Chapter 160: The Empty Archives
The Imperial Capital of Aurelia had not changed.
At least, that was what Kael thought as he rode through the outer district.
The enormous white walls still towered above the city.
Golden Imperial banners hung from the towers, moving gently in the morning wind.
Airships crossed the sky above them, their crystal engines humming as they traveled between districts.
Merchants filled the streets.
Nobles passed in elaborate carriages.
Imperial soldiers stood at every major intersection.
Aurelia was alive.
It was powerful.
It was wealthy.
And beneath all of that grandeur sat more than a thousand years of history.
Kael had come looking for some of it.
Darius rode beside him.
Ten members of the Black Dragon followed behind them, their armor marked with Kael’s black dragon banner.
Grom rode among them.
Several citizens stared when they noticed the goblin.
Some looked surprised.
Others looked uncomfortable.
Grom ignored them.
Kael noticed.
He said nothing.
There were more important things occupying his mind.
The First Emperor.
Aurelius Kael Asterion.
The man whose name had become the foundation of the Empire.
The man whose first name had become the name of the capital.
The man whose middle name had become Kael’s own name.
Kael wanted to know more about him.
Not because he wanted to uncover some ancient treasure.
Not because the system had ordered him to.
Because something about the First Emperor felt wrong.
Too much history was missing.
Too many records had disappeared.
And the ancient ruins had raised questions that Kael could not ignore.
Eventually, they reached the Imperial Library.
Unlike the Imperial Palace, the library was not surrounded by soldiers.
It didn’t need to be.
The building itself was enormous.
Its white stone walls rose nearly six stories.
Massive statues of scholars stood beside the entrance.
Above the doors was an inscription dedicated to the preservation of knowledge.
Kael stared at it.
Knowledge preserved for future generations.
He almost laughed.
If only that were true.
The group entered.
Inside, the smell of old paper and enchanted parchment filled the air.
Hundreds of scholars moved through the enormous halls.
Some carried stacks of books.
Others sat at long wooden tables, reading ancient documents.
Crystal lamps floated above the shelves, providing constant illumination.
Kael looked around.
This place contained centuries of Imperial knowledge.
Surely there had to be something.
He approached the librarian.
I need access to the records concerning the First Emperor.
The elderly librarian looked up.
The moment he heard the title, his expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Kael noticed.
Which records?
The founding of the Empire.
The First War.
Aurelius Kael Asterion.
The librarian hesitated.
Then he turned toward a younger assistant.
Bring me the First Dynasty records.
The assistant bowed and disappeared between the shelves.
Kael waited.
Darius stood behind him.
The Black Dragon remained outside.
Grom had not been permitted inside the main archive chamber because of Imperial library restrictions.
Kael didn’t like it.
But he had bigger concerns.
Several minutes passed.
The assistant returned carrying three books.
He placed them on the desk.
Kael opened the first.
The first pages described the founding of the Empire.
The First Emperor had united the human kingdoms after the First War.
He had established the Imperial capital.
He had created the first Imperial Council.
He had organized the first Imperial Legions.
He had established the Asterion succession.
Kael turned the page.
The next section was missing.
He frowned.
He opened the second book.
Again, the same thing.
The official history.
Then several missing sections.
He opened the third.
Same result.
Kael slowly closed the book.
Where are the complete records?
The librarian looked uncomfortable.
Those are the complete records available to the public.
Public?
Kael looked at him.
Yes, Your Highness.
Then where are the restricted records?
The librarian’s face became even more serious.
Those records are held within the Imperial Archives.
Who can access them?
Only authorized Imperial historians, members of the Imperial Council, and the Emperor.
Kael looked toward Darius.
Darius understood immediately.
The Emperor.
Kael returned his attention to the librarian.
I want to see them.
The librarian swallowed.
I cannot grant that request.
Kael didn’t argue.
Instead, he looked back at the books.
He turned several pages.
Nothing.
The First War was described.
The founding of Aurelia was described.
The First Emperor’s victories were described.
But everything beyond the official account was gone.
