Under everyone's gaze, Rod followed the gray-robed man out.The lounge fell utterly silent.
No one in the capital hadn't heard of the Office of Inquisition; its name rang everywhere.Yet few had seen it with their own eyes.Today was the first time most of them had watched the Inquisition take someone away—one of their own.
Only after Rod and the gray-robed man were long gone did sound return—Wayne's mournful voice first.
"Is Rod… not coming back?"
That flipped a switch. The room erupted.
"Is this for real?""Could the badge be fake?""Impossible. The Academy wouldn't let impostors in, and those adjudicator badges can't be forged.""Gods—Chief Inspector. That's just one rank under the High Adjudicator.""What did he do?""No idea… In my town once, Doomsday cultists dumped corrosive water into the cistern. The Inquisition only sent a field investigator."
"Seriously?"
They gaped and guessed and traded rumors. Many were oddly optimistic; the Chief Inspector had seemed polite, not like someone hauling a criminal away.Only Cassandra said nothing. Her face had gone dark; her expression shifted and stilled again.
…
When judgment finally arrived, Rod, strangely, wasn't as tense as he'd feared.
The gray-robed man—Laurent—was courteous. The moment they left the lounge, he smiled."Greetings, 'the man with eyes full of you.' The White Wolf of Vemir asked me to say hello."
Rod blinked. "You know about that?"
Laurent's smile deepened. "Of course. Lady Qingyu told us everything."
His gray eyes lingered on Rod, meaningful."Otherwise, you'd already be in our dungeons, undergoing special interrogation."
A prickle of relief ran through Rod—followed by a pang of worry.He only relayed the White Wolf's greeting… not Qingyu's. My technique still needs work.More practice, he promised himself.
This Chief Inspector seemed reasonable. Maybe things weren't as bad as he'd feared.
They crossed a shaded path to the Academy's main road, where a blue-violet four-wheeled carriage waited by the curb.It was plain-built, wide—standard in every way.
Except there were no horses.
Laurent opened the door. "After you, little sir."
Rod climbed in and sat.The cabin was roomier than it looked, though the benches were bare wood—hard as stone.Laurent took the seat opposite.
The carriage set off.Wheels clicked softly over cobbles; scenery slid backward while students stepped aside without surprise—no one questioned a horseless coach.
Fine, Rod thought. Another oddity in this odd civilization.Then again—power here was odder still. A carriage that moved itself?Where I'm from, none of them use horses anyway.
Laurent watched him with interest, then finally spoke."Rod of Redstone, congratulations on joining Kinworth Academy. You are a Flamebearer now. May you fight for the Flame."
"Thank you," Rod said politely. "I will."
"But understand—being a Kinworth student does not absolve grave crimes."
A small chill touched Rod's spine.
Laurent's gray gaze was steady, his voice low and weighty."You must grasp this: the evidence so far is not in your favor. The only reason you're not in a cell is Lady Qingyu's guarantee. I support her judgment, but the Inquisition does not accept sentiment or conjecture as proof. We judge on facts. If your suspicion crosses a threshold, we initiate special review."
Rod swallowed. "What happens in a special review?"
"Your soul is damaged. The spirit fractures. Fewer than one in ten survive."
Cold crept up Rod's back.
"What should I do now?"
"Cooperate—fully. Your attitude is crucial. That's why I came in person."
He drew a letter from his robe and set it on the bench between them."Recognize this?"
Rod studied the yellowed page: creased, clearly written, though most of the words meant nothing to him."I don't."
He looked up. Laurent's gray eyes were locked on him.
"This is the letter you sent to Ash-Cat Alai at the Graymoss Street Agency. You used a cipher, instructing him to leave a box at a designated place."
A bad feeling tugged at Rod."I don't remember… any of that."
Laurent nodded. "We know. Yusa testified to your… complicated soul state. But your soul's ignition proves it's within acceptable limits."
A flicker of relief—and of worry—passed through Rod. "So… we're going to find him now?"
Laurent shook his head. "Ash-Cat Alai vanished long ago. Yesterday we found his body in the Ironshield Street sewers."
Rod's heart dropped."Then what? Any leads?"
"Witnesses confirm Alai visited the Blessing Chapel the day before he disappeared. The priest there turned out to be a Doomsday adherent and fled. By certain methods I've traced him to Outer District One of the Lower City. You will accompany me."
"Alright," Rod said at once.
"I recall you're Starfire Sequence. What is your Soul Seed?"
Rod grimaced and gave the official answer. "Black Bowl."
Laurent didn't laugh. "Function?"
"I'm… not sure. My gaze feels a little sharper?"
"Combat training?"
"None. Teacher Calaman covered the basics of Soul Energy in battle, but I've never fought for real."
"That's fine," Laurent said. "Stay with me. Use your ability when you can. Assist the investigation."
He held Rod's eyes."Normally, you would report straight to the Inquisition for questioning. But one of the presiding officers on this case is my mentor, High Adjudicator Alighieri dan Black-Bear. So—this is your chance."
There was subtext Rod didn't fully catch, but he nodded carefully. "I understand."
Moments later, the horseless coach slowed and stopped.
Outside lay a district of mud and filth, lamps guttering before tattered doors.Before they stepped down, Laurent asked, almost idly, "Your Soul Seed again?"
"Black Bowl."
Laurent's lips twitched.
"Hahaha."