The soft afternoon sun poured through the arched window of Klein's room, bathing everything in a golden haze. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air, undisturbed except for the rhythmic flick of a page.
Lyra sat primly on a chair, legs crossed, a thick leather-bound book resting in her lap. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, though a few loose strands framed her face in irritation. Every few seconds, she glanced at Klein with barely concealed exasperation.
Klein sat at his desk, slouched forward, chin resting on his palm as he doodled circles in the corner of his parchment instead of paying attention.
"For the last time," Lyra said, tapping her finger against the page, "the capital of the Holy Everlight Kingdom is called Solaria, not 'Sunny-ville.'"
Klein tilted his head innocently. "Are you sure? 'Sunny-ville' sounds friendlier. Easier to remember too."
Lyra groaned, slamming the book shut. "Klein, you are hopeless! How have you survived this long being this… this… simple-minded?"
He grinned, utterly unbothered. "Natural talent, probably."
From the corner of his mind, Paros chuckled, his voice rippling like a whisper through water. 'You're enjoying this far too much.'
'I can't help it,' Klein thought. 'She's got that look of someone who wants to strangle me but can't because of she couldn't.'
Paros hummed, clearly entertained. 'She's the perfect target for your brand of chaos. Proceed.'
Lyra opened the book again, determined to continue. "Let's move on before I lose my mind. We'll start with basic arithmetic. If a merchant has ten silver coins and spends four to buy grain, how many does he have left?"
Klein squinted dramatically. "Wait… ten minus four… carry the one…" He began mumbling incoherently, scratching numbers that made absolutely no sense. "Is it… seventeen?"
Lyra's jaw dropped. "How—how could it possibly increase?"
"Well," Klein said earnestly, "maybe he found some coins on the ground afterward."
Lyra slammed her hand on the desk, startling him just enough for him to grin wider. "You're mocking me!"
"Not at all," he said, raising both hands defensively. "I'm learning! This is a safe learning environment, right?"
Her lips tightened into a smile that was anything but kind. "If Lucien hadn't personally asked me to educate you, I would have thrown this book at your head by now."
Klein laughed, leaning back on his chair. "Don't worry, I can handle a book to the face."
Paros's voice purred again in his head. 'You do realize she's serious, yes?'
'I'm counting on it,' Klein thought, smirking.
Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Fine. Let's skip arithmetic for now. Let's talk about history. Maybe that'll keep your attention for more than thirty seconds."
Klein straightened a little. "History, huh? Alright, hit me."
Lyra flipped a few pages, her tone softening slightly as she began to read. "This world was shaped by Light—an all-powerful concept, beyond gods or men. It is said that Light is the origin of all mana, the very breath of creation itself. From it, life formed. From it, civilizations rose."
Her voice had a cadence to it, steady and clear. Klein, despite himself, listened more carefully.
She continued, "The first kingdoms were founded in the wake of the Great Dawn, an era when Light and Darkness clashed endlessly. From that conflict came the Demon Continent, where the dark kin—demons, succubi, and vampires—were banished. The world was split, not by borders, but by ideals."
She looked up to see Klein staring thoughtfully at the floor. "A temporary truce now exists," she said. "But even peace built on fear is fragile. The Everlight Kingdom, the holy kingdom, was established—with the consent of various other kingdoms, including ours—to preserve balance, guided by the radiance of the Light."
Klein blinked and smiled faintly. "So basically, good versus evil, huh? Classic setup."
Lyra frowned. "That's a very crude simplification."
"Maybe. But it works."
She studied him for a moment, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "You're not as dumb as you act, are you?"
Klein widened his eyes, pretending innocence. "What makes you say that?"
Lyra leaned forward. "You've been playing me this whole time, haven't you?"
He shrugged. "Define 'playing.'"
She threw her hands up. "You're impossible!"
He chuckled, leaning back again. "You make it too easy, though. You've got that tutor energy—strict, disciplined, easy to fluster. It's kind of fun."
Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Fun? This is educating you!"
"Yeah, sure," he said, pretending to yawn. "I feel educated already."
