Chapter 208: Becoming One of Them (2)
Caelus had painted a grim, complicated picture of the kingdom they were about to enter. It was a land of ghosts and tyrants, of open threats and hidden daggers.
Riku leaned forward. He rested his chin on his steepled fingers. He looked at the map, then back at Caelus.
"The Triumvirate and the Great Houses are the big picture," Riku said, his voice thoughtful. "But what about the small picture? Where do normal people live?"
Caelus looked at him, confused. "Normal people? They live where they are told. In the mining towns. The farming villages. The fishing ports. Why does that matter?"
"It matters because that’s where you find real people," Riku replied. "Not just politicians and generals. Tell me about the smaller towns between here and the capital. Are there any local powerhouses we should be wary of? A town run by a retired legionnaire? A merchant guild with a stranglehold on a local trade route?"
He continued, his questions sharp and practical. "And what about education? Are there any schools at all? Even for basic learning? Any places known for skilled craftsmen, besides the great houses?"
Caelus stared at him. He had expected the man from the south to be a naive idealist. A fool who would walk blindly into the capital. But these questions... they were not foolish. They were the questions of a man who understood how a society truly worked. He was not just looking for powerful mages. He was looking for the heart of the kingdom.
"You are full of surprises, Uncle Riku," Caelus said, a new respect in his voice.
He answered truthfully. He told them of the town of Ironcliff, a mining settlement run by a former captain of the Tempest Legion who ruled with an iron fist. He spoke of the port city of Wind’s Crest, which was controlled by a ruthless merchant’s guild that was a law unto itself.
He also told them of the Dustwind Academy. It was a small, struggling school in the middle of the desert plains. It was one of the only places in the kingdom that still taught the old ways of elemental magic, before the Church of Thunder consolidated all magical teaching.
Riku listened to it all. He absorbed every detail. He was building a new map in his mind. A map of opportunity.
Finally, Riku nodded. "Thank you, Caelus. This is very helpful."