The group had left the capital nearly a month ago and was finally approaching their destination after crossing the kingdom's familiar green plains. Throughout the journey, Adlet had made a point of keeping as much distance as possible from Daven to avoid unnecessary conflict.
They were accompanied by a confirmed Protector assigned to oversee their travel and ensure their safe arrival—someone who would also introduce them to their new commanding officer once they reached their post.
A massive stone wall appeared on the horizon. The closer Adlet got, the more unreal it seemed—its sheer scale defied imagination.
It reminded him of his arrival at the Dark Woods, though this time, instead of a sturdy wall of wooden logs, a towering stone fortress loomed before him—over fifty meters high and stretching so far that he couldn't even guess its length.
The group headed toward the only visible structure rising above the wall: the spire-topped towers of a great castle, just barely visible from the other side.
An impressive city unfolded before them, smaller than the capital yet unlike anything Adlet had seen so far.
As they entered the city, the three boys stuck close together, careful not to lose sight of their guide, who moved swiftly through the bustling streets without slowing down.
Adlet took in the scenery—tall brick and timber buildings with tiled roofs, elegant cobblestone streets, and a refined architecture that made him realize just how far he was from his home region.
Their guide finally stopped in front of a massive building marked with the Protectors' emblem.
"We've arrived, children. Welcome to Villa-Sylva, the main city of the region," announced the man.
"You should feel honored to set foot in my city, peasants," Daven said without even glancing at his companions.
Adlet and Florian had grown somewhat used to such remarks. Though they still couldn't ignore them completely, they had at least learned not to react impulsively.
"Wait here while I deliver your mission order and find your supervisor," said the guide, pushing open the heavy doors.
The three boys stood in silence for several long minutes until the doors opened again. The guide had returned—accompanied by another man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a thick brown beard.
"Now that my duty is done, it's time for me to take my leave. I'll leave you in the hands of your commander. Good luck, children," said the guide before walking away without waiting for a response.
Adlet noticed Daven's lips curl into a faint smile, something rare enough to be unsettling.
"Greetings, apprentice Protectors," said the bearded man. "My name is Baryon Dryad, and I'll be your group leader during your stay here.
It seems two of you are unfamiliar with the region, so we'll have to postpone your mission until you've learned enough about the local species not to drag the group down."
Whether it was his tone or his presence, Baryon didn't leave a great impression on Adlet, who struggled to hide his disappointment.
"So you'll be teaching us what we need to know?" asked Florian eagerly, clearly comfortable with theoretical lessons.
"No. I don't have time for that," replied Baryon curtly. "You'll find everything you need at the Protectors' Guild library. I'll give you two weeks to study before we depart."
"Understood. We'll be ready by then," announced Florian.
"If you have nowhere else to stay, the guild will handle your lodging and meals now that you're officially Protectors.
I'll see you in two weeks."
"Thank you, Uncle," said Daven.
Adlet immediately understood why Daven's mood had brightened so much—their new superior was family. Baryon left soon after, clearly not one to waste time.
"I hope you know how to read, peasants. Otherwise, you won't last long," Daven mocked.
"Anyway, since I'm already perfectly prepared, I'll be heading back to my side of the city."
With long strides, he left them standing there.
"What a jerk," muttered Florian.
"Nothing new there. Come on, let's get settled inside. I want to take a look at that library," said Adlet.
"Yeah, let's go."
The two boys entered the guild, presented their Protector badges, and explained their situation. After a quick tour of the premises, they were shown to their rooms, where they could finally drop off their belongings.
It was still early in the day, so Adlet decided to head to the library as planned, while Florian went to eat—his stomach had been growling for hours.
The library was a vast, dimly lit hall, lined with shelves overflowing with books and worn journals.
Adlet pulled several of them out one by one—mission reports of little interest, registries listing the comings and goings of various Protectors… nothing remotely useful for his future fieldwork.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a brief document describing a type of serpent, only to find that it contained almost no relevant information. Disappointment after disappointment, he pressed on toward the back of the room.
"At this rate, two weeks or two years won't make any difference if there's nothing useful to study," he thought with a sigh.
As he reached the far end of the library, Adlet realized he wasn't alone.
A man sat at a table, completely absorbed in his reading, seemingly unaware of Adlet's presence.
Thinking he might be the librarian, Adlet decided to approach him for help.
"Excuse me," Adlet said, stopping beside the man's table.
No response.
"Excuse me!" he repeated, louder this time.
The man jumped, dropping his book with a startled cry.
"You shouldn't shout in a library, young man…" he muttered, exasperated. "Anyway, can I help you?"
"I'm an apprentice Protector," Adlet whispered. "I was sent here to learn about the local creatures before heading on a mission. Do you know where I can find that information?"
"Well, to be honest, I don't know this library very well myself. I'm only visiting to consult a few documents for my research," said the man.
Adlet closed his eyes and sighed in disappointment. Finding what he needed was going to be harder than he thought.
"Come now, you're not going to give up so quickly… You remind me of my son, about your age, and just as quick to throw in the towel," the man said kindly.
"I'm not giving up!" Adlet replied, a bit too loudly.
"Lower your voice…" the man grumbled again. "But good! A positive attitude will serve you well. By the way, may I ask—who's your Guardian?"
"Why do you want to know that?" Adlet asked suspiciously.
"In truth, I'm fascinated by everything related to the Apex. They're the sole focus of my research," explained the man.
"Well… mine's just a Dark Beetle," said Adlet, having no reason to hide it.
"A Dark Beetle!" the man exclaimed, suddenly bursting with energy.
"Keep your voice down, sir—you're in a library," Adlet retorted.
"Ah, yes, my apologies! But it's the first time I've heard of such a species—I couldn't help myself," said the man sheepishly.
"All right then. Sorry for disturbing you. I'll get back to my research," Adlet said, turning to leave.
"Wait! I have a proposal," the man said suddenly. "Let me ask you a few questions about your beetle and run a few physical tests—and in return, I'll teach you everything you need to know about the region's creatures. How about it?"
Adlet hadn't expected such an offer. Did he have any reason to refuse?
Even if his master had forbidden him from revealing the truth about his assimilation, there was no harm in fabricating a more believable story set in the Dark Woods.
"Deal. I'm Adlet," he said, extending his hand.
"Excellent! I'm Niccolo. You won't regret this decision!" exclaimed the man—once again forgetting his own rule about keeping quiet in a library.
Adlet couldn't have imagined that this unexpected meeting in the quiet of the library would soon change the course of his journey—and his destiny as a Protector.