A few days later in Walker Soliraine's apartment in the Northwest of the Wainwright Settlement.
Fye hawl, tu el vier, Va'rue ar wael...!
Familiar ravings entered Walker's ears, a painful throb on his back, intensified by his emotions. He would hear them when alone, terrified and sad.
The man was alone in his dark, concealed house. Each window had been sealed with wooden planks, lights of the night barely creeping through the tiny cracks in them.
The wind pressed against the windows and it produced creaks together with the whistling of the air that passed through.
Soliraine curled, facing a corner and scratching his bareback, his nails digging deeper each turn, his right hand especially carving an obscene look.
"It's suffocating..." He said to himself.
"If it's my life you're after then take it already..." He turned his gaze to the dark ceiling with the shadows of light on it.
Walker's chest tightened and he felt as though someone was pouring boiling water inside, his left hand couldn't handle the heat drawing near so the only arm he could comfort his chest with was his vile and wicked looking right arm.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Walker heard three consecutive knocks on his door, it stopped all the ravings and pain, he felt that the mercy of death was once again stripped of him but it was better than the pain he was previously feeling.
Three more knocks echoed in the empty apartment as he put on a white shirt. And when he opened it, he saw Sidric who Walker wasn't very fond of but didn't harbor any hatred towards.
His tense body relaxed for once and he loosened his guard.
"Good morning, good hunter. You look like you've seen a ghost" Sidric's tone had a certain level of sarcasm to it but it was in a friendly manner.
"I've seen worse." Walker welcomed him in and sat on his lofty chair while expecting Sidric to sit on the couch.
Sidric closed the door and did exactly that.
The foil wrapped sandwich Sidric brought with him had turned somewhat cold but not so cold that it couldn't be eaten.
He offered it to Walker but he just looked at him before saying, "What brings you here? If it's for the interrogation then tell your boss that I'll get there when I want." He leaned back on his chair and rested, battling against his almost eternal fatigue.
"Not quite." Sidric pushed the sandwich further and continued, "What I want is your time, just the two of us."
A jolt struck from Walker's feet all the way up to his brain as he revealed a grimaced reaction.
"Your tone is… something..."
Sidric broke out into a laughter, his suggestive tone was always provocative towards Walker. And he was the only one not used to Sidric's sarcasm.
The laughter disappeared as Sidric took on more of a serious expression, "Eat up. We'll be heading to the Relené Mansion right away."
Walker raised an eyebrow but agreed as he had questions himself that needed answers.
Walker quickly ate up, he'd have preferred a more filling meal but a sandwich wasn't so bad.
After he finished, the two left after Sidric rented a carriage and headed to the Relené Mansion.
•••
At the front of the Relené Mansion, there stood two men who had recently departed from the West of the Serina District. They held paper coffee cups they had bought on their way.
Sidric Baskerville took off his hat and threw it inside the carriage they rented and slicked his charcoal black hair back.
Walker took a big sip of the black bean coffee, one that he did not like but was the most effective against his lethargy. He crushed the paper cup and stuffed it into his pocket as thrashing the streets was against the law.
His expression turned sour, making him let out a rough cough but on the good side, he felt a surging energy that evaporated his fatigue.
"Alright. What now? Did you even seek him or the police for permission?" Walker's patience was like a fragile glass that could be stabilized or broken depending on what would be said next.
The charcoal haired Sidric finished his coffee and threw the cup inside the bush, "No need, I'm a Blazeheart myself."
Within 6 meters, Sidric who was slightly shorter than the 190 centimeters Walker stopped to continue his expressive enthusiasm about the upcoming venture, "This really feels like a novel. I'm glad I was recruited."
Walker, who was barely interested in anything at all, gave his reply as honestly as he could, "Nothing to be excited about a murder scene."
"I guess you're right." Sidric nodded and his usual expression turned into something serious.
"What a cruel fate befell that couple…" Creasing his eyebrows, he expressed sadness to Walker for the first time.
Sidric clenched his fist, "The poor child passed before he could walk." He grit his teeth and barely held himself together.
Having no ability to show remorse, Walker silently watched the mansion and its magnificent design and size.
After a moment of silence, Walker could think much better and notice things he couldn't before.
"Your words suggest you knew the couple, if so, what do you think caused their murder?"
