*A few weeks ago.*

It had been a long journey through the Olympian Imperium to the Empire of Europa, but at least it would soon prove worthwhile. As a man who made a living off temporary work, his field being that of a hired blade, Baleno depended on a high demand for his services to eat. He spent the years since his freedom from the Colosseum trying to put his newly acquired combat skills to use. Fortunately, when his career was just blossoming, he found plentiful employment in wiping bandit camps for a cheap price. Although Baleno wasn't a flashy individual, he soon grew tired of earning such a feeble income when he knew his capabilities could bring him much more. There were few within the Imperium who wanted to hire a pariah such as he to represent their faction, especially when he had a criminal record. While mere commoners didn't mind paying him for protection, the thought of serving a lord was all but a fallacy to Baleno. No longer did he feel free wandering the Imperium. His constant search for clientele had begun to chain his mind down. Finally, once all of his avenues were exhausted, Baleno resorted to traveling abroad. Different lands had different opportunities and while he was positive that he would receive the same odd looks there, the Empire of Europa was the best possible solution to his dilemma.

As it turned out, Baleno's decision to travel to the Empire of Europa couldn't have come at a better time. Eavesdropping on various conversations as he passed through a small village near the border between the two vast countries, he picked up a valuable piece of news. There was soon to be a marriage between two prominent figures within the Empire of Europa and the Rus. To mark the occasion, there was to be a festive celebration within the Europan city of Alexandria. Baleno had never been to the Empire of Europa before in his life so he was unfamiliar with its overall atmosphere and the exact significance of this Alexandria. But, from what bits of trivia he was able to gather, he concluded that it would be a breeding ground for potential jobs. The intertwining of two powerful nations was enough to attract the entire world's attention. It was a certainty that nobility from all over was flocking to Alexandria alongside Baleno. It was also definite that at least a few would have need for a talented swordsman in their ranks. If he managed to impress a lord, Baleno could find his whole life change. His dream was to stop roaming and bring his vagabond lifestyle to an end. His goal in traveling to Alexandria was not only to earn another job but a home as well.

After passing through the necessary customs, Baleno left his life in the Imperium behind at least for now. True, he had grown tired of aimlessly wandering it but he was never fully against returning there if he needed to. He was heading into the unknown and could not ignore the possibility of Europa not bestowing him with a warm welcome. Since he was already established within the Imperium, Baleno would have little trouble integrating back into life there. Tackling the Empire of Europa was a double-edged sword of a risk. He did not have the advantage of familiarity that he did with the Imperium. As he planted the soles of his black boots on the soil of the border's opposite side, Baleno cemented his very first step in a new land and quite possibly triggered a whole new destiny for himself. Only time would tell. For now he would have to find his way to Alexandria.

Greeting Baleno to the Dragon Empire was a brisk, snapping frost. Shielding his brown skin from the breeze was his thick black cloak, its tail fluttering in the wind behind him. The winter thus far was hard to bare within the Imperium and didn't seem to be anymore relenting within Europa either. Baleno clenched the rows of his teeth together to prevent them from chattering as he aggressed up the winding cobble road towards only the gods knew where. As winter settled in, the trees that lined Baleno's path were bare, their scrawny branches as equally exposed to the chill as Baleno. Coming to a split, Baleno examined the signs to see the penultimate destination of each tributary route. While he was being processed at the border, Baleno was wise to ask what was the best place for a traveler to go upon first entering Europa. He was pointed towards a moderately sized town that laid roughly a half days walk from where he crossed. Seeing the town's name on one of the signs, Baleno didn't hesitate to take the corresponding path. He had been walking since daybreak and quarreling with the frigid temperatures since then. The quicker he moved along the better. His fingers were blistering even under his gauntlets with each passing minute.

Baleno already had a few ideas in mind of what he was to do at his arrival in the town. Because he was basically a blind man bumbling about on his own, his guess about what lay ahead of him being about as good as a , Baleno had two remove the curtain that draped his knowledge of navigating through Europa. He coud either try and procure a map or hook with someone who knew their way around the country. Ideally he would choose the prior as he did like being dependent on another. If it came to having to travel with another, he wanted to avoid taxi via a carriage. He was very short on coin and could not afford additional expenses. He imagined that getting his hands on a map wouldn't be cheaper. Finding a suitable one would be enough of a problem. Oh well, at least he had two plans which was always better than having none. If push came to shove he could fight his way through whatever obstacles blocked his advancement. That was how he solved every other issue life dropped onto him. It was amazing what answers that a simple swipe of a sword could provide.

