After a while, Dorn and Tobias came and joined the group as Haelas led them to the storage area of the herbs and other medicines. Sol took a quick glance at Tobias. The captain is back to his old self again as if nothing happened. She took another glance at him. Tobias caught her, meeting her eyes firmly. Sol immediately looked away.
"Do you have a problem with me, Aspirant Moraii?" Tobias asked in his deep voice, "You keep glancing at me with those curious eyes."
All of their companions turned towards them. Their heartbeats seemed to raise again.
Not again. They silently cried.
"I-I don't have, Captain," she replied with a smile, after turning towards him. She looked calm but the corners of her mouth were trembling.
"Ha! Ha!" Ka-el let out a laugh to ease the awkwardness. He went beside Tobias and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, "Why would you embarrass our junior here? It's just because you're so divinely gorgeous that she couldn't stop herself from glancing at you."
"Haa?" Sol could only utter. Well, she couldn't say no because Tobias might get upset at her again; and she couldn't really say no, because it's a fact that he's divinely gorgeous.
"Remove that arm before I will detach it from your body," Tobias said in a rather heavy deep voice that it looks like a really serious warning for Ka-el.
Ka-el chuckled and distanced himself from Tobias. Meanwhile, Dorn, Haelas and Karisha let out a teasing grin, purposely cleared their throat and walked quickly away from them; with Ka-el being pulled away by Dorn.
Well, Tobias and Sol were left alone in full awkwardness. Tobias threw a glance at the blushed aspirant and he followed the group without saying anything.
Sol just looked at Tobias helplessly.
Why does Captain Karsh act like I'm always getting on his nerves? Is he a woman? Is it the time of the month? It couldn't be every day.
XXX
"This is turmeric and it is from the roots of a plant in the ginger family. It is used in cooking and we are using it to aid in digestion and treat conditions like bloating and indigestion. We also used it to soothe skin irritations and promote wound healing," Haelas informed them.
While they're conversing about the herb, Tobias slowly separates himself from the group and starts looking around the storage area. He arrives at a section that contains herbs with quite an unpleasant smell.
He just threw a glance from the top shelf to the bottom shelf. As he was about to take a step away from that section, he noticed a horizontal line along the wall; it is aligned with the top and bottom shelf, creating a door-like frame. He reached for that wooden wall and tried to push it. It's not budging but it surely is moving. He pulled back his hand and immediately walked away from that section.
XXX
It's the middle of the night when Sol felt the need to relieve herself. She went to the comfort room, half-asleep. As she walks back towards her room with Karisha, she sees Tobias walking out of his room. She was about to call him but he quickly disappeared from her sight. Sol opened her eyes wider and stretched her body to gain full consciousness. She then quickly walked towards the direction Tobias went.
Where is he going so sneakily this midnight? She thought. Nevertheless, she continued following him.
XXX
Tobias decided to stay one more night before leaving for family abode. Dorn and Ka-el also decided to stay with him.
That night, Tobias stealthily entered the herb storage area. He lit up the flammable piece of pine tree wood that he took from the kitchen of Haelas' abode. As light entered the room, he immediately walked towards his target. A few steps away from the shelf that contains herbs with an unusual smell, he took the piece of cloth from his pocket and tied it around his face, covering his nose.
He then continued walking towards that certain shelf. He easily moved the shelves, revealing a rectangular frame. He saw an old rope attached to the left edge of the frame. He pulled it and that rectangular frame opened. A staircase leading downstairs is revealed. He carefully climbed down and followed the tunnel.
After a few steps, he arrived at the body of that room where there stood shelves of books. There were also books and papers scattered on the table at the center of that room. After quickly looking around the shelves, he decided to carefully inspect what's laid on that table. He looked at the book and the papers one by one until a piece of paper caught his attention. On that paper, the word Luminous is written and below it was a list of herbs and plants with certain measurements. While he was reading it, an elderly woman's voice echoed in that silence.
"I didn't expect to see you here so soon, Captain Tobias Karsh."
In jolt and immediate response, Tobias pulled his sword from its scabbard and pointed at the source of voice. It was Chief Healer Sapiensa.
How did she know that it was him when half of his face is covered?
"Lower your sword, Captain," she said in a voice with authority.
Thinking that the chief healer is not a threat, he put back his sword.
"Chief Healer…" he uttered and then showed that piece of paper, "I would like to know about this,"
"Why does that interest you?"
"This Luminous seems to be related to my family history."
"Ah. Is that why you came back?"
"What?"
Tobias was puzzled.
What did she mean by that?
Chief Healer Sapiensa did not answer but she opened a hidden drawer of that table. She took a scroll from it and opened it before Tobias' eyes. The scroll showed a family portrait. As soon as Tobias saw it, he trembled, and fell helplessly on the floor.
Sol, who found her way towards that room, immediately ran towards Tobias when she saw him trembling and fell down.
"Captain!" she exclaimed and rushed towards his side, "Are you alright, Captain?"
Tobias just looked at her with confusion and shock while still trembling and gasping for air.
