As I tidied myself up to look presentable before His Majesty King Lianor, I couldn’t help but recall the event from exactly a week ago that had completely upended Vent’s and my plans for the future. Until then, we had decided to settle on the seaside in Mirte. We’d find work we loved, rent a cozy little house, and spend our evenings strolling along the beach, listening to the soothing crash of the waves. I had pictured our child being born in that peaceful haven, and the three of us living in utter happiness.
So, when Master Blade summoned me to his office the day after I received my diploma in “Master of Magical Sciences, Specialization: Illusion,” I didn’t suspect anything amiss. I assumed it would be another round of his usual lectures. My mentor was one of those meticulous types who couldn’t rest easy even after their student had technically graduated from their tutelage.
But Master Verius stunned me the moment I stepped through the door.
“Well, congratulations, Dana,” he said with a restrained smile. “I didn’t want to mention this earlier, not until everything was finalized, but now I can. The Council has unanimously appointed you as the Keeper of the Land of Rain.”
I thought it must be some poorly timed jest, though Master Blade wasn’t known for such humor.
“Me… a Keeper?” I could barely string two words together.
“Yes, I understand this must be a great joy for you,” Master Blade said, touching my arm lightly. “The Keeper of Ancient Knowledge is such a prestigious and weighty responsibility. Before you, there were only two female Keepers, both of whom took their positions late in life. The youngest male Keeper was your predecessor… and, well, a good acquaintance, Ned—may his soul rest in peace. Even he was older than you when appointed. So, in a way, your case is quite unique. I’m thrilled that one of my own students has been granted such an honor…”
He seemed ready to continue his speech, but I interrupted.
“But, Master Verius, why wasn’t I asked if I even wanted to be a Keeper?”
He looked at me, stunned, as if a stone statue had suddenly spoken.
“Don’t you think, child, that you’re being a bit presumptuous?” he asked gently. “Since when do we ask Keepers for their consent to undertake such a vital mission? Should the Four have come to you, bowed at your feet, and tearfully begged you to grace us by becoming one of the chosen?”
“I don’t know, it’s just so sudden…” I mumbled.
He gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“I understand. You’re simply overwhelmed by the surprise, so I’m not upset with you. I’ll give you the basic briefing now, and tomorrow you can head to the Capital. From what I’ve been told, accommodations and everything you’ll need have already been arranged for you.”
“And what about Vent?” I asked. “Does he have to come with me?”
“That’s none of my concern,” Master Blade replied. “If he wants to go, fine. If not, that’s his choice. You’re both adults, independent, and don’t need anyone’s advice.”
His last words carried a hint of mockery. Clearly, he was still displeased that I had agreed to marry Vent.
We didn’t discuss the matter further. He spent some time explaining my future duties and how I was to maintain contact with him and the Council of Five, but I only half-listened. Deep down, I was bitterly disappointed. My little dream of a quiet, cozy life by the sea fluttered away like a bird, giving one last wave of its wing before vanishing into a sky heavy with gloomy pre-winter clouds.
To move to the Capital, to live in a city that stirred unpleasant memories. To walk past the royal palace that had once been my home. To deal with this new emperor—Nazir, or whatever his name is—because Master Verius mentioned he’d already been informed of the arrival of a new Keeper and had graciously agreed to cooperate with me. Oh, how thrilled I am about that, words can’t express…
***
When I left my mentor’s office, Vent was waiting for me in the corridor. The animosity between him and Master Verius was mutual. It seemed the two could barely tolerate each other. So, my fiancé had accompanied me to this meeting and patiently waited outside, ready to stand up for me if needed. Sometimes his protectiveness irritated me, but not this time. I was glad he was there, and as I stepped out in such a dejected state, I could throw myself into his arms and lament:
“Vent, this is awful! What am I supposed to do?”
“What happened, Nightingale?” he asked. “Did your teacher chew you out for something again?”
“No, it’s worse! They’ve appointed me Keeper of the Land of Rain!”
For a moment, he froze, as if unable to believe what I was saying.
“But that’s fantastic,” he said after a beat, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’re climbing the ranks fast, love!”
“How can you not get it? We won’t be able to settle in Mirte now. I have to live in the Capital and do a bunch of boring, pointless work.”
