“Kill the royal family? Caelum half whispered; half shouted in his disbelief.

“That’s fucking insane!”

“Keep it down what if they hear you!” Camellia retorted.

Taking a few seconds to compose himself he breathed slowly and checked outside the door. After making sure the coast was clear he looked straight at Camellia and said one word.

“Explain.”

“After we woke up, they explained that the God’s had sent us to fix the nation. For those three days, we were taught about the state of the country, magic, and combat.”

Caelum nodded and continued to listen, but he took notice that nobody had butted in, even Leon as excitable as he was. Everyone had already accepted Camellia as the de facto leader. He did not like that at all.

“Everything we’ve learned they’ll teach you I’m sure, but what stuck with me was the state of the country. From what I’ve heard they expect us to fix everything, the royals doing jack shit to help anybody and justifying all their actions through the gods.”

Camellia took a deep breath and clenched her fists as she said her final sentence. “Caelum the royals have murdered several innocent people in the name of their Gods… and us. Since we’ve been here, they have executed over ten people.”

Caelum froze remembering the nurturing though puzzling care of the nurse. Prince Alwin talking to him, the wistful look in his eyes as though he was staring at a hero.

Alwin, the nurse, even the knight those people had let maybe even murdered innocent people?

No, he had to find out for himself. He couldn’t believe a word that came out of her mouth.

“I- I have to see for myself before I can make a decision, he said with contempt.

“Fine but the longer it takes for you to decide the more people will die. Look around Caelum even your friend isn’t disagreeing he’s seen himself.”

Glancing at Leon he noticed that his head was down, and he wasn’t staring him in the eye.

“Glad you all think murder solves everything he spat out with contempt.

Before anyone could protest, he was out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

He stood there, catching his breath, eyes closed as he processed everything he had just heard.

“Three days Caelum, three days before we go through with the plan. Either you’re with us by then or not.”

He stepped away from the door and began to wander the castle in hopes of finding anything, anyone to help him out.

He wandered for a few good hours, as he walked around the mostly deserted castle he fell in love with the architecture, the art, the whole beauty of it all.

But a dark stain tainted the beauty of it all for him because he couldn’t help but think that maybe everything Camellia said was true.

That while he admired the stained-glass windows somebody was being tortured, killed and he could do nothing about that.

Irritated at himself for not knowing what to do he kept walking until he stumbled across two double doors with strange markings etched onto them.

They looked well decorated with carvings and etchings engraved with care into the door.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he entered the room, secretly hoping he would stumble upon something sinister. Anything that would give him a reason to allow Camellia to go through her plan.

Instead, what he found was a huge two-story library filled with books. Some glowing, some leatherbound and old, and some adorned in gems and jewels. As he took it all in, he noticed a girl run past him so fast he didn’t have time to identify her.

By the time he turned around she was already gone the door shutting behind her.

He was already going to explore the library but now he was going to give it an in-depth investigation. After what he had heard he could not trust a single person in this castle.

For hours Caelum was lost within the bookshelves. Even though he was in a medieval castle in a different dimension this library was the closest thing to a home he had encountered since the world had been sent into chaos.

It was a relief for him to just read and read, yea most of the information was useless stuff he’d probably never use but it was fun.

Until he stumbled upon a small book the size of a journal. Flipping through it most of the pages were empty and he almost put it back on the shelf until he saw what was written on the very first page as he flipped back.

This could help him figure out what was going on behind the castle and learn of its dark secrets or if Camellia was lying to gain something.

Either way, he was excited he could contribute; he could get everyone out of here with this one book.

As he was thinking he heard the door open and quickly looked up.

It was Ashley. He let out a sigh, he had imagined the worse now that he had figured a way out of this mess.

“Dinner’s ready the king is calling for us.” With that, she turned to leave but paused right at the door. “I don’t agree with murder either but if it’s what gets us out of here then I’ll do it. Something tells me this new world demands it and you better get used to it before you wind up dead.”

And just like that, she walked out the door.

Caelum gripped the book hard in his hand. He knew that he had known since he decapitated that ghoul within minutes of waking up. But that didn't have to be his first option, or that it was the only option they had.

Slipping the book into his bag he walked out of the library and saw Ashely waiting outside the door.

“Figured you wouldn’t know how to get there so just follow me.”

With a nod, they started to move.

“How’d you find me he asked after a few minutes.

“Tracked you… and I have the entire layout of the castle memorized, I borrowed a map.”

“Oh okay.”

Not another word was spoken until they reached the doors leading into the dining hall.

Ashley turned and looked him dead in the eye and said, “Do not fuck up.”

Without blinking an eye, he said “I won’t.”

He then strode confidently into the hall, at least he hoped he looked like he did.