The Bookkeeper

Raiden was no fool, just like what his parents had shown him ever since he was a kid. There had to be a hierarchy, a clear balance of authority and power.

He hadn’t tried anything like it himself, but he’d seen it—how, despite despising his parents, he struggled to see them as anything but omnipotent, even though he knew perfectly well that wasn’t the case.

And now, with three people he knew all too well he’d be a fool to trust, he had to make their roles clear and show them what it might cost to oppose him.

He sat on the last stair leading to the second-floor branches while the rest stood below, looking up at him; a quiet implication of superiority he intended.

"This is the arc of the Bookkeeper, the one you are to serve and obey." He paused for a moment. "Why must you? That’s an answer I’ll leave to you. Find it yourself."

With that said, he didn’t want them to serve him just because they were bound to, but because they chose to. Just like his parents had used his desire for vengeance to exploit his weaknesses, driving him to work even harder for them by his own volition.

"It goes without saying that each of you stands to gain something from this." He stood up and began descending the stairs. "My enemies are many, and your help, your devotion, is needed."

He gestured at Leo. "Leo, every single book in here holds knowledge, ancient and modern magic, the forbidden, and the basic." He smirked. "They’re all yours to read. But you report to me whenever you find something interesting."

Leo’s eyes widened as he dropped his luggage and hurried down the walkway to his right.

"Aeris, I’d like you to investigate the Dawnbringers for me. And while you’re at it, look into the elders as well—since the poison won’t do much more than give them a running stomach."

Aeris’s expression darkened as she gestured with her hands. "Those people are very powerful..." She paused, nervousness and fear lacing her voice. "They might kill me."