[Sub-quest 7 generated: The Mystery of Flynn's Death.
Quest Description: Flynn died in an alley due to a magical outburst. Master, you've noticed something unusual and suspect foul play. Investigate the cause behind his death.
Quest Deadline: Three days
Quest Reward: Rank advancement]
Li Xiang carefully reviewed the quest details.
'Only three days?'
"Louis, who were you calling just now?"
"The cleanup crew from the Department of Policies and Regulations. They're the team responsible for handling bodies. They'll collect Flynn's remains, identify him, and notify his family."
"Flynn didn't die by his own hand. Technically, he did die from a magical outburst, but it wasn't of his own doing."
"Do you have proof? Without it, the Department of Policies and Regulations won't waste their time on just your suspicions."
"I knew Flynn. We were classmates for a while, and he told me his elemental affinity is wind. Doesn't it seem strange for a wind-affinity mage to be practicing fire-element spells, especially beyond his level?"
"Your reasoning... isn't conclusive enough. Human thoughts are unpredictable. What if Flynn had some unknown reason that led him to act irrationally?"
Li Xiang didn't argue further. He pointed towards the alley and asked, "Would you practice magic in a place like this?"
Louis looked at the secluded alley, noting its quietness and lack of foot traffic. He nodded, "You're right. According to the Clock Tower's rules, students aren't allowed to practice magic in places like this."
"Practicing magic in a public area like the Magic Square means if something goes wrong, other students or teachers can intervene quickly, possibly saving a life. Coming to a place like this would only make sense if... it involved black magic." He paused, "But the lingering elements suggest this was just a basic fire spell."
Louis, now convinced, patted Li Xiang on the shoulder and asked, "What should we do next? Notify the Captain?"
"Don't forget what week it is. I suspect this might be connected to the upcoming Magecraft Society performances."
Louis was stunned. "Is the competition really that fierce? Good thing I didn't join any performances back then."
"...What are you talking about? I mean Flynn's death might be tied to this event, not the Magecraft Societies themselves."
"An enemy of the Clock Tower, then?"
Li Xiang shrugged, "Who knows? Contact the cleanup crew and tell them to hold off for now. Keep the scene intact. I'll call the Captain and have her come take a look."
"Got it."
Li Xiang quickly dialed Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald's number and briefed her on the situation. Her response was immediate:
"Don't let anyone touch the body. I'll be there right away."
After hanging up, it wasn't long before Kayneth arrived, accompanied by a young girl.
"Lorraine Shirley from the Department of Spiritual Invocation," Kayneth introduced, then crouched down to inspect Flynn's wounds.
Li Xiang nodded at Lorraine in greeting before turning back to Kayneth. "It seems like a case of command spells. Flynn might have accidentally witnessed something he shouldn't have, and was immediately controlled. The perpetrator then forced him to come here and use a spell far beyond his capacity, causing the fatal outburst."
"Why go to such lengths instead of just killing Flynn outright?" Lorraine asked.
"Two possibilities." Li Xiang held up two fingers. "First, the perpetrator might not have had the opportunity for a clean kill. Maybe they were maintaining a barrier? Second, doing so might have been too conspicuous. Flynn was a student in the General Fundamentals Department, which has the most classes. His absence would have quickly raised questions."
"Your analysis is thorough. You remind me of your teacher, Waver Velvet." Kayneth stood up. "I've examined him, and it matches what you've said. Without your attention to detail, this would've been dismissed as a typical magical mishap."
She shot a glance at Louis, who responded by whistling nonchalantly, avoiding eye contact as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
"So, who's responsible?"
"Not many students are capable of command spells."
Li Xiang pondered. Command spells are somewhat taboo at the Clock Tower, as the idea of controlling others is unsettling. He ventured, "Could it have been a student from the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory?"
The Department of Modern Magecraft Theory is known for its three major systems: Sense-based Magecraft, Puppeteering, and Command-based Magecraft.
Flynn's condition seemed akin to that of a marionette, controlled entirely by another mage, even down to his magical circuits.
"Don't be too quick to accuse anyone."
Kayneth warned him. Although she thought Li Xiang's reasoning was sound, in the Clock Tower, right and wrong aren't the only standards that matter. She turned to Lorraine and said, "Let's see what you can do."
"Leave it to me. Everyone, step back."
Lorraine stood before Flynn's body, her hand hovering just inches above his head. She closed her eyes and began to chant softly.
Necromancy.
An invisible wind swirled around Lorraine, the air becoming frigid as a chilling aura permeated the area. Li Xiang shivered as the cold seeped into his bones. It felt as though a door had opened, and Lorraine touched her forehead with her left hand. A pale, grayish-white barrier expanded from her forehead, forming a one-meter radius circle.
A ghostly white apparition emerged from Flynn's body.
"Flynn, can you hear me?"
Lorraine asked, but Flynn's translucent form remained expressionless, his face blank.
Disappointed, Lorraine looked back at Kayneth. "His soul has been damaged."
"No way to get anything from it?" Kayneth asked.
"At least, not by questioning the soul."
"This perpetrator is overly cautious," Louis muttered.
"Not everyone is as carefree and reckless as you," Kayneth shot back, causing Louis to immediately clam up.
"I have an idea." Li Xiang suggested, "The Department of Spiritual Invocation has time-based spells. With temporal retrogression, we might be able to trace the events back to their source."
"Time Magecraft..." Kayneth frowned, "The Department of Spiritual Invocation is tricky. They report directly to the Director, and with their limited numbers, requesting their help would require permission from Lord Brysen."
"Doesn't the Department of Policies and Regulations have any time mages?"
Kayneth scoffed, "Do you think the Department of Policies and Regulations is popular? Most people hate and fear it. Besides, the Department of Spiritual Invocation answers directly to the Director and doesn't have to deal with us."
After a pause, she seemed to be pondering out loud, "This situation could be serious, but it's still too early to determine its full scope. However, all signs suggest this isn't just an ordinary accident. I'll report this to my superiors. With the annual Magecraft Society performances coming up, and all the Lords attending, the Department of Policies and Regulations cannot afford any disturbances."