The final day was well spent as Cassian and Cassandra left their room at the last moment to explore the coast of Megisteria City. Nestled between mountains and rivers, the city offered breathtaking views of natural fountains and other scenic wonders as the rivers flowed through the rugged terrain into the mainland.
One of the rivers flowed directly into Magisteria City, serving as one of its four entrances. The area around it was beautifully designed, featuring gardens and parks that served as leisure spaces for the city. Unlike most cities, Magisteria had few tall buildings, with its skyline dominated by intricately carved monuments.
Cassian and Cassandra disembarked at one of these picturesque locations, where Robert and Lumine were already waiting for them. Cassandra offered her younger sister a slightly awkward smile and a nod, trying to hide her unease.
Both Cassian and Cassandra had decided to keep the war and the secrets of the challenging grounds to themselves. They didn't want to risk people rushing into the trials recklessly and losing their lives.
As Robert greeted Cassian with a grin, he remarked, "So, you're my senior now, huh?" He extended a hand to help Cassian step off the boat and added, "Going undercover and all that—must be exciting."
"Somewhat," Cassian replied with a small smile. His gaze shifted to Lumine, and unlike Cassandra, there was no awkwardness in his demeanor.
Lumine smirked and teased, "I hope you didn't bother my big sis too much, you fag."
Cassian glanced at Cassandra, who was still flustered and sore from his earlier antics. Her cheeks turned a faint pink as she looked away, avoiding his gaze. With a playful smile, Cassian replied, "I try not to..."
"That aside, what happened to Valtross Academy?" Cassandra asked, her tone rising slightly as she changed the subject.
"Oh, let me tell you..." Robert replied with an excited grin. "A lot of powerful people showed up, and the whole city went quiet. Next thing we knew, Valtross Academy was gone. The ground where it once stood looked like a bull had plowed through it—completely raised. Now, there's no academy. Instead, the city council is building a training center there for their officials—kind of like a school for city officers and stuff."
"Yeah, some parts of it have already been rebuilt with the help of mages. Sir Julius even held his last class there," Lumine added, surprising Cassian. He hadn't expected things to move so quickly. It had been just under two weeks since everything happened with Valtross Academy, and he thought the news would linger longer. But it seemed the city had let it blow over surprisingly fast.
"That's good," Cassandra said, though her voice carried a hint of concern. "Not many people left because of it this time, right? Like last time?"
"A few did, but it's to be expected," Robert said, his expression dimming slightly. Cassian looked puzzled, unsure which people they were referring to.
Lumine, sounding annoyed, chimed in, "Those merchants are such cowards—profiting off the people when it's safe and bolting the moment something even slightly goes wrong."
"What can we do?" Robert replied with a shrug, his tone pragmatic. "The city was established as a hub for commerce. If it's not safe for business, the merchants leave. That's just how it works."
"That aside, our job just got more exciting," Robert said with a grin. "There's been talk about expanding the special units and hiring more people. Lots of applicants have been pouring in." His smile grew wider as he looked at Cassian. "And for those already in the units, there's talk of rank promotions too."
Cassian's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of a promotion. Lumine chimed in, "The city's army forces are also recruiting a lot of vagabond warriors and training them. Something about all this feels a bit off, but it's been keeping the city running, so... all's well for now."
"So, what about me in all of this? Do I stay undercover, or what?" Cassian asked.
Robert shook his head and replied, "I don't think so, but Commandant Sher will clear that up with you. As for Detective Cassandra, you'll also need to report to her first."
Both Cassian and Cassandra nodded, recalling the last time they returned from investigating the incident where Cassian was kidnapped and the intense fight between the mage and Sir Julius—the last major event in the city. Reporting to the commander afterward had been exhausting, with countless questions to answer. Still, it was part of their duty. Both silently hoped they could finally get some rest after the grueling, non-stop marathon sex of the past few hours.
But alas, the carriage they boarded made its way toward the lower department office. Cassandra still felt a bit awkward as she talked with Lumine, clearly still feeling guilty about what had happened between her, Cassian, and Lumine, given that Lumine was still his girlfriend.
Cassian, however, wasn't bothered. He turned to Robert and asked, "How's Detective Alix and Sergeant Dallas?"
"They've been fine," Robert replied. "Not much to do here since we solved the last case—just some petty mage curses and a few thefts." He paused before adding, "Oh, and I've also been looking into a our case."
"What case?" Cassian asked, confused.
"The one where we got attacked by that ranged Circle Warrior," Robert answered.
"Oh, that?" Cassian repeated, recalling his first few days in the city. He remembered the surprise of being attacked, but what followed was even more shocking and eye-opening. Still, he couldn't help but wonder who would target him when he was nobody, especially since it was a case pushed onto them by Sergeant Dallas, with the family killer case being so high-profile at the time. "What about it?"
"Well, I found the smithy where those weapons were made," Robert said, sounding excited. "The weaponsmith told me there was another order for those same weapons, and it's supposed to be delivered next month."
Cassian's excitement grew as well. If the weapons were tied to the same person who attacked them, he might finally learn the reason behind the attack.
Cassian sat outside Commandant Sher's office, waiting as Cassandra was the first to be called in. She had already been in there for almost half an hour, and Cassian knew it meant a long round of questioning was ahead for him too—especially since he was at the center