The parents stayed with their unconscious son in his room throughout the night. By dawn, Valerius's fever had subsided.
Valerius woke up, experiencing the dream Adrian always had.
He found himself sleeping with his parents, in a comfortable bed, surrounded by luxury.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
But at the same time, he heard the laughter of the Gods echoing in his ears.
He had a feeling that this peaceful time wouldn't last.
Some unforeseen trouble was approaching.
However, Valerius didn't care about what was to come.
Adrian had been through tough times before, and had been sent back to square one again.
But hitting rock bottom was nothing new to Adrian.
So, Valerius wouldn't be afraid of it either.
He had been given a second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it.
"That's the spirit!" a voice whispered in his ear.
Valerius looked around, but no one was there. His parents were still asleep in the room.
Valerius slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake them.
He walked to the balcony. The sun was rising on the horizon, and the darkness was fading away. Valerius felt that the darkness was about to leave his life as well.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Valerius spent the next few days in the library.
He needed to catch up quickly and make up for the eighteen years he had lost.
He noticed that the writing in this world was different from what he was used to.
But he could still read it fluently, most likely because his body had been trained to read these characters, even when his soul was absent.
The information was stored in his brain, and now that his soul had returned, he could access it.
He spent countless hours in the library, studying ancient maps and histories.
He learned that they were on the continent of Tir Luthar.
This continent was home to diverse peoples and was marked by long-standing tensions. The old maps showed a vast land, shaped by ancient forces and the struggles of its inhabitants.
To the west were the City States.
These were a group of independent cities that, despite having their own rulers and unique cultures, were united in a sometimes-unstable alliance.
His own city, Veridia, was one of the most important, and the Throne family held considerable influence within the coalition.
The books described the city-states as centers of trade, art, and learning, but also as places of political intrigue, where each city constantly competed for power.
To the east of the City States, towards the sunrise, lay the Human Kingdom, the Noble Empire of Indoris.
From his reading, he learned that they were a large and powerful nation, with extensive farmlands and numerous cities.
They had a long and complicated history with the city-states, characterized by periods of both cooperation and conflict.
North of the human lands, the terrain rose into the Dragon's Tooth Mountains.
The range was named for its jagged, saw-toothed appearance on the horizon.
These mountains were a formidable barrier, with peaks that remained snow-capped year-round.
The mountain passes were treacherous, and the books told of fierce storms and strange creatures that lived in those heights.
The mountains gradually gave way to a dense pine forest, which thinned as one traveled further north, eventually leading to the cold northern plains.
The Elven Kingdom of Beladhithl was located in these northern lands.
The elves were just as Adrian had read about in fantasy books—they were described as ancient, beautiful, and deeply connected to the natural world.
They were often reclusive, preferring to remain within their secluded forests and well-guarded cities, and were sometimes seen as mysterious and aloof by humans.
To the south, the geography changed dramatically.
South of the City States, beyond the fertile river valleys, stretched the arid expanse of the Whispering Sands.
The books warned that this desert was a harsh and unforgiving place, where only the toughest creatures could survive. It was in these lands that the Beastmen were rumored to live.
Further to the south, the land rose again, forming a plateau of cracked earth and twisted rock. This was the realm of the Orcs and the Dark Dwarves.
Just like in fantasy stories, the Orcs were described as savage warriors, constantly raiding their neighbors, while the Dark Dwarves were spoken of in hushed tones, as beings of immense cruelty who lived in deep underground cities, forever mining and forging.
Valerius understood that the continent was a place of constant tension.
The city-states, the Human Kingdom, the Elves, the Dwarves, the Dark Elves, the Beastmen, the Orcs, and the Dark Dwarves had been involved in countless wars over the centuries.
Yet, no single power had been able to conquer the entire continent.
The books explained that this was due to a delicate balance of power. Any attempt by one power to dominate the others was met with swift intervention by a coalition of their rivals.
It was a precarious peace, one that could shatter at any moment and plunge the continent into all-out war.
Valerius gained a good understanding of the overall political situation.
He also found detailed information about the City States.
Besides Veridia, there were six other City States: Aethelgard, Solara, Port Azure, Sylvana, Glimmerfall, and Valoria.
Aethelgard was a militaristic city, with a strong focus on its army and defense. It was renowned for its discipline and strategic prowess. The Ironclad Council ruled the city with an iron fist.
Solara was a city of scholars and mages, famous for its large library and academy. It was a hub of knowledge and magical research, governed by the Enlightened Conclave.
Port Azure was considered Veridia's direct rival. Like Veridia, Port Azure was a bustling port city, with a large harbor and a diverse population. It was also a center of trade and maritime activity, and was governed by the Merchant Compact, a federation of merchants.
Sylvana was somewhat of an oddity. It was a city nestled in a forest, with a focus on nature and druidic traditions. It was known for its harmony with the environment and was governed by the Elder Circle.
Glimmerfall was a city built around a large waterfall, known for its mining and craftsmanship. The Stoneheart Clan was its ruling family.
The last of the City States was Valoria, a city of knights and mercenaries. Valoria had a strong sense of honor and tradition, often acting as the conscience of the city-state alliance. The Justicar Lords ruled the city.
Valerius's studies were interrupted when a guard informed him that Lord Elmsworth had summoned him urgently. Valerius was somewhat surprised by the nature of this summons. But he decided to comply and followed the guard.