The prize was greater than Xerxes could have expected, but it all made sense. The kingdoms of Layne and Baratheon were both renowned for being the birthplaces of adventurers.
However, Baratheon generally took the title more singularly because of the contributions it had provided to advancing adventuring as a whole.
Throughout the years, King and Queen Baratheon had subsidised many blacksmiths and guilds to ensure that equipment was affordable for adventurers and that guilds could run successfully, thereby encouraging people to become adventurers.
It only worked hand in hand; more incentives were created to become adventurers, which resulted in a stronger kingdom as a whole, and this tournament was a way of excelling the adventurers.
Xerxes stood up and walked to the leaflet posted on the wall. He stretched out his hand and grasped it, noting the date—roughly two months from now.
"Where and when can I sign up?" Xerxes asked, his voice filled with determination and vigour.
Gundrik chuckled. "Ah, so we do have fighters. Lemme' tell you one thing though, if all you're fighting for is money, then I'd quit. I ain't an adventurer; I don't have that fight in me. But I've seen enough to know what true adventurers are like..."
Xerxes and Leiya both turned to him, their interest piqued considerably. There was always wisdom to be gained from listening to people like Gundrik, Aemon—anyone who had lived a long life, in fact.
"The adventurers who prioritise fame, gold, and the rest of that snobby jargon don't tend to make it far. There isn't enough ambition, enough drive to keep pushing forward. But if your determination is rooted in something other than that, then I'd recommend entering. So, do you still want to?"
Xerxes thought deeply on the words. Am I only fighting for gold? Or is there something different, something more underlying that I am fighting for? Focusing on the memories of Yves, on the people he needed to get back to, and on Leiya, there wasn't an option.
It wasn't a question of should I fight here—it was a statement. He would. He had to enter the tournament. Whether he gained third or first place, he needed to get stronger; he needed to fight more people to obtain that power, and he would do that.
Because the person he was right now wasn't who he wanted to be. He wanted power. He wanted authority. And most importantly, he wanted justice—something that couldn't be obtained by second-guessing himself.
"I'm going to enter that tournament, Mr Gundrik. There isn't any question or debate about whether I will or not. I have to do this. Right, Leiya?"
Leiya's eyes met Xerxes'. She wasn't exactly willing to fight again yet, nor was she ready to move on. But with nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to, she agreed.
Xerxes returned to the table and asked, "The city we're in—what's its name?"
Gundrik replied, "Anvis, the capital of Baratheon. The other major city, south from here, is Velmar—that's the 'snowy' place you were referencing in your journey."
He scratched his head and continued, "To be honest, there are internal feuds between Anvis and Velmar. Velmar is grounded in tradition; they live as dwarves are supposed to 'live'—underground. Whereas Anvis has begun to adapt, which is what they despise. They believe we've been corrupted by humans, and that's why we're like this."
He listed various reasons for their animosity. "Most people speak Dwarvish there, but in our schools here, we're taught the human tongue. We love others besides dwarves here; we enjoy other cultures, and we live atop the earth. So if you travel through there in the future, don't expect help or communication from them."
Leiya asked a rather random question, uncharacteristic of her usual self. "Why is there so much conflict? The elven and human kingdoms have conflict; the Baratheon Kingdom has internal conflict. What's the point?"
Bertha spoke up. "Quite an odd thing to say, little lady, but it's in our nature, isn't it? Humanity creates problems, and we solve them. Through that, we change and adapt to try and unite ourselves again. But time and time again, there's an endless cycle of improvement and the strive for unity that creates division. Taking that away would mean taking away humanity, at least, that's what I think. At the end of the day, peace would mean nothing without the battles humanity goes through. Nothing valuable comes easy."
Leiya questioned, "So we live to fight?"
Bertha, not really paying mind to the question's deeper meaning, shrugged. "I guess so, aye. We fight with our loved ones over things worth fighting for. You fight for your family when you eventually make one. Life is all about fighting for the things you hold dear."
Leiya took that lesson and nodded. Surprisingly, she asked another question—it seemed Bertha had drawn something out of her. More specifically, it had made Leiya realise something.
"What can we start doing to prepare for the tournament? How do we gain knowledge on it, and when shall we start working?"
Bertha waved her hands. "Slow down, girl. Yer' body needs some rest—look at the state of ya 'self. What you can start by doing is waiting a week to heal up. In that time, go out into the city. Find out what you can about Baratheon—the library, the Forest of Dreams, all sorts. And make sure you lot have a party of four, because that's what's required for the tournament. As for preparing..."
She looked around the tavern. "We ain't fighters; we're humble tavern owners, that's all. So we aren't the best to ask. But many adventurers come in, and they'd likely tell ya' something about training and the sorts."
