Theo struggled to carry the box towards the library. Stacks of papers and other documents filled the large wooden crate, the weight straining his arms. Sweat rolled down his forehead as the morning breeze blew across the quad and through his hair. It had been a hot summer this year in Aldia; even the mere hint of cooler weather was welcoming.
“I wonder if any of these will be worthwhile,” Abram said, peering into his crate of documents. Slightly taller and stockier than himself, the young man showed no strain carrying the large box. The pair walked back at a brisk pace from the resource center. New mail arrived overnight, so their days began by picking up the fresh material.
“It’ll probably be more of the same; farmers complaining,” Theo replied. Anything else was rare. “Though, it would be nice to get another firsthand account.”
“It’s been over a month since the last one. I’d say we’re due,” Abram replied eagerly. “Regardless, this will take a few days to completely sort through. Let’s hurry back.” Theo nodded and the pair quickened their pace.
Hardly anyone walked the campus at this time of the morning. Only the sound of wind and birds filled the quad. Most students were probably still asleep, and the professors were already inside preparing the day’s lessons.
It had been only a year ago since Theo was one of those students, eager for the next morsel of knowledge he could absorb from his professors. Sometimes it felt like a dream that he was even at the University. Growing up in the outer limits of Thane didn’t provide many opportunities. Some of his childhood classmates were lucky to become local casters at the docks. A portion of the more talented would be picked up by a trading ship for a life on sea, but unfortunately, the majority got stuck working the family trade, only to have kids of their own and repeat the cycle. Luckily, his parents, unable to escape the town themselves, decided early on that Theo would not suffer the same fate. From his birth, his parents had saved for the school’s tuition, and five years ago, on his fourteenth name day, they surprised him with the news that he would be enrolling in the University of Aldia, the most esteemed academic center in Madai. A few days later, Theo took his first trip off the island and made his way to the city.
Since then, he had become a full-fledged scholar, earning a permanent position at the university as a historian, pursuing his real passion.
His time at the university gifted him a broad spectrum of knowledge including casting, science, and mathematics. Being able to bond four hues of Airiya, he considered himself an above average caster. He would have had no trouble finding a job somewhere in Madeen in whatever industry he desired, but he abandoned any interest in that sort of life. Sure, there were some who thought he was afraid of the penance, but the simple truth was that he loved academia. As a scholar, he possessed the freedom to experience distant cultures and events that he would never get a chance to witness otherwise. Through his studies, Theo could relive tales of kings and queens, the fabled Wind Knights of Dain, the traders of Ragner, and most importantly, stories from lands past the Jagh Mountains — Northern Thera.
He was infatuated with the North, the birthplace of Airacite. It was the home of fascinating nations, such as the technological giant Celeste, the reclusive Kingdom of Erest, or theocratic Pulten. Reading about these places left him awestruck. It was like entering a different world; one so foreign to his own.
Almost a century had passed since Sed the Voyager first crossed the Jagh Mountains on his flying ship, changing history forever by bringing the two worlds together. For all Theran history, legends existed of lands past the mountains, and many had attempted to cross them before, though none found success. Some attempted to sail out past them yet failed to return with proof that the mountains ever ended. Others thought that they could mine a tunnel through the range. The miners quickly ran into impenetrable bedrock. Even with current Airacite technology, nothing can bore through the mountains. While many adventurers dreamed of vast riches in foreign lands, most of the population saw these attempts as foolish. No one took myths and fables as reality. The accepted truth was that the world ended at those mountains. That was, until a man came down from the sky.
As one would expect, the effects of Sed’s voyage shook the very foundations of belief on both sides. In the South, tales of a man floating down on a ship were met with jests and mockery. Likewise, people in Northern Thera had a similar disbelief in Sed’s journey even after he returned. It took multiple trips with various leaders of Celeste and Dain for both sides to fully accept the revelation of this newly discovered land. Soon after, Celeste invested in Sed to create a ferry system to make travel between the two sides economical.
Theo wondered what it must feel like to soar over the largest mountains in the world, let alone actually see them. The only voyages he’d taken were the occasional hike up the Agoran Mountains, and the one time his class traveled to Delmyra. Not much compared to discovering a new world.
His daydream ended as they arrived outside the campus library. The stone building was by far the largest structure in Aldia, longer than most city blocks and four stories tall. In true formal Maduin architecture, the building was perfectly symmetrical. Rows of windows lined the façade, and large pilasters with ornate caps stood at equal intervals, giving the building a sense of rhythm. Aligned with the center of the quad and the building, a large stone stairway led up to a pair of massive wooden doors. He remembered the first time he’d climbed those stairs, he foolishly thought this had to be the largest building in the world.
