The crisp morning air of spring filled the lungs of Jonas. A man in his middle age, balding with a thick beard and dark skin, briskly walked through the city streets. He carried several leather pouches to his side and several larger leather messenger bags on his back. He observed the morning activity of a bustling city with a smile on his face. The surging spring-time climate had swept out the dreary months of winter. The season of mud was ending, giving the city streets a newfound pleasantry that had been missed. It was this kind of transformation that Jonas loved to observe on his morning walks into work. But Jonas did not live close to his place of work.
Most would take a carriage or a dragon flight carrier, all much faster options than walking the distance and ascending the sequence of staircase to make it to the Archives of Hallador. But Jonas knew his body needed consistent effort to keep in tune and operating how a healthy human body should operate. He enjoyed the sensation of getting his heart rate up and the blood flowing through his veins. He had to physically energize his body if he wanted to energize his mind. The slight chill in the air was a bonus he enjoyed during the springtime months, keeping his skin cool while his core temperature rose from the physical action of his morning walk.
Jonas valued the time in the early morning to get the physical exercise he needed since he would spend the rest of the day engaged in intellectual activities limited to the confines of a desk. That was the nature of work he did at the Archives of Hallador. He loved his work, but he knew how important it was to keep healthy in body, mind, and spirit.
Jonas rounded the corner of a larger building, nearly crashing into a large dragon meandering down the street way.
“Oh, excuse me,” Jonas said, “guess I need to slow down a bit.”
The dragon smiled, “Not to worry, I need to learn to speed up a bit!” the old dragon said with a laugh. They nodded and continued their way.
Jonas loved the morning hours of the city. Without the crowds it, was easier to navigate and observe the people and dragons going about their daily routine. Hunters bringing their fresh game to the local butchers and markets. A dragon hauling a large crate of baskets to a local merchant. His morning walk was a symphony of sights, sounds, and scents. The emotion and energy of the fish market, contrasting against the smell of leather, and stains from the local artisans and crafters all, surging to a crescendo of smells from the baker’s market. He often stopped at one of his favorite bakeries to collect several pastries for himself and his fellow co-workers should he feel the need to celebrate the slightest of events.
The distance of his morning walk gave him time to observe and enjoy a city as it stretched in the morning sun, preparing for a day of commerce, activity, and excitement. The simplicity, peace and solitude gave his mind the setting it needed to wander and contemplate. Though the same pattern happened every morning, the intricate ecosystem of a city like Hallador fascinated Jonas. He loved watching the people and dragons do what they loved to do. It was what made the city of Hallador what it is today. A haven of creativity, intelligence, invention, learning, and a leader of thought and education.
“Hallador”, he thought to himself. “What a fascinating phenomenon.” Through his career and academics, Jonas learned of all kinds of other civilizations throughout the world, and Hallador was truly unique. Since the beginning of their recorded history, he had studied other civilizations that rose to greatness, only to crumble on their own prideful accolades of accomplishment. None of them rose to the greatness of Hallador. The buildings Hallador built, the education they could foster, the many inventions and creations were beyond anything any other civilization created. The kingdom of Tyrnor was the only other civilization that could compare in size and ability with Hallador.
But one race of beings inhabited Tyrnor. Hallador was unique in that two completely different races of beings founded the city together. How their ancestors could put aside their inborn differences and find harmony was a fascinating topic for Jonas. Many other civilizations throughout the world struggled with the ability to maintain peace. But Hallador didn’t.
Why?
Questions can be dangerous for a curious mind. A simple question of why would branch into two more questions. Was it because of their type of government? Was it because their civilization was based on two very different beings that view life in unique ways? His mind would split each question into two more questions, exponentially creating more and more questions supporting the topic. The organizational sense of Jonas would arrange the questions based on topics and how to study each topic.
“That’s it!” His mind declared!
“This topic needed to be studied. What was it that made Hallador what it was, what gave it the spirit and longevity to outlast the typical rise and fall cycle, what was it that gave Hallador the heart it had,” he thought to himself.
