Kaiden stood outside the library, a grin on his face. The directions Greaves had given him were simple enough, and after a long walk, he finally arrived.

  The library was a massive stone structure, built with thick, reinforced walls that gave it the same imposing presence as some of the military buildings he had seen. Towering arched windows lined the exterior, allowing natural light to pour into the building during the day. At the entrance, two intricately carved wooden doors stood open, welcoming visitors in and out. The facade was adorned with aged bronze plaques and relief engravings of scholars and historical figures, as if commemorating the pursuit of knowledge. A large set of stone steps led up to the entrance, worn smooth from years of use.

  Kaiden had half-expected to stick out like a sore thumb in his military uniform, but to his surprise, he didn’t. There were plenty of military personnel among the civilians walking in and out, some in uniform, others in casual wear. Still, he made a mental note to buy some proper clothes later. All of his clothes were just different sets of standard-issue military uniforms and outfits.

  Right now, he wore the standard army uniform—a pair of sturdy slacks and a fitted, high-collared tunic designed for everyday wear. It was a far cry from the armorless Dungeoneer outfit he had worn earlier in the day, but it was comfortable enough and appropriate for being out in the city. After finishing his dungeon run, he had stopped by his barracks to change before heading here.

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and climbed the stairs, eager to explore the library’s vast collection.

  Inside, Kaiden stepped past the entrance and into a grand but practical interior. The floors were made of polished stone, while tall wooden shelves stretched high toward the vaulted ceiling. Large iron chandeliers hung overhead, providing ample lighting through enchanted crystal lamps. Rows of long tables filled the main hall, each occupied by scholars, students, and quiet readers. The scent of aged parchment and ink filled the air, blending with the faintest hint of candle wax.

  The walls were lined with archways leading to various sections, each labeled with carved wooden plaques indicating different subjects—history, magic, warfare, geography, and more. The entire place felt orderly, built not just for scholars but for anyone looking to learn.

  Kaiden made his way toward a librarian sitting behind one of the high counters, poring over books and parchment. The man looked to be in his sixties, with thinning white hair and round spectacles perched on the edge of his nose. His face had the softened lines of someone who had spent a lifetime among books rather than battle.

  “Excuse me, sir,” Kaiden said.

  The librarian looked up from his pile of documents, adjusting his spectacles before offering a warm smile. “How can I help you, young man?”

  Kaiden gave a polite nod. “I’ve just arrived in the city, and this is my first visit here. I could use some help.”

  “Welcome,” the librarian said, his smile widening. “I’ll do my best to be of assistance. What brings you here today, then?”

  Truthfully, Kaiden had many subjects he wanted to dive into, but first, he needed to fill in a lot of gaps in his base knowledge. He could inquire about other things later.

  “I’ve lived a closed-off life before,” Kaiden admitted. “I’d like a better understanding of the history of Jadari and the geography of Aterra.”

  The librarian’s eyes sparkled with interest. “It’s never too late to learn something new.”

  He grabbed a small piece of parchment and began jotting down a few items with his quill. Once finished, he handed the paper to Kaiden and began explaining.

  “I wrote three book recommendations for the history of Jadari,” the librarian said, “starting from beginner to intermediate to advanced. You can follow these numbers here to find the specific sections.”

  He then gave a brief explanation of what the numbers meant, pointing to different areas of the library to show how books were grouped.

  “That’s very helpful. I think I understand,” Kaiden said with a nod.

  “Good,” the librarian replied. “As for geography, I’ve listed two items. One is a collection of maps, and the other is a book with detailed description of the geography of the world. You’re allowed to borrow most books, but the maps must stay.”

  “Thank you,” Kaiden said. “This is very helpful, but I don’t think I’ll be borrowing anything just yet. Can I just read them here at my leisure?”

  “Of course,” the librarian said with a smile. “Just find any empty seat, and off you go.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Kaiden nodded in appreciation. “Thank you.”

  Taking the parchment, he turned and made his way toward the history section, deciding to start with the recommended books on Jadari first. Once he read through those, then geography would come next.

  Minutes later, Kaiden sat down at an empty table with all three books, deciding it was better to read through all of them rather than just skimming one. He flipped through each, getting a feel for their contents before diving in properly. The books covered a broad range of topics, from ancient conflicts to cultural shifts, but what surprised him most was the inclusion of information on the current king and royal family. It made sense—monarchs typically ruled for decades—but he hadn’t expected such recent details to be available.

  Satisfied with his selection, he started with the beginner book, taking his time absorbing the basic history. About an hour into his reading, just as he was getting into the details of a major war from centuries past, a familiar voice whispered his name, accompanied by a firm clap on his shoulder.

  “There you are,” the voice said.

