Hey! I'm Silver! Your guide to the world of Exnova. I have been crafting this world for a few years now on and off and have finally put my skills to use. I haven't written anything like this before so this will be a bit of a stress test but I hope you all have a good time! Safe Travels!

The throne room was immaculate.

The cloth that ran round the room's ceiling and stone columns in a beautiful arrangement of Brenfort's colors, Gold, Teal, and silver. Tapestries and fixtures flowed along the edges of the massive room All centered around an intricately woven carpet leading to a raised segment of the floor that is edged with stairs. That platform held a legendary and pristine throne, it's armrests embedded with jewels aplenty and a backrest crowned with a golden lion's head.

Guards lined the walls as well as just outside the columns of marble that stood a good few feet away, and The King.... King Glenen Vil Brenfort sat, with a stern look, upon the throne.

After taking in my surroundings I looked out of the corners of my eyes, at the rest of the common-folk around me, all curious at why the entire city surrounding the Castle was called to the throne room.

King Glenen had sent summons this very morning for all who could make it to arrive in the evening, and for those with prior arrangements to appear there throughout the week.

Nobody knew what the summons were for, simply that we had to be there. And so we were.

The chatter of those walking from outside died to nothing in the King of Lions' presence. Not human, Kin, or Ish said a word, and as the movement of the massive crowd died down, the king made preparations to speak.

As he stood from his throne, even from the middle of the crowd his presence was a sight to behold. His 7 foot height, dark brown mane, and warrior stature left many to fear him, some in the front of the rabble even cowering a step back at his awesome appearance.

Stories we'd all heard of the King's endeavors didn't help quell anxieties. Not everyone believed the lot of it, but it was once said he'd fought and defeated several platoons of a neighboring country, single-handedly, and only got the scar that crosses his nose as a result. Some say he had managed to talk the king of dragons out of a wealth of coin, near his personal horde entire.

Stories of his tactical prowess when helping the Sea Kingdom of Altea, or how he competed with even the top Nevian scholars' speeds in math. Everyone had heard a story or too, everyone had something to say about The King of Lions, but nobody seemed to have any idea on what he wanted this day, just that he was a daring man willing to do much to save the kingdom if need be.

So when he finally spoke, voice rough and booming the silence in the room after was more than still, or deafening... it was complete.

"I will be personally examining the quality of our fair city."

...and as he looked around the crowd after this single statement. I could've sworn, for just a moment, through the mass in front of me and the crowed behind, his eyes met mine and lingered before he continued his declaration.

"It has been some time since I personally have sought help of any kind. Those who work in the castle as I've late have been hand picked by my retinue in the past for their ability to perform whatever task they're assigned. The most excellent bakers, the strongest of knights, the most musical of maestros in our fair country can be found in these walls. I seek to find apprentices for them, befitting my observant eye and those of my closest compatriots"

King Glenen pauses for a moments, his hesitation on what to say next shows on his face for just a moment, before his sternness returns.

"...I will be observing each house and business personally for the next two weeks. Interviewing those in our city  After ruling for these 15 years I would like to properly see the efforts of our people and the culture they've nurtured for themselves. Those who act incredibly or exceptionally and some otherwise will be questioned. Those who perform well will be committed to memory. That is all"

And with that he took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh to relax himself, moments before putting a slightly less stern look back on his face.

"You are all dismissed!" called the captain of the guard, her voice ringing clear through the quiet room. The stunned citizens reacted only a second after-with applause before the rush to leave began.

Two weeks later...

"Now you know damn well you've nothing to worry over... right?" my mother scolded as she wrote a simple list of our new stock. my anticipation of the King's visit clear by my pacing around the store."

"King Glenen is coming here... To OUR store and you expect me to NOT worry!?" I exasperated, the thoughts in my head clear on my face at all the potential things that could come of this bad or otherwise.

"We know he's a kind king child. There is nothin' worth fearing that we wouldn't worry over normally. We ain't done nothing worth a bad look from him so just spend the day the way we would otherwise and we'll be right as rain!" my father chimed in his normal upbeat tone as he carried goods to the back.

I groaned at his lack of worry about this situation. I'd really hoped he'd have my back on this one.

"If'n he comes by you can't get your act together I'll have your Ma' run the store for the night and get yer' pay with it, you can stay in your room until he comes by to speak with you personally."

