CHAPTER 1: EXCHANGE

The sun shone brightly over the bustling streets of the capital of Tasvill, casting a warm glow upon the lively scene below. People moved about, their faces alight with smiles and laughter, enjoying the fine weather.

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere, a building of majestic proportions stood tall. Simple in its architecture, yet grand in its aura, this was the Haven of Seekers—a sanctuary for scholars and seekers of knowledge, where the pursuit of truth reigned supreme.

The Haven of Seekers was one of the ten great holds of Tasvill. The people of Tasvill and her allies called them the bastions of Tasvill, while its enemies and neutrals referred to them as Tasvill's strongholds.

The streets of the capital buzzed with excitement as citizens moved about, their faces alight with anticipation. Shopkeepers hurried to open their stalls, while children darted through the crowds, their laughter echoing through the streets.

Amidst the commotion, two figures made their way through the streets, their conversation carried on the wind.

"We need to hurry, Jace," one of them said, his voice tinged with urgency. "We can't afford to miss the exchange at the Haven. I want to see those peeps from the library. Only on special occasions like this do we commoners get to see the exalted ones from the Bastions."

"And you know I don't want to miss this. Heck, this special occasion occurs just once every fifty years. By the next time it comes around, I'll be a wrinkly old man."

Jace, the taller of the two, laughed at his friend's words while nodding in agreement, quickening his pace to keep up. "I know, I know," he said, his breath coming in short gasps. "But Brian, why does it matter if we're early? It's not like we'll miss anything."

His companion shot him a reproachful look. "You know how crowded it is during the exchange. If we're not there early, we'll be stuck at the back, and we won't be able to see anything."

Jace sighed, resigning himself to his friend's insistence. "Fine, fine," he muttered, picking up his pace even further.

As they rounded the corner, the grand view of the majestic but simple architecture of the Haven of Seekers came into view. The building, standing imposingly, was a grand sight that beckoned to all. Its domelike structure soared high into the sky, with a massive stone wall surrounding it in a perfectly rounded manner, and four tall watchtowers situated at each of its entrances.

There was a lot of activity at each of the gates as people jostled in an attempt to get beyond the great wall into the Haven and bask in its promises of grandeur. The guards stationed at each gate were having a hard time maintaining order, but their efforts were commendable.

At the gate where Jace and Brian ended up, a banner hung above the entrance, proclaiming the start of the exchange between the Haven of Seekers and the Library of Knowledge. After going through the due process, with a bit of struggle, Jace and Brian were finally within the Haven's walls. The sight before them sent them into a wave of awe.

The gigantic domed structure that always seemed so close, yet so far, now stood before them in all its glory and majesty. Looking around, they were met with the sight of other people with equally shocked expressions. It wasn't surprising, as the Haven of Seekers was not a place that commoners would normally have access to.

Beyond the walls of the hold, it seemed like an entirely different world. Amidst its expanse, a beautiful garden unfolded, its vibrant colours and lush greenery a sight that was both beautiful and calming. With a waterfall situated at the centre of the garden, the overall view was a sight to behold. All around them, smaller buildings were arranged in a manner reminiscent of a campus layout.

"Here we are," Brian said, a note of triumph in his voice. "Let's make sure we get a good spot for the exchange."

"And maybe get ourselves some good babes while we're at it," Jace said, flashing a grin at his friend.

Brian laughed. "You read my mind, friend."

Inside the Haven, the usually quiet halls buzzed with excitement as students and scholars gathered for the special event. It was a day that only came once every fifty years, the exchange between the occupants of the Haven of Seekers and those of the Library of Knowledge.

Just like the Haven of Seekers, the Library of Knowledge was another of Tasvill's ten bastions. Tales of its grand architecture and vast wealth of knowledge were a testament to its popularity and importance within the kingdom.

As Jace and Brian stepped through the threshold of the Haven of Seekers, a hushed reverence fell over them. The grandeur of the architecture, with its soaring arches and intricately carved columns, seemed to dwarf them in comparison. Their eyes widened in awe as they took in the sight of towering shelves lined with rows upon rows of ancient tomes and scrolls.

The air was alive with the hum of scholarly activity as students and sages alike bent over tables strewn with parchment and quills, engrossed in their studies.

For Jace and Brian, the sight was nothing short of breathtaking. They exchanged awed glances, their expressions reflecting a mixture of wonder and delight.

"Say," Jace broke their silent reverie, "who do you think will win this exchange?"

"The library," Brian said, his voice filled with reverence and longing.

"Why do you say so?" Jace asked.

