Rubbing a hand across my face, I sighed and spoke inwardly. Yeah, stay incorporeal as long as you can. I’ll try to find us some armor soon.

Time hummed in agreement, his voice quieter now. Castles like this usually have armories, not to mention the king’s personal vault. We will search for it after we finish here.

Relief sparked through me as I recalled the artifacts I’d seen earlier. I actually know where that is. It mostly had gear for frontline fighters, but we can check it out after this.

My gaze drifted to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining the room, and a pang of longing struck.

What I wouldn’t give for a magic sack.

The king had been a total prick, so I’d feel no guilt about stealing his library blind.

These books likely contained valuable information about Nexus–knowledge I desperately needed. Besides, it wasn’t like he’d be needing them anymore.

Time chuckled softly. If you find such a bag, feel free to take as many as you like. In Nexus, it is common law that in a trial by combat, the winner claims a boon. It could be land, a house, or even an entire library.The king had no heirs that I am aware of, thus you could claim anything.

I blinked, taken aback by how casual he was about it. You’re seriously okay with me stealing?

He scoffed and I could all but see him rolling his eyes. From the innocent, or someone who did you no wrong? No, I would have plenty to say about that, none of it pleasant. But these belonged to a man who spent years spreading death, destruction, and suffering in his quest for power. Take it all, and put it to better use than he ever would have.

Oh fuck yeah, I could do that. Shopping spree with a five finger discount, and without any guilt because it all belonged to a prick!

Time’s tone turned dry. Focus, Atlas. We have a task to complete first. Your thirst for knowledge is admirable–my wife and I share it–but now is the time for clues. The rest can wait.

Right, right. Drool over raiding the king’s library and armory later. Discover and tear apart his plans now.

Refocusing, I turned my attention to the desk. Papers were scattered across its surface, many bearing the king’s lazy scrawl. Others looked like reports or letters. An overturned inkwell stained a cluster of pages black, and I righted it with a shake of my head.

Slob, I thought, flicking through the papers. Hopefully, none of the ruined ones were important…

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The first few documents were unremarkable:an itemized list of provisions, a denial of aid to some town called Dawnmoor, and a report on a military success–

I paused, backtracking to the stained letter, reading as much of the ink stained parchment as I could.

Our mission was a success, and loyal soldiers have been stationed to oversee your new town, my King. Soon, we will have the forces necessary to take Latica.

The rest was illegible, but Time’s sharp laugh echoed in my mind, brimming with mockery.

Let them try to take Latica. It is guarded by not one, but two spirits: Nature and Inspiration. Nature alone would send those mongrels running. She does not tolerate harm to her people.

A small, vindictive part of me almost wanted to see them try. Shaking that thought aside, I asked, So, we don’t need to worry about Latica. But what about the other city? What happens when the soldiers realize their king is dead?

If they turned on the townspeople, innocents who’d already suffered too much by those monster’s hands, it would be a disaster.

Time hummed, agreeing. Once your friend brings the resistance leader up to speed, we should investigate the city mentioned in the letter. There will be many in need of healing, and it could provide a lead on one of Silas’s generals.

It was the best plan we had, given the lack of specifics. Unless one of these documents conveniently detailed the generals’ locations, it was all we had to go on.

Unfortunately, the rest of the papers were no help. Half were written in a code I didn’t recognize, and the rest were too damaged to read. Frustrated, I tossed the useless ones into a nearby bin.

This will suffice for now. Search the rest of the room so we can leave, Time urged.

I nodded and moved on to the desk drawers. The first one held jeweled inkwells and vibrant quills alongside shimmering stationery. I picked up a piece of paper, tilting it under the candlelight to watch its surface glimmer.

That paper is enchanted, either by magic or the materials used to make it, Time explained.

I hummed thoughtfully and set it on the desk. “I’ll take it with us. We don’t have time to figure out what it does now.” Curiosity prodded at the back of my mind even as I set it aside. What kind of enchantments could be done to paper?

Time didn’t answer the rhetorical question, so I moved onto the next drawer, which, like the one after it, contained scrolls that shimmered similarly to the paper. Setting that aside, I opened the final drawer.

It was empty. I sighed, leaning back in disappointment. “Of course. A secret journal detailing his plans would’ve been too easy.”

Look closer, Time advised, his tone sharp. There is a disturbance in the energy here.

I frowned but leaned forward, brushing my hands along the inside of the drawer. It took a moment to feel what he meant–a faint pulse of magic, barely perceptible but present.

Trailing my fingers along the surface, I searched for any imperfections. Finally, my nails caught on something. Gently prying it loose, I let out a triumphant noise as the drawer’s back gave way, revealing a hidden cubby.

Reaching inside, my fingers brushed against cloth. When I pulled it out, a plain brown sack met my gaze, no larger than a basketball.

I frowned, disappointment bubbling up again. “That’s it? For how well-hidden this was, I expected something better.”

I twisted the bag in my hands, searching for any markings, but Time’s warning cut in. Be careful. It could–

He didn’t finish the sentence before something heavy and square tumbled out. And landed directly on my balls.