The cafeteria buzzed with the lunchtime clamor of students. Clinking utensils, muffled laughter, and the faint murmur of gossip filled the air as trays piled with food slid across tables.
Despite the sea of chatter, a particular table stood out, where Leia and her friends sat with their trays half-forgotten, their focus entirely on Leon.
Leia had invited Leon to join her and her friends for lunch, mostly out of a sense of obligation after his earlier exchange with Orick.
Her friends, however, had been watching the lecture's aftermath with keen interest, and their curiosity was anything but subtle.
"Alright," Arwen said, leaning forward, her short auburn hair bouncing slightly. "What's with you and that notebook trick? How do you even think of that, let alone apply it?"
Leon, seated beside Leia, paused mid-bite of a light and tasty piece of bread. His bright, curious eyes flicked between Arwen and the others, clearly not expecting to be the center of attention. "Huh? Oh, the notes?"
"Yes, the notes!" Arwen's tone was incredulous. "Shrinking paper? Altering fibers? Like is that your idea of regular use of Laws?"
"Well," Leon began, his tone almost matter-of-fact, "it's not that hard once you figure out how to balance the resonance across the surface area. It's just like—"
Leia groaned, cutting him off. "Don't start. You'll lose them in two seconds."
The group laughed, easing the tension. Even Leon cracked a small smile, though he looked slightly puzzled by the amusement.
"Alright, fair," said another friend, Tren, who had been quietly munching on his sandwich. "You know, for my first day all I did was pretend to be listening to the teachers. I didn't even consider using The Laws, thinking I have to be taught first."
"Also, the way you melded the separate pages. That is far more complex than any small scale application of mass." Said the oldest one at 9, Sienna.
"Do you even know how to relax, or is your idea of fun solving equations for, like, laws of physics?" Tren said.
Leon shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Learning is fun, isn't it? Besides," he added, glancing at Leia, who was attempting his writing technique on her own notebook, "I'm not the only one working hard."
Leia stiffened at the unexpected compliment, her cheeks warming slightly. Before she could respond, Arwen leaned back in her chair with an exaggerated sigh.
"This kid's too much," she declared. "Leia, where did you find him?"
* * *
After lunch, the students assembled in the Geography Hall, a grand room dominated by an enormous map of the continent Fenros.
The map glimmered faintly with embedded gemstones marking significant locations, each glowing with faint energy, indicating their importance.
Their instructor for the day, Professor Hallen, was a wiry man with sharp eyes and a voice that demanded attention. "Geography is not simply about knowing where you are. It is about understanding why the world is the way it is—its people, its boundaries, and its history."
He gestured to the glowing map, his voice growing more serious. "You are in Oran, one of the six nations of Fenros. But to truly understand Oran, you must first understand the continent as a whole."
Professor Hallen began pointing to regions on the map, his tone steady and measured as he explained.
"Oran lies at the heart of Fenros. It is a country of balance, both in culture and in harmony. As you know, our people believe in Kael's Resolve. A philosophy that emphasizes unity through hardships. We are a hardy and tight knit people that minimize the stratification in our nation. That is why we are the only nation without nobility, or something similar." His long descriptions betrayed the passion he held.
"The nation is bordered by the Sentinels to the north—twin peaks that are part of the towering Skyspires in Avarin." He pointed northward.
"The Skyspires are mountains of staggering height, piercing the clouds. They are the tallest on Fenros. And yet, the Sentinels that house this Academy are among the smallest of their range."
"Headmaster Theodore Bless had once ventured deep into Avarin, the nation populated not by humans..." He paused for dramatic effect.
"...but elves."
The students' eyes gleamed at the mention of intelligent creatures outside of humans. "But we will talk about that tomorrow." He said, causing most of them to lean back on their seats in disappointment.
Leon's attention sharpened at the mention of the Skyspires, the Headmaster, and Elves. They sounded almost mythical.
The enormous twin mountains that make up the valley the Institute resides, are apparently small compared to the rest. The Headmaster, he assumed was an Enlightened rank. But the Elves piqued his interest the most. Sadly he would have to wait for the next day.
