THERE are three great dangers in the world.
The first is recklessness. The second is thoughtlessness. And the third is defenselessness.
At least that’s what she’d heard at some point in her life.
So, do all three together mean instant death? Yura thought as she stood before the massive door.
The throne room was in the very center of the castle. The colossal door, more magnificent than any other she’d seen here, towered over her. It stood opposite a dizzyingly large hallway. Yura was beginning to regret her decision.
The door was flanked by dark green stone pillars. Decorated with fancy bare wood, and flowing geometric patterns were inlaid into the stone pillars. Guards in heavy armor stood watch on either side of the door.
The man who’d disappeared a moment ago returned, informing Yura that she’d been granted an audience. As soon as he did, Yura wanted nothing more than to turn and flee as the doors opened without a squeak.
A long red carpet stretched further into the room. A familiar tapestry hung on the wall before her.
The mark of the eagle with the sun at his back.
There were chairs facing each other on opposite sides of the carpet.
Two, four… Eleven chairs, and all of them empty at the moment.
Further in, she could see a platform. The carpet ended just before a seat atop the platform and there was someone sitting there, his legs crossed.
“……”
That someone was reading the document resting on his lap. As Yura approached, he looked up, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile.
“Ashes?”
He looked surprised as she timidly called his name. His lips relaxed into a smile. He held out one hand, beckoning her over.
“Yuura.”
Yura stopped just before him. The man standing close to the throne also eyed Yura with surprise.
Ashes took her hand and looked at her as if to make sure she was all right as he stood.
“Shall we go somewhere more private?”
✦ ✦ ✦
MEANWHILE…
Sei finished his duties and training session early, then made his way to the castle library.
The bell tolling midday rang throughout the area. Tolkinia’s Great Library Tower was situated in the castle’s northern wing. It boasted a collection of books in the hundreds of thousands, the largest collection not only in the empire, but on the entire continent.
Sei kept his head down, silently walking between the throngs of people. The library was packed with scholars from the town surrounding the castle who’d gained permission from the administration.
Quickly signing in at the entrance and slipping inside, Sei knew right where he was headed. In front of him was a square pillar with a wooden board attached—a catalogue of all the books in the tower. The long desk off to the side bore several candlesticks. Sei chose one that had recently been lit.
He scanned the wooden board zipping across the tiny lines of text until he finally found what he was looking for. He couldn’t help the sudden feeling of dread he felt as his eyes drifted over the item again and again. Confirming its location, Sei finally headed in that direction.
Myths.
It’s definitely not a category I’ve set eyes on in my lifetime, Sei thought.
It just seemed entirely too unreliable.
But this was what he came for.
Ever since she’d divulged her situation to him, this was the only place he could think to come.
A long time ago, his father, his one and only living parent, told him a story. But the only thing that was the same about every story his elderly father told him in that too drafty room was the genre.
The one thing he’d heard over and over without ever tiring of it was the fairy tale: the myth of Tolkinia’s creation.
Candle in hand, Sei approached the shelf. He pulled out the book he was looking for. Amid the dusty air, he opened it.