"Alright," Farid finally said, his eyes soft but still carrying the weight of a ruler's authority. "For that scroll, I'll make an exception. You can take it with you. I'll speak directly with the library curator and get special permission for you."
Ren almost couldn't believe it. "Seriously?"
Farid nodded. "Yes. But I ask one thing in return. May I?"
Ren gave a casual shrug. "Yeah, if it's something I can do, then I don't mind."
The young sultan leaned back in his chair and stared directly at Ren. "Because I've never seen technology like yours before… I want to ask you something plainly. You must come from a very distant land. And… about the rumors of heroes summoned from the western kingdom—are you one of them?"
Ren took a breath, then nodded. "That's right."
His honesty made Farid raise an eyebrow. "You're not denying it?"
"What's the point in denying it?" Ren replied flatly. "If I wanted to keep it a secret, I wouldn't be flying around the city in glowing armor."
