AMARANTHINE

BEYOND THE EVERLASTING

BY NIE

Chapter 5

Objective

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“This is the price pays for abandoning one character”

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“Blood pressure, normal. Heart rate, normal. Conjunctiva, slightly pale. Have you eaten well?” the brown-haired girl scribbling as she poured him a question.

“Fair meal.”

“Hm, I think I need some record of your eating schedules and menus from the Head Chef and Butler. May I?”

“Sure, you may.”

“Good, I will inquire them later. Now, according to your medical record; you have poisoned, frequently. I need your blood for more in-depth profiles if you permit this. also, after this, I will make you a prescription for your eating and medical therapy. Hence, I need our teamwork to make this success as healthy.”

The man nodded, “sure, go ahead.”

“…”

“…” the man still smiled faintly as he gazed her.

she asked him, “is there any question?”

“Nah, the reverse, you are not going to ask me something?”

About why the man got poisoned frequently? Nah, San already gets the answer from Saga. Besides, she needed detailed information about the poison, not the background story.

“No. oh, right, I just remember; I find you have anemia but it doesn’t include in the medical record, so I will add them. also, from now on I hereby you to NOT over-drink tea at your afternoon tea and before or after eating. Since it has some substance which inhibits the absorption of iron. Is there any plead?”

“Nah, I’m fed with tea, so that’s okay. Are you not going to plead?”

“Yes, please don’t smile at me that much. It’s creepy.”

The man laughed.

After inquired the schedule and diet orders to the head chef and butler, San makes her planning for her lordship’s therapy. She also borrowed some books about the poison, if she counted the record; he already poisoned at least three times a day. That’s meant, every he ate his meals. Coincidence or not? Well, all she had to do is—

“Miss, there is a poison at the cookies.”

See? She has Saga. All hail to the Observer, Ultimate Stalking Machine, best ever. Just a slight trigger, and let Saga do the rest. She didn’t even need CCTV or wake-up alarm. This is like buy one get ten instead.

“Hm, lately there is weird substance and volatile, best to not let your guard down, Lass.” and there is Alvey, the most advanced alarm, marker, and prevention of all harms. No worries if Alvey already said so.

“need some armor? I got the hook-up!” Hera put a small red-blush brooch around her chest. “this will prevent you from all blunder, quite efficient huh?” lastly, there is Hera. Supreme and master of all weapons include armor and accessories which never fail to amaze her. Hera admitted that she has thousands of weapons, armors, and all the instruments fitting to battle or war. Saga also approved her. which means, it’s true. which means, Alvey also reminded her to not engage in battle easily or feeling supreme, one must be low-key. That suck. Actually, San wanted to try them as much as possible. But the rule won’t let her get easily.

She stood up and hover over the cookies. “I will take this, you don’t mind, Reviel?”

The man stared at her at first and replied, “well, I don’t mind. may I ask why?”

“There is—”

“Miss, it’s aphrodisiac powder.”

She stopped for a while “…”

Good grief.

“there is choco powder inside. It’s also not good as it will inhibit the iron’s absorption, hence I will reduce your caffeine intake; include tea, coffee, and all food powdered with chocolate.”

Sorry, best to cover. The man innocently approved and continued to work.

Now, this is quite… stimulating. She takes the cookie as she sniffed them. it’s sweet. She began to pinch the cookie harder and could hear a crunchy sound, quite satisfied, she broke them one by one, tear them to half and observes them as Saga began to explain.

“There is also some sleeping powder and paralyzed liquids. I can’t name them, but I’m certain the combined of these three could make a fatal effect on the consumer. Especially, brain and heart.”

These two organs are also a fatal point. The culprit must be cautious to put one different type of substance to avoid the watchful subordinates. Easily, because using a deadly type of poison may not work since it easy to be detected by the watchdog. Instead, the culprit using combinations of substances, which have low probability to be detected but this also makes the consumer have painfully-slow-waiting-death.

Not bad.

San stood up.

“Hera, do your brooch still affect me even when I ate the poison?”

“No worries, all is well.”

“Good, release them and put them back after I fainted.”

“Sure, Swee— Wait, what?”

“No, what if you have a low heart rate? This will be dangerous to your body, Lass.”

“Miss, you have a normal heart rate. According to her medical profile, she should survive and live quite a long life if she exercises and has a healthy lifestyle.” And to think she still at 21, quite a long life huh?

