The library of the royal castle was silent, save for the soft rustling of pages and the occasional scratch of a quill. I sat across from Princess Elowen, my frustration growing as I flipped through yet another thick, leather-bound tome. The books were massive and heavy, their covers intricately decorated with swirling patterns and the royal seal of the Pendragon family. But for all their grandeur, they seemed utterly useless.
I sighed, squinting at the faded ink. Nothing. Just old records of trades and treaties. No mention of Empress Arthuretta or her legendary sword. I glanced over at Elowen, who was engrossed in her own book, her brow furrowed in concentration. The flickering light of the candles cast her face in sharp relief, making her look almost ethereal. She looked up briefly and caught my eye, quivering an eyebrow as if to say, "Keep looking."
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. This was useless. There had to be something we were missing. There had to be. I was just about to give up for the night when Khaleus's voice echoed softly in my mind.
"You're looking in the wrong way, boy. Focus your mana into your eyes."
"What? Into my eyes?" I murmured, confused. Glancing over at Elowen, who was engrossed in yet another dusty tome, I shrugged. What did I have to lose? I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I imagined my mana, cold and dark, swirling up from my core and spreading through my veins like icy water. A shiver ran through me as it flowed upward, gathering at the base of my skull.
I gritted my teeth, pushing on as I visualized it moving behind my eyes. For a moment, there was a sharp, uncomfortable pinch, and then—
My eyes snapped open, and I almost gasped.
Everything looked different. Colors seemed sharper, clearer. The shadows in the library no longer blurred together; I could see every detail of the carved woodwork, every stitch in the old tapestries. And then I saw it—several books and scrolls scattered around us glowed faintly, like they were painted with a delicate, shimmering ink only visible to me. I stood up quickly, scanning the shelves around us. There were dozens of items lit up with that eerie glow, all with hidden text I hadn't noticed before.
But something else caught my eye.
Across the room, hanging on the wall, was a large portrait of a regal woman in gleaming gold robes. I'd glanced at it dozens of times before, but I'd never noticed this. Along the hem of her gown, barely visible under layers of oil paint, there was a line of glowing text.
"Whoa…" I whispered, stepping closer, unable to tear my gaze away from the faint script.
"What is it?" Elowen asked, looking up. I pointed at the portrait, and she followed my gaze. "What are you staring at?"
"That woman—who is she?" I asked, still staring at the glowing message on her gown.
She blinked, then smiled softly. "That is Empress Arthuretta Pendragon, the First Empress of Ogygia. The Peasant Made Empress."
But I barely registered her words. "What's with the writing on the painting?" I asked, turning back to her.
Elowen frowned, confusion clouding her face. "Writing? Adrian, there's no writing on that painting."
"There is!" I insisted, pointing again. "Right there, along her dress. Can't you see it?"
Her expression shifted from confusion to shock. "Wait… you're saying you can see writing?" she asked, her voice rising with excitement. "That's… Verasyn! You're using Verasyn!"
I frowned. "Verasyn?"
She nodded, eyes wide. "It's an extremely rare ability few can even manage to learn. While the Veil keeps our world hidden from the Velnir, it can be thickened to even block our vision from things the God's wish they don't want us to see. I myself can only manage to use it in my left eye, and even then, it's barely effective."
I glanced back at the glowing script, something cold and unfamiliar still lingering in my vision. "So how long can it usually last?" I asked slowly only for my vision to flicker and return to normal. "Well I guess it's for as long as I pump mana into my eyes."
"Adrian, this is incredible! If you're able to use Verasyn, it means we can find all the hidden messages in the library! I can't believe I never thought about it sooner!" She turned to the portrait, squinting at it, and frowned. "I need to activate it. Give me a moment."
She closed her eyes, and I watched in awe as the mana in her left eye flared to life. When she opened her eye again, it was shimmering with a pale blue light. She leaned in closer, peering at the writing along the hem of the Empress's dress.
"It's… it's a message," she whispered, her voice dropping to a reverent hush. "From Empress Arthuretta herself."
I felt a jolt of anticipation. "What does it say?"
She squinted, reading slowly, then began to recite the text aloud:
"To seek the truth, one must first journey to the four corners of the world. Only by walking the paths of knowledge, fire, storms, and beasts can one find the blades resting place. Begin at the Temple of Knowledge, where wisdom flows like water, then seek the Mountain of Eternal Flames, where the heart of the earth beats. Follow the path of storms to the temple of the serpent. And finally, descend into the forest of the beasts, where the light cannot reach. Once each trial is complete, the sword shall appear at the place where it was hidden."
