And finding nothing.Old man Kael's eyes widened. Just slightly, just for a fraction of a second, but enough that someone watching closely would notice the flash of surprise and confusion that crossed his weathered face. His expression froze, his hand hovering in the empty space where the object should have been, and Jabber could practically see the gears turning in his head as he tried to process what he was seeing.Or rather, what he wasn't seeing.Jabber's own eyes widened in mirror response, and his heart suddenly kicked into overdrive. The steady, nervous rhythm that had been pounding in his chest transformed into something faster, more panicked, more desperate. His pulse hammered in his ears, loud enough that he was sure everyone in the room could hear it, loud enough to drown out every other sound. The talisman in his pocket felt like it had suddenly increased in temperature, like it was burning through the fabric of his pants, branding itself into his leg, announcing its pres

“The Sealing Flame clan could trap it, lock it away in an object or a location where it could do no harm. If a rival clan developed a technique that was too destructive, that threatened the balance of power? The Sealing Flame clan could seal that technique, making it unusable."The cover finally opened, releasing the smell of old paper and forgotten knowledge into the air. The scent was musty, slightly sweet, with undertones of something else,chemicals, perhaps, used long ago to preserve the pages. It filled Jabber's nose and made him want to sneeze."They were incredibly valuable as allies." Kael continued, beginning to carefully turn pages, each one crackling slightly as it moved after so many years of being pressed together. "Nations would pay enormous sums to secure their services. Other clans would form alliances specifically to ensure the Sealing Flame wouldn't be used against them."He looked up from the book, his eyes finding Asta's face and then Jabber's. "But they were al

He tapped ash from his cigarette into the small ceramic dish on his desk, watching it fall before continuing. "I received a response yesterday. He acknowledged receipt of my message, confirmed that he knew about dragon sealings and could potentially answer questions about them.""But?" Asta prompted, sensing that there was more to this story, that the answer wasn't as straightforward as he wanted it to be."But he's kind of busy right now." Kael said, and his tone made it clear that 'kind of busy' was a massive understatement. "And by 'kind of busy,' I mean he's performing one of the most important functions in the entire nation and absolutely cannot be disturbed without risking catastrophic consequences for everyone living within our borders."Jabber, who'd been quiet during this exchange, finally spoke up. His voice carried curiosity mixed with something else,concern, maybe or suspicion. "What is he busy with? What could possibly be more important than helping us understand wh

"And to be fair, the Empress is powerful. Incredibly powerful. One of the strongest flame wielders alive today. But if she tried to use her power for multiple major tasks,maintaining a barrier of that size, governing the nation, dealing with threats both internal and external, managing the various clans and their political maneuverings,she'd be worn out in a matter of months."He tapped ash into the dish. "Eventually, she'd age rapidly from the strain. Even the most powerful flame wielder has limits. The human body can only channel so much power before it starts to break down, before the flame starts consuming the wielder instead of being controlled by them."His expression became more serious. "The Empress is strong, don't misunderstand me. Strong enough to face down entire armies if necessary, strong enough to obliterate cities if she chose to use her power that way.”“But her power is better used for other things,leadership, making the kinds of decisions that require someone wit

Jabber's hands went into his pockets as they walked, his right hand immediately finding the talisman and wrapping around it. The metal was still cool against his palm, and he could feel those strange symbols engraved into its surface pressing against his skin.He needed to examine this thing properly. Needed to figure out what it was, what it did, why the dragon had told him to find it. But not here, not in the open hallways where anyone might see.Back in the dorm. In private. Where he could look at it without risking questions he didn't have answers for.Asta walked beside him, quiet for the moment, probably still processing everything they'd just learned. About the Sealing Flame, about Aldric and the barrier, about the complexity of the world they lived in that they'd never really understood before.They made their way through the facility corridors, past other trainees heading to training sessions or meals, past instructors moving between classrooms, past the normal daily life of