Need for Madness

The new city of Atlantis stretched along the coast, narrow streets winding up steep hills to towers that creaked in the midday sun. Salt ships swayed as merchants argued, and in the distance, the blacksmiths' hammers sang. High above the chaos of the city stood the Citadel of the High Council, a stone sentry.

New Atlantis was a city of contrasts from beauty to filth, from wealth to struggle,from light to shadow, from hope to despair.

It was a place where everything converged.

---

Ithri woke up to the sound of horses' hooves on the cobblestones. Sunlight streamed in through the narrow window, blinding and accusing. It was getting late again.

He groaned, flexing his swollen hand. Last night's brawl had been worth it, though the bruises throbbed like a lingering accusation.

On the small table beside him, an empty vial glowed faintly. Holy water his victory's prize.

Beside it, coins gleamed. Sixty-nine times his wager. Ithri smirked as he pocketed the money. Not bad for a night's work.

He ran his fingers carefully over his bruised knuckles, wincing. 'Damn hand. Even with the prize, I regret squeezing all that power from the stone.' The memory flickered his aura glowing red, power surging, pushing his body to its limit. 'I had a dozen ways to kill him. I'm good at this too good. But no, I needed a show.'

He grabbed the sky-blue holy water, holding it up to the light, watching the faint remnants glimmer in the glass. " Welcome to the first day of the rest of my life," he murmured, a smirk curling his lips.

He shrugged on his coat and exhaled, his mind churning. 'What's next?' Varin's voice echoed in his thoughts, sharp and furious. 'He'll have my head.'

" Yeah, Varin's going to kill me for this " Ithri muttered to no one, stepping out into the streets of New Atlantis.

-------

Professor Varin's office felt like stepping into a forgotten world. Maps curled across tables. Artifacts crowded shelves. Dust hung in the air, turning sunlight into shifting gold.

Varin himself late 40s, with white hair, with features as sharp as old parchment—was hunched over a pile of notes, ink-stained and focused. He was the only person Ithri could relate to in this sprawling, indifferent city.

Three years ago, Ithri had stumbled into New Atlantis as a stranger, clutching damaged history books and nothing else. The Moon Kingdom's university bought them, paying far more than he'd dreamed. Varin took notice, and, for reasons Ithri still didn't understand, took him under his wing.

Note from the Author:

The official name of the kingdom is Ayurn, but people often call it "The Kingdom of Three Moons" or, more commonly, "The Moon Kingdom."

Now, as Ithri entered, Varin looked up. His expression teetered between exasperation and quiet amusement.

"You remembered me after four days?" Varin muttered, leaning back in his chair. "What, did you forget I exist?"

"Sorry, Professor." Ithri flipped a coin lazily between his fingers. "A man needs days to rest his mind."

Varin's smirk was sharp. "Three months, Ithri. Not days. Surely you've found your answers by now."

"Guess not," Ithri said, eyes flicking to the window as if the answer might be out there.

Varin's gaze narrowed. "We'll talk after. If you think I've got something important."

Ithri hesitated, then said, "I need a dreamcatcher. From the Church of the Thirteen Zodiac."

Varin froze mid-breath. "You what?"

"I need it " Ithri repeated, flat and unapologetic.

Varin's expression hardened as he studied Ithri, his eyes darkening. "You know what you're asking for."

" I do. "

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, before Varin finally sighed. " I shouldn't help you." he took a deep breath" But I will. "

Ithri grinned. "That's what I was hoping to hear."

" Meet me after my lecture," Varin said, shaking his head. "This better not get me killed ."

Ithri turned to leave, his smirk lingering in the doorway.

------

Later, the university library swallowed him whole. Shelves loomed like towers, stretching into shadows, drowning out the chaos of New Atlantis. Ithri traced his fingers over worn spines before settling into a desk with The Testament of one of the Thirteen Zodiac.

The pages whispered as he thumbed through them, chasing answers even he couldn't name. Words blurred. Hours slipped away.

Exhaustion dragged him under. His head fell onto the open book. The world faded, leaving only ink, silence, and the faint creak of the library around him.

