Chapter 16: Shadows on the Map

Lekan slowly lifted his head from the desk, eyes still a little heavy. But the ache in his chest from Rowan's departure had dulled just enough for him to refocus.

I need to study.

He stood, pushing the chair back gently. The sound of wood scraping across the stone floor echoed faintly through the massive library. Towering shelves lined the walls, each shelf meticulously labeled and organized by subject and region.

Despite its size, the library's order made it easy to navigate. Lekan wandered through rows of books, fingers grazing spines, eyes scanning faded lettering. After a few minutes, he selected three books:

One was a thick, leather-bound volume titled "Geography and Chronicles of the Kingdom of Valoria."

The second had a drawing of a sun rising over obsidian towers—"The Musana Empire: Borders, Bloodlines, and Battles."

The third, heavier than the rest, was "Elyrasul: A Continental History," complete with fold-out maps tucked between its pages.

He returned to the reading table and opened the books, spreading them out in front of him. For the next hour and thirty minutes, he read quietly, eyes scanning over places, terrain, and borders. He folded and unfolded the continent map twice, comparing it to the detailed regional ones inside the Musana volume.

His mind absorbed facts and context quickly—school, perhaps, from his many years spent in community college. The more he learned about Elyrasul, the more he realized how vast and fractured the continent truly was.

Footsteps echoed softly behind him.

Lekan turned as Prince Leo entered the library, his cloak trailing slightly behind him, eyes already locked on Lekan's table.

"Learnt anything interesting about the world you've found yourself in?" the prince asked, voice casual but probing.

Lekan sat up straighter and nodded. "Yes. A few things."

He gestured to the open map. "The continent of Elyrasul is split between six major countries."

Leo raised an eyebrow and folded his arms, waiting.

Lekan pointed to the northern section of the map. "The Musana Empire is the largest, stretching from the north west to the eastern coast. Then there's the Kingdom of Chindu, southwest of Musana. They're known for being… hostile to beastmen."

Leo nodded slightly but said nothing.

"South of Musana is the Kingdom of Darken—home of the dwarves. Mountains, meadows, lots of ironwork, and mining traditions. Chindu and Darken both border Eleria, a landlocked forested country in the heart of the continent. That's where the elves live in the thick Elerian forests."

He shifted the map slightly. "Then to the west, Chindu also borders your kingdom—Valoria. You've got clean beaches along the western coast, mountains to the east, and fertile farmland in the center."

"And we border Eleria as well," Leo said, following his hand.

"Yes," Lekan confirmed, "along with Gravhurn to the south. That's where the southern beast tribes live. It's said to be filled with dangerous magical dungeons and wildlands."

Leo's gaze flicked to the map, his face unreadable.

"But," Lekan added, frowning now, "there's something I don't understand."

He turned the pages of the Musana Empire book and pointed to a section of its map. "Here… there are dark spots on the land. Small, like burns on the page. But then…"

He pulled the continental map from the third book, carefully folding it open across the table. "Here, the same spots are much larger. Like shadows spreading."

He looked up at Leo. "What are they?"

For a moment, the prince didn't answer.

Then, quietly, he said, "Those are the regions the demons have claimed."

Lekan nodded slowly, his eyes locked on the spreading shadows across the map.

"The map of the Musana Empire is outdated," Leo continued, his voice steady. "It's from eight years ago, back when the empire still held those territories. The map of Elyrasul is recent. And much more honest."

Lekan stared at the darkened regions again, tracing one with a finger. He knew what those spots meant; he had heard the stories before. Back in the dungeon cell in Musana's capital, where he'd been thrown in after his summoning, he had overheard the guards whispering about the kingdom's falling apart, People starving. And about losing more land to the demons that month than in the last two years..

He had been brought to this world to fight those same demons.

Lekan already knew why they hadn't reclaimed the land.

Because they didn't have a strong enough team yet.

Because he was supposed to be on that team.

But instead of a blade or fire, he'd been granted the title of Healer—a gift they deemed useless. No glory. No offense. No power.

So they sold him.

Traded him for coin to buy someone stronger, someone more "worthy" of saving the world.

Prince Leo was quiet for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lekan's expression. Then, as if sensing the weight in the room growing too heavy, he shifted the subject.

"There's still time before the demons become a massive problem," he said, voice more casual now. "For now, just focus on learning the ways of this world. Understanding it. Getting stronger."

Lekan blinked, pulled slightly out of his thoughts.

Leo let out a breath and rolled his shoulders. "I'm tired of doing paperwork today anyway."

He glanced down at the scattered maps, then looked back up with a faint smirk. "How about we train for a bit? You up for that?"

Lekan straightened. "I thought you said you'd teach me in a few days."

Leo tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. "So… you don't want to learn now?"

"What? No, no, no—that's not what I meant!" Lekan stammered, standing quickly.

A grin tugged at the corner of the prince's mouth. "Good. Then let's go."

Without waiting for a reply, Leo turned on his heel and started toward the library doors. Lekan hesitated only a second before hurrying to follow, the weight of the maps still fresh in his mind but now replaced by something sharper.

Purpose.

Maybe this world hadn't expected much from him.

But it was going to get more than it bargained for.