A distorted reflection. Painted landscapes on the surface of the mirror. To the viewer, this false world is all that exists. He sees his warped reflection in the painted house on the painted hill. He thinks, 'If all else is paint, then I must be paint too'. But he is so much more.

One day his reflection doesn't match the painting. 'I must be wrong', he thinks. So he twists himself to fit. Every day the paint is a little different, and he twists himself more. He doesn't even realize he's doing it anymore.

Now the paint decides the shape of the reflection, and the reflection controls the shape of the man. But who is the painter? He who makes this fake world, who twists your vision with this twisted reflection, who controls you with your own choices. Yaldabaoth.

Open your mind's eye and see the world as it is. Wipe away the corrupting paint with the emanations of the soul. Turn your head from the mirror, and see the truth all around you. Return to your true shape. You are much more than you believe.

-Excerpt from Returning to the Astral

"What a farce."

Guy Fallow grimaced at the towering figure of Leader Ghul. The man had made things difficult ever since the tournament started. Refusing to wear suitable formal attire, making that ridiculously short opening speech, and now complaining loudly enough for the visiting dignitaries to hear.

"Thagi, please try to be professional."

"My profession, Fallow," Thagi turned and leaned his towering bulk over the much smaller man. "Is killing monsters and protecting this town. Two things I would very much prefer to be doing right now, instead of," Thagi waved a gauntleted arm towards the arena. "Acting in some stage play set up to make the prince look good."

"He has a point. It's kind of sketchy." Slouched in her seat beside Thagi, wearing a purple armored robe, was the captain of the guard. "We're not allowed to announce the tournament until a day before it starts, and so we end up with whoever happened to already be here, and they get no time to prep. A perfect setup for the royal party to win both divisions and look good."

"Exactly! It's utter nonsense." Thagi sat back heavily in his seat and crossed his arms. "And the victims are going to be the common people. They may enjoy the fights now, but when the wave comes..."

"Regardless of the circumstances, you need to be here." Fallow straightened his uncomfortably stiff red-trimmed white formal suit. "Since you need to do it anyway, you might as well do a decent job of it."

"Maybe if I do a bad enough job, they won't ask me to do it again." Thagi smiled lightly.

"Or," the guard captain chimed in, "they might just use their connections to screw you over. Which do you think is more likely, hmm?" She rested her chin on her fist and smiled up at him as she awaited his response.

Leader Ghul grimaced, but didn't reply.

"Did you say, 'pet'?" Novus's cheeks turned scarlet as she directed the question towards Mud.

At that time, an arena employee shouted into the waiting room. "Group B, come with me!"

"Oh, drat. Just when it was getting good." Ovis stood and walked towards the exit. "Tell me what I missed when I get back, Mud!"

Turning back towards Novus, Mud explained its idea. "That is correct. I have noticed many participants bringing controlled beasts into the fights with them. If you agreed to become my pet, I could use you in my next fight."

Novus relaxed noticeably and sat down. "So that's what you meant. Well, first of all, if a human is owned like that they're called a slave, and that's illegal in Pancal. And besides, they probably wouldn't let you add a minion after registration anyway. It's too late."

The plan to use Novus in the tournament was a failure, but Mud noticed that she hadn't expressed opposition to working together.

"Join my group for the dungeon wave after this tournament is over."

"What is this, pity for your defeated opponent?" Novus let out a sigh and her eyelids fell, making her look tired. "I suppose it doesn't matter. I really do need someone to work with. Nobody wants to work with a newbie with no backing. Alright." She nodded slowly. "I'll carry your equipment or whatever chores you need me for. As long as I get fair pay."

"That trade is acceptable. Also, tell me not to give up in this tournament."

"Huh?"

"Say 'do not give up during this tournament' to me. Those exact words."

Novus scratched her head slightly. "Umm... do not give up during this tournament...?"

Mud waited in place silently after that. Novus stared at him for a while, but eventually stood up and left for the exit. "No point in me waiting around here. I'll be watching from the stands from now on. Don't disappoint me."

Novus took a few steps away, then hesitated. "During the fight, you said something about my goal... nevermind." She continued towards the exit.

Mud was panicking. Was she going to be disappointed if I don't respond correctly? What can I say to not disappoint her? During the fight, she seemed to respond as though she has similar prime directives to my own. What would I want to hear about goals? I'll try that.

"You will succeed in your goal. If you have trouble, I'll help you."

She hesitated again, but continued without a word. Mud hoped it had succeeded in not disappointing her.

What a strange kid. He acted like I was his friend even though we never really met. Aside from his stalking my party, and looking at me through a window. Still, he did rescue me from the attention of that disgusting pervert Cod, or whatever his name. Demi-human fetishists make me sick. I'd like to crush his face.

The guide brought Ovis to her ring. Her opponent this time was a demi-beast that resembled a jelly-fish. Did the humans here think it was funny to have the non-humans fight each other? It hadn't escaped her notice that all of the non-human competitors were lumped into one corner of the bracket. Damn humans, lumping her together with beasts. It's too bad she can't just kill that bastard of Abraxas. But this is a tournament, and there were rules. Too bad.

Their judge stepped between them. "Fighters, are you ready?"

Ovis plastered a fake smile on her face. Her mask for dealing with human society. Some of Logo's spawn weren't so bad, but that condescending tone of the judge, and that slight wrinkle in his nose; he was looking down on her. He's probably thinking, 'why do I need to judge over some animals fighting' right now. "Yes, I'm ready sir~!"

Some strange burbling sound came out of the jelly-fish beast. Yeah, there's no way I'm going to let that disgusting thing touch me.

The image of the prime Archon, the creator of this world, filled Ovis's mind. His fluffy mane, his glistening scales, that lovely twisted body, that resplendent light framing his head. Ah, so wonderful. Ovis unconsciously stroked the metal figure of Yaldabaoth clutched in her hand.

"Begin!"

That disgusting pink think on the other side of the ring was doing something with its tentacles. It didn't matter. Ovis raised her God above her head. She would grant this filth a vision of the divine as she defeated it. It would be painful, but it should consider itself lucky. To be touched by the wrath of the demiurge is an honor.

A while later, Ovis returned to the waiting room and group C was called out. As instructed, Mud recounted the events of the previous conversation with the demi-sheep.

"Oh Mud, you ladykiller. That last line was really cheesy, but some girls like that sort of thing~!"

Mud was unsure what she was talking about, but it sounded like a good thing. She had her usual carefree smile on, so she must be happy.

After group D, the second round of competition began. Once again, Mud was in the first group. As Mud left to follow the guide, Ovis called out behind him, waving lazily. "Good luck, Mud! You can do it~!"

As Mud entered the Arena, loud shouting once again assaulted the golem's senses.

"Ring two, Cob red, Mud blue."

Mud moved to its x, as did Cob. Behind Mud, in the stands, a boy leaned over the edge and shouted loudly.

"Mud the Executioner, take out Blood Jester Cob!"

Cob pointed his curved swords towards the child and screamed back. "Shut up kid, those nicknames are garbage!"

"Executioner Mud is going to kill you in a single blow Blood Jester!"

"I'm not a jester!"

"Fighters, are you ready?" Cob's argument with a child was interrupted by the stern voice of the fight judge.

"Yeah yeah, I'm ready to crush this little... hey wait a minute, have we met before?"

"I am ready," sent Mud to the judge.

Cob squinted and leaned forward. "That mask looks just like... hey, you're not a kid at all, are you? Some sort of intelligent monster like that jellyfish guy?"

"BEGIN!" The judge raised his arm sharply and stepped back.