Ian made his way to Master Ordan's quarters, his mind heavy with uncertainty.
Morning light streamed through the windows, casting soft golden hues across the room. Master Ordan sat at his desk, absorbed in an old manuscript. As Ian entered, the older man didn't look up but gestured for him to speak.
"The attack was too coincidental," Ian said finally, his voice low.
Ordan sighed and closed the book in front of him. "Do you suspect someone?"
Ian exhaled sharply. "Almost everyone we've met since arriving here seems suspicious in some way."
Master Ordan studied him for a moment before responding. "It's natural to be cautious, but don't let it cloud your judgment and destroy your relationships. A single bad apple can spoil the bunch, but if you treat the whole orchard as rotten, you'll never taste its fruit."
Ian wanted to argue, to insist that his suspicions weren't baseless. But he knew Ordan was right. If he distrusted everyone, it would do more harm than good.
However, one thing was certain, he could trust Master Ordan. If Ordan had any ill intentions, he would have acted long before now, back in Lylva, rather than waiting and complicating things further.
Regardless, their stay in the city had been extended due to the ongoing investigation. Until the authorities reached a conclusion, they had no choice but to remain.
To pass the time, Rhys and Reina often visited Master Ordan's estate, keeping them company. Since they couldn't leave the grounds, they turned to indoor activities, games, sparring matches, and discussions on arcane circuitry.
Rhys, ever energetic, treated their confinement as an opportunity rather than an inconvenience. His enthusiasm knew no bounds, and their discussions often spiraled into tangents about all sorts of topics, ancient enchantments, theoretical arcane methods, and even the impractical but amusing idea of embedding self-repairing circuits into everyday household items.
"Imagine a teacup that never breaks," Rhys had mused at one point. "Or better yet, a bed that always makes itself!"
Ian had chuckled. "If you put that much effort into your actual studies, you'd be a master arcanist by now."
Meanwhile, Reina remained observant, always quietly watching. Unlike Rhys, she was methodical, calculating. She had her own approach to uncovering the truth about the attack.
On one occasion, she even went to Carion's residence under the guise of a casual visit. Subtly, she tested him, watching for the slightest hint of deception. But whatever suspicions she held, she found nothing conclusive. If Carion was hiding something, he was careful enough not to slip. Making an open accusation without solid proof would do more harm than good.
Days passed. Still, no breakthroughs came.
Finally, the investigation report arrived, but it contained nothing concrete. The officials visited one last time to ask a few final questions, their expressions weary. It was clear they had found no leads, no evidence strong enough to act upon.
With no further reason to stay, Ian, Myrra and Master Ordan prepared to leave.
The next morning, as they readied themselves for the journey home, Rhys and Reina came to see them off.
"You know," Rhys said, grinning despite everything, "this trip wasn't all bad. I mean, apart from some unpleasant things, we had some fun."
Ian smirked. "That's one way to look at it."
Reina, standing beside him with arms crossed, sighed. "Just because they found nothing doesn't mean the danger is gone. Be careful."
Ian nodded. "We will. You two do the same."
Myrra gave them a small smile. "Let's meet again soon."
With that, goodbyes were exchanged, and they set off on the journey back to Lylva.
Return to Lylva
Lylva was as calm as ever, the city's skyline stretching beneath the vibrant hues of the morning sun. Their airship descended smoothly onto one of the designated platforms. The docking station bustled with activity, traders unloading goods, travelers disembarking, and the faint mechanical whir of airships lifting off in the distance.
As Ian and Myrra stepped off the ship, their eyes immediately found Myrra's uncle and aunt - Darius and Selene. The moment Myrra's feet touched the ground, Selene rushed forward. "Welcome back," she said, pulling Myrra into a warm embrace. "Are you alright?"
"We're fine," Myrra answered softly, though the weariness in her voice was hard to miss. The past few days had taken a toll.
Darius stepped forward next, his sharp gaze locking onto Ian. "We heard about the attack…" His voice was steady, but there was an underlying tension. "You weren't injured, were you?"
Ian shook his head. "No, but it was close."
For a brief moment, silence hung between them. Ian caught the flicker of something in Darius and Selene's expressions, something not quite right. Darius's grip on Myrra's shoulder lingered a moment too long, and Selene's smile, though genuine, seemed weighed down by something unsaid.
He filed it away for later. This wasn't the time or place. Too many eyes. Too many ears.
Then they had returned home.
Elsewhere…
A floating platform hovered above Lylva, cloaked from sight. It had been silently following the airship Ian and Myrra were on, watching carefully in case any attack occurred. But nothing did.
Urimaer stood near the edge, his gaze fixed on the docking station below. Around him were a few officers, their expressions unreadable.
A few moments later, another transport arrived, and Aeson stepped off, accompanied by a small group of personnel. His arrival drew brief attention, but silence quickly fell again.
