The morning air rolled gently through the open window as the crimson sun rose once more, reclaiming its place in the sky and signaling the start of a new day.
Bathed in the red glow of dawn, the Ward household slowly came to life.
In his room, Lumian stood with his golden wing-shaped pendant tied neatly around his neck. He paced quietly as he prayed, his voice low and steady. When he finished, he stepped out and joined his siblings at the table, where the scent of freshly prepared eggs and bacon filled the air.
They sat together, as they discussed with each other, all enjoying the company of each other.
After breakfast, Lumian stood and turned to his older brother.
"I'm heading to work now," he said casually. "Don't miss me too much."
Kelvin smiled faintly and shook his head. "Miss you? Just make sure you come home early."
"Alright…" Lumian replied, though his tone carried a slight lack of confidence.
He paused before adding, "I transferred Laura's school tuition yesterday."
"Yes, I saw it," Kelvin said, pulling out his phone. "Two hundred pounds."
Lumian nodded. "You'll pay it today?"
"Definitely," Kelvin replied with a reassuring smile. "Once I'm done here, I'll drop Laura off, pay the fees, and then head to work."
Lumian smiled, satisfied.
He walked toward the door but turned briefly to glance at Laura, who was already focused on her assignments at the table.
"Bye, Laura."
Without looking up, she waved lightly. "Bye, brother."
Lumian opened the door, but before he stepped out, Kelvin called after him. "Lumian — today's the 27th. Mr. Wendyl, the landlord, is coming for his monthly inspection."
At the mention of the name, Laura and Lumian exchanged a look.
"Wendyl… Wendyl… Wendyl…" they chanted in unison, almost like a song, before breaking into laughter.
Lumian shook his head with a grin. "The house is mostly in good condition. Nothing to worry about."
With that, he stepped outside, the cool morning air brushing against his face. He hailed a taxi and soon was on his way to Lamenti.
...
Lamenti, Moonlight Watchers Faculty.
Eventually, Lumian arrived at Lamenti. He paid the driver and quickly stepped into the faculty.
Inside, he noticed several unfamiliar figures dressed in black coats. They were either seated on the couches or standing in small groups, speaking leisurely among themselves. There were about seven of them.
Lumian turned to the right, intending to speak with Lury, but his gaze fell on a familiar figure with black hair, at his front.
"Mrs. Hathway," he called out as she stood with her back to him.
She turned and raised her brows slightly. "Oh… good morning, dear. What was your name again?"
"Lumian Ward," he replied with a polite smile.
Hathway nodded, seemingly committing the name to memory.
Glancing around, Lumian asked, "Are these the officials you mentioned would be coming?"
She hummed lightly in response. "Yes. However, the group that traveled by ship was attacked and is currently in very bad condition. Fortunately, their leader and a few capable members managed to protect the rest."
Lumian nodded thoughtfully. "What exactly did they face?"
Hathway chuckled before replying, "They claimed it was a giant tentacled monster."
"Which side of the river?" Lumian asked, with a brow raised.
"The Lad River," she answered calmly.
Hearing that, Lumian's thoughts stirred. The Lad River… I heard in the news that a ship had capsized there. The king should really prohibit travel in that area.
Outwardly, he continued, "But I hope you know we've already dealt with Lacey. He's dead."
Hathway hummed again. "I've been here since earlier. Hargreaves already informed me. However, with everything going on, you don't expect us to leave immediately, do you? We'll remain here to handle other matters at the faculty for at least three days."
Lumian mirrored her hum unconsciously, making Hathway chuckle softly.
Setting the teasing aside, Lumian cleared his throat. "Mrs. Hathway, I've been meaning to ask you something."
She tilted her head slightly. "If you're wondering whether I can accept your feelings, I'll have to think about it. Our ages are slightly apart."
Lumian laughed awkwardly. "No, Mrs. Hathway. That's not it. I wanted to ask… what exactly does a diviner do?"
...
Hathway stammered slightly before giving a small smile.
"Oh, the Diviner Order… if I remember correctly, you mentioned you were from the Diviner Order," she said.
Lumian nodded.
Hathway continued, "Ah, right, hehe. Diviners are basically oracles, as you probably already know. We assist and provide guidance to individuals, either spiritually or physically. Think of us… like mediums, in a way."
Lumian smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mrs. Hathway. I really needed that explanation."
She hummed lightly in response, and the two of them chuckled softly, enjoying the brief calm.
Amid the quiet, Hargreaves suddenly appeared from downstairs. He no longer had a cast, instead wearing a crisp white shirt and trousers, his short afro neatly trimmed.
"Good morning, Captain," Lumian greeted, waving.
"Good morning, Lumian," Hargreaves replied with a chuckle. "I was just about to meet you, but you're already here."
"Why's that, Captain?"
"To go meet the Duke," Hargreaves said, smiling as he approached.
Lumian glanced at his arm. "Looks like you're getting better, Captain."
Hargreaves raised his hand with a small chuckle. "Told you, with time it'll heal. I just needed some rest."
