**CHAPTER 6: "THE CITY OF SCHOLARS"**
*Fragmentborn - Volume 2*
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The bells rang as the ship pulled into harbor.
Not alarm bells—something softer, musical. The sound drifted across the water, mingling with the cries of gulls and the rhythmic slap of waves against the hull.
Kael stood at the railing, watching Lumeria rise from the sea like a prayer carved in stone.
White marble. Everywhere.
The city gleamed in the afternoon sun, its buildings stacked in terraced rows up the hillside. Towers with golden domes caught the light. Walls and pillars were carved with patterns so intricate they seemed to move. Even from the harbor, Kael could see plazas, fountains, archways—all that impossible white stone reflecting brilliance.
"Gods," he breathed.
"First time seeing Lumeria?" Helena called from the wheel. The merchant captain had barely spoken to them during the two-week voyage—good coin bought good silence.
"It's..." Kael struggled for words. "It's like someone built a city out of light."
"Wait until you see it up close." Helena guided the ship toward an open dock with practiced ease. "Aldengard builds for war. Lumeria builds for beauty. Though beauty has teeth too, if you're not careful."
Beside him, Liora was silent. She'd been like this for days—staring at the approaching coastline with an expression Kael couldn't name. Something between dread and determination.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
Her eyes didn't leave the city. "Fine."
"You've been staring at it for three days."
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"How much I hate ships." But her tone was distracted, distant.
Rynn emerged from below deck, twin swords strapped at her sides, pack slung over one shoulder. "Please tell me we're docking. I'd forgotten solid ground was even a real thing."
"Few more minutes," Kael said.
"Thank the gods." Rynn stretched, joints popping. "Two weeks on a boat with nothing to do but gamble with sailors. I'm either going to love this city or burn it down out of boredom."
"Let's try the first option," Liora murmured.
The ship bumped against the dock. Sailors threw ropes. The gangplank descended with a heavy thud, and Helena waved them off without ceremony. "Try not to get yourselves killed. Bad for my reputation."
"We'll do our best," Rynn said dryly.
They descended into organized chaos.
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The docks were alive but *controlled*.
Merchants called out prices—but not shouting, just speaking clearly. Dock workers hauled crates in steady lines. Ships from Nations crowded the harbor: Aldengard's military vessels with their iron plating, Kazan's elegant trading ships with red sails.
But despite the activity, there was *order*. No one shoved. No one fought. Guards in white and gold armor stood at regular intervals, hands resting on sword hilts, watching everything with quiet intensity.
"They're everywhere," Kael muttered, noticing another pair stationed near a customs checkpoint.
"Lumeria values peace," Liora said. "They achieve it through surveillance."
They moved with the crowd toward the city proper. The transition from docks to streets was marked by a massive archway—white marble carved with figures holding books and scrolls. Golden letters above proclaimed something in flowing script.
"What does it say?" Kael asked.
Liora glanced up. "'Through knowledge, we transcend.' City motto."
"Sounds like something Father Aldric would have liked."
"Maybe." Something flickered across her face. "Come on."
They passed through the arch, and Kael stopped walking.
The street beyond was *perfect*. White stone paving without a single crack or stain. Buildings rose three and four stories high, their facades carved with geometric patterns that seemed to shift in the light. Every surface had words etched into it—quotes in multiple languages, philosophical statements, bits of poetry.
And the people.
They moved with measured purpose, most wearing robes or fine tunics in shades of white, gold, and soft blues. Many carried books. Some walked in small groups, talking in low, serious tones. Even the children seemed quieter than children should be.
"It's so..." Kael searched for the word.
"Clean?" Rynn supplied. "Yeah. It's unnatural."
"Beautiful," Liora corrected softly. "But controlled. Come on—we need to find lodging before we start exploring properly."
They found an inn four blocks from the harbor, tucked between a bookbinder's shop and what looked like a tea house. The sign above the door read *The Quiet Quill* in elegant lettering.
Inside, the common room was small but impeccably maintained. Wooden floors polished to a shine. Tables arranged in neat rows. Even the smell was pleasant—something like lavender and old paper.
The innkeeper was a woman in her forties with sharp eyes and silver streaks in her dark hair. She looked up from a ledger as they entered.
"Three travelers," she observed. "Armed. Not from Lumeria." Her gaze lingered on Kael's wrapped sword. "Here for trade or trouble?"
"Trade," Rynn said smoothly. "Textile merchants, looking to make connections."
"Hmm." The woman didn't look convinced but didn't argue. "Two rooms?"
"For three nights. Maybe more."
"Fifty silver."
"Forty."
"Forty-five, and I won't mention those weapons to the guards. They're very particular about peace-bonding requirements."
Rynn smiled. "Deal."
They paid, took keys, and climbed to the second floor. The rooms were modest but comfortable—actual beds with clean linens, washbasins with fresh water, windows overlooking the street.
Kael dropped his pack and started to unwrap the sword when a knock sounded.
Liora and Rynn entered, closing the door behind them.