“but the culprit still walking around the palace. Plus, I still need more information, if Reviel death then my golden ticket will be gone.”

“We should think clearly, Dearie. Why not let him try the cookies instead of you, he is a man after all.”

“you know, I just take them and then I shoved this back to him? I would be decapitated.”

“try being honest then, Lass.”

“Lord Reviel should have a long life than you since he is healthy as ever, Miss.”

Okay, maybe there is a slight disadvantage being with them. they ARE argued too much. They have a personality which she does, alas they are loyal to her as they wanted the best for her.

“You know what, I will take them.” she put the brooch and started swallowed the cookie in one time. She closed her mouth as she can feeling sweet over her tongue and a slight tremor in her body. Not caring either Hera started fussing to her, Alvey reminded her countless time and Saga blabbering about her consciousness began to decrease.

Reviel already observed her since she stood up and started to approached her as he noticed she ate the cookie and began to tremble. There is something wrong either with her or the thing she ate.

“What’s wrong?”

He grabbed her shoulder as San wanted to slumped into a crouch position, her stomach is swirling and she can feel her thumping sound increased than before. Reviel put his hand to her forehead.

“Fever? Tell me, what it is?” Reviel began to call his subordinates from the button called as it was attached to every room, convenient order system.

She has it hard, her head is ringing loudly inside. She grabbed him back with difficulty and could say her last statement before she fainted;

“…cookie… substan…brooch…”

She unintentionally said the last part which she should point to Hera.

…

…

“Sweetie… Sweetie…? Oh God, you have wake up!” Hera voices could be heard as she gradually regained her conscious.

“How is her condition, Saga?”

“Miss, you have a slight cold and dehydrated condition due to sweating a lot and tremor.”

She felt drowsy and fatigue all in one, she felt her body is weak as she only glanced to the side. There is a familiar figure which takes her attention fully.

“I’m sorry, so sorry! I should have put the brooch the moment you ate them, sweetie!”

Nah, she shakes her head weakly. This is not any of her arte faults, it’s all her fault, to begin with.

The movement stirred the figure beside her.

“Dear!”

Yes, her old gramps. She missed her grandma though.

“How is it? It’s your body okay? Do you feel hurt anywhere?”

She shakes her head again and smiled faintly to her gramps. She missed her— his affection as the old man is still the same personality as her grandma in her original world.

“Take a rest, Lord Reviel has granted you permission.”

Hence, the old man head outside as she can hear the children's voices behind the door, asking how is their big sis condition and when they can play with her, but her old man stopped them and bring them somewhere.

She sighed.

“Sorry…” was her first word after taking who knows hours to be unconscious.

“Lass, mark this as your lesson. Don’t do something recklessly. If Hera don’t put them at exact times, or the young emperor doesn’t act fast, you may end your trial faster than you know.”

Ugh, she didn’t want to imagine that. Who knows these three combinations of substances could make her as weakened as she is.

“Miss, I managed to track the substances.”

She jumped but slumped again, “you tracked the culprit?”

“No, I managed to track the source.”

She doesn’t know how to respond to this as she tinged her head to the side.

“It was from the kitchen, the warehouse, and the library. If we go there, I might track the culprit.”

Alright, good. She wanted to stand but her leg gave up as she fell to her bed again. She checked and there is her brooch.

“Why I’m feeling fatigued?” she thought the brooch will prevent her from bad effects.

“Well, while you are unconscious, Lord Reviel order some Healers to heal you. But they don’t know your body and mind are not compatible with Mana. Which is drained you completely. Reverse effect. Please don’t blame me, Sweetie. We tried to inhibit the Mana flow, but we are outnumbered with the quantity of Healers, there is around ten to twelve—”

“fifteenth, Miss.”

“Fifteenth Healers! Added with that gentle-hidden-jealousy chick! She has overpowered mana resided with her,” Hera resumed.

“Hera means that headmaster from the ministry of Magic, I recalled her name is Sarah Casanova.”

Oh.

“Then, thank you, everyone. Had not because of you, I might get worsened than before. Thank you. Especially for aiding someone like me.” She might be stubborn, but she still thankful to have them as her intercession.

“Aww, no worries, Sweetie. Let’s do our best!”

“Someone approaching, Miss.”

The door opened not long after that. Revealing another similar figure and a woman beside her.

