The following day, Kira and Alexel arrived in front of Lennox Mansion. As soon as Lennox stepped outside, they hurried over to Theo's house, nestled away inside the academy grounds surrounded by a beautiful garden, as Vayuan own the Garden as she like peaceful ambiance. They knocked on Theo's door, and after a moment, it creaked open.
Theo's face appeared in the doorway, but something was off. He leaned against the doorframe, looking unwell. "Hey, what's up, guys?" he greeted them, his tone strained. "Its good o see you back Nox
Kira and Lennox immediately sensed that something was amiss. Theo had always been in high spirits, but now, for the first time, they saw him looking unwell. Despite Nexus's healing abilities, which usually meant Nexarc barely felt any sickness, there was an undeniable shift in him. It was as if he were afflicted by an illness, yet simultaneously shielded by Nexus's power. This anomaly prompted Kira and Lennox to suspect that something beyond mere sickness was at play.
"Are you okay, Theo? You don't look well," Lennox's voice was laced with concern, his gaze fixed on Theo pale complexion.
Then forced smile that flickered across Theo's lips did little to reassure them. "Yeah, it looks worse than it is. Don't worry, I'll be back to normal in a couple of days," he reassured them.
"Alright I hope so, I brought Lennox here to tell you what happened," Kira said, shifting the focus of their conversation.as she began to examine Theo's body closely. 'It doesn't appear to be any ordinary sickness,' she thought, her brow furrowed in concentration. 'Perhaps something has affected his mental state. Even if it were a sickness, Vayuna's healing abilities should have taken care of it,'
After a while, Lennox recounted the events that had transpired, mirroring what he had told Kira earlier. Theo's expression turned to anger as he learned of Gabriel's involvement. Theo had a longstanding rivalry with Gabriel, but it was unusual for him to involve others or resort to such drastic measures. Learning that Gabriel had manipulated Alexander into attacking Lennox only fueled Theo's determination to defeat him once and for all.
As Lennox explained what he had learned from Detective Evelyn the previous day and his plan to seek their help, Theo hesitated. "About that mission... As I haven't been feeling well, so it won't be possible for me to help. As for Gabriel, I'll deal with him quickly," he said, his voice trailing off. 'Sorry, guys, I can't tell you anything right now. No one can know. But I'll tell you eventually," he thought to himself, a flicker of fear crossing his face before he vanished from sight, leaving Lennox and Kira puzzled by his sudden disappearance.
Lennox and Kira exchanged puzzled glances, their concern deepening at Theo's sudden withdrawal. "That's okay, we hope you feel better soon," Lennox offered, masking the unease that churned within him. "And we'll visit you when we have time to check on you."
"Yeah, we need you back to your usual self," Kira added with a nod.
Theo nodded in acknowledgment and retreated back into his house as Lennox and the others walked away. Lennox decided not to use his phone and borrowed Kira's instead to call Detective Evelyn. He couldn't help but notice the advanced technological features on Kira's phone, sparking his interest in getting one for himself. After informing Detective Evelyn of their impending arrival, Lennox and the others headed to the Midnight Precinct, the frontline against the rising tide of crime and chaos.
Upon arrival, Detective Evelyn was already waiting outside the precinct with a smile on her face. Lennox and the others exited the taxi.
"Welcome, I see you brought company," she remarked, her smile widening. "But that's good, as I said, the more the better. Thank you."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Detective Evelyn, glad to have you," she said, extending her hand with a smile.
"I'm Kira, and this is Alexel," Kira introduced them.
While neither Kira nor Lennox were particularly talkative, they knew when to speak up when necessary. But Lennox wasted no time and asked for her perspective on where to start looking for Nightshade.
"Well, the scene of the crime," Detective Evelyn suggested.
Lennox and Kira nodded, getting into Evelyn's car. Kira seemed distracted, lost in thought, but Lennox let it be for now. After a quiet drive, they arrived at the sealed-off crime scene, gaining entry thanks to Evelyn.
Surveying the area from the rooftop and scouring for clues, they found nothing out of the ordinary. Nightshade had left no evidence, despite Lennox spotting him and giving chase. Just as they were about to give up hope, Evelyn pulled out a piece of paper with intricate gray markings, emitting a slight nexus energy. Kira and Alexel recognized it as a talisman. Kira had encountered it during her time at the academy, while Alexei had encountered them during her explorations of other realms. However, Lennox, being unfamiliar with it, as he looked on in confusion,.
Evelyn delicately held the paper between her fingers, and a soft green glow emanated from her touch, transferring onto the talisman. "Echo Pulse," she declared, tossing the paper into the air. With a brief shimmer, the paper vanished into nothingness, and a vibrant green aura expanded outward in a radius of 100 yards.
"Nothing again," Evelyn muttered with a mix of annoyance and unwavering determination that defined her character. Yet, as she scrutinized the energy readings from the pulse, she noticed the distinct signature of a Nexarc Energy.
Curious, Lennox approached Everly. "You're a Nexarc? And what was that just now?" he inquired.
"That was an Echo Pulse talisman. It helps me scan the surrounding area within a 100-yard radius, revealing anything nearby," Evelyn explained, her expression shifting to surprise as she assumed Lennox already knew about talismans.
Everly explained the purpose of the Echo Pulse Talisman, surprised that Lennox wasn't already familiar with such artifacts. Talismans in their world possessed a unique connection to natural elements, each serving a distinct function aligned with the forces of nature.
In her recounting, Everly detailed her journey as a Nexarc, devoid of any prestigious bloodline but rich in Nexus energy. Despite facing ridicule for her lack of lineage, she persevered, mastering the craft of crafting talismans and eventually choosing to serve as a guardian of the cities. Her decision stemmed from both her desire to protect others and her own experiences of draining herself to harness Nexus energy alone, a challenging process that taught her resilience and perseverance.
Everly's story highlighted the power of determination and the ability to forge one's own path despite societal expectations and limitations.
Lennox absorbed this information, realizing the significance of choosing one's own path, a lesson that might guide his own future decisions.
"With the Echo Pulse, I detected Nexarc energy heading down the alley. It was solitary, as always. Nightshade either appears human or possesses an artifact concealing her presence," Everly reported.
"Let's investigate," Kira urged.
As the group descended from the rooftop and ventured down the alleyway, Everly led the way, tracing the faint trail of Nexarc energy. Despite her expertise, the trail abruptly halted at the edge of the crime scene, leaving her visibly disappointed yet still determined to find a lead on Nightshade's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Lennox felt a stirring within him, a connection resonating with the element of fire. Intrigued, he followed this sensation, eventually coming across a glowing orange liquid emitting heat. Sensing the significance of his discovery, he called Everly's attention to it.
"What's this?" Lennox inquired, feeling the intense fire connection to the substance.
Examining the glowing liquid, Everly's expression lit up with realization. "This is the toxin Nightshade uses on her victims. It's a breakthrough in our investigation," she exclaimed, "Lennox, can you sense if there's any more nearby?" she urged quickly.
Lennox nodded, focusing on the fiery sensation coursing through him as he continued down the alley. With each step, the drops of toxin grew smaller, yet the connection remained strong, keeping Everly reassured of their progress. Eventually, the trail of toxin dissipated entirely, leaving Lennox unable to detect it any longer.
"It's okay; this is still a promising starting point. There may be something else around here we can find," Everly reassured the group, her optimism undiminished. "Let's head back for now. I'll inform the investigation team about this," she declared.