The lead officer turned toward Aeson. "They didn't make a move," he reported.
Aeson's voice was calm. "Really patient."
The officer exhaled sharply to another one nearby. "Monitor any new arrivals from the past week. No exceptions."
Silence hung between them for a moment before Urimaer finally straightened, his decision made. "I should leave," he said flatly.
The officer nodded. "Thank you for your assistance, Urimaer."
Urimaer barely acknowledged the gratitude. "No worries. I was looking for them anyway. We had a lead that brought me back to Efsagroth, but it disappeared shortly after the attack." His tone was neutral.
The officer turned to Aeson. "Lord Aeson, I'll leave the rest to you. I'd ask you to keep a close eye."
Aeson nodded slightly. "Don't worry. I'll see if anything unusual comes up."
Urimaer gave a brief glance toward the city, then turned to Aeson. Bowing slightly, he said, "I'll be off then." Without another word, he stepped onto his transport, and within moments, he was gone.
Shortly after, the officers also began to disperse. Aeson lingered for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on Ian and Myrra before turning away.
The matter wasn't over. Not yet.
The Next Day
The sun had barely risen when Ian returned to his usual routine. After days of absence, there was much to catch up on, especially at the workshop.
In the workshop, the familiar clanking of machinery and faint sparks of arcane energy greeted him. Before he could reach his station, a familiar voice called out.
"Ian! You're back," Velka called, glancing up from a complex mechanical assembly. "How'd the exam go?"
Ian smiled faintly. "I think it went well."
"Good," Holone chimed in from across the room, tightening a bolt with his arc-driver. "You've got a nice pile of unfinished work waiting for you, by the way. Hope you're ready to dive in."
Ian chuckled. "Figured as much."
Oryn, who was assembling a small machine, turned his head. "What was the exam like?"
Ian briefly told them about the exam.
"Hmm… sounds tougher than when I gave mine," Oryn commented.
"How was the city?" Holone asked, more interested in that than the exam. "Did you get time to look around?"
Ian nodded. "A bit, yeah. It's massive, hard to wrap your head around how advanced everything is there."
"Yeah, no kidding," Holone smirked. "I remember getting lost in the market district the first time I went there."
"And almost buying a faulty automaton," Oryn added with a grin.
Holone groaned. "You're never letting that go, are you?"
Ian chuckled. "I didn't get much time to explore, but it was definitely something else."
"You didn't bring anything back?" Holone asked.
Ian shrugged. "Didn't think you guys would want market trinkets."
"You overestimate me," Holone joked.
The conversation shifted back to work shortly after, and Ian spent the rest of the day catching up. The hum of arcane circuits, the flicker of energy reactors, and the familiar scent of refined metal all grounded him, yet the memory of the attack still lingered, tucked away in the back of his mind.
By evening, Ian found himself walking with Myrra toward her home. The sky overhead had begun to darken, and the faint hum of vehicles passing filled the air. It was a quiet walk.
As they approached her home, Myrra's cousin, Lura, was already outside fiddling with a small holo-projector, her golden-brown hair bouncing with every movement. She perked up the moment she saw Ian.
"Ian! You're back!" she grinned, rushing up. "Did you bring anything cool from Efsagroth?"
Ian smiled and reached into his storage bracelet, pulling out a small, carefully sealed package. "Figured you'd ask." He handed it over.
Lura's eyes widened in delight as she hastily unwrapped it. Inside was a Voidglass Pendant, a rare piece of artifice Ian had found in the market of Efsagroth. The pendant was crafted from polished voidglass, a semi-translucent material that shimmered with ethereal hues when exposed to light. Encased within it was a small, ever-swirling sphere of condensed energy that faintly glowed, resembling a tiny storm trapped in glass.
Lura gasped. "Whoa!" She tilted it under the light, watching the shifting energy inside ripple like liquid lightning. "This is amazing!"
Ian smiled slightly. "Glad you like it."
"I love it!" Lura grinned wide, holding the pendant up to her throat. "I'm definitely showing this off tomorrow!"
"Just don't break it," Ian added with a small chuckle.
Myrra smiled faintly, the warmth of the moment easing some of the tension from the past few days. But when Ian glanced toward Darius and Selene, he noticed it again, that unnatural expression. Something was off.
He couldn't ignore it any longer. "If you know anything about the attack, please tell us."
Darius tensed slightly, his fingers curling around the edge of the table. Selene averted her gaze, a faint sigh escaping her lips. For a moment, neither of them answered, until Darius finally broke the silence.
"I suppose… some things can't stay hidden forever."
Myrra frowned, confusion flashing in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Darius exchanged a glance with Selene, as though silently asking for confirmation. When she gave a faint nod, he turned back to face Myrra.
"We told you your parents died in an accident," Darius began slowly. "But… that wasn't the truth. They were killed."