3rd POV
“I plan to tell you something, but I want you to promise not to tell anyone about it, Professor Zander. I trust you,” Gregory muttered, tilting his gaze at Professor Zander.
Professor Zander met Gregory’s gaze, nodding as he accepts his conditions. “Very well, as you command,” Professor Zander muttered, his head lowering to prove his loyalty and honesty.
“I am investigating someone in my circle. As you know, two of the pillars have been disrupted for months now, and the only pillars left standing strong is the one Yuna and Chairman Zerondale holds,” Gregory began.
They turned to the street on the right, entering an empty alleyway that leads to the second busiest street in town. Gregory kept an eye on his surroundings, watching for any suspicious actions near them. He continued speaking as he assesses their path to be clear.
“And recently, Yuna a
3rd POV Light rain awaited Yuna as she arrives at the city of Kondub, the carriage she rode rattling as they drive up the steep road. The road was slippery and wet, soil and mud covering a few parts of the road pavement. Ironic how she was at the place where Chairman Danuel died in the same weather conditions. The city was built on the edge of the mountain, slowly covering the side of the mountain and around its bottom. Buildings were constructed on one side of the mountain, creating a terrace effect on the steep slopes. The roads and streets and alleys zigzagged along the cliffs, almost like slides but for vehicles. Yuna’s carriage drove past the buildings of the city, climbing up the mountain to reach the top of Mt. Kondub. The road is steep, narrowing the more they trek up the mountain path. Before she arrived at the city, Yuna has pinpointed the location she was supposed to go.
3rd POV “It’s worth the shot, let me meet him,” Yuna demanded. Baron Herde hesitated for a moment before reluctantly walking out of the door, leading Yuna to the room of his father. They walked a long hallway that leads deeper into the manor, the windows disappearing behind them. The Baron stopped at the only door in the hallway, knocking. “Dad, someone wants to meet you. Are you there?” Baron Herde asked, leaning close to the door. Shuffling footsteps and trudging echoed from the other side of the door. Yuna took a step back to prepare to greet the former baron, waiting for the door to open. Baron Herde knocked again on the door as no one answered the call, but in his third knock, the door burst open, smacking the Baron on the face. The Baron yanked himself away, yelping in pain as his nose crumple with soring pain. A middle-aged man stepped out of the
3rd POV Once again, now with Baron Herde, Yuna trekked the rock, rigid path towards the peak of the mountain, the road drenched in rain water and mud. The rain hadn’t stopped either, only getting worse by the minute. It was a storm at that point, with wind and thunder clapping in the air. “We must hurry and retrieve the file as soon as we can, Dame Yuna. The roads might get blocked off by boulders that might fall from the top of the mountain,” the Baron implored, advising them to quicken their quest. “Is it that dangerous?” Yuna asked out of concern. “Yes,” Baron Herde answered. They reached the top of the mountain after the coachman speeded up the steep road, barely keeping them alive as the carriage drifted a couple of times. Yuna took out her umbrella and immediately jumped out of the carriage, with Baron Herde ceiling himself in his own umbrella.