The library was the center of campus, both physically and metaphorically. While the University held many classes in the outlying buildings, the school’s focus was on continual research, and as such required an extensive collection of knowledge. Various fields of study could be found within the halls of this building, drawing in the world’s best scholars.
It was Theo’s job to help build upon this collection. Tasked with recording current events of all Thera, scribes, such as Abram and himself, spent their time sifting through various sources from around the world. Every week the University would receive reports from its field scouts, and the scribes logged these accounts in volumes forever stored in the library’s vast halls. Some might think the job boring, but Theo appreciated being able to be a part of history as it happened.
As usual, the main hall of the library was quiet. A large atrium with vaulted ceilings greeted visitors as soon as they entered the building. Subdividing the structure, the atrium ran the entire depth of the building to a matching entrance on the other side. Chandeliers hung above the space, the Airacite within them glowing with a cold light. Balconies for each of the upper floors spanned along both sides of the atrium, supported by rows of stone columns. This morning, the lobby was empty besides the few attendants working the front desk. Theo and Abram greeted the attendants and made their way towards a grand staircase at the center of the room. The staircase was formed out of smooth granite and finely carved wooden rails. It led to the various departments within the library, each section branching off from the main lobby.
Once on the second floor, they strode towards the History department, and through another set of doors where they were welcomed by the receptionist, a short middle-aged man, “Morning lads, more letters from Dain?”
Theo set his crate down on the desk with an audible sigh, finally giving his arms a rest.
Abram responded, “Yeah this batch just arrived last night, should last us a couple of days.”
Why was Abram still carrying his box? It was tempting to use Airiya to carry the documents further, but why cast when it was unnecessary?
“Anyways, we should be getting back to our desks, right Theo?”
Abram’s question snapped him out of his drifting thoughts. Reluctantly he nodded and picked his crate back up. At least this time he only had to carry it to his desk, not across campus.
They walked down a corridor leading to the main room of the department. Rows of shelves filled the large open floor, each stocked with volumes of research. The books were subdivided by era, and then further categorized by region. Theo and Abram walked to their shared office at the back of the current events section, passing by a series of small offices used by other historians. Arriving at theirs, Abram wedged his box against the wall while he unlocked the door, and Theo quickly walked in to drop the crate on his desk.
There wasn’t much to the cramped space; just a pair of desks on either side, each with a lamp and a bookshelf. All the furnishings were at least half a century old, made from simple wooden construction. The only modern items in the room were the Airacite lamps, which were an addition from within the past ten years. Theo wasn’t sure how they were lucky enough to enjoy those luxuries when some departments still used oil lamps.
“Want to see who can get through their box first?” Abram asked, picking a handful of documents to sift through.
After seating himself, Theo carefully took out the first letter from his pile. “You know, if we race through these, we might miss something crucial.”
Abram laughed, “Live a little Theo! As much as I’d love for a front-line account, you know as well as I do, the only letters we get anymore are the usual complaints. Also, I’d hope you had better faith in me not to slack on my job!”
He was right, Theo had no reason to doubt his work. They had been classmates for years and Abram always did his work thoroughly, despite his carefree attitude.
Theo turned around to face Abram. “Alright, I suppose it’s fine to have a little competition. But, if either of us find a letter from the war front, then we both work on it together. Deal?”
“Deal!” Abram said, quickly turning back around to begin.
Theo began by sorting out the contents of the box based on letter type. Most of the documents were eyewitness reports or news statements from the Dainish countryside regarding the war. In the past, they occasionally received letters from soldiers writing home, giving their personal account of the conflict. Theo wasn’t confident that these letters ever made it to their intended families, but, nevertheless, they made for great sources. It was a shame that it had been weeks since the last one.
Theo had been tasked with creating a log of the war about a month after the conflict started. Abram was assigned as his assistant, and the two of them had handled all documents regarding the conflict since. Around seven months ago, the first Southern War in over a millennium began. On the twenty-third day, of the fifth month, year 91 SC, the Dainish Prince, Eldrin of House Remeth, was killed while visiting the elderly King Gregory Heral of Kyren. The meeting, meant to negotiate maritime trade within the Raemyrn Bay, took place in the capital city of Dobram within the king’s own halls.
The king offered to meet the prince alone with no guards, showcasing his hospitality. During the closed meeting a surge of Airiya was sensed, and Kyrenian knights broke into the room only to find the prince lying dead, sword drawn in front of the king. The prince’s guards took the body and fled back to Dain swearing vengeance on the Kyrenians. Within the month, Dain began its assault on Kyren territory, led by Eldrin’s twin brothers Devon and Dominic.
