Chapter 77: Echoes Of Murder
Seraphina sat in her office chair, posture upright, her gaze fixed upon the desk before her. Two fresh reports lay there, neatly placed as though awaiting her judgment. Lyra had delivered them earlier that morning, and Seraphina had been waiting for this very moment to review them.
She reached forward, her hands calm yet deliberate, and lifted the reports. The parchment felt coarse against her fingers. She did not open them immediately. Instead, she let her gaze linger, allowing her thoughts to gather.
A week ago, she had voiced her suspicion to Aldren: the killings were too precise, too deliberate, to be unrelated. The similarity between the S-ranked adventurer's death and the young woman's made it almost inevitable that the same hand had struck them both.
Her blue eyes narrowed as she finally spread the reports open.
"Yes… the wounds… the same cruel elegance. Throat slit cleanly, almost surgically. No hesitation, no clumsy struggle. Different settings, different victims, but the cut itself is nearly identical. Whoever did this carries the same hand, the same blade, the same purpose."
Her lips pressed into a faint line as her gaze slid lower. Something almost insignificant caught her eye, a detail often overlooked. She stilled.
"The adventurer possessed two elements. Earth… and healing. The woman possessed only one. Healing. A pattern?" Her thoughts sharpened like glass. "It could be nothing. A meaningless coincidence. Yet… why does it not feel meaningless to me?"
She leaned back slightly, letting silence envelop the office. The late morning sun poured through the window, gilding the desk in soft light, but she did not look at it. She was fixed on the page, unwilling to let go.
"Coincidence is too fragile a word when murder is involved. If the killer chose with such precision, then these people are not victims of whim. They were hunted. If so, then the true reason lies not in their lives, but in what they possessed. A certain element, perhaps. Healing. But I cannot be certain without Aldren's report."
At last, she allowed herself a slow breath, her eyes drifting toward the window. The town lay bright under the sun, cheerful and untroubled, its calm ignorant of the knife that had been moving in its shadows.
Her voice was low, almost inaudible to the empty room. "Could it be linked to that masked man… or to the knight's disappearance? We still do not know if he was kidnapped or killed. Too many questions. Too few answers."
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Arwyn entered, her boots tapping lightly against the floor. She saluted, her form straight and proper, though a faint hesitation shadowed her expression.
"Captain," Arwyn's voice carried a restrained weight, "your worst fear has come true. The knight… he was killed. We found his body buried behind his own house."
Seraphina's gaze shot to her, sharp and unyielding. She did not speak at once. Instead, she allowed the silence to stretch until Arwyn shifted uneasily. Only then did Seraphina lower her gaze slightly, her tone even. "I see. Continue. Leave nothing unsaid."
Arwyn swallowed lightly before continuing. "While retrieving the corpse, I examined the surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the shattered window. The shards were inside, Captain. The glass was pushed inward. That means the blow came from outside. The killer entered through force."
Her tone steadied as she went on. "After that, the knight was killed. The throat was slit… just as with the others. Then, judging by the markings, the body was thrown through the broken window and dragged out. I found faint traces of blood there. It was nearly hidden, but still present. From there, the body was buried quickly. Too quickly. The soil was disturbed, uneven. Whoever did it was in haste."
Seraphina tapped her finger lightly against the desk, eyes unwavering. "And your conclusion?"
Arwyn's voice dropped slightly. "The murder bears the same hand as the other two."
"I see." Seraphina clasped her fingers tightly. "Now… it is no longer a theory or mere speculation. I am certain these three murders were carried out by the same man. How could I have overlooked it? He is strong, and not only that, he is skilled with a sword. Each killing was done in the same style, the same method repeated again and again. There's no way it was done by different people. The murderer… is the Masked Man."
She paused for a moment, then added, "At first I thought it might be a group, but it is not. It was him all along, hunting people down… and a coward who would not face me, choosing instead to run."
Arwyn gave a slow nod. "Of course, ma'am. It all makes sense now. But if it truly is only one man, then I still don't understand why he is killing people in the same way. Wouldn't it be far smarter to change his methods so we would have no clear trail to follow? Yet he keeps repeating the same pattern. Why? Is there some hidden reason behind it?"