"Alright! Alright! I'll calm down. I'll work the store tonight like I said, alright dad?"

"Thas' my boy! No pressure!" He called with a victorious tone as he arranged our stock in the back.

I push my anxieties aside for now with a sigh and continue my work. Running the largest General store in town gives me best opportunity get what I want too someday. If the king is impressed by our store maybe... I push that thought aside and continue with my usual routine. There's nothing wrong with taking a look at some of the stock to further my goals myself.

While there are a handful of Bookstores in City Brenfort, running a general trade store with a few old books in stock has its perks. It's only thanks to that I'm even half as well read as a I am. Not all of the content that flows through our shop is current by any means, but it always helps pass the time and keep my head active, especially when I can't always afford to buy a new book every few months.

Grimoires, History primers, Novels of any genre, treatises you name it. I took some interest in reading everything. I hoped one day, either the shop would make it big, or I'd find some other way to make it to a vast library and spend all the time I'd ever want there.

I set my notebook beside me and set up a light so I could jot down all I thought was interesting every time I read. As time passed I'd hardly noticed door opening and closing, and the figure standing before my desk for minutes on end.

As I closed my notebook to take a break and rest my eyes on our wares, I looked up to see a gigantic figure dressed in beautiful regalia and a most majestic Lion's mane.

An entire week after my announcement I had my closest guard make preparations for my entrance to the city.

 All my life I've been two things; Royalty first, and a warrior second. I do not know the struggles, wants, and desires of the everyman more intimately than what my council tells me of. Even then it's taken with a grain of salt. I trust them, but know them well enough to say they'll tweak what they know a little bit in an attempt to line themselves with a little more coin.

A personal outing is long overdue.

When considering the course by which we'd go see all the shops and families it was decided this would be a month long endeavor, with us returning to the castle Friday evenings and leaving again Monday mornings.
Captain Callia took the liberty of plotting our evenings to end at well known Inns she thought worthy of my presence.

It was on one such Friday night, the last of them, that I stumbled upon a store that must have been overlooked in our plans. A general goods store named To and Fro Trades. I gave my small company a warning of where I was entering, with Callia right behind me and gave a light knock before I entered the store, having to duck slightly to fit through the frame.

I took a look around the store. Similar kinds of goods nearly organized with some system I couldn't perfectly decipher but understood well enough. From Pots and Pans on one end to Glass and crystal trinkets in their own corner, the store seemed to have a balanced of stock traded in by people was well as its own consistent stock it ordered or otherwise.

My gaze finally turned to the light sounds of scribbling and turning paper I'd heard upon coming in. Behind the door was a desk with a figure jotting something down from one book to another. His immediate area Illuminated by a single glowing orb in a Jar ahead of him.

I stepped around the entrance and the door and walk the little ways to the front of the desk and watched with curiosity. He hadn't even noticed my entrance. This man was completely enveloped in his work.

I looked him him up and down as I waited. The Sable skin of his fingers splotched with spots of black ink. His eyes mismatched but nonetheless trained on the tome he was studying. The jarred light, clearly some kind of cantrip, had reflected off of his white hair beautifully. It was as though the shadows and light that danced between his locks had made his hair a sterling silver as the evenings light drew weak.

I felt a pang in my chest staring this man and for a moment my face went warm. I took a quick moment to regain my composure from the odd feeling. I thought to my seer. I knew the other reasons as to why I was in town but this... Here? Him?

Eventually the man at the desk stopped his study and closed his books. Then he looked up and his face was immediately panic stricken.

He sat up quickly from his desk with a high pitched "Your Highne-AGH" as he hit his head against the wall. He scooted off to the side, and out of the desk before dropping to kneel, his head down.

"Welcome Your Highness, it's an honor to have you here in our shop." he said, the pain still apparently in his tone.

"Please stand up, sir, there's no need for formalities tonight." I respond in a soft tone and a chuckle

He looks up before standing and his eyes meet mine. One a soft purple and One a clear blue. My gaze lingers a little bit before I compose myself once more.

The man looks at me with awe clear on his face for a moment and I try and pull him from his thoughts.

"Now, tell me what is your name." I speak with a smile.

The man takes a second to respond, "Name? OH! My name!" He fixes his attire, and gives a curt bow.