Back then, nobody thought that Dain would go through with an all-out war. Southern Thera hadn’t seen a true war since the Unification Wars, almost twelve-hundred years ago. Horrors recounted from that conflict were enough to prevent any more bloodshed. Theo himself believed that Dain would raid a few villages near the border then call it revenge and return home. Instead, fueled by rage, the Dainish army fought hard and fast. Kyren, still aiming for a peaceful resolve, was taken by surprise by the ruthlessness of the attack. This allowed the Dains to conquer and pillage all the way to the Ralm River. Perhaps it was the long absence of conflict that led to such a brutal assault, or maybe the fierce pride of the Dainish people was to blame. Regardless, Dain made history by declaring war against Kyren.
At that point, King Gregory died; some believe the shock of the events destroyed his will to live. Leadership of the country then transferred to his son, Armin. Under Armin’s reign, the war slowed towards a stalemate along the Ralm.
Since then, both countries have devoted their full resources towards the front, each attempting to gain ground with every passing day, yet neither side had secured a substantial foothold. Dain couldn’t push farther west into Kyren, and Kyren couldn’t regain any ground past the river. For months, brave soldiers fought each day with fierce loyalty in a battle that never seemed to progress.
The conflict had come at a great cost. The death toll now estimated to be around 350,000, and the war remained no closer to a resolution, with talks of peace long forgotten. Both nations have since vowed that the only resolution is complete domination over the other. Too much has been lost on both sides for either one to back down now.
Conditions on the front line have been described as some never-ending nightmare. Airiyan casters on both sides have proven themselves as powerful weapons, increasing the amount of carnage. Some of the accounts Theo had read illustrated the horror of casting being used to take human life; accounts of the ground opening to swallow armies, fire flying through the ranks of soldiers, even ice raining down like arrows. Airacite too has been used to give even the weakest caster the ability to wreak havoc on the battlefield. Airiya was a powerful weapon. The castings happened with such speed that most soldiers could do little to defend against incoming attacks. A soldier could only pray that he was lucky enough to not be caught up in the madness. When soldiers did manage to make it out of a skirmish alive, they only had to relive the nightmare the following day.
And it was Theo’s job to record these events.
After sorting through the box’s documents, he decided to start with a series of accounts from Rina, a small village northeast of the port city of Grael. There were about thirty accounts given in total. One of the university workers must have been traveling through the town and interviewed the citizens. What I would do to be one of the University’s traveling staff, Theo thought to himself. These field agents interviewed people across the continent to gather information on major events. The university’s network covered almost all of Thera. Members could be found throughout Southern Thera, and many were still up in the North awaiting the day Celeste would open the ferries back up. The network of reporters even reached across the Arian into Ragner.
The war, however, had impacted the efficiency of this network. Due to the conflict, most trade across the Raemyrn Bay halted, creating a shortage of information entering and leaving Kyren. Usually, the University was forced to work with sources found elsewhere in the South, meaning Theo had to sort through the inevitable bias from the Dainish people.
Forcing himself to be impartial, Theo opened the first letter. It contained a Dainish farmer’s overly thorough description of the effects the war has had on his crop sales. He made a great deal of money this year, but he can’t keep up with the demands of the army, especially with the lack of available farmhands. He expressed concerns that he wouldn’t have enough harvest for both the army and his family. You and every other farmer in all of Dain, Theo thought.
Accounts like this might seem trivial at first, but together with other similar testimonies, they painted the bigger picture that Dain was running low on food for its armies and lacking the manpower to farm their fields. It also explained Dain’s sudden interest in rehabilitating the Kyrenian farmland they had razed during the initial assault. Looking from the outside, it was clear that the victor of this war would be decided by whoever could simply outlast the other.
Stories like this had consumed Theo’s life for the past five months; reading through little snippets of people’s lives, trying to figure out which information was relevant to the larger story, and discarding what was a waste of time. Today’s description in the farmer’s letter was helpful he supposed, even if he had recorded dozens of similar accounts already. Always better to be thorough.
He leaned towards the shelf in the room and pulled out a large volume labeled The Kyrenian War — Dainish Agriculture and flipped through the pages to a section reserved for farmer’s accounts. He wrote a new entry, making sure to note the day’s date and the date the account was given. Theo then recorded, verbatim, the contents of the letter, followed by a summary of his commentary on how the account related to the rest of the war.
