After weeks crossing the vast savannah under the merciless sun of Aloscalia, King and Ignis finally sighted Quegoes.
The capital was a vision of absolute order: towers of light stone that seemed polished by the wind itself and canals of crystal-clear water that cut through the avenues, keeping the city cool and impeccably clean.
King carried the immense axe on his shoulder, while Ignis, in the form of a dragonborn with coppery scales, walked with the serenity of one who has seen the world change shape a thousand times.
As they crossed the central square, the crowd parted. Sapphire, the Queen, walked with her children, the twins Aqua and Noah. But before King could get too close, a figure intervened with the speed of a boat.
Lirien, the only elf of Aloscalia and personal bodyguard of the royal family, stopped a few meters from them. Her hand rested on the hilt of an elegant blade, and her eyes, sharp as those of a savanna falcon, coldly measured King and Ignis.
"Two steps back, giant," Lirien ordered, her voice cutting like crystal. "Quegoes is a city of order. Your brute mass does not give you the right to cross the path of the Crown."
Noah peered from behind Lirien's cloak.
"Prince Noah, stay behind me," Lirien replied, without taking her eyes off King.
Sapphire merely observed with a calm smile, fully trusting her guard. King, somewhat awkwardly, stopped and crossed his arms.
"We're not looking for a fight with royalty, young lady. We're just passing through."
"Everyone is 'just passing through' until they decide to draw their steel," Lirien retorted, now assessing Ignis. She frowned for a split second, sensing something in the dragonborn's presence that didn't match her appearance. "You... the mage. You have too heavy an air for an ordinary traveler."
Ignis chuckled, his copper eyes gleaming.
"Years on the road, elf. They tend to accumulate dust on the soul. But you do a good job. The scent of fear and protection around these children is almost palpable."
"It's not fear," Aqua interjected, skipping to Lirien's side. "It's just that Lirien is the best! She promised that no one would take us again, like when Dad had to come get us."
Lirien softened her gaze at the girl for just a second before returning to her iron mask. She addressed the pair:
"If your purpose is the Arena, I suggest you head to Burning Horn. The Queen and the Princes will be there tomorrow." If you fight, do it with honor. If you cause trouble in the Queen's streets, I myself will make sure you never see the light of day again.
Noah looked at King and gave a cheeky little wave.
"Good luck, Mr. Mountain! I think Lirien would beat you in two seconds, but I want to see you fight the gladiators tomorrow!"
"Bye, Dragon Girl!" Aqua waved as Lirien began to lead the entourage, always keeping between the pair and the heirs.
King snorted, watching the elf walk away with impeccable posture.
"Lord Mountain...? That elf... she's quite straightforward, isn't she?"
"She seems to be the only one of her kind around here, King. If you were the only Goliath in a world of humans, you'd be on edge too," Ignis began to walk, amused.
"But I am the only one on this continent," King retorted, visibly annoyed, "And even so, I'm not this stressed."
Ignis pointed to the tavern sign ahead. "Let's go in. I need a drink, and you need a place to sit before some other child comes to wound your ego."
They entered the Burnt Horn, leaving behind the golden sun of Quegoes and the watchful gaze of the last elf of Aloscalia.
The Burnt Horn was no ordinary tavern. From the outside, it maintained the elegance of Quegoes, but as they pushed open the acacia wood doors reinforced with iron, the atmosphere changed. The ceiling was high, supported by beams that displayed the skulls of savannah beasts, and the smell of grilled meat with spicy spices dominated the air.
King had to lower his head to pass through the threshold. As soon as he entered, the noise of conversations and clinking mugs subsided for a moment. A six-foot-tall Goliath accompanied by a Dragonborn with copper scales did not go unnoticed, even in a capital accustomed to warriors.
"A table for two. And one that won't break if I breathe harder," King grumbled, ignoring the stares.
Ignis, with a smile of someone who had seen this movie a thousand times, followed King to a sturdy table in the back. They had barely sat down when the waitress brought two mugs of a dark, cold drink.
"Courtesy of the house for whoever survived the encounter with Lirien," the woman said, winking at them. "Few take a lecture from that elf and keep smiling."
"I wasn't smiling," King took a generous gulp, feeling the drink burn and refresh at the same time. "That elf has a problem with personal space."
"She has a problem with anyone who gets within ten meters of the Queen," commented a man with scars on his arms at the next table. "But the royal brat, Noah, seemed to like you, big guy. He has an eye for those with strength."
Ignis leaned back, observing the movement.
— O garoto é observador. Ele sentiu o "cheiro" do King. — Ela olhou para o Goliath com uma ponta de sarcasmo. — Ele percebeu que você ainda é um filhote tentando carregar um machado de adulto.
— Eu tenho vinte anos, Ignis! Para minha raça e para os humanos, eu ja sou um adulto. — King rebateu, batendo o caneco na mesa. — E você não ajuda, agindo como se fosse minha avó.
— Eu sou muito mais velha que sua linhagem inteira, King. Aceite o papel de aprendiz com dignidade — ela riu, mas seus olhos logo se voltaram para o centro da taverna, onde um grupo de gladiadores locais começava a fazer apostas sobre os combates de amanhã.
Um sujeito baixo e entroncado, usando um peitoral de couro de crocodilo, levantou-se e caminhou até a mesa deles.
— Então... o boato corre rápido. Dizem que a Rainha Safira convidou vocês para a Arena. É verdade ou só o sol da savana fritando o juízo do povo?
King olhou para o homem. O Goliath era jovem, mas seus instintos eram afiados. Ele sentiu a provocação no ar.
— Ela disse que nos veria lá. Se isso é um convite ou um aviso, eu ainda não decidi.
— Em Quegoes, é a mesma coisa — o homem cuspiu no chão (e rapidamente limpou com o pé ao ver o olhar da garçonete). — Eu sou Theron. Sou o campeão da terceira rodada. Se vocês durarem o suficiente para chegar em mim, tentem não sujar a areia com muito sangue.
A Rainha gosta de lutas limpas.
Ignis se intrometeu, sua voz suave ocultando o poder real de uma dragão anciã.
— Theron... um nome forte para alguém que parece tão... inflamável. Não se preocupe conosco. Preocupe-se em garantir que o público tenha algo para assistir além de você caindo de cara no mármore.
O homem estreitou os olhos, mas ao encontrar o olhar de cobre de Ignis, sentiu um arrepio que não soube explicar. Ele deu um passo atrás, resmungando algo sobre "estrangeiros arrogantes", e voltou para o seu grupo.
King soltou um suspiro pesado.
— Ótimo. Agora já temos um fã-clube.
— Faz parte do charme — Ignis deu um gole na bebida. — Amanhã, sob os olhos de Safira, de Lirien e daqueles gêmeos, você vai ter que mostrar que esse machado não é só decoração.
King olhou para a gema inerte em seu cinto. O peso dela parecia maior agora.
— Força eu tenho. Só espero que a Arena de Quegoes seja tão sólida quanto o chão da cidade.