Kael noticed something else.
Some of the pages were not naturally damaged.
They had been removed.
Cleanly.
Deliberately.
Someone had taken them.
Darius stepped closer.
How old are those books?
The librarian answered.
The copies are approximately six hundred years old.
And the originals?
The librarian looked toward the restricted section.
Some were lost during the Great Archive Fire.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
Great Archive Fire?
The librarian nodded.
Nearly four centuries ago.
How much was destroyed?
The librarian hesitated.
A great deal.
How much?
Entire sections.
Kael looked at the shelves surrounding him.
How convenient.
The librarian didn’t respond.
Kael spent the next several hours searching.
He searched for the First Emperor.
He searched for the First War.
He searched for the original Imperial territories.
He searched for records concerning the ancient dragons.
He searched for the founding of the Imperial Palace.
He searched for anything that could explain what existed before Aurelia.
Again and again, he found the same thing.
Missing records.
Destroyed records.
Incomplete records.
Official summaries.
Nothing more.
At one point, Kael found a document describing the original capital.
Aurelia had begun as a fortress settlement.
The First Emperor had ordered its construction after the First War.
The original settlement had been far smaller than the city standing around Kael today.
Over centuries, it had expanded.
Walls were rebuilt.
Districts were added.
The Imperial Palace was expanded.
Trade routes were established.
The Imperial Legions grew.
Eventually, Aurelia became the heart of human civilization.
Kael read carefully.
The capital had been named after Aurelius.
That much was confirmed.
Aurelius Kael Asterion.
The founder.
The First Emperor.
The man whose name had survived longer than almost anyone else in history.
Kael touched the page.
Why did Father name me after him?
He quietly wondered.
It was a question he had never seriously considered.
His father had simply told him that Kael was a name worthy of an Imperial prince.
But now Kael wondered if there had been more behind it.
He closed the document.
Not yet.
He wasn’t going to start asking questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.
By late afternoon, Kael had learned almost nothing.
That bothered him more than discovering something terrible would have.
He had expected secrets.
He hadn’t expected emptiness.
Darius walked beside him as they left the library.
You found nothing.
Kael shook his head.
I found exactly what I expected.
Darius looked at him.
Nothing?
Kael looked back at the enormous library.
Someone made sure there was nothing.
Darius remained silent.
Kael continued walking.
The First Emperor united humanity.
He founded the Empire.
He built Aurelia.
He created the Imperial dynasty.
That’s the official story.
And you don’t believe it?
I believe it.
Darius looked surprised.
Kael continued.
I just don’t believe it’s the whole story.
They reached the courtyard.
The sun was beginning to descend behind the Imperial Palace.
Kael looked toward the massive structure.
The Emperor’s residence.
The center of the Empire.
His father’s home.
Before Kael could say anything else, a man dressed in dark Imperial clothing approached them.
He bowed.
Your Highness.
Kael stopped.
Who are you?
An Imperial intelligence officer.
Darius immediately became alert.
The officer kept his expression neutral.
His Majesty requests your presence.
Kael frowned.
Now?
Yes, Your Highness.
Kael looked toward Darius.
Darius gave a small nod.
Kael turned back to the officer.
Very well.
The officer stepped aside.
Kael began walking toward the palace.
He didn’t know what awaited him inside.
But he had a strong suspicion that the emperor already knew about his questions.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had reported his search.
And now Augustus Aurelius Asterion wanted to know exactly why his son had become interested in the First Emperor.
Kael’s expression remained calm.
He would answer carefully.
He would not mention the ruins.
He would not mention Azerion.
He would not mention the ancient energy.
And he certainly would not mention anything concerning the strange information he had discovered beneath Ironridge.
If the Emperor wanted answers...
Kael would give him only the answers he was willing to give.
The palace gates opened.
Kael stepped inside with Darius at his side.
For the first time since arriving in Aurelia, Kael felt as though he wasn’t the one searching for information.
He was the one being investigated.
And somewhere within the Imperial Palace, his father was waiting.