Waking up in the morning, the first thing Karl yearned to do was brush his teeth and take a bath, a daily ritual from his past life. This seemingly simple request puzzled his servants, who found it an unusual desire for their young master. It appeared that in this era, oral hygiene was not a general concern. However, those among the nobility who did pay attention to it used a paste made of various herbs applied with a stick. Both items were promptly provided to Karl, along with a bath being prepared at his request.

Feeling refreshed, Karl decided to take a walk around the mansion, eager to explore and understand more about this new world. Alan, the original inhabitant of the body he now occupied, was deficient in both knowledge and strength.

He had been a wastrel, squandering his generational wealth on alcohol, gambling, and frivolous pursuits of women. Such behavior barely raised an eyebrow; it was, after all, a norm for the young scions of powerful houses to indulge in similar excesses.

Karl's first destination was the garden, where he paused to take a breather before diving into his pursuit of knowledge. Earlier in the morning, he had been instructed to stay within the confines of the guarded mansion until the count's return, which was anticipated to be in another two weeks. Karl perceived this duration as sufficient to prepare and plan for his newfound life.

Following his time in the garden, Karl made his way to the library. He was eager to immerse himself in learning everything about this land - its history, geography, current politics, and more

In the hushed stillness of the library, Karl's fingertips traced the spines of countless tomes, each a gateway to the knowledge of this world. His gaze settled on a leather-bound volume, its cover etched with the contours of a familiar map. The title read "The Geographical Compendium of Eastguia." He settled into the embrace of an oak chair, the book heavy in his hands, and turned the pages to the chapter detailing the layout of the land.

As Karl perused the chapter, a detailed map of Eastguia unfolded before him. The city of Bargo, marked prominently near the mountain range, was described as the bustling capital of North Eastguia. The text explained that Bargo served not only as the political heart but also as a cultural and economic beacon for the surrounding lands. It was a city where the past and present merged — ancient stone buildings stood proudly among newer constructions, and market squares were filled with the vibrant energy of traders from across the world.

The book elaborated on the divisions of Eastguia, a world as large as Earth, split into northern and southern realms, each with their own sovereign powers. The North, ruled by the royal house of Eastguia, was depicted as a land of varied landscapes, ranging from the frost-kissed peaks surrounding Bargo to the verdant plains that fed the kingdom.

To the southeast lay the territories of the Browndall house, a region known for its scholarly achievements and rich mines. The southwest was under the dominion of the house of Goldtree, described as stewards of vast forests and agricultural lands that were the breadbasket of the south. Their emblem, a tree with golden leaves, symbolized prosperity and growth.

In the northwest, the house of Greenham held sway. Known for their naval prowess and expansive ports, they guarded the western seas against piracy and fostered trade with distant lands.

As Karl absorbed the geography of Eastguia, he realized the map was more than a physical representation; it was a tapestry of power, culture, and history — each region woven together by delicate threads of alliances and feuds.

A section dedicated to the capital caught his attention. Bargo, the seat of power in North Eastguia, was a fortress of knowledge and strength, surrounded by the protective embrace of the mountain range. The city's architecture was a testament to the might and endurance of the royal house, with towers that pierced the sky and walls that had withstood sieges.

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Karl's curiosity deepened as he read about the customs, the people, and the intricate dance of diplomacy that kept the peace. The book detailed famous battles, ancient pacts, and the ever-shifting borders drawn by wars and marriages alike.

To the far north, beyond Bargo and the mountain ranges that acted as the spine of North Eastguia, the map sketched an abrupt end, giving way to a vast, uncharted territory. This region was said to be an expanse of towering peaks shrouded in perpetual mists and snow, known as the Frigid Heights. Legends spoke of ancient creatures and lost expeditions, cautioning the bravest explorers against venturing into its silent, white embrace. The cartographers had marked the borders with a series of speculative dashes, admitting to the uncertainty of what lay beyond.

The southern edge of the map was equally intriguing. The detailed renderings of the known lands tapered off into a sprawling wasteland of ice, aptly named the Frozen Expanse. This desolate tundra was rumored to be home to nomadic tribes who had adapted to the harsh climes, their ways as enigmatic as the endless ice they traversed. Here, the map's certainty faded into sketchy lines and warnings of "Here be dragons," an old cartographer's way of admitting ignorance.

Karl noted the stark contrast between the fiery hearts of the mountains in the north and the cold desolation of the south. It was as if Eastguia itself was a land of extremes, guarding its secrets at both ends with impassable natural barriers.

Most intriguingly, the map did not represent a globe. It was a flat depiction, with Eastguia’s expanse captured in its entirety, yet without hinting at a world that curved back upon itself. This raised questions in Karl's analytical mind. Was Eastguia indeed a flat world, as ancient Earth societies once believed of their own? Or was it simply that the cartographers of this realm had not yet conceived of a world as spherical, or had not ventured far enough to understand the full scope of their planet?

The margins of the map were decorated with artistic renditions of mythical beasts and celestial patterns, suggesting that the edges of Eastguia might as well be the edges of the known universe for its inhabitants. There was a sense of finite infinity to it all — the known world was detailed and vast, but it was a mere pocket within a larger cloak of mystery.

Karl closed the compendium with a soft thud, a cloud of dust motes dancing in the waning light. The edges of the known world called to him, whispered of adventures and discoveries that could redefine the very understanding of Eastguia. He felt a pull towards these unexplored lands — a yearning to see the mountains where the sky was born and to witness the silent stories etched into the ice of the south.

A new determination set in Karl’s heart; he would not only learn about this world, but he would also strive to unveil its secrets. The peculiar edges of North and South Eastguia, with their allure and dangers, were now more than just features on a map. They were a challenge to his spirit of exploration, an invitation to step beyond the known and into the legends waiting to be written.

Karl stepped out of the library, his mind still resonating with the echoes of ancient Eastguian lore. The evening sun, a golden disc descending towards the horizon, cast a warm glow through the arched windows, transforming the mansion's corridors into pathways of molten light. He had dined alone amidst the musty scent of parchment and leather, a privilege of his rank, yet the solitary luxury left a hollow space within him.

His footsteps, soft against the rich, brown tapestries of House Browndall, were the only sound until the hurried clatter of a guard's approach disturbed the quietude. The man, wearing the earthen tones of the house—a uniform as brown and sturdy as the ancient oaks of the estate—bore an expression that married concern with duty.

"Master Karl," he intoned, bowing his head slightly, the urgency of his news creasing his brow. "There's a visitor for you in the drawing-room, demanding your attention."

The guard's simple words stirred a rush of thoughts in Karl. A visitor, and one urgent enough to dispatch a guard, was a rare occurrence. Karl gave a nod, feeling the first ripple of excitement he'd had all day.

He walked briskly through the corridors of House Browndall, the anticipation building with each step. Who could be seeking him out so suddenly?

Reaching the drawing-room, he saw a figure framed against the window, their back turned. As Karl entered, the figure shifted, a glint of metal in their hand catching the fading light. The door swung shut with a resonant click, and the room was swallowed by shadows.