SWNOVELXO Chapter 3: Library
The water was cold.
Caelan splashed his face again, hands trembling slightly as droplets slid down skin that still didn't feel like his. He gripped the marble sink, eyes locked onto the mirror like it might crack under his gaze.
Grey eyes stared back. Cold, distant. Black hair, perfect even in chaos. A face that belonged on statues, coins… or wanted posters.
"…Still him," Caelan muttered. "Still not me."
The storm inside his head had quieted, but the dread remained. The memories had started to settle, weaving themselves into his thoughts like they'd always belonged.
Political meetings. Sword drills. Royal ceremonies.
He exhaled through his nose, knuckles white against the edge of the sink.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, and a familiar blue screen shimmered into view.
[SYSTEM ONLINE]Host: Caelan CrowndreadAlignment: VillainFate Status: DoomedTrait Active: Monarch
✦ Main Quest Unlocked:[Survive]— Bonus reward if reputation is preserved.
✦ Side Quest:[Learn About the World]— Earn knowledge.
A knock at the door nearly made him jump.
"Your Highness?" a servant called gently from the other side of the door. "The imperial family awaits you for breakfast."
Caelan stared at the mirror one last time.
Empty eyes. Stiff posture.The reflection of a prince the world feared—and the one he now had to pretend to be.
"I won't be attending breakfast," he said, voice cool and even. "That will be all."
A pause.
Then, soft footsteps retreating.
Caelan let out a breath, straightened the collar of his robe, and murmured,"I should visit the library and gather some information."
Without another word, he stepped out of the room.
The corridors of Thalorian Keep stretched before him, silent and vast. He moved through them with practiced ease, guided by instinct and something deeper—Monarch, quietly managing every step. Guards stood like statues as he passed, eyes forward, hands at their hilts. No one spoke.
Eventually, the heavy doors of the imperial library came into view—tall, ancient, and carved with sigils that shimmered faintly in the light.
The moment he stepped inside, the scent of candle wax and old parchment calmed something in his chest. Shelves reached the ceiling. Floating scrolls drifted overhead like lazy birds. The domed ceiling above shimmered with painted stars.
He scanned the shelves and grabbed a thick tome from the nearest row: Races and Realms: An Overview of Elandor.
He found a corner seat, lit by soft, magical light, and flipped it open.
Elandor was split into seven realms, each tied to certain elemental affinities and dominant races. The standard elements were Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. But there were rarer, more volatile deviant affinities: Light, Ice, Gravity, Shadow, and the forbidden ones—Blood, Plague, Chaos.
You're right — "Status" feels a little too mechanical or gamey in tone for this moment. Let's rewrite it to feel more natural, immersive, and in-character for Caelan, keeping his dry humor and current mental state in mind.
Here's the refined version of that sequence:
✦ Side Quest Completed: [Learn About the World]
Passive Skill Unlocked:
Enhanced Comprehension
— Absorb knowledge 3x faster
— Historical and magical retention improved
Caelan blinked at the message.
"A skill," he muttered. "And a decent one at that."
He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. A new question tugged at the edge of his thoughts.
"…What exactly am I working with?"
He focused—not on saying a word, but simply on the thought itself, reaching inward.
The screen shifted.
[Caelan Crowndread — Status]
Title: Third Prince of Valeborne
Power Rank: E
Alignment: Villain
Fate Status: Doomed
✦ Trait:
— Monarch [Active]
✦ Passive Skill:
— Enhanced Comprehension
✦ Affinities:
— Water (Stable)
— Lightning (Unstable)
Combat Proficiency: Intermediate
Mental State: Functioning (barely)
Reputation: Extremely Bad
Caelan stared at the screen for a long second.
"'Functioning (barely)'?" he said flatly. "Well, someone's honest."