Lumian nodded. "But, Captain… are we going now?"
"Of course. We don't have anything else to do, do you?"
"Not at all, Captain," Lumian replied, with a sheepish smile.
He turned toward the door. "Hathway, keep an eye on the faculty for me."
"No problem," she said calmly.
With that, the duo exited the faculty, stepping into the morning sunlight.
...
Lamenti, Ferlie District.
Under the glow of the crimson sun, Lumian and Hargreaves walked side by side toward the Duke's mansion.
Hargreaves adjusted his black hat, pressing it slightly downward. He rarely liked showing his face in public—the only time he ever did so openly was during the time they performed the "flogging gesture" performed from Lamenti to Metropyl.
Beside him, Lumian wore his usual black coat and trousers, his expression calm.
Before long, they arrived at a tall stone mansion, its windows trimmed in gold. The grass in the yard was perfectly even, and a few workers were still tending to the grounds, maintaining the estate's pristine appearance.
They approached the door and knocked lightly. There was no response at first, untill they knocked once more.
This time, the door opened. A young maid stood before them, her long brown hair neatly tied back. She looked cheerful at first, but upon seeing the two unfamiliar men, her expression shifted into confusion.
With one brow raised she asked politely. "Good morning, sirs. How may I help you?"
Lumian and Hargreaves immediately lowered their heads, their expressions turning solemn.
Hargreaves spoke quietly. "It's about Lacey."
Hearing that, the maid raised her eyes slightly, as her face drained of colour. She covered her mouth as understanding dawned on her eyes.
Without saying another word, she slowly closed the door and hurried inside.
...
No sooner had the maid left than another woman opened the door.
She wore a folded green dress, elegant but slightly wrinkled, as though she had not cared to fix it properly. Her eyes were heavy, shadowed by sleepless nights. Without a word, she stepped aside and allowed them to enter.
The living room of the mansion was richly furnished—gold-trimmed chairs, polished wooden tables, and a grand couch that spoke of wealth and status. Yet despite the luxury, the atmosphere felt quiet.
Hargreaves and Lumian took thier seats, as a heavy silence settled between them.
As Lumian sat there, he couldn't help but recall the moment he pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot echoed faintly in his mind. He couldn't even bring himself to think about payment now.
Amid the silence, tears began to slide slowly down Lacey's mother's face. She clutched a portion of her dress tightly, her knuckles turning paler.
Raising a handkerchief to her watery eyes, she asked in a trembling voice:
"Where is his body…? Where is my son's body?"
Hargreaves let out a slow sigh. "It is in our custody."
He lowered his gaze briefly before continuing, his voice soft. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss. And I apologize for asking questions at such a time… truly."
Lumian bit his lips, as he felt quite guilty.
Patricia closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself before speaking. "Very well… If I may ask—who are you, and where did you find Lacey?"
Hargreaves answered calmly. "We are sorcerers from the Moonlight Watchers Faculty. We found Lacey deceased near Greenland Pond."
They deliberately left out the part about Lacey becoming a sorcerer… and the battle that followed.
Patricia nodded solemnly.
Hargreaves continued gently, "Do you have any idea what might have caused Lacey to run away?"
...
Hearing that, her lips twitched slightly, before replying. "I don't know… but if I think about it, it was probably his stepfather."
Hargreaves nodded slowly as she continued.
"You know Lacey isn't his biological child. Ever since then… he's been abusing him. I've told Joshua so many times that I'm truly sorry."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Maybe he was really depressed… maybe he just wanted love. Oh… I'm such a bad mother."
Hargreaves exchanged a brief glance with Lumian before speaking gently,
"I'm deeply sorry. Where is Duke Joshua now?"
"He has locked himself in his room ever since Lacey went missing."
Hargreaves sighed and leaned back into the couch, placing two fingers against his lips as he thought carefully. After a moment, he leaned forward again.
"But madam, amidst all this… was there anyone who treated him particularly well?"
Patricia slowly raised her gaze, as she thought for a moment.
At the same time, Lumian brought the pressure to his head and observed her "color". The color that "was" produced was purple.
Having seen that, Lumian immediately knew it was fear, as recognized using Mrs. Venerable before.
As Patricia began to speak, Lumian brought the pressure down.
"There was someone," she admitted quietly. "She left not too long ago. She used to play with Lacey, even when he was a child."
Hargreaves immediately leaned forward. "Who is she?"
Patricia paused for a moment before replying. "She left shortly before Lacey disappeared. I didn't think much of it at the time… but could it be that she's involved?"
Lumian and Hargreaves remained silent.
Inside, Lumian thoughts whirled. If she had been with him since childhood… and Lacey reached Phase 7, that would have taken years. That means he's been connected to that group for a long time. But do they understand the process of performing roles and obtaining a Law? As far as I know, reaching that phase takes time...
Hargreaves suddenly stood up, prompting Lumian to rise as well. "Do you have any information about her?" Hargreaves asked seriously.
Patricia bit her finger, and shook her head. "No… I had her official details, but after she quit, I returned the documents to the police."
