After joining the Andaya Archery School, I confidently believed that my ability as an archer had improved profoundly. I was no longer a novice. I had to take breaks every now and then because although I pushed myself very hard, I was still human. I felt fatigued. I had overexerted myself the past week. I had made a breakthrough in my ability and had lost track of time while testing my new limits. I was practically limp on my bed. I struggled to even stand up to answer the door when someone knocked.

"I've reached my limit." It was almost guaranteed that I would no longer improve as an archer anymore. These past two years... felt like they had been waster in retrospect. I would never become the master archer I wanted to be. I brought myself to the door and snapped it open.

"I was told to hand this to you," Sang said to me. He had a letter for me. Sang was one of the only people I was close to at the Andaya Archery School. It frustrated me to admit it, but he was more precise with his bow than I was. The archer seemed to be in a rush. As soon as the letter was in my hands, he had begun to leave.

"Thanks," I said to him as he left. He cocked his head in my direction as a farewell.

Without a moment wasted, I flipped open a note that was enclosed within the letter. As soon as I saw who the letter was from I crumpled it immediately. I didn't want to get involved with him anymore. I almost threw the paper in the trash. However, I had second thoughts. I should at least read it. He was family after all. I unfolded the crumpled paper and looked at it.

It read:

'Come to the castle on the day before birthday. Dawn. I'm waiting.' It was from Cyrus. His birthday was arriving soon. He would be turning seventeen. Why was he calling me? I wouldn't come. I thought that was clear. I had long since cast away my identity of being a royal. I threw the note away after reading it. Cyrus should know that we shouldn't mingle. A king and a former prince being together... was illogical. I felt a little bad knowing that Firmi, who was almost certainly with Cyrus, would be disappointed that he wouldn't get to say 'hello' to me.

For the rest of the day, I acted as if nothing had changed the last few years. I found the eating quarters. I ate a small breakfast. I conversed shortly with the few acquaintances I had made. The conversations were very shallow.

"This meat... has too many bones," someone complained to me. I was beyond finished dealing with these ingrates. Why had I even talked to them? I would have rather been eating breakfast with Sang or Damien.

Sang was one of the two people I considered a friend. I had seen him just earlier. He seemed to be busy with something pressing. Damien was the other friend. In truth, Sang was very much a cocky individual. He had unending confidence. Some would say too much. The only reason I tolerated his antics was because I believed he had the right to be so cocky. He had the ability to be arrogant.

Damien was a much more reserved individual. A private person, he would be called. Damien relished in silence. Really, our personalities were not very compatible. Rather, the relationship between the three of us was formed from the respect we had gathered for the ability of each other. I respected Sang as an archer. Damien respected me as an archer. Sang respected Damien as an archer. It was quite pleasant to have people that would understand my grumblings about my shortcomings regarding archery. I looked down at my plate. It was empty. I looked at the two people sitting on either side of me. I knew their names, but nothing else. Compared to Damien and Sang, we were practically strangers. I waved goodbye and left. I never talked to those ingrates again.

I left for the archery range. However, once I had found my bow and had raised it to begin shooting arrows, I lowered it again. I was still sore from the past week of hard work. It would be remiss of me to exert myself right now. Still, I wasn't sure what I would do for the next few days if I was too sore to even shoot my bow.

For the first time in months, I left the archery school and wandered in the city. I was practically sightseeing. I noticed the library that was busy with people. Strange. The library usually didn't have that many people like this. I let myself in and walked around. In every aisle between shelves, there were two or three people. They were heading to a certain part of the library. They seemed to be flocking toward the back of the library. I saw a man I recognized as the head librarian talking to a man who had his back turned to me. I saw an insane sight. The librarian was kneeling to the man and offering his books to the man in front of him! He held about seven books in his hands.

Without saying a word, the man grabbed the spine of a book and placed it against his chest. Then, he casually flipped through the entire book. After a moment, he grabbed another book and put that one against the same spot on his chest. He flipped through the pages of that one as well. He did this for every book. Then, he walked through the back door, not taking a single book with him. I tried to follow him, but the crowd responded quicker than I had. They had swarmed in his direction. Several staff members tried desperately to stop them, to no avail. As the crowd tried to get a better look at the man, I approached the librarian. I asked him about the man.

