The far off shimmering lands known as Tona are filled with tropical jungles and expansive golden deserts, amongst each of these terrains were flourishing societies sprung up near the large rivers running through them, enormous temples and gorgeous structures erected in these places to celebrate the gods and provide wonderous places of worship for the people.

In one of Tona’s towns built on two sides of a river, one half into the border of the Jungle and the other half into the desert side, the river itself acts as that bordering line. Though it was one place, simply called Meso in reference to there being a river in the middle of them.

Known for their odd location as well as some particular individuals calling it home, there isn’t much to the small town. Though its highly venerated warrior pair Quetzal the Warrior Goddess and the only man capable of matching her Eztli the Bloody-Eye, the latter known for her golden mantle of long hair and red eyes likening her to the appearance of the gods, the former known for his burgundy hair and odd eyes- one a fiery gold the other gre.

Their battles legendary amongst those who had seen them, tales of impossible speeds and inhuman strength spreading far beyond their borders to all in the lands of Tona causing many to challenge the pair at the same time as well as in single combat. None have stood close to their abilities in all the years these rumours have attracted warriors to test their mettle against the giants. Both also seen as giants being born of similar heights, head and shoulders above the crowds.

Today was much like any other-

[Clashing]

Clashing metal and sparks flying

“Hiiiiyyaaaah!” A yell was exerted from a tall golden haired woman as she thrust a quarterstaff with metal ends.

Swoosh!

Air rushed past my face as dodged to the right of the woman in front of me her fast reaction dashing back when I swung out my Macuahuitl the wooden weapon getting deflected, she thrust forward into my guard again only to be blocked by my bronze shield that I held up in front of me.

BTOOOM! CRACK!

There was a thunderous boom followed by a shattering crack that was followed by an explosive force sending the both of us flying backward quite a ways from one another, trying my best to capitalise on the distance I kicked off the hard ground of the arena throwing myself forward shield first and my weapon over my shoulder prepared for an overhead strike with all my strength-

“GUUURRRAAAAHHHH!!!” I let out a roar as I put all my energy into the attack slamming it down into Quetzal.

She raised her staff just barely in time to block the attack.

“Grrrrr!” She growled in struggle red eyes flaring brightly as she grimaced before finding the right moment-

“GUH!!” I spat blood as she dropped to the ground and kicked up into my chest with both of her feet sending me up into the air.

“ARGH!” bursting out in pain I slammed into the dirt bouncing off it wincing as my eyes closed, feeling the bruises forming across my back and front.

“Are you alright?” A mature woman's voice asked, I cracked my eyes open looking up at the silhouette looming over me.

She was standing in front of the sunlight making her air look even more golden.

“Yea…” I grumbled out with a ragged sigh accepting the hand she held out to me as I was pulled to my feet.

“You did really well- do you want to go for a bit longer?” She asked, waiting with a curious expression.

“I’m fine. That's enough being beaten around today I’m not making any progress…” the feeling of dejection washing over me.

“No no- come on now Ez you’re doing amazing!” She praised with cheer in her voice, face lighting up. “You’re the strongest man in the whole of Meso!”

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“You’re just saying those things, I haven’t made any change in months. A single win, that's all I have over you.”

“Don’t talk like that… there isn’t a man, woman or child in Tona who is as strong as you or capable- no one else can even match you!” I sighed as she continued throwing praise my way.

She couldn’t help herself, I knew that, she was just a naturally positive person which was all well and good for her, but I wasn’t her. How could I not compare myself to her when she was the only person who I could competently challenge myself against- like she said I was one of the strongest, but I didn’t care about that- I just wanted to improve and become as strong as she’d shown herself to be.

“Well I’m not going to convince you like this so let's go get drunk!” She cheered, wrapping an arm around my neck and pulling me along with her off the arena grounds and heading toward a bar.

“Hey! Don’t I get a say in this?” I tried to pull away from her, but found myself unable to.

“No- once you get yourself all tied up in that big head of yours you don’t change your way until you’re drunk!” Quetzal laughed and pulled me closer against her chest as we walked the streets.

I stopped fighting by the fifth building we passed as I wasn’t going to be able to break free without using my full strength which I already wasn’t with, the fight had taken it out of me.

There wasn't much time between sitting down at her favourite spot, the drinks being ordered and a whole tankard of sweet beer being poured down my throat forcibly at first before I took ahold of the tall wooden mug and finished it off slamming it down with an exasperated sigh. My golden haired companion did the same a few seconds after and slammed her hand against my back roaring with laughter-

"Their you go Eztli! You can still out drink me any day of the week! Thash som'thin yo're good asht!" Her sloshed words didn't give me any confidence as most children could hold their beer better than her.

"When will you learn your lesson…?" I asked, watching as she ordered another round of drink, half of her words coming out incoherent nonsense.

This went on for some time, I couldn't leave her though I may have wanted to, so that I could get back to learning with the king's scholars. But she was a close friend. We'd grown together and fought alongside one another throughout years in countless defences of the town, we'd learned to use a weapon from the same master as well as how to summon forth our cores together as well. Really there was hardly a day we didn't see one another, for it I'd heard the rumours of our secret marriage or relationship, though I paid it no mind. It wasn't the truth and I'd never seen Quetzal in such a way, she was everyone's big sister, in a way mine as well even though we were the same height and age.

When I would finally manage to pull her drunken corpse from the bar and carry her part of the way home to her villa, gifted to her for her services and great strength, she was briefly sober enough to throw up the contents of her lunch. In all her brightness had forgotten to eat anything after the spar despite my warnings.

I didn't know how many hundreds of times we'd done this same routine, but for what it was worth I hadn't gotten so tired of it yet that I was willing to throw her unconscious body into a bush and left her there to sober overnight. Her home wasn’t far from my own, even if I didn’t live in the same luxury of the villa she had, I wasn’t really sure if it was coincidence or someone had purposefully placed me where I lived- it had been more than long enough that I couldn’t remember.

[Drunken Master]

My head throbbed and seared with pain as a headache overtook me when I woke up, my vision being assaulted by the late morning sun was not helping either, but I couldn’t blame the god for simply riding his chariot across the sky for all to see and go about their days though.

Instead I would simply blame my drunkard friend for dragging me along and not drinking half of what she ordered so she could pour it down my throat without remorse, still vividly strong enough to do that, but too intoxicated to walk somehow.

Dressing myself I threw my blue cloak around my shoulders and made sure the belt of my skirt wasn’t going to slip any time soon before I headed down to the kitchen as my house had two stories, my room being up the stairs of the building.