Sol then looked at the Chief Healer with a nervous and apologetic smile; she greeted her " A pleasant night, Chief Healer."
"I am clearly not having a pleasant night with two intruders in my basement."
After calming for a bit, Tobias gathered his balance and tried to stand with the help of Sol.
"I apologize Chief Healer," Tobias said and went closer towards the table. He looked at the scroll, fighting his tears from falling. He reached for the two edges of the scroll and started rolling it with the intention of taking it with him.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be taking that. That is a dangerous item," the chief healer advised him.
As a tear left Tobias' eyes, he loosened his grip on that scroll, grabbed the flaming pine tree stick and took large strides away from that room.
Sol went to look for her own pine tree stick and lit it up with the flaming pine tree stick that the Chief Healer brought. She then excused themselves and followed Tobias.
Chief Healer Sapiensa let out a heavy sigh for that unbelievable attitude of intruders. She stared blankly at the dark staircase where the two walked through.
"Fate is surely not done with them. I hope this time, fate will be kind to them," she said meaningfully.
XXX
Sol came out in a rush in order to catch up on Tobias. She looked around while walking around the front yard of the storage area. However, she couldn't see a glimpse of him.
Maybe he already went back to his room.
She sighed as she started to walk back to her room.
By the way, what is that thing called Luminous? Why does he think that it could be related to his family history? Also, why did that family portrait make him tremble like that? By the way, why does that family portrait look familiar? It's like I've seen them somewhere. Are they his family? But why would he tremble like that?
While being lost in her own thoughts, she bumped into Commander Remus.
"Oh. Uncle? Why are you out late tonight?" she asked when she finally recognized the person she bumped into.
"How about you, Aspirant Moraii? Where could you have been at this hour?"
Sol grinned, "I'm not telling you."
Commander Remus smirked.
"Miss, follow me. Your father wants to see you."
Commander Remus then turned around and started walking towards the guest area. Sol had no choice but to follow him.
XXX
Tobias arrived at his room, barely calm. He sat down on his bed as he held his head that started aching.
I think Chief Healer Sapiensa knows me. How does she know me?
Tobias stood up and started pacing back and forth.
She knew that I came back. Even with this raven-black hair, how can she still know who I am?
How?
XXX
It's just early dawn, just an hour of sleep for Sol when she heard some grunting and harsh crying from the room next door. The room of Captain Karsh and Sir Allegros.
What's happening to them?
Her curiosity wouldn't let her go back to sleep. Thus, she went towards the nearby room to take a peek. She pushed the door slightly.
She saw Dorn trying to wake Tobias up. She stared at Tobias and he seems like he's having a nightmare. He looks as if he's struggling from something that is binding him. He kept kicking his feet and throwing punches in the air. Feeling of despair, pain and sorrow filled his face as tears kept falling from his eyes.
"Mother! Mother! Don't leave me! Mother!" Tobias painfully begged.
She wanted to enter their room and help calm him down but she might be intruding too much. Moments later, she was able to sigh a breath of relief when he was able to wake up.
She decided to go back to her room. As she turned around, she came face to face with Karisha who's also taking a peek. She let out a sound but Karisha immediately covered her mouth. She then dragged her to their room.
"You scared me!"
Karisha just grinned.
"How did you go there? When I woke up earlier, you were sound asleep."
"Well yes, I was even having a lovely dream when I heard some grunting. I thought that it's part of my dream but it sounded real and real. So I woke up and followed the source of the sound. And there I saw you, sneakily taking a peek."
"Oh."
"I just can't believe that I saw how an intimidating person would look when they're vulnerable. With those innocent looking visuals, you can't help but just want to do something for them."
"Hmm. Right. Anyway, let's just go back to sleep."
Morning came, a lovely playing of the lyre harp was heard all throughout the abode. One by one, they woke up and followed where the sound was coming from. They saw Dorn and Tobias having tea, while the former is playing the lyre harp.
The aspirants greeted their seniors.
"Whoah, what a lovely piece, Sir Allegros," commented Haelas.
Dorn just smiled at him.
"I know right. If I am a lady, I would fall for him the moment I heard him play," Ka-el said, teasing him.
Karisha agreed inside.
Dorn just shook his head and stopped playing the harp.
XXX
After helping the healers prepare breakfast for the Supremo's entourage, Haelas with his friends and the defenders started having their fill also.
"By the way, this will be our last meal with you guys, we already need to go back to our post," Ka-el informed the aspirants.
"Oh you really should, Sir. We took a lot of your time already," Haelas said.
Meanwhile Karisha and Sol just nodded.
"Don't be too sad . You never know, we might see each other again in the future; whether in the service or along the streets."
"Right Sir," the aspirants agreed.
Sol stole a glance at Tobias. He still didn't seem like himself. He seemed quieter than usual. He still seemed distraught and troubled.
Maybe, that nightmare took a toll on him. How bad is his nightmare for him to struggle like that?
Sol then shifted her gaze to Karisha. She also seemed quieter than usual. She was cheery since she woke up; but now, she seemed like she didn't receive any gift on her birthday.
"You're making it so obvious," Sol whispered to Karisha.