Vana's POV Once again, like any other day that I leave the house, I met up with Jerome at the clock tower. It has been a week since our search mission commenced, and two days after we got our hands on the evidence file of Mr. Randwin. Flashback on our horrific adventure, I trusted Jerome with his father’s evidence file. If going to the location is bad enough, getting out of it was worse as we were greeted by the rain at the latter half of the day. We didn’t know that there was a storm coming that day and we head home wet from head to toe. My eye lingered on my surroundings as I feel tense and wary around me. Ever since that day we went to Meridinia Station, I have been getting the feeling that someone was watching me from afar and is following me. I can’t tell who it was, but my enhanced senses are slowly picking up their traces. It’ll be a matter of time before I catch them. <
Vana's POV I blinked. Twice. Multiple times. Did I hear Gregory right? Did he just say that he recruited Professor Zander in the team? He’s the new member of the Shadows? My jaw dropped as it sinks in my mind, dumbfounded at Gregory’s boastful announcement of the news. “Professor Zander. Our new member,” I exclaimed, slamming a hand on the table. “Yes?” Gregory replied. “Please tell me this isn’t true…” Jerome mumbled, with his shoulders slouching. “You don’t like the Professor being a member of Shadows?” Yuna wondered, confounded. “We don’t hate it. What surprises me is why him of all people?” I corrected, clarifying our intentions. Professor Zander knows that Jerome and I were investigating about the case of the Serpent and Scorpion, and if he has met Gregory prior to our conversation today, it means
Vana's POVI slumped my elbows on top of the table, my face set against my palms as I sigh in frustration. My lips pouted, grumbling as I stare at Jerome’s direction, who was sitting across the table. We were here since past noon, in a café near the clocktower to plan out how in the world we’ll talk to Wrath Medona.“You better have an idea on how we’ll do this, because my mind is going blank,” Jerome scowled, staring back at me with the same unenthusiastic eyes. He sipped the fruit juice he had ordered, an arm propped on the table.“My mind is as blank as yours, thank you,” I retorted, averting my gaze as I wash a hand over my face. “How in the spells are we going to do this?”“Gregory said you have the answer, so think about it,” he muttered, eyes gazing at me with intent and awe.I glance
3rd POV *10 Years Ago* Sweat dripped down on Vana’s forehead, hands on her knees after fiercely going up against her father, Shemar Farasol, in a sparring match. She was eight years old, losing tremendously in terms of strength against her father. Unfortunately, and expectedly, she lost. She was panting, taking countless deep breaths. Her body was trembling in pain and exhaustion, small cuts, and bruises visible in her arms and legs due to her rigorous training. Shemar never forced his daughter to train combat, but she willingly wanted to train out of envy of her brother, Storm. “Take a break for a while, at this rate, your body won’t take it,” Shemar said, towering over in front of Vana. “See? Told you, you were tired,” Shemar mused with a small smile as they head back inside the guildhall of Green Serpent, sitting in one of t
3rd POVVana cried for help as her magic go awry. Ice glazed across the floor and walls; cold wind brewing around her as it slowly envelops her. The temperature dropped, with the guild members present in the hall stirring away from the destructive magic.Shemar rose up from the floor after he had stumbled back and fell, staggering on his steps as the freezing air trickled against his skin. He gritted his teeth as he feels the dense aura cloaking the entire hall, Vana’s magic raging in the swirling inside.Tears streamed down from Vana’s eyes as she found herself helpless against her magic, unable to think straight as she gazes at the mess of her surroundings. Like her emotions in a turbulent, the cold wind brought by her magic billowed around her, spreading like wild fire.It was like a cyclone, concealing and trapping her in its center. The cyclone contained frost and ic
Vana's POV“I do. I plan to return to Ashern after I graduate. I also plan to publicly leave the Shadows and remain its member in the dark. Then, I’ll open my own detective agency—”“You’re opening your own agency!” Jerome exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table, which startled me. “Seriously?”“Y-yes?” I stammered, bewildered. “Something wrong with it?”“Not really, but you’re going to do that alone?” Jerome scowled.“No, why do you think I’m telling it to you?”“It’s not what I think, is it?”“More or less. It’s what I need your opinion—or your answer, in this case. I can’t do it alone, and that’s a fact. That’s why, if you would like, I would like to have a partnersh
Vana's POVI stared in front of Green Serpent’s guildhall as I arrive at their doorsteps, contemplating myself. I gulped, pursing my lips as I hesitate to take a step forward. Maybe it’s a wrong idea to be here.The last time I stepped foot in this place was when I left the guild. Since then, I never tried or dared to return or join any other guild. I have other plans for the future. None of them includes joining another guild, even if it is Golden Scorpion.“Vana, I thought you wouldn’t arrive,” a voice called, and I turned to face who it was. Cara plastered a smile on her face as she came up to me, her hair flailing on her bare shoulders.“Good afternoon, Cara,” I greeted with a thin line on my face.“Why haven’t you entered?” she wondered.“Well…” I hesitated, gla
