The next morning, Alphard woke to his usual routine, save for a fine drizzle beginning to soak the cobblestones of the avenues. The weather forced him into a few extra precautions if he didn't want to arrive at the station drenched.
He chose an elegant black wool overcoat, double-breasted with wide lapels and jet-black buttons, ideal for warding off the damp wind. The garment paired perfectly with his dark dress trousers and neatly polished shoes.
Before heading out, he took down an umbrella with steel ribs and a carved wooden handle to make the trip without incident.
Hope my shoes don't end up covered in mud, though with this ground, that's going to be tricky, he thought, eyeing the flooded street below.
He grabbed the top hat resting at the corner of the bed, settled it precisely on his head, and took up his usual cane.
He left the house and started walking at an easy pace toward the station; but a deafening peal of thunder rumbled overhead, rattling the glass of the streetlamps. The sound startled him slightly, urging him to pick up his pace.
Probably Didier up to his old tricks again, he thought, with a wry smile.
Arriving at the station, Alphard ran into Madeleine, who was also on her way down to the underground level.
"Morning, Alphard. How have you been?" she greeted him upon seeing him.
"Morning, Madeleine. Doing well, as you can see," he answered politely.
"Yes, glad to hear that," she said, absently twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers. "By the way, how's the job been treating you?"
"It's been tough, but I'm slowly getting used to it."
Madeleine simply smiled and nodded at his answer. Still, Alphard caught something unusual out of the corner of his eye: the young woman seemed far more nervous than usual, her cheeks flushed a vivid shade of pink.
"Something wrong?" Alphard asked, a touch concerned.
"No, nothing... I'm just a little lost in thought. My coworker finally agreed to go out with me, so I'm not quite sure what to do with myself," she confessed, her voice thin and hesitant.
"Nothing to be worried about. If he accepted the invitation, it means he's interested in getting to know you too."
The elevator came to a stop with a metallic click and slid open. The two of them walked in silence through the maze of dim corridors until they reached Charlotte's office. After a soft knock on the wood, the detective's voice let them in.
While Charlotte remained absorbed in her usual work, Didier sat reclined on the sofa, calmly flipping through a cookbook.
The moment Madeleine spotted him, she looked away instantly, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red. Didier, for his part, broke into a satisfied grin.
Alphard, catching the exchange, felt a small pang of discomfort at realizing he'd walked straight into the middle of some romantic tension.
Just as he was trying to process the little romantic tangle unfolding in front of him, Charlotte cut the scene short. Sitting upright behind her desk, that cold stare of hers fixed and unforgiving, she asserted her authority without ceremony:
"Alphard!"
"Morning, boss. What do you need?" he answered, startled at being caught off guard.
"Remember, you're traveling to Fercluse today with Antonie. Didier will be joining you both, though, so get ready. Antonie's already been notified."
Alphard nodded, understanding the urgency of the assignment. It was Madeleine, though, who felt the real blow: the warmth drained instantly from her face, replaced by a look shadowed with disappointment.
The long-awaited date had been set for that very night, but with a mission to Fercluse now in the way, it was obvious neither Didier nor the others would be back before the following day... or possibly even later than that.
Didier set the book down on the sofa and rose to approach Alphard, giving him a couple of friendly pats on the back with an easy grin. He then turned his gaze to Madeleine, who looked ready to burst into tears.
He crossed to her with an elegant gesture and spoke in a warm tone:
"I'm sorry, gorgeous. Your gentleman's going to have to postpone our engagement, but I promise — the moment I'm back, we'll walk toward our destiny together."
Despite the pointedly chivalrous tone, a faint hint of teasing floated beneath it. Still, the promise was genuine: once he returned from Fercluse, the date would happen.
Madeleine broke into a smile and gave a small bow of the head before turning toward Charlotte's desk, handing over a couple of folders.
