This was Nasir's first arena, even if it wasn't a full one. The news that he would die permanently if he failed, assuming he wasn't killed, was jarring but he still wasn't sure that he would return from the dead even if he was murdered. He didn't see how it was possible.

His blood was pumping as the countdown started. He didn't know how he was going to win this-- he had absolutely no experience with mazes and this strange hunt they had set him on but he was going to win. If not, he would die.

Nasir had been set on grabbing a weapon as soon as the gong rang. He was in the middle of running to it when he heard someone call his name and, perhaps reflexively, he stopped and turned.

It was a man familiar to him by sight alone. They were both in the same district but had not spoken with each other. And he did not appreciate being ordered around by someone he hadn't even met.

"Why?" Nasir sounded sharp and suspicious.