The carriage began to move. Zal leaned back slowly. There were no windows. Perhaps so no one could discover the exact location of the Press.

  Zal's mind was full of questions. Stress. He didn't know the road, didn't know the place, didn't know the one taking him to his destination.

  The only way was to ask the only one who had information. The driver himself.

  He asked quietly: "Uh... sir, may I ask your name?"

  The driver paused. "Hmm? What? My name?" His voice carried a hint of amusement. "My name... is Anubis. Anubis Osiris. Yeah, that's my name, kid."

  Zal knew his name now. But he still couldn't see his face. The same darkness. The same stress.

  He asked his next question: "Mr. Anubis... the place we're going to, what kind of place is it exactly? Is it in this same kingdom, Cadmus?"

  Anubis answered: "When you go there yourself, you'll understand what kind of place it is, young man. But well... it's in the same kingdom of Cadmus. The Great Sage, the prophet of Cadmus. The one who, if he hadn't come, Cadmus wouldn't be what it is today."

  He pulled the reins. The horses ran faster.

  Zal thought. It seemed Anubis wasn't allowed to give much information. So he had to speak in a way that would pull even small pieces of information out of him.

  "Mr. Anubis... where are you from? Why do you serve the Sage?"

  Anubis was silent for a few moments. Then he said quietly: "Where am I from? I come from the Valley of Nothingness. The same ancient Cadmus. That's the more famous name for it."

  He paused.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "I was among the first followers of the Great Sage. When he started helping... I believed. It wasn't easy, you know. In those hard times, to believe in someone... it was hard. But when I saw the land's crops grow green again after years... that makes a man happy. Little by little, faith came. But when he filled the springs with water... then I believed completely."

  His voice grew heavy. "It was also because... I was the last member of my family. I had no one to lean on."

  Zal said nothing. But Anubis seemed to sense it.

  "Heh. That was a long time ago. My sister and brother... my mother and father... all gone. I'm still sad for them. But life didn't end. It just began. When I started serving the Sage."

  "I was twenty-seven years old. When I reached the rank where he gave me long life... I was forty. It didn't take long. I served with all my heart. And now, as you see... I take guests to the White Library."

  Zal thought. He didn't know how much of this was true. But something caught his attention: someone who could extend another's lifespan... that was unexpected. But not so much that it terrified him.

  He asked: "How... how does he have the power to do that?"

  Anubis answered: "What do you expect from the prophet of the One God? The prophets of the One God... their power is almost equal to a primordial god. Or a primordial being. Only the Concepts are above them."

  Zal asked: "Concepts? Primordial gods? Primordial beings? What exactly are they?"

  Anubis smirked. His face wasn't visible, but the smile was in his voice.

  "You don't know? You don't know what they are? Their stories are told in every country. Strange that you don't know."

  He paused. Then explained quietly:

  "Primordial gods... it's in the name. The first gods. Before all other gods and demigods. More like their ancestors. Their power is limitless. But not far beyond. In many stories... there were humans who could bear their power."

  "Primordial beings... they're a little older. They're not gods. The first of every species. Their power in many places is even greater than primordial gods. But their mystical power is limited. Physical power, limitless. The opposite of primordial gods."

  "The last... the most destructive... are the Concepts. Each one is the concept of one thing. You can usually name them with one word. Life. Death. Chaos. Sorrow. Joy. Dream. Nightmare."

  His voice grew heavier.

  "These are head and shoulders above the rest. Their power can involve the whole world. But... the laws of the world have placed limits on them. So they can't throw the world into chaos. So they can't fight each other."

  The carriage stopped gently.

  "Well, young man. We've finally arrived."

  The door opened. Light shone from outside. Not white. Not bright. Something like an old wound glowing from within.

  "I hope you enjoyed the journey."

  Zal stepped out. The White Spire stood before him.