It was time for the second wave of matches, comprised of victors from the first wave. Luna was paired against her brother, Tristan. Her expression was unreadable when the names were announced. She wouldn't even look at Lexa before she entered the arena. To Lexa, the waiting was the worst. Not only was she waiting for her own fight, but she was waiting to see what Luna would do. Would she let her brother kill her? Or worse, would she kill her own brother? Lexa didn't have to wait long. Luna emerged victorious, her face covered in her brother's blood, her eyes soulless and hollow. Luna was badly wounded. What had they done to each other? Lexa barely recognized her friend. "Luna!" She cried as she walked past. She tried to grab her by the arm, but Luna shrugged her off and kept walking, never looking at Lexa. Lexa heard her name announced. She was in a daze as she walked out but quickly regained her focus. Her opponent was Yarl, a young man three times her size from the Blue Cliff warriors. He was strong, but she was faster. They exchanged blow after blow. He was a worthy opponent. Lexa's arms ached with the force of his blows. He knocked her to the ground with an uppercut to her chin. Pain shot through her body. As he moved to lift his heavy broadsword over his head to finish her, Lexa slid between his legs and slashed. Her swords cut through his muscles and tendons and he fell to the ground in agony. She approached him from behind and pulled him up to his knees.

"Yu gonplei ste oden," she said as she sliced his throat. His warm blood sprayed all over her. She felt the thrill of victory. The crowd roared with excitement. This was a leader they could rally behind.

She was almost done. All that was left was to fight Luna. They were the last two left standing. When she walked back into the victors' room, she was met with chaos. "The coward! She ran!" "Where is she?!" "Search everywhere." Titus approached Lexa. "What's going on?" She asked him. "Luna kom Floukru has run from the Conclave. We cannot find her anywhere. She has dishonored herself and us all," Titus said. A swirl of emotions washed over Lexa. Disbelief. Anger. Sadness. Relief. "Now what?" She asked her teacher. "Now you become Heda," he said. Lexa stood straighter and fixed her gaze on him. "But what of Luna?" She asked. "I will send riders to track her down and kill her. They will bring her head to me. Your ascension must not be questioned." "No," Lexa responded firmly. "She is no threat to me. Tell the others she is dead. Tell them that she succumbed to her wounds. But she is to remain unharmed. Is that clear?" Titus could barely hide his shock. "Yes, I understand."