He is the Empire’s most inconspicuous, Grade D administrator.
Lynn Skyler has worked as a librarian in the Dustbound Archive for six years. His magical aptitude is Grade D, and everyone thinks he is useless.
No one knows that the bloodline of an ancient “Guardian of Order” lies dormant within him. It works only intermittently, and even he cannot control it.
He is the Empire’s most dazzling Crimsonflame Archmage.
Cedric von Brandenburg: a genius, proud and utterly imperious. His flames can incinerate anything, yet they cannot burn through the secret hidden within a librarian.
At three in the morning, the Corruption erupts in the archive. When Cedric breaks in, he sees only Lynn standing beside the unconscious, purple Corruption on his hands and an expression as calm as if nothing has happened.
“Hands on your head. Kneel.”
Those are Cedric’s first words to him.
But when the Corruption spirals out of control and even Crimsonflame cannot suppress it, the librarian on his knees is the one who reaches out.
A flash of golden light, and the Corruption recedes like a tide.
After that, Cedric looks at him differently.
Not with suspicion.
But as if he has set his sights on him.
A guardian pretending to be useless, and a flame consumed by pride.
They begin as adversaries and end up standing side by side.
“So, what are you hiding?”
“I said I don’t know. Do you believe me?”
