Belch couldn’t help but stare with wonder in her eyes, entering the Ryuso Grand Library. Three floors of bookshelves after bookshelves. The books—most of them—were too far outside of Belch’s skill level at the moment.

I’ll conquer them one day, Belch thought.

On the first floor, two dozen tables sat open to the public, placed from the two large, wooden doors of the arched entrance, all the way down to the checkout desk fifty yards away from the door. The ceilings looked like upside-down chasms, sparkling with lit hanging lights.

Upon the large, blocky tower behind the librarian’s desk, a large painting of Aidan Payne hung on the wall. So large it was as tall as the three floors that converged into the sides of the tower, showing only a couple of feet of empty black space above the gold crested frame.

The picture itself had a full-body illustration of Aidan, with his Soulsmithed sword sheathed to his side. Pink mist leaked from the Gem inside his hilt, but it also spread from his gloves and boots. Sometimes Belch saw Aidan in that same attire, though she had never noticed that he had more than just his sword Soulsmithed.

Pedr led Belch through the stairwell to the right of the tower, leading her up to the third floor. He carried a few books in his hands, something he had already reserved for her education. They traversed the floor, past where they held what Pedr called the “intelligent” section and instead headed to the back rooms, permitted for them.

Since Pedr didn’t have to test her physical abilities anymore, they didn’t have to go down to the shed through the forest, down the hill outside Ryuso. They studied here instead. For as impressive as this library was, Belch cherished the time she spent out in the fields. The city grew old for her, bland in both color and experience. She missed the green grass and leaves, the trees, and the way they pulled with the wind.

A part of her wished she were still a beast in the camps, where she didn’t have to worry about being human and just lived without purpose. If it was misguided, at least it kept her busy.

The occasional bouts versus Dancer, Fists, and Crack reminded her of her old home. She enjoyed fighting, the feeling of hurt that came with every punch. Yesterday, in particular, she hit a nasty uppercut on Fists, and her knuckles bled. But, like when Cyril drew her blood, nothing came out of it.

Is it wrong to miss the time where I was nobody? Belch wondered, gliding her hand off the smooth wood-textured railing, jumping her hand up and over rounded posts, as if her hand was an animal and the necks and knobs were like mountains for her to leap over. Is it wrong to live a life without a purpose? Or… has my purpose always been to serve another’s goals.

They arrived outside the study room door, with a red word labeling the room as “Private.” She was impressed she could read words like those now, even if she didn’t know what most words meant. But private meant something like “reserved,” as only Belch and Pedr could enter inside.

Pedr unlocked the door with his key. Inside, they found Kiba lying on the table, staring into the lights above. Apparently, private didn’t mean only they could enter.

“Kiba?” Pedr asked. He looked more worried than confused seeing him. “What’s going on?”

“Oh!” Kiba turned his head, finally noticing them as if the loud creaking noise of the door didn’t alert him. He lifted, swinging his legs down to sit on the table’s edge. “I’ve been waiting for you, let me see…” he looked to the clock. “Oh! You’re early.”

Pedr nodded. He put the books down on the table a few feet away from Kiba. “Are you going to tell me why you are here?”

“Why am I here? Well, wait. Why am I here? Oh! Right, Aidan wanted me to tell you about Liberation Day tomorrow.”

“I’ve heard mentions of it,” Pedr said. “But I haven’t heard much more about it. What’s going on?”

“It’s a holiday! The entire country is off work and will celebrate all day and night. Lord Aidan Payne himself will give a speech at around sundown, around six or so. Like all Dormoorians in the city, you two are welcome to celebrate our great, fabulous leader. Well, Aidan said both of your attendances to the speech are mandatory.”

Pedr frowned. “So we don’t have work tomorrow?”

“Well…” Kiba said. He kept his finger tight to the mouth-line of his mask. “Aidan thinks it’s important to indoctrinate young Vessel here to Dormoorian culture. That starts with Liberation Day. Aidan wants you to be her escort throughout tomorrow’s activities. Show her around the city, show her places she hasn’t seen before, bring her to the fairs, let her play some games.” His head turned to Belch. “If I hear right, you like food, right?”

Belch nodded.

“Wonderful!” Kiba spread his arms wide with excitement, his chains chinking over themselves. “There will be food, candy, and so many delicacies available around lunchtime. I’m sure with Lorn dead and all—oh sorry to bring that up—you haven’t had many good meals since.”

I killed Lorn, Belch thought. She didn’t like remembering that night. It all happened so suddenly, without any chance for her to defuse it. Lorn was intent on killing her. But yet, she didn’t understand why? What did she do? No one ever explained anything to her. Was it because he thought she was a beast?

“Did I upset you, Vessel?” Kiba asked, leaning his head forward. He could read her expression better than Belch felt she was physically showing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to! I just have a problem with speaking things before my stupid mind can process what I’m about to say.”

“It’s okay,” Belch said.

Kiba shook his head. “No, no, no,” he said. “I must make this up to you. Here, let me see…” He reached into his pockets, pulling out a small plastic rigid ball. “This is dice for a game I play. I’m going to give you an apology gift.”

