“And there it stood. A city for both angels and elves.

“The angels would call it, 'Sik J’Dio Sahde Alanoon'. Which in our language would be 'The beacon under shadow.'

“A proper name for it as well. The city was built by ancient elves within a vast cavern. It would become a fortress that would attract all those that would soon find themselves living in fear of the Night.”

“Yes, yes, how many times do I have to read the same passage?” Koda mumbled to himself as he skimmed through the ancient records of Jethen Cloudpraiser. The elf’s knee shook under the study table as he grew closer to the answer to his question.

Koda closed the old tome. A cloud of dust puffed from the old husk causing the elf king to sneeze. A hush snapped from behind him. He instinctively apologized, in which another hush from his left followed.

Koda leaned in his wooden seat, balancing on its back legs and tickling his quill against his cheek. The Verdant academy’s library had been donated a slew of old books that would take years for Koda to get through. He was excited about such a prospect; however, his heart was set on finding where the Celestial Seals rested.

Two years had already passed since the Scorch seal had been broken by Inle’s mysterious allies. More than ever now he dedicated his life to protecting these monuments. With his power he wanted his forces to establish bases across the lands to guard the seals; perhaps even erecting schools to study their rich history and magic. It was an endeavor of great magnitude, but his foremost problem at hand was to find them. He had his suspicion that one may be on Nashoon, but his grandfather would only scoff at the thought of allowing military onto the isle. Maybe an Arcane Guardian was enough to protect that seal.

Another theory Koda had was that each dragon realm had its own Celestial Seal. If he were to script several runes powerful enough to ward away the gods from Draak’Terra, then one rune per realm would be required. Which led to studying old folklore and ancient text. Most historians stated the seals were placed much later after the War of the Black Moon. Others believed it was the cause for the angels to flee during the war in the first place. Koda believed in the latter. There was no rhyme or reason for the angels to retreat during the war, and why would the angels that were given godhood leave Draak’Terra? It must have been because of the Celestial Seals.

Since the destruction of the Scorch seal, sailors had reported a fractured sky looming over most of the realm. Within the court of Naonis, the goddess of all nature, discord ruled over her firmament. The rain and winds howled in anguish at the disorder of the broken seal, and storms brewed fiercer than ever before. However, in the realm of Nihilio, father of creation and gardener of life itself, the wheat grew tall and the fruit trees bore the largest harvest many had seen in two years. Along Stratus, Alanna brought ice, wind, and death a month early, catching farmers off guard and ruining the harvest season. The desert gods of Scorch saw fit to bow to the whims of its water spirits, and roaring flash floods of water browned by desert sands swept away many a caravaneer, none of whom had ever seen so much water before.

Dragon Realm Scorch had always been a harsh and lawless land, and Stratus had taken much delight in tormenting its impoverished citizens; this could be the gods punishing the mighty for enslaving the meek. Koda reached under the table and patted his wolf familiar on her head. The merging of the Heavens and Draak’Terra has done more good than harm, perhaps there is a philosophical discussion here, eh girl? Koda shook away the captivating thoughts before continuing to another entry.

“As well as I, Sik J’Dio Sahde Alanoon brought many visitors, some foolish to think that the Skyfallen would never find this refuge. Many battles were fought within the streets of the city.

“Finally, the fate of all was planned by the Council of Archaics and Sik J’Dio Sahde Alanoon was chosen as the third site.”

“The third site?” Koda fervently read on.

“A door only to be opened by an Archaic would wall in the city, soon to trap its secret within.”

“This is one of Cloudpraiser’s last recordings,” Koda whispered to Wildeye, knowing full well that his wolf would continue to ignore him. However, speaking to her allowed him a clear train of thought. “His apprentice would take over his duties shortly after this entry…”

Koda rummaged through the ancient books, scanning the text of each date stamped on its spine. His grandfather taught him to read using old records. Jenthen’s was his favorite, but he never properly studied them. Memorizing events and long past battles was a task fit for a scholar, not an Arcane Guardian. No, understanding the Magi, tending to a forest, watching over its secrets, those were the duties of an Arcane Guardian. Secrets he was forbidden to learn. Secrets that were hidden from even him. His grandfather never intended for him to be an Arcane Guardian. This he now knew.

I am a king now. My people trust me with their lives, while Grandfather couldn’t even trust me with his forest.

“I had formally taken over the duties of Jenthen Cloudpraiser. His last record was marking the Daybreak having left Mervious. They chose to continue to build their empire within the Shadowearth of Blight…”

“Mervious? Why does that name sound so familiar?” Koda unraveled an old world map of Draak’Terra. He slid his finger across the exaggerated drawings of the ocean. He smirked at the pictures of sea serpents and mermaidens until he reached the land of Dragon Realm Blight.

Blight had been sketched to resemble more of a dragon than the terrain man knew it as. Scales replaced the mountains and trees, and bloodied wounds replaced the lakes and rivers. Each section of the dragon’s body had the name of long past nations written on them. Mervious marked Blight’s head.

“New Estinia was once Mervious …” The realization that Koda found a new Celestial Seal dawned on the elf. A flash of wonder sparked in his eyes but was quickly snuffed out. New Estinia was part of the Estinian nation long established in Cypress, the same country he had gone to war with nearly five years ago. If he were to take on an expedition to the Celestial Seal, he would need to treat this matter as delicately as he treated these books. Any misstep could lead to disaster.

Koda rubbed his chin, locked within his new worries. His council would never allow him to take a journey to New Estinia, despite the new treaty of peace between their nations. However, the chance to find and protect a seal was far more tempting to Koda than his personal safety. He would still need to bring the proposition to his council of lords, but sending a letter to the New Estinian Div’Rah couldn’t hurt either.

Koda carefully rolled up the ancient map of Blight and cleared his work from the study table. “Come, Wildeye,” he said to his familiar. “There is much work to be done.”