Continuing this process, Theo recorded a dozen more. Most of the letters were typical accounts of various villagers’ hatred towards Kyren, or fear for how long the war would drag out. These accounts were not worth recording, which helped speed up his work. After reading another dozen, he glanced over at Abram, curious to how he was fairing in this competition.
To his surprise, Abram was only on what looked like his fifth letter. He didn’t appear to be writing anything down, rather he sat staring at the document. Already stuck on a complex one? Theo turned back around and opened the next account.
An innkeeper in Rina was apparently closing shop to relocate elsewhere. The woman couldn’t bear the sight of the village anymore. Every day was the same — watching over kids as they played in the streets and delivering food to the elderly. There were never paying customers passing through town anymore. As much as she wanted to fend for the kids, many of which were now orphans, the woman lacked the funds necessary to stay. Sure, she hated the Kyrenians as much as the next villager, but hatred alone couldn’t put food on the table.
This was the third account Theo had read involving someone leaving Dain. Most Dainish citizens were fiercely loyal to their country, willing to die rather than abandon their kingdom. It must have been difficult to live in these ghost towns that were becoming increasingly common in western Dain. By this point in the war, many able adults, both male and female, had enlisted into the nation’s military. This was even more the case for the western half of the kingdom. Those citizens would regularly witness firsthand the reality of the conflict and wished to put an end to the war. Many villages were now left missing an entire generation with only the elderly and children remaining. What sort of life would that be like? Who was he to blame this woman for wanting to escape it all?
“Theo,” Abram’s voice startled him. “Take a look at this letter.”
Turning around to accept it, Theo was surprised by the man’s expression. The solemnness in his face meant that there was heavy news in that document.
“I know we agreed to work together if we found anything from the front, but I couldn’t resist . . . and well, read for yourself.”
Hesitantly, Theo peered down at the letter. It was written by a soldier coming back from a small victory on the front lines.
Maria my dear,
I’m afraid my letters are becoming more and more bleak. Today was my third week in this horrific void and I fear I may have seen the worst atrocity mankind has created. I’m not sure how I can face you or our son after the crimes I’ve committed. During the morning skirmish, we thought we saw a weak point in the enemy line, so I gathered our casters and we attacked hard and fast. As we charged them, the normal chaos ensued. Many of my comrades fell around me, but us casters managed to break the enemy line. As they retreated, our line advanced, securing us one step closer to Dobram.
Normally I would spare you the details, but I saw them, Maria. While reclaiming the bodies of our own, I saw them and couldn’t look away. Their burnt faces staring at me, asking why this cruel world led them here. I’m confident Iris herself will never forgive us for our sins. Dammit, but they were only children! Boys and girls, barely twelve or thirteen years old. Why would Kyren force such young ones to fight? Is this what this conflict has become? Must every Kyrenian die for Gregory’s sin? If so, then I pray ask, who must die for mine?
The letter continued for a few more pages, but Theo had read enough. Children fighting for Kyren? Surely things weren’t that bad for them to resort to such extreme measures. Both sides were known to have enforced a draft as the casualty count rose, but it was horrific to think that they would lower the age to ones so young.
“Do you think this means the end of the war is near?” Abram had been watching Theo as he read the letter.
After reading so many terrible accounts from the war front, they usually weren’t affected by anything anymore. It was strange to see Abram so shaken up.
“One can only hope . . . but honestly, do you think it will ever truly end?” After a slight pause Theo handed the letter back to Abram. “We should continue with the rest of these accounts. Do you need help writing a commentary for this one?”
Abram reluctantly took the paper back. “I think I can manage.” He stood up, “But I think I should walk on it first. I’ll be back in a bit.” Slowly, he shuffled out of the office, barely lifting his gaze as he opened the door.
Theo opened the next document but found returning to his work difficult. He read through the remaining letters from Rina, but it was hard to focus on such trivial farming matters after reading about those children. Maybe Abram had the right approach. The sole window in the office now glowed with late morning sunlight.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his timepiece. It had been a gift from his parents the day he left for the university, and he carried it everywhere. It was encased in polished silver and ornately engraved on the front with an upside-down triangle set over a circle — the emblem of the Triumvirate. Flipping open the metal lid revealed a dial with twenty-four marks around the perimeter and a thin arm in the center pointing just past the eleventh mark. Excellent time to take a lunch break, and the fresh air would surely help get his mind off that letter.
Grabbing his lunch, he exited the office, locking the door behind him. Where was Abram at? Surely, he should have been back by now. Usually, they ate lunch together out in the quad. While he loved the library, one could only handle so much time in such a small room.