Jonas wanted to pursue a higher-level academic study to further his career. This could be the answer. Jonas thought about the topic. There was no research he knew of that addresses such questions. A topic such as peace was critical to their own future of a civilization and others. He couldn’t stop thinking of the goodness such a study could provide to the other countries and kingdoms. A noble effort to unify the many kingdoms throughout the land.
His heart swelled with excitement. It was such a brilliant idea. He loved Hallador; he has watched her grow; he was a part of her. It would be wonderful to study the entity that inspired so much wonder and awe. He was already thinking though the number of interviews and the historical studies to connect past trends and philosophies with that of current ways of thinking. The information was there. He just had to bring it all together.
Hallador founded its greatness on something special. There were many sagas of great kings and queens, noble humans, and dragons. Jonas wondered what humans and dragons were like before Hallador’s foundation, and why they joined forces to begin with. The Consortium of Ancient Studies existed for hundreds of years, and despite extensive work, they never discovered much about life before the kingdom of Hallador. They identified several leaders of the ancient world, but all writings focused on their founding efforts to build the kingdom. What was their life like before then? Jonas then thought about Tyrnor. Jonas knew the kingdom of Tyrnor had far more records of their ancient world than Hallador. Why did they decide to record their history while dragons and humans seemed to have no desire for such things?
Why? There was that question again.
Is it possible the common language caused a delay or hiccup in the way the inhabitants communicated or recorded their histories? Once they established the common language, they made all kinds of records from the beginning of Hallador’s foundation. Why did they not record their histories?
Jonas shrugged as his mind considered the possibility of the ancient days being more clan driven, and it’s possible not all the clans and tribes got along. Some hated each other. But what about Tyrnor? Why was there no collaboration between Hallador and Tyrnor? The history of Tyrnor could hold traces to the ancient life of dragons and humans?
Why?
The questions were endless. Jonas smiled. Maybe he could include a journey to Tyrnor as part of his studies. Jonas chuckled to himself. He was a bit of an outlier in his field. Most were older and not physically capable of a journey to Tyrnor. Jonas smiled. It was exciting to think of a project that would allow and even encourage him to travel again like he did in his younger years.
Normally Jonas liked his morning walks because it invigorated his body, but today, his soul was far more excited than his body. The more and more he thought about it, he wondered why scholars have not tried connecting all these pieces. Why was Hallador successful when other cultures were not? Why was Hallador not working with other kingdoms for a collective history of the world? It is critical to record who we are as a civilization. Without it, we just become artifacts lost in time.
Jonas couldn’t wait to tell his friend and mentor Rasmus about his ideas and his plans to write a formal request for study. With a burst of energy, Jonas climbed the many stairs leading up to the garden courtyards of the city archives. The Archives of Hallador loomed magnificently over the city below, keeping watch, protecting the civilization below. It didn’t matter how many times Jonas ascended the staircases to the inspiring set of buildings, it always gave him a sense of awe.
Jonas made his way to his designated employee entrance. After clearing his security credentials, he entered the long hallway. To the average person, the inner workings of the archives were a maze of hallways, rooms, and tunnels. Working there came with a sense of pride in knowing where to turn and how to navigate from one place to the next. Opening the door to his office and work area, he hoped to write out his thoughts from his morning walk before Rasmus came into work. Rasmus was a good friend and mentor. Jonas paused.
Hanging there on the coat rack was the overcoat of Rasmus. Did Rasmus get there before him? It was an unusual behavior for Rasmus. Jonas was always there early. He enjoyed the peace and calm of his moments alone; it gave him time to think and prepare for the day or write in his journal. Rasmus was a much older man. Jonas usually came in much later than Rasmus. Jonas looked around. His mentor’s belongings and leather satchel were still there. Why would Rasmus come in so early?
Starting the day with a question seemed fitting.
“Rasmus!” Jonas called out. Only silence responded. Jonas listened for the sounds of any movement.
“Rasmus?” Jonas called out again. Curiosity turned to concern. Did something happen to Rasmus late last night? Is he okay? “He is an old man but seemed in good health and spirits,” Jonas thought to himself. Still, Jonas did not hear any response.
“Rasmus! Are you in here?”
(Continued in Chapter 1 - Journey into the Valley of Myrr)