After seeing such beauty within the sector and the Amber's estate, Karn thought the food would be just as lavish. However, with the current food shortages, all that the manor could offer them were stocks from their grain storage, resulting in fluffy loaves of bread, yet nothing to go with them.
So, meals became a bland affair, with the group anxiously waiting for the Lady's husband to bring news. He had sent her a letter each day, warning her to stay within the sector while the rest of the city calmed down. The Golden sector had seen riots, while the emerald division had an actual fight between freed servants and harsh masters. Unfortunately, the general arrived too late to stop the bloodshed, and the masters of the Emerald barely held on to control there, resulting in a dozen dead civilians who did not deserve such a fate.
The days blended into one as they waited for the messages. As the days crept by, Karn couldn't help but notice a change in the air. The atmosphere itself seemed to be getting thicker, yet instead of feeling like it was harder to breathe, it became easier, as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. The feeling was foreign to him, but he secretly liked it. It felt natural.
After a time, Karn noticed the girls were getting impatient, but he knew that running off to another sector to find answers might land them all in danger, since there was no stability within the city. Luckily, they had full access to the Amber sector, allowing them to explore and walk through its beautiful fields and paths.
During this time, he’d noticed that Hope and Ralina had begun to take the time to walk by themselves, chatting happily as they walked in secret discussion, searching for answers within the sector. The sight made Karn happy, even if he couldn't believe that the two polar opposite women could get along. Their introductions and early communication had been nothing but hostile, but now it seemed they had a shared goal, and when asked, it turned out to have a connection with the same thick air Karn had also experienced.
Even the staff seemed to notice the shift in atmosphere. One day, one of the Lady's servants swore that the pots within the kitchens had moved on their own when she banged her foot on a corner of the table. She had shouted in pain and bashed her fist on the table, only for the pots to begin to hover.
The other servants snickered as she relayed the information to Lady Amber, but the look on her face revealed the seriousness of how she took the servant's story while clutching the general's letter. Something in the city was changing.
During these days, Karn saw little of his two best friends. Since they were now safe, Charles had taken Ellie out daily through the sector, a broad grin on his face as they appreciated each other company. Ellie, who had been deafened for so long, clearly enjoyed the sounds of his voice and nearby running water nearby. Charles ginned as he spoke while the clear creature scarf silently followed them through the water of a nearby stream.
The sector was calm. Karn was clearly comfortable with finally being able to stay in one place and rest as the world revolved around him. He was no longer the seed to which turmoil unfolds. Feeling a bit lonely, he found himself drawn to the many books the manor had to offer. Even in his room, an extensive library lay within the confines of a polished shelf, readily available to the guests of the room. But as he opened one, he was disheartened to find that the book was written in a foreign dialect.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
This fact was not lost on Maze, who offered his help. Revealing his green tome of event casting, he searched through the pages to find something that would aid him and within a few moments of hesitation, he revealed an open page.
“Place your fingers here,” he instructed.
Karn complied without protest and spoke the words Maze had told him.
“Transform script,” he spoke softly, watching as the foreign words shifted on the book in his hand. The ink of the event book seemed to almost command the lesser ink to obey.
He almost chuckled as he read the book's title on its open page, ‘Extensive life cycle of the common garden frog.’ His mind raced to his time with Master Giblet, and he wondered if he was doing alright in his tower. Grinning, he turned to the old storyteller while placing the book back on the shelf.
“May I borrow this for a little while?”
Maze studied his face for a while, then slowly nodded. “Yes, but don't take it out of this room.”
Karn agreed and was about to go back to the large shelf when he looked down at the book in his own hands. He doubted anything on the shelf was as interesting as the book that now lay in his grip. So Karn found a nice spot in the room and flicked through the pages of the green book. As he turned them, he was astonished to find that the pages only appeared when his fingers brushed against them. As soon as his fingers lifted off the page, so did the ink disappear from sight.
The book was filled with many recordings of natural phenomena, such as falling rocks, growing things, and the burning of wood. With so many events replicable, it was amazing that so much could be done by such a small thing. He found recordings of smelting and shaping of materials, while further in the book, actual real-life natural disasters like landslides and floods were recorded in the ink for later application. The further Karn read, the more wary he became of the book's potential. The book was a deadly weapon that made the common firearm back on earth look weak in comparison.
With Maze nearby offering information and answers to questions, Karn quickly found himself familiar with the text. The thought of the red book weighed heavily on his mind as he spoke but never breathed the subject, wary of the book's power and implications.
“The Rose Quarter is home to the University,” Maze spoke with a wistful smile on his lips.
“Rose Quarter?”
“The place is as beautiful as this, more even.”
The sound of it sounded intriguing.
"As soon as we get the go-ahead, we will be off towards the University and can apply for permits," Maze explained.
"Apply?" Karn questioned, trying to grasp the concept.
Maze nodded. "The University works separately from the King's court and runs on its own authority."
"So, the King's event casters weren’t from there?" Karn inquired, seeking clarification.
"They were trained by the King's advisors. The University has never had books of power at their disposal, only copies of the white tomes," Maze clarified, pulling his blue book free from under his satchel.
Karn looked puzzled.
"White copies of the sky chapters," Maze elaborated while tapping the blue book. "They’re written in standard ink and hold no power but contain the same information as this," he said, pointing to both of the event books.
Understanding dawned on Karn. "So, the University has recorded information from all the books?"
"Yes, recorded by the scholars of the University and from Kings of the past," Maze affirmed.
The implication was clear to Karn, and he couldn't help but glance at his pack where the Book of the Known lay hidden.
“So, I can find answers?” he asked softly.
Maze expression hardened. “From what I hear you must.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the echo of a bell from below. The sound signalled that Lady Amber intended to speak with all the servants and guests of the house. Passing the blue book back to Maze, Karn stood and walked out onto the balcony. Down below on the ground floor, he saw not just Lady Amber but her husband as well. He had finally arrived home, and his arms were around her, embracing her warmly.
"I guess this means we can finally head to the University," Maze said softly, a sense of relief in his voice.