San tried to get up but her legs still wavering.

“Don’t push yourself.” The man helped her sit again at her bed.

“Lord Reviel,” San shifted her attention to the woman behind him, “and Lady Sarah, pardon me for troubling you…”

The woman smiled gently to her as she sat where once her old gramps sat at. There is a small cushion beside her bed.

“I’m grateful you had regained your consciousness. How is your feeling right now?”

San smiled back at her, “I’m feeling alright now.”

“Good, there is some question I wanted to ask if you may?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“why my Magic doesn’t do any good to you? Instead, our healing magic decreased your energy. May we check up on you?”

Ugh. She can’t say that she is not compatible with Mana right? They don’t know what Faltea is. she can only mask her troubled face with puzzled.

“This woman, she wanted to blame your condition over her greatness!”

“Hera, stop it.”

San fidget, “Um… pardon me Ma’am, but I don’t how to respond this as I never familiar with magic or mana.”

They silence.

“Right, you have your answer. Now, let her rest.” With the help from that man who standing beside her bed, the headmaster obliged and head outside.

Now leaving those two, one still feeling awkward and one is assembled his thoughts.

“Quite a tense huh?”

“Hera, if you wanted to pour oil over a flame, do it at underwater.”

“Hahah! I was joking Alveeeey~”

“This man, what is he thinking?”

“it is not as dangerous as thinking normally males are, Miss.”

“that’s not what I meant.”

He sat at the chair and began to talk, “Are you sure you are okay?”

“Yes, without a doubt.”

“then, explain to me what happened three days ago.”

Easy bruh— wait… WHAT!?

She jaw-dropped. “three, what?”

“The accident at my office, three days ago you fainted after ate the cookie. Your grandfather didn’t tell you?”

She fainted and unconscious for three days straight!?

“Sorry/Pardon me/My mistake, Miss/Sweetie/Lass” all her arte pardon their lack of common sense. Since they are intercession which never tied with dimensions and times, they forgot to tell her how many days she had fainted.

“Euh… I don’t know I have been… that long…” she didn’t know how to react as a lot of thought rapidly processing inside her head. How can San did not feeling hungry or thirsty, she recalled when she wake up Saga explained that she had dehydration but... she only felt fatigued due to Mana flow.

“Sweetie, my brooch preventing you from feeling hunger then if you take off the brooch, I’m afraid the hunger for three days straight will rush to you. Please consider eating before you take them off.”

Okay, noted.

First, she asked to eat something. The man held her some bread, soup and some chicken breast to gnaw at. He waited patiently as the brown-haired girl munched her first meal after three days straight fainted. Finished her meals, she asked if there is news lately while she was unconscious.

“I had investigated the cookie you mentioned, and we found some traces of Caran Powder, Palsie Liquid, and Kesm powder on the mixture of the cookies. Hence, we still advanced pursuit of the sources.”

A data coming:

Caran Powder: Aphrodisiac made from Caranmia plants, which is extracted from the spores. Its effect may raise the heart rate or tachycardia, inducing some hormone response as well as the enzyme, especially adrenaline and libido. Long term used or high concentration may cause cardiovascular disease such as arrhythmia.

Palsie Liquid: a Paralyzed substance made from Palsala palm. It affected mostly by the brain. Which dangerous if uses with high concentration. Using this will impact postponed consciousness as well as mobility.

Kesm Powder: a Sleeping substance made from Kesiam spore. Induced heat cycles that use body energies thus make the consumer drowsy and slept due to lack of energy. Increasing body temperature. Contradiction if combined with Caran substance as it will destruct the function of the heart.

At least there is some clarification.

“then, how is your condition?”

This person seemed more like the one who needs clarification than her.

“I’m fine.”

“… healing magic won’t do any good to you. Two days we tried, but your condition worsened. Then, in the last days, we only maintained your nutrition balanced. We afraid if using healing magic can deplete your energy more than before.”

You have it right. She is not compatible with Mana, as she IS Faltea user. Two blessings at one vessel will mess each other. Hence, any mana flows within her will be pushed outward.

“Reviel, I will only tell you this; Mana and Me, we are not compatible.” First, she has debt with him. Second, she wanted to try to believe him.

“is it because you can use Faltea?”

“Probably.”

“If you wounded, you won’t be recovered as quickly as using heals magic?”

She shakes her head.