Belch grasped it, studying it. The “dice” had many numbers painted in white on a dark green background, the largest marked 20. “What is this for?”

“It’s for a game I play,” Kiba said. “It’s called, Of Swords & Gems.”

She frowned. “What is this game?”

“A card game!” Kiba explained with perhaps, a little too much joy. “But it’s also a game based on real history. It’s how many learn about the past, as it runs even deeper than our history books ever delve into.”

“I’ve never heard of this game,” Pedr said skeptically.

“Well,” Kiba said. “It’s a game that’s kind of on the more… high-end markets—the cards originate from somewhere deep in the underworld, black markets and such. After a while, the cards reach the hands of the more elite of society. It’s a game you’ll see many kings and lords play, though not many common folk.”

“Is it a fun game?” Belch asked.

“Very fun!” Kiba said. “Though, there aren’t many capable of playing it, as I explained. With such a small player base, I struggle to find opponents to play.”

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“Why is it so small?” Pedr asked. “Is it too complicated for the common man?”

“No, the rules are quite simple and easy to understand,” Kiba said. “There are three types of cards. There are ‘hero’ cards, ‘Soul’ cards’ and ‘keep’ cards: the hero cards represent actual historical figures, the Soul cards are your Soulsmithed swords, wands and anything magic, and potions of Gemchemy. The keeps are obviously places such as Ryuso or Novacia, but they also represent army size in the game.”

Pedr tapped his foot. “That didn’t answer my question. Why do so few common people play it?”

“There is only one card in existence for each figure, object, or castle, driving prices up to an absurd amount. No one wants to play with the weak cards, well, because they are weak. Most who play do so with aftermarket cards, with info from public databases to go off of.

And if anybody without a status happens to have a card worth good value, there are always individuals who wish to take it from them. The crime world resorts to thievery and violence, any means necessary so they could sell them to collecting noblemen or lords. The cards are safest in the hands at the top, not the middle or lower classes of society.”

Pedr frowned. “And you play this game?”

“When I can,” Kiba admitted. “Though I only have like three good cards, and two of them are Soul cards, so I can’t use both of them at the same time anyways.”

“So you are giving me these dice as a gift?” Belch asked. “It’s okay, I don’t see any use of this.”

She brought it over, but Kiba brushed her hand away. “No, no, child, the dice isn’t the gift; it’s the opportunity it represents.”

“Huh?”

“Roll the dice,” Kiba said. He pulled a case from his other pocket, opening it up to reveal black, rectangular cards, with a depiction of a Soulgem on the back, large as the one they shoved into her stomach. “There are twenty sides to that dice. If you land on the ‘one,’ I’ll give you my twentieth best card. If you land on the ‘twenty,’ I’ll give you my best card—”

“What?” Pedr grunted. “She has no use for something that valuable!”

Kiba looked at Pedr. “Let the girl test her luck, alright?”

Pedr huffed, crossing his arms. “How much is your best card worth?”

Kiba pulled the card from the top, showing Pedr the backside. “A large Soulgem. If she wins this, she will be worth two.”

Pedr frowned. “What if it puts her at risk?”

“No one will know she has it unless she seeks to play it,” Kiba waved him off. “She isn’t in any danger in holding this treasure. That is if she even wins it. There’s no downside, I promise.”

Kiba looked to Belch, who had the dice in her palm, looking, studying the shape. “So how do I know what number it lands on?”

“It’s the number facing up,” Kiba said.

“But I thought it had to land on it. Why not under it? Doesn’t that make more sense?”

Kiba laughed. “Yes! Yes, it does make more sense!” He grabbed her shoulder. “You see this table? All you gotta do is shake it in a closed hand, then flick it on the table. And whatever happens from there, happens.”

Belch nodded. She turned at Kiba before following through. “I don’t think this is worth it. I wasn’t that upset about what you said—”

Kiba shook his head. “I gamble all the time. Honestly, just the thrill alone of knowing I might lose my most prized possession is reason enough to continue. If it’s not to repay you for my hurting of your feelings, then roll the dice to satiate my addiction.”

Belch looked at Pedr for permission, who shrugged. She shook her fist, then tossed the dice on the rectangular table. It rolled and tumbled before sliding to the other side, nearly slipping off and onto the floor. But it stopped, shaking and wobbling before it settled.

Twenty.

“AHHHHHH!” Kiba fell from the table down to the floor, landing on his back, kicking his legs wildly as he bellowed out a cry.

“Kiba?” Belch asked, creeping over to look down on him, throwing a fit on the floor. “I don’t need the card if it means that much to you.”

Kiba cupped his mask with his hands. He muttered something unintelligible, then turned speechless. Five seconds might have been a record for Kiba, who would go on and on whenever Cyril wasn’t around to tell him to shut up. Actually, he seemed to talk even more when Cyril was present.

Kiba slid his fingers up his mask. “I’ve lost, fair and square. You… are one lucky girl, Belch. Sign up for every lottery you can.”