Paros laughed outright in his mind. 'Oh, you're terrible. This poor woman's going to lose her sanity before you even hit level ten.'
'I call it character development,' Klein thought with amusement.
Lyra stood abruptly. "We're taking a break. I need air before I strangle you."
"Good idea," Klein said cheerfully. "Oxygen helps with thinking, you know."
She glared at him one last time and stormed out of the room, muttering under her breath.
As the door clicked shut, Klein let out a small laugh, leaning back in his chair until it creaked. "She's too easy."
Paros hummed. 'And yet, she's teaching you more than you realize. You've learned more about this world from her than from any book.'
Klein tilted his head. "Yeah, maybe. The Light thing's interesting, though. A power that just… exists. Sounds like a god that forgot it was one."
'Light is no god,' Paros replied, his tone quieter now. 'It's a force. And forces don't care who they curse or bless.'
"Poetic," Klein murmured, spinning his coin absentmindedly between his fingers. "You sound like you've seen it before."
'Maybe I have.'
Klein raised an eyebrow. "You're not gonna elaborate, are you?"
'Where's the fun in that?'
He rolled his eyes. "Figures."
The room fell quiet for a while. The afternoon sun had shifted lower, and shadows stretched long across the floor. Klein's thoughts wandered—about cultivation, Lucien's calm power, and how strange it felt to live in a place where mana was as natural as breathing.
Despite the humor and games, part of him longed to understand this world. To carve his place in it.
He stood, stretching, and moved toward the window. The courtyard below was alive with movement—soldiers training, servants bustling, and beyond them, the stables where horses neighed impatiently.
Something caught his eye.
At the far edge of the yard, Lucien stood beside a large black carriage trimmed in gold. The man's presence, as always, was magnetic—commanding yet calm. A few soldiers were loading crates into the back, while Lucien inspected a rolled-up scroll handed to him by an attendant.
Klein frowned. "Where's he going?"
Paros's voice drifted lazily. 'Looks like he's preparing for a trip.'
Klein headed downstairs, curiosity getting the better of him. By the time he reached the stables, Lucien was already speaking with a messenger in silver armor. The air smelled faintly of leather and horse sweat.
"Commander," Klein called out.
Lucien turned, his face brightening slightly. "Ah, Klein. You're awake and not giving Lyra too much trouble, I hope?"
Klein gave a small grin. "Depends on your definition of 'trouble.'"
Lucien chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."
He gestured toward the carriage. "I'm heading to Ostina—the capital. The royal court requested my presence for a meeting concerning the border disputes. I was going to be gone for a few days."
Klein's brow arched. "Ostina, huh? Sounds fancy."
"It's… busier than here," Lucien said with a half-smile. "More noise, more politics. Not the most relaxing place, but it's where the pulse of the kingdom beats."
He paused, studying Klein for a moment before speaking again. "Would you like to come along?"
Klein blinked. "Me?"
"Yes," Lucien said, his tone firm but kind. "You've spent enough time cooped up here. A little exposure to the capital might broaden your perspective. Besides," he added with a faint grin, "I suspect Lyra could use a few days of peace."
Klein smirked. "You noticed that, huh?"
"I notice everything," Lucien replied. "So, what do you say?"
Klein glanced at the carriage, then back at Lucien. Part of him itched for adventure, to see more of this world beyond vineyards and lecture books. The other part—the one that always liked to keep things interesting—simply thought it would be fun to annoy Lyra by disappearing without warning.
He grinned. "Why not? I've always wanted to see the heart of the kingdom."
Lucien nodded approvingly. "Good. We leave at dawn. Get some rest, apprentice."
Klein gave a mock salute. "Aye aye, commander."
As Lucien turned to give his final orders, Klein walked back toward the garrison, the setting sun casting long, warm shadows across the courtyard.
In his mind, Paros spoke softly. 'To the capital, huh? Things are about to get interesting.'
Klein smiled faintly. 'They usually do.'
And as the light of dusk touched the rooftops, he couldn't shake the feeling that Ostina would be the place where everything began to change.