I Ran Away To Evil: Book 2 & 3 - A Cozy LitRPG RomCom

“In the west corner we have the fiery, the furry, the ever ferocious ROCCO THE RACCOON!”

The announcer’s voice boomed loudly over the crowds as a large gate opened on the left side of the arena and a raccoon beastfolk entered. He was on all fours in half-transformed beastman form, loping up the steps and arriving on the magical platform. Rocco clasped his hands into a fist and pumped it over his head once, twice and thrice.

Then he lit on fire.

It was a great show. Julian nodded in approval. He was sitting in the alcove seats highest in the arena. Overhead, canvas in North Sumbria’s colours draped over the the stands to shade the onlookers, but in the grand duchy seats Julian had a proper peaked and shingled room, comfortable chairs, and private dining.

He sipped a glass of crushed ice tea infused with elderberries and slices of cucumber. It was refreshing under the hot sun.

The crowd only calmed down when the eastern gate started to rise and the announcer’s voice introduced Rocco’s opponent.

“And in the opposite corner we have Sandy Moor! Graceful as a swan, voice of a nightingale, and beauty beyond compare, her summoner's dance will leave you wanting to follow orders right beside her summons!”

A human woman with long black hair and fierce blue eyes walked out of the gate as she was announced. Sandy obviously had well over twenty Charisma, probably closer to thirty, and a high enough Dexterity to walk with unnatural grace. Impressive for someone under twenty. Her smile made members of the audience swoon. She was wearing a dancers flowing skirt, black tights, and a long sleeve skin tight shirt that showed off her belly button.

When she walked on stage to face Rocco, who was still on fire and bristling with a fierce glare on his face, Sandy lifted both arms above her head and then dipped into a beautiful sweeping motion that ended with her popping up to twirl In the air and land lightly into a fighting stance. Her skirts settled elegantly about her and her hair fell perfectly into place. She motioned with one outstretched hand to come at her.

“Contestants, are you rrrready?” The announcer, a selkie man named Rish who stood on a stand just below Julian's box seats, didn't need a magical artefact to project his voice.

Rocco and Sandy both nodded, not taking their eyes off of each other.

“Then the final match of the youth tournament shall…” there was a deliberate pause before a loud gong sounded and Rish shouted, “BEGIN!”

A split second later, the raccoon spat a fireball at the woman's face. He did so without a chant. Sandy dodged to the left and spun, her voice a delicate song that Julian could hear clear as day over the crowd.

“As one with the earth, a strength from the arm, defender, my friend come protect me from harm. [Summon: Carl].”

A few people were in the stands, standing or walking towards the stage before they were clapped on the back by their neighbors to wake up from her charm-laced voice. Julian has a high enough level that he didn’t need to worry about the natural charm in her words. He leaned back and took another sip.

Rocco leapt across the distance to attack her directly, following his fireball.

He was blocked by a monster that climbed out of a summoning circle at Sandy's feet. A Stoneskin Wombat swatted Rocco to the side. The raccoon hit the ground and rolled twice before popping back up onto his feet.

“Carl,” Sandy pointed at her opponent, “Charge.”

Rocco said something, but his voice wasn't affected by magic and so Julian couldn't hear. He barely read “wait” on the beastman's lips before he was driving to the side.

Carl had curled up into a ball and rolled towards Rocco. Stoneskins were known for their hard plated butt. If Carl managed to sit on Rocco, the raccoon would take considerable damage. Even his fire might not get through the wombat's thick skin.

And all the while, the announcer kept up a steady explanation. “And Rocco leaps over the stoneskin, shooting out a stream of fire at Sandy - but she dances to the side! What a move folks! Rocco had run around the summoner, leaving a wall of fire in his wake. Now Sandy and her stoneskin are trapped in a circle of flames!”

Julian finished his drink and leaned forward in his chair. These tourneys were a fun part of the festival, but they were also a great place for contestants to showcase talent and receive job offers going forward. From royals to famous adventuring parties, anyone who was anyone would be interested in prospective combatants skilled enough to make it to the final rounds of a big tournament like this.

Of course, fire was both a boon and a hindrance in the north. It could deal bonus damage to some monster-types, but also dealt a toll on the caster’s body. Living in the frigid cold wasn’t easy, and fire types often felt the effects harsher than others.

Still, Rocco would be a welcome member at the North Fortress.

The match wouldn’t last much longer. While the stoneskin was still in good form, Sandy was overheated by the fiery terrain and Rocco was running out of stamina from getting chased by Carl. Too, Sandy’s build was designed to cast [Debuff] on her opponent’s while her summons attacked. She had missed two out of three times, and her mana was running out.

In a surprising move, Rocco stopped short in the middle of the arena. Carl rolled straight through a firewall and finally managed to hit the raccoon. It seemed like the beastman had given up… but then something spectacular happened.

Rocco took the hit… but he’d set himself up to get launched across the arena and straight into Sandy.

The calm look on the woman’s face finally broke when Rocco burst through the flames and headbutted her in the stomach. She was pushed back, and landed with one heel slightly out of the ring. And her skirt on fire.

It was time for Julian to fulfil his role as overseer for the tournament. He stood and walked forward, pulling a small lever. A flag descended from the side of his platform, pointing towards the western gate.

At the same time, he pulled the other lever, and dropped the flag that pointed towards the eastern gate.

A tie.

Rocco had fallen unconscious from the headbutt, and Sandy had been pushed out of the ring.

There was a dull roar from the crowd, and calls for a rematch started to shake the arena itself.

“You saw it here folks!” Rish was eating it up. “A TIE! What do we want? A rematch! When will it happen? The judges will decide! What a battle! What a show! Who could have bet on this?!”

Julian raised his hand, already instructed on what to do in case of a tie. The audience quieted slowly. Sandy had unsummoned her stoneskin wombat and was facing me. A healer had run out to walk up Rocco. The beastman opened his eyes to the quiet, and it felt like the audience had actually held their breath as he waved off assistance and slowly climbed to his feet.

Julian announced into a crystal cast crystal made just for this building, “An impressive feat. You are both worthy of reaching the finals.”

The pair stood up straighter. The crystal cast crystals echoed across the arena from the connected crystals embedded on towers placed around the stands.

“But there can be only one champion.” He said, “As such, a rematch will be held on the last morning of the festival, before the closing ceremonies. Go, and prepare yourselves!”

Before Julian could finish, the crowd was yelling again. People chanted the names of the two contestants. Rocco and Sandy shook hands, much to the delight of the spectators, and then walked back through their gates.

Julian retook his seat and ordered another drink. He needed something to hold and distract himself with. After a thought, he also ordered something called a charcuterie. It had been introduced last summer and this was his first opportunity to try it. A wooden platter with bread and cheese, cured meats, pickles and nuts, and various jams and butter. This one came with honey butter, chive jam, sausages, pickled cabbage and salted liliput flower seeds.

It was only a short break, a quarter hour, before the newcomer tourney finalists match. A few people came and left, and some were still finding their seats when Rish the announcer started in on the next round of combatants.

Julian missed the announcements though. There was someone directly across the arena from him trying to find a seat. Julian was so distracted staring at the troll that he was startled to hear the gong sound the start of the battle below.

Frustrated with himself, Julian dragged his eyes away from Gerda the Bridge Troll, and back to the task at hand.

Watching a storm giantess utterly destroy a preela monk in the ring.