The coliseum had been built by the Demon of Desire herself, and was called the Theater of Hope. Its walls were white and pristine, as if built from the pure clouds that traveled across the azure sky — however, as Shadow looked up at the magnificent arches, he couldn't help but imagine them adorned with banners that were AS red as blood.
An echo of a distant chant surfaced from his memory:
"Glory! Glory! Glory!"
Shadow winced, feeling a ghostly pain pierce his chest. A moment later, the ghastly vision was gone, and the pain was gone as well.
There was indeed an exuberant chant resounding from within the great theater, but it had nothing to do with glory. Instead, the jubilant voices of a vast crowd were calling for the performers to enter the stage.
It seemed that a play was about to begin — Shadow and his companions had arrived just in time.
"I've heard so many stories about the Theater of Hope! They say that there is nothing like it in the world."
