Evergreen, 19th of Budrise, year 179 BN

Celeste led Richard into the study, a cozy yet grand room. The walls were lined with towering bookshelves, each brimming with ancient tomes and scrolls. The rich scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of dried herbs. A large, ornate table stood in the center of the room, its surface scattered with parchment and inkpots. Soft light filtered in through a stained-glass window, casting colorful patterns on the dark wooden floor.

Celeste walked over to one of the shelves, her fingers gliding over the spines of the books as if greeting old friends. She selected a volume with a wooden cover wrapped in intricately stitched leather and handed it to Richard. As she did, their fingers brushed briefly, a subtle, electric moment that made Celeste’s cheeks flush ever so slightly.

“This is?” Richard asked, his curiosity piqued as he opened the first page.

“The teachings of Dualisty,” Celeste explained, her voice gentle and reverent. “It tells how our Pater created the world and everything within it, including us. There are five primary gods: Pater, Noctisara, Vitralis, Terravia, and Alune. Then there are the twelve lesser gods. The blood moon is an event that happens once every so often, but it is also significant. You were interested, so I thought you might like to learn more.”

Richard chuckled softly. “You trying to convert me?” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

Celeste blushed, her eyes darting away for a moment before she met his gaze again, earnestness in her expression. “No, no. Dualisty does not discriminate against other religions or those who do not believe. Everyone is a son or daughter in Pater's eyes, and we all have our purpose.”

Richard nodded thoughtfully, setting the book down on the table. “I’ll read it, but I’d also like to learn a bit more about the history of Evergreen. And… what was it you wanted to tell me yesterday?” he asked.

“There’s something important you should know,” she began, her voice tinged with concern. “I heard that Vale and Suncrest have formed an alliance. They’re also preventing Disceroa from trading by sea in the Nortian Ocean."

Evergreen, 25th of Budrise, year 179 BN

Telium stood by the closed door, his posture rigid, eyes burning with intensity as he glared at Issac, who sat calmly in a chair, a glass of wine in his hand.

“Did you know?” Telium demanded.

Issac looked up, his expression unreadable. “Know what?”

“Don’t play dumb! What Lord Kirk did—you knew about it, didn’t you?” Telium’s voice rose, filled with accusation.

Issac took a measured sip of his wine, then set the glass down on the small table beside him. He leaned back in his chair, a hand running through his hair. “I knew about the scrying stone, but his actions…” He shook his head slowly. “I didn’t think he would go that far.”

Telium sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “The others will raise questions. Your reaction was... subdued. We can’t afford to support a madman, Issac. His actions—”

“His actions were extreme, I agree,” Issac interrupted, leaning forward. “But you’re forgetting he’s old. He won’t have much longer to sit and rule. What’s important is who takes his position next. Kirk’s legitimacy is now in question, and his two sons will face a difficult future because of it.”

Telium crossed his arms. “Tell that to Marcus and Highlord Luther. With three councilmen gone, they’ll have to be replaced.”

Issac nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, but this is the perfect time for us to move. Dyke’s power has grown due to his outburst and will continue to grow in the coming weeks. However, we now outnumber him and can influence who takes one of the vacant spots.”

Telium stopped pacing, turning to face Issac fully. “You still want to proceed? After all of this?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Issac met his gaze steadily, his eyes unwavering. “We’ve come too far to turn back now,” he replied.

Evergreen, 10th of Blossomspring, year 179 BN

Gregor, wiping sweat from his brow, set his hammer down and glanced over at Richard, who was staring absently at a pile of metal scraps.

"What's wrong with you? You've been out of it for days," Gregor asked, concern etching his rugged features.

Richard shook his head, snapping out of his reverie. "Just been busy is all, and there's a lot going on right now. You know what’s happening, right?"

Gregor waved a dismissive hand. "Blah! A bunch of human nonsense is all. It doesn't bother me, but maybe you shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard working on that carriage of yours."

Richard’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Hey, that carriage will be needed, especially once the war ends. We need more iron ore if we want to produce steel."