“how about drink some recovering potions or pills? No?”

She shakes her head. “any Mana flows within me will be vain.”

“I see. Then if you wounded, what would you do?”

Hm? Good question, when she trained at the Aelux Training Grounds, she may spar or practice inside. Surely, there is one or two scratch. What happens then?

“Miss, are you forget? Once you exit the training grounds you will recover instantly. Taking a bath or eat at the Gallery also helps.”

Crap. Then, her body in this world is a fragile human body without assistance from any Aelux essence??

“You are indeed a human, Lass.”

Dang it. She doesn’t have a number-one-support-system. How will she survive??

“Sweetie, that’s why we here! We must find another intercession! The one with healing attribution!” Hera sounds like she found her rightful path again.

The good journey began with initiation. Okay, let’s get them. but, where? She doesn’t have any clue nor leads to begin with. Unless…

“what’s wrong? You are being silent all of sudden.”

The man, still wearing those creepy yet handsome face.

“… I simply bandage myself.”

“You seem troubled.”

Yeah, this man put all attention to her. slight expression and he will notice them for sure.

“I just… thinking.” Should she tell him; she needs intercession, thus giving her the Renata Ring. No way. That intercession had chosen the owner. What is the power behind the ring? A long-lasting Faltea? Right, aren’t now the man in front of her also Faltea user? Since he owned the ring anyway. “how about you?”

“what do you mean?”

“do you use mana and magic as usual?”

“I don’t use them.”

“Huh?” then what he did to survive until this moment. He has a thousand enemies across the world, haunted his triumphant-head to roll over. Covering the entire throne with the last-red of Renata lineage.

“I simply fight. Either using sword or caliber.”

“he tells the truth, Miss.”

Even Saga approved him. He simply fought while she simply bandaged herself. Good couple leads to dying flag. She hastily asked him why he never uses them. with this advanced tech and Mana development, Magic is a huge tempting power to behold.

“I have no interest. Just by standing beside the mana user makes me feel bad out of nowhere. Also, my lineage always maintained the generations to learned the traditional lifestyle before Mana was discovered."

“I see…” if she compared, Reviel would be matched well with Zeeloreis’s training as he was fond of improving himself than a mediator. “the ring, how about the ring then? Any changes?”

“No.”

No clues again. she sighed. What to do? Where to start? the ring doesn’t do anything as she realized that only human beings who chosen by Guador could use them, and Reviel not one of her kind.

“Could you explain to me what exactly you are trying to say three days ago?”

“Huh? What I may say?”

“you said; cookie, a substance I suppose, and brooch, before you fainted.”

Ah. She did? Even the last part was for Hera, slipped like that.

She coughed and replied, “we-well, I’m trying to say there are weird substances inside the cookies when I observed them. also, you probably misheard the last part. I do not remember saying brooch or anything related.”

“Then, what is that?” he pointed to a small shine little brooch attached behind her blue blouses, it located almost hidden, but unfortunately for his sly-red eyes; this is easy to catch.

Uh-oh.

“… who gave this to me?” she sweating. She wanted to put them off but if she did, all the fits of hunger for three days will start to spread over her, and that is trouble!

“I recalled they never been there before. Not when I visit you often at night.”

Uh-oh.

Wait, did he said he always visit her?

No, there is no time for that. What she needed is cover.

“maybe my siblings put them for me… you know this is kind like a charm in my family… heheh.” She knew this is awkward as she lied to him, again. There is no such thing like that, she doesn’t believe in charms or whatever it is hidden power.

“you believe there is a charm?”

You heard her. she did not—

“here, take this.”

!?

Reviel gives her the ring which should he wore them. not her. the Renata Ring slipped easily to her sweet finger. Now, this is stunning as for her, no one did this before. Except for this twisted-man.

“Wa-wait… that is… your ring…”

“I know. I just want this belonging safely within the right person.”

The right person is HIM! Why give something ‘another’ useless—

“Lass, watch it. We never know what would happen to the ring, best to accept his favor.”

Still, she felt bad after lied to him. He always provided the best, honest, sincerest things to her yet she always lied and keep the truth away. She promised to tell him her discovery about Faltea but none until now. she felt like the bad guy here, using him as her only benefit.

“… You know, I don’t believe in charm.”

“then, just wear them as accessories. It suits you.”

“… you are a really sincere one.”

“I am.”

