Vale and Eskar remained silent for a time, watching as the commander of the royal guard spoke quietly with Drago. The two older men stood near the center of the library's open space, discussing what sounded like the final details of whatever matter had brought Ares here.
Their conversation was calm, controlled, and almost casual.
Yet the atmosphere around them remained heavy.
Vale shifted his weight slightly, his gaze drifting away from the two men. Instinctively, he began scanning the enormous library around them.
If the commander of the royal guard was here… then surely he wouldn't have come alone.
Vale's eyes moved carefully across the towering shelves, the balconies, the winding staircases. He checked the shadows between the bookcases, the upper walkways, the distant study tables where scholars continued their quiet work.
Nothing.
Not a single armored figure.
Not a single guard.
Slowly, Vale narrowed his eyes.
'That's strange.'
He looked again, searching more carefully this time. Surely the kingdom's strongest military figure wouldn't simply walk into a place like this alone.
And yet,
There was no one.
Finally, Vale turned his gaze back toward Ares. He hesitated, unsure whether speaking up would be wise, but curiosity gnawed at him until he eventually gave in.
"Sir Ares," Vale said.
The conversation between Ares and Drago paused. Ares remained still for a moment before slowly turning around. His crimson eyes settled on Vale with the same calm indifference as before.
"Yes?" Ares replied.
The single word he spoke carried an unsettling weight.
Vale swallowed once before speaking again.
"You are alone, correct?" Vale asked carefully. "Do you not need protection?"
For a moment, Ares simply stared at him.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
A low chuckle escaped his lips.
"Your name was Vale, correct?" Ares asked slowly.
Vale nodded.
Ares crossed his arms loosely across his chest before continuing.
"Well, Vale," he said, "you can sense it, can't you?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"My power."
The words were spoken plainly, yet the implication behind them filled the air.
"Do you honestly believe," Ares continued, "that I require protection with power like this?"
He paused deliberately.
"The answer is quite simple," he said calmly.
"No."
Ares' gaze sharpened slightly as he finished.
"My own presence is the greatest protection I possess."
Vale felt his throat tighten.
His eyes widened slightly before he nodded slowly, unable to argue with that statement.
At that moment, Drago's voice suddenly cut through the quiet.
"That is enough talking," he called out from the staircase that had formed at the center of the tower. "We have much to discuss, so hurry up, will you?"
Vale and Eskar both turned toward him.
Without another word, they nodded.
Ares moved first, stepping toward the spiraling staircase with the same steady, unhurried confidence he had shown since his arrival. Drago was already making his way upward.
Ivor followed behind Ares, and with a subtle gesture, he motioned for Vale and Eskar to follow.
The group began ascending the staircase.
The stone steps spiraled upward endlessly toward the top of the towering library. As Vale climbed, he occasionally tried to look past Ivor to get another glimpse of Ares walking ahead of them.
Something about the man's uniform bothered him.
The white military-style attire looked strangely familiar. The cut of the jacket, the sharp lines of the shoulders, the way it clung to the commander's frame, stirred a faint sense of recognition deep in Vale's mind.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't place it.
'Where have I seen that before?'
Perhaps it was connected to the memories he had lost.
The thought lingered as they continued climbing.
Could he ask Ares about it?
Vale considered the idea for several moments before quietly abandoning it. Questioning a man like that about something so vague felt… dangerous.
He sighed quietly.
The sound caught Ivor's attention.
The butler glanced back at him while continuing to climb the staircase.
"Are you nervous?" Ivor asked.
Vale looked up, slightly surprised by the question. The tone almost sounded… concerned.
He opened his mouth, thinking for a moment before answering.
"Not necessarily," Vale said.
He paused briefly.
"Just thinking about some things."
Ivor's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned his gaze forward again.
"I see," he replied.
"Well, you should be nervous," he added calmly. "It is an honor to be part of this."
Vale rolled his eyes slightly behind him as he continued climbing.
"Sure," he muttered.
A moment later, he heard Eskar's voice from behind him.
"Is something wrong?"
The question carried a faint hint of concern.
Vale glanced back at him, forcing a small, reassuring smile.
"No," he said. "Not really. Just some personal things."
Eskar studied him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"If you say so."
After that, the group continued the climb in silence.
Step by step, they ascended the spiraling staircase until finally they reached the very top of the library tower.
Drago stepped off first.
Ares followed.
Then Ivor.
Eskar stepped off last.
The moment his foot left the final step, the staircase behind them suddenly shifted.
