Vana's POV   I groaned, feeling drowsy and sluggish as I blink my eyes open. Where am I? What the hell happened? Flashbacks flooded in my mind as I recollect the last thin that happened before I lost consciousness, snapping as I tried to stand up.   Snapping didn’t work at all, though, as I realized that my body is tied up on a chair, with my arms strapped behind the chair and my legs tied on the chair’s legs. My head slumped forward and back, recoiling from my attempt.   Damn it, the last thing I remember is Chairman Zerondale catching us and knocking us out in Detective Clorence’s office. Panic rumbled inside me as I gaze at my surroundings, trying to figure out where we are and how to escape.   My eyes landed at Jerome, who is also tied on a chair across from me. He’s still unconscious, his head lowered. I tilted my head as far away as I could, searching for anything I can use to

Vana's POV   “Yes, all those murders you solved. All of it was orchestrated by me.”   “What?” I mumbled with a cracking voice. Did he just say that he orchestrated all the missions we’ve been. “What does that mean?”   “First off, I initiated the terrorist attack on the ship to keep the public and the Special Unit distracted as I steal the Dragon Egg from the museum,” the Chairman explained.   “You bribed Reynolds McValeri.”   “I persuaded Reynolds McValeri and Clashing Seasons to start a terrorist attack, while I stea the Dragon Egg from the National Museum of Ashern,” he corrected. “I didn’t bribe him.”   “And what about our missions?” I asked, pulling myself forward.   “Duke Castiel’s death and the Cindre sisters’ death are necessary for my plans; to shake the kingdom’s pillars and slowly make my way up the ranks,” Chai

Vana's POV   My consciousness is drowsy when I woke up, vision blur as I adjust to the new place we’ve been relocated in. metal bars lined on my left and a wall against my right. The smell of rotten food and sewage water tickled my nose, the dim surrounding not helping clear my vision.   A prison cell; a dungeon. The walls were made of cobblestone, growing with moss and dirt. The dimlight in the dark cave coming from a few torches scattered around the dungeon. I adjusted my eyes on the surrounding, scrunching my eyes.   I grunted my hands that are now in front of me, cuffed up on a long chain against the wall. It clang with a loud metal noise, echoing in the empty place like a deafening shriek. So, now we’re locked up until tomorrow.   I groaned as my head ached for a moment. Flashbacks of the earlier events came flickering in my head, reminding me of the physical torment Jerome suff

Jerome's POV   “No, please, stop!” I heard Vana’s scream, turning around to find her down on her knees with her magic brewing above us.   The man who beat me up and nearly tortured us with a knife stood in front of Vana, watching her with a wide, psychotic smile in his lips. My eyes landed back to Vana, baffled at what’s happening. Vana looks as if she’s in pain, a dreadful look painted on her face.   I was caught off guard as one of Chairman Zerondale’s goons ambushed me from behind. He managed to throw a fist at me, only to be thrown to the ground by my magic. His fist was inches away from me, and with a quick flick of my fingers and a command in my magic, he was sent flying to the ground.   I returned my attention to Vana as I make sure there are no more goons around. I gritted my teeth, enraged as I saw the psychotic man take a few steps away from Vana. He still has the same misc

Vana's POV   The palace guards may be vigilant and skilled, but Zerondale isn’t born yesterday to not know their weaknesses and blindspots. Past midnight is the time where these guards began to grow sleepy and tired. The time Zerondale used to easily pass them as he sneaks his way within the palace walls.   As the Chairman of Ashern in the Magic Council, he has enough authority and power to enter the palace walls at night without being questioned by anyone. He has an office inside, in the same palace where the royal family resides. A wing of his own within the royal palace.   He had two offices: the one in the royal palace and the other in the Magic Council’s tower at Jasper Academy. His reasons for the late visit to his office brought questions to everyone he passed by, but none of them thought of asking him. All of them just assumed he was there for a magic administration reason.   Read more