The Eastern Gate of Ver rose before them, its massive doors carved from ancient wood and reinforced with jade-infused metal. Above the archway, words were inscribed in elegant script: T Let Truth Enter, and Lies Be Silenced. As Luma and Ennet joined the steady stream of travelers, merchants, and farmers entering the city, they could see the true scale of Ver''s defenses—sixty-foot walls of white stone inlaid with jade in intricate patterns that seemed to pulse with subtle energy.
"Will your Archivist credentials be enough?" Luma asked quietly, eyeing the Karma Regulators who stood beside the City Watch, observing each entrant with calculating eyes.
Ennet''s hand moved to his pocket, feeling the weight of the small jade key that hung from a silver chain. "This isn''t just any Archivist key It''s a Master Archivist key—specifically, my mentor''s key."
"And he just... gave it to you?" Luma raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly." Ennet''s expression darkened. "It was left for me, along with a message. ''When the time comes, this will be your guide.'' I never understood what that meant until recently."
They joined the queue at the checkpoint, watching as City Watch members examined travelers'' papers and Regulators a security group from the city observed from nearby. The guards wore distinctive armor—polished white breastplates with jade inlays that traced patterns resembling flowing water.
When their turn came, a stern-faced guard assessed them with practiced efficiency. "Purpose in Ver?"
"Library business," Ennet replied, producing the Master Archivist key. The jade emblem caught the light, its intricate patterns shifting subtly as it moved.
The guard''s demeanor changed instantly. He straightened, eyes widening slightly at the key. "Master Archivist?"
"Acting on High Archivist Jax''s behalf," Ennet clarified, using his mentor''s name. "This is my assistant."
The guard nodded respectfully but gestured to a robed figure standing nearby—a Regulator with intricate tattoos tracing her karma pathways along her temples and hands. "Standard procedure, Master. Even for Library personnel. Especially now."
The Regulator approached, a slender jade disc in hand. "May I?" she asked, though it wasn''t really a question.
Ennet nodded, and she waved the disc in a circular motion before him. The tip glowed with a steady amber light.
"Archivist signature confirmed," she stated, then turned to Luma.
As the disc moved before him, its glow flickered erratically, shifting between colors before settling on a muted amber. The Regulator frowned.
"Irregular pattern," she noted. "Recent karma depletion?"
"My assistant participated in field training activity before our journey," Ennet explained smoothly. "His control is still developing."
The Regulator studied Luma for a moment longer. "There''s been an incident at the Noi Forest. Three Archivists missing after a Chaos Beast attack. Security protocols have been elevated."
Ennet''s expression revealed nothing, but Luma felt him tense slightly. "We hadn''t heard. When did this happen?"
"Three days ago. One High Archivist and two Junior Archivists." She lowered her voice. "The Library is... unsettled. Director Lorde has implemented additional security measures."
She stepped back, apparently satisfied despite the irregular reading. "You may proceed, but all visitors must register at the Library''s entry pavilion before accessing the main complex."
As they passed through the massive gateway, the full sensory impact of Ver hit them at once. The clamor of thousands of voices echoed off stone buildings, mingled with the clatter of carts, the calls of street vendors, and the occasional chime of bells marking the hour. Scents assaulted them from every direction—spices from food stalls, incense from street-side shrines, the earthy smell of dust, and the less pleasant odors of a densely populated city.
Luma stopped just beyond the gate, momentarily overwhelmed by the cacophony. His eyes darted from the towering buildings to the crowds flowing around them, taking in the bright signs that shifted and glowed to attract attention, the street performers manipulating Art to create magic for coins, and the sheer variety of people from every corner of the kingdom.
"It''s... a lot," he shouted.
Ennet nodded, remembering his own first impression of Ver years ago. "The Commons can be overwhelming at first. We''re in the outermost ring now—mostly residential areas and small businesses. The real wonders are in the inner rings."
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They moved with the flow of foot traffic down the broad avenue that led from the Eastern Gate toward the city center. Buildings rose three to four stories on either side, their white stone facades accented with modest jade inlays. Street vendors had set up stalls wherever space permitted, selling everything from fresh produce to karma-infused trinkets.
As they walked, Ennet pointed to a floating orb hovering at an intersection—about the size of a human head, it emitted a soft jade glow as it rotated slowly in place.
"An Orb," he explained, seeing Luma''s curious gaze. "They detect and stabilize karma fluctuations, preventing chaos rifts from forming. The inner districts are fully protected, but out here in the Commons, they''re only placed at major intersections."
"I thought they were only used for Chaos rift detection," Luma said.
"That''s their primary purpose. But they''re also one of Ver''s most closely guarded technologies. The Jade Kingdom limits their export—only the communication Marks are traded outside the country."
Luma nodded toward a group of people holding small floating object close to them "Those are Marks?"
