After heading back to the precinct, Lennox and the others made their way inside. Instantly, all the other officers' attention snapped toward Lennox and the others, wondering who they were and what they were doing there with Detective Evelyn.
"Who are those people Oracle is walking with?" one officer whispered.
"I don't know the others, but the one in front was a witness for the Nightshade killings," another came in with a hushed reply.
A ripple of intrigue spread through the room like wildfire, glances exchanged and conjecture shared in hushed tones.
"Really? I guess she needed help, as we've been pretty stuck on this case... especially with her reputation," another officer chimed in, his voice barely audible because of the murmuring crowd.
Detective Evelyn, known as "Oracle," had garnered millions of supporter's building her a reputation over the past 15 years from different cities, successfully completing over 1000 cases, one perfect outcome after another. Her specialty lay in catching serial killers, earning titles like "Shadow Sentinel." She prowled the streets with relentless determination, striking fear into the hearts of criminals who dared to cross her path, and she navigated the murky waters of crime and corruption with unyielding resolve.
But to Detective Evelyn she really didn't really care about the reputations she earned. Sure, she might use it to her advantage, like supporting charities and orphanages, but she knew her main drive was for the good of the people.
Entering Detective Evelyn's office, she took her seat. "So, what do you wish to inquire about or discuss?" she asked seriously.
Kira approached, her gaze focused. "Could you provide details on when it all began and share insights about the initial victim's discovery?" she inquired.
Kira had been planning to ask a couple of questions and wanted to know what was happening first. That's why she had stayed quiet for a long while. It was usually a sign of her thinking or planning, but not many people knew, so it had become a silent habit. Detective Evelyn took out two files from under her desk and handed them over to Kira. They were confidential files, but she needed help right now, and she had no reason not to trust them.
Kira took the files detailing the Nightshade killings and handed over the ones containing information on the victims. She trusted Lennox might have found something crucial, perhaps a pattern among the bodies. As Kira started walking around the room slowly, reading through the files, she pondered why Nightshade had started killing. There had to be a sudden reason, but she also felt that by targeting only Nexarc, something significant could emerge, linked to Nexarc.
Meanwhile, Lennox noticed a pattern among the victims, particularly that they were found dead with their organs burnt from the inside out by some unknown liquid. Additionally, there were burning marks appearing from the inside, and the victims' organs were somehow rearranged. He found it very strange: why kill and then rearrange the victim's organs, sometimes even using organs of different sizes as if they were from someone else?
Closing her file with a swift motion, Kira's eyes snapped open, revealing a mind already several steps ahead. "Have you searched into Nexarc's history for any past incidents? Why fixate solely on Nexarc? There's a calculated motive here. Serial killers often trace their actions back to a triggering event, propelling them towards their chosen path," she articulated methodically.
Lennox also closed his file, his expression resolute. "In addition, ensure thorough investigation into any incidents involving conventional fire Nexarc's involvement. Nightshade's preference for fire toxin warrants consideration why use fire toxin when there more lethal toxin that they can people develop. Furthermore, Nightshade's adeptness in surgery suggests a potential background in the field," he remarked calmly.
Detective Evelyn tapped her finger thoughtfully on her desk, nodding in acknowledgment. "Interesting point. It's true that many serial killers have a catalyst that propels them toward their actions, though exceptions exist. The focus on Nexarc does suggest a deeper connection," she mused. "Perhaps exploring Nexarc's past interactions in the city could shed light on our perpetrator's motives," she suggested.
Lennox and Kira nodded in agreement. Detective Evelyn then stood up. "Okay, then. I will send your request over to my investigative team, but it may take a couple of days. I will contact you by then. Thank you for your help," she said.
Lennox, Kira, and Alexel left the precinct. Alexel was excited to see the world and how others interacted with each other, even though she didn't interact much herself. She was still happy and ready for more, but Kira carried her back to her apartment because she had to go to her mentor, Kage. Lennox, having nothing to do until his classes started back, headed to the House of Ignistris to meet Roran and explain his condition. Usually, it was impossible to gain access to the house, let alone under special conditions, but knowing how desperate Roran was to have him join, he thought he might as well use that to his advantage to utilize the house facilities.
