I didn’t know why Isaac was laughing as we walked through the halls of the North Forest Codexium, which was a lot bigger than I had initially thought. Apparently, the main part of the Codexium, where the North Forest Node was located, was just the public-facing part of the Codexium. There were several more rooms in the back that most people, other than Isaac, didn’t have access to, but that was the last thing on my mind as I followed Isaac through the Codexium, still bothered by his previous statement.

  “I don’t think the idea of the Arcane Codex wanting me dead is very funny, Isaac,” I said, even though I was pretty sure that Isaac wasn’t listening to a word I said at the moment. “It’s not funny at all.”

  Turned out I was wrong, because Isaac stopped laughing long enough to say, “That’s not what I was laughing at, kid! I was actually laughing at the expression on your face when I said that. You seemed to genuinely believe that the Arcane Codex might hate you and want you, in particular, dead. I can’t believe you fell for that. To be young and stupid again …”

  I pursed my lips tightly. “Excuse me for my willingness to believe someone who is supposed to be an expert in these matters. Next time, I’ll just write off your ranting as the ramblings of a drunk old man.”

  I immediately regretted saying those words because of how disrespectful they sounded. My parents had instilled in my siblings and me respect for our elders, even if those elders didn’t always act very respectfully. I was normally pretty good at treating my elders with respect. Still, between Isaac’s drunk antics and my stress and worry about this Codexed Quest I had been assigned, I was not in the mood to tolerate foolish joking—even from my elders.

  Fortunately, Isaac didn’t seem offended. He slapped me on the back. “That’s a good one! Rantings of a drunk old man. Yep, that’s me, all right. Or what I would like to be, anyway, but you Thorns, for some reason, have a strange desire to bother me about becoming Codexers. And then there’s all this nonsense about that quest you got. Won’t blame you if you want to drink.”

  I caught a whiff of Isaac’s alcohol-scented breath and grimaced. “I’m fine. And while I don’t think the Arcane Codex is out to get me, I am also not convinced you said that entirely as a joke.”

  Isaac grunted and shook his head. “Don’t be so serious, kid. The Arcane Codex doesn’t go after anyone. It’s not sentient. It doesn’t have enemies or friends or even relationships with other people. It’s just that some people are very superstitious about the Codex—especially uneducated rural folks like you. And there is a superstition among certain Codexers that the Codex deliberately gives impossible quests to certain individuals to make sure they get killed or lose their portable, known as the Codex Curse.”

  I gulped and glanced at my portable hanging around my neck. “You can lose your portable if you don’t complete a quest?”

  Isaac nodded. “Oh, sure. Not permanently, mind you, but failing to complete a quest has been known to result in a Codexer losing access to their portable for anywhere from a few days to a month. Which can severely impact their progress, as you might imagine.”

  I understood a little bit about the Chapter System, which was the system that governed the growth and progress of Codexers, but just enough to know that losing access to it for even a few days could be quite devastating. “Okay, but is it possible to permanently lose your portable? If Stationary Nodes can be destroyed, then it seems to me that portable Nodes can be destroyed as well.”

  “You aren’t wrong,” said Isaac. “Portable Nodes can be destroyed just like Stationary ones, but the Arcane Codex doesn’t do that. You can, however, permanently lose access to the Codex if you accept a quest and then quit it. That is, if you become a quest quitter—though you don’t strike me as a quitter.”

  I furrowed my brows. “You mean I could lose my access to the Codex entirely if I try to quit either of the quests that I was assigned?”

  Isaac grinned again. “Yes, but as I said, you don’t strike me as a quitter. Besides, we have more important things to worry about at the moment. Until we figure out how you got that Codexed Quest, I think we should focus on getting you set up with the Shinar Node Authority, as well as getting your portable synced with the North Forest Node and formalize your Discipline—among other boring steps we need to finish before you can start on the exciting parts like fight those bandits.”

  I wasn’t a fan of Isaac glossing over the idea that I could lose access to my portable permanently if I quit a quest, but at the same time, I couldn’t disagree with him entirely. As confused as I was about those quests, I sincerely didn’t plan to quit either of them. I wasn’t even sure how you did that, especially the one about ending the Codex Wars, which apparently gave me ten years to complete. That seemed like more than enough time to figure out what it was talking about—or if it was even a legitimate quest at all and not some kind of glitched or Ghost Quest, like Isaac had said earlier.

  But I will admit that I was still worried about Isaac’s earlier statement about the Arcane Codex wanting me dead. During my trial earlier, I had run into several anomalies that made me think that the Arcane Codex was deliberately testing me in ways that it wouldn’t have tested other initiates. And then there was the comment in the quest log about how I needed to keep that quest a secret as much as possible, as if the Arcane Codex was speaking directly to me through that quest log. It didn’t threaten me or anything, but surely there had to be consequences if I went against its advice and told everyone about my Codexed Quest.