Nodding to the receptionist on the way out, Theo noticed dozens of students filling the department. It was busy within the library today. Too many people rushing around, talking in small groups, and not just students. Faculty were out as well, huddled in discussion. Theo paid them no mind as he made his way down the stairs through the main hall, though something seemed strange about the unusual amount of activity.
Theo thought he heard someone say his name, but his hand was already opening the doors to exit the building and the bright sunlight instantly made him squint. Looking back, he could barely see into the library, and after a moment decided that he must have misheard someone. His vision quickly adjusted, taking in the massive expanse of the quad with its many paths snaking through trees towards the various buildings lining the perimeter. While the library served as one end cap of the rectilinear space, the High Scholar’s Study served as the other. Not nearly as large as the library, it was equally elegant in design, with a large central dome. The leaders of the University, the High Scholars, lived and worked there. Behind the study stood the majestic snowy peaks of the Agoran Mountains.
Theo walked to his favorite spot under an oak tree to eat. As he ate, he couldn’t stop thinking about that letter. Rarely was he this bothered by what he read, but people younger than him were fighting along the front line. Usually, he could distance himself from the horrors; reduce them to mere stories in a book. Work was simpler when you could detach yourself from it. Still, the thoughts of those children clung to his mind. Could he have fought in a war at that age? Could I fight in a war now? Sure, he considered himself a skilled caster, but training in the university was vastly different than fighting against other humans. When he really thought about it, he wasn’t sure what he would do in such a situation. After reading dozens of casualty reports, it became second nature to view the deaths solely as numbers, like the decreasing number of crops. If he were fighting, would he reduce enemy soldiers and comrades down to sheer numbers as well? Distancing yourself from the events made it easier to write impartial records, but the ease of it sometimes made Theo a bit nervous.
He shook off these thoughts and continued eating his lunch. Closing his eyes, Theo embraced the day. The wind swayed the heavy tree limbs above, the leaves rustling with each gust. Birds flew about from tree to tree, calling back and forth to each other. Overhead, a squirrel climbed about in the branches, and he thought he heard another running through the grass farther down the quad. He could also hear a crowd of people cheering.
Theo opened his eyes. The campus was hardly ever this full of activity. Large crowds had gathered in some sort of celebration. What was going on?
Curious, Theo finished his lunch and walked back to the library. Perhaps someone there would inform him of whatever was happening.
Once inside the library, he was greeted by a mass of students and staff. Nobody seemed to be working. Even the receptionists weren’t sitting at the front desk. He attempted to slip through the crowd towards the stairs, but someone quickly approached him.
“Isn’t it a wonderful day? So much better than ten years ago,” said a man as he clapped Theo on the back.
He recognized Professor Burnhol, one of his very first professors, but he hadn’t spoken a word to him for years. Why is he talking to me like an old friend?
“My apologies, but I haven’t heard. What’s happened?”
The man took a step back and grinned. “Why, we have ourselves a new consul! Word just came in this morning that Hector Arturis won the election!”
Theo blinked. He instantly forgot anything to do with that letter. The election results . . . this soon? That would certainly explain all the commotion. Does Abram know of this yet? When he started for the stairs, his old professor gestured over to the larger crowd. “Come on lad, no one is working today. Today is a day of celebration! The start of a new era for Madai!”
“I really need to get back to my department.” Theo brushed by the man; a bit ruder than he had planned. Pushing through the crowd, he made his way towards the upper floor. More people he vaguely recognized tried to call out or gesture for him to join the celebration, but he wanted to discuss this with Abram.
Once up the stairs, the crowd diminished significantly, giving Theo a chance to breathe without feeling smothered.
Upon walking through the department doors, the receptionist stood up from his desk. “Theo! Abram has been searching for you; he’s in the back.”
Theo nodded as he strode past him towards the back offices. Abram must have heard the news during his walk. Hector was a big talking point on campus. That man seemed to have the power to transform Madai’s future, and he had been the subject of many of the discussions he and Abram had about what the election results could mean for the nation. When he reached their office, Abram spun around in his chair.
“Finally! I was beginning to think you took the whole day off,” Abram said half chuckling.
Theo began to retort, “You’re one to ta—”
“Theo,” Abram cut him off, “the High Scholars sent a messenger over. They want to meet with you!”
Stunned, Theo pulled his chair out to sit down. “The High Scholars? Shouldn’t they be focused on the election results like everyone else?” he asked, more surprised by this than the election results.
“They said they wanted to meet this afternoon if possible, so you better hurry over there. What did you do Theo?” Abram’s face was full of excitement and worry. Rightfully so, no one met with the High Scholars unless it was something important.
What did I do? Glancing up at the ceiling, Theo sighed, “I don’t know . . . but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”