Arriving at the House of Ignistris and entering Roran's office, Lennox was greeted by a space adorned with multiple glass cases displaying numerous champions from different years. Roran sat at his desk, with Leonora at his side, handing him multiple files, in fact that how he reputation as one of the hardest-working individuals of all the houses. He would do anything to benefit the house, but of course never at the expense of anything bad happening to himself and the house members or else he would regret it fro the rest of his life.
Roran rose from his seat he strode purposefully around his desk toward Lennox. "Welcome, Lennox. It's a pleasure to have you here," he greeted warmly, a confident smile gracing his face. "Your skill in healing Sylas's mother has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your exceptional work," he expressed.
Lennox nodded. "How is she doing?" he inquired. While he did save her, he didn't know much about her recovery since then he didn't understand how he knew how to help her. Yet he was glad to hear she recovering.
"Excellent to hear. Speedy recoveries are always promising," Roran responded with a satisfied nod. As he returned to his seat, he gestured for Lennox to join him. "Now, what brings you to my office today? I'm curious to know," he inquired.
"I said I will join the house, but under certain conditions," Lennox said, taking a seat in front of Roran's desk.
Roran's smile brightened as he snapped his fingers, signaling Leonora to hand him a file. "Alright, let's get down to business. What are the conditions we're dealing with?" he asked.
"It's rather straightforward... I value my independence and wish to avoid any commitments that might restrict it," he explained calmly. "My availability for the house tasks may vary as I pursue my personal objectives. Additionally, I simply seek access to your facilities when necessary," he concluded.
Roran's smile widened as he spoke. "The arrangement is straightforward. Typically, club members must fulfill three missions a week to uphold their status. However, for you, missions can be completed at your discretion, and membership already grants access to our facilities but like you said its will be available when necessary," he explained "Furthermore, I'm willing to extend your usage of the facilities for any purpose you require," he added, jotting down notes on the file provided by Leonora.
Leonora approached Lennox, presenting him with a badge adorned with a fire symbol. "Here's the final step," she explained. "Inject your Nexus energy into this badge, and you'll be formally inducted into the House of Ignis," she instructed.
Following Leonora's instructions, Lennox injected his Nexus energy into the badge, observing with curiosity as it illuminated before etching his name onto its surface. "Now, I'm intrigued," he began, turning to Roran with a serious expression. "Why the eagerness to have me join your house?" he inquired earnestly, as he was hoping for an honest answer.
"I recognize significant potential within you," Roran began. "Your achievements since joining the academy haven't gone unnoticed, especially considering your status as an Emberflare. Yet, what truly sets you apart is the rarity of your fire colors," he continued, his expression serious as he gauged Lennox's reaction. "Throughout history, only one other Nexarc was noted to possess hues as unique as yours the third Nexarc, a figure who rivaled our esteemed founder, Kaen Ignistris. he was an ancient Nexarc wielded fire with such mastery that legends speak of their ability to incinerate entire nations," he elaborated.
While what Roran said was true, he also knew that in the past few months, the House of Ignis had been on a steady decline. All the other houses had been winning competitions and activities, adding to the decline. They all decided to target the House of Ignistris, there would be normal rivalry before yeah, but the other clubs attacking their members in secret, paying off someone within the house, and sabotaging them in competitions, was infuriating. Now, Roran seriously needed a way to fix his club. But worst of all, in the past few months, with the serial killer Nightshade on the loose, they had been losing a lot of members.
With Nightshade out and about, it cast a shadow over the academy. Students became hyper-aware of their surroundings, constantly scanning for any signs of danger. They formed tight-knit groups, relying on the safety of numbers. The constant threat of being targeted next took a toll on the mental health of Nexarc students.
Lennox nodded in acknowledgment, as he exchanged his serious expression for a smile. "I like the sound of that," he replied assuredly.
How about this. Tomorrow we are having a competition, you join us, and we'll see how you fare, consider it a test to gauge your enjoyment," Roran suggested.
"Sure," Lennox said. He didn't really have anything to do until his classes started back in the next two days, and Detective Evelyn hadn't contacted him with new information yet. Maybe he could see something new at the competition.