Her voice trembled as she finished reading. She turned to look at me, her expression a mix of shock and determination. "It's a trial—a trial to retrace her steps!"
My heart pounded as I stared at the glowing script, stunned. "So… we have to go to these four places?"
"Yes," she breathed, nodding slowly. "If we can complete this trial, we'll finally uncover the location of Empress Arthuretta's lost sword. But it won't be easy. I don't know where these locations are, but maybe there are clues. I assume each location there is a test—just like the ones the Goddess gave her."
"Then let's get started, Princess."
☉☉☉
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of research and discovery. Every day, we scoured the royal library, the family's private collection, and even the Library of Alexandria—poring over ancient scrolls, decrepit tomes, and hidden manuscripts. Each piece of writing I inspected using Verasyn revealed more clues, slowly piecing together a trail that would lead us through history.
The first location we identified was the Temple of Athena in Greece. Athena was revered for her wisdom—the perfect starting point for a trial meant to test the mind. The second location, I still had absolutely no clue about so we put it aside for now.
The third location took more time to identify. The message spoke of a path of storms leading to a temple of a serpent. It didn't take long for me to realize it could only be referring to the Temple of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza in Mexico. The temple, also known as the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent.
Finally, the fourth location stumped us for days—until I remembered an obscure reference in one of the old Velian texts. The trial of shadows would take us to the depths of the Amazon Rainforest in South America, into a place so shrouded in trees and plants that light itself struggled to penetrate to its floors.
Despite the elation of discovering these locations, there was one insurmountable problem: convincing the Empress and Emperor to let us go. Without their blessing, the princess couldn't step out of Ogygia. It was a fight we weren't certain we could win, but it was a fight we had to try.
Elowen led the way through the opulent halls of the palace, the air thick with tension as we approached the chamber where her parents held private audiences. The room was a sprawling space, gilded in gold and draped in crimson velvet, with towering windows that overlooked the capital city. The Empress and the Emperor sat side by side on their thrones, surrounded by advisors and royal guards.
Empress Livia regarded us with a serene smile, but the Emperor's gaze was cold and unyielding. The air crackled with unspoken power and authority as we approached, bowing low in respect.
"What is it you seek this time, Elowen?" the Empress asked gently. "More requests for books? More time in the library?"
Elowen straightened, her jaw set with determination. "No, Mother. We have uncovered the locations of Empress Arthuretta's trial and wish to seek out the sword. I am asking for your blessing to leave Ogygia and undertake this journey."
The Emperor scoffed. "And why would we let you run off on a fool's errand?" he sneered. "You are a Pendragon, Elowen. Your duty is to stay here and be a dutiful daughter. You're wasting your time with this nonsense."
"But—"
"And who will protect you?" he continued, cutting her off. "That boy?" He turned his cold gaze to me, and I felt the weight of his disdain. "I don't care how many books he's read or how many spells he knows. He's still just a commoner."
"Father!" Elowen protested, her voice trembling. "This isn't just about the sword. It's about—"
"Enough!" Empress Livia interrupted, her smile fading into something far colder. "Forget this foolish quest, Elowen. Just be a good girl and do as you're told. You're better suited here, by my side."
A chill ran through me at the casual dismissal in her voice. I glanced at Elowen, seeing the pain and humiliation in her eyes, the way she fought back tears at her own mother's condescension. Something in me snapped.
"Are you two really that blind?" I demanded, stepping forward without thinking.
Gasps echoed around the chamber as I raised my voice. The Emperor's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury, but I ignored him, locking my gaze on the Empress.
"If Empress Arthuretta were alive today, she would be disgusted to see what her descendants have become," I said, my voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "Do you know why she hid the sword in the first place? Because she didn't believe any of you were worthy of it. She saw what this family would become—complacent, selfish, blinded by pride. You two, sitting up there on your thrones, are everything she hated. That sword was meant to be a symbol of strength, honor, and courage. But look at you."
The Emperor stood abruptly, his face a mask of rage. "How dare you—!"
"No!" I shouted, cutting him off. I could feel Elowen's eyes on me, her shock and fear, but I couldn't stop. "You're the one who's an insult to this family's name! You belittle your own daughter, mock her, ignore her dedication and strength, because you're too cowardly to see past your own ego! If Empress Arthuretta saw this—saw you—she would take that sword and shatter it herself, because you're not worthy of it. None of you are."
Silence fell over the room, so thick it was suffocating.
The Emperor's face was crimson, his mouth opening and closing as he sputtered with rage, but before he could speak, the Empress raised a hand, stopping him. She stared down at me, her expression unreadable.
"You would risk your life," she said softly, "for a sword hidden away by a woman who thought herself better than the Goddess?"