Vana's POV9 months laterI got off the train with my suitcase rolling on the ground, lifting my hands up in the air as the sun beamed above me. It’s been six months since the last time I was in Auregon. It’s been nine months since the Case of the Serpent and Scorpion came to an end.Many things happened in the past nine months. Many to be even count in my hands. I don’t even know where to start. After Chairman Zerondale’s arrest, he was jailed in the palace dungeons and was investigated for nearly a whole month by the royal investigators.He was put in trial the following month after the investigation, with all the charges we filed to him. It took almost two months for all his crimes to be verdicted, and in the end, he was sentenced to death.Lifetime of servitude or liftetime in prison wasn’t enough of a verdict for all
Vana's POV“You’re right. I made a mistake… a lot more than I could have ever imagined,” Master Sergis agreed, muttering.I flinched, my head tilting down at Master Sergis’ direction. His hands crumpled the letter, staring at it with his teeth gritting. A regretful gaze flickered in his eyes, raising it up at the ice wall’s direction.“From the beginning, I should have known something is going on when Zerondale enticed me against Ashemre. I should have… noticed that he fabricated it all,” he admitted, his voice full of sorrow and regret.“I knew Ashmere wasn’t that kind of person, and my wife would never betray me like that,” he mentioned, pertaining to the conversation between Ms. Madison and Master Ashmere that led to a cheating misunderstanding.“I should have… listened to t
Vana's POV“And I have the evidence to prove it,” I boasted.Heads turned and raised up at me as I yell, jaws dropped and irritated looks carved out of their faces. I stood in front of them with my back straight, breath hitching as my actions sink into my head.What in the magic did I just do?“Now you’ve done it…” Jerome mumbled with a sigh next to me.Not only did I used my magic arbitrarily and unexpectedly, but I also revealed the journal right from the start without any prior explanation. It’s already a mess, and I think I only made things messier.“How are the two of you even here? Aren’t you supposed to be executed?” Master Sergis asked in a shout. “Wha—how—” That is exactly the reason why things got complicated.It was surprising
Vana's POV“Case closed…” I mumbled with an unsettling feeling in my chest.“Vana, are you okay?” Jerome asked as he ran towards me in concern.I blinked, flustered as Jerome took my hand as soon as he knelt next to me. My eyes widened, but I remained composed as I pick myself up. “I’m… fine. I just… felt underwhelmed by everything,” I said, standing up from my spot.A soft smile curled up my lips as I assure him. He held my hand gently and we walked down from the stage. The chaos was all over the place, but my gaze fixated on Jerome as we head down the stage together.I followed him from behind, my eyes going back and forth between his back and his bleeding hands that held mine. I paused on my step, unable to stop the urge to speak.“Are you satisfied? About your revenge?&r
Vana's POV“Do you see it now? We lured you in a trap, Chairman Zerondale. Do you think I would be stupid enough not to realize that you were planning to assassinate the king?” I stated, a smirk plastered on my face.Chairman Zerondale stepped back, horror and fury stirring in his eyes. His jaw clenched, gritting his teeth with his eyes glaring at me. The Shadows surrounded him at the back center of the platform, our weapons drawn.“You can’t run away from your crimes forever, Chairman Zerondae. It’s time for you to face it,” Jerome said, taking a step forward.A sharp curve cured on Chairman Zerondale’s lips, a hysteric laugh leaving his mouth. He laughed out loud, a grim atmosphere emitting out in the air. He raised his eyes at us, a grim smile plastered on his face.“You can arrest me all you want, but I will alw
Vana's POV“Can you do it?” I asked Gregory as I roam inside his room.Gregory, Jerome, and I gathered inside his chambers to cast the illusion spell as part of our trap against Chairman Zerondale. Thanks to the information Professor Zander provided from the Magic Council Tower, and with a bit of calculation, inferencing, and assumptions, we narrowed down the day the Chairman would assassinate the king.“Shall we start then?” Gregory implored, standing at the center of his chambers.He glanced at me, gesturing for me to move out of the room as he prepares himself to cast the spell. Jerome observed the scene from outside of the room, leaning against the doorframe with his injured body covered with gauze.It hasn’t been a week since we were treated, and his bruises aren’t healed with magic either.I moved ove
3rd POVThe halls of Jasper Academy remained peaceful as the new academic year began. It won’t be long for Professor Zander to be asked to return to the academy, having to start teaching his new students. Unfortunately, he’s still in the middle of a mission.He made it an excuse that he’ll be having orientations with his new class, hiding his main objective of heading to the Magic Council Tower. Gregory already made arrangements with Angela about the Special Unit helping them, requesting Angela’s mother, Chairwoman Iris, to access the tower.Professor Zander lurked around the hallways near the Magic Council Tower, observing the people entering in and out of the tower. In the few minutes of his observation, only Chairwoman Iris entered the tower, with none of her assistants following her inside.It was the signal he’d been waiting for; one that Angela and Gregory menti