The alley where the Cutters had died was still blocked off, though the crowd had left long ago.
The stone floor was still stained. The shadows on it looked strange, even in the middle of the day.
Sergeant Halden stood at the entrance, frowning. His notebook was open, but filled with useless notes. Beside him, Lady Miralys, a mage in dark blue robes, moved her fingers slowly in the air, studying the leftover traces of magic.
"Two months," Halden muttered. "Still no answers. The Magistrate's getting impatient."
Miralys kept her eyes on the shimmer in front of her. "Witnesses said the Cutters dragged an injured person into the alley."
Halden grunted. "Yeah, but the problem is—we don't know who it was. And from how they described him, he shouldn't even have been standing. So how could he kill five armed men? I think someone else did it and took him away."
Miralys nodded slowly. "Maybe. But I've never seen magic like this before. It wasn't normal. It looked like the shadows moved on their own. That shouldn't be possible."
Halden looked at the place where the bodies had been found. Just the memory of it made his stomach twist. "So what are we dealing with? A rogue mage? A demon?"
"I don't know," Miralys replied. "I've asked the higher council for help. We'll see what they send."
Halden snapped his notebook shut. "So a top mage might actually come to this little town?"
Miralys almost smiled. "Unusual magic like this? They won't ignore it."
Halden sighed. "We'll keep looking. I'll double the patrols. You—"
"I'm staying in Ahen," Miralys said, cutting him off. "This isn't over."
Just then, a young guard ran up, breathing hard. "Sergeant! Someone saw a cloaked woman in the market. She bought bloodroot and bark. Looked suspicious."
Halden raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious how?"
"Kept her hood down. And she had a young man with her. About twenty."
Miralys's eyes narrowed. "Bloodroot and bark. Could be for healing… or something else."
Halden nodded. "Take us there. Let's see for ourselves."
Near the edge of town
Cal and Cloud stood near a stone wall. The market noise was fading behind them.
Cloud adjusted the pack on her shoulder — bloodroot, bark, gloves, twine. Everything they needed.
"You got it all?" Cal asked.
Cloud gave a small nod. "Enough."
He opened his mouth to say more, but a voice cut in, sharp and commanding.
"You there! Stop!"
Cal tensed, his hand dropping to the knife at his belt. Cloud didn't move, but her posture shifted. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
Sergeant Halden approached with two guards. Behind him came Lady Miralys, her dark blue robes trailing behind her. She looked at them closely — especially Cal.
Halden raised a hand. "Easy. Just want to talk."
Cloud turned her head slightly, her veil hiding her face. "We're just passing through. Not looking for trouble."
Halden crossed his arms. "That so? Because bloodroot and bark aren't something you pick up unless you're treating wounds."His eyes moved to Cal. "You hurt, kid?"
"I'm fine," Cal said quickly.
Cloud stepped in front of him. "He's with me."
Halden frowned. "Then you'll understand why I have questions. Two strangers, one hiding her face, the other barely standing — and you just happen to be shopping for healing supplies?"
Miralys stepped closer, studying Cloud. "You're not from here."
"We don't need to be," Cloud replied. Her voice was calm, steady. "You have nothing on us."
He looked at his men. "Detain them. I want answers."
The guards moved forward, hands going to their weapons.
"Let's not make this harder," one warned.
Cloud didn't flinch. Her voice stayed soft.
"You really want to do this?"
The guards hesitated. The air felt... wrong. Heavy.
Miralys stopped cold. Her eyes widened.
"Halden," she said, low and sharp.
He glanced at her. "What?"
"Call them off. Now."
"You serious?"
"I said now."
Halden hesitated, then raised a hand. "Stand down."
The guards froze, then backed off.
Halden turned to her. "What was that?"
Miralys kept her eyes on Cloud. "She didn't use a spell. No mana, no casting signs. But I felt something. like pressure... is she.."
She turned away. "Let's go."
Halden followed her, still unsure.
Cloud turned to Cal. "Let's go."
They walked off without another word.
Meanwhile, outside the city...
Cloud walked with steady steps, her eyes ahead. The trees were thin here, the road quiet.
"I think trouble's coming," she muttered at last.
Cal looked over at her, then back at the path. He didn't know what to say. So he stayed silent and followed her.
Back in Ahen
"...So you're telling me that woman was stronger than you?" Halden asked as he walked beside the old mage.
"Yes," Miralys said quietly.
Halden glanced at her. "You're a Tier 4 mage. If she was stronger than you, that would put her at Tier 5… maybe even Tier 6?"
Miralys nodded. "Yes. The pressure she gave off... only high-tier mages can project that kind of presence. I couldn't sense any mana, which makes it worse. Whatever she is, she's not using standard magic."
Halden exhaled slowly. "So we don't approach them again. Not until reinforcements arrive."
"Exactly," Miralys said. "We wait for someone stronger—someone who can match her. Until then… we don't provoke her."