The Journey to Varkaan

The Fire Iguana was a fascinating creature from Varkaan, a scorching planet where temperature and instinct shaped wildlife. Its fire was not just a reflection of its vitality—the more intense its flame, the healthier and stronger it was—but also an essential trait for reproduction. Interestingly, only males could generate and sustain flames, while females, much larger and more robust, needed a partner to ignite them. It was a peculiar symbiosis: the female gained security by setting herself ablaze, protecting herself, her offspring, and even the male, while he, for reasons still debated by Varkaan's philosophers and scientists, tirelessly sought a mate—an instinct deeply rooted in the survival of the species.

To Tyrin, this was quite normal for planets like his, where status and wealth were scarce, and relationships and entertainment were far more straightforward. To Luci, however, it seemed like a completely alien concept.

"I think Scorcher needs to… well, let's just say he needs to relieve some tension," Tyrin remarked, crossing his arms with a smirk.

Gertrudes blinked for a few seconds before her face lit up in understanding.

"Oh… That makes perfect sense!"

Luci looked between them, frowning.

"What makes sense? I'm not getting any of this."

Gertrudes let out a theatrical sigh.

"Oh, dear… Such innocence."

She then turned to Luci with an almost motherly look.

"Sweetie, answer me this: how old is Scorcher?"

Luci tilted her head slightly to the side.

"If I were to compare it to human years… I'd say around 17 or 18. But what does that have to do with—"

She suddenly stopped, her eyes widening as realization hit her like a wave of hot lava. The blush on her face was nearly as intense as Scorcher's own glow.

"You're saying that… that he's at that stage?!" She covered her mouth, embarrassed. "But I don't even know if there's a worthy female for him on my planet!"

Tyrin shrugged, already a bit bored with how cautiously the conversation was unfolding.

"Luci, I really need to talk to your dad about this gap in your knowledge. The fact is, Scorcher doesn't care about status or hierarchy. He just wants… to do what he needs to do. And that explains why he's been so down lately."

Luci and Gertrudes seemed to be treading on thin ice—one wanting to say too much, the other too little. Tyrin, on the other hand, had already lost interest in the topic and began flipping through a book, his mind now wandering to another matter: Varkaan. He had never been there before, and the idea of visiting a volcanic planet intrigued him.

That's when an idea sparked in Gertrudes' mind.

"I've got it! My class is tomorrow, and then you guys have two free days, right? How about we take a trip to your planet, Luci? It's close by, and I can use my ship to take us. Not only would it solve Scorcher's problem, but I could explore a bit too."

Luci studied him, considering it.

"Hm… Besides, Struthio eggs are known across the universe as a dish fit for the Gods."

"Yes! That was the name!" Luci exclaimed, excited.

Tyrin smirked.

"I accept your offer. And don't worry, I can call my ship to pick us up. My father always keeps one on standby at the border in case I need it."

That's when a hesitant third voice spoke up.

"Sorry to interrupt… but could I come too?"

Gertrudes and Luci turned to Tyrin, who looked slightly nervous.

"You see… I've never traveled to a planet that wasn't for survival. I'm fascinated by Varkaan."

Luci exchanged glances with Gertrudes, who simply shrugged.

"Fine by me."

Gertrudes smiled but quickly adopted a more serious tone.

"In that case, you have to read the two books we went through about Varkaan. I know your mind absorbs information quickly, so no excuses."

Tyrin let out a short laugh.

"No problem. If it helps, I'll do it gladly."

Luci crossed her arms, a slight challenge in her voice.

"But just so you know—my planet has more volcanoes than mountains. The heat there is insane."

Tyrin smirked, tapping his own chest.

"No problem. I've built up my resistance. I'm sure I can handle it."

With the decision made, the three spent the rest of the day preparing—baths, food, and a well-earned rest before the journey. Luci's ship would take half a day to reach the planet and pick them up.

Meanwhile, the next morning, Emília frowned as she found a note stuck to the classroom door, hastily written and slightly smudged:

"Class postponed until next week. Signed: Your dear, loving, patient, and friendly Gertrudes."

She huffed, crossing her arms.

"Where the hell did everyone go?"

The trip to Varkaan was a contrasting experience for the trio. Gertrudes, dazzled by the ship's luxury, savored every moment, indulging in comforts she had never experienced in her old, unreliable spacecraft. Luci, already accustomed to this standard of living, spent most of the time sleeping or snacking on exquisite treats. Tyrin, however, had a completely different experience.

Confined to the cabin, he buried himself in the three books about Varkaan. He needed to understand every detail, every peculiarity of the culture and biology of its people. His pride pushed him to make himself useful on this trip. If he failed now, he felt he'd never be invited to anything important again.

Eighteen hours of travel. Eighteen hours of intense reading, while his companions slept and ate without a care in the world.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be arriving in Varkaan in one hour. Please prepare for landing."

The pilot's voice echoed through the ship, pulling Tyrin back to reality. He rubbed his tired eyes, realizing how quickly time had flown.

Moments later, a man dressed like a waiter approached, carrying a silver tray with a small blue pill and a set of clothes.

"Mr. Tyrin, excuse me. I was sent by Miss Luci to deliver this pill. It will help reduce the extreme thermal sensation of Varkaan. And please wear these clothes—we wouldn't want you passing out from overheating, would we?"

Tyrin raised an eyebrow but took the items without complaint.

"A planet with an average of 65 degrees… The human body can withstand extreme temperatures, but I imagine there's a lot of natural selection and genetics involved in the resistance of its inhabitants."

He had read about it just that day. Everyone in Varkaan had fiery red hair and superhuman heat resistance. Adaptation had shaped their civilization over millennia.

As they disembarked, Luci ran toward an imposing man with blazing red hair, eyes as intense as embers, and a presence so powerful it was almost suffocating.

"Father! You came to greet me!"

The man gave a subtle, paternal smile, crossing his arms.

"Of course, daughter. I was in an important meeting on planet Gaia, but I would never miss this. So, from what you told me, Scorcher is entering his maturation phase, correct?"

Luci frowned, crossing her arms in irritation.

"Yes! But why did you never mention this?! I had no idea what was happening!"

Before the man could respond, Gertrudes stepped in with a teasing smile.

"That's right, Mr. Dravok Lizaard. Explain to me how your daughter got to this point without even knowing what was going on with her own pet?"

The king—Dravok Lizaard—let out a heavy sigh, turning his warm gaze to Gertrudes.

— Gertrudes… How many years has it been, huh? It's a pleasure to see you again. The truth is, I was too overprotective of Luci. I believed that, at some point, she'd have friends like you to guide her on these matters.

— Hm, fair enough… But don't worry, it wasn't me who noticed. — She pointed her thumb to the side. — It was her boyfriend.

— WHAT?! — Tyrin, who had been silent until then, choked.

Before he could protest, an overwhelming force crushed against his body. It felt as if the very air around him had caught fire. His chest tightened, his lungs burned, and a sharp pain coursed through him. He staggered, feeling like he was on the verge of passing out.

— Boy… boyfriend? You've got to be joking, right?! — He barely managed to gasp, his skin practically boiling.

Gertrudes burst into laughter.

— You're gonna kill him, Dravok! It was just a joke! Hahaha! You should've seen his face!

The pressure vanished as quickly as it had come. Tyrin took a deep breath, relief washing over him as he regained control of his body. He dropped to one knee, still panting.

— You… are all insane…