-----

" Ithri "

The voice yanked him from sleep.

Night had crept in. Varin stood by the window, flanked by an unexpected presence. Axel Midas.

The heir to New Atlantis' wealthiest family sat in a carved wooden wheelchair, bandages obscuring his eyes. Frail yet composed, Axil radiated the quiet strength of someone who had survived far too much.

Varin cleared his throat. "I assume you've heard of Axel Midas?"

Ithri smirked, leaning back in his chair. "The white prince of the Midas family. Didn't expect him in a library."

Axel's lips curved in a polite smile. "And I've heard of you, Itri. The man who robbed pirates and walked away with priceless Atlantean relics. Quite the story."

Ithri scratched the back of his neck, caught off guard but quick to recover. "You make it sound a lot more planned than it was. Just luck, mostly."

Varin cleared his throat, steering the conversation with measured authority. "We were just discussing Xilvar Island. The Republic of Sihina is making a bold move to seize it."

Ithri leaned back "Ah, last week I heard that backed the rebels. it happened so fast .ah so they succeed"

"They're aiming for more than just territory," Axel replied softly, his gaze thoughtful. "Control of Xilvar would strangle our trade routes. But their ambitions extend far beyond commerce."

Varin's tone grew heavier, each word deliberate. "This isn't about more expansion. Sihina's goal is revolutionary. They're not just after Xilvar; they want to dismantle every monarchy, every old-world kingdom. Their endgame is rebellion igniting fires across the seas to forge a network of republics."

Ithri crossed his arms, his usual smirk fading into a frown. "I've heard whispers that in the south, the Medici family has regained control. Luciana Medici has made his presence known. The council must have their hands full dealing with that."

Axel's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Well, with Professor Varin now on the council, they might stand a chance."

Ithri raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Our esteemed professor is a council member now?"

Varin nodded, a faint gleam of pride in his eyes. "Three months. A lot can change in that time."

------

Night had fully embraced the city by the time Ihtri, Varin, and Axil exited the library.

"The carriage is ready, Mr. Midas," a young attendant said, approaching with a crisp bow.

At the curb stood a sleek black carriage, its lacquered surface catching the glow of the streetlamps like liquid obsidian.

As the door creaked open, a tall woman stepped out. Her movements were unhurried, marked by a poise that bordered on regal. She wore a calm, reserved smile that carried just enough warmth to disarm.

"Hello," she greeted, her voice smooth as polished glass. Her eyes landed briefly on Varin as she inclined her head. "Thank you for looking after my husband."

Varin returned the nod with the faintest of smiles. "Always a pleasure, Lady Iva."

Her gaze shifted to Ithri. "You must be one of Varin's students."

"Ithri" he replied, keeping his tone steady. 

Varin stepped in smoothly, gesturing toward Itri with a faint smile. "He's from the southern coast, as you are, Lady Lionheart."

A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "Ah, so we share a connection." Her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, her words carrying a teasing lilt "Perhaps the sea breeds stubborn souls."

"Lionheart " Ithri repeated under his breath, the name tasting heavier than it should. His brows knit together, thoughts circling like an undertow. "Your family has a reputation in the South."

The words lingered in the air, sharper than he intended. 'Calm, Ithri,' he told himself, forcing the tension to ebb as it coiled deep in his chest, unseen but stirring.

Varin caught the shift immediately, the subtle charge in the air. He wanted to change the mood, to diffuse the tension, but just as he opened his mouth 

"My queen " Axel interjected, his tone quiet but firm.

He gestured toward the waiting carriage. " Shall we? "

With quiet grace, Iva helped him inside, her movements as deliberate as they were elegant. The door clicked shut, and the carriage rolled away into the shrouded streets, leaving Itri standing in the lamplight, his thoughts a storm.

Varin cast a sidelong glance at him as they resumed their walk. "You've gone quiet."

Ithri shrugged, pulling his features into his usual smirk. "Nothing worth saying."

Yet each step felt heavier. The weight of the Lionheart's name wrapped itself around him like an iron chain, dragging up memories long buried. No matter how much he tried to shove it aside, the unease gnawed at him, silent but relentless.