“…”

She decided to tell him.

“Faltea. You may have heard this before; there are two different blessings in this world.”

He listening earnestly as he leaned forward to her, making sure no words missed from her.

“one we called Mana, and the other is still unknown up until this moment I told you. Faltea. They have different privileges as well as principles. Thus, they can’t work at the same time at the one vessel. Simply, two blessings inside one vessel would only mess each other. One needs sacrifice, the other doesn’t. one had direct power, the other doesn’t. hence, based on my observation, the vessel more likely chooses using Mana and dismissed the other who useless to that vessel. Temptation overpower is natural. But if the vessel chose remained with Faltea then, since only Guad— Angel or Seraph can use them, humans called them as a blessing within the light. A sparkle within the light, which is blended completely with the light. Nothing to see but also the light. Simply put, a hidden miracle.

Reviel, I don’t compatible with Mana and you never use Mana but have the ability to feel the Faltea, which means you already know the answer I presume? Though it’s only based on the preview.”

“I understand. There is some question that I was wondering right now.

First, if I never use Mana, then does that mean I don’t compatible with Mana too?

Second, I’m just human and either you, then why we can feel or see them? I saw you use them, it’s not a mere coincidence as you said at the throne that time, right?

Third, what is your objective? If I can help you, maybe we can learn more about them quickly as my clues are lies in you.”

She decided to be honest.

“I can’t answer the first and second question,” yet, she can’t answer them yet. If she has better pieces of knowledge about him, better trust and so on maybe she will. Or not. But not yet. “as for your third question… I can’t say for sure, but first, let me ask you again; what do you think about your ring, Renata Ring?”

He put his finger touching his lips and cheeks area somewhat thinking and assembling the answer. “it is the ring which kept hidden and must be heritance.”

Alright, normal answer. Even for the 100th generation like him would think so.

“well, that’s standard. Anything else? Like what was your feeling around this ring? Does it affect you somewhere around the last three days?”

“Not really. As usual, it has the same air around my throne and the throne chamber.”

Weird, she has activated them; the ring should have to work with him using it. But none happens. The only answer is only; Reviel is not her kind.

“Lass, did you forget? What is our form before you have us?”

“mhm, glowing crystals.”

“yes, anymore?”

“you guys don’t have for—”

Oh! Is that it?

The moment Renata Ring appeared it HAS been forming into RING. Should she break the ring in order to activate the crystals inside? True, there are red crystals attached, is that what she is thinking right now?

“How do you break this?”

“Pardon?”

“We must release the crystals. Here, look.” She showed him the red crystals, almost similar to ruby but it has different textures and something glows faintly inside.

Reviel only silent and resumed. “you told me that ring have been passed for generations, the Renata lineage, I will break them only because you told me so.” He gripped her finger and started to pull the ring from her.

On second thought…

“Wait, maybe there is another way. Wait, wait.” She hastily stopped him as she grabbed her arms. Not letting him put off the ring from her.

“if you wanted the ring so badly, I could give something better with better appearance.” He smirked. She pissed inside, this is not the time for that, she doesn’t need another ring, she needed this!

“haha, that’s funny, Reviel. But I humbly decline, I need yours only.”

The man only stared at her for a moment there. “that was witty. Alright, maybe I will ask my subordinates to put aside the crystal.”

The door opened again and some people with white robes each bring their books coming again.

“Pardon our interrupt, we heard Miss Roel had been awake, we humbly request your permission to do check up on her.”

Not again, please.

“Who told you so?”

“Headmaster Nova ordered us, hence our last examination around two days ago.”

Sighed, awesome. Sarah Casanova whining is the number one spectacle today. She is restless, does handle two classes and secretly practicing to be Swordsinger is not enough for her?

Reviel turned them down as he stated that the woman beside him is fine. Nothing to the concern. San sitting at her bedside as she was listening to their humble-arguing. The white robes or we called Healers is going nowhere as they just finish the tasked or their Nova will scream— gently punished them.

“This is going nowhere.” She muttered. She stood up and began to intrude them but someone already barked in before she did.

“My Lord.”

Reviel turns to that someone still not going to greeted back but the Healers did.

“Lady Blight.” as they bowed to her.

Yes, another headmaster of pain in the head.

“My Lord, we already found some proof related to the case!” she swiftly put a transparent plastic with some powder inside.