"Not too big a reason," Brian responded. "I've always liked reading, and the library holds the largest collection of books in the continent, possibly the whole world. One day, I want to be within its walls as one of its students." Brian's face reflected a mix of reverie and longing.

Jace nodded, his gaze sweeping over the bustling interior of the Haven. "Well, I want the Seekers to win. My reason isn't anything like yours, though." Jace smiled. "I'm just saying so because the Seekers hold the home advantage in this exchange since they are the hosts. They even won the last one away at the library, so if you look at it with that logic, you could say since the Seekers won on the librarians' ground, they'd be more comfortable winning on theirs. And besides, the Seekers are also in our city."

Brian nodded in agreement. "Well, I guess that makes sense. Wanna bet on it, though?" He flashed a smile at his friend and extended his hand.

Jace grinned and shook Brian's hand. "You know I want to."

Jace looked around again. "Still, it's incredible, you know? Just like the Haven, the job of the library is to relate to knowledge, Just that in their case, they are more like the keepers of knowledge, while the Seekers actively move about to learn. No wonder they hold this exchange, it's like a battle of wits between two titans of learning."

Brian's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Exactly. And today, we get to witness it firsthand."

As they made their way inside, the air was filled with the sound of hushed voices and rustling pages. Scholars and students gathered in groups, discussing theories and exchanging ideas, while priests from the Temple of Divinity looked on, their expressions solemn and reverent.

Jace and Brian spotted the priests of the Temple of Divinity. At the sight of the priests, their minds couldn't help but wander to the magnificence of another of Tasvill's bastions, the Temple of Divinity. Its simple splendour, with walls and pillars adorned with carvings depicting scenes of prophecy and enlightenment, was a marvel. Though they had never set foot inside its hallowed halls, they couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the power that emanated from within, just at the sight of the priests.

The Temple of Divinity stood as a symbol of faith and devotion in Tasvill, its origins going way back to the time of Tasvill's inception. Dedicated to the worship of the god of visions and truths, it was the sole deity allowed to be revered in Tasvill, its teachings guiding the lives of its citizens for generations.

For Jace and Brian, the temple was more than just a place of worship—it was a cornerstone of their society, a testament to the power of the divine.

Jace and Brian then went up to the priests as per custom. As they approached the group of priests overseeing the exchange, their eyes were drawn to the figure at the forefront.

The head priest, a very old man with wrinkly skin and pure white hair that had maintained its integrity despite his age, commanded respect. He was garbed in an elaborate robe of deepest indigo, adorned with shimmering jewels that caught the light with every movement. His face, weathered with age, bore the lines of a life well-lived, and his eyes, though tired, sparkled with wisdom and kindness.

He flashed a warm smile at the two young boys, a smile as kind as that of a father to his child.

The sight of the old man garbed in such an elaborate way stunned both Jace and Brian a bit, but they quickly composed themselves and bowed in greeting to the chief priest and all the priests present.

The chief priest gave a slight nod in acknowledgement of their gesture. He then raised his right hand and held it up. As he raised his hand in blessing, the symbols adorning his fingers glinted in the candlelight.

Then he spoke. His voice, though frail, carried the weight of centuries of devotion. "May the visions guide our paths."

Both Jace and Brian echoed at the same time with their hands clasped together close to their chests, their eyes shut. "And the truth sets our spirits free."

Bless you, young ones," the priest said with a warm tone. "Go and enjoy the exchange, and make sure to learn something."

"Yes, your eminence," both boys said simultaneously with a bow.

With that, they progressed further into the halls of the Haven until they reached a large opening just beyond a gate. Upon seeing it, they were once again engulfed with awe at the sight before them, this time for a different reason than the architecture and the bastion's dwellers.

A large arena graced their view, filled with more people than they had seen so far that day.

"Damn, you were right," Jace said. "Had we come later, this arena would have been full, and we wouldn't have found anywhere to sit at all."

"I told you so. Now let's secure our seats fast," Brian said with a smug grin.

With that, both boys went around until they finally found where to sit. After settling down in the arena, they looked straight ahead of them.

At the centre of it all stood the grand stage where the exchange would take place, its platform adorned with banners bearing the symbols of the Haven of Seekers and the Library of Knowledge.

It was here that the fate of both bastions would be decided, as its students competed in a series of tests and competitions to prove their worth and claim the coveted title of victor.

For Jace and Brian, it was a chance to witness history in the making. Two of Tasvill's greatest bastions clashed in a battle of minds and wills.

As they took their seats among the crowd, they couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the events that were about to unfold.