The lecture hall smelled faintly of old parchment and polished wood. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, dust motes drifting lazily in the warm air. Students shuffled into their seats, adjusting cloaks and notebooks, murmuring quietly about the new history professor.
Professor Caelum Dareth of the Dukedom of Nether stepped onto the podium, his posture calm but commanding. "Welcome to History of the Kingdom," he began, voice precise, yet carrying a subtle weight. "Knowledge of our past is not mere trivia. It shapes our understanding of the present—and the choices you make tomorrow."
He gestured to a vast mural behind him, depicting the kingdom's major wars and milestones. "We've endured countless conflicts. Empires rise and fall, Dukedoms prosper or vanish. To understand why, you must study the records critically, question what is written, and discern between truth and legend."
As the lecture unfolded, Professor Dareth highlighted pivotal battles, treaties, and alliances, carefully noting how different Dukedoms chronicled the same events in conflicting ways. The students scribbled notes furiously, some wide-eyed at the magnitude of the kingdom's history.
Finally, Professor Dareth leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "For your assignment, you will research a significant event from the last war. You will form groups of five. Your task: review the records from each Dukedom involved and present your findings. Compare accounts. Note discrepancies. Discuss what these differences might imply about the nature of truth and the power of narrative."
The students exchanged glances. Forming groups of five, Alex, Riven, Kael, Saphira, and Edrin naturally gravitated toward one another, sharing a table near the hall's corner.
"I'll take the Veymore records," Alex said, already opening a scroll. "Let's see what the Dukedom that no longer exists has to say."
Riven leaned over, smirking. "Look at this, Cupcake," he said, pointing to the scroll. "Veymore claims the Battle of Iron Pass was flawless. Minimal casualties, precise execution, perfect strategy."
Alex's eyes scanned the text carefully. "And yet," he murmured, "the other six Dukedoms' accounts paint a very different picture. They all mention betrayal, disorganization, and massive losses. Either Veymore is lying, or the other Dukedoms are."
Kael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Or… Veymore is telling the truth, and the rest are twisting the narrative to justify what happened afterward. Remember, that Dukedom no longer exists. The Duke was executed, the family scattered. History was rewritten."
Saphira leaned closer, curiosity sparkling. "So… someone might be hiding something."
"Exactly," Alex said, flipping through another scroll. "Notice how Veymore describes key strategic moves that contradict every other account. For example, they claim their vanguard held the Iron Bridge unbroken, while five other Dukedoms insist it collapsed because of internal betrayal. That's not just exaggeration—it's a direct conflict."
Edrin's brow furrowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "So… we can't know who's telling the truth?"
Riven grinned, nudging Alex. "That's why we've got you, Cupcake. You see the gaps no one else notices."
Alex's lips curved in a small, knowing smile. "At the very least, the discrepancies are obvious. Veymore's account is polished, cleaned of any hint of internal failure. The other Dukedoms either tried to justify the accusations against them or obscure the truth."
Kael leaned back in his chair, voice calm but firm. "This is exactly what the professor intended. He's testing our observation, our willingness to think critically. Most students will just copy what's written and submit it. Only those who notice the contradictions, who question what they read, will stand out."
Saphira and Edrin exchanged glances, impressed. "So… it's like a test of intellect and discernment," Edrin whispered.
"Precisely," Alex said. "We do what we're supposed to for class, but our observations here could mean far more than just a grade."
The afternoon passed in quiet study, the table littered with scrolls, notebooks, and ink-stained fingers. Alex cross-referenced records from every Dukedom, marking every contradiction, noting vague or omitted details. Riven hovered nearby, occasionally whispering playful commentary and keeping the mood light.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the group had compiled their notes, yet Alex's mind raced with questions about what truly happened at Iron Pass. While the class assignment was complete, the seeds of curiosity—and perhaps rebellion against a carefully controlled historical narrative—had already been planted.
Author's Note:
History class can be more than just dates and battles 📜✨. Alex and the gang are learning to read between the lines—sometimes the truth is hidden in what's not written. Comment, vote, and follow to see how their discoveries unfold! 💜