Adrian strode into the headquarters of the Arcane Enclave Investigations (AEI) in the Astoria Kingdom's Capital with a sense of urgency, having had little to no sleep. His mind raced with thoughts of the evidence he had uncovered from the Night Auction. The bustling AEI office fell silent as he approached the Grand Inspector's office, Lady Eveline Ravenscroft.
He knocked firmly on the door, and a moment later, a voice called from inside, "Enter."
Adrian found Lady Eveline seated behind her ornate desk, her office a fortress of neatly stacked reports and documents. Her piercing blue eyes met his with a blend of curiosity and impatience.
"Marquess Blackwood," she began with a sigh, "I trusted you fully—"
'Fully?' Adrian raised a brow but remained silent. Lady Eveline, noting his reaction, continued, "Three days ago, you stormed into this office, utterly unfazed, not even knocking. I see you've learned some manners now." Her gaze flicked to the door he had just knocked at, making her point.
"I apologize for that morning again, Lady Ravenscroft," he said firmly, slightly bowing his head.
"As I was saying," she continued, her tone unwavering, "you asked for backup on an unreported, mysterious Night Auction at the Aurora Lane in the Astralis Dukedom. You convinced me without a shred of explanation."
"I—" Adrian began, but she cut him off with a sharp look.
"I'm not finished."
Lady Eveline's voice softened with a hint of frustration, "Even after almost a decade of mentoring you, Adrian, what you did was outrageous. Yet, here you are, returning without a proper explanation, but I do have a grasp of it now."
Adrian recalled his early days as a fifteen-year-old, eager and inexperienced, joining the AEI despite his family's expectations. His early education at the Arcane Knights Academy had introduced him to Lady Eveline and fellow student Sir Thorne.
"Now, you owe me an explanation, Marquess Blackwood."
Adrian inclined his head. "I do, Lady Ravenscroft. The Night Auction."
Lady Eveline arched an eyebrow, waiting expectantly.
Adrian took a deep breath. "We found evidence of illegal transactions, unverified sales of rare items, and reports of slaves being obtained through illicit means, including nobles. Additionally, they caged a noble and assaulted her attendant."
Lady Eveline's expression grew stern. "And how, pray tell, did you know such illegalities were occurring at the Night Auction?"
"Are we just ignoring it?" Adrian countered. "The Night Auction has always been suspicious, but no one has dared to act because it's run by the higher-ups."
Lady Eveline's gaze sharpened. "Careful, Marquess. Without concrete evidence, such claims are nothing more than conjecture. The Kingdom's walls have ears, you know."
Adrian bit his tongue but pressed on. "It was a hunch, Lady Eveline. No tips or leaks."
"Consider yourself fortunate that your hunch was correct," Lady Eveline said coldly. "Without proof, you jeopardize not only your career but the credibility of this entire department."
"Yes, My Lady," Adrian replied steadily. "But it was a risk I had to take. The Night Auction is more than a criminal enterprise—it's a web of corruption threatening the Kingdom."
Lady Eveline leaned back, contemplating his words. After a moment, she nodded. "Very well. Proceed with the investigation, but proceed cautiously. We cannot afford any missteps."
Adrian bowed slightly. "Thank you, My Lady."
As he turned to leave, Lady Eveline's voice halted him. "And Blackwood, keep me informed. I expect regular updates on this case."
"Of course," he replied, exiting her office with renewed determination.
.....
Later that evening, Adrian found himself in a dimly lit bar, accompanied by a glass of whiskey.
The weight of the investigation hung heavily on his shoulders, but the familiar hum of conversation and the clink of glasses provided a brief respite from his burdens.
Sir Thorne, sauntered over to the table, a wide grin plastered across his face. He carried a mug of ale in one hand and a half-eaten pretzel in the other.
Dropping into the seat opposite Blackwood, he waved the pretzel dramatically. "Adrian, my man! You look like someone stole your last cookie."
"C'mmon! We just uncovered the case of the Night Auction, live a little, eh?" Thorne looks at his friend's face, but it continues to be unfazed.
He leaned forward, nearly knocking over his ale. "A long day? Were you eaten alive by Lady Ravenscroft? Hahaha!" His tipsy guess and flushed red due to alcohol face laughed not caring a single thing with his noise. "Same here. Ugh, she told me I'm not part of that case anymore." He grunts following a hiccup.
He finally caught Adrian's curiosity, "Lucky for you, you'll be handling a more interesting case." He continues to hiccup, "Try dealing with Mrs. Hargroves missing cat case, I swear, that cat's part phantom."
Adrian chuckled softly. "I'm sure your charm worked wonders."
Thorne winked. "Always does. But seriously, what's got you looking gloomier than a rainy day in the Abyss?"
Adrian's grip tightened around his glass as memories flooded his mind.
'Memories of the past?'
'Memories of the future?'
Adrian almost loses his mind wondering which is which. 'Rosenfield Household's Case' it is a mystery that he found himself the only one haunted with wandering thoughts each night.
'Did I really…' He finds himself asking the same questions again. He has been in here for more or less a week now.
'One year from now…' He could not dare even think about it.
Flashes of deaths.
Blood.
Screams.
It was a nightmare that refused to fade, even after being back here, in the past.
"It's nothing, just a long day," he said, his voice strained.
Thorne shook his head, his gaze penetrating. "No, it's more than that. Something happened, didn't it?"
Adrian hesitated, then sighed. "There's this case… I still don't know what went wrong. It haunts me every day."
Thorne's expression softened. "I'm sorry, Blackwood. I didn't know."
Blackwood nodded, downing the last of his whiskey. "It's in the past, but it drives me to ensure no one else suffers like that again."
Thorne clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You're a good man, Blackwood. Don't forget that."
Blackwood offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Thorne."
Thorne raised his mug. "To solve mysteries and find cats, eh?"
Blackwood clinked his glass against Thorne's mug. "To mysteries and cats."