Vana's POV
Klein escorted us down inside the Igneus’ camp, with four of their members surrounding me and Jerome. We may not be tied with our hands on our back, but we’re completely guarded in case we try to escape their clutches. Our weapons aren’t taken from us either, which may be a good thing to consider.
Our feet crunched against grass and leaves to hard soil and rocks as we enter Igneus’ camp. Wary and suspicious eyes greeted us as we ran into the other members, stealing glances at us as they walk past us. Flames engulfed the area around the tents, torches lit with strong charcoal.
I peeked a look through the tents that we walk by, taking note of the objects and things my eyes caught glimpses of. The tents were basically like sleeping tents, with a floor bed and small tables on the side for the members’ belongings.
We were led to a tent on the other side of where we came
Vana's POV “The answer can be quite simple. He’s planning on hatching the Dragon Egg.” My brows furrowed, raising an arched brow at Ms. Mera. “Hatching the Dragon Egg?” I wondered. “Vana, are you deaf? Yes,” Jerome scowled, lowkey insulting me. I glared at him, annoyed at his reply. “The Chairman is desperate to get his hands on the Dragon Egg. The only reason I can think of for him to go this far to have it is that he wants the Dragon Egg to hatch and be born in this world,” Ms. Mera explained. “Why would Chairman Zerondale want to hatch the Dragon Egg? It’s the last remaining Dragon Egg, right? And it hasn’t hatch in almost a whole century,” Jerome asked. “It hasn’t hatched for almost 70 years, and it is deliberately kept that way. The Dragon Egg could have hatched a long time ago, but it didn’t because our tribe prevented from hatchin
Vana's POV The roof of the museum was surprisingly slanted after Jerome, and I climbed our way up to the only open entrance of the museum at the moment. I thought it would be a rooftop with a flat ground. I was wrong. “The architecture fooled me into thinking it won’t be slanted,” I commented as I balance my way on top of the room, scooting over to the window door at the center of the building. This is crazy. I’ve never been a gymnastic or acrobatic person, but this obstacle is making me face the acrobatic side of me. I reached for the handle of the window door, twisting it to unlock it. I quickly slipped inside, my feet resting on top of a metal plate. I held the door open for Jerome, letting him skid inside before closing the window. “Why is this so hard?” Jerome scowled, grumbling. “Because it was supposed to be Igneus heading down this path and not
3rd POV Vana’s team immediately froze on their spots as their eyes glimpsed at King Gregory and Ms. Yuna. They were both seated on the couch at the center of the room, their heads tilting at the team’s direction with intimidating gazes. Vana gulped, suddenly nervous at their presence. “Y-Your Majesty, King Gregory. It is a surprise to see you here,” the Chairman greeted, lowering his head with a fluster. “Yes, its quite a sudden visit as I wanted to see the situation of House Glyndel. You may call it an observation, since Duchess Even has just been appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs,” Gregory stated in a musing tone, a quick smile flashing in his face. “Is that what brought you here?” Ms. Angela asked, skipping the formal greeting as she steps forward. Unlike the rest of them, she’s the only person unnerved by the king’s presence. “Mostly.
Vana's POV Jerome and I were called in by King Gregory—Gregory—after Ms. Angela arrived at the dining hall. Her expression did not give any indication to us, not showing a hint of what transpired behind the close doors of the lounge room. “Would you tell His Majesty about what we’ve learned?” Jerome asked as we make our way to the lounge room. “I don’t think its safe to do yet. Not in this environment,” I mumbled, eyes darting at my surrounding. “And that’s supposed to be Gregory, remember?” “Cut me some slack, it’s not easy to call a kingdom’s king by their name,” Jerome grunted. “What will you tell him?” he wondered. I glanced up at Jerome. “That we’re joining,” I muttered, a small smile plastered on my face. Jerome sighed, his eyes flickering back at mine with determination. I knocked at the door before entering the room, greet
Vana's POV Before the sun rises from its sleep, a couple members of our team assembled in front of the Glyndel mansion to depart in search for Igneus’ supposedly hideout. It was me, Jerome, and Angela who would be included in the search, with Gregory and Chairman Zerondale leading us. The search lasted only for a couple of hours, with the spy, Mr. Archi bringing us into the hidden path that leads to the campsite of Igneus. I kept myself blank and convicted as I emit any suspicious energy off me, holding on to the fabricated lie I came up with. “Here,” Mr. Archi said as he walks over to the entrance of the path. “This is where I talked with someone from Igneus. I didn’t follow them to their hideout even if I know it, and Vana is aware of that fact.” He pointed a finger at me, a glare forming in his eyes. He must be cursing me by now for sabotaging his and Chairman Zerondale’s
Vana's POV “I trust you, Vana. Do not make the same mistake I did,” Master Sergis mumbled with a stare, before dismissing me. I gulped, lowering my head as I leave his office, heading out of the guild. Unfortunately for Master Sergis, it’s too late. I am friends with Jerome now. I am friends with someone from Golden Scorpion. Master should be thankful that I am, because I’m doing him a favor of searching Ms. Madison’s real killer. And maybe she’s the reason why I am doing all of this. My steps became swift as I rush out of the guild, ignoring everyone that is inside. The clock tower is not far from here, so I walked my way there, eyeing a look at the busy road. Gregory mentioned in his letter that we’ll meet him somewhere around the clock tower. I grabbed the letter from my pocket, checking the location written on the paper. He mentioned a store named <
Vanas POV “I’m totally confused,” Yuna said, buffering as she tries to catch up with the conversation. “The Dragon Egg’s true owner is Igneus, and when they left the island they came from, the Dragon Egg was stolen from them. So now, they’re trying to get the Dragon Egg back,” Jerome explained. I knew that they’ll get confused in our explanation. Even Jerome and I have a hard time processing and wrapping our heads in all of this. And the main point of all of this has not yet been reached. “Who stole it from them?” Yuna asked, raising a brow. “The one who drove them away from their island,” Gregory stated, finally getting the point of the discussion. “According to what Jerome said, Igneus came from an island between Fortis and Ashern, and if I’m correct in assuming, that island is now under Ashern’s borders.” “You’re saying that th
Vana's POV The ride to the Eastern Coast of Ashern took almost a day. Jerome and I met Yuna at the front of another random shop in the busy district of the capital, leaving early in the morning while the sun is rising from its sleep. Good thing Master Sergis didn’t ask me for any specifics of where I’ll be heading, leaving me alone with my new freedom. It took a few hours for us to arrive at the main harbors of Ashern, ships and yachts blooming into view. The sea blossomed in our vision as we reach the road near the coast, clumps of blue ocean extending over until the horizon. My eyes were basically stuck on the window as I gaze at the sea, mesmerizing it until I found myself falling into sleep. It’s much better to sightsee the sea when you’re not in a ship. The ocean waves won’t sway your body as you take in the sea breeze and the crashing sound of the water. The sunlight cr
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