“I don’t remember ordered you.” Was all he stated to her and a cold rash reply too. She didn’t flinch nor felt bad but getting to him closer as she showed him both the proof and her captivated breast sexually.

This one is a pushover.

“Kathy! Stopped right there!” a man with full black and golden-patterns coat barked in, the healers bowed to him.

“General Kyle.” With earnestly. He seemed different from the last time she met him at the secluded bar three days ago. Today he seemed noble with that attire. No one going to believe he is a bartender in the secluded bar.

He panted and approached them. “sorry, Your Highness, pardon me… I let her ran along with the proof.” Then he turned to his sister, “give it back, we need it as it was our responsibility, not yours.”

The red-haired woman stomped her feet to her brother. “What!? Your soldiers are too slow! If not because of my power you would never find this.”

And they began argued. Reviel, as the first he doesn’t care, take the proof for them and approaching the brown-haired girl who only sitting at the bedside, somehow enjoying the pain before her.

“Miss, I had tracked the proof, as you can see… this one found in the kitchen. Hidden beneath the powdered seasonings. They didn’t find the remaining poison yet.”

Yeah, they are slow, three days and they only found one proof. Even Saga is the best detective here.

“that one was from the kitchen.”

“You knew?”

She nodded to him with a faint smile, slightly similar to smirked but at the low level. “you are talking to another Faltea user, my Lord.” She whispered to him.

He understood. “now there is the fourth question that I have been thinking to kept them, but I decided to ask you now; with Faltea, except producing a weapon and see Faltea, do you have the ability to track something?”

Hmm, not quite the question she wanted to answer the truth. But here she is, “well, wanted to chase the culprit?” instead of being all honest to him, let give him another hint as she acknowledges him to somehow managed read her. therefore, either they can catch the culprit or not, is more than enough to answer his questions. Therefore, what is she trying to say is, exactly, think whatever he likes.

They both have their conversations with low voices, allowing no one but them to listen.

Reviel helped her to stand up, much to her disadvantages she is still feeling weak. Thanks to him she can barely walk around three steps from the bed, before someone red-haired jumping right to her lordship.

She is really, a push-over.

“My Lord, I have found the proof, yet you still trouble yourself.” She hugged his left side as the red lady not going to release them. San could not stand watching those bouncing mountains make their way along his left arm, it’s true they are big; but still, do cover them, please. it’s embarrassing. Even San is a woman too, but still, it’s not like she is jealous. Her breast also big, well standard to be squashed.

“Kathy— I mean, Master Blight, you are going to disrupt them.” Kyle, as he is a kind person, thankfully.

“My Lord just ordered me, I can finish anything—”

The man who helped San only stared at them with an ever stoic face and said, “Good work, I will take the case myself. You may continue your task today.” Kyle bowed to him and his sister somehow pouted but lost within her opened red lips, swallowing each of her jealousy yet helpless inside.

San feeling bad for her. but this is not the right time to find an excuse as she trying to focus on her ordeal; finding the culprit and gain his trust. She wished after this case finished, she will never feel bad for using her lordship as her beneficial.

They make their way to the kitchen, where the proof is being found at. Around the seasoning shelves. Midway, Reviel asked her condition again and offered her to called him whenever she is feeling tired and so on, but she humbly declined him again. both of them observed as the maids and servants inside the kitchen assembled the jars.

“Miss, there. That one.” with Saga's help, she takes the jar closed with a mere fabric. She opened them and smell something sour inside. Something like brewed tea leaves added with orange peels then left them for one day, but dry.

The maid beside her started to explain, “Miss, that is pickled mushroom from Fafua, it has been checked and it’s safe.”

A data is coming afterward describing Fafua mushroom which is not important right now. the inside is a mere but…

“the jar, Miss.”

Yep. She understood that. She learned about track and field: If the inside seemed normal, then inspect the environment. The inside something that can be replaced, but the jar may be replaced or not the jar will always be used. While she observed the jar, Reviel asked another servant.

“where did they found the proof?”

“around the shelves, Your Highness.”

He turned to her and wanted to let her know about the shelves as he thinks it may have another trace left. But he found only a wide smile from the brown-haired lady. Wondering, he started to ask her.

“Something wrong?”

