| A Jade Parade for the Undaunted Part 1

Arc 1 | A Detectives End

Phase 2 | Pursuit of the Seven Wonders

Tsubasa's and Gaius's suspicions regarding Lord Armand were aligned. They both sensed that there was more to the host of the evening than met the eye and if he had indeed been involved in previous instances similar to the grotesque transformation of the jade statue, it was only a matter of time before his crimes caught up with him.

As they traversed the dark and eerily quiet hallway, illuminated only by the faint glint of Tsubasa's fiery eyes and Gaius's emerald irises, a foreboding atmosphere hung in the air. The oppressive silence weighed heavily on them, and they exchanged knowing glances, both bracing themselves for what lay ahead.

A dim jade glow beckoned from a passageway in front of them, an obvious trap. It emitted an ominous radiance that was impossible to ignore. Tsubasa, always the decisive one, took the lead. "Follow me!" she declared, the thought of fear of what this chase may lead up to had never crossed her mind.

Gaius didn't protest and followed her, his footsteps echoing in the quiet darkness. The jade glow seemed to dance tantalizingly ahead, always just out of reach, leading them deeper into the labyrinth of hidden passages within the palace.

The chase was relentless, the jade glow flitted away like a wisp of smoke the glow flitting from one secret passageway to another, as if it reveled in leading them on a wild pursuit. Tsubasa was relentless in her pursuit, her agile form navigating the tight spaces with ease. Gaius, with his larger build, struggled at times, his movements constrained by the narrow tunnels.

Tsubasa poked her head out of one of the grates and found herself in an awkward situation. She had inadvertently interrupted a woman who was in the midst of changing, her dress stained with wine. The woman screamed in surprise, and Tsubasa hastily withdrew her head, uttering a sheepish "oops" before retreating into the dark tunnels once more.

The chase continued, a seemingly endless game of hide and seek with the elusive jade glow. It led them through meandering tunnels that connected to various parts of the palace, from the grand kitchen to guest rooms. With the elusive jade glow always just out of reach. Eventually, the emerald glow dispersed, fading into nothingness. Tsubasa and Gaius were left standing in the darkness, panting from the chase.

It was then that a deep, ominous voice emanated from somewhere nearby, their sharp senses picking up the conversation. "Armand...you promised me her this time..."

Tsubasa and Gaius exchanged another glance, their suspicions deepening. They had stumbled upon a clandestine conversation involving Lord Armand and an unknown figure. Lord Armand's voice quivered with despair as he responded, "I-I'm sorry, I-I really thought she would be here!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna and Milica stood in the dimly lit corridor, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that they had only glimpsed yet another victim, a young man ensnared in the horrifying jade prison. The sight was heart-wrenching, and the urgency of their mission weighed on them like a leaden cloak.

But as they stood there, the eerie silence was shattered by the sound of stumbling footsteps echoing down the corridor not far from where they stood. It was the unmistakable sound of someone attempting to escape.

A fire ignited within Luna's heart. Her determination to bring the perpetrator to justice flared, fueled by a potent mix of anger and vengeance. She exchanged a resolute glance with Milica, and without a word, they were off, pursuing the fleeing figure.

Their footsteps echoed through the corridor as they gave chase, determination pushing them forward. They needed answers, and they were willing to confront the malevolent force responsible for these horrifying transformations.

They chased the unknown figure through the winding passages, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The figure moved with surprising agility, darting around corners and disappearing from view. But Luna and Milica were relentless in their pursuit.

As they closed in on the figure, Milica unleashed her formidable magic with a whispered incantation, "Earth Magic: Static Purge." The floors beneath them transformed, becoming malleable and elastic. Milica's subtle movements sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, creating a chaotic terrain that threatened to engulf the fleeing culprit.

With a slip and a fall, the figure was momentarily trapped beneath the shifting rubble, but their determination to escape was palpable. They sprang back to their feet in the blink of an eye, putting every ounce of effort into evading Luna and Milica.

Luna, in turn, called upon her own magic, harnessing the power of ice. She created a slippery slope beneath her feet, turning the floor into an icy surface. She propelled herself forward with grace, gliding along the slope as if she were ice skating. The culprit was within her reach, just one finger away.

But in a surprising turn of events, as Luna reached out, the hooded figure vanished before her very eyes. A hidden passage, concealed within the floor where they had stood, had whisked the perpetrator away, leaving Luna and Milica with nothing but empty darkness.

The hunt continued, their resolve unshaken. Luna and Milica knew that they were closing in on the truth, and they were determined to unravel the mystery and bring an end to the malevolent force that had cast a shadow over Lord Armand's grand palace.

As they followed the trail, the passage suddenly opened into a grand hall, far larger than they had anticipated. It was filled with royal guests, a vast congregation of nobility gathered for the grand dinner party. The opulence and elegance of the hall were staggering, with chandeliers casting a warm, golden glow on the assembled guests. It was clear that Lord Armand had spared no expense in hosting this grand event, and many ballrooms had been interconnected to accommodate the enormous number of guests.