“Oh, come on,” he waved it off. “What kind of workload are we talking about? I know exactly what Keepers do.”
“How do you know?”
“Because my father is one of them.”
That news genuinely shocked me. Of course, I knew Vent’s father was a renowned mage who lived at the court of their king, Eylar, and had many noble clients from across the world. But the fact that he was a Keeper? That was a complete surprise.
“I’m not supposed to talk about it,” Vent continued. “But since you’re now part of that peculiar club yourself, you’ll meet him soon enough anyway. Sure, your Master Blade probably filled your head with all sorts of nonsense about how important and responsible your mission will be… Oh, they’re always going on about that! But trust me, it’s not worth the fuss. A Keeper is basically a librarian guarding some ancient, useless books and other relics. They’ll hand you a key to some secret room, you’ll wear it proudly on a chain around your neck, and every six months, you’ll attend their oh-so-secret gatherings to exchange ‘invaluable’ but utterly pointless insights. It’s like being the curator of a museum no one visits. Your only duties are dusting off the exhibits and airing out the place…”
“Really?” I asked, somewhat deflated.
“Absolutely!” He pulled me into a hug and kissed my temple. “It’s the easiest job in the world, and they pay decently for it too. Plus, you get perks like being invited to royal receptions, where they’ll ask you to predict the fates of crowned heads and the like…”
“But I don’t know how to predict fates…”
“Big deal, how hard can it be? Just say, ‘Your Majesty, all your endeavors will meet with great success, your enemies will be vanquished, and your people will sing your praises!’—and any ruler will toss you a handful of gold. After all, you’re a Keeper, and everyone knows Keepers see all—past, present, and future.”
“So it’s just a myth?” I asked. “I thought Keepers were truly exceptional, the most powerful mages in the world…”
“Yes and no,” Vent shrugged. “Of course, you can’t become a Keeper without magical talent, but the rumors about their extraordinariness are wildly exaggerated. You’ll see when you meet my dad. It’ll all make sense then.”
“Vent,” I said, feeling my heart race, “will you come with me to the Capital?”
“Of course,” he smiled. “I really liked your city. I’m sure I won’t be out of work there. I may not be as powerful as you,” he added with a sly wink, “but I’ve got plenty of ways to make a living. So don’t worry, we’ll manage just fine.”
“Master Blade said housing has already been arranged for us,” I remembered.
“Now that’s good news! So stop frowning! Look, everything’s falling into place for us. We’re really lucky!”
I didn’t quite share his optimism, but I did feel a bit calmer. And so, I started packing. We had agreed that on our way to the Capital, we’d make a brief stop in Vent’s homeland, Lianor. He planned to inform his father of our marriage and our move to the Land of Rain.
“I bet Master Hawk won’t be too thrilled about that,” I said.
“Oh, that’s an understatement! I’m sure he’ll be furious. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Don’t worry about it.”
It turned out Vent also had another issue to resolve in Lianor—repaying King Eylar for the funds spent on his education. His Majesty had expected the young mage to serve him, and now those expectations would go unfulfilled.
“How do you think the king will react to this?” I asked.
“Trust me, Dana, he’ll just breathe a sigh of relief,” Vent replied nonchalantly. “I’ve been a thorn in his side for a long time, and he’ll be glad to be rid of me.”
***
And so, we found ourselves in the tiny kingdom of Lianor, nestled among picturesque green hills covered in groves and dotted with a necklace of lakes, both large and small. It was an incredibly scenic place, with a mild and warm climate—unusual for our world—fertile lands, and a peaceful, friendly people. At first glance (though so far, I’d only admired its landscapes from the carriage window), I found the kingdom utterly charming.
The inn where we stopped was remarkably comfortable and clean, with well-trained staff and amenities that, in the Land of Rain, you’d only find in the homes of the wealthiest. Now, we had to hurry to the royal palace, where His Majesty Eylar was to receive us in a formal audience. I didn’t quite understand the need for such ceremony. We weren’t foreign ambassadors or notable figures. Master Blade had instructed me to keep silent about being a Keeper until I reached the Capital, and any mention of my illusion abilities was also off-limits. So, to the people of Lianor, I was just a humble young healer, hardly someone to spark much interest. Did that mean all this pomp was for Vent’s sake?
Well, we’d soon arrive at the palace—and then everything would become clear…