  Now, perhaps that was normal for Codex Quests. Isaac hadn’t indicated one way or another, but I still suspected that there was more going on than even Isaac knew about.

  At the same time, however, I was excited to finally get to sync my portable with the North Forest Node and get my first Discipline. I was also looking forward to learning more about the Chapter System, which I already understood the basics of, thanks to my research. Still, I hoped that Isaac would have a more in-depth explanation for me and be able to answer some of my questions about it.

  We eventually reached a room in the back of the Codexium with what appeared to be another Stationary Node. It looked identical to the Node in the public-facing room of the Codexium, though much dustier and darker, illuminated by a handful of glowing stones set in the walls. The room was also much smaller and dimmer than the public-facing Node’s chamber, which made me wonder how often this room was used. The air was quite stale in here, too—another indication that it was rarely used.

  Isaac stood off to the side and gestured at the Node. “This is the private Node of the North Forest Codexium. It is connected to the Node in the public room, but whereas that one is usually used for testing new Codexers, this one is where you sync with the Arcane Codex and officially register with the SNA.”

  I looked at Isaac curiously. “I didn’t realize that the Codexium had two Nodes. I thought there was only one.”

  Isaac shook his head. “It’s common for most Codexiums to have at least two Nodes—a public Node where Codex initiates, like you, can take their trial, while also serving as a place for traveling Codexers to update their portables and gain access to quests in the area, and then a private Node in the back for Codex Keepers such as myself. This private Node is the one that actually powers the Codexium and also gives me access to the records of the SNA and a way to contact them all the way in Hebron if I need to. It has other benefits, but those are the main ones.”

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  I wiped a thick layer of dust off the private Node with my index finger and frowned. “When was the last time you used this Node?”

  Isaac scratched the top of his head, furrowing his brows like he was thinking hard. “Um, probably whenever your sister completed her trial. I don’t have a lot of reason to contact Hebron or the SNA normally, so it’s not like I need to come in here every day or something like that.”

  That made me briefly question if this Node even worked anymore or not, but I did notice a slight pulse of bluish-green mana when I wiped the dust off it. “Okay. So what do I do next?”

  Isaac pointed at my portable. “Take your portable and press it against the top of the Stationary Node. Your portable should have recorded that you completed your trial, so once this Stationary Node confirms that, it will automatically assign you a Discipline based on your performance in the trial, as well as register your Node information with the SNA. That way, you will be automatically registered and licensed with those Authority bastards in Hebron so they can keep track of you and make sure you never have another private moment in your life ever again.”

  I started and looked at Isaac in surprise. “Seriously?”

  Isaac stared at me with a serious expression before another grin appeared on his face. “Just joking, kid. But when you become a registered Codexer, you do lose a lot of freedom. You have to follow all of the laws, regulations, etc. that the SNA expects us Codexers to follow. You also have a duty to defend the First Kingdom if it is attacked by an outside force.”

  I looked at the private Node again, thinking about that. “So the registry is basically a draft?”

  Isaac nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Codex Pax has been the name of the game for the last three, four hundred years. The last war in Shinar was forty years ago, against the last of the giants. The odds of you being drafted for any kind of war are low.”

  Isaac spoke casually about the war against the giants, but I noticed he nervously pulled at his beard. Had Isaac participated in the war against the giants? He was definitely old enough to have fought in any army formed to fight them.

  Regardless, Isaac was probably right, though I had to refrain from pointing out that I technically already had been recruited into a war, the Codex Wars. Whether the Codex Wars were even real or not was still something we were trying to figure out, though, so maybe that was why he didn’t mention it.

  And anyway, I didn’t mind being drafted to defend Shinar if necessary. Truth be told, I’d probably sign up to defend the First Kingdom regardless. After all, it was my home. If Shinar were invaded by some outside force seeking to harm us, North Forest would definitely suffer.

  So I took my portable off my neck and pressed it against the dusty Stationary Node. Blue light flashed between them, and I felt an electrical jolt go through my arm, but it was not unpleasant.

  A second later, I got the following notification:

  Welcome to the North Forest Node, Aaron Thorn! After reviewing your trial records, the Shinar Node Authority has determined that you meet all qualifications to become a licensed and registered Codexer under the laws of the Codex Constitution! We have also reviewed Keeper Isaac’s notes on your paper test, proving that you understand the laws of both the Codex Constitution and the First Kingdom of Shinar. Your score is 61/100. With a passing grade of 60 or higher, you have officially passed! Your Codexer number is 71625.