"Like you are not," she whispered back.
"What?"
"Don't make me say it."
"Just eat."
XXX
Tobias in his fast steed arrived in 2 hours at the house on the top of a hill in the South West region. As soon as he climbed down from his steed, an elderly Wishbone woman in her 50s went out from the house to greet him.
"Welcome home, dear," she said as she gave him a hug and a cup of water.
"Thank you, mom," he said and drank all the water from the cup, leaving it empty. He then led his steed towards the stable. Mrs. Karsh followed him.
"What brought you home, dear? Did your superior give you a vacation?"
"Kind of Mom. I was assigned now to the Bloody Cloaks Training Camp and the training will resume in 2 months. Thus, I could spend a lot of days here with you."
"Oh, I know it's safer for you at the training camp than at the Investigation Bureau. You know, I heard some things about you while you're at the bureau."
"What things mom?" he asked while leading the horse inside the stable.
"That you're ruthless."
"Don't believe them mom. I'm just following the rules."
"Oh. Don't trick me on that. You were trained by your Uncle Assos; so, I know that you can be a little ruthless."
He closed the door of the stable and held Mrs. Karsh's hand as they walked out.
"You can really see through me, mom."
"But, why would they assign you at the training camp? Did they suspend you at the bureau?"
"Kind of mom. My name is being loud in a bad way so my superior sent me to the training camp."
"Then, are there any developments from your investigation?" a man in late forties chimed in as they walked inside the house.
"Uncle Assos," Tobias uttered and hugged his master and trainer tightly.
"Get off me, you're suffocating me," he said, chuckling as he gave a tap on Tobias' shoulders.
"I will leave you two to talk, I will prepare some food for you," Mrs. Karsh said and disappeared towards the kitchen.
"Well, how is it inside the force?" Uncle Assos asked Tobias.
"Not bad, uncle."
"How's your investigation?"
"I'm always meeting some dead ends, uncle. While investigating at the bureau, I found three unusual cases. Cases that are poorly investigated and were dropped. The victims, who were all working at the Manse on that fateful night, were murdered. I traced the victims' relatives but I couldn't reach some of them. And what's more is that these cases were investigated by our current commander, Bloody Cloaks Commander Osiros- who got a big promotion from a Captain to a Commander in a jiffy."
"Then, Commander Osiros might know something. With the cases being poorly investigated and dropped, it means that they're covering up something."
"Right, Uncle. I indirectly confronted Commander Osiros about the cases but he said that there's no sufficient evidence. Thus, the case went nowhere until it was dropped. I think he also saw right through me he sent me to the Training Camp."
"Okay, now we know that Commander Osiros might be involved in one way or another, have someone to check on him from time to time. We'll eventually find something that could trap him."
"Yes, Uncle."
"By the way, I heard that Augustus Supremo visited Chief Healer Sapiensa. Have you heard anything about it?"
"Actually, I was able to meet him. Also, I already have a suspect regarding the person who has slain my mother."
Uncle Assos' face darkened at the mention of the slaying of Tobias' mother- his real mother.
"Who is he?"
"Commander Remus, the head of the Golden Shields."
"What?! How did you come to suspect him?"
"I saw that scar on his hand. And my body and memories reacted. I tremble and can't think straight every time I see him. Memories of the slaying of my mother would flash before me and it would just incapacitate me. For now, I am giving him some benefit of the doubt until I have the evidence that proves that he is the one."
"You need to quickly find the truth about him or else, he might seize your breath before you can even touch him. Find someone to tail him."
"Actually, I know an aspirant who is close to him. I might be able to use her to get to the Commander."
"Okay then, just remember to be cautious all the time. I don't want to say this but... being a Golden Shield commander means that you are always on the side of the Supremo and one of the people who benefitted from the death of your father, Helios Supremo, is his best friend Augustus Supremo… do you think that he has a hand on the death of your father?"
Yes, Tobias is the son of the former Supremo- Helios Supremo.
"I don't think so, Uncle. Augustus Supremo wouldn't do that. You said to me that he even tried to prevent those people from killing my father. Also, he is my father's best friend, he wouldn't do that."
"I know...just be thorough."
"Yes, Uncle."
XXX
After arriving at the Capital, Dorn decided to continue his journey Northeast. He led his steed up and up on the mountains nearing the borders where the Corpse Shield is built. Just before the danger zone and a kilometer away from the defender station, he stopped his steed and climbed down. He went to find his bow and arrow that he kept from a hidden cave. He took out a sealed piece of paper from his pocket. He opened it and saw what was written on it.
He couldn't understand what it means as it is written in a foreign language. The only thing that he can understand is the word 'Luminous'.
After failing to read it, he enclosed it in a piece of cloth and attached it to his arrow. He loaded his bow with that arrow, firmly stretched his arm and aimed at the area beyond the borders-the land of Hanaduti. This land is one of the conquerors who are greedy to have Largus for themselves.
After making sure that his aim was accurate, he released that arrow.
As if nothing happened, he hid his bow in that hidden cave. He climbed on his steed and journeyed back to the Investigation Bureau.