Chapter 7

Author: Thanks for reading and for supporting!!

Mira: No hate comments please.

Den: What are you saying Mi?

Author: Nice one Mira. I'm proud of you!

Den: Don't spoil it Mi. It'll rot.

Author: What? What do you think I am?

*********️️*********

SHED

This time, Den personally checked the body while she waited outside and Mira had no idea if she did the right thing by complying with his command and her emotions.

She had go in to see the body with him (Den) and witnessed something she hasn't in the longest time. Her master crying. The last time she witnessed this was when she first met Den.

Not having the heart to watch anymore, she immediately stepped out when Den told her to.

She made no attempt to stay. Didn't hesitate cause she also knew her master wanted to be alone.

'An innocent person is one who doesn't have blood on their hands' her master's words played in mind.

No wonder,.......he was in such a mood on seeing the body.

The scene must have reminded him of the past as well, she (Mira) was certain of this.

The new body found was that of a woman. A middle aged woman.

Just like the previous ones, her family woke up and she was dead.

A smile on her face.

Her body turned into a rock. Including her nightwear, just like the others.

She wonder why her master involved himself with such a case when he knew such sight was inevitable.

"Sister Mira, is everything okay?"

Oh,......the kid (Zil) was still here. Everyone left after her master announced he was going in to check the body.

She had no idea he didn't leave and wasn't in a right state of mind to notice him when she came out.

*Sigh, she sighed before answering,

"Yes, master is examining the body. He'll be out soon"

"Okay" Zil said, sadness taking over his face.

*Sigh, guess the kid wasn't taking this incident well either.

Then again, it was a small town and he must know everyone.

"Mrs Tin was always so kind to me. She would give me free snacks every time I went to her shop. Is devastating to see her in this state" a sad Zil voiced out his feelings.

Snacks?

Shop?

Could it be the family owned a snack shop?

Oh, she just remembered something. This question should have been asked, right when the investigation began.

"Zil, is there anyone who can use magic in this village?" Mira asked.

They've (She and Den) never concerned themselves with this matter before but now, it was worth knowing since innocent lifes were on the line.

A confused Zil looked up at her, asking, "Oh, why....why do you want to know?"

"Might help with the case"

Magic?...........

"No, no one can use magic in our village. Only........."

"Only?"

"Only I can"

"Huh?" This really came as a surprise and it stated all over her face.

This kid was the only magician in the village?

There was no way he was the culprit, right?

"What magic can you use?" Still, it won't hurt to ask, right?

"Am a fire user" he exclaimed proudly and the next second, he was suddenly embarrassed, scratching his head as he said, "But I can't do much either. My magic lasts for a few seconds when displayed"

Oh,.......it definitely wasn't this kid.

"You have no teacher?"

"Father and uncle Ger said there's no need enhancing my magic. The world is at peace without the demon Island anyway"

Uhah, there went that reply again.

Why were they so sure of this?

"I've heard a lot about demon Island. My father and others say it is the only place with the baddest demons. They're all evil and should be demolished from the world. I don't like them"

Oh, she could tell. The dislike and disgust in his tone couldn't be ignored.

However,........ "How are you so sure? You know demons from demon Island are actually humans called changers, right? I even heard there were magicians as well. They're all humans. And those kind (Changers) are actually living among us. Outside demon Island"

"Yes. But they are different. I heard changers from demon Island are evil to the core. They only spread evil and destroy. Changers among us aren't showing that. Which means, changers from demon Island really are demons. Bad demons. Is a good thing that place is closed forever"

Changers from demon lsland are the evil ones......huh.... really?

If only this kid knew,.......not all changers were good, and not all changers were bad either.

It all depended on the way they're treated, brought up and the kind of people they meet in life.

Treated or brought up with kindness, good intentions and they'll come out pure.

Treated or brought up like evil and they'll turn out dark.

Changers were humans, and one could say, this also applied to ordinary humans with no magic, powers or abilities.

When you're treated or brought up, you might turn out bad or good depending on what you learnt, what your mindset is and the people you have in your life.

What about the changers from demon Island. What happened to them?

"I'll take my leave now" Zil said and ran off before Mira could say anything else.

Den also came out and she hurriedly turned to face him.

Eyes reddened with traces of tears in them was the only thing Mira could see cause of the mask he wore.

She wanted to ask if he was okay, but decided against it. At times like this, it was a good idea not to talk first.

Also, if she asked ('Are you okay?'), her master will definitely say he was, even though he wasn't.

Without saying a word, Den turned to leave, heading back to the main house and immediately, Mira ran after him.

Only stopping when she was close enough. Quietly, she walked behind him.

"Mi, tell me what you found while we walk"

"Where are we going master?"

"You'll find out"

Ah,.........Killer mode. May the culprit's soul rest in peace cause he was surely going to die.

"Also, we forgot something important. Who was the first person to see the first two dead bodies. Who reported........"

"I already found out and even questioned them"

Her disciple was smarted than him.

This thought made Den smile, for the first time since he found out this incident.

Such a shame Mira didn't see it.

"Master, about the woman who just died"

"No need looking into it. Someone is trying to mislead us"

"Huh?" She asked in shock.

Someone was trying to mislead them?

Who?

"Finding out about Jak and the old couple will led us to the truth. No need looking into it"

Well,.....if her master was sure, she'll follow his lead.

