Inside an old church illuminated by the flames burning torches, there was a row of benches.
Some people sat, however, praying.
Others knelt before faceless angelic sculptures, praying to them.
The same angelic figures had their hands covering their faces.
The church inside was artistically detailed. Drawings on the walls:
Some drawings had inscriptions beside them in the language of the great ancient, Vornesca.
In front of the drawings stood a young man, a tall figure.
About 1.78 meters tall, he appeared to be 17 years old. He wore formal clothes with a cloak draped over his shoulders and a cane in his right hand. His medium dark brown hair covered one of his eyes, and his brown eyes were accompanied by a pointed chin, giving him an academic air.
He read the inscriptions in his mind:
He runs his eyes over the words carved into the stones, his voice a reverent whisper.
"Here it speaks of kings and conquests, of martyrs and prophecies. Here are the records of wars and ascensions, of falls and promises. Each line tells me something I've seen before, even though I've never lived it. Why is it like this? Why does time seem like a wheel, turning and turning, always returning to the same point, just with new names and faces?"
He pauses, observing a carved figure beside the words, depicting a man crowned with light, wearing a cloak, surrounded by followers. He then whispers,
"Elvorian."
He walks along the wall, where the inscriptions continue, describing past eras.
"These words... they speak of cycles. The first savior of all was sacrificed. The second had the same fate as the first. The third's whereabouts are unknown. The fourth met the same fate as the third. The fifth will still be born, until the end of the cycle of destiny;
Wars, famines, plagues, prejudice. History will repeat itself as it always has, yet the world will continue expanding.
Many humans await a savior, while others wish to remain submissive to their politicians, repeating, again and again, their mistakes.
We always choose to repeat the same errors, believing that someone or something external will free us from ourselves."
His fingers trace a particular phrase, engraved in a nearly forgotten language.
"'When the promised one walks among us, light and shadow will meet, and the world will be remade.' Light and shadow... order and chaos, creation and destruction."
He steps back from the wall, crossing his arms as he contemplates the altar in the center of the church.
He observes the statues and the drawings of flower spirals and hands on the ceiling.
"Perhaps the predestined one is not a man, nor a god. Perhaps the predestined one is the idea that we can be better. And perhaps, just perhaps, this idea must be born within each of us before we can truly live and write a new history."
Looking one last time at the ancient scriptures, he leaves.
The church was large enough to accommodate a considerable number of people; The young man walked to the gates of the church, the same white and visually striking gates.
He pushes them open with ease, and finally steps into the street.
He descends a few steps, and the city street becomes visible: the city of Altharion, the golden city.
"Well, unfortunately, only in name." the young man thinks.
Walking for a few seconds, he encounters a rather peculiar scene, not so much.
A man lying on the ground, about 25 years old, with black hair tipped with white strands, wearing a white yukata with blue patterns, and a black shirt underneath.
Finally, the young man wore black pants and boots, and he carried a belt holding a sword.
"Let me tell you; it's not truly pleasant to lie on the ground, it's harmful to human bones, do you have this knowledge?"
The young man says, smiling.
"Meditation is the strength of every human being, in any case, I've been waiting for you, Lucian."
Pausing and rising from the ground, he continues: "It's not really pleasant to stay here, you took too long."
Lucian genuinely thinks: 'And you waited here.' but keeps the thought to himself.
"Anyway, thanks, Kiyo. We got what we intended, we'll return."
Kiyoshi, the man in the yukata, stands up, and as they walk side by side, Kiyo asks:
"So, was there any relevant information or any clue?"
Pausing and thinking, Lucian responds: "Not exactly, just the history we already know. On the other hand, the sculptures I observed inside the church were indeed the same in the case."
Continuing, he says: "We can confirm that it's something religious or some fanatic. This is my thesis."
Kiyoshi simply absorbs the information, walking for some time, observing the city, and they reach the city center.
It could be said that this was the city's tourist point.
A large fountain in the city center, with some people selling their products in stalls – in short, commerce.
It wasn't an uncommon sight, in fact, it was natural in any world with a hierarchical and political system.
The fountain spraying crystal-clear water against the air; stalls, white asphalt streets, giving the idea of being divine.
A common sight on this side of the city.
Passing through the center of the city and ignoring constant offers and calls.
They reach a specific building; not too flashy, it wasn't an exaggeration to say it was simply there, but it was notable.
The building had three floors.
Black windows, but not so black as to prevent seeing what was happening inside.
There was a sign with something written on the building: "Investigation Agency."
Lucian and Kiyoshi enter the building, and Kiyoshi pushes open the door.
After opening the door, one can see a medium-sized room, large enough to accommodate chairs and tables.
Not small enough to hold a considerable number of people.
This was the first floor and entrance to the Investigation Agency.
At the entrance, a little ahead, there was a young woman, a clerk, located behind a large counter.
She was reading some papers. "Melissa, how are things going?" With a gentle smile on her face.
Taken by surprise, having her reading interrupted.
She didn't feel bothered at all, she just diverted her attention to the two in front of her and answered:
"Same as always, Luci. There's not much new when you just welcome people."
She answers genuinely. Now it's possible to visualize her figure: She had light brown hair, but still brown.
Her clothing consisted of a black skirt below the knees and a black blazer on top.
And, some pearls around her neck. She was eye candy, gorgeous.
Lucian just smiles, however, continues walking to his destination.
The first floor was decorated with paintings on the walls, a few waiting chairs in the corner.
It wasn't that fancy, but it was acceptable.
"Ah, I'm hungry, really hungry. It feels like my belly is being cut open."
