After his strange encounter with Cassandra, Kael briefly considered looking her up to ask her about it.

  But he ultimately dismissed the idea. If it had anything to do with me, he reasoned, she would have said something. This must be personal.

  He decided to wait until she involved him on her own.

  Since he had no lectures today, Kael had the entire day off and no idea what to do with it.

  Zaros had promised Lia that he would help her with an experiment in the alchemy wing, in an attempt to coax her out of avoiding Kael.

  That left Kael alone, and restlessness tugged at him.

  After a moment of contemplation, he decided to visit the library.

  Maybe—just maybe—he’d find something that could illuminate the remaining gaps in Nora’s story.

  Anything that might help him understand the truth.

  It was still early; Ausma would return soon.

  Kael opened the window, put on thicker robes against the morning cold, and stepped outside.

  A crisp winter wind brushed against his face.

  The snow under his boots cracked softly as he made his way through the quiet, snow-covered courtyard. The academy buildings were still asleep under a blanket of pale white.

  He pulled his cloak tighter around himself and exhaled a warm cloud into the cold air.

  Time to find answers.

  He headed toward the library.

  On his way, he saw groups of students playing in the snow. Some were throwing snowballs, while others were lying on their backs carving shapes into the white blanket.

  Even the elite turn into children when it snows, he mused. A quiet chuckle slipped out as he walked past them.

  A few students pointed at him and whispered, but no one approached, which suited him perfectly.

  He soon reached the familiar building and stopped at the foot of its marble steps.

  It never loses its charm, he thought, taking a moment to admire its grandeur before climbing the stairs and stepping inside.

  The warmth of the library and the faint scent of dust and old parchment washed over him.

  Behind the reception desk stood the same girl who had helped him last time. Her face lit up the moment she recognized him, clearly remembering their earlier pleasant conversation.

  "Good morning," she greeted him warmly as he approached.

  "Nice to see you again," he replied, offering a tired but genuine smile. His mood had hardly improved in recent days, yet her presence felt oddly comforting.

  "And how can I help you today?" she asked, tilting her head slightly and teasing him. "Don't tell me it's flowers again?"

  Kael chuckled and shook his head. "Unfortunately not. What I’m looking for this time is much less poetic.”

  He straightened up a bit and recited his prepared excuse.

  "In our last lesson, we discussed the history of the Empire, and the teacher gave us homework: to gather as much information as possible about the royal family. Why this empire stands. How they protect their citizens.”

  The words tasted like ash, but he kept his voice steady.

  Her expression brightened noticeably.

  "Oh, that makes perfect sense! The king and his family are the foundation of this empire. They are its hope. Naturally, everyone should honor them as they deserve."

  Kael forced himself not to react.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "Yeah," he admitted softly, keeping up his act. "Could you recommend any books that describe their lives or the deeds they’ve accomplished so far?"

  Her face shifted into an apologetic smile.

  "I'm afraid works like that don't exist here. The royal family values their privacy deeply, and the public only knows what they choose to reveal. I mean—” She chuckled lightly. “I wouldn’t want every detail of my life written down for everyone to read, either.”

  Kael’s eye twitched. He hadn’t expected the search to be this difficult.

  “Then where would I find such books?” he asked.

  "In the royal library at the palace, maybe." She laughed. "But only a handful of people have permission to enter."

  Kael’s irritation grew, though he kept a disappointed expression on his face.

  "Then there's nothing you can do," he said, turning to leave—

  —until she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "Wait."

  Her voice softened. "I can't give you what you originally asked for. But we have archived articles from past public appearances—speeches, ceremonies, and visits to the outer districts. I can at least show you those.”

  It's something, he thought, nodding.

  She brightened and motioned for him to follow her. After a few turns through the towering shelves, she pointed to a narrow section tucked between two larger archives.

  "You'll find them there," she said warmly. "I hope it's enough for your assignment."

  "Thanks," Kael replied. He watched her leave before turning to the shelf.

  He frowned immediately.

  Five articles. That was all.

