Chapter 16 - Pieces in Motion
The aftermath of Yu Sakamotoâs intervention was spreading like ripples through still water. In a distant sector far from the tavern, where the shattered remains of nobility had once stood proud, a lone figure inspected a ruinous alleyway. Two noble corpses had been discovered here, laid out like discarded finery. Guards had been found unconscious, not slainâan anomaly in itself.
The man inspecting the scene wore a regal blue cape, embroidered with an ornate crest that shimmered faintly with static enchantment and short medium length silver hair covering his forehead. A polished wand protruded neatly from the breast pocket of his coat, tucked with calculated care. His name was Themenos, a high-ranking Archmage by Andorreaâs Council of Order, known for his unorthodox but meticulous methods.
Kneeling by one of the noble corpses, he cast a spell under his breath. The air thickened. Mana shimmered across the stones like dew. Threads of light wove together, forming translucent silhouettesâflickers of motion, echoes of the past.
Static-magic. A technique that allowed one to reconstruct events within a space no more than 24 hours old.
Footsteps approached.
"Sir Themenos," a guard spoke, bowing quickly. "Weâve identified the victims. The family involved is named Magnusâa mother, father, and son. They were unable to meet their dues. The nobles arrived for collection."
Themenos remained crouched, his eyes fixed on the reenactment. "Yes. I read the archives."
He stood slowly, brushing off his coat, and turned to the guard. "The family is irrelevant. What concerns me is the party that intervened."
The guard hesitated under Themenosâs sharp gaze.
"Justice," Themenos said, voice cool and composed, "is the last wall between us and chaos. If it fails, we revert to beasts."
His gaze pierced the guard, whose hands trembled slightly. "Y-yes, sir."
Themenos resumed watching the projection. His brow furrowed.
"Yu Sakamoto was here, that much is clear. But there was another presence." He waved his wand, adjusting the sceneâs playback.
The spell hiccuppedâa blurry outline distorted by interference. The figure in question wore a long coat, gloved hands, a glassy mask.
"His face is being masked by something⦠not natural."
Themenos tapped his wand against his temple, deep in thought.
"How interesting."
With a flick, the projection vanished. Themenos turned to the guard.
"Find every bystander who was here during the incident. I want every testimony. This kind of injusticeâmurder and evasion under a guise of moral causeâmust be understood."
The guard saluted and rushed off.
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Themenos lingered, watching the battered stones where blood had dried. He muttered, almost to himself: "Thereâs always a pattern. A reason. Even if it hides beneath a mask."
Back at the tavern, the afternoon light poured through frosted windows, casting dusty beams across the counter. Lucid sat in his usual spot, fingers idly tracing the rim of a glass. Andrew, ever the jovial barkeep, wiped down mugs behind the bar but kept stealing glances.
Lucid has been quiet lately. Too quiet.
"Youâre gonna break that glass if you keep spinning it like that," Andrew remarked.
Lucid blinked and pulled his hand away.
"Sorry. Thinking."
Andrew leaned on the counter, folding his arms. "You always are. I swear if thinking left wrinkles, youâd look fifty."
Lucid gave a faint smile under the mask. "Just trying to piece some things together."
"More of those weird puzzles you like?"
Lucid shook his head. "Not exactly. More like... things not adding up."
Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"For example?"
Lucid inhaled. "I was sent to Andorrea by Arayuneâs sister village. They wanted me to bring Yu back dead or alive. But they gave me nothing elseâno support, no real mission details."
Andrew nodded slowly.
Lucid continued, voice lowering. "I met with a researcher named Naleya. She was too interested in my next move. Like she was watching a game unfold, not helping me play it."
Andrew rubbed his chin. "Sounds shady."
"And later when i was helping Yu, She had told me she was exiled," Lucid said. "From her village which to my guess is Arayune. Banished because... well, they said she was unfit to lead."
Andrew leaned in. "Unfit how?"
"Because she was a woman not because of what the chief village had told me, which was his ambition and ideals that rather consumed him.."
"And they also kept referring to Yu as a guy, how odd..."
"Maybe it's because she was a woman that they deemed her unfit to lead"
Andrew frowned. "Thatâs... backwards. Even for here."
Lucid nodded. "Exactly. So now Iâm wondering: was I sent here to bring her back? Or to remove her?"
Andrew let out a low whistle.
"Youâre neck-deep in something bigger than you thought, huh?"
Lucid looked around the quiet tavern. A few patrons drank quietly. Alice sat curled in her usual corner with a thick book, her lips moving softly as she read.
"Some things just donât add up," Lucid murmured.
Andrew tapped his forehead with a dish towel. "Then start with what you know. Donât try to work backward from chaos. Thatâs what my brother used to say."
"Smart guy."
"Yeah. Annoying too. But he was right about that."
Lucid sighed. "I guess I just⦠need to figure out what I can do now."
Andrew grinned and gave him a playful knock on the head. "In other words, you think too much."
"Ouch," Lucid muttered, rubbing his scalp.
A moment of silence passed. Then Lucid suddenly stiffened.
"Wait. Rent."
Andrew blinked. "Huh?"
"This weekâs rent. I forgot."
Andrew chuckled. "Donât worry. Alice covered it."
Lucid stared. "She what?"
They both looked over. Alice had fallen asleep on her book, drooling slightly.
"She came to me with a pouch of silver," Andrew said. "Said it was the least she could do."
Lucid exhaled slowly. "This girlâs going to be the end of me."
Andrew leaned in. "Donât worry. I didnât take anything extra for helping the family. That... that was on me."
Lucid looked at him. "You didnât have to."
"Maybe not," Andrew said. "But it felt right. So I did."
Lucid smiled beneath the mask. "You really are kind."
Andrew grinned. "Tell anyone and Iâll kick you out."