**********️️*****

LIVE INN

On arriving, the manager of the place greeted them and led them to her office.

Offered them seats but Mira choice to stand behind a seated Den.

Right away, the interrogation began.

"What do you know about Jak?" Den asked and the beautiful lady, having nothing to hide answered right away,

"Jak, I know him well. He was the most hardworking waiter we had. Too bad he's gone now" distressed written all over her beautiful face.

"That morning the bodies of the old couple were found, where was Jak? Did he ever leave the inn in the morning?" Mira asked.

They were told by Eld, he did come to work.

"No. He came to work early, as usual. He wasn't sent on an errand. Actually, when he comes to work, he never leave unless he's sent on an errand. Also,.......we later found out about the old couple in the afternoon"

Okay,......Den thought, nodding before asking,

"On his last day of work,......did something happen to Jak, during work?"

"I don't think so" the lady replied, confused and still thinking about it.

"Did you notice anything weird about his mood or behavior? Was he distressed when he left?"

Eld had said Jak didn't look okay when he came back from work. That was why he (Den) asked about it.

Then again,.......it could be something happened on his way home. *Sigh, he (Den) didn't think of this.

"Now that you mention it,.......yes. In the evening, there was a guest here for chief. They chatted for a while and after he left, I told Jak to clean the room when the chief leaves. Another guest was already waiting for that room"

A guest? She said 'He left',..... was a male. Male?........was he the killer?

"Jak went up to clean the room,.......some time later, he (Jak) came back with a distressed look on his face" Though she (The manager) was curious, she never asked, "I thought he couldn't clean the room cause the chief never came out so I chose not to ask about it but he gave an answer. He said the chief had another guest"

Another guest right after the first one left.

How......

"Were they together? The two guests who came to chief Sable" Den asked, confused, interested and, eager to know more.

"I don't think so. The first guest came alone. He hasn't seen anyone and we haven't heard of anyone looking for him either"

From what the lady just said,....this meant the first guest was still here.

However,......this was turning out to be something else.

Den could feel it,...... something wasn't right.

"Where is he now?" Mira asked while Den was lost in his thoughts.

But then,.....he immediately exited when the lady answered.

"Still in his room. He hasn't come out. Hasn't asked for anything and when we bring his food, he never takes it. I'm getting worried, what if something happened to him. The door is also knocked from the inside"

"Okay, thank you" Den said, and, got up to leave.

Hurriedly, Mira followed behind him after thanking the lady for the information.

Coming out of the inn, Den said nothing else, heading to the direction of the main house.

Mira couldn't take it anymore and decided to get answers.

"Master, why did you leave? Finding out about the first guest and interrogating, can help right?"

"I told you before, someone is trying to mislead us"

And he finally figured everything out.

"Who could it be?"

"I know who it is. For now, don't tell Eld about what we found out. Don't tell anyone. I'll inform the chief myself"

There he went again! Keeping everything to himself! This was so annoying!!

Making a sudden stop,

"Mi!" Den called out to her, startling her.

Immediately, Mira made a stop as well, almost bumping onto his back.

He turned to face her, and with a serious look, said, "For now, I want you to check out the back of the inn for an escape route. The........."

"Mr Den" someone interrupted him.

They looked ahead, and there, found the very same man whose wife was killed just yesterday night.

Mr Tin,.....he did not look okay and they knew no one would be when they just lost their loved one.

"You're investigating what happened to my wife, right?" The man asked, the sadness in his tone couldn't be missed.

This sight reminded Den of his mother.

"Yes sir" he (Den) confirmed, trying hard to keep his calm.

"Please find the killer and bring us justice. Don't spare them" the man said in all seriousness, tears falling down.

Den was even more unraged and his eyes, showed it.

He...... He'll kill the culprit,.....with his own hands.

'Yes, this is more like it' the words played in mind and he ignored them.

Watching the lifeless man leave after saying exactly what he wanted to, in a serious deadly tone, Den said to Mira,

"Do what I just said. Keep yourself occupied. Don't search for me when am gone for too long. I'll face the killer myself" was all he said before leaving.

Though worried, Mira dare not follow or stop him.

He looked extremely angry, and this was a rare sight one must always avoid seeing.

That was, if they loved their life.

*********️️*****

NIGHT TIME

Three

Two

One

And the blindfold was taken off.

Den stared at the person before him, smirking. This...... wasn't a sight one gives to their kidnappers or someone trying to harm them.

This place was unfamiliar but Den knew where he was.

He was in the culprit's place.

And before him, was the accomplice.

Just like he suspected.

"Should I begin?" He asked the person before him and when he got no reply, his smile brightened.

Come to think of it,........it amazing how they still don't want to know what he looked like.

He still had the mask on and they never took it off.

Such weird people.

***********️️******

ROOM

In Mira's room, she sat at the table with Zil. Deeply worried and lost in thought while the chatterbox Zil kept his mouth running.

Not realizing, the person he was talking to wasn't even listening.

It's been more than four hours since she came back and her master still wasn't here yet.

He was not in the main house or anywhere in the village.

Mira already checked, ignoring her master's orders.

She wonder where her master could have gone.

Where was he?

But then............*Sigh, she only hope he won't use that life-threatening thing.

She could lose her master after all.