"We need a plan," Liora said without preamble. "We're here for information about the village burnings. About the accusations that led to them. But we can't just start asking dangerous questions."
"Why not?" Kael asked.
"Because in Lumeria, asking dangerous questions is how you disappear." She sat on the edge of the bed. "This city looks peaceful. It is peaceful, most of the time. But that peace is maintained through control. Guards everywhere. Citizens reporting suspicious behavior. Anyone who challenges the wrong things gets arrested quietly and efficiently."
"So what do we do?"
"We explore. Separately." Liora pulled out a roughly sketched map. "Three people asking questions together draws attention. Three people exploring the city individually are just tourists. We learn the layout. See what people talk about. Get a feel for how things work."
"Where do we go?" Rynn asked.
"There are three districts that matter. The Scholar's Quarter—libraries, archives, public records. The Market District—where common people gather, where gossip flows. And the Administrative Quarter—government buildings, palace, where nobility operates."
"I'll take the markets," Rynn said immediately. "I speak that language."
"I'll handle the Scholar's Quarter. Libraries are my territory." Liora looked at Kael. "That leaves you with general exploration. Walk around. Observe. Don't ask questions yet—just watch how the city works."
"And if something goes wrong?" Kael asked.
"If anything happens—if you get in trouble, if you see something dangerous, if you need to run—we meet at the docks. The ship berths on the eastern pier. Find it, wait there." She met their eyes seriously. "And try very hard not to cause trouble. Please."
"We won't," Kael said.
"I mean it. No fights. No interventions. No drawing attention." She stood. "We're here to gather information, not start wars."
"Understood," Rynn said. "Observe. Don't engage. Meet back here by evening."
"Good." Liora moved toward the door, then paused. "And Kael? Really. Try not to help anyone today."
"I don't—"
"You do. Every time.."
She left before he could respond.
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They split up at the inn's entrance.
Rynn headed west, following the sound of voices and commerce. Liora went north toward the cluster of tall buildings that had to be the Scholar's Quarter.
Kael stood alone on a pristine white street, surrounded by carved pillars and golden inscriptions, and had no idea where to start.
He picked a direction and walked.
The city unfolded around him like a carefully designed puzzle. Every street led to a plaza. Every plaza had a fountain. Every fountain was surrounded by benches where people sat reading or talking in measured tones.
And everywhere—*everywhere*—were words. Carved into walls:
*"The unexamined life is not worth living."*
Etched into paving stones:
*"Wisdom begins in wonder."*
Hanging on plaques:
*"Knowledge is the only wealth that increases when shared."*
Beautiful sentiments. But seeing them everywhere felt... wrong. Like the city was trying too hard to convince you of something.
Kael kept walking, letting the flow of people guide him. He passed a plaza where a small crowd had gathered around a speaker—some kind of public debate about philosophy or history. Further on, children sat in a circle while a teacher led them through recitations.
Everything was orderly. Peaceful.
And watched.
Guards stood at every major intersection. Not doing anything. Just... present. Their eyes tracked movement, catalogued faces, noted anything unusual.
Kael kept his head down and his hand away from the wrapped sword.
He was passing through a market square—smaller than the main commerce district, just a few stalls selling books and scrolls—when he heard the commotion.
Not quite an argument. More like... theatrical chaos.
A man in scholar's robes was running through the square, arms full of scrolls, papers flying behind him like panicked birds. He wasn't being chased—just running, shouting as he went.
"OUT OF THE WAY! EMERGENCY! EXCUSE ME!"
People scattered, more amused than alarmed. The scholar skidded around a fountain, dropped half his scrolls, tried to catch them, dropped more in the process.
"No no no—not the Treatise on Metaphysical Paradoxes! That's due back today!"
A scroll rolled toward Kael's feet. He picked it up automatically.
The scholar noticed, scrambled over, and snatched it from his hands. "Thank you, citizen! You've saved scholarship itself!" Then he was off again, robes flapping, still shouting. "COMING THROUGH! LATE RETURN FINE INCOMING!"
He disappeared around a corner, leaving a trail of bemused onlookers and scattered papers.
An old woman sitting on a nearby bench shook her head. "That's Leon. Borrows more books than he can carry at least once a week. Never learns."
"Is he always like that?" Kael asked.
"Oh yes. Brilliant mind, terrible organization. The librarians have a running bet on whether he'll actually return something on time." She smiled. "But he means well. And he remembers everything he reads, so they tolerate him."
Kael found himself smiling too. It was... oddly normal. Comforting, even. A reminder that beneath all the control and surveillance, people were still just people.
He continued through the market, and that's when he saw them.
Two figures having a loud discussion near a tea stall. One was a middle-aged man in fine merchant's clothing. The other was younger, maybe early twenties, dressed in practical worker's garb.
"—not asking for charity, just fair payment!" the younger man was saying.
"I paid you exactly what we agreed on!" the merchant shot back.
"You said twenty silver for the full shipment!"
"I said twenty silver *per crate*! Do you not understand basic commerce?"
"Do you not understand basic honesty?!"