  Kaiden looked up from his book to see Corporal Greaves standing beside him, looking slightly out of breath.

  “Corporal Greaves?” he said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

  She didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “You’re being summoned.”

  “What?”

  Break

  Dedrim Kallor sat at the head of a large rectangular table, surrounded by some of the highest-ranking officers in the Jadari army. The command room exuded authority and prestige, built not just for function but for the weight of the decisions made within its walls. The plush carpeted floors muffled footsteps, adding to the room’s refined atmosphere, while the soft glow of enchanted lamps complemented the natural light streaming in through large windows. Sunlight cast long, gentle beams across the space, highlighting the intricate banners adorning the walls, each representing a different military division. Detailed maps of Jadari and its surrounding territories were displayed prominently, reinforcing the strategic weight of the room.

  The table itself was a masterwork of craftsmanship—solid dark wood with gold inlays marking the edges, its sheer size allowing ample space for those seated around it. Dedrim sat at its head, while General Eryndor Thorne occupied the seat directly opposite him. Flanking them were several lower-ranking generals and colonels, their postures formal, their expressions neutral.

  Along the sides of the room, elegant side tables accommodated scribes and officers who meticulously recorded the meeting’s minutes. A few sergeants major sat behind their respective generals, not to participate fully, but to provide supporting information when needed.

  Across from Dedrim, Eryndor Thorne leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed yet radiating cocky indifference. The man was unsettling and insufferable, and of all the people Dedrim had to deal with, Thorne was the one he least wanted to see.

  “Are we gonna start already, Dedrim?” Thorne said casually, his tone deliberately grating.

  Dedrim’s eye twitched. “General Thorne,” he said coolly, “in official meetings, you are to refer to me as General Kallor. We may be the same rank, but billets matter.”

  Thorne rolled his eyes. “Fine. Can we get started, General Kallor?”

  Dedrim exhaled slowly, reigning in his irritation. “Of course. For our first order of business—” he paused, locking eyes with Thorne before continuing, “your request for additional Dungeoneer funding and recruiting has been denied.”

  “What?” General Thorne slammed his fist on the table, his relaxed demeanor vanishing in an instant.

  Dedrim remained unfazed. “We’ve still received no evidence to support your claims, and, in fact, we’ve observed an increased rate of Dungeoneer casualties.”

  “You’re weakening our ability to fight the dragons when they get here,” Thorne snapped.

  Dedrim, maintaining his air of professionalism, met his glare. “No, you are weakening our ability to fight.” He slid a report down the table toward Thorne. “Dungeoneer casualties are up twenty-five percent. The rate at which we’re recruiting and rushing them through the ranks is getting them killed faster than we can replace them.”

  Thorne didn’t even glance at the report. “The cream rises to the top. It’s a necessary sacrifice. This will give us the best chance at producing Dragoons.”

  “So you say,” Dedrim countered, “yet we’ve seen no supporting reports outside of your own.”

  Thorne growled under his breath. “This war is coming whether you believe me or not. And you can’t fight dragons without Dragoons.”

  “We can,” Dedrim said evenly, “and we will if it comes to that.” His eyes narrowed. “And that’s a very big if.”

  Thorne’s jaw tensed. “It’s going to happen. Mark my words—without Dragoons, Archehaven will fall.”

  Dedrim leaned forward slightly. “Then maybe you can fight them with your Black Wyvern Riders.”

  Thorne exhaled sharply through his nose, cracking his neck in a slow, deliberate motion as he calmed himself. When he spoke again, his tone was quieter but no less firm.

  “There are no current candidates available that I can train into Dragoons,” he admitted. “We must continue recruiting and push the ones who can make it to higher levels.”

  Dedrim remained firm. “You’ll have to make do with the normal numbers. The matter is now closed pending further evidence.”

  Thorne’s eyes darkened. “You’ve just made a grave mistake. And in time, you’ll see. We may still be a few years away, but it’s coming.”

  A heavy silence settled over the room. The tension in the air was thick, but no one spoke. The other generals and colonels remained still, knowing better than to get involved in a power struggle between two of the highest-ranking officers in the military.

  Then, a captain approached Thorne and leaned in, whispering something into his ear.

  Thorne’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he let out a slow breath. He pushed his chair back, rising to his feet. “Apologies,” he said, his tone suddenly lighter, “but an urgent matter has just appeared, and I must excuse myself.”

  Dedrim clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to snap at him. He didn’t care about Thorne’s so-called urgent business. If anything, he was grateful the man was leaving.

  “Very well,” Dedrim said coolly.

  Thorne gave him one last glance before turning on his heel and exiting the room. The moment the doors shut behind him, the tension in the chamber eased, but Dedrim knew better than to believe this was the end of it.