Aftershocks and Anticipation

The last echoes of applause faded from the Colosseum of the Sky, replaced by the mundane sounds of cleanup.

A motley crew of beings from across Naaim set about their task, sweeping away the remnants of Houdini's spectacular illusions.

Shimmering dust that might have been stardust or might have been simple glitter was carefully collected in ornate vials, while scraps of paper from the origami city were reverently gathered, each piece still warm to the touch.

Two custodians, one a blue-skinned giant and the other a diminutive fairy-like creature, paused in their work to marvel at a piece of the maze's opalescent wall that had somehow remained intact.

"Would you look at that," the giant rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. "Never seen anything like it in all my centuries of arena cleanup."