*** Snowkeep Palace – Duke's Quarters, Midnight ***
The fire had long since gone out.
The room was dim, lit only by the moonlight that bled through the tall windows. The snow outside glowed faintly, giving the chamber a pale, ghostly calm. On the desk beside him, the original copy of the Old World Compendium sat open, half-read, half-forgotten, its pages trembling slightly in the cold draft.
Justinian leaned back in his chair, fingers pressing against his temple. The debate with the priests had drained him more than any campaign.
Not because of fear, but because of how familiar it all felt.
"Every empire," he muttered, "fears education more than rebellion."
He exhaled, eyes flicking toward the half-empty glass of wine on his table. For once, the palace was quiet. No scribes rushing through the corridors, no generals demanding reports. Just the hum of silence and the faint beating of his heart.
[The Book of War Responds]
[Army Swordsmanship Increased]
