Alys stared at the creature. It neither attacked nor moved from its spot. The thing remained crouched beyond the rubble, its red eyes fixed on her as though it had forgotten everything else in the arena.
Frowning, Alys raised her hand and launched several fireballs at it. The creature reacted immediately, twisting away from the attacks with unnerving agility. The flames burst against the stone floor, leaving scorched marks behind, but the creature never once attempted to retaliate.
Beside her, Lysanne loosed a volley of arrows. Once again, the creature simply stepped away. It retreated farther into the arena, slinking across the ground like a wary animal, yet its gaze never left Alys.
A murmur spread through the spectators.
Moments ago, the creature had been hurling itself at the barrier with relentless ferocity. Now it seemed almost reluctant to approach it.
Alys felt her unease growing with every passing second.
Then a scream echoed through the arena.
