Myrra's body stiffened. "What?"
"We don't know who did it," Selene admitted softly. "The investigation led nowhere. I still don't know how my brother and sister-in-law died."
Darius sighed. "We thought it was best not to tell you. You were young; we didn't want you to grow up with that burden."
He hesitated briefly before continuing, "I didn't think a short visit to Efsagroth would result in such outcome. It's been quite some time, and we've taken you to visit multiple places before, including Efsagroth. There was no reason to think it would be different this time."
Myrra swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. "So… is that why they came? For me? Because of my parents?"
Ian, standing beside her, placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's possible. But we can't say for sure yet. Don't jump to conclusions."
Selene hugged Myrra. "We're here for you. Always."
Ian then turned to Darius. "Is there more?"
Selene spoke slowly. "As far as we understand… my brother came across something shortly before their deaths. An artifact. A treasure. We don't know what exactly it was, but it was important enough to catch the attention of some very dangerous people."
"What kind of artifact?" Ian asked.
Darius shook his head. "We don't know. Brother-in-law was careful with his work. He never told us anything specific, only that it was something of significant value. In his line of work, finding rare things wasn't unusual, so we never thought much of it."
He took a deep breath, his voice turning bitter. "But soon after… the news of their deaths came. The investigation team suspected it was related to the artifact, but they found nothing. After that, we assumed whoever killed them had already taken it… but now…"
Ian's expression darkened. "You think they never found it."
Darius's silence was answer enough.
"And now they're coming after Myrra… hoping she might know where it is," Ian said, his tone hardening.
Myrra's voice cracked. "But I don't know anything…"
Ian's mind spun rapidly. "Maybe it's not about what you know. Maybe they think your father left it with you… or hid it somewhere you could find later."
He turned to Selene. "Did he leave anything? A clue, a message, anything?"
Selene shook her head. "It all happened so suddenly. The investigation team scoured their place, and we visited afterward too, but we found nothing. My brother did send us one last message, though… but it was… brief."
She brought out a small device and activated a holographic projection. Ian leaned closer.
The projection showed Myrra's father, his face tense. "Selene, if anything happens to us, take care of Myrra. Keep her safe. I'm… sorry it has come to this." The message ended abruptly.
Ian frowned. "That's it?"
Selene nodded. "Yes. The authorities examined it, but they found nothing hidden in it."
"Can I get a copy of this?" Ian asked.
"Sure." Selene handed him the file.
Myrra was visibly shaken, and Ian gently squeezed her hand. "We'll figure this out. Don't worry."
Later that Night
Back at his place, Ian sat in silence, thinking.
So there were two possible scenarios, he thought.
One - the time had finally come. They needed the artifact now, and they were coming after Myrra hoping she could lead them to it. Maybe they believed she had knowledge of its location or some connection to it that could help them find it.
Two - the artifact had always been with her, hidden in her body or entangled within her energy signature. And recently, she came in contact with someone capable of sensing it, which triggered their pursuit.
The second option was far more dangerous. If the artifact was within her, embedded in her body, then it was like a beacon. A constant signal attracting anyone who could perceive its presence. And if that were the case, no amount of hiding or running would keep her safe.
Seesh… this is a mess, Ian exhaled. If it wasn't for Myrra, I would've stayed as far from this trouble as possible. But now, he had no choice.
The next day, he decided to confirm one thing - whether there was something inside Myrra.
Pulling a few favors, he managed to access advanced scanning equipment and conducted a thorough scan of her body and energy signature. He was searching for anything, foreign objects, residual traces of unknown energy, or anything that seemed out of place.
Not stopping there, Ian also used his own mental energy to conduct a deep internal inspection, even using mindbloom, trying to sense any hidden anomalies within her body. His focus sharpened as he scanned through every fiber of her being.
After multiple tests, the results came clean. Nothing.
Where as with Mindbloom, he could sense countless energy signatures, subtle traces of different forces tangled within Myrra. Life force, residual arcane flow, natural body energy, all of it blended into a chaotic mesh. If there was something hidden, it was lost within the noise. Without knowing exactly what he was looking for, Ian couldn't possibly single it out.
Ian sighed and decided to let it go, for now.
Few days passed and with the exams over, it was time to apply to academies. The process was simple, submit the results and documents to a central platform, and the schools would reach out if they were interested.
Ian and Myrra both submitted theirs. She was still visibly disturbed by recent events, but Ian did his best to reassure her.
"Don't think too much about it," Ian said. "The decisions will come in a few weeks. Focus on that for now."
"…Yeah. I'll try."
Meanwhile, Ian shifted his focus back to work.
Lirian and Kara's processing facility was nearing completion, so Ian and Oryn were working around the clock to make sure it was fully operational. Ian also tried to get Myrra involved in the work as much as possible, hoping it would serve as a distraction. And to some extent, it did.
The market of Lylva was bustling as usual, filled with the hum of conversation and the aroma of spices and freshly baked goods. Ian and Myrra made their way through the crowded streets, carrying a list of items they needed to procure for Lirian and Kara's facility.