"Yes. They convert sound and haptic frequencies into karmic energy and back again. Revolutionary for long-distance communication. Just another example of how Ver has become the technological center of Parea."
The city was unusually active, with colorful banners hanging from buildings and street performers entertaining crowds at every corner. Vendors called out their wares with particular enthusiasm, and the air hummed with anticipation.
"What''s happening?" Luma asked, gesturing to the decorations.
An elderly woman selling flower garlands nearby overheard. "The Succession Ceremony, of course! Where have you been, young man? King Lynd Rigris II formally passes the crown to Prince Illys tomorrow."
"The succession?" Ennet frowned. "But King Lynd is barely fifty. Why would he step down now?"
The woman shrugged. "Court matters. Who can understand the ways of royalty? Though it''s odd, isn''t it? Father and son look so alike they could be twins, despite the age difference. maybe because of King lynd''s weaking body, they say."
As the night falls they turned down a quieter side street that Ennet remembered from previous visits, seeking a modest inn that catered to everyone. As they walked, the sounds of celebration faded, replaced by the more ordinary noises of city life—and something else.
Luma stopped suddenly, his head tilting. "Do you hear that?"
Ennet paused, listening. From a nearby alley came the sound of heavy objects being moved, accompanied by low voices.
"Probably just deliverymen," Ennet said, but Luma was already moving toward the sound, drawn by curiosity or something deeper.
The alley was narrow and dark, the buildings on either side blocking most of the fading daylight. The stench hit them immediately—sewage, garbage, and something worse. Something rotting.
They pressed against the wall, peering around a stack of crates toward the source of the noise. Two men in rough work clothes were unloading what appeared to be large burlap sacks from a cart, depositing them near a door set into the wall.
One of the workers picked up what was unmistakably a decomposing human hand that had fallen from a torn sack. He held it up with dark humor. "Hey there, sire, care for some hyacinth tea?"
His companion scowled. "Stop joking and get to work. We still have a lot to unload."
"I mean, I''m not the type to complain—the money is good, and even the benefits—but sometimes it makes me think why they need this many decomposing bodies."
"Yeah, I heard they use them for some kind of experiments, and I also heard that the bodies came from the northern region."
"Northern? You mean..."
"Yeah, some of the bodies here are the ones that perished in the Dirium civil war."
"Oh, that is tough... hope nothing like that happens in our kingdom."
A third voice cut through the conversation, cultured and cold. "Of course, that would be very problematic for us."
Both workers turned to see a tall man in a black suit. The alley''s darkness obscured his features, but his presence alone seemed to create chills on everyone''s spine
"Now both of you get back to work, before I snap your neck," the man said with a chilling lightness that suggested it wasn''t entirely a joke.
Luma and Ennet retreated silently, not stopping until they''d put several streets between themselves and the alley. Not knowing that hey have already been seen.
"Bodies," Luma whispered. "From the Dirium civil war."
Ennet''s face was grim. "The northern continent. Thousands died in that conflict last year. Official reports said the bodies were given proper funeral rites."
"Clearly not all of them," Luma replied. "But why bring them here? What kind of experiments—"
"Not here," Ennet cut him off, gesturing to the crowded street they''d reentered. "Too many ears."
As twilight began to fall, a remarkable transformation swept through the city. The jade elements embedded in buildings, street fixtures, and decorative elements began to emit a soft, greenish glow—first the larger installations on public buildings, then the smaller inlays on private structures. The famous Twilight Glow of Ver was beginning, transforming the white stone city into a luminous jewel.
"Beautiful," Luma murmured, momentarily forgetting his concerns as he watched the city light up around them.
"It happens every night," Ennet explained. "The jade absorbs karma throughout the day, then releases it as light after sunset. By midnight, the entire city will be bathed in jade light."
They found a modest inn called The Respite, a three-story building with a small jade lantern hanging above its door. Inside, the common room was busy but not crowded, filled with the low murmur of conversation and the scent of spiced tea.
After securing a room, Luma sat on one of the beds. "You think those bodies have something to do with the missing Archivists?"
"I don''t know. But I find it suspicious that decomposing bodies are being delivered in secret while the entire city is distracted by the succession ceremony." Ennet paced the small room. "And why would the king step down now? Prince Illys is barely twenty-five."
"The flower seller mentioned they look alike," Luma noted.
"Yes, remarkably so. I''ve seen them both from their pictures. The resemblance goes beyond normal family similarity." Ennet stopped pacing. "We need to focus on our immediate goals. Finding my mentor—and your master."
Luma nodded. " I know that My master is in the Library. I''m certain of it."
"How can you be so sure?"
A shadow passed over Luma''s face. " I mean she said to me before that she works for the Library." then grinned
"you should have said that from the beginning".
" hehe"