  Still, he gathered them and walked to a nearby table. He sat down and spread them out before him. He began to skim them.

  The first three were nothing more than polished propaganda, praising the king for his compassion, his anti-slavery laws, the shelters he had built, and his benevolence toward the poor.

  They were just hollow attempts to soften the widening gap between nobles and commoners.

  He yawned, already tired of reading.

  But then something caught his eye:

  The dates.

  Interesting.

  The latest article was three years old. Even the older articles were widely spaced.

  Kael thought. He leaned back and considered this. So he rarely appears in public.

  Most likely, his wife, children, or advisors run things in his stead. But why?

  Kael tapped lightly against the sheets, his thoughts sinking deeper and deeper.

  Nora said the king created the Order after the incident to punish anyone who defied him.

  Putting that together with these articles, there are only two possibilities.

  Either the king is too powerful and must hide his abilities so his people never discover that he has lied to them for generations, or—

  Or he’s turning his focus outward, watching the borders and the unknown while leaving his inner empire to rot under the Order’s control.

  Neither option comforted him.

  He slid the articles aside and reached for the rest, expecting more glorified nonsense.

  But these were different.

  They detailed two attempted uprisings, both of which were initiated by high-ranking counts.

  Both were swiftly crushed by royal knights and the Order.

  Both men were executed for "overwhelming evidence."

  Kael’s brows furrowed.

  So the rebellions came from inside his circle.

  That explains a lot. I had always wondered why there were rebels at all if the king could instantly crush uprisings.

  He can’t watch everyone. Not even with the Words.

  He focuses on the nobles, the real threats. He doesn't believe that common citizens could ever rise up against him.

  Kael whispered to himself,

  "They're only assumptions, but everything points toward them being true."

  He gathered the articles and returned them neatly to their shelf. Then, he headed back toward the entrance hall.

  The girl at the reception desk looked up as he approached.

  "Thank you again," Kael said, raising a hand in farewell as he stepped through the doorway.

  “Did they help?” she called after him.

  He paused, turned, and offered her a small, genuine smile.

  "More than you think."

  When he stepped out of the library, the first thing he saw was Ausma perched on a wooden pole beside the stairs. His golden eyes were fixed patiently on the entrance. Kael blinked in surprise, but his face softened into a smile the moment he recognized his companion.

  "Hey there, bud. I hope you didn’t wait long,” Kael murmured, reaching up to rub Ausma’s head.

  Ausma closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, his feathers fluffing with quiet pleasure. They stayed like this for a few heartbeats—a small pocket of peace amid the chaos of Kael’s thoughts—before Kael finally withdrew his hand. Ausma opened his eyes immediately, becoming sharp and attentive again.

  “You’ve got something for me, right?” Kael asked. He knew Ausma well enough by now. The falcon only sought him out like this when he had something important to deliver. Otherwise, he would have gone straight to Kael’s room.

  Ausma didn’t blink or move; he merely lifted his right talon with deliberate precision. Tied neatly to it was a sealed letter.

  Kael nodded, not surprised...until he opened the letter. His expression hardened instantly, and irritation rippled across his face.

  This was not what he expected.

  “Good morning, Student Kael.

  After much discussion, we have decided that the time has come to introduce ourselves to you. We are the Unspoken, also known as the Rebels of this Empire. We have a goal that must be achieved, and we believe you could be a valuable addition.

  We await you.

  You already know where to find us.

  In the void of shattered words, we find our voice."

  Kael slowly lowered his letter, his fingers still pressing into the paper as if it might vanish if he let go.

  He was stunned. It wasn't that he hadn’t expected contact eventually; it was that it came so abruptly, without warning.

  Why now?

  They could have invited him the moment Astra joined them. Something must have shifted. Something urgent. They need me for something.

  His expression darkened, and seriousness settled into his features like cold iron.

  We may share a goal, and I trust Astra, but I will never let myself be used again.

  He folded the letter once more, more slowly this time, quiet resolve building in his chest. Whatever awaited him, he would face it on his terms.