The palace boasted of architecture with quite a bit of opulence. Lukas entered, struggling to keep his eyes from straying to random artifacts. The pale white colors, with the gold crown molding, and then some of the artistic eggs and the gold, all seemed to boast of a wealth he couldn’t imagine having himself.

As he found one small council room, a man waited at the center of it. As he noted Lukas, he turned to Dmitri. The two had a brief exchange in their language, before the man turned to Lukas.

“We receive realm crossers from time to time, but the more experienced ones prefer to miss us, going to our southern cities instead,” he mused. “My name is Mikhail, and I will be here to help you today.”

Lukas shook his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Depending on the information you give us, we will give you a decent sum for it,” Mikhail said. “Local customs, phrases, and current government dealings.”

“I used to be interested in a university degree in interrealm studies,” Lukas said. “Our university just enrolled one of those programs. But I digress. It is at a doctorate level, where the international relations is still the main course. Because there’s still much research that needs do be done, even at one of the more prestigious levels at university. And there is one professor who teaches it.”

“And the rumors about the woman who became the first interrealm citizen?” Mikhail said.

“She is technically from a different kingdom, but the unions between those nations complicates things,” Lukas said. “We’ve split off from our southern kingdom, but we now technically have sovereignty over her kingdom. Even if there is a parliament, and there are government officials. Something about a plague wiping out much of their population, altering their course of history forever.”

Mikhail wrote down all of those notes. “And what have you heard about her in recent times?”

“I think she settled down as a hunter,” he said. “She faded into relative obscurity after all of those events, although I am certain she went on long travels once more. Oh, I also heard she married that bounty hunter, and they adopted a kid together. But there is nothing of relevance at an international level, so to speak.”

“I see, I see,” Mikhail said. He looked back at Lukas. “And what should I know about you?”

“Well,” Lukas said. “I had a partner in the other world since I was nineteen, and we were thinking about getting married. His conditions were that I get a steady job, but whether or not I obtain those relations might leave a lot to be desired still, Sir. I also worked at a grocery store for twelve hours a day, six days a week, with only one break in between. Even with all of that, it was never enough to pay for our abode, and I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my lifestyle in the city without some proper sacrifice.”

“Glad to see underpaying cashiers is something that transcends realms,” Mikhail said, grimacing. “Your comments have been rather insightful.”

“I nearly wanted to be a lawyer, but life had other plans,” Lukas said.

“What plans?” Mikhail said.

“Well, I had wanted to get into their political science program, but they wouldn’t accept me,” Lukas said. “Even if I had high marks as a child, they wouldn’t let me in. I wanted to apply to one of the universities in the southern kingdom, but my understanding of their native language left something to be desired, even if both are rather similar. They said it wasn’t at the level needed for the rigorous demands attached to studying to practice law. As of right now, law is one of the most prestigious, competitive fields of studies in our world. Throughout my secondary schooling, I would study the philosophies and relations with the other realms, even though nothing official has been maintained between the different realms from what I have learned.”

“The two outermost realms have connected, from what I know, but that is not for us to discuss yet,” Mikhail said. “Either way, each of the details you have given us could be utilized in some way.”

“I have a lot more, I am certain,” Lukas said.

“We do have a university here, if you ever wanted to become a student,” Mikhail said. “That, or you could ask Lord Isidor to sponsor you.”

Narrowing his gaze, Lukas leaned inward. “I don’t know if I am ready to make the decision to spend the rest of my life here.”

But the truth was? The thought of being able to start a new life–and one where he could do what he wanted–had an appeal he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge. He wanted to talk to Lord Isidor, but was it really the right thing to do?

He did not have the heart to tell Mikhail he had studied law to try to make his parents happy. If it had been up to him, he would have studied art in university instead. But that was not a discussion for here or there.

“It takes time, I am certain,” Mikhail said. “Still, I think you should talk to Lord Isidor. He’s much more friendly than the others.”

“Well, if being sponsored for a language program will help to ensure I have a place to stay for some time, maybe that will help,” Lukas said. “And should I show Lord Isidor my artwork?”

“He has been fascinated with studying the southern kingdoms. He’s one of the emperor’s top officials, and he’s rivals with Lord Alik. So it’s best not to mention you sold a piece of artwork to that man.”

Lukas would leave the meeting, with a letter of recommendation from Mikhail. In traveling across the halls, it felt wrong to be here alone. He had never belonged among such wealth, and now he was here. And yet, Mikhail had trusted him to go alone, saying that the letter should be enough.

Upon finding the chamber, Lukas knocked, to be greeted by a man with a long grey beard, blue eyes, and a weathered expression. The man narrowed his eyes, before Lukas gave him the letter. The man turned and nodded, then he signed it, gesturing at Lukas to go back. His anxiety grew, though. Especially now. As he made his way back to Mikhail, he showed the documents.

“I feel like that was far too easy,” Lukas said.

“His seal means he approved of it,” Mikhail said. “He usually prefers my recommendations. It’s why work at the palace, and I afford a nice mansion at home. I am to show you to the university though, and you should pack your things.”

“Well, let me do that,” Lukas chuckled. He then turned away, before pivoting back. “I’m packed now. Is that alright?”

“Heh,” Mikhail said. “I suppose I ought to pay you, though. That will be twenty-nine coins for your service.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Lukas said.

“I should mention the language class is conditional, though,” Mikhail said. “If you do this for Lord Isidor, you will be expected to at least give him a year of your work.”

50 coins, and I now have a new language class to attend to. Working for the king’s advisor sounds far out of my league, but I will do it anyway, I suppose.”