In the palace of Eryxis, where the queen resided.
In the cold winter, snowflakes drifted down, landing on the rooftop and the ground. The chilly wind outside and the burning fire inside created a convection, stirring up breezes. Through the window, Metanira could see the guards outside.
They were the elite warriors of the kingdom, Second Order fighters who not only possessed extraordinary strength, immune to heat and cold but could also temporarily enhance themselves with the energy within their bodies. They could march a hundred miles wearing heavy armor or triumph over common beasts with their bare hands.
In this era, they were almost considered reserves for the high echelons of Eryxis, and after centuries of development, this 'high echelon' might even be replaced by 'aristocrats.' Thus, having them as guards was originally a symbol of status, but the queen knew that they were not there to protect her.
