hung like a pendulum, swinging minutely in its mistress' fingers. "You know the rules of the Citadel of course - any injury sustained here, including death, will be healed."

The smile on her lips remained before she nodded formally and stepped back, tossing the sword into the air. It flew up, and steadily began to revolve, slowly, slowly until - then she caught it by the hilt again a metre above where it had been. A wink came to her eye as she rested the sword on her shoulder, but the opposite one this time and began to retreated back towards the edge of the doorway. She became a shadow in the wake of light outside, leaving Nevin in the round of the sandy arena alone ... well, not quite.

For Veridian began to walk where she had been moments before, a wicked grin coming to his maw.

"First, Mr Aimaparapoiitis against Veridian Ryuusan and the Behemoth."

Internally Veridian spoke to the full fire whisp of ten thousand years, the tiny spirit that had once demanded it should rule the world. The Behemoth cried out to him, reaching forwards with what remained of its being, responding not with words but the instinct that all that truly remained of it. Desire to burn, to conquer, to maim. His pawsteps became lengthier as he strode, the swings of his tail larger. The fox breathed steadily, but his size grew, and grew, and grew more still. Gone in a matter of simple seconds was his tiny padding form, instead what was was a dire beast five metres from black nose to still swinging tail. And his coat - it danced with vivid hot flames, that merged with the orange of his coat and sent small reels of smoke billowing into the air. Veridian's golden eyes glowed like embers, and he let out a chortle that sent a wave of flame wooshing backwards, from neck to haunches.

Slowy he came to a halt where he stood before Nevin, closer than she had been - around ten feet away. The ground where he had paced became clearer with each step, and now the very sand singed beneath him.

Philomel chuckled and leant against the wall of the arena, thoroughly impressed with the awe that seemed to respond in Nevin's eyes.

"Ready to begin?"