It was well into midday when Baleno entered Europa. As expected, the trip towards the town extended several hours. He faced little to no trouble for most of its duration. He had a brief incident with a few shady looking fellows but resting his hand on the hilt of his gladius alone was enough to intimidate them. 
Baleno reached the town depraved of food, water, and sleep. The grumbling of his stomach begged him for nutrients while his lips were so dry they shriveled. Baleno quickly sought out the local inn. He didn't want to spend whatever little gold he had but it would be detrimental towards his health if he were to deny himself of nourishment and rest. Unable to resist the temptation of good food and a bed, Baleno staggered into the inn and rented a room. The next morning he purchased a map from a local general store. It was used so it wasn't in the best condition but he was able to make out the location of Alexandria. Now he just had to get there in time.

*Present day.*

Never before had he seen anything like it. Baleno could only describe the city of Alexandria as utterly amazing. Taking over their skies, thier magnificent wings nearly blocking the sun's rays, were glorious dragons. Baleno had heard stories about those who rode them into the battle but he didn't believe them to be true until he saw them with his own eyes. He along with dozens of others marched through the citys outskirts towards its center where all of the action was. Baleno did not regret his decision to attend the event at all. There were all sorts of people there and they looked delighted. He wasn't a hedonist so the idea of partying didn't entertain him a lot but he felt the need to unwind. Peeping into his cloak's pockets, Baleno was disappointed to see that he barely had any money remaining. He ended up spending more than he originally intended. Getting to Alexandria was rather troublesome and he was forced to make some unwanted stops. Glad that he arrived, he shifted through the crowds and scanned around for anything that may be of interest.

The streets of Alexandria were packed to the brim with citizens and tourists alike. While the Imperium from which he hailed was home to a plethora of different beings, Baleno rarely shared space with the likes of the green skinned orcs or the sharp eared elves that he passed by. Alexandria had to the world's designated cauldron. To the inexperienced it must have been a place of pure fantasy. Reminiscing on the village he spent his childhood in, Baleno only encountered places so vast in his dreams. The city's buildings were tall and elegantly crafted. If this was were the regular folk stayed then Baleno felt that the aristocratic dwellings would exceed dazzling.

After dawdling through Alexandria and becoming formally acquainted with the urban behemoth, Baleno came across his cup of tea. As part of the festivities, there were a multitude of competitions taking place and they were attracting participants from all over. Once his ears caught wind of a fighting tournament, Baleno immediately flash backed to his days in the Colosseum. It was a mere three years ago that he fought against monsters and other prisoners for the entertainment of the masses. Any ordinary man would have found such a sentence for petty theft excruciating. Baleno agreed with that sentiment wholeheartedly. What differeniated him from the norm was that he found his tenure as a gladiator beneficial to his personal development. Before then he was a lowly street rat who survived through pick pocketing and odd jobs. Though it wasn't a palace, Baleno found a home at the Colosseum as well as friends, rivals, and mentors. He didn't loathe that part of his life as much as he should have. He was thankful to it for it allowed him to learn swordsmanship. 

"It'll be just like the old days I suppose," Baleno muttered, mulling over whether or not he should enter a fighting competition. 

There was no reason for him not to. He was as experienced as any other warrior. It was the exact opportunity he spent years wishing for. All Baleno needed to do  was register. He weaved deeper into the city's core, drawing the eyes of its occupants like a magnet. It was funny how he still stood out in comparison to the humans of the entire Europan continent despite the fact they shared their lands with non-humans of all shapes and species. The half-Alkhebuan Baleno was a anomaly and that was a status that haunted him since his youth. It no longer ate at his inner peace now that he was properly accustomed to the harsh realities of the world around him. Taking a few lives helped in notifying him of his more macabre qualities which desperately required mending. He deemed his being a spectacle as neither an insult nor compliment. He was focused on earning money and his dormant greed could not be quenched by squelched whispers about his physical attributes.

Aspiring to learn about how to register for the fighting competitions, Baleno approached a vendor who pointed him towards the Dragon Keep. When Baleno asked where that was, the vendor responded with a quizzical expression before telling Baleno that there was no possible way he could miss what was easily the most splendid example of Europan architecture. After feasting his eyes on the palace for his own pleasure, Baleno had to say that the vendor's description was an underestimate of the Keep's true glory. Baleno watched as guests flooded through the gates. He was sure that the Keep, which easily dwarfed any structure around it, would have no problem accommodating the visitors. Baleno decided to wait until later to join in the procession. He didn't expect anyone to be permitted inside. Rather than avoid any altercations he figured it best to put off his entrance. Besides, he desired a weapon in better condition if he were to be showing off his talents in front of nobles. He had relied on his old gladius to see him through thick and thin and that was finally starting to show as the blade began to wear. He patronized the nearest marketplace in search of an affordable blacksmith, remembering that his coin was running low. Maybe there were specials available in honor of the special occasion.