  Right. Before taking my trial, Isaac had forced me to take a written test focused on displaying my understanding of the various laws that licensed and registered Codexers worked under. It had been mind-numbing stuff, but I’d spent the last six months studying up on the laws so I could pass. In fact, completing the written portion of the Codex trial was necessary before you could take your actual trial.

  Getting 61 out of 100 made me wince—Miriam’s had been 80, if I remembered correctly—but at least it was a passing grade. If I had failed the written portion of the test, then I would have had to come back in another six months to take it again.

  Now that I think about it, they really didn’t make it easy to become a Codexer. Fail the written test and you had to wait six months before you could try again. Fail the actual trial, and you had to wait a year before you could give it another shot. I wondered if the Node Authorities in the other Kingdoms had similarly high requirements or if this was just how we did things in Shinar. I’d have to ask Miriam. She’d know. Isaac would probably also know, but I doubted he would tell me about other Kingdoms even if I asked.

  Another notification unfolded in my vision:

  Congratulations on passing both your written test and your practical trial! You now have full access to your Codexer Interface, including the ability to track your gained Words, learned spells, your current Chapter, and more. You can also accept Codex Quests from any Node in the Nine Kingdoms, join Codex Parties, enter Node Dungeons, and so much more!

  More importantly, the Arcane Codex has officially assigned you your first Discipline based on your performance in the trial, along with your first 50 Words (divided between your Banked Progress and Casting Pool)! You should receive another notification soon with information on that.

  Oddly, the notification glitched slightly toward the end before abruptly disappearing. I looked around, frowning, but didn’t see any notifications about my Discipline.

  Isaac put his hands on his hips. “What are you looking for? You look lost.”

  I frowned. “Well, the Codex told me that I was assigned a Discipline and even got some Words, but I don’t see any information on—”

  A sharp crackle in my ear made me wince, and then a blue, slightly transparent scroll unfolded in my vision with the following information on it:

  Codex Entry: Discipline – Inscriptionist

  Discipline Category: Systemic / Constructive / Forbidden

  Codex Classification: Unstable – System Permissions Partial

  Description:

  Most Codexers cast spells granted by their Nodes. Few ask where those spells originate.

  The Inscriptionist Discipline allows its user to create, alter, and hybridize Codex Entries—including spells, passives, and constructs—by inscribing glyphic logic directly into the system’s architecture.

  Unlike all known Disciplines, the Inscriptionist uses Words for experience and for casting. Every glyph, spell, or systemic modification burns Words, slowing Chapter progression. This unique structure—unseen since the collapse of the Tenth Kingdom—grants the user access to functions long thought impossible.

  The Discipline is not optimized for combat efficiency.

  It is optimized for evolution.

  Codex Functionality:

  Grants access to the Inscription Console, enabling user-created entries written in Codex Syntax.

  Unlocks Custom Entry Memory: stores personalized spells, glyph arrays, passives, and logic chains.

  Introduces Wordcasting, replacing traditional mana. Spells cost Words, reducing Page progression if not managed carefully.

  Tracks Inscription Slots, increasing by Chapter Tier.

  Enables Codex Protocol Injections—modular functions not available to standard Codexers.

  Both of my eyebrows shot up into my hair when I read that description, especially the part about using Words as both experience points and for casting spells.

  But before I could finish thinking through the implications, another notification unfurled into view:

  Uncataloged interface detected. Designation matches pre-Collapse Protocols. Permission granted under Codexed Exception Clause 9.13. Observation elevated.

  What did that mean?

  “So?” said Isaac suddenly before I could say anything. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  I turned my head toward Isaac, blinking rapidly. “What? You mean you can’t read my Discipline notification?”

  Isaac gave me a look. “Why would I when it’s your Discipline? Tell me what it is. I need to know so I can update your records with the SNA.”

  I opened my mouth to start explaining, but then my right forearm started burning again and I gasped. I clutched my right forearm and fell to my knees, but that did nothing to stop the pain. It felt like someone was branding my arm with a hot iron, just like the kind we used to brand our cows back on the farm.

  I suddenly felt really bad about doing that to the cows.

  “Kid, what’s the matter?” said Isaac, staring down at me in surprise. “You hurt?”

  I tried to speak, but the pain was too much. It now felt like my entire arm was on fire. I nearly asked Isaac to grab a bucket of water or something before the pain subsided as quickly as it came.

  Gasping for breath, I didn’t let go of my arm, which no longer burned but felt warmer than usual through my sleeve. I pulled back my sleeve to look at my arm, ready to cringe as soon as I saw the injuries.

  But rather than a blackened injury on my right arm, there was a tattoo. A mark of some kind.

  A glowing blue spiral ending in a stylized quill, etched into my inner right forearm, as if I were branded by the Codex itself.

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