In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 108

EPISODE 108

CHAPTER 15: CLUES

As you move away from the bustling downtown area toward the outskirts of the capital, a zone full of haphazardly built structures emerges. When slavery was abolished, the freed slaves and former farmers flocked to the city in search of hope. Buildings began to spring up along the city’s outskirts to accommodate them. However, compared to other buildings in the city, these were cramped, so naturally, the poor filled these spaces.

These unplanned buildings gradually turned the area into an intricate maze. The layout was so complex that even the residents would sometimes lose their way. Some referred to this outer district as “Riva,” meaning labyrinth.

Two figures, cloaked in robes, entered one of Riva’s dimly lit alleys. The soles of the person in the brown robe were covered with the ash-colored snow that had fallen and been trampled overnight.

“Is this the place?”

The man in the black robe nodded lightly. Lyneth lifted the brown hood that was pulled down to obscure her view and muttered.

“Is that person here?”

The scroll Benjamin had given them contained reports of mysterious individuals who occasionally appeared in the capital. These accounts were bizarre and almost mythical, making it hard to believe they were real.

But weren’t these stories close to the very essence of magic?

After ten days of investigation, they managed to gather a few commonalities from the many different cases. Some of the stories included: a blind child who, after falling in the street, regained sight in one eye after eating fruit given by a stranger; a young apprentice who accidentally damaged workshop items that were restored to their original state overnight; and a person who was gifted a shabby thimble after helping someone, only to find that every time they sewed, luxurious garments were produced, allowing them to sell the clothes for a high price to pay for their sibling’s medicine.

Now, the two had come to this alley to find the person common to all those rumors. They passed piles of trash, the stale smell of the area, and people slumped weakly against walls, making their way further inside.

“If you wanted to hide, there wouldn’t be a better place than this…”

“You speak as if you know it well.”

“I used to live here, after all.”

Lyneth, speaking nonchalantly, checked the arrows drawn on the walls of the buildings. These markings, drawn cryptically, could only be deciphered by those who lived in Riva. Thanks to this confusing layout, first-time visitors were almost guaranteed to get lost, which made it the perfect hiding place for those who wanted to avoid the soldiers.

After walking for a while, they came across a three-story building with a worn-out sign. Given that most buildings in Riva easily exceeded five stories, it was relatively short. The two exchanged glances and silently opened the closed door. The moment they tried to step inside, they felt an unusual sensation, as if they had touched a thin, transparent membrane.

It was magic.

A barrier had been placed around the entire building.

With a simple gesture, they tore the barrier apart and entered the building. Inside, it was surprisingly spacious, quite different from its exterior. Staying alert, they scanned the area and soon spotted a man sitting in a corner, his head down, wearing a cloth hat.

The man seemed to recognize them too.

“What is it? What do you want?”

Silkion quietly responded to the man’s question.

“Is this the ‘Blue Star’?”

‘That old woman? I don’t know the details either. She disappeared overnight.’

When they told the girl, who had received the thimble, that they were looking for the benefactor who had helped her, she responded cheerfully.

‘I regained consciousness for a moment before she left… I asked her where she was going. She said she was going to find the Blue Star in the maze.’

Unlike the girl who told the story or Silkion, Lyneth immediately understood the meaning behind that cryptic phrase.

Riva. The outskirts of the city.

Since Lyneth had once lived in the slums of the capital, she had a good grasp of the way things worked there. Especially in Riva, where many buildings were known by nicknames, typically combining a color with the name of an object. While the objects varied, the colors held some common meanings. Blue, for instance, represented something rare, and the rarest talent in this country was none other than magic.

“You seem to know the situation well, seeing as you’ve entered here and know the name.”

“Indeed, we’re looking for someone.”

“All identities of those who pass through this place remain secret. You’re not aware of the rules?”

“I’m well aware, but our situation is urgent enough that we can’t abide by the rules right now.”

As Silkion responded calmly, shadows rippled beneath his feet and began to stretch toward the staircase.

“Wait, what are you… Argh!”

The man’s hat suddenly moved on its own, covering his face, and his body floated into the air. As he struggled, his mouth gagged, he soon fainted, his body going limp. Lyneth, pressing her forehead as if she had a headache, lowered the subdued man to the ground.

