After Elira left to deliver my letter, I barely had time to savor my victory before a knock at the door reminded me of my next unavoidable responsibility.
Lessons.
I sighed.
I was a princess, an heir to an empire, a child of warlords. That meant endless lessons—history, diplomacy, governance, warfare, theoretical assassinations in case someone tried to overthrow me one day.
I was four.
It was excessive.
The door opened, revealing one of the royal attendants. He bowed, stiff and formal. "Princess Elyzara, your instructor awaits in the study hall."
I sighed again, louder this time. "Let's get this over with."
The attendant wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
I followed him through the palace halls, the sound of my small footsteps echoing against polished marble floors. The study hall was on the west wing of the palace, tucked away between the library and the strategic war room, because apparently education and violence had to be side by side.
When I stepped inside, my instructor, Master Veyric, nearly jumped out of his seat.
Veyric had been my tutor for the past year, and despite being an experienced scholar, he still hadn't adjusted to my presence.
Which was fair.
Most people didn't wake up in the morning expecting to teach a four-year-old who had a charisma stat high enough to talk people into treason.
Still, I appreciated his effort.
Veyric cleared his throat, smoothing down his already perfectly pressed robes. "Your Highness."
I climbed onto my seat at the desk across from him, watching as he nervously shuffled his notes. "What are we learning today?"
He blinked, as if he hadn't expected me to be interested.
Which was offensive.
I took my education very seriously.
Mostly because the more I learned, the harder I could outsmart people.
Veyric adjusted his spectacles, finally regaining some of his composure. "Today, we will be covering the races of this world, their histories, and their place in the empire."
Ah.
An important lesson.
I leaned forward, ready to commit it all to memory.
Veyric straightened, his voice taking on that scholarly tone that meant he was about to dump an absurd amount of information on me.
"The known world is divided into several races, each with their own histories and cultural structures. The three dominant races are Humans, Demons, and Celestials."
He gestured to the large, ornate map stretched across the table. "The human kingdoms make up the majority of the central continent, divided into various monarchies, empires, and republics."
I nodded. "They're the messy ones."
Veyric hesitated. "That… is one way to put it, yes."
Humans had a tendency to squabble over power like crows fighting over breadcrumbs. It was exhausting to watch.
Veyric continued, pointing to the darker regions of the map. "The Demonic races reside in the southern territories, governing through might and bloodline supremacy."
I tapped my chin. "So, like my mothers."
Veyric visibly tensed.
"…In a way," he admitted carefully. "Though Empress Verania and Empress Sylvithra rule with more… stability."
I raised an eyebrow. "You mean fear."
Veyric coughed.
Moving on.
He gestured to the floating islands depicted above the main continents. "The Celestials, as their name suggests, reside in the Sky Dominion, a floating empire above the land. They are a race of winged beings, deeply religious and heavily structured in their hierarchy."
I tilted my head. "So, the arrogant ones?"
Veyric clearly fought the urge to correct me. "They have a strong sense of divine purpose."
"Which means they think they're better than everyone else."
His silence was very telling.
I smirked.
Veyric shuffled his notes and continued. "Beyond these three major races, there are several others, though smaller in population and power. The Beastkin tribal societies scattered throughout the forests and mountain ranges. The Elves, who prefer isolation in their hidden kingdoms. The Dwarves, master craftsmen who thrive in the underground cities."
I nodded along. "And the monsters?"
Veyric tensed slightly, as if the topic made him uncomfortable. "Monsters exist outside of civilization. They range from simple creatures of instinct to highly intelligent beings that could rival the great races in power."
I drummed my fingers against the desk. "Give me examples."
Veyric swallowed. "Well… There are the common varieties. Dire wolves, wyverns, trolls. Then there are the more… dangerous classifications. Leviathans, shadow beasts, abyssal fiends—"
"Any that could kill my mothers?"
Veyric choked on air.
"Your Highness—!"
I waved a hand. "Relax. I meant hypothetically. Not that anyone could kill them anyway."
Veyric composed himself with great effort. "Theoretically, yes. There exist monsters strong enough to pose a threat even to the greatest rulers. However, they are either incredibly rare or sealed away in ancient ruins, long forgotten."
I tapped my chin, thinking. "How do we classify them?"
Veyric pulled out a small chart, setting it before me.
"Monsters are ranked according to their threat level," he explained. "From lowest to highest: Common, Greater, High, Disaster, and Cataclysmic."
I scanned the rankings. "Cataclysmic sounds fun."
Veyric looked deeply concerned.
I smirked.
After a moment, he continued, "Most recorded Cataclysmic-class monsters have been either sealed away or destroyed in ancient wars. However, there are rumors that some remain hidden, waiting for the right conditions to awaken."
I grinned. "That sounds like foreshadowing."
Veyric sweated visibly.
I waved a hand. "Relax. I'm not going monster hunting."
At least, not yet.
Veyric sighed heavily. "I would prefer if you never did."
We both knew that wasn't going to happen.
Still, I appreciated the lesson.
It gave me something to think about.
I leaned back in my chair, stretching. "Alright. That was useful."
Veyric exhaled like he had survived a battlefield. "I'm… glad, Your Highness."
I slid off my chair, already planning my escape before my mothers decided I needed extra lessons on diplomacy.
"Same time next week?" I asked.
Veyric looked exhausted. "Yes."
I grinned. "Good."
I walked toward the door, pausing for a moment before glancing back.
"Master Veyric?"
He straightened, still looking wary. "Yes, Your Highness?"
I smirked. "If I ever find a Cataclysmic-class monster, I'll let you know."
Veyric's face turned ghostly pale.
I walked out, completely satisfied.