Nobody moved.
The Frost Giant King's pale blue eyes never left Jax.
Not Bunny.
Not Llandra.
Not the Shadow Army.
Not even Warden.
Only Jax.
The silence stretched so long that even Nyxian resisted making a joke.
Finally, Jax broke it.
"...Do we know each other?"
The Frost Giant King slowly shook his head.
"No."
His voice echoed through the frozen palace like glaciers grinding together.
"But I know what stands before me."
Jax frowned.
"And what's that?"
The giant's ancient eyes seemed... tired.
"So."
Very.
"Tired."
He looked toward the ceiling.
"As I always feared..."
"...it has finally begun."
Nobody understood.
Bunny leaned toward Zee.
"I have absolutely no idea what's happening."
Zee nodded.
"I have several theories."
"Good."
"They're all terrible."
Nyxian folded her arms.
"I've got one."
Everyone looked at her.
"He thinks Jax is handsome."
Silence.
The Frost Giant King blinked once.
"...That is not my concern."
Nyxian smiled triumphantly.
"So you admit he's handsome."
Jax pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Can we stay focused?"
"Sorry."
"...Not sorry."
The giant watched the exchange quietly.
Then...
for the first time...
he smiled.
A sad smile.
"I had forgotten..."
"...what laughter sounded like."
The room became still again.
Warden slowly lowered his shield.
Just an inch.
"My liege."
Jax didn't look away.
"What is it?"
"I believe..."
"...he speaks truth."
The King looked toward Warden.
Recognition flashed across his face.
"A Guardian."
His eyes softened.
"I have not seen one of your order in many centuries."
Warden bowed his helmet.
"I do not remember."
The King nodded slowly.
"No."
"I imagine you would not."
Jax's attention sharpened.
"You know what he is?"
The King's gaze returned to Jax.
"I know what he was."
That wasn't an answer.
And somehow...
it was worse.
Jax took one slow step forward.
"I'm starting to think you know a lot more than I do."
"You do."
The answer came immediately.
"You know strength."
"I know time."
A heavy silence settled over the throne room.
The King rested both hands upon the pommel of the enormous sword standing before his throne.
"For over three thousand years..."
"...my brothers and I have stood watch."
The four Frost Giants behind him remained perfectly still.
Like statues.
Like honor guards.
"We were not placed here to rule."
"We were not placed here to conquer."
"We were placed here..."
His grip tightened.
"...to keep the door closed."
The temperature dropped.
Not because of magic.
Because of fear.
Jax's Perception skill screamed.
Whatever the King feared...
...was not inside this room.
It was beneath it.
He looked toward the frozen floor.
Something...
Far below...
Almost...
Hungry.
Not a voice.
Not words.
Just...
Hunger.
The sensation vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Jax looked back at the King.
"What's under us?"
The King closed his eyes.
"I do not know."
That surprised everyone.
"You don't know?" Zee asked.
"I know..."
"...that it must never awaken."
He looked toward Jax again.
"And yet..."
"...you have come."
Jax spread his hands.
"I came because your people were attacking travelers."
The King nodded.
"As expected."
"I don't understand."
"No."
"You wouldn't."
Another pause.
Then the giant sighed.
"A prison weakens."
"The jailers weaken."
"The prisoner waits."
His eyes drifted toward Jax again.
"And then..."
"...someone arrives who was never supposed to exist."
The entire room became silent.
Even Nyxian stopped smiling.
The King's gaze wasn't curious anymore.
It was almost...
Hopeful.
"You are not from this world."
Not a question.
A statement.
Every Vixen froze.
Llandra slowly looked toward Jax.
Bunny's ears stood straight up.
Zee's eyes widened behind her glasses.
None of them had ever spoken openly about it.
Not even among themselves.
Jax remained calm.
"What makes you think that?"
The King gave a weary chuckle.
"Because..."
"...I have waited."
"For a very..."
"...very..."
"...long..."
"...time."
His ancient eyes met Jax's once more.
"And no child of this world has ever carried..."
He stopped himself.
A shadow crossed his face.
"No."
"Forgive me."
"I have already said too much."
Jax took another step.
"I'm trying to help."
"I know."
"I don't want to fight you."
"I know."
"Then don't."
The King looked at his four companions.
His brothers.
His family.
His fellow guardians.
When he spoke again...
His voice had become impossibly gentle.
"I wish..."
"...that choice had been mine."
The first Frost Giant stood.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Then the fourth.
Each drew an enormous weapon.
Each saluted the King.
No words.
Only respect.
The King stood as well.
He lifted the colossal blade from the frozen floor.
The palace trembled beneath its weight.
He looked directly at Jax.
"If you defeat us..."
"...do not celebrate."
His eyes drifted downward.
Toward the stone beneath everyone's feet.
"Mourn."
Jax's hand slowly rested on Peacemaker's hilt.
"I still think we can find another way."
The King smiled sadly.
"So did I."
Then...
for the first time...
his voice became that of a king.
Powerful.
Absolute.
Filled with ancient authority.
"Brothers."
The four giants struck the butts of their weapons against the frozen floor.
The sound echoed like thunder.
"Our watch..."
Another strike.
"...has ended."
A third strike shook the entire palace.
"It is time..."
The King raised his sword.
"...to keep our final promise."
Every one of the Frost Giants lowered into perfect battle formation.
Not monsters.
Knights.
Ancient.
Disciplined.
Prepared to die.
Warden slowly drew his own blade.
For the first time...
he saluted an enemy.
"My liege."
Jax never took his eyes off the King.
"I know."
Warden lowered into his stance.
"They deserve everything we have."
Jax nodded once.
"They'll get it."
The Frost Giant King pointed his sword forward.
"So be it."
And five ancient guardians charged.