"Alright… we still need those energy cells for the primary processor," Ian said, scanning the list. "Also need some refining agents, and,"
"Something to boost preservation efficiency," Myrra added.
"Right."
As they walked, Ian's eyes landed on a small shop nestled between two larger stores. Its sign was old but well-maintained, and it seemed to specialize in alchemical supplies and arcane components, exactly what they needed.
"Let's check that one," Ian gestured.
They stepped inside. Shelves lined with glass vials, rune-engraved stones, and processing materials greeted them. Behind the counter stood an elven woman, tall, with a delicate frame, fair skin, and long black hair tied into a loose braid. Her attire was simple yet elegant, a modest long-sleeved tunic and a silver pendant hanging around her neck. She appeared to be in her late twenties, or at least, for elves, that's how it seemed.
"Welcome," the elven woman greeted warmly as Ian and Myrra stepped inside. She was arranging small vials on a shelf but turned with a pleasant smile when she noticed them. "What can I get for you today?"
Ian scanned the shelves. "We need preservation stabilizers, high-density energy cells, and arcane refining agents. Got any in stock?"
"Plenty," she replied, walking toward the counter. Her silver hair was tied loosely behind her, and her simple yet graceful attire blended well with the rustic ambiance of the shop. "Building something big, huh?"
"Just a small facility," Ian said casually.
Her eyes briefly flicked toward Myrra. "Ah, I see. That's nice." She didn't press any further and instead turned toward the backroom. "Hamon! Can you bring out some stabilizers and refining agents?"
A few seconds later, a tall elven man emerged. His build was lean but sturdy, his dark hair tied back, and his expression was almost too neutral. Without a word, he began gathering the requested items.
The woman smiled, "I'll give you a good price on it."
Ian raised a brow. "That's generous."
She chuckled. "Just being nice. Besides, most of my customers are miners or administrative officials. It's refreshing to have folks working on something more constructive."
"You two are working together on the project?" she asked, keeping her tone light.
"Something like that," Ian answered simply.
Hamon returned with the supplies, placing them neatly on the counter. The woman began tallying the total but without hesitation applied a massive discount.
Myrra blinked. "…This seems a bit too generous."
"Oh, don't think too much about it." The woman smiled. "Consider it goodwill. It's not every day I get pleasant company in here."
"Still…" Ian hesitated. "We don't mind paying full."
"No, really," she insisted. "I like helping out people with good causes. Food and medicine processing, right? That's worth supporting." She smiled toward Myrra again. "Besides, I like her vibe."
Myrra shifted slightly but returned a faint smile. "…Thanks."
Ian silently took the supplies, his instincts noting something was off but not enough to confront it. "We should get going."
"Of course. And hey, if you ever need anything else, just drop by," the woman added brightly. "I'll keep the good deals coming."
Ian nodded. "Appreciate it."
As Ian and Myrra disappeared down the street, the warm smile on her face quickly faded. Without a word, she turned and walked toward the back of the shop. Pushing open a narrow door, she stepped into a dimly lit storage room lined with crates and packed goods. Inside, leaning against a shelf, was another elven man, sharp-featured, dressed in rugged traveling gear, his hair slightly disheveled.
"She came," the woman - Enira, said flatly.
The man - Eryndor - lifted his gaze. "Who?"
"Myrra."
Eryndor straightened, surprise flashing across his face. "Seriously?"
Enira scoffed. "Walked right in, bought some supplies. Didn't even have to do anything."
Eryndor let out a short laugh. "Unbelievable. We've been racking our heads for days on how to approach her, and she just… showed up?"
Enira shrugged. "Luck's on our side, I guess. Gave them a huge discount too - they'll probably come back."
Eryndor's expression darkened. "…Still don't get why they care about her so much. "
A brief silence hung between them.
They both knew why they were here. On the surface, they were just shopkeepers, running a small supply store in Lylva. But in truth, they were members of The Quiet Testament. Months ago, when ancient ruins were discovered near Lylva, The Quiet Testament had been one of the first groups to take an interest. However, by the time they arrived, the authorities had already sealed off the site and cleared everything of value. Frustrated, the group had no choice but to leave; except for Enira and Eryndor, who were ordered to stay behind. Their task was simple: keep watch in case anything unusual surfaced.
So they bought out an old supply shop under a false identity and established themselves as local traders. It was the perfect cover, they could observe people, gather information, and stay close to the ruins without raising suspicion.
But nothing happened.
Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months. Eventually, boredom crept in. They spent their time wandering the abandoned mines, probing the insides of the the ruins, or occasionally speaking with city officials under the pretense of trade. But no new discoveries were made. No trace of significance was found.
Until last week.
New orders came. The Quiet Testament had suddenly expressed interest in Myrra, very specific orders: establish contact, get close, and report everything. No explanation was given, and the sudden shift in priority puzzled both of them. But the orders were clear.
Finally, after months of aimless waiting, something was happening.
Eryndor smirked. "About time something interesting came up."
Enira shrugged. "Let's not mess it up. We barely have a grip here."
"She walked in herself. Couldn't have asked for an easier opening," Eryndor chuckled. "I'll dig around, make contact with her uncle, he's similarly a businessman. Meanwhile, you keep her coming here."