Realmshift: Triad Ascendancy.

The Omen.

[SILVER]

I could feel the heat building in my skull—an inevitable side effect of pushing King's Gambit too far just to process information faster. If I keep this up, I might really melt my brain. Still, it wasn't for nothing.

I started with the Arcanum Vault in Longdale. It's where I stumbled across something... unexpected.

In every textbook I reviewed on the history of Azraq, there was absolutely no mention of the Twilight Era. None. And just as strange, the Celestials weren't mentioned either. Not even a passing reference.

That leaves me with two theories.

Either the Celestials deliberately erased themselves—and the Twilight Era—from recorded history... or people only began writing history after that era, and collectively chose to forget it.

Between the two, I'm leaning toward the first. The absence feels intentional.

I'll have to ask Lady Vermouth about it the next time I see her. 

What surprised me more was discovering that every country actually has its own royal family. For Eldoria, it's the Caerwyns—a powerful bloodline that has ruled for generations, their name etched deep into the foundations of the nation.

But as I pieced the clues together, something clicked. These royal families didn't rise through conquest or internal power struggles—at least, not according to any historical record. There are no wars for the throne. No succession crises. Just... an unbroken line of rule.

That's when the theory hit me: the royal families were placed in power by the Celestials themselves—each one chosen by the Celestial tied to that country. It explains the seamless rise to power, the absence of rebellion, and the reverence surrounding them. It wasn't political maneuvering. It was divine appointment.

Out of everything I've researched so far, this part feels almost too easy. All I really need to do is memorize key events and understand the major shifts in leadership and policy. Thanks to Savant's Insight and King's Gambit, that's practically effortless.

After spending the entire day buried in the Arcanum Vault, I finally decided to drag myself out. I turned invisible and flew back to the hotel, exhaustion clinging to me like a heavy cloak. As soon as I stepped inside, the dizziness started to hit. I really needed sleep.

Unfortunately, my body had other plans.

I bumped straight into someone just inside the lobby. Auburn hair. Sharp amber eyes that practically glowed under the lamplight. Sabine—that was her name.

"I apologize, Miss," I said quickly, sighing as a wave of embarrassment washed over me.

"It's oka—wait, what the heck is wrong with your face? You look like you've been mining coal all day."

I blinked. That bad?

I grabbed a small mirror from the nearby counter and stared at my reflection.

Yikes.

My hair was an unholy mess—probably from not showering or brushing it this morning. My eyes were bloodshot, and there were heavy, dark circles under them. I looked like a sleep-deprived ghost.

"Wow... I do look terrible. I guess I should get to bed before someone calls a priest," I said with a tired laugh.

Sabine tilted her head and gave me a look—that look. The kind you get from a protective older sister or a mom right before they start lecturing you.