But what immediately caught Luna and Milica's attention was not the splendor of the occasion, but the haunting sight that greeted them. The entire room was filled with green statues, each one a former guest of honor, now trapped in the nightmarish grip of jade. Horror and disbelief rippled through the hall, and the atmosphere had turned somber as the royal guests stood frozen, their expressions of shock and terror preserved for all eternity.

Amid this macabre tableau, the hooded figure they had been pursuing finally unveiled his face. His features contorted in frustration, and he let out a cry of annoyance. His voice echoed through the hall as he stomped his fist on the floor.

"Just do it already," he muttered, his words tinged with impatience and resignation.

Luna and Milica exchanged a glance, their hearts heavy with realization. It was now glaringly obvious that this person was not the mastermind behind the jade statues. He was merely another victim, trapped in this nightmarish fate along with the rest of the royals.

Their pursuit had taken a wrong turn, and the true culprit remained at large. Luna and Milica stood in the grand hall, surrounded by the eerie stillness of the green statues and the shocked, petrified expressions of the guests.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Undaunted corpse," he muttered aloud, the words dripping with bitterness. "That is what they are called, encapsulated in a green prison!" He clenched his fists, his frustration growing as he spoke.

Luna and Milica exchanged a quick glance, realizing the gravity of the situation. It seemed they had stumbled upon someone who was as entangled in this nightmare as they were, and his family had suffered greatly. The man's voice quivered with anguish as he continued, "This is the work of some heinous curse...that much I know."

They rushed to clarify the misunderstanding. Milica, her voice gentle and soothing, spoke, "We only just learned about this curse moments ago when we encountered another victim."

Luna added, her expression filled with empathy, "Our friend believes that Lord Armand has some relation to this, and right now, they are pursuing him as we speak."

At the mention of Lord Armand, the man's face twisted in disdain. "Fool, that man is nothing but a puppet."

The man shoved an undaunted corpse off the seat it once proclaimed. He began to explain everything he knew of this. "It all happened a few years ago," he began, his voice filled with a mixture of dread and urgency. "It was a royal gathering much like this one, a banquet of delicacies from all five continents, with beautiful music tailored to the fancy aroma... But there was something peculiar at the center of it all. A strange-looking fountain."

He described it vividly, a fountain adorned with a green statue unlike anything he had ever seen. The statue depicted a young girl, one foot gracefully lifted as if she were reaching for the heavens. Its presence had left everyone in attendance astonished.

"That was the first incident," he continued, his gaze distant as he recalled the haunting memory. "The next gathering was in a different venue, but the setting was the same, as tradition dictated. The statues were different, but the display was endless. It wasn't long before people like me began to grow suspicious because these statues, you see, were based on real-life royals."

Luna and Milica exchanged worried glances as they absorbed this revelation. They, too, were young royals, and the implications of what they were hearing weighed heavily on their hearts. The plight of missing royals, particularly young girls, had sent shockwaves through the royal community.

The man continued his account, his voice quivering with emotion, "Then came the 'royal murder case.' Shortly after these green statues began appearing, there were numerous cases of missing royals, especially young girls. It sent a chill down my spine. At that point, I, like many others, became suspicious of this horrifying scenario."

He couldn't help but recall his fear for his beloved wife and daughter, and Luna and Milica empathized with his pain. As young girls themselves, they understood the fear and uncertainty that had gripped all the royals.

"I didn't need to hire investigators or detectives," he continued, his voice trembling. "The scale of the case was unimaginable. Hundreds had fallen victim. Some of the cases even involved green statues of men. My theory is that those individuals were getting too close to discovering the truth, but they were turned before they could take any action."

The man's voice grew softer as he recounted a fateful discovery, a glint of green amid daylight. It led him to a large garbage dispenser in a shadowy alleyway. With trembling hands, he had unearthed a horrifying sight – a man in the process of being turned into an undaunted corpse.

"He was relieved that I had found him," the man said, his eyes reflecting the terror of that moment. "But that relief was short-lived. Time was of the essence, and he told me something that shook me to my core. Lord Armand, that's the man responsible for all of this."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Q-quit moving so much Gaius!"

Tsubasa hissed at her new companion as he wriggled himself in the narrow tunnels to find better comfort. There was minor turbulence as the movements of Gaius were reverberating throughout the area. Including the mysterious room where Lord Armand was conversing with someone. "I can't help it sorry!" The retort was unnecessary and made their situation worse to a tragedy. Because...the entire vent collapsed leaving the idea of being discreet as useless. "S-h-i-t"

Divine Aptitude: Thou shal-

Before Gaius could even activate his ability. A large man, probably the size of a sumo wrestler had strangled Gaius's neck with his two thick thumbs and index finger. He made it look so easy. Tsubasa tried to get up but was stammered by the foot of the Lord of the house himself. The colossal being tossed Gaius's unconscious corpse aside and crept closer to Tsubasa. "Could you be her?"

He raised his thick palms and a green glow emanated from it.

Nothing happened.

The situation was transcending and dubious for Tsubasa. She couldn't move and didn't know what to expect next. It was obvious to her that the man intended to turn her into a green glow stone. It all was so sudden that she couldn't react well. But somehow after reopening her eyes, she was still normal.

Clever old hag, you knew this would happen. A little warning would suffice.