Stone groaned loudly as the spiral structure began collapsing inward. Vale turned around just in time to watch the stairs fold and reform, sealing themselves into a solid roof that closed off the tower's peak from the vast library below.
Wooden panels slid into place where the staircase had once been.
Within seconds, it looked as though the passage had never existed.
Vale stared at the spot with slightly widened eyes.
Then he slowly turned his gaze forward.
The room they had entered was far smaller than the enormous spaces below.
It appeared to be an old office.
A large desk made of dark wood stood near the center of the room, its surface covered in scattered papers and various writing tools, pens, ink bottles, erasers, and other small items used for office work.
Around the room were several leather couches and chairs. They looked expensive, their surfaces smooth and slightly worn from years of use, yet still incredibly comfortable.
Behind them stood tall bookshelves filled with old volumes.
Dust clung to many of them, giving the impression they were kept more for appearance than actual study.
Vale blinked slowly, taking the entire room in.
Then Ivor's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Young man," the butler said politely, "we would appreciate it if you took a seat next to us."
Vale looked over.
Ivor had already seated himself in a leather chair beside Drago. The old man sat comfortably with his teacup resting in one hand.
Across from them, Ares had taken possession of an entire couch.
He leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed and confident, his legs spread casually as though the furniture belonged solely to him.
Eskar had taken a seat in one of the chairs between them.
Vale walked over and sat beside him.
Once seated, he looked between Drago and Ares as the two men prepared to begin their discussion.
Ares slowly opened his eyes.
His crimson gaze locked onto Drago with a sharp intensity.
"So," he said calmly.
"I assume you already know the general details of what happened."
Vale glanced toward Drago.
Ivor stood beside the old man, carefully pouring another cup of tea with the same quiet precision he had shown since they arrived. The porcelain cup filled slowly, the faint aroma of herbs spreading gently through the room.
Drago waited.
He made no effort to answer Ares immediately. Instead, he allowed Ivor to finish pouring before lifting the cup, taking a small, measured sip.
Only then did he speak.
"You mean," Drago said calmly, "when you nearly killed the appointed commander?"
His eyes drifted toward Ares, studying him with a strangely amused expression.
"Oh yes," he added lightly. "I've heard about that."
Ares stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"That was… a necessary action," Ares replied, adjusting his posture slightly and sitting more upright on the couch.
Drago rolled his eyes faintly.
Vale followed every movement carefully, his attention shifting between the two men as they spoke. The conversation carried an odd balance of calm and hostility, two powerful figures speaking casually about something that had clearly shaken the kingdom.
"Ah yes," Drago continued with mild sarcasm. "A 'necessary' action. Of course."
He lifted his cup again.
"I don't blame you," he added. "Gods know I'm glad you did."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"But don't delude yourself, young man."
Ares's crimson eyes narrowed.
The tension in the room thickened for a brief moment before Ares exhaled quietly through his nose.
Drago waved a hand dismissively and continued as if nothing had happened.
"Either way," he said, "how has Wolf responded to all this?"
At the mention of the king's name, Ares opened his eyes fully and looked directly at Drago.
"It is safe to say he was… less than pleased," Ares said.
A faint, humorless smile crossed his lips.
"The man attempted to execute me."
Vale blinked.
Ares continued calmly.
"But the royal guard intervened before he could carry it out. There was little he could do after that."
Drago chuckled softly, clearly unsurprised.
"That seems realistic enough," he said, setting his teacup down once more.
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
"So tell me," Drago continued, "how have you been dealing with his new policies? Have you managed to limit his actions?"
Ares closed his eyes briefly, nodding once.
"Yes," he replied. "To some extent."
He paused for a moment before explaining further.
"We made it clear that if the new children and students were not allowed entry into the city… the royal guard would withdraw its protection."
The words were spoken plainly, but the implication behind them was enormous.
Vale's eyes widened slightly.
Threatening to remove the royal guard's protection from the capital itself was not merely bold, it was practically a declaration of independence.
"It worked," Ares continued. "Wolf allowed them entry into the kingdom."
He opened his eyes again.
"However, beyond that, he refused to change anything else."
Drago hummed quietly, as though he had expected nothing less.
"In response," Ares continued, "we took some of them in ourselves."
Drago raised an eyebrow slowly.
"As recruits," Ares clarified.
That caught Drago's interest.
"It is rare for the royal guard to accept people so young," Drago said thoughtfully. "Is there a particular reason you chose to do so?"
Ares leaned back slightly, considering the question.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he answered.
"You could say there is."
His crimson gaze shifted briefly toward Vale and Eskar before returning to Drago.
"Some of these young people possess… exceptional talents."