"Uhm, yes..." she stammers, looking anywhere but at him. "Like at least a quarter of the people present here do. The others want money, power, immortality, or just like you," she addresses me, turning her back to her brother, "to get back someone they lost."

I nod thoughtfully. Everyone here must have their own circumstances, and knowing my own desire, I can't judge anyone for their choices.

Turning my attention to the crowd, I note that everyone is debating the merits of the competition and if their wish is worth their immortal soul. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the girl I'd bumped into previously—the one with the fluffy white tail. My eyes slowly widen as I note that her entire body is now covered in white fur—is that even her?

"Thea?" I ask tentatively. "This isn't a costumed event, is it?"

"Costumed event?" She frowns. "Where did you get that idea?" She pauses as realization dawns on her. "Oh, Luce." She giggles.

"That's why everyone kept referring to me as human. It's because some are not human, is that right?"

Even as I utter the words, I find it hard to believe that any of this could be true. Yet if gods exist, if they have the power to heal extensive injuries, then it stands to reason that other creatures could exist, too. And considering the girl's control of her tail...that only leaves me with one conclusion. It wasn't a mechanical tail. It was a real one. Just like the other people I assumed were costumed as animals—they're not. They are the animals.

My God—or is it Gods now? This is too much information for my feeble human mind. And although I find that I am oddly okay with the existence of all these creatures, it doesn't make the experience any less eerie.

Thea gives me a tight smile.

"Yes, you would be correct." She takes a deep breath. "Most of the individuals here are not human. And those who are either have ties to the underworld, or their messengers explained the situation in detail when they were invited to the game. It's why I was so surprised you had no idea about...well, anything. It's certainly not done to not explain the situation, least of all to a human."

"You mean I'm the only one here who was clueless about it," I add dryly.

"I don't know why you got the invite and nothing else. It's not how it's done. It must have been a glitch or something," Thea adds. "But you're taking it very well considering this is your first exposure to this world," she praises.

"Thank you, I'm trying." I crack a smile.

At this point, I've come to terms that this is actually real, or I'm having a full mental breakdown. And even if the latter turns out to be true, at least in my delusion I can have a chance to get Nikki back.