"Who's that guy?" I pointed in the direction of the back door

"Did you just call him 'that guy!' That's blasphemous. I will have you know that he is the role model of anyone who calls himself a scholar! He is with the cult of knowledge! His amassment of knowledge... is second to none. There is nothing he can not tell you about," the librarian narrated to me. I didn't care very much. I had heard a stray thing or two about the cult of knowledge from other disciples at the Andaya Archery School. It was an organization that was largely centered around a man who had an uncanny ability to perfectly memorize any book he got his hands on. His ability was so potent... that it was best described as a 'beyond photographic memory.'

"Why was he here?" If he knew everything, why was he at this library? I asked the librarian. He rolled his eyes at me.

"We had a small collection of books that even he had not read before. He came personally as a sign of gratitude. We were happy to allow him to take a look at it." Those same books were still in the possession of the librarian. I reached a hand to grab one. The librarian slapped my hand, swatting it away.

"Don't even think of touching them." His eyes were serious. Suddenly, he didn't appreciate my presence. His eyes seemed to be telling me to leave. So, I did. I didn't want to infuriate the librarian. I might need something from this library one day.

On my way out, a child carelessly pounded on my legs. He was being a brat. I was just passing by and he was bothering me. I had long since learned that being physical with others was a great way to get punished by my teachers at Andaya. Instead, I had to find ways to get payback without hurting others. I crouched down at the child and placed a hand on his shoulders. I gave him a nasty smirk and channeled my energy from my hand to activate my otherworldly ability. The child panicked a slight bit when he realized he could not move. I was happy with this result. Two years ago, I was only able to use this when my life was under threat. Unless my life was at stake, I would be unable to use it. Now it was different. I could use it at will. The specifics of the power were quite unclear, but I had an idea as to what it was. Somehow, the energy I channeled into the target would send them into a different plane of reality in which they were unable to move for some strange reason. It was something like that. The bottom line was, those that I used my ability on would not be able to move. Those that I touch will become immobile. The child started to cry. I didn't even hurt him. He was being difficult.

I walked away frustrated. I ignored the fact that I could have easily walked away from the child instead of being petty like I just had been.

I returned to the archery school. I saw Damien sitting blankly with his back to a building. He sat cross-legged and rested his head on the palm of his hand. He looked at me at thought for a moment.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"There's something wrong with Sang," he eventually said to me. My eye twitched.

"What happened?" I questioned.

"I don't know."

I clicked my tongue. Sang was an important friend. I was going to figure out what was going on.

I found Sang wandering a courtyard. Was it related to earlier? He had been in a rush. Perhaps he heard some bad news? That didn't help much. Bad news could be anything. He seemed to be pacing around the courtyard, never staying in one spot for too long. He seemed to be in desperate thought. It was not until I had tapped his shoulder that I noticed him. This was very strange. Sang was an alert man. By virtue of being a talented student of archery, his awareness should be naturally high. His mental state... was clearly impaired for some reason.

"Leave," he said frankly. "You can't help me."

"You don't know that," I challenged him.

"Fuck off," he said while turning away from me. He said while he walked in circles. I walked back toward him.

I pulled him back toward me. I wouldn't take that for an answer. "You're being awfully distant, aren't you?" He seemed to be trying to escape my grasp. He was unable to. If anything, my physique was stronger than his. He didn't want to talk about it. I would not accept that. Our relationship was built on respect, and he was being awfully disrespectful to me. If he was just going to push me away, then why did I get so close to him? That king of behavior was unacceptable to me.

He looked at me seriously. His expression fell apart for a moment. He seemed to think about something that made him sad. I guessed immediately:

"Are you leaving Andaya?"

"Wha-?" His eyes went wide. That was all the confirmation I needed. Quickly, I became displeased. If Sang left Andaya right now, his future as an archer would be cut short. His immense talent would be useless if it was not cultivated. It was entirely possible that he would never become an actual archer if he left now. I wouldn't let him let go of his future as an archer. Not for any stupid reasons.

"Speak," I commanded him.

I saw a familiar look on Sang's face. It was the same expression that Cyrus, the current king and my brother, had that day our father died. Aimlessness. Someone close to him... had been purged from his life. I could figure that much.

"Fuck," I said while guesses fired off in every part of my mind.

***

"I didn't think you would come," Cyrus said to me. "You didn't visit me even once these past two years."

"I need a favor," I said. I had cast away any hesitation I possessed about meeting him. Since I was already here, there was no point in whining about it anymore.

"What could you possibly need?" He said smugly. As of now, his status was incomparable to mine. He was king and I was a prince who ran away from the throne. At least, that was what people said about me. Cyrus seemed eager to oblige to my request.