A small crowd had gathered, watching with interest. In Aldengard, this would have turned into a brawl by now. Here, people just... watched. Curious but calm.
"I'm not paying you more than we agreed," the merchant said firmly. "That's final."
The worker's hands clenched into fists. For a moment, Kael thought he might actually throw a punch.
Then a new voice cut through the tension.
"Gentlemen. Perhaps I can help mediate?"
A tall man stepped between them—maybe forty, with dark hair going grey at the temples and a calm, authoritative presence. He wore simple but well-made clothing, neither noble nor common. Something in between.
"Master Corvin," the merchant said, suddenly less confident. "This doesn't concern—"
"If it's happening in front of my establishment, it concerns me." Corvin gestured to the tea stall. "Now. Let's hear both sides. Calmly. Over tea. Free of charge."
The merchant and worker exchanged glances.
"...Fine," the merchant muttered.
They moved to a table. Corvin followed, producing a small notebook from his pocket. The crowd dispersed, crisis averted.
Kael watched, impressed despite himself. No guards needed. No violence. Just... someone willing to step in and mediate.
He was about to move on when Corvin glanced up and caught his eye. The man smiled slightly—a knowing look—and returned to his mediation.
*That's someone important*, Kael thought. *Someone people listen to.*
He filed the name away—Master Corvin, tea stall owner, apparently respected enough to stop arguments with just his presence.
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Kael spent the next few hours just walking. Learning the rhythm of the city. Watching how people moved, talked, lived.
He saw:
- A mother teaching her daughter to read philosophical quotes off buildings
- Street performers reciting poetry for coins
- A guard gently redirecting a lost child back to her parents
- Merchants debating prices with complex mathematical arguments
- Students hurrying between buildings, arms full of books
It was... pleasant. Almost idyllic.
But underneath, that constant sense of being *watched*. Guards on every corner. Citizens glancing at him—the outsider with the wrapped sword—with curiosity and caution.
By late afternoon, he'd made his way back toward the inn district. The sun was lowering, painting the white marble golden.
He found Rynn first, leaning against a wall near their lodging, eating something from a paper wrapper.
"Figured you'd turn up eventually," she said. "Try this—they call it a 'philosopher's pocket.' Basically bread stuffed with spiced vegetables and cheese. Not bad."
"Learn anything?" Kael asked.
"Markets are markets everywhere. People gossip, merchants lie, guards skim off the top." She took another bite. "But yeah. Got some interesting whispers. Tell you when Liora gets back."
They didn't have to wait long. Liora appeared a few minutes later, walking with measured steps, eyes distant.
"Inside," she said quietly.
They retreated to Kael's room. Liora locked the door and pulled out a small notebook, flipping through pages.
"Alright. What did we learn?"
"Markets are normal," Rynn reported. "People buying, selling, complaining about prices. But I heard rumors. Villages to the west have been... quiet lately. Traders who used to come through regularly aren't showing up anymore. No one knows why, or they're not saying."
Liora made a note. "Consistent with what we suspected. Kael?"
"The city is beautiful," he said. "People seem... content? But there are guards *everywhere*. And everyone's careful about what they say in public. I saw people debating philosophy, but it all felt... safe. Like they know exactly where the line is and never cross it."
"Because crossing it gets you arrested," Liora said. "I spent time in the public libraries. Saw the records they allow citizens to access. History, philosophy, science—it's all there. But carefully curated. Certain topics are just... absent. Ask about them, and librarians get uncomfortable. Change the subject."
"What topics?" Kael asked.
"Anything that might make people question the current system." She closed her notebook. "Lumeria looks like a paradise of knowledge. But that knowledge has very specific boundaries."
"So what's our next move?" Rynn asked.
"We keep looking. Carefully." Liora stood. "Tomorrow, we go deeper. I'll try to access restricted sections in the libraries. Rynn, see if you can make contact with anyone who moves outside the law—smugglers, information brokers, people who aren't part of the official system. Kael..."
She hesitated.
"Just explore more," she said finally. "Get to know the city. See what happens."
"That's not much of a plan."
"It's enough for now." She moved toward the door. "Remember—if anything goes wrong, we meet at the docks. Eastern pier. Don't forget."
"We won't."
"And Kael?" She looked back at him. "Tomorrow, when you're out there exploring... try very hard not to get involved in anything. Please."
"I'll do my best."
"That's what I'm afraid of." But she almost smiled. "Get some rest. Tomorrow might be complicated."
She left. Rynn followed a moment later, heading to her own room.
Kael sat on the bed, unwrapping the black sword. In the dimming light, the blade seemed to drink the shadows, reflecting nothing.
Outside, the city settled into evening. Bells rang again—different tones, signaling the day's end. Through the window, he could see people heading home, guards changing shifts, lanterns being lit along the streets.
Peaceful. Orderly. Perfect.
And tomorrow, he'd start looking for the cracks in that perfection.
Because they were there. He could feel them. Hidden beneath all that white marble and golden philosophy.
Secrets waiting to be found.
Kael rewrapped the sword and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
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**END CHAPTER 6**