The City Meeting

Amir returned to the city with his allies and the rest of the villagers, exhausted but triumphant. They had defeated the orcs and saved the village, and now it was time to share their story with the rest of the city.

The group made their way to the city hall, where a meeting was already underway. Kaidon, Throne, and the other city leaders were seated at a long table, discussing the recent events. Amir and his companions took their seats, and Kaidon nodded to him to begin.

Amir told the story of their battle at the village, and the orc he had fought. He showed them the crystal he had found, and explained its powers. The room was silent, mesmerized by the tale.

When he finished, the city leaders nodded in agreement. "We should put the crystal in the royal treasure vault," Kaidon said. "It's the safest place for it."

Amir nodded, and then Kaidon asked him about his investigation. Amir pulled out the storage ring he had found on the orc, and Arin's eyes widened. "This is unusual," he said. "Orcs don't usually carry powerful storage rings like this."

Amir smiled. "That's not all. I found some clothes, food, and something very unusual inside."

He paused for dramatic effect. "A grade 3 wood skill book."

The room erupted into murmurs and gasps. A grade 3 wood skill book was incredibly rare and valuable, and it was unthinkable that an orc would possess such a thing.

Skill books are rare and valuable resources that contain the knowledge and secrets of various skills and trades. These books are graded on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being the most basic and 7 being the most advanced.

Each grade represents a significant increase in power, complexity, and rarity. The higher the grade, the more difficult it is to obtain and master the skills contained within.

- Grade 1: Basic skills and techniques, easily accessible to beginners.

- Grade 2: Intermediate skills, requiring some practice and dedication.

- Grade 3: Advanced skills, difficult to master, but valuable for professionals.

- Grade 4: Expert skills, requiring significant experience and expertise.

- Grade 5: Master skills, highly sought after, and rarely found.

- Grade 6: Legendary skills, incredibly rare, and often guarded by powerful individuals or organizations.

- Grade 7: Ancient skills, containing lost knowledge and secrets, and almost impossible to obtain.

Kaidon turned to Thorold, the old chief and now guild master, and asked, "Do you have any idea how the orc got hold of a Grade 3 wood skill book?"

Thorold stroked his beard thoughtfully. "To be honest, I'm just as puzzled as you are, Kaidon. The city's royal vault only contains skill books up to Grade 4. We've never had a Grade 5 or higher in our possession."

"That's strange," Amir said. "I would have thought the city would have more advanced skill books, given its size and influence."

Thorold nodded. "You're right, Amir. But the truth is, we've never had a need for higher-grade skill books. Our army is strong enough to protect the city, and our mages are skilled enough to handle any magical threats. We've never had to resort to using Grade 5 or higher skill books."

"Who is the main mage of the city?" Arin asked, his eyes narrowing. "Maybe they know something about the orc's skill book."

Thorold's expression turned serious. "Ah, you're referring to Lyriana. She's our main wind mage, and one of the most powerful mages in the city. She's the only one who can use Grade 4 and 5 skill books, and even she has to be careful when handling them."

"And do you think she might know how the orcs got their hands on the book?" Kaidon asked.

Thorold shook his head. "I doubt it, Kaidon. Lyriana is loyal to the city, and she would never betray us by giving away our secrets. Besides, even if she did know something, she would have told us by now."

The room fell silent, as the city leaders pondered the mystery of the orc's skill book. It was clear that they had stumbled upon something much bigger than they had initially thought.

Mira spoke up, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion. "I think we're forgetting one important detail. The Blackwood family might know something about this."

Thorold nodded gravely. "It's possible, Mira. They're a powerful family, with teaching mages and warriors among their ranks. And Xandros, in particular, has a history with some of the men in this room."

Just as they were discussing this, a servant burst into the room. "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but Xandros Blackwood is here to see you."

Kaidon's expression turned stern. "Allow him to enter."

Xandros stormed into the room, his face red with anger. "How dare you, Kaidon!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "You used my family's name to test the loyalty of the men I trained?"

Throne stepped forward, his eyes flashing with warning. "Lower your voice, Xandros. This is the king's court, not a tavern brawl."

Xandros sneered at Throne. "And who are you to tell me what to do, little cousin? You're a disgrace to the family name, and you always have been."

Kaidon's face turned cold with anger. "This is my kingdom, Xandros, and these are my men. You trained them, but I am their king. Insulting them is like insulting me. I warn you, leave now, before things escalate further."

Xandros's face twisted with rage, but he knew better than to cross Kaidon. With a final glare, he stormed out of the room, leaving the city leaders to wonder what secrets the Blackwood family might be hiding.

=====

As Xandros stormed out of the throne room, he suddenly halted in his tracks. His eyes fixed on a figure standing in the hallway, and a look of shock crossed his face. It was Eira, the young woman who had helped Amir in his fight at the village. She had been granted a higher rank and was now free to roam the castle, but Xandros's presence seemed to fill her with fear.

Xandros's expression transformed into a charming smile as he approached her. "Eira, my dear, it's been a long time," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I thought you were dead, gone from this world forever."

Eira stood frozen, her eyes wide with terror as Xandros drew closer. "It's time to answer some questions, my dear," he whispered, his evil smile growing wider. "You see, I've been searching for you everywhere, and now that I've found you, you're going to tell me everything I want to know."

Xandros's eyes gleamed with a sinister light, and Eira's fear seemed to grow with each passing moment. She tried to step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move as Xandros closed in on her.