"To the east," Hallen continued, his finger tracing the map, "lies Serth. It may appear unassuming, but its power lies in its trade routes." He studied Serth in silence.
And then continued, ignoring the amused students.
"Serth is the only nation on Fenros that actively trades with lands beyond the continent. Its ports are bustling with goods that no other nation can easily access. If Fenros has a gateway to the rest of Kaelar, Serth holds the key. They are likely where the Elves came from as well."
Professor Hallen moved his attention westward. "Here is Caldros. This nation, along with its southern neighbor, Aelthar, has mastered the use of the crystals found on their lands. These crystals can be found on all of the territories, but they are most prominently found on the west. Their properties allow for innovations that baffle even the brightest scholars of Oran."
"What kind of innovations?" a student asked.
"Energy, primarily," Hallen answered. "But rumors persist of their use in forging weapons, augmenting physical abilities, and even altering the natural Laws themselves. Caldros and Aelthar are highly secretive about their methods, so much of this is conjecture."
"East of both Caldros and Aelthar, as well as southwest of Oran," he continued, pointing to a massive expanse of land, "is Hathur. The largest nation on Fenros. Hathur is ruled by King Salim, a powerful Integrated whose reach spans nearly the entire continent. No other nation dares claim the title of kingdom because of his absolute dominance. Any ruler who has attempted to do so in the past was swiftly dealt with—either through diplomacy, conquest, or assassination. His rule has been uncontested for over two hundred years."
Leon frowned. "Why is Hathur so much larger than the others? And why hasn't anyone stopped King Salim?"
Hallen's expression darkened. "Hathur's size isn't just due to Salim's ambition. It is because much of the land it encompasses is harsh and unforgiving, making it nearly impossible to resist once conquered. And the king's rule is absolute because of his control over something no other nation possesses."
"Which is?" Leon asked, leaning forward in curiosity.
"Partial Domain," Hallen said simply. "An ability of immense power, said to be the prelude to the next rank. Beyond Enlightened"
The room fell silent, the weight of the statement sinking in.
"As for why there are no other kingdoms," Hallen continued, "it comes down to two factors: fear and practicality. Hathur's dominance is unshakeable, and any nation claiming kingship would be viewed as a threat to Salim's sovereignty. Most nations simply lack the resources to defend against Hathur's armies."
Although every nation houses a few Enlightened each, the power of a Domain—even if only part of it—is unmatched.
"But there's another reason," he added. "The lands outside Fenros are... inhospitable. Fenros is a continent of life and abundance compared to the rest of Kaelar. Beyond the coasts, the world becomes hostile—vast deserts, frozen wastes, and volcanic fields dominate the landscape. Building a kingdom outside of Fenros is not just unwise; it's impossible." He sighed, and looked at Leon.
"And this is why Serth's trade routes are so vital. They are the only thread connecting us to the outside world. Instructor Veyon will clue you all in on the dangers of the storms in Fenros. But let me tell you that they are rainbows compared to the outside."
Leon sat back in his chair, his mind turning over the information. It was clear that Fenros was a unique bastion of civilization in a dangerous world. But he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the inhospitable lands beyond—secrets waiting to be uncovered, or perhaps dangers even greater than King Salim. He also now knew that King Salim's tyranny was a well known fact.
Leia, meanwhile, glanced at him. For someone so young, Leon seemed unshaken by the weight of what they'd learned. If anything, he looked... curious.
Professor Hallen wrapped up the lesson. "Remember this: geography is not static. Nations rise and fall, borders shift, and the land itself changes with time. To understand the world, you must understand that nothing stays the same." He left the room amidst the excited students.
Leon stared into space, pondering on those words. 'Everything is bound to change.' He concluded.
The thought stirred something inside of him. A part of him that wished to change somehow.
As they left the Geography Hall, Leon couldn't help but glance back at the map. A small smile crossed his face. "So many places to see," he muttered to himself.
Leia heard him and shook her head. "You don't even know how big the outside world is, do you?"
"No," Leon replied. "But I want to find out."