"My name is Killigan Voa Hale, Son of Baxter Vol Tont and Kallen Vana Frolia" he says with a smile as he looks up from his bow.

I think to myself as I nod at his introduction. I ponder his family names for a moment

"I see... You're simply managing the shop for your parents for now then?" I asked, now continuing with the main reason I was in town.

In the back of my mind as we spoke I thought of the cantrip in the jar. When I learned this man hadn't been formally educated I was fully prepared to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

I lay on my bed that night, waving my hand absentmindedly as I command an orb of light to zip and zoom it's size and shape clear in my mind. This simple cantrip, though it had taken months to do had me thinking about my interview with the king and what tonight means for my future.

 After I had fetched him a fitting chair the king kept his warm smile the entire time. First asking about my age, and life this far, what I understood about my families work, the store and what I thought of it all. He laughed a hearty laugh when I told him about the origin of the store name.

He was was intrigued to find that despite my mother owning the store legally, my dad was primarily in charge at my mother's request and I was the one that made a lot of organization and management decisions these days. He commented on how it was remarkable that I had been so much a help since 14. I  simply replied it was just putting what I'd learned to use.

At one point or another he noticed my anxiety. He kept me at ease the entire time, he radiated this aura of calm around him with his mannerisms. Many Beast Kin and Kinnish were very passionate even in normal conversation, but he wasn't loud or intrusive. He was... Regal, it was as though the word was made for him.

Eventually it became less of an interview about my life as a citizen, and more of a personal conversation. He asked me about the light I'd set in my Jar and I'd apologized immediately thinking I'd offended him with a poor display. He eventually explained that it takes a lot of focus and creativity to do magic of any kind. Something I'd read about but didn't understand the seriousness of.

He asks about

"You're self-taught to a decent level in a few fields without ever attending a proper school, assisting heavily in the management and finances of your predecessors business,  and beyond that you're a fledgling mage." The king said with a serious tone. "What drives this in you? I ask not as a king but as someone curious I'm... Quite simply astonished."

My heart rate skyrocketed! I was getting praised by the king for Exes sake!

I started simply and slowly. "There is so much to learn in the world. I was told when I was younger that I could learn anything I wanted. The first time I asked her to teach me something new, my mom brought me a list she'd written for the store one day, Alphabetized. She thought it was time I learned. According to her I picked up on the words pretty quick. She said that when she smiled with pride it was like my world lit up." King Glenen chuckled at that. His eyes weary from the long night, but nonetheless captivated by my story.

With a little embarrassment plain on my face I continue my story. "She taught me to read more words and eventually to read on my own. Lists turned to pages, then to books. I'd fallen in love with knowledge. Now I have this silly dream, about living in a massive library."
I take a pause.

Pondering over my own dream for a moment. I add, "...Even if I do get to some grand library... I think I'll just keep reading 'till I find a new goal that's more fitting." I finished. More embarrassment at my business voice turned to my city drawl as I got more comfortable.

King Glenen stood from his chair and approached me. His jubilant appearance in the moment contrasted greatly by the of power in his stride and his towering figure. He held out a clawed hand for a handshake.

I froze. I looked first to the hand, and then back up at The King. He looked content with our conversation and quite proud of my answer. His smile put me at ease.

I shake his hand, firmly. My anxiety finally pushed away as I understand the respect he's trying to show.

We bow to one another before he leaves the house, before asking me as to my parents whereabouts. I explain how I live in the back of the shop alone, and my parents live in the small house next door. He gives me a small apologetic look before he turns away and thanks me for my time.

I spend the moments afterwards first flushing profusely. I clean up the shop and and eventually close up.

Hours pass and I'm reading just before bed when I hear the store door unlock with my mother calling my name. When she makes her way in and I meet her she's both smiling and crying and gives me an excited hug.

"Oh... My baby boy I'm so proud!" She exclaims her voice Shaky.

I have a confused look as I hug her back.

 "Umm... Thank you? What for exactly?"

My mom holds me at arms length and gives a soft smile.

"The King... He wants you to become an apprentice to the Mage knight, Zeke Fan Tyson. He wants to personally greet you at the castle gates next Friday."

My eyes go wide.

Eventually I ready for bed, and lie in thought for hours on end.