Book 1: Chapter 1
Lead coloured clouds loomed in the sky. The sky was like this when I received my appointment letter banishing me to the borders, Regis thought. His gaze returned to the ground, the town that was similar in color to the sky was different from the capital. He did not miss the bricks, marbles and streetlights, but the walled streets reminded him of a prison.
The border town Tuonvell. 100 Li (444 km) away from the capital and five days travel by horse carriage. The streets were dim even in daylight, the freezing wind inflicting pain. The cloudy weather was normal during winter for a place in the north near the border, but it felt like a sign of his future.
Am I a failure? Regis thought. He had lost his master, status and future, and was exiled to the front lines in the north.
"Well, it's not too bad... Life is not just about career advancement. In fact, this will increase my leisure reading time."
The afternoon bell was ringing in the church when the caravan arrived. The people in the convoy spread out to search for lunch. Regis walked towards a shop that had nothing to do with food. The shop windows were arranged with books. Rows of bookshelves were lined inside the building constructed from stone. The smell of paper and ink lingered in the air.
"—Ah, I am free if there are books, and that place will be my home."Quoted from Cuiller Romeros 'Burgundy Journals' — he added silently in his heart.Regis claimed to be a book enthusiast, but he was actually a bibliophile.
He searched passionately in the shelf labeled ‘New Releases’.