The next morning arrived with a soft glow filtering through my chamber windows. I woke up with a sense of purpose that hadn't been there before. Last night had made something clear; my journey wasn't just about proving my worth. It was also about protecting those connections I was unwittingly forming, like the one with Marcella.
I started the day with my usual morning routine, though my mind buzzed with thoughts of the previous night and the plans for the days to come. I was eager to get to the forge and see what new skills I could hammer into existence. After all, my position as Master Craftsman wasn't just a title—it was my identity in this world, and I intended to uphold it with every fiber of my being.
Breakfast was a quiet affair. The king and queen were deep in conversation about upcoming diplomatic visits, Marcella seemed lost in thought, maybe replaying our market adventure, and I... well, I nibbled on my bread while planning my next move.
Once the meal was over, I excused myself, claiming a need to return to the forge. But really, I had other plans. First, I needed to confirm the information I'd gathered during our market escapade. If correct, it could mean the underbelly of the city was much more complex than I'd anticipated.
I spent the next few hours in the forge with Thordin, who didn't miss a beat to comment on my entering with "more energy than a storm cloud."
"Seems like someone had quite the night," he joked, passing me a tool.
I smirked, replying, "What? You mean someone actually saw us leave?"
The dwarf glared at me, but I just grinned, since I knew they hadn't. "I mean, I am a child, even if an old soul. I have no reason to need to get around the guards, but I am still able to. Doesn't that seem to you like it is a problem?"
Thordin paused, his brow furrowing beneath his mop of graying hair. The jovial mood sobered. "Aye, it's a problem," he conceded. "One that needs fixin'. Our defenses can't be havin' holes even a spry child can slip through."
"Exactly. I had spent enough time around my father to know that while he was strict, it was for good measure. I get why things are relaxed here, but I am here now. Even if no one is looking to hurt me now, that can't stay the same in the future. There is no way I am going to be able to keep my growth a secret forever. What happens when others find out? Do you think everyone is just going to be like, "Oh, look at that kingdom with the strongest person in the world. Definitely don't have to worry about them, right?"
Thordin's gruff features twisted into a grimace, his eyes glinting with understanding. "A potentially strong ally like you would draw as much envy as it would shield dangers," he acknowledged. "Power attracts trouble as much as it deters it. Seems like you're a couple of steps ahead, thinking of the bigger picture."
"We need to tighten our security," I stated, "train the guards better, figure out all the weak spots, and start patching them up. From now on, it's not just about maintaining peace – it's about being prepared for when peace is threatened. Because it will be, sooner or later."
"Speak the truth," Thordin muttered, giving his hammer a spin before slamming it down onto the hot metal. "I'll start drafting up some retraining schedules. This forge might just have to do double duty as a training ground."
"Good," I replied. "And I'll use my nights to map the city, understand it from the inside out. The better I understand the lay of the land, the better we can protect it."
"If it is maps that you need, you might consider visiting the castle's library. There is a special person there that will let you see all the maps of the city. She will also be able to tell you about most of the underworld," Thordin said after pounding the metal a few more times.
"Oh? Who is this librarian?" I asked curiously. I hadn't even thought of a library with everything that had been going on, and I did like a good book.
"Kuka is a strange one, but you should be mindful of her and be polite. As strong as you are, this creature gives most humans and almost every race, including elves pause, and they usually stay clear of them," Thordin warned, but that just made me frown.
"If this woman is so dangerous, then why would we keep her in the castle? Just what kind of creature is she?"
Thordin set his hammer aside, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice as if to convey a secret. "She's known as a Nokturn—a creature of the night. Said to be steeped in ancient magic and bound to the royal family eons ago. They're not inherently dangerous, but they can be, especially if disrespected or threatened."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A creature of the night, huh? Sounds like she'll know the city's shadows better than anyone."
"Aye, that she does. Kuka's lived countless human lifetimes and watched the city grow from dirt paths to what it is now. She knows every secret it holds, every whisper within its walls. But don't take her lightly, lad. She's as mysterious as they come."
A Nokturn. It wasn't a creature I had come across in my past life or even in my eight years here. I realized then that my knowledge of this world still had significant gaps. Meeting this Kuka seemed not only beneficial for my plans but also necessary for my education in the world of Velum.
"Where can I find her?" I asked, already planning my visit.
"She is the castle's librarian. Just head there and introduce yourself," Thordin said as he rolled his eyes at me.
"Thank you, Thordin. I'll pay her a visit. And I'll continue to keep up appearances as the eccentric prince." My masked ventures could be fruitful, but maintaining the façade of a young, carefree prince might grant me a different kind of access—a less suspicious one.
With our conversation concluded, Thordin returned to his work in the forge and I left. I could come back here at any time, but I was itching to see what kind of a library a castle would have. I hadn't seen one in my father's castle beside a big shelf in my father's study. The books I was taught were brought to me, so I just assumed that we didn't have one.
As I made my way to the library, my mind was abuzz with questions. What did a Nokturn look like? How would she react to me? But most pressing of all, what wonders did the castle's library hold? I had always been drawn to knowledge, and the idea of a library curated over centuries by a creature as ancient and enigmatic as Kuka intrigued me deeply.
Reaching the library, the vastness of the place struck me. Towering shelves lined with volumes of all sizes, scrolls, and manuscripts, relics of knowledge that could hold anything from trivial to life-altering information. It was a treasure trove awaiting exploration.
I found Kuka at a desk piled with books, her back to me. She was shrouded in a cloak, dark as the night itself. There was an aura about her that seemed to ripple the air, a subtle disturbance that was both alarming and compelling.
"Excuse me," I began, my voice steady, yet respectful. "Are you Kuka? I was told you could help me with some... research."
The figure turned, and the cloak fell away to reveal her true form. I was met with an almost ethereal face, framed by silver hair that shimmered like moonbeams. Her eyes, a piercing shade of violet, seemed to stare straight into my soul. Creases of untold years marked her skin, and yet, she bore an ageless beauty that demanded reverence.
Kuka regarded me for a long moment before replying, her voice a melodious whisper that carried the weight of innumerable years. "I am Kuka. And what might Prince Gideon, the Master Craftsman, require of such an ancient being as myself?"
Her knowledge of me, my class, wasn't surprising considering her station in the castle. But it did remind me that I was dealing with no ordinary librarian. I would need to choose my words and questions carefully.
"I seek to understand the city, its secrets, and stories, to better serve and protect the kingdom," I said. "I've been told you hold the city's history within these walls... and within yourself."