“Can’t you at least consult with me before acting?”

“Aren’t you usually quick to catch on?”

“Shut that mouth of yours before I decide to strangle you.”

Lyneth’s voice was icy. Silkion glanced at one of the many shadows at his feet, now taut as if it had caught something.

“Let’s go.”

Without further words, they followed the shadow’s lead, moving up the staircase. They reached the door of a room on the third-floor corridor and threw it open with a bang.

Inside, they caught a glimpse of a tattered cloak fluttering as someone prepared to leap out the window.

* * *

“So, what happened? Did you catch them?”

Cordelia, who had been eagerly listening, pressed Lyneth to continue the story at the most exciting moment. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, but Lyneth firmly shook her head.

“If we had, I would’ve summoned both of you immediately.”

With a wry smile, Lyneth recalled how their opponent tore through the space, jumping out of the window. The figure had even worn a mask covering their eyes, making it impossible to see their face.

Silkion had pulled hard on the shadow that was connected to the figure, like a fisherman reeling in a catch. But it was in vain. All that remained were the tattered ends of the shadow left hanging from the window.

“As impressive as their magical abilities were, their sense of danger was exceptional. They moved like someone who’s been chased for a long time.”

Standing beside them, Silkion quietly added his thoughts. Cordelia tilted her head in curiosity.

“Are you sure it was them?”

“Yes, the magical energy I sensed in the thread matches perfectly.”

Cordelia glanced at him, suspicion lingering. Back when they had confronted each other in Rite, Silkion had been feeling around, likely finding that thread then.

“Do you think they might be a wizard from another country?”

“That seems likely. It’s a shame we couldn’t even get a hair strand.”

“You don’t think they’ll leave the capital because of this, do you?”

Cordelia asked with concern, and Lyneth confidently replied.

“There’s no need to worry about that. If they were planning to flee, they would’ve done so already. They’re likely hiding in another base. The real issue is that if we keep stirring up trouble in Riva, there’s no guarantee the temple won’t catch on.”

Noah, who had been listening to the rogue priestess’ words attentively, raised his right hand cautiously and asked a question.

“From the cases you’ve mentioned, they don’t seem like a bad person… So why would they leave something like this with me?”

“I have no idea. Could it be that you knew them from before?”

“No way.”

Noah shook his head firmly. If they had known him during his days as a prince, he would’ve been wearing a mask at the time, and if he hadn’t offered the bread, none of this would’ve happened in the first place.

“Wizards tend to be a little crazy, to be honest. Just because something looks like an act of kindness doesn’t mean it stems from goodwill.”

Lyneth fixed Silkion with a sharp look as she made her comment. Despite his fully grown body, he still had a boyish appearance. His face was clear, but his eyes were very sharp and cold. Lyneth was convinced that he was far older than he looked.

Wizards typically have one innate magical trait that they are born with. This means they can activate their magic naturally without having to draw or imagine magic circles. Research and academic papers on the subject commonly argue that these innate traits are closely related to the mage’s disposition.

Considering that Silkion didn’t show any signs of drawing magic circles and the activation speed, it seemed that the shadow magic was his inherent ability. Seeing a wizard with shadow magic as their innate trait was a first for Lyneth, and it was even more surprising considering that this type of magic closely resembles curses.

She wondered why Lady Cordelia had brought such a suspicious individual on board. When she asked about it, the response was a shrug, as if it were a straightforward question.

‘Well, the fact is, among all the wizards the Duke has, this one seemed the most capable. That’s why he was taken along even when going abroad. Since the goal is to solve the case, it makes sense to demand the most competent wizard available. If it’s clear who the right choice is, picking anyone else would only make the Duke think less of me.’

Lyneth found the argument to be frustratingly convincing.

‘Or, is it that you’re not confident you can handle him?’

‘Who would get caught by such a person?’

Although she acknowledged his strength, she didn’t believe that his abilities would fall short. Lyneth had almost mentioned that there were few telekinetics as powerful as herself in the temple, but she decided against it.

Returning from her thoughts, Lyneth lightly crossed her arms, looking troubled.

“While they’re hiding in Riva, it seems unlikely we’ll catch them easily. If we push too hard, they might even try to leave the capital.”

Silkion, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.

“Why not set a trap?”