They had just passed a quiet fountain garden when Kael finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him since day one.
"What about the Archive?" he said, glancing sideways at Theo. "What's its deal, really?"
Theo immediately came to a halt.
He turned to face Kael slowly, studying him in a way that made Kael instinctively shift his weight.
"What?" Kael asked, feeling a prickle of unease.
Theo didn't answer immediately. He just stared for a few seconds longer than necessary, his gaze piercing.
Then, he finally shook his head.
"You really need to be careful about the kind of questions you ask people," Theo said, his voice serious. "Not everyone's going to be as dismissive of your ignorance as I am."
"Okay, that's fair, I guess." Kael conceded, a slight wince.
Theo took a step forward, resuming their walk as he spoke.
"The Archive is the foundation of our world. It's ingrained in everything. When a child is born, it's custom for their parents to teach them everything they know about The Archive. It's considered basic knowledge."
He gave Kael a pointed glare with that last line, making Kael wince a little more.
"The Archive holds the record of every living organism on the planet," he continued. "Some say it remembers the past, watches the present… and might even see the future."
"Cool," Kael muttered, unimpressed.
Theo ignored the sarcasm. "When someone turns sixteen, they undergo what's called the Trial of Awakening. The Archive tests them individually. The trial differs for each person, but the theme is always the same, your worst fear. If you pass, you unlock access to the Archive and ascend to the first level."
"Let me guess," Kael said. "Novice Sigil."
Theo nodded. "Exactly."
"And if you fail?"
"There's no second chance," Theo said flatly, his expression grim. "Fail the first trial, and you live the rest of your life as an ordinary human. No Archive access. No powers. No path forward."
Kael frowned. "That's… harsh."
"That's the world," Theo replied, unbothered. "And that was the easy part."
He continued walking, leaving Kael to follow, trying to absorb everything.
"After becoming a Novice," Theo explained, "you're given a choice between becoming a Knight or a Mage. That choice shapes your entire future."
"After the choice, the Archive links to your soul. From that point forward, it begins to manifest, differently for everyone."
"Differently how?" Kael asked, curious despite himself.
Theo shrugged. "Depends on the nature of your soul. Some people get a glowing tome. Others get a spirit companion, others a spiritual book. I've even heard of someone whose Archive manifested as a floating mechanical eye."
Kael blinked. "That's… oddly specific."
"I'm serious. The Archive is sentient. It adapts to the soul it's bound to. And once you've made the bond, you begin receiving tasks."
Kael's casual demeanor tensed ever so slightly. "Tasks, huh."
The word felt like a personal jab.
Theo didn't notice his reaction, or pretended not to. "The tasks are mandatory if you want to grow," he said. "Each one grants Archive Credits, those are what you need to qualify for the next trial and evolve beyond Novice."
Kael frowned. "How many credits do you need?"
"No idea," Theo said. "It's different for everyone. One person might need three. Another might need a hundred. The Archive doesn't explain itself."
Kael muttered under his breath, barely audible, "What about punishments for failing to complete the tasks?"
Theo caught the low tone and narrowed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"
Kael forced a casual shrug "Just curious. Figured a system like that would have consequences."
"No," Theo stated, his voice firm, "there are no punishments for failing tasks. You just don't get the credit. You stagnate."
'I knew it. Damn system's definitely broken.'
"Let me guess," Kael said aloud, pulling himself back to the conversation. "Everyone here's already a Novice Sigil?"
"Of course," Theo confirmed. "That's a base requirement for applying to the academy. You can't even get through the outer gates without an Archive connection."
"Which means they've all passed their first trial," Kael finished.
"Yes, including you of course."
Kael stayed quiet for a while, letting the full implications of everything sink in.
All this new information made him even more confused about a lot of stuff.
Theo glanced back at him. "Look, in summary? The Archive is the silent god of this world. It doesn't interfere directly. It doesn't explain. But it watches. It remembers. And its power is absolute."