Penumbra, Scales of Knowledge

Knowledge is the oldest currency in existence—and the deadliest weapon ever created. The gods abandoned the world twenty years ago. At least, that is what history claims. Yet their blessings remain. Their magic still flows. And kingdoms continue to wage war in their names. Reno, an orphan raised amid the ashes of war, never intended to challenge the truths upon which the world was built. Taken in by Master Noste, one of the Empire's last rune scribes, he is given a rare opportunity: a future beyond hunger, poverty, and survival. But fate has other plans. The mysterious talent that earned Reno his place vanishes as suddenly as it appeared, leaving him unable to wield the very power that once defined his destiny. While others see failure, a dying scholar named Varnian sees something far more dangerous. A question. As Reno follows the trail of forbidden research left behind by his mentor, he begins to uncover unsettling contradictions hidden beneath centuries of accepted knowledge. Ancient runes behave in ways they should not. The blessings of the gods resemble forgotten forms of magic. Scholars disappear after asking the wrong questions. And somewhere beyond the battlefield, someone is working very hard to ensure certain truths remain buried. While empires clash, monsters roam the frontier, and old legends stir beneath the surface of history, Reno finds himself drawn into a mystery far older than any kingdom. A mystery that may reveal where magic truly comes from. A mystery that may explain why the gods left. And a mystery powerful enough to change the fate of the world itself. Because some lies become foundations. And some truths are worth starting a war for. Penumbra is a progression fantasy and mystery-driven epic about knowledge, discovery, war, and the price of seeking answers in a world built upon secrets.