Seraphina's gaze grew even sharper. "Could be. I might have thought him to be a simple killer driven by madness, but he is far too clever for that. Every step he takes is calculated. To my mind, he is mocking us. Or perhaps he has a greater plan, something he wants to achieve through this repetition. Or maybe he believes himself too perfect to ever be caught. Either way, I will not allow him to slip through so easily."
Arwyn looked at her curiously, though her eyes glimmered faintly. "What do you mean, Captain? What should we do now? Do you already have a plan?"
The captain leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. For a moment she glanced down at the report, as if trying to piece everything together more clearly. "Arwyn. Find out what element that knight possessed. His records should still be within the Knight Order's prison. Also, gather everything he has done up to this point. Which cases he has been involved in. Go there at once."
Arwyn blinked, almost startled by the sudden command. "Captain…? Did you uncover something in those reports?"
Seraphina lifted her gaze slowly, her cold blue eyes gleaming like tempered steel. "Yes. Both the adventurer and the young woman possessed the same element… healing. I believe there is a chance the knight may have shared that element as well."
Arwyn drew in a sharp breath, trying to compose herself though her tone trembled faintly. "So… are you suggesting these killings are directed at those with healing magic?"
"Possibly," Seraphina replied, voice smooth but merciless. "In the world of crime, what seems absurd may be truth. Coincidence is the most dangerous lie one can cling to. Even the smallest detail, the faintest thread, may unravel the entire scheme. If it proves that all three shared this element… then we will know for certain these killings are no matter of chance. It could also be the same reason why the masked man keeps killing in the same manner. If we don't catch him soon…"
Arwyn's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of unease quickly replaced by sharpened resolve. "Then… another will fall, will they not? If this is true, Captain, there will be another murder soon. Done in the same manner."
Seraphina's gaze turned toward the window, her voice colder still. "Yes. That is what I fear. These murders will not stop here. They are moving according to some hidden pattern. We should have been more cautious from the beginning. Something has been stirring beneath the surface, Arwyn."
The subordinate bowed her head solemnly, then turned and departed, leaving Seraphina once again in silence with her thoughts. After that, she ordered Lyra to send a knight to keep watch on Eska's husband.
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Meanwhile, Kael sat quietly outside Arienne's mansion, in the training ground where the soft scent of lavender flowers always carried its strange effect. He rested at the edge of the water fountain, arms draped over his knees, watching the small figure seated before him with her legs crossed. The girl wore a pale gown that hung loosely on her frame, trimmed with more ribbons than Kael could ever count, and her face bore that overly serious expression children so often adopt when they wish to appear important.
Arienne had been forcing herself since the very first day she started. Every attempt looked the same to Kael: she would push too hard, grow frustrated, then repeat the same mistakes. Yet she never stopped, and that persistence, though reckless, had carried her further than he expected. Now her tiny chest rose and fell with long, heavy breaths, her brow knitted as though she were holding the world in place by sheer will.
In her mind, though, things were not so steady. She was sinking into darkness again, that same darkness that swallowed her every time she closed her eyes. It was endless and heavy, and no matter how much she tried to imagine something else, the blackness stretched on without change. But this time, as she pressed herself harder, something stirred. A warmth, faint at first, as if her thoughts themselves had begun to move toward some hidden place.
Her lips parted slightly. She did not understand what it was, only that the darkness shifted. Then, like a spark tearing into her vision, a light appeared. It was not wide or blinding, but small, no larger than her palm, and green in color, flickering like a flame that wanted to climb toward the dark sky. Her breathing grew heavy, and her heart beat with a sudden rush.
"I found it!" she blurted, unable to hold back her excitement.
Kael tilted his head, then stood up and walked to her side. He lowered himself and set a steady hand on her small shoulder. His voice came out calm and even, as though her shout had not startled him at all. "Don't leap up yet. Hold it. Keep watching it for a while. Don't just look... try to feel it. Let it move through you. Let it run in your body. Focus on that."
Arienne puffed her cheeks at him, clearly impatient, but his words still sank into her. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, gripping at the ribbon of her gown as though that would anchor her. "It's just a flame… how am I supposed to feel it? Why is everything so dark?" she muttered inside her head, frustration curling in her chest.
