Nighttime Encounters - Chapter 9
Ortebaek reminisced about the past year filled with frustration and complained, “It’s truly vexing. She doesn’t fall for traps easily, and she doesn’t take any bait we lay out. We employed tracking magic, illusion magic, everything! But she always escaped unscathed. It’s as if she knew everything in advance.”
During the past year when he had been constantly outwitted by Trinity, Ortebaek hadn’t slept well at all.
He looked at the man earnestly and said, “Have you learned anything? Even the tiniest clue would greatly aid in capturing Trinity.”
The man carefully explained, recalling Trinity’s attacks, “She was an exceptional spellcaster, proficient in using magic. Her element appeared to be wind-based, and she employed unusual formulas.”
“Unusual formulas, you say?”
The man stopped his finger, which had been tracing invisible patterns in the air as he spoke.
While gauging the size of the magical pressure that had weighed on his chest, the man gathered magical energy.
The air above his palm began to ripple, forming a spherical shape.
It was the same formula of wind that Trinity had used.
The wind danced in the man’s deep emerald eyes.
“On the surface, it might seem like a typical wind-based magic, but it operates in a completely different way.”
“Then…”
“I’d have to learn more to be sure, but right now I’d conjecture that it’s based on the early practices of our kingdom.”
“I see, the more you know, the more difficult it seems.”
At the clues the man handed him, Ortebaek sighed deeply.
“I’ll have to conduct an investigation based on the information you’ve given. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this.”
In response to Ortebaek formal gratitude, the man hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“A mage of that caliber would be difficult for the guards to handle.”
“That’s true, isn’t it? I’ve requested support from the Bureau of Mages several times, but they keep delaying it, claiming they don’t have enough manpower.”
It was clear that the Bureau of Mages found it bothersome to involve themselves in the work of the guards.
Ortebaek sighed, recalling the troubled expression on the Mage Director’s face.
“At this rate, we might as well just be wasting our time.”
The man, seeing Ortebaek’s frustration, slowly opened his mouth.
“Let me help you.”
“What?”
Ortebaek’s face brightened with enthusiasm at the man’s offer.
“If you’re willing to help, we would be grateful.”
The captain of the guard spoke with an eager expression but paused when he saw the man’s face.
“But last time, you refused, saying your duties were different, didn’t you?” The man inquired cautiously, examining the man’s expression.
The Empire had clear boundaries between public and civil services. Even the elusive Bureau of Mages seemed to be avoiding the situation, which made the man’s initial refusal to help seem quite reasonable.
“But why have you suddenly changed your mind?” Ortebaek asked, puzzled.
The man watched the wind dancing on his palm and then spoke, “I’m a knight who will be stepping down at the end of this month, so I don’t have any assignments right now.”
The man clenched his fist, and the magic manipulating the air scattered, causing the wind to disappear as quickly as if he had captured and then released it, much like the way Trinity had vanished.
“Besides, there are too many things I’m curious about to let it be.”