"No clue actually. They lived a pretty simple life and were kinder than most of the other tycoons… the wife at least." Sidric's face twitched in an attempt to hide his emotions.
Walker reached into his pocket and brought out his compass. The needle moved naturally, indicating no sign of supernatural abnormalities.
A sudden breeze pushed past, Sidric who was usually cheerful became awfully gloomy.
"What was Ms Lucille doing in the mansion?" Their eyes engaged in a momentary stare, Walker who did not know either became frustrated at the sudden accusation.
Walker bent his head and gave him a cold glare, "What are you getting at?"
Sidric regained his usual cheeriness but Walker sensed the falseness straight away, he smiled and replied, "Wouldn't you like to know too?"
The tension eased up, Walker exasperated a cold breath before agreeing, he didn't have much to lose besides some time which he didn't have much use for at the time.
After seeing him nodding, Sidric quickly moved towards the wooden door after unlocking the iron gate.
He moved in a manner which resembled the heroes in detective novels which both of the temporary investigators seemed to have read.
Ridiculous, mimicking a book character right after showing remorse, Cloud would never! Walker remarked inwardly, with a belittling smirk on his face.
Cloud Angus was the protagonist of a newly trending detective novel produced by an author within the royal palace, called "The Cloudy Judgement." It was quite popular among people of all genders and ages in the Settlement of Wainwright.
From over the door, Sidric waved at the patient Walker, holding in his hand the key of the 7 Answers, an item given to the Blazehearts for cases of emergency. A relic capable of unlocking almost any door.
He made the generosity of opening the door before Walker even arrived,
Much appreciated. Walker complimented Sidric for the first time inwardly.
They entered the mansion with bare effort, it actually had the usually apathetic Walker excited, his blood was rushing to his head.
He even considered joining the Blazehearts but that thought was almost immediately brushed off. Having such items on hand would make his life several times easier.
Upon entering, they saw the place brightly lit by the sunlight but it still had the eeriness from that night.
The hall where Walker fought the Spirit sent a shiver through his entire body.
He noticed the bullet marks on the wall near the stairs, a chunk of visible dust gathered on the ground right below the mark.
"A bullet mark?" Sidric noticed the mark, then noticed all the others in the first floor.
The culprit behind the firing remained silent, until Sidric himself drew a conclusion. "The Boss needs to watch how he fires, he's gotten too sloppy."
Walker let out a sigh and placed his hand on his chest, he didn't feel any heartbeat but was relieved.
"Let's split up." Suggested Sidric and pointed towards the room opposite to the hall, the bullet marks intrigued him so he chose to go that way.
Walker went to the living room, where the demon pinned him down. It contained a fireplace which after examination had been extinguished for at least a week, meaning the couple had been inactive for longer than that period.
The servings of cake and tea remained the same as that night, slightly worse.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary during Walker's search of the living room until Walker noticed a dent made one of the carpet's edges.
On one knee, he lifted the carpet and saw several folded papers laid on the ground beneath the dusty yet still soft carpet.
A few flicks blew the dust settling on the folded papers.
Walker comfortably sat down on the couch, he didn't cross his legs because it would be too disrespectful as he was merely a guest, even if the owners were deceased.
The first of the letters was received 2 years ago on the 16th of July, the letter said, "My daughter… Julie, I speak to you sincerely that I am proud of you."
Daughter…? It must be a parent of the bride. He continued reading the contents.
"I can't begin to trust your husband, but your judgement has always been sound. I say this because I care for your well being, as your father!"
Oh, her father! This is touching…
"You're the only one I have left, your mom separated when you were little and there has been no one there for me but my pride and joy, so come home whenever you wish. You will always be welcome… Your father, Jared."
Walker's initial thought was that it was a worrying father but it fell between the line of worrying and obsessive as he read the rest of the letters that were under the same address and name.
He skimmed through them until the last two remained. It was suggested that Julie had a disability around her leg, as her father continuously mentioned how it wasn't a weakness.
I wonder what she had to say about them… surely he wasn't ignored if Julie was as great as Sidric described her.
The second to last letter: "Julie! I'm sorry for the past two years that I have been nagging you continuously but I have come to terms with everything. I'll be coming to visit you soon, and properly introduce myself to the new family you have built. Greet me at the Train Station if you can—I'll be there on December 26, looking forward to it. Your humble father, Jared."
The 26th!? That's in three days! The poor man likely had no idea his daughter was already dead.
Walker set aside his thoughts and finally unfolded the final letter, This one, unlike the others had no name.
"Father. There is no need to apologize for anything—I knew it all came in good faith and I thank you for trusting my judgement. Hans is a great man, you can confirm it yourself! I can't wait to see you, papa. I have a HUGE surprise!" The letter continued as Julie described her daily life and ventures and it ended with, "Your dearest, Julie!"
…Must have been the baby. Walker pinched the bridge of his nose before neatly folding and tucking the letters in his coat pocket.
"Hey, Soliraine! Over here!" A muffled voice sounded from above, Walker immediately turned and bolted upstairs.
The double door to the home office stood wide open, Sidric crouched by the white outline of the bodies, his gloved hand examined the ground filled with glass shards, he seemed taken aback.
"What's the matter?" asked Walker, his expression sharpened by his curiosity.
Sidric held up the shard, the jagged edges catching the dim light. "This is from a mirror!" he explained, with a grave tone.
Walker furrowed his brow, awaiting further explanation.
"A mirror is a common tool for summoning spirits from the other world or similar malevolent entities in our realm. This is magic!"
As Sidric spoke, the shard's edge glinted, pointing at Walker's bandaged arm. Walker noticed and immediately hid it behind his back, asking,
He brought his compass out and didn't see it acting oddly. He placed it back inside his pocket and asked, "What reasoning would a spirit have to kill them, Don't they need the host alive to possess and have them do their bidding?"
Did the couple offer themselves as sacrifice for such a ritual, or were they really killed by an exterior force? Questions churned Walker's mind, before Sidric interrupted by adding, "We still can't be sure if it's magic entirely,"
Walker kept his expression steady, waiting for his temporary partner to continue.
"When did the spirit appear before you?"
Walker thought back to the moment he first entered, the shots he fired still vivid in his memory, but just to be sure he gave Sidric the vague version.
"When I first went in… and after seeing Lucille."
Sidric reached for his coat pocket and took out a towel to wrap the shard with and tucked it back where it came from.
After standing up, Sidric dusted himself off and explained, "I'll get it examined later,"
"Luckily this remained. The Erfinders must've taken the rest."
A few seconds passed, Walker had stopped thinking momentarily as exhaustion before he was awoken again.
"Let's look around a bit more." Sidric rolled out his pocket watch and set up a timer for 30 minutes.
Walker excused himself to the shelf on the left side. On it, he saw books on economy, psychology and history, not a single book was related to anything that interested Walker or the case.
Right when his patience began to deteriorate, a book caught his eye. What differentiated it from the others was the red writing it on the spine.
It read a strange word, one Walker could not make sense of. "Zalure." Its font was extravagant and classy and the cover was made of navy blue leather.
He pushed the bottom of the book and pushed its top forward and pulled it out of the shelf.
In an instant, the book felt heavy in his hand. It felt as though freezing hands were clutching his insides.
But all the same, his right hand rapidly flipped through its pages. None of the words were in a language Walker was familiar with.
Nevertheless, he began hearing murmurs in his head. Raspy and distant voices that spoke various incomprehensible words but there were exceptions.
The ones who particularly stood out were: "Help… Save Us…. Sacrifice A Maiden Of Light…" and finally the one which shocked Walker the most… "Alan Starborne…!!!" That was said in the most aggressive manner.
Walker found his consciousness traveling through a tunnel of light of varying colors like a shooting star.
Unexpectedly coming to a halt, Walker witnessed a strange and a dystopian view. He could view the entire city-scaled area from a bird's eye view.
There stood a tall tree, one that extended to the Earth's atmosphere. It carried red and bulging fruits that were unlike anything Walker had seen.
Surrounding that tree were houses, who appeared small to him from his height.
Walker felt his body being pulled down. His vision became sharper, more focused and almost unreal by the way he observed everything.
While falling, he noticed a boy. A boy with pitch black hair wearing an ancient style of robes prescribed in historical paintings. His eyes reminded Walker of the abyss continuously described in the books of historical archeologists by the way it continuously grew deeper and sucked his gaze in.
Being pulled closer, Walker could now see the boy's lips moving.
His hearing became clear and solely focused on the boy as he muttered, his eyes looking up to Walker's direction. "...Alan Starborne…" this time it was much calmer but also emotionless.
Suddenly Walker felt his down-faced fall come to an abrupt stop as his body turned up and his eyes became filled with the tunnel of colorful light again.
Landing him back to Earth was a hand that placed on Walker's shoulder, instantaneously shutting all the murmurs and the book together.
Walker let out a heavy gasp as if he was being suffocated by everything he heard, felt and went through and… held.
"You doing okay?" Sidric carried a worried tone.
The colors in Walker's vision flickered from normal to inverted a few times and gradually returned to normal.
The book slipped from his hands and fell on the ground. Walker's breathing heavy as he answered. "Yeah…"
Sidric pulled his hand away then patted Walker on the back. "I hope you're right."
He then went on to check Hans Relené's desk while still talking. "You were standing there like a ghost for about 28 minutes so I got worried." He continued pulling the desk's drawers one after the other, ultimately finding nothing of special attention.
Almost half an hour!? He found it surprising as the time he had spent with his consciousness traveling felt no longer than three minutes.
I have to be more careful from now… Walker kneeled down, wondering if he should touch the book again in order to put it back to its place but in the end nothing happened when he did.
The office room contained novels, educational and especially philosophical and psychological books, those two topics had the largest quantity.
The rest of the house had nothing unusual, just things any normal family would keep.
Sidric looked at the time, it was almost 10 AM. Despite only finding a few clues, Sidric felt satisfied, and that he discovered a lead that could help solve the case.
Click!
Two minutes passed and they found nothing that could lead them directly to the next stage of the mystery. Sidric closed the case and walked out the door with Walker.
"I swear I'll get to the bottom of this." Sidric made a chivalrous vow, clutching his pocket watch.
His mouth opened with the intention of saying something but closed again right after.
Sidric, after thinking, realized there was no more to be said. "Hope we can investigate together again, it was kind of fun not doing it alone."
His usual attitude returned right after exiting the house, it was like he was two different people in and outside the investigation area.
Cheerful after a murder investigation of someone close… you're the strangest one I know. Walker sighed, and bade farewell.
•••
A little later in a Boulevard near the Relené Mansion.
Walker strolled alone, as usual, observing the surroundings filled with people, the children playing, some with their parents.
Stalls, carts and merchants selling all kinds of goods ranging from home essentials to children's toys. Despite all the pain in their hearts, Walker saw them cheerfully forgetting that pain by spending that time elsewhere instead of holing up in a corner.
The kind of atmosphere that deepened Walker's solitude but unlike his apartment, he couldn't carve into himself or beat himself over his helplessness.
He snapped to his senses when something radiant and… beautiful captured his eyes. Hair redder than roses, waving like flames in the air while radiating the hot sun. Her navy blue clothes, long yet unable to touch the ground due to her velocity.
The woman carried herself well, like a paragon of strength. She passed but left Walker dazzled by her presence, it was like watching a falling star, every now and then she'd pass like so and every time, Walker would be more enticed by her presence.
But sadly, even a falling star can only capture one's attention while it's passing and not a single person tries to reach for it, the same way that Walker never tried approaching her.
Walker was about to return to his usual sadness, staring down so he could never witness anything else he could never reach. The massive clocktower behind him shielded him from the sun but not from the cold he felt but could not react to.
In a flash, a thread of the color red came out of the ground, lingering like a worm and extending as far as Walker could see as he raised his head.
He cautiously followed the line, it was just like what Lucille had shown him, the red thread was mostly connected to the stronger demons.
It eventually led him to an alley, similar to where they were ambushed. Walker felt it was way too reckless but maybe that's the way he wanted it.
"Ah… Soliraine…" A whisper near his ear froze him in place, the distant sound of the crowd becoming painfully quiet, Walker's ears rang.
The red thread swirled and a figure formed. "How foolish of you to follow death when it calls you."
Its face was covered by a mask—no, dense flesh harder than rock with weird letters and unlike other demons, this one had a more 'human' form, its feet were forward and human-like arms but it extended to below its knees. With horns that grew upside down, piercing its neck.
Is this the "father" the worm spoke of? A sweat dropped off Walker's head and he felt his back drenched. He was terrified but it wasn't apparent in his stance.
The demon made a blood-curdling cackle and continued, "You've peeked into the unknown, an irreversible action… you must face the consequences…"