Yet she did not quit. She never quit. She clenched her small fists and forced herself to keep trying. Then, slowly, it came. A warmth in her stomach, small at first but spreading like water finding its way into every corner. The warmth traveled through her chest, her arms, even her fingertips, and her lips curved into a smile before she realized it. Unlike the fleeting moments before, this time the warmth did not vanish. It stayed, and with it came a sensation like wind moving gently inside her body, steady and almost rhythmic.
Her eyes flickered open and she whispered with a little gasp, "Is this… the mana tummy… like mister said?"
The excitement bubbled out of her, too strong to contain. "I can feel it! I can feel it! A warm wind flowing inside me. It's so soft, and it doesn't go away."
Kael chuckled quietly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Good. Now open your eyes, Arienne. You finally did it. Congratulations, Kiddo."
Her eyes snapped open and shone with triumph. In an instant she leapt to her feet, giggling wildly, her ribbons bouncing as she planted both fists on her waist like a conqueror. "I did it! I really did it! See, I'm not a kid. I'm an adult now. Look at me!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Kael groaned in mock defeat, shaking his head, though the amusement never left his face.
When she finally sat down again, she plopped herself directly across from him, refusing to be guided like before. She leaned forward, her voice demanding. "So what do I do now? You said the first thing is to feel my mana, and I did that. So what's next? Tell me. I can do it. Now."
Kael studied her for a moment, unable to stop himself from smiling faintly at her stubbornness. He let her impatience hang in the air for a breath before answering. "Since you can sense your mana core now, there's something else I need to know first. Tell me... what color was it?"
"Color?" Arienne tilted her head, repeating the word as if he had just spoken in another language. She scrunched her nose, then brightened. "Oh, you mean the mana tummy? It was green. Like grass, but glowing. And it looked kind of like a flame. But why do you care about that?"
Kael leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful, as though weighing something carefully before speaking. "Because the color can tell us about your element. Green often connects to nature, maybe trees, maybe healing. Both are possible, but I'm not certain yet. We need proof."
Her mouth dropped open, and she pointed at him accusingly. "Healing? No! I don't want to be a healer!"
"You don't get to choose," Kael replied evenly, though his eyes glimmered with quiet amusement at her outburst.
Arienne pouted but leaned forward again, eyes narrowing. "Then how do we know for sure?"
Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, palm-sized orb. The glass glinted faintly in the light, cold and lifeless for the moment. It was, of course, an element-detecting orb, which had cost him a little. Earlier, he had thought he had wasted all his money, and in a way, he had... he had used it to buy this. What a pity.
He held it out before her, his tone still calm. "Take this. Place your palm against it. Close your eyes, and push your mana into it. Remember the warmth in your body... push it out, into the orb."
Her eyes widened with wonder. She had been waiting for something like this, something that looked like magic instead of endless sitting and breathing. She did not even take the orb; instead, she eagerly pressed her small hand against it while Kael steadied it for her. It was cold under her touch, but that only made her grip firmer.
She closed her eyes and reached for the warmth again. At first she struggled, frowning and biting her lip, unable to catch it. But when she remembered how soft it had felt before, like wind brushing through her little body, it returned, clearer this time. She tried to push it forward, tried again and again until she thought she had failed.
But she had not.
"Open your eyes," Kael said quietly.
She obeyed, and the sight before her made her freeze. The orb was glowing. A soft, vibrant green light pulsed within it, alive and steady, brighter with each heartbeat. Arienne's mouth fell open as her eyes sparkled with delight.
Kael stared as well, his calm expression giving way to the faintest surprise. The orb did not lie. It was designed with enchanted stones to respond to elemental mana. Red for fire, grey for wind, blue for ice. And now, in Arienne's small palm, it shone bright green.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, studying the glow inside the orb as if it might change again if he looked away for even a second. His voice was calm, even a little flat, when he finally spoke. "It looks like you really do have the healing element. That's a rare gift, and a strong one. People would say it's a great element."
