The Neutral Kingdom of Velmathis—a land untouched by the endless power struggles of humans, elves, and demons. A place where knowledge was valued above all else.

  And the place where the Forbidden Grimoire was locked away in Vault Theta.

  Getting in, however, was another problem entirely.

  Velmathis was highly selective about who entered its borders. Unlike the human or demon kingdoms, it wasn’t ruled by kings or emperors but by a Council of Scholars, who dictated all policy. Trade was strictly regulated, entry required approval from the council, and outsiders were rarely allowed beyond the outer cities.

  Yet somehow, we had to get inside.

  And we had to do it fast.

  "Velmathis doesn’t let in mercenaries," I muttered as we approached the eastern border checkpoint.

  "Then it’s a good thing we’re not mercenaries," Ryn replied, smirking.

  I gave him a flat look.

  We absolutely looked like mercenaries.

  Three people in travel-worn cloaks, arriving on horseback, carrying a suspicious amount of weapons. Even Elara, despite her scholar’s aura, wasn’t exactly blending in.

  But Velmathis didn’t check for warriors.

  They checked for scholars.

  And that gave us one advantage.

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  "They don’t turn away people seeking knowledge," Elara murmured beside me. "Especially not those who come with research."

  "And what research do we have?" I asked dryly.

  She smiled.

  "Mathemagic."

  Velmathis was not a kingdom of soldiers. Their guards, though well-trained, were not warriors.

  Their greatest strength? Their scholars.

  And right now, Elara and I had something they wanted—knowledge.

  Step One: Create a Believable Cover.

  Velmathis prided itself on accepting anyone with knowledge to share. Their Scholarly Visa Program allowed foreign scholars to enter if they passed an initial evaluation.

  So, our story was simple:

  Elara Varos – Scholar of theoretical magic, researching the application of Axion Magic and its connection to lost texts.

  Haider Kade – An independent researcher specializing in runic mathematics and arcane numerology.

  Lena and Ryn – Our "bodyguards," hired for protection.

  Elara’s noble background helped sell the lie. Her father had been deeply respected among scholars, and even though Velmathis didn’t interfere in politics, they would still recognize his name.

  Step Two: Survive the Entrance Examination.

  When we arrived at the Scholars' Gate, we were immediately stopped by the gatekeepers—not soldiers, but scribes.

  "State your purpose."

  Elara took the lead. "We are independent scholars seeking access to the Royal Archives for research on ancient numerology and theoretical magic."

  The scribe raised a skeptical brow. "And what proof do you have of your research?"

  Elara calmly pulled out a journal—one filled with pages of equations written in my handwriting.

  At first glance, they looked no different from normal magic theory. But to anyone trained in magic, they would seem… alien.

  Because none of these symbols existed in their world.

  I had written them using calculus, differential equations, and theoretical physics.

  And that made them look like forbidden knowledge.

  The scribe scanned our research notes.

  His eyes narrowed.

  "This… this is not standard numerology," he muttered, flipping through the pages. "Where did you learn this?"

  Elara didn’t even blink.

  "From my father."

  The scribe stiffened.

  The name Eldric Varos still carried weight—even here.

  There was a long silence. Then, the scribe exhaled.

  "You will be permitted entry into Velmathis under scholarly review. However, before you are granted access to the Royal Archives, you must prove that your knowledge is of value."

  I sighed internally.

  Of course.

  Velmathis didn’t just let scholars walk into their most secure archives. We had to pass a formal test first.

  Elara nodded. "We accept."

  The scribe stamped our documents.

  "Welcome to Velmathis."

  Velmathis was unlike anything I had seen.

  The buildings were tall and elegant, made of white stone and engraved with glowing runes. Streets were lined with floating lanterns, libraries outnumbered taverns, and automated magic constructs patrolled the roads, offering directions to lost visitors.

  This wasn’t a kingdom built on warfare.

  It was built on progress.

  And now, Elara and I had one goal.

  "We need to pass that test," I murmured. "Or we’ll never get into the archives."

  Elara’s expression hardened.

  "Then we better prepare."

  Because somewhere deep in the Vault Theta, the Forbidden Grimoire was waiting.

  And we were the only two people in this world who could read it.