Gregor pointed to the blazing furnace. "Indeed, but if we want to use this graphite, then we have to get the mixture right."

Richard nodded, conceding the point. Gregor was right. The political turmoil and endless tasks were wearing him down. There was so much happening behind the scenes that most citizens weren't aware of. He would rather remain ignorant, but Issac kept him informed, pushing him to build relationships with other nobles. On top of that, he had to deal with keeping his relationship with Roxanne, design a new carriage for potential trade routes, plan the construction of new facilities, and perfect the steel-making process with the right amount of graphite. There just was not enough time to manage everything.

He took a deep breath, trying to focus. "Let's try this again then. Firestones last about ten hours before their heat begins to diminish, and six of them together in the furnace can melt steel." Richard began explaining everything he had learned about firestones and their use in the past few weeks

Evergreen, 1st of Summerlight, year 179 BN

Lord Kirk sat behind his ornate desk, rubbing his temples in frustration. Aiden, his most trusted aide, stood before him, his posture rigid and his expression serious.

"What are you saying, Aiden?" Lord Kirk asked, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Aiden took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "I'm just saying that the councilmen have been very cautious lately. I also have a theory. Would you like to hear it?"

Lord Kirk gestured for him to continue. "Go on."

Aiden stepped closer, lowering his voice. "That blacksmith, Richard. He's been seen frequently moving around the city, mingling with the nobility. I mean no disrespect, but my lord, I think you may have acted too quickly in your actions. While there is some suspicion that one of the councilmen has been acting against you, we cannot say for certain. We only got that information from Richard." He paused, watching for Lord Kirk’s reaction before continuing.

Lord Kirk leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "And?"

"We don't know anything about the young man. I've done a little digging, and no one knows where he came from. He just appeared here one day—no family, no history. People who know him find him interesting, believe he has some kind of foreign knowledge. He showed us his steel weaponry, created a unique transportation method. How can one man hold so much knowledge? It’s odd, if you think about it. Everything that has happened lately—don’t you think he's been at the center of it all?" Aiden asked, his tone insistent.

Lord Kirk frowned, leaning forward. "You're going to have to be more clear about what you mean."

Aiden nodded, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "Richard has been increasing his influence within the city, gaining friends in both the lower and higher districts. First, he gained influence with Gregor, which made us notice him. This led to discussions with Issac and others, drawing more attention to him. Then he left the city with Benjamin, who, I need not remind you, hates your family, and stumbled across a plot that could have crippled us. He left out details about what really happened on his journey, yet you rewarded him with substantial plots of land for his business venture. Tensions in the council were already high due to Dyke, and now we’re on the verge of a civil war. We don’t know if we caught the real culprit. Your plan was to make it clear that betrayal wouldn't be tolerated and force the culprit to rethink their actions, but what if—what if the culprit was Richard? With council positions still vacant, he could rise and take a spot. When that happens, what’s next? He’s too mysterious, my lord. We should be cautious of him instead of Dyke."

Lord Kirk’s eyes widened slightly. "You think Richard is the cause of all this?"

"I do."

"But how would he know anything about the inner workings of our city? He wasn't around, as you've said. I just don't see how it’s possible," Lord Kirk countered, skepticism in his voice.

Aiden leaned in, his voice a whisper. "There's always Benjamin. He might not have been on the best of terms with his father, but he grew up around nobility and still has some of those connections. You also said you didn’t think Peter would be able to do something like this. He was a spineless coward and a merchant, without the resources or influence to act in such a manner. That could also be why Lord Ike has not sent a reply."

Lord Kirk sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair, contemplating Aiden's words. "I will take your words under advisement."

Aiden nodded, stepping back. "Thank you, my lord."

Lord Kirk watched Aiden leave the room, doubt creeping into his mind. He couldn’t see Richard as the mastermind behind these plots—it seemed like utter nonsense. But Aiden’s points were unsettlingly logical. The man was mysterious, and that had to change.