Chapter Thirteen

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Draçon. Home to the royal family and reserved for only high society nobles, the capital of Ecrea is most known for its starry night sky. In all of Ecrea, each region has a different sky according to the history and culture of the land. Draçon's sky is very different to that, its legend goes about it another way.

Because Draçon was not an original region before the Great War, Draçon did not have a specific history after it. Meaning it's sky was dim and reflected its neighbors. Once the Royals claimed it as the capital, that began to change.

On the same day that Verona Adria Celeste, daughter to Persimmonie and Bashir Celeste, was born to this world her parents were taken away. The former Queen and King of Ecrea died under mysterious circumstances. Although no one saw the bodies, and the former Queen's sister took over the throne sweeping everything that happened under the rug. Many people of Ecrea don't know what really happened the day their beloved rulers vanished, but they didn't like the ruler that replaced them. Alara Rubiere became known as the ignorant queen. Always blind to injustice, and dividing the empire more by deeming Draçon to only be inhabited by the elite.

That was the day little Verona lost everything, and when the sky went dark, the city got cold. The moonlight being the only celestial beauty up high, whilst the ground became covered in a white blanket as far as the eye could see.

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Dalia

Three days later

What type of annoying hooligan drives a holo van all the way up to Draçon and then ditches it in the middle of a forest?

A very annoying one that's for sure.

The van had been moving nonstop for three days, and every time I portaled near it, it would pop up in a different location.

It finally appeared in Draçon for the last time, but it was already abandoned by the time I showed up.

The trampled surface of snow shows tracks leading in every direction. However I learned the steps are completely untraceable when I began to follow them and was lead right back to where I started. Someone must've put a charm on their location, meaning I can't follow them.

Illusionist are super rare, and most live in Alenris the black sand region. Its odd to find one this south, and in Draçon of all places.

Unless...

This could be The Agency. Which would make sense as to why the van was abandoned, and this location.

Past the van, I notice a clearing up ahead. A small branch hangs off its connecting tree at an irregular angle, whilst the snow moves in a wide circle.

There are steps encircling two bodies. One in the snow, another standing. By the looks of it though, there are two different places one of the steps lead. The peculiar pair of feet are faced the biggest body mark in the snow on the ground. A small indent made in the snow besides it indicates someone was on top of them.

I choose to follow the group's steps, and the clearing closes back into the forest. Soft white fluff covers majority of the small fauna that manage to miraculously grow here.

After what I think is miles later, the forest opens up into a wide field. Stretched beyond it, sits a high castle. One that shimmers in the moonlight's reflection. The pristine snow, unmarked until you notice the far edge of the field. Hurried footfalls moving towards the royal abode.

I don't know who it is, or what they want but someone is in the castle right now with royalty. Someone or someones who shouldn't be there.

Shit

The Agency has infiltrated the royal castle.

And whoever was in that van, must've been the killer.

So who do I go after first?

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"Lilith, it's me. We've got a big problem."

Her voice sounds dry and hoarse over the phone.

"What do you mean?" Exasperated, I can imagine her lavender eyes going wide at the mention of something wrong.

"It's the Agency. They're..." all the possibilities of what I'm thinking of saying rush my mind at once.

"They're here, Lilith. The Agency."