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"This is it…, the scene of the disappearance."
The young boy said, his jaw clenched tightly as he stared at the alley with a burning gaze.
Ray swallowed. This was it. Detective mode activated.
She took slow steps into the alley, when suddenly a warm hand tugged at her sleeve, pulling her back.
"My lady…" Gaia called. "I don't think this is a good idea." She insisted.
"It's okay gaia…" Ray said softly, while patting her hand. "The sun is still out. What could possibly go wrong?" Trying to mask the tremor in her voice.
Her steps were measured as she drew closer and closer within. Her gaze swept through the area, trying to make sense of everything in sight.
"How did you find out this was the place they disappeared?" She asked the young boy, who stood outside the alley with Gaia.
"A few of their belongings were found. And…"
He hesitated.
"And what?" Ray questioned.
The boy's jaw tightened even more then slowly softened. "Blood," he said.
Gaia's face turned toward him. Fear flickered across her gaze and then back at her lady. Ray swallowed again.
Her eyes fell on the icon beside her.
FAILURE TO COMPLY:
To be determined.
It still read. She was extremely scared, but she had to see this through. Quickly, she cleared her throat. "Oh," she said. "And where are the belongings now?" Ray asked.
"The local cathedral took hold of them.
Keeping their belongings to pray for their souls."
Ray simply nodded as she scanned the cobblestones.
Usually in movies, the perpetrator leaves a clue behind. Hopefully, there should be one. Ray suddenly bent down.
"I found something!" She yelled.
Gaia and the young boy's eyes widened in surprise as they leaned in to see what she had spotted.
Ray lifted it up proudly, but their surprise quickly fell flat. An unimpressed look.
"My lady…" Gaia called softly. "That's rope."
"Exactly.." she responded. "It could have been used to tie them up.."
The young boy quickly cut in. "That's the kind used to tie vegetables, carts, and animals." He said. "You can find strands everywhere, if you look hard enough."
Ray slowly looked down at it… then cleared her throat. "… still suspicious."
Suddenly, a young man hurried towards them.
"Teo!" He called out. The red haired boy helping Ray and Gaia snapped his head in that direction. "What is it?" He asked.
"The gathering has begun. What are you still doing here?" The young man's eyes shifted past him and towards Gaia, then a while longer at Ray.
Instantly, Ray pulled her cloak tighter around herself, lowering her head. Gaia stepped forward at once, subtly blocking the man's view.
Teo moved as well, positioning himself directly in the stranger's line of sight. "I will be there soon," Teo said flatly. "Go ahead."
The young man hesitated, his gaze lingering a second too long. But eventually,he gave a small nod and turned away. Disappearing back down the street.
Ray could finally breathe now that he was gone. "What was that about?" Ray asked.
"It's nothing important," Teo said quickly. But when he turned and met her narrowed gaze, his confidence faltered.
Shock flickered across his face. He cleared his throat. "It's just… a local gathering.
People talking about the disappearances," he muttered.
Ray's heart skipped a beat.
What If I could get more information from them, or even a clue?
"Take me with you," she said.
Teo stared at her like she had lost her mind. "Are you crazy?" He blurted out.
"My lady, I don't think that's a good idea," Gaia said nervously, stepping closer.
"Yes, listen to her," Teo added. "That place isn't safe. Especially for someone like you."
Ray lowered her hood, her gaze intense.
"People are disappearing. If we do nothing about it, more will vanish." She said, "And I can't stand by."
And if I ignore this, Only God knows what the system might have planned for me.
For a moment, Teo hesitated. He glanced at Gaia who gave him a quick head shake to disagree, and after a while he responded.
"Alright. But stay close, it's not safe." he said, then turned to leave.
Ray smiled as she gave him a quick nod. She followed after him, when her eyes caught onto a reflection of light, coming from the ground.
Her gaze quickly followed the reflection…
"What is that?" She whispered.
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The tavern was dim even in broad daylight. The smell of smoke clung to the wooden shelves and tables. Voices murmured in a low whisper, going silent the moment Aziah walked in.
Behind the counter, a broad man wiped a cup clean with a cloth that looked older than the table the cup was eventually placed upon.
His gaze swept over him, briefly then back to cleaning the cups.
Aziah sat on the chair near the counter and placed a small painting on it.
"Have you seen this young lady before?" He asked, his voice calm.
The man didn't touch the painting at first. His gaze shifted towards the door and around, then back to him. "Maybe," he said slowly. "People come and go."
Aziah slipped a few coins onto the counter as they clinked softly against the wooden surface.
His eyes dropped to them, then quickly he looked around. Before he snatched them into his pocket. "I have seen her," she admitted. "came here a few times…"
"Alone?" Aziah asked, his voice low, his gaze narrowed.
"Well…. I think she was or was she?" The man said with a grin tugging on his lips. "I can't seem to remember."
Aziah exhaled deeply, then dipped his hands into his pocket. He gently placed one gold coin on the table.
The man behind the counter stared in bewilderment. It was rare for commoners to see gold coins. And seeing one meant a lot of money.
He stretched out his arm to take it. Suddenly, Aziah pulled out the dagger by his side, grabbing onto the man's arm and stabbing into the table.
A few inches close to the man's fingers.
"Listen," Aziah said coldly. "I am not here to play games. Tell me what you know. And everything has to be true unless…"
"…I swear to the heavens, I am telling the truth." The man said, as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
After a few seconds, Aziah let him go and took back the coin.
The man held onto his hand in shock, "she came here a few times, often alone." He said. "But one night, I remember she came in with someone."
Aziah's gaze sharpened slightly. "Who was with her?"
The man squinted his eyes in thoughts. "I couldn't see his face clearly. Hood up. But.." he lifted his hand, gesturing upwards. "He was tall. Probably your height… or even slightly taller."
Aziah nodded once and slid a silver coin instead to him. "Thank you." He said. Then picked up the painting about to leave.
"But there was something else I noticed."
The man said, which caused Aziah steps to slow. "The person with her didn't seem like he was new here." He added, his voice low.
"There was something about him. He had been here before and I think with her as well."
The man said. Aziah fully turned to leave.
Outside, Lucian stood at the entrances. His back leaned against the wall of the tavern as he watched the streets. People avoided walking too close to him, without even knowing why.
Aziah stepped out of the building, and stood beside him.
"She was here," he said quietly. "And left with a man. Tall and concealed face."
Lucian gave a short nod. "Then her trail didn't end at the pavilion," he said. "Whoever she left with is either responsible for her disappearance… or knows something about it."
"I think we should head back to the office and check what information they have…. Just in case we missed something," Aziah suggested.
Lucian nodded in agreement and took a step forward, when his eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of someone in the distance.
Someone familiar.
His breath hitched. It can't be her, he thought, already moving before his mind could catch up.
Or… could it be?
Aziah didn't notice. He kept talking, rambling about theories on how the viscountess's niece might have disappeared.
After a few moments with no response, he finally turned around, to see Lucian walking the opposite way.
"Lucian!" Aziah called out, but the noise of the crowded street swallowed his voice.
Ahead, Lucian pushed open the door to a tavern as he stepped inside.