Unexpectedly, Hargreaves bowed deeply.
"I'm truly sorry for your loss."
With that, the two of them turned and quietly left the mansion.
...
After obtaining the name of the police headquarters Patricia had mentioned, Lumian and Hargreaves wasted no time heading there.
Blackhead, No. 34 — near Birgy Police Station.
They took a taxi across the district. Once they arrived, they stepped out and made their way inside the station.
The interior smelled of ink and sweat. Officers moved about casually, some chatting, others buried in paperwork.
Approaching the front desk, Hargreaves removed his black hat and gave a polite bow to the man seated behind a computer.
"Good morning, sir. I would like to request a meeting with your captain."
The man continued typing for a few seconds before glancing up at them with mild impatience.
"Why? If you're here to file a complaint, grab a pen and paper over there." He gestured lazily toward another officer nearby.
Hargreaves' brows knitted slightly, though he quickly forced a polite smile.
"Sir, this matter is rather serious. We are sorcerers from the Moonlight Watchers Faculty. We've received permission from Lady Patricia to retrieve the file of a girl named Kelly."
The officer resumed typing, clearly looking unfazed.
"I'm not sure that'll be possible," he replied flatly. "Even if you meet the captain."
Lumian exhaled quietly, irritation filtering his thoughts. And this is exactly why I agreed to form that "secret organization," I just hope Mrs. Venerable, has already informed the king.
Hargreaves frowned for a brief moment, before he turned away.
"Let's go," he muttered.
Though sorcerers were feared… and often respected…
The law still stood above them!
...
Lamenti, Moonlight Watchers Faculty.
After returning to the faculty, Lumian watched as Hargreaves headed back to his office. He approached his own office and was about to unlock the door when he noticed Vincent walking by. Instantly, Hathway's words about the roles came to mind.
Smiling, Lumian waved. "Good morning, Vincent."
"Good morning, bro," Vincent replied with a grin.
Lumian opened the door. "Come inside."
Vincent, though not sure what Lumian wanted to do adhered.
Though the office was spacious, he took a seat opposite Lumian.
Lumian sat down and smiled awkwardly. "I just want to test out my Diviner skills on you."
"Alright," Vincent said, intrigued. "I've been curious to see how divination works."
Lumian reached into his drawer and pulled out a tarot deck, scattering the cards across the table. "So… what do you want divined?" he asked aloud.
Inwardly, he added: I need to really step into this role. As a Diviner, I must guide the divinee—physically and spiritually—without judging or revealing secrets.
Vincent rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "My future?"
...
Lumian gathered the cards and stacked them neatly before pushing the deck toward Vincent.
"Shuffle," he instructed.
Vincent nodded, taking the cards and shuffling them with practiced ease. Once done, he returned the deck to Lumian.
Closing his eyes, Lumian activated his Mystic Eyes, as the tarot cards began to speak to him. His consciousness drifted into a hazy sea of gray mist, each card sending a subtle "guidance" through his mind.
After a moment, he drew two cards and placed them carefully on the desk. At the same time, he felt that familiar sensation—the eerie feeling of being watched. A divine message accompanied the sensation.
Opening his eyes, Lumian spoke in a deep, calm voice. "Turn the cards."
Vincent complied. He flipped the card on the left, revealing a wheel spinning against a cloudy sky, studded with strange symbols and three small figures clinging to it.
"The Wheel of Fortune," Lumian murmured. He gestured to the second card. Vincent turned it, revealing the Star.
Lumian's voice remained steady. "This indicates that your future will hold joy, but also many unexpected events and twists. You will face challenges you cannot predict."
Vincent chuckled softly. "Is that so… Fate is inevitable, huh?" He chuckled briefly again, before continuing. "Thank you, bro."
He began to stand, heading for the door, but Lumian called after him.
"Wait—according to the divine message, you should avoid anger and excessive curiosity."
Vincent nodded, with a small smile. "Got it, bro. I'll be careful. I actually had somewhere to go before you called, heh."
After that, he opened the door and left.
...
As the door clicked shut, Lumian felt a tingling sensation ripple through his body. A faint excitement bubbled inside him, and tiny blue particles seemed to shimmer outward, a visible trace of his spirituality.
Moments later, his body wavered and dissolved like smoke, only to reappear outlined within a quiet forest.
What is this feeling? Lumian said inwardly, surveying his surroundings. Could this be the sensation of truly performing my role?
He extended a hand, and instantly butterflies gathered around him, followed by small animals drawn to his presence. In that moment, he felt a serene calm, almost Buddha-like—but he knew he was no Buddha.
He knew he was a man:
A man, who could be greedy at times, yet caring,
A man, who knows when to be playful and when to be serious,
A man who is slightly stubborn, and miss his parents,
A man who is thoughtful, and forward looking,
A man who is forgetful, and unserious in academics or studies,
A man who is eager to enjoy life, but mindful of responsibility,
A Virgin, who is curious for experience.
...
He smiled as he said inwardly. And a sorcerer from the Diviner Order!