Sarathiel had unceremoniously collapsed to her knees in the wake of her victory, her features awash with confusion in the sparse lingering dust and dark ashes dancing gracefully around her cell as if indifferent to the carnage all around. The roar of the crowds was as lost upon her ears as the Arena Master's oration. Her thoughts were for the fallen alone. The unanticipated warmth in Argus' eyes was etched indelibly into her memory, and his parting words echoed through her imagination during her decent. She had though them grateful, but could not interpret his thanks with clarity.<br/><br/>Lucidity was a luxury she sorely lacked since the seemingly delicate band of leather had been fitted about her narrow porcelain throat. Perhaps if her mind were perfect and unbound, there would have been some perceivable logic in her opponent's demise, but she was left grappling in the darkness for answers that would not come.<br/><br/>He had been a good man, she decided, one whom she'd killed out of cowardice alone. Her first murder had been a self serving one, and she could not forgive herself it. Her heart tore with ache. Tears began to silently stream down her cheeks and pool at her trembling chin. She angled herself so that neither of the angelic warriors flanking her could see her lapse into self loathing weakness, leaving her tear riddled features exposed to the passing corridors alone. The company of her battle tried counterparts only compacted her palpable shame.<br/><br/>With careful subtlety, she tore off a small portion of her wrappings, gathered what she could of Argus' ashes, and bundled them away. The arena was no fit resting place for anyone, let alone a decent soul. The former angel tied the small pouch at her hip, where it looked the part of a simple and inconspicuous embellishment to her garment. With her work done, she remained seated in her cooling cell, awaiting what was to come with a apprehension and no small measure of misery.<br/><br/>Her tongue loosened in her grief, and at the sounds of the sanguine satisfaction coming from the newly arrived cage, her lips curled into a disgusted snarl. "You are repulsive." She snapped lowly, pink swollen eyes darting toward Ashakiel.