"Money." I didn't have money. I lived off the grace of the Andaya Archery School. They provided me housing and meals. In other words, I was dirt poor. I usually didn't need money. Unfortunately, I had found need to get it from somewhere.

"How much?"

"Enough to support a middle-class family for two years."

"Done."

"Thanks," I weakly said. Taking favors was something I tried to avoid.

"Now that we've settled that. I want you to listen to me," Cyrus looked at me and leaned forward. "I want you to quit that archery school," I inwardly felt relieved. I was able to return the favor immediately. I had gotten something from him, and he wanted something from me. It was a simple exchange.

"Why?" I said openly.

He seemed taken aback by my response. "You are willing to hear me out? Here I was thinking that you would be disgusted by me asking," a small smile reached his face. He seemed to relax.

"I was considering it anyway. I've stretched my limits thin. I don't see myself improving there anymore. I'm sure you have your reasons. Surely that's not all you want?" His request was suspicious. Quitting Andaya? He must want something more.

"Well... I guess you are not wrong..." He seemed uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going. "Do you want the details directly from me now? Or should I send another letter?

"I want them now."

"Well, I have to tell you some preface. Remember the knights that betrayed us? Adam, Iris, and Burley? I tracked them down last year. Well, not Adam. He's dead. Burley has become associated with a reputable organization called the divine order. I don't think they are as reputable as they seem. Anyway, I think they are the ones responsible for the death of our father. It must have been the divine order. Iris is not associated with any group right now. I have no idea why."

"There were six knights, yes? The numbers don't add up. Where is the sixth?" I could only recall Adam, Iris, Burley, Firmi. After a bit more thought, I recalled Gemet. He was the knight who had quit the day after the betrayal of those three knights. However, hho was the sixth knight that should've been in the castle that day? Cyrus seemed to know.

"You are thinking of Dean. He had not betrayed us then but he might as well have. Alongside Burley, he has joined the divine order." He looked at me strangely, "Surely you remember Dean? He had a terrible temper."

I couldn't recall him. I shook my head.

"He was a relatively new knight. I cannot blame you." He stood up and knocked twice on a door behind him. A familiar face snuck his way inside. It was Firmi.

"You overwork me, your majesty." Indeed, Firmi looked like he had not slept a wink. His face lit up at the sight of me. He seemed happy to know that I was alright. Truly a loyal knight.

"This is one of the knights that I have right now. You know him."

Cyrus knocked on the same door again. This time it was three knocks.

A brown-haired man walked inside. His hair was slightly curly and his eyes were a bright red. His face could be considered much more regal than the king himself. If one could personify the essence of a king, it would resemble the man that stood in front of me.

"This is Whiskey." Whisky? Like alcohol? What kind of name was that? "Don't pester him about his name. He doesn't like it very much either."

"It is my sole flaw," he said off-handedly. Cyrus looked at him strangely.

"He's confident." I said idly. Was he saying he was perfect in every other way?

"Now, now, ignore Whiskey's remarks. Once you get to know him, you'll see that he is quite a humble man," said Cyrus.

"You can't be serious. Humble? I don't deserve to be called that." Whisky chimed back to Cyrus.

"How capable is he?"

"Very," he looked at me playfully. I waited for him to elaborate. Cyrus never did. He must have been intentionally vague. I was annoyed quite visibly for a moment. Cyrus chuckled lightly at my expression. "Anyway-"

"You can't just move on!" I interjected. Cyrus was trying to change the subject. Cyrus' eyes glinted with mischief.

"Whisky!" Whisky's ears perked up. Cyrus pointed at me. He showed me an evil smile. I felt a chill crawl up me. "Hit him."

Before I knew it, Whisky had raised his arm and then it dropped like a battleax. Since when was his arm all the way up there!? With all my being, I tried to block the blow with my arms. The impact was sharp. I barely withstood it. Even then, I was only able to block it because Cyrus' command served as a warning. I had reacted just in time.

I looked at the part of my arms which Whiskey had striked. It hurt badly. It was going to bruise. After Whisky returned his arms to his sides, I grasped my arms tightly in pain. It hurt, very badly.

"As I was saying," Cyrus cleared his throat, as if nothing had happened. "Anyway, let's talk business." Finally, Cyrus would finally get to the real reason he wanted me to quit Andaya.

In too much pain to respond, I nodded weakly.