Arienne's laughter and sparkle vanished almost at once. Her shoulders slumped, and she let her small hand fall away from the orb. She did not want that. She never wanted to sit in the back, patching wounds while others fought. Her lips pressed into a line, and disappointment filled her eyes. She stared down at the orb with almost a glare.
Then, just as she was about to pull away completely, something shifted.
Her eyes widened. The green light inside the orb, steady and bright a moment ago, began to tremble. Slowly, almost painfully slow, another color bled into it. A yellow glow, faint at first but growing stronger, pressed against the green until it looked as though the colors were fighting. Yellow twisted and stretched, pushing into every corner, trying to devour the green, not stopping even when the orb resisted. Arienne's mouth fell open. The disappointment drained from her face and was replaced with astonishment, and then with hope. That hope burned in her eyes as the two colors danced together in the crystal.
"Mister…" she whispered, her voice trembling with excitement as she turned to him. "It's changing. It's really changing. Does this mean… does this mean I'm not just a healer?" Her voice cracked, desperate for the words she wanted to hear.
Kael rubbed the back of his neck with a lazy scratch, his tone unimpressed even as his eyes flickered with something sharper. "Guess so. Looks like you've got two elements after all. Healing is your first, and the second is…"
Arienne leaned so close she nearly fell forward, gripping her knees as though she could force him to speak faster. "What is it, Mister? Tell me!"
Kael let out a breath before replying flatly, "It's sound. You can control sound… or something along those lines."
"Sound?" Arienne blinked, her lips curling into a pout before rising into a mischievous grin. "What do you mean, sound? I don't understand. Is it some kind of strange power? Tell me it's unique! Tell me it's actually strong. It has to be. But I was still hoping for fire… fire would've been cooler."
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, not irritated but simply steady. "It is cool, Arienne. You just don't see it yet. Remember what I said. Elements aren't locked in a box. They can stretch as far as you're willing to push them. And sound… sound is boundless. You don't just have healing. You have sound as well. That alone makes you dangerous."
Arienne tilted her head, eyebrows furrowed, lips pressing in stubborn thought. "Even you don't sound sure, Mister. If you don't even know everything about it, how am I supposed to know what's so great about it? Hmph. Still…" Her expression softened into curiosity, her voice quieter though no less eager. "How does it work? How do I use it?"
Kael thought for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the orb that still glowed between them. Finally, he sighed, shifting his weight slightly. "Sound is invisible. You've read those silly adventure tales, haven't you? The ones where mages shoot fireballs that explode and shake the ground?"
Arienne nodded so quickly she looked almost like a bobbing cat, her eyes round and expectant.
Kael continued evenly, "You could do something like that. You can create attacks no one can see. Blasts, vibrations, maybe things that break walls or shatter weapons. Sound is all around us, but no one can grab it. That's what makes it dangerous. Your magic will strike without being seen."
The change in her was instant. Her lips spread into a wide grin, her eyes sparkling again with that overflowing, unstoppable excitement. Then she sprang up with the energy of a spring uncoiling. "Woah! Woah! So I really do have a cool ability. I have an invisible ability. That's amazing! It's going to be so much fun. Invisible magic, ha! I bet no one can beat me now!" She spun in circles around him, laughing so hard her ribbons bounced and tangled.
Kael watched her circling him, her tiny feet pattering on the grass, and though his face remained calm, a quiet thought flickered in his mind. Healing magic with sound magic. A rare combination. Interesting, more than interesting. Yet the true problem wasn't her elements at all. It was the sheer amount of mana flowing inside her. That much energy in a child's body was dangerous. Hard to control. Harder still to predict. If she ever lost control, the damage would not be small.
He lifted a hand slightly to his ear, already imagining the headaches to come. "If she screams too hard with that mana, I'll probably go deaf," he muttered under his breath.
Still, the faintest grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he stood. He dismissed the training for now. Enough had been discovered today. He had a quest to take, and even if laziness usually guided his choices, today felt different. There was a certain weight in the air, and on top of that, there was the matter of training with the psycho girl.
As she kept jumping and running in circles, Kael thought dryly to himself, "The way Arwyn hides her devil side is impressive. She acts so innocent, but she's dangerous. A man-eater in the making, no doubt."
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(Chapter Ended)