"I would," I replied, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. "Because this is more than just a sword. This is a chance to prove her wrong—to prove that there is still honor in this family. Elowen deserves that chance. You owe her that much."
The Empress was silent for a long moment, her gaze shifting to her daughter. Then, slowly, she smiled.
"Very well," she murmured, turning to the Emperor. "He's right, you know. If they can find that sword, then perhaps… Elowen is more worthy than we thought."
The Emperor's jaw dropped. "Livia, you can't be—"
"I am." She rose gracefully from her throne, looking down at us with something almost like approval. "If you can complete this journey and return with the sword, Elowen, I will name you the next Empress instead of your sister."
My heart skipped a beat. Elowen inhaled sharply beside me, but the Empress continued.
"I will give you a ship to carry you on your way," she said, her voice firm. "But everything else… is up to you. Find your own allies, your own supplies. Prove yourself, daughter of mine. Show me that you are not a disappointment."
With that, she turned away, dismissing us with a wave of her hand.
"Now, go."
The guards stepped aside, and we were ushered out of the chamber, the door closing heavily behind us. Elowen stared at me, wide-eyed and stunned.
"Adrian… what did you just do?" she whispered.
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. "I think… I just convinced your mother to let us go."
A slow, disbelieving smile spread across her face. Then she laughed, shaking her head. "You're insane."
"Maybe," I agreed, grinning despite myself. "But it worked, didn't it?"
"Yes," she murmured, glancing back at the chamber doors. "Yes, it did."
☉☉☉
I packed what little I had: my sword, my black cloak, and a travelbag with a few spare clothes. There wasn't much else to gather. The room I'd been given at the Vanguard headquarters was more of a place to sleep than a home—bare walls, a simple bed, and a rickety desk strewn with notes and scrolls. It hadn't even been mine for very long, but still, the thought of leaving it tugged at something deep inside me.
I glanced around the empty room one last time, taking a deep breath before heading out the door and down the narrow staircase leading to the main floor.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I spotted Captain Kraven in his usual spot near the entrance, speaking in hushed tones with Elowen. I guess they were saying goodbye or something
When I stepped into the room, they both turned as I approached, the captain's gaze appraising me from head to toe. I squared my shoulders and tried not to fidget under his scrutiny.
"Adrian," he grunted. "All packed?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I got everything I need. Where's the rest of the rest of the Vanguard? I wanted to say goodbye."
A flicker of something crossed the captain's face. "They're off on their own mission. A dangerous one," he said simply. "They left early this morning. Didn't want to wake you."
"Are they going to be okay?" I asked, frowning.
He shrugged, his expression as impassive as ever. "If they're not, they'll have me to answer to." The weight of his words settled between us like a promise, or maybe a threat. "But you've got your own mission to worry about, boy. Stay focused."
I bit back the urge to ask more. There was no point—Kraven would never tell me the details. I turned to Elowen, who looked calm and composed in a deep blue traveling cloak, her hair pinned back in an elegant braid. She smiled softly, though I could see a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
She nodded, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before she turned and motioned for me to follow her. "Then let's not waste any more time."
I glanced back at the captain one last time, and he gave me a curt nod, his expression inscrutable. "Good luck, Adrian."
"Thanks, Captain," I murmured, then turned and followed Elowen out of the building.
The air outside was brisk, carrying the scent of the sea and the distant noise of the bustling capital. A sleek black carriage stood waiting by the curb, its polished frame gleaming in the morning light. The coachman stepped forward and opened the door for us, bowing low as we approached.
"Where to, Your Highness?" he asked respectfully.
"To the forge," Elowen said without hesitation.
I blinked, taken aback. "The forge? Why?"
Elowen glanced at me, a small, secretive smile tugging at her lips. "Hephaestus has something for you. I… may have requested something to be made."
My eyebrows shot up. "Wait, you got Hephaestus to make something for me?"
She just laughed softly, shaking her head. "I have some influence, you know. Now come on, you'll see soon enough."
Still in shock, I climbed into the carriage after her, my mind racing. I couldn't even begin to imagine what it could be.
The carriage jerked forward, and I leaned back against the plush seat, staring out the window as the city rolled by. My thoughts swirled with anticipation and uncertainty. Whatever it was, I knew that it was going to be amazing. Not if Elowen had gone through the trouble of enlisting Hephaestus's help.
The princess sat across from me, watching me quietly as if she could see the turmoil in my head. "You've earned it," she said softly after a moment. "Think of it as a thanks for helping me these past few days.."
"Thanks, Elowen."
She just smiled, turning her gaze back out the window as the carriage rolled on.