The silence in the hall did not last long. The tension was still there, spread through the air like something invisible, yet impossible to ignore. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, not only those seated on the throne, but also the advisors, the guards, and every presence scattered around.
The king did not look away.
He did not seem hurried or impatient. It was as if he was waiting for the exact moment to move forward with what he truly wanted.
"Have you seen enough of the city yet?" he asked.
"Not all of it, but enough to understand the level of this place," I replied.
"Good," he said, resting his arm on the throne. "Then you won't get distracted from what truly matters."
Lyannis slightly tilted her head beside me.
"He's no longer testing with words."
"It already started," I replied quietly.
Scarlett kept her eyes fixed on the king.
"Stay alert."
The princess took a few steps forward, stopping closer to me while still keeping some distance.
"My father doesn't like beating around the bush," she said. "When he wants something, he goes straight to it."
"I noticed."
She crossed her arms, studying me.
"Then be prepared."
Before I could answer, the king stood up again. This time, there was no pause. He descended the steps with firm strides, and with every movement, the feeling of pressure increased.
"I'll be direct," he said.
The entire hall fell silent.
"I want to fight you."
No surprise.
Only confirmation.
Liriel let out a small sigh.
"Finally."
Elara watched attentively.
"So it's now."
Vespera maintained a neutral expression.
"As expected."
Rai'kanna did not look away.
"This was inevitable."
Scarlett took a subtle step forward, as if ready to react to anything.
"That depends on how this is going to happen."
I kept my gaze on the king.
"You want to fight now?"
He smiled faintly.
"No."
He paused briefly.
"I want a real fight."
"So this isn't just a test."
"No," he replied. "This is a judgment."
The words echoed through the hall.
"If you truly are everything they say you are... then prove it."
The princess watched in silence now. Her expression had become more serious.
"He never asks this of just anyone," she said.
"I didn't ask," the king corrected. "I challenged."
Lyannis crossed her arms.
"He won't back down."
"Neither will I," I replied.
The king nodded.
"Good."
He walked a few steps around the room, as if evaluating the space.
"I saw your battle against the Second Demon General."
That caught everyone's attention.
"So you watched it."
"Not only me," he replied. "My entire kingdom watched."
Scarlett narrowed her eyes.
"Then you already know what he's capable of."
"I saw enough to become interested," the king said. "But seeing from afar is not the same as feeling it up close."
He stopped again, standing directly in front of me.
"I want to test that."
Elara took a deep breath.
"This isn't an ordinary fight."
"No," Vespera said. "It's much bigger than that."
Liriel smiled slightly.
"This is going to be interesting."
Rai'kanna remained calm.
"Dangerous."
The king continued.
"If you win..."
He paused briefly.
"I will officially acknowledge you as an equal."
The hall reacted with a slight stir. It wasn't surprising, but it was significant.
"Besides that..."
He glanced toward the princess.
"I will give you my daughter's hand in marriage."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Liriel widened her eyes.
"Ah, of course... there was that too."
Elara closed her eyes for a moment.
"That complicates things."
Vespera looked at me.
"You were already expecting that."
"Yes," I replied.
Scarlett maintained her firm posture.
"And that's not all."
"No," the king continued. "There is also power."
Lyannis slightly raised her gaze.
"Now it's clear."
"If you win," the king said, "I will grant you a power that belongs only to dragons."
Rai'kanna became serious.
"So he's willing to give that..."
"If he wins," the king emphasized.
I kept my eyes on him.
"And if I lose?"
The king smiled.
"You don't die."
He paused.
"But you leave defeated."
"Simple as that."
"For me, yes."
Silence returned for a moment.
The princess stepped a little closer.
"You don't have to accept," she said in a lower tone. "My father doesn't force anyone."
"Not really?" Liriel murmured.
Lyannis looked at her.
"He doesn't force... he creates situations where the choice is already made."
Scarlett agreed.
"Exactly."
I took a deep breath.
It wasn't a complicated decision.
It was simply another step.
"I accept."
The words came out simply and directly.
The entire hall seemed to react at once, even without making a sound.
The king smiled faintly.
"Good."
The princess closed her eyes briefly, as if she had expected it.
"Then it's decided."
Elara looked at me.
"You didn't hesitate."
"There was no reason to."
Vespera slightly tilted her head.
"Confident."
"Realistic," I replied.
Liriel smiled.
"I like that."
Scarlett maintained her posture.
"Then now it's serious."
"It always was," I replied.
The king climbed the steps once more and sat back on the throne.
"The fight will not be today."
"When?" I asked.
"Soon," he replied. "You will have time to prepare."
Lyannis nodded.
"Fair."
Rai'kanna looked at me.
"This changes everything."
"Yes," I replied.
The princess crossed her arms again.
"I'll be watching."
"I figured."
She looked directly at me.
"And I want to see you win."
"You don't seem convinced."
She smiled faintly.
"I still haven't decided."
The king raised a hand, ending the discussion.
"For today, that is enough."
The queen nodded beside him.
"Rest. Tomorrow will be a new day."
The attendant approached once again.
"Please, follow me."
I nodded.
Before leaving, I looked at the king one last time.
He was watching me.
Without doubt.
Without hesitation.
That wasn't merely curiosity.
It was expectation.
We left the hall in silence.
As soon as the doors closed behind us, Liriel was the first to speak.
"Seriously... another princess?"
Elara sighed.
"This is becoming a pattern."
Vespera looked at me.
"And you accepted without thinking."
"I thought enough."
Lyannis crossed her arms.
"The fight makes sense."
Scarlett nodded.
"But the consequences are greater."
Rai'kanna remained silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"That king... is not someone ordinary."
"I know," I replied.
We continued walking through the corridors.
The feeling of pressure was still there, but now... different.
More focused.
More directed.
"So," Liriel said, breaking the silence again, "when this happens..."
She smiled slightly.
"You're going to win, right?"
I looked ahead without slowing down.
"I didn't come all this way to lose."
The group walked in silence for a few seconds.
And for the first time since we arrived...
Everything seemed aligned toward a single thing.
The fight.