“No, everything is well.” She smiled at him, well done indeed. Well prepared too. Based on Saga examination, the jar had been used to placed the poison. It well cleaned too. The three combined drugs placed inside as they are wrapped inside something cases, probably a plastic wrap to reduce the risk of being tracked. Also, why she and Saga thinks it was plastic? Because it easily to be burned, thus the culprit can be washed the traces of their dirty hands, also tracker magic won’t do any good either if the wrapper had been burned. Perfect cover. But in front of the Ultimate Stalk— Detective Saga, those are futile.

“well… something?”

“Yeah, everything has been well checked right?” she shifted her question to all the maids and servants around her as they replied and bowed to her, agreeing.

She can’t blow up her discovery right now, not in front of the subordinates, they may or not be the culprit. Her only known sincerest person is that twisted man who stood beside her.

Somehow the twisted man catches something from the air, suddenly dismissing all of them except her. San doesn’t know how did he have something in mind or rationalize thinking, but this act is a favor to her.

“talk. It’s only us here.”

Damn twisted.

“Alright, the jars around the shelves had been checked. But your subordinates only found the proof around the shelves. How about the jars? It well checked too, but only from inside. How about the outer?”

He oh-ed. “I presume one of these jars had been used to place the drugs. Then, which one is it?”

She pointed the jar in front of her. “well, they are not important right now, since the real proof had been replaced. But, for me, this is enough to track the remaining proof as well as the culprit.”

“I see. Then, the drugs are wrapped inside something as they may left lessen proof inside the jar. There should be something burned, is that also work for you?”

She nodded and he resumed, “Good, then let’s head to the warehouse.”

Wow, the great mind thinks alike. She does not even hint them where to go yet the man already deduced something more. That was terrific.

“why?”

“warehouse have burning machines to keep the place stay warm as well as using the heat energy as the sources for everything warehouse needed. Therefore, there is a huge flame inside the machine. Probably the culprit trying to burn the wrapper. It may leave some ashes behind.”

“… but it had been three days ago, surely the ashes had been cleaned too.”

“the ashes are one of the compost, pesticide compound, soil moisturizer, and another carbon product. They are secondary function inside the warehouse, also we always scheduled to cleaned the warehouse and counted the inventory monthly. So, I think; the ashes should be kept around the organic compounds before being used.”

Yeah, too great.

They headed to the warehouse this time. According to Saga, the traces is truly there. Still being kept, waiting in line for being used and missed. Much to their favors, there is half of the black plastic left inside the organic barrel. Maybe the flames can’t burn enough and ceased the truth.

“Is that enough?” Reviel carefully placed the half-ash plastic to inside another transparent plastic.

“Yes.” She turned to Hera, borrowing something that has magnetic attributes.

“Hrm, you do not upgrade me yet, I can’t serve exactly as you said, but these may do.” Thus, San pulled something from her arte, a weapon which formed like a string. “tied them.”

organic is non-magnetic therefore these carbon ashes are either one. to make them magnetic you may simply put electricity into them, this technique may also call as electromagnetic. San turned off the lamp, with the helped from Reviel, he tied the wire around the cable inside the lamp with the proof wrapped inside the plastic. After the preparation is done, she turned on the lamp and the electricity begins to swirl. After takes a few minutes, she turned off the lamp again and waited around three seconds before she turned them on again.

it did!

The carbonic ashes moving to the electricity sources as they are now possessed magnetic traits for a short period. The proof becomes clearer as they can read some half letter at them.

“… nei… what’s that?”

Reviel silent as he is understood that letter and some weird logo at the proof.

“interesting. We have more discovery.”

Hey, now, don’t turn the table, she is not ready. She still didn’t understand any specific matter related to this world, there are weird names and weird shapes which Saga could not distinguish them but only describe them in general.

“You don’t know this emblem?”

Well not if he mentioned the name, a data always coming afterward. She shakes her head.

“This is Vasnei Gradd. an old research industry strived in medicine and potion as they are now already vanished due to the development. I did mention that Mager in the past formed as a liquid, now they are formed as a pill, stone, or any other form which deepen the development. Their product should have long gone from over a hundred years ago.”

“that old?”

“Yes, I know them because one of their drug products had been killed my former family, the second child from early generations of the 70th.”

Woah, that’s mean almost thirty rulers before him. That’s sad. She felt bad for making him recalled his old memories, she meant something about his family. She tried to avoid the topic about his families yet anything she did only make him recalled them often. First the Renata ring, his database, now this.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you recalled them.”