Putting his hands on his belly, gesturing hunger, Kiyoshi does so.
"After we're done, we can go eat together, I can pay for it today."
Kiyoshi couldn't help but smile from cheek to cheek.
"I will not refuse this kindness of yours, I accept it gratefully."
He stretches forward and thanks him, obviously with irony.
However, Lucian is not offended; on the contrary, he appreciates it internally.
Both looking ahead they found a pair of stairs.
The same stairs lead from one floor to the other above.
It connects all the availability of the building.
Walking on the steps, they do not take a minute to reach the second floor.
Right in front of the second floor, at the entrance: It was possible to see a table in the middle and a small table in the corner of the room.
The table in the middle of the room was large enough to occupy 6 chairs on both sides of the table.
On the wall there were some accessories and trophies, the color of the walls, like on the first floor, were painted white with touches of black.
The flowers and plants in every corner of the building added a kind of "charm" to the environment.
As Lucian looked around the room, he could see at least four people in the room at that moment.
One of them looked like a young man, with short white hair.
He was sitting on the table in the corner.
Another was sitting on the chair on the left side of the table, in the middle of the room.
He seemed to be a man. He seemed to be around thirty years old.
While he seemed to be reading a newspaper, another was repeating words to a girl: "My beautiful star in the sky, we can observe the starry sky, grant me the honor of having your presence by my side."
Crouching the girl's hand, however, she doesn't take offense.
"Maybe if you learn to pay your debts, I can think about it."
A smile on her face, she had.
His face freezes for a second, the man feigns ignorance.
"Oh, beautiful star, even burning, you're still beautiful."
Putting a hand on his face, feigning embarrassment.
'How many times has this scene repeated itself?'
Deciding not to focus too much on the scene in front of him, Lucian and Kiyoshi draw attention to their arrival.
"I'm glad you're here, the boss wants to talk to you."
The man reading a newspaper says.
"Any ideas, Takeda?"
"None."
Answering without changing his expression at all.
'What do you think the old man wants to talk about?'
Thinking about it, Lucian just waves his hands.
"I'll stay here for now, I'll wait for you."
Kiyo sits down on a chair and gestures with his hands waving.
"Didn't you get enough sleep?" "A little more sleep is never enough."
Kiyo replies.
'Right' thinking in his mind, before climbing another floor, Lucian picks up his cane. "
"Keep this for now."
Kiyo takes the cane and leaves it on his lap.
He doesn't even consider denying it, it shows their mutual trust.
Lucian goes up another floor. Unlike the previous floors, this floor had a door to another room.
There was a name tag on the door, which read:
"President's Room."
The third floor was not very decorated, apart from a flower in the corner of the room and a window at the end of the room.
Knocking on the door twice, Lucian waits patiently. The door suddenly opens.
Three people can be seen, at most. One woman, two men.
The woman wore a white coat and skirt, star earrings, her skin was white as snow and her hair was braided in a single braid.
Leaning against the window, the man.
There was no trace of hair, he was tall and wore a black kimono and glasses.
The moment Lucian entered the room, the conversation ceased.
The man, the president, was sitting in the only chair in the room.
This chair was behind a medium-sized table.
On the table were a cup of tea, books and a white cloth.
The table was brown, showing its natural wood color.
"President." Bowing, Lucian continued.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Attracting the president's attention, the woman commented:
Leaning against the window, the man.
There was no trace of hair, he was tall and wore a black kimono and glasses.
The moment Lucian entered the room, the conversation ceased.
The man, the president, was sitting in the only chair in the room.
This chair was behind a medium-sized table. On the table were a cup of tea, books and a white cloth. The table was brown, showing its natural wood color.
"President." Bowing, Lucian continues.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Attracting the president's attention, the woman comments:
"Perfect timing, I need your-"
"I refuse."
Not waiting for her to finish, Lucian raises one of his hands and leaves it raised.
"You didn't even wait for me to finish!"
"Ayaka, let's ignore matters of lesser importance, I'll be brief, Lucian."
The president interrupts the joke.
Just nodding her head, Ayaka, the woman in the lab coat accepts.
"I have received a request of utmost importance, you will be required to go to neighboring cities. Apparently, murder cases similar to the ones you have been investigating have occurred there."
Pausing briefly, he continues:
"There were four cases in total, there are only two more to go, if two more cases happen, they will go on alert."
Shaking his head, Lucian asks:
"Well, I imagine they gave a specific time limit or perhaps an urgency? If they are about to go on alert."
Lucian says.
"They did, in fact, you still have a month until then, in this case, a month to stay here for a while."
The president completes the request:
"After a month, you will arrive in the City of Mirrors, you will be a guest. And, you will still receive a reward if you close the case, unfortunately, that is the most I will be able to do for you."
The president regrets honestly.
In any case, it was still noticeable that he had great qualities and rewards.
However, Lucian had another thought in mind.
"If people need help, why wouldn't I help?"
Smiling and expressing his thoughts, he continued:
"But I feel obligated to accept the reward, especially if it is in cash. I need this income."
A silly, embarrassed and genuine smile was on his lips.
The three people in the room imagining this kind of response, smiled.
"I can only tell you to enjoy yourself until the appointed day, sorry again, but I'll have to ask you to solve the current case still."
Lucian shrugs: "It's my job, after all. I'll say goodbye now, if that's it, president."
His hands still in his pockets.
"That's all, thank you for your attention."
Gesturing with his hand, allowing Lucian to leave.
Lucian turns his back and closes the door.
"I'm hungry too, I'll have to go buy something quickly, I might die on the way."