Belch? Since when has Kiba ever called me Belch? He always calls me Vessel? She found that oddity more gut-wrenching than winning a card she didn’t even comprehend the value of.

Kiba eventually crawled back up to his feet, climbing up the chairs. He picked up the card from his box. He sighed, looking at it. He put it face down on the table, sliding it over

“Aren’t most cards delicate?” Pedr asked. “If it’s so prized, can you risk grinding it on the table to pass it over?”

Kiba shook his head. “These cards are indestructible.”

“What?” Pedr asked, dumbfounded. “You’re kidding, right? You’re always kidding…”

“I’m not,” Kiba said. His usual tone of voice was a little calmer and down to earth. But here, it was pensive. “These cards are plated in mythstone, printed in what I assume is a Soulsmithed printer. Something about the cards makes them extremely light, despite being made of the heaviest material on the planet.”

Belch reached for the card, looking up at Kiba before she brought it any closer.

“Go ahead,” Kiba said. “It’s yours.”

She pulled a seat from the table, sitting down to prepare herself. Belch flipped it over, seeing a holographic image of a man with long, blond hair, tall in size, wearing an orange leather outfit. On the feet, pink mist came from the boots. Unlike the rest of the static picture, the mist lifted off the card's surface.

“Damnation,” Pedr cursed. He lowered his head down to the card. “Where is that mist coming from?”

“There are Soulgem chips in these cards, giving them effects such as that. It’s neat, don’t you agree? It’s one of my favorite parts of the game, seeing other people’s cards to see the effects.”

“This is Ranun!”

Ranun? Belch thought. That name sounds familiar… though I don’t remember who that is.

She looked at the card, titled, “Ranun Spring, Year 406.” The year today was 426.

Kiba nodded. “My most valuable card. Probably top twenty, as his new card eclipsed this one in price. Many would rather have the more modern rendition of Ranun, the ‘Great King’ cards. Probably the only character in history whose cards increase in value with newer editions. He has two more cards out there, as most famous warriors get a card of themselves every eight or so years, so long as they are just as prominent in society.”

“Top twenty?” Pedr asked. “Isn’t his notoriety enough to be top ten?”

“Maybe in modern times,” Kiba said. “But even then, the ‘hero’ cards aren’t as valuable as the ‘Soul’ cards, since the weapons are the cards that influence the outcome of the game more often than not. Ranun Spring is my most valuable card, but probably not my best card.”

Belch frowned, trying to figure out where she heard that name. It sounded familiar to her like she heard it hundreds of times. But she couldn’t pinpoint where.

“Well now,” Kiba said. “I would pocket that. Don’t show it to anybody you don’t trust, okay? Not even Aidan.”

Not even Aidan? Belch always figured Kiba was dedicated to serving Aidan, as he always appeared to be happy working with him. But, it seemed that Kiba was always cheerful. I don’t even like Aidan anyway.

“Are you leaving?” Pedr asked.

Kiba looked to the clock. “I should be going soon… but I’m having such a delightful time talking to you two. Let me see… is there anything else we can discuss?”

“I don’t—”

“Gods!” Kiba snapped his fingers. “Are you a Pluralist?”

“Yeah, I am,” Pedr said reluctantly.

“How does that work? What are some gods you believe in? I’ve never met a Pluralist before! Well, untrue, I believe Cyril is one too, only he refuses to enlighten me.”

“Well… um, basically, there is a god for every creature in existence.”

“Oh?” Kiba asked.

Meanwhile, Belch sat staring at the card, listening while she could, but also admiring the pink fog rising off the card.

“And with every god, there is also a devil,” Pedr added.

“So like, there is a human god and a human devil?”

“Exactly,” Pedr said. “And when one dies, the gods and devils get together to vote on whether you go to Damnation or Paradise, based on how well you treated their kind.”

“Oh, so like, if I treat animals well, I’ll get into this Paradise place? Even if I’m a monster to Gemkind?”

Pedr nodded. “Whichever side you gain the most votes for is the place you will go after your death.”

Belch found herself oddly drawn to the conversation, pocketing the card. She lived her entire life believing there was a god, but that god hated her for her green eyes. But seemingly, many people believed many things.

“Interesting,” Kiba said. “What about the Gem God? Do you believe in him?”

“We do,” Pedr said. “But he’s an oddity among the Gods, for there is no devil counterpart. It is believed that he was of all of Gemkind, alive and well in this world before he elevated himself to godly status.”

Kiba nodded, understanding. “Wow, incredible!” He seemed to be back to his cheery mood, happy and playful despite moments before sulking on the floor after losing his most prized possession.

“That’s about the gist of it,” Pedr said. “Are you a Heptunist?”

“I can’t say what is right or what is wrong. I do believe there is a Gem God, but I can’t know for certain whether any of your gods exist or if the Seven Warriors are worth being deified.

“But,” Kiba said. He shook his head, catching Belch’s eyes briefly before reconnecting with Pedr. His pupils from the side looked icy, and for some reason, Belch felt a blizzard go down her spine. “I think there is a god in all of us.”