While Rien had a relaxing nap after a long day of traveling over the ocean, Inspector Aerel's work at the Constabulary wasn't done. Unfortunately for her, the incident down by the docks had attracted attention from all sorts of influential figures.
[Archmage's constabulary headquarters, main office.]
*SLAM*
A chair whistled past Inspector Aerel's face and shattered against the far wall. Clouds of dust shook loose, raining down from the shelves around the dim lantern-lit room.
"FUCK!"
Aerel stared emotionlessly at the potbellied man fuming in front of her—Minister Jin, the prime minister, who was red-faced and sweating through his collar.
"There is no way—no way—those bastards figured it out on their own!" Jin roared, swiping a stack of documents off his desk. Spittle flew from his mouth as papers fanned across the floor. "The Archmage's death was classified! Sealed! This was leaked!"
He spun toward the others in the room. "Well? Head Commissioner Seo? Are you just going to sit there and smile at me?"
The woman he was pointing at merely smiled, her face hidden below a black top hat with two, thin gold stripes. The thin soft band of her aegyosal peeking underneath her hidden eyes twitched, and the mole next to her mouth seemed to smile with her.
"What do you wish me to say, minister Jin?" Seo twirled a strand of her raven-black hair between her fingers. "Inspector Aerel here already made her report, and I've validated it. The tainted mages are aware that the archmage is dead." She said it plainly, maturely, with a frustrated voice.
Jin sputtered. "You—Do you understand what that means? If the public finds out—if the mages act—"
"They already have," came a small voice.
Aerel's gaze shifted to a porcelain puppet seated primly in a chair beside Seo. It was the size of a child and joints clicked softly as its head turned.
"We have confirmed increased anomalous activity in three districts since the leak," the puppet continued. "We estimate that two tainted witch covens have mobilized. One attack was intercepted at the docks by Inspector Aerel here thanks to her quick acting."
Minister Jin's face blanched. "You mean that incident? That was related?"
"Yes," Seo said bitterly then laughed, a light motherly sound that sounded stark and out of context in the small, gloomy office. "Dear me, Headmaster Adam. Were we just on the same side?" Seo teased.
"...I believe we were," the doll replied in a slightly spiteful tone.
Jin slammed both palms against his desk. The wood cracked under the force. "This is a catastrophe! Do you know how much trouble this will be? How will I save this on my record??? If Parliament hears that the Archmage is gone and we've lost control—"
That sentence seemed to push Seo over the edge.
"You never had control, Minister." Seo's lips gleamed in the dark, the tiny mole by her mouth quivering.
The air thickened as Seo's presence unfolded, subtle and overwhelming all at the same time. It almost collapsed Aerel's lungs under the sheer gravity and pressure.
Aerel gulped. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.
…And Aerel thought she had a strong presence as an alpha.
"You sit in cushy chambers," Seo continued softly, stepping closer to Jin. "And draft condolences when it's convenient for you." Her voice had lost its warmth entirely. "We are the ones pulling bodies and dying while we're at it."
Jin opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for air.
Seo sighed and turned back to Aerel. "Thank you for the report, inspector. For your next assignment, you'll be heading to Chrysanthemum Academy."
Seo's tone lightened slightly. "You'll receive instructions en route. As for this SN that the witches are searching for… put out searches, but I will assign more units on it. Focus on your next task at hand."
Aerel's fingers twitched behind her back. "Yes, ma'am."
"You will be going by the night train, dear. Not teleportation. Headmaster Adam has a report waiting for you outside regarding the dock incident. Keep me posted. As for all the officers that we lost in the Vaulnere incident… I will notify the families myself."
Aerel nodded.
"Goodnight, dear. Stay safe."
Aerel bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her with a firm click. The pressure eased instantly and she took a deep breath out, wiping the sweat from her face.
As Head Commissioner Seo had said, there was indeed a thin dossier hovering midair in the lamplit hallway. It rocked side by side ever so slightly, as if promoting her to open it.
Aerel hesitated, then reached out, flapped it open, and began reading as she walked, her boots echoing down the corridor toward the rails and the waiting train.
*Clack, clack, clack…*
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Chol-kong, chol-kong, clunk clunk clunk*
One night later, Inspector Aerel was sitting on the train.
The train rolled along the tracks, speeding through the forest and quickly approaching the coast. The tall coniferous pines that reached for the sky gave way to rocky outcrops and windy grass plains littered with flowers.
The occasional creature swooped overhead, their cries drowned out by the rattling of the train on the tracks. A warm orange sunrise peeking through the white fluffy clouds greeted the passengers of the express, many of whom had traveled through the night.
Aerel glanced out at the view through the wide-panel windows, allowing herself to briefly feel at ease through the billowing blades of grass and bright polka-dots of flowers as the train raced by.
Beside her was her adjutant, Casey, who was chowing down on a plate of creamy mashed potatoes, eggs, and sausages.
They were currently seated in the dining car of the Duke's express, the magic train that circulated the empire. Aerel tried to relax on the couch-style seats, but the constant whispers from the other diners didn't help in the slightest.
"Who is that?"
"I think they're with the constabulary…"
"Why don't they just teleport, then?"
"No idea…"
"So pretty…"
Aerel sighed.
Well, of course. Even though they had taken off their hats—they rested against the window—the black trenchcoats and gleaming badges made them stick out like sore thumbs.
Her adjutant looked up, swallowing a bite of sausages. Casey's black hair was pulled up into a cute bun that bounced like a bunny whenever she moved. Aerel thought it quite suited Casey's cute-smart demeanor and face.
Casey's face was currently quite… irked. Aerel thought that it was endearing, in a way.
"They couldn't possibly be more obvious," Casey grumbled. "Stare less."
Aerel chuckled lightly at her subordinate's remark.
"Why are we going to the academy anyways, ma'am?" Casey asked, quickly stuffing her face full with mash and gravy.
Aerel smiled. "I'll be the new commanding officer for the constabulary detachment there."
Casey nodded. "I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd ever take a position that wasn't deployable."
Aerel just smiled. "Bad things are coming, according to the head commissioner. So I'll be there when the shit hits the fan, and I'll be there to pick up some chess pieces along the way. I'll tell you more when we get there."
Casey raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, instead settling on glowering at the many other diners gawking at her pretty boss.
*Ppi-ikkkkkkk*
The announcer's voice screeched over the speakers. "All passengers, we will be arriving at our next stop Chrysanthemum academy shortly."
"That's us," Aerel nodded, standing and retrieving her hat. "Better finish up, Casey." She patted her adjutant on the shoulder before starting back towards their cabin.