Leiya and Xerxes both stood up. Xerxes spoke, "Well, we should start getting a feel for the city. The tavern's going to open soon too, so Leiya and I will leave you to it."
They both waved as Gundrik and Bertha reciprocated the gesture. Walking towards the door, they opened it and stepped outside.
Xerxes took in a deep breath, basking in the sunlight. It was refreshing to feel Elaijya's air once again. Something he immediately noticed was the ease of breathing, which caught him by surprise.
He quickly concluded it was due to air density. In the Fallen Kingdom—even just being near it—the density and gravity of the place had felt more oppressive compared to what he was used to.
But after spending so much time there, he had grown accustomed to it. That only meant his stamina and overall strength had heightened more than he could have ever expected. The same would apply to Leiya.
"Leiya, where shall we go first? We have no money, so I think generally exploring or going to a library would be best, don't you think?"
Leiya replied, "I think we should look around first. Then, when it starts to get late, we can visit the library."
Xerxes agreed. They both began walking through the city. The layout and arrangement of different structures bore a striking resemblance to Layne, which Xerxes appreciated—it felt familiar.
He did notice, however, that there were more adventuring guilds and blacksmiths than he had ever seen. And something that made the city scenic was the vast expanse of mountains surrounding the northern portions of the kingdom.
They stretched for hundreds of miles into the sky, battling with the clouds to surpass them. Their slopes were shaded in hues of grey and white, their grandeur both impressive and striking.
Xerxes naturally smiled in awe of their greatness. He glanced at Leiya—she, too, was deep in astonishment. It was her first time seeing mountains like this. Though there had been many in the Fallen Kingdom, the sheer collection of mountains, with the city sprawled before her, was unique.
This was what she had originally wanted, after all—to see what the world outside her own held. So, for as long as she wanted to admire it, Xerxes wouldn't disturb her. He, too, wanted to marvel at the beauty of nature.
As they walked through the city, Xerxes pointed at a castle raised extremely high. Multiple walls surrounded it—no fewer than five, made from pure steel and standing at least fifty metres tall. Each wall ascended in height, with guards patrolling them.
The castle itself was a circular, earthen structure with a glistening red dome mounted atop it. A glowing, circular orb rotated rapidly at its peak, generating waves of faint red energy—something Xerxes couldn't decipher the meaning of.
After walking for most of the day and getting a vague idea of what Anvis held, Xerxes decided he needed rest.
Taking a seat on a nearby bench, Leiya sprawled a random question onto Xerxes, "What is an Aspect, Xerxes?"
"Aspects are the pinnacle of a kingdom's strength. They are Tier 1 mages who have mastered their element to an unparalleled level. Each of them has something distinguished about them. And I despise one of them."
"In the Baratheon Kingdom, Mazium Forbringer is the Aspect. In the Human Kingdoms, Aeson Tundra of Layne and Jeshur Idonis of Indonyia. In the Daemon Kingdom, Enel Xelryss. And in the Elven Kingdoms, Sylvia Vaelith and Cyrus Lanthir."
"Cyrus Lanthir of the Eros Kingdom is the man I despise."
Xerxes clenched his fists as rage swarmed him, similar to how it did when he thought of Yves.
"What makes him your enemy, Xerxes?" she asked.
"You see, Cyrus Lanthir is filth. Powerful, I'll give him that—but what he's done is irreversible. You know the people I grew up with—Dorian and Aya. Well, Cyrus Lanthir is Aya's elder brother. Aya Lanthir."
"She had to run away from her home. She was lost in the Mons' Mountain Range for a very long time—roughly a year, I believe. Through luck and determination, she ended up in a forest near the Layne Kingdom. Back then, Vanessa and I were hunting, testing my skills since I'd just awakened my mana. But then we found Aya—on the verge of death."
"The things Cyrus did to her are unspeakable. He abused her. Tortured her. Did much more that I don't even want to utter. But I will make him pay for what he did—that, I can assure you."
Leiya realised Xerxes likely felt like this towards Yves, but the scale of emotions behind his animosity was sheltered. At all times, what Xerxes wanted was sheltered; that was the person he was.
He put others before himself, he solved other people's problems. It was like he had an inability to act for himself, to do what he wanted to, because his happiness came from others.
As the rays of sunlight were shedding down for one last time, before it set, Leiya wanted to ease Xerxes' mind, "I apologise for how I treated you Xerxes, I can't say I have the fight in me yet, I know I will."
Xerxes' eyes glowed brighter than the sun, it was like hearing the words of a saint who had blessed him. "You don't need your 'fight' in you yet, you just need enough to keep pushing you forward, that's all it is, a constant fight for our lives and Leiya. Once we get past all the crap destiny is throwing at us, then we can be at 'peace'. I promise."