“Nah, I don’t mind. besides they have existed at my history of Renata Family lesson, I have nothing more concerned about them.”

Woah, that’s cold but he stated the truth.

“then, we already found this. surely we should head to the library yet?”

Oh my God, yes.

This is fun. Stalking is fun.

Thus, they quickly headed to the library. There are some soldiers guarding the library, with his command, they go. Poof, the entire library is at their hand right now.

The library is a huge room consist around three floors, which they are enabled to see from the ground floor. All the walls are painted with the books, making them like somewhat like a fiction huge library. Nothing to see but windows of the world. Wonderers of all pieces of knowledge. Yes, book.

This place is more heroic. Well, the fourth one after Aelux Open Hall Realm, the Lebera (Aelux library), and the throne room at Syrr.

“here.” With Reviel help, he had familiar with all these books and exact location, they found the book and commentary report about Vasnei Gradd.

A data is coming but San will read them later as Reviel’s way to describe them is easy to understand and more compact than the wondrous information inside the data.

“Miss, the culprit, is right here.”

Suddenly the pages from the book opened and flipping quickly as if a strong breeze caused them, but they are inside a library and there is no strong breeze coming. Reviel somehow looked calm outside but there is a hint of shocked inside his gleaming red pupils as he raised his side brows.

“Is this…”

“…”

The pages stopped flipping, showing a page with a table and names list inside. Saga pointed to a name which is; Orifiel Tandeu. Which to her, she is similar to the last name only, yes, Tandeu.

“there is name list, but I don’t acknowledge neither of them”

Saga proved he said the truth. “not even one?” she asked to clarify. The man only shakes his head. “how about their last name.”

“No, why?”

Huh? Aren’t he and Sarah is a childhood friend? He doesn’t know her full name? the data acknowledge her with three words. Sarah Casanova Tandeu (you may read again the ch 4)

“You…” but Saga also proved that he said the truth.

She sighed. This woman must have some grudged to her. she wished to not being dragged into love affairs, yet this is happened in her first day working. What to do, this is troublesome.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, but no.”

“Which one first?”

“neither. Alright, case closed. Let’s just let them be as if they never happened before.”

“No, you almost died. The drugs almost killed you like they have been killed my ancestors.”

“You said you have no concerned.”

“I don’t have concerned about them, but I concern about you.”

“…”

“wow, that was heart-shot, Sweetie.” Not again Hera, not again.

“the man is sincere, Miss.” Please, Saga.

“you have a trust issue, Lass?” no, even a wise person like Alvey finally make the comment. A strung one, right to her doubtfulness.

“you hide something, you know something. You promised me to let me know.” He takes a step to her as she is backing. There is a slight of similar aura around him with Zeeloreis. He noticed that the brown-haired lady takes a step backward, he stopped and murmur to her with low voice but firmly said; “Please, don’t leave me behind.”

Ugh, his silent-wailing is scariest right now. the twisting things are crazy. He cornered her as they are stood behind the pillar which makes her can’t go anywhere but only facing him. Somehow he has the trait to make her feel bad for him.

That word is dangerously aimed at her tight lips. Her barrier which she always carefully thread.

“Tan—” before she finished, the pillar behind her crushed and collapsed right above her. she did notice a faint yet strong enigmatic Faltea rushed before the ring. The red eyes man swiftly carried her as they are avoided the collapsing pillar and managed to the side safely.

She still shocked as she won't avoid them due to her weakened condition. Her body is trembling, this pillar may wreck her body to pieces and end her trial. If not because of him, she may not survive.

The man as calm and collected as ever asked her, “are you alright?”

She nodded slowly and skeptically, as she is hesitated to believe something.

Something is fishy.

Yes, data is no joke.

Even Saga reminded her.

Alvey said, “Truly twisted.”

San gulped and only looked down. She doesn’t know what is this man thinking. She can’t rationalize his mindset. She knew this man has a cold and ferocious behavior.

Why…

Why would this person itself crush the pillar behind her? and now asking her condition as if he is doing nothing, innocently saving her.

What did she just feel? A Faltea yes, but how did this person use them? he is not her kind.

San looked at him thoroughly as she is trying to search her answer. Yet the man only wore an undescribed face, somehow worried yet somehow satisfied.

Alvey resumed, “this is the price pays for abandoning one character.”

…

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To Be Continued

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