Purpose

6.

Leonel was exhausted both physically and mentally. He longed for his research and his study room at the Academy, where he was far from his family and could recover from the frequent meetings with them. His knees had begun to tremble, his head was throbbing, and his vision was blurry. Stumbling, he sat down in the armchair not far from him and closed his eyes. Slowly, he undid the front bow of his corset and loosened the garment.

Air flowed into his lungs, and he enjoyed every single breath he could take without obstruction. Minute by minute, the pounding behind his temples lessened, and he sighed. Despite having barely enough strength to stand up again, he forced himself to do so. His heart raced with each step he took toward the water trough, which now contained only a small amount of the cooled liquid. With a soft cloth, he wiped the paste from his face and found his pale skin underneath. Fortunately, he had not suffered any burns.

The memory made him involuntarily flinch as a faint creak sounded behind him. But it was only the wood of the floor, which had warped over the years. Clenching his teeth, he peeled off his shirt, which had dried and stuck to him with blood. Even the most careful attempt to remove his shirt resulted in small shocks that forced him to his knees. His body had endured too much pain in one day and could no longer handle more.

Leonel knew it would be a long night with little sleep. The only thing that could distract his thoughts was the question of what Damian wanted from him. Why had he come?

The next morning, Leonel learned that a messenger from the front had arrived the previous day. The contents were not disclosed to him, but Damian was absent from breakfast, and the king's mood was tense. Although he would have liked to say goodbye to Damian, he was relieved by his early departure. This allowed him to quickly leave the capital and his family, who would not be departing for another week, under the pretense of continuing his research. A noticeable weight lifted from him as he pulled the door of the carriage shut behind him, and the vehicle began to move. He had avoided his family as much as possible, except at breakfast, and had always made sure to stay close to other people. The monotonous jolting over the uneven road and the slightly stuffy air of the damp seat fabric lulled him into the long-awaited sleep.

Leonel stood at the entrance of the Academy and let his gaze wander over the magnificent buildings. The sun was high in the sky, and the light played on the white marble facades that adorned the largest and oldest academy in the country. Here he was at home, finding peace and the opportunity to pursue his research, far from the conflicts raging outside in the world. Though the thought of his family, whom he consciously avoided, gnawed at him, here, in the sacred halls of knowledge, he felt safe.

He had returned a few days ago from the capital, where he had been conducting intensive studies for the past few months. The contrast between the hectic atmosphere of the capital and the tranquility of the Academy was overwhelming, and Leonel had longed to return here, where he could focus entirely on his work.

The Academy was a place of scholarship, perched on a hill overlooking the city. The library, one of the largest in the country, housed ancient manuscripts and modern works covering all possible topics, from philosophy and natural sciences to magic. Here, Leonel had everything he needed to advance his research.

But today was a special day, as he had a meeting with Leandra, the Academy's rector. Leandra was an impressive woman who, despite her advanced age of 73 years, exuded incredible energy. She was one of the few people with whom Leonel truly felt connected. Their friendship was unusual given the age difference, but they shared a common passion for knowledge and exploring new ideas.

Eight hours later, Leonel could finally get out and stretch. His back had begun to ache from being repeatedly slammed against the poorly padded wall of the carriage. He also resolved to bring the road improvements from the port city closer to the king's capital. The last rays of the day's sun glittered over the sea, just a few meters from the Academy's entrance. It was an incredibly relaxing sound. The driver handed him his luggage, and Leonel thanked him for his services. A brief nod was the only response he received from the older man before he climbed back up and turned around.