Without lingering any further, she prepared to leave the office. Just before slipping through the doorway, though, she blew Didier a bold, flirtatious air kiss, drawing an unusual flush to the young man's cheeks.
"Well, aren't you bold!" he said, smiling.
At that moment, a sharp knock rapped against the wooden door, cutting through the silence. Charlotte granted entry, and Antonie crossed the threshold immediately, having been at the workshop assisting Oliver with the analysis of some new mystical objects.
"You're right on time, Antonie," Charlotte said, her tone measured but firm.
Antonie gave a small nod of greeting and glanced around the room.
"Morning, everyone."
Charlotte didn't waste time laying out the purpose of the meeting. That same day, they were to set out for Fercluse, venture into the Ruins of the God of Beasts, and gather every scrap of relevant information within their reach.
Their explicit orders were to track any anomalies within the perimeter and secure any artifact with real research potential, under the strict warning that they were not to return empty-handed.
The priority was clear: they needed to find out how the gem had ended up in the old woman's possession, the exact nature of her subsequent transformation, and the identity of whoever was pulling the strings behind such an event.
The three of them exchanged glances and nodded in unison, sealing the unspoken agreement. Stepping out onto the street together, they arranged to meet back at the main station at one in the afternoon.
Both Antonie and Didier headed home to gather their belongings, while Alphard chose to go straight to the academy where Helena studied.
The rain had finally let up, but it left behind an icy wind that cut straight to the bone, one that would take hours to fade.
After a short walk, the academy's structure emerged out of the winter mist. It was an imposing neo-Gothic building, surrounded by tall wrought-iron fences topped with spear-tipped points.
Its dark stone façades, still damp from the recent rain, boasted pointed arch windows and meticulously carved masonry. The monumental entrance, an oak portal flanked by thick, weathered granite columns, radiated a sober, severe solemnity, while the cobblestones of the outer courtyard reflected the leaden sky above.
Due to the institution's strict regulations, Alphard couldn't wander freely through the pavilions.
After identifying himself to the doorman and requesting Helena's presence, he waited beneath the courtyard's outer archway, only half-shielded from the icy wind sweeping through the stone corridors.
A few minutes later, the entrance door opened and Helena appeared, wearing the academy's sober uniform, buttoning up a coat against the cold. Her puzzled expression shifted into curiosity the instant she recognized Alphard.
"Alphard? Did something happen?" she asked, approaching, noting the seriousness on her brother's face.
"I just came to let you know before I head out," he answered, lowering his voice to avoid any curious ears in the hallways. "I have to travel to Fercluse with some coworkers to deliver some papers. I'll probably end up sleeping there tonight."
Helena frowned, but understood the necessity behind Alphard's plans.
"Be careful," she said, her tone firm, though her eyes gave away her worry.
"I know. My colleagues and I are meeting at the station at one." Alphard checked his pocket watch briefly and met her eyes. "Stay alert at the academy while I'm gone. I'll be back soon, so don't wait up for me at home — go to bed early."
With a mutual nod, Alphard turned and walked off into the icy mist blanketing the city, leaving Helena watching his figure grow smaller with each firm stride.
Not long after, Alphard arrived at the station. He bought his ticket and waited, somewhat on edge, for Antonie and Didier to show up, checking his pocket watch repeatedly, worried the train might leave ahead of his companions.
His unease dissolved the moment he spotted two familiar silhouettes cutting through the crowd on the platform.
"Hey, Alphard!" the two of them greeted in unison.
"Hey!" he answered, relieved.
Antonie wore a suit cut similarly to Alphard's own, though tailored from a deep coffee-brown cloth, while Didier stuck to his usual everyday attire.
"Time to go," Didier said, catching the sound of the train's whistle.
The train pulled in with a metallic roar, and the three of them boarded without wasting a second. Before long, the carriages began to roll. Thick black smoke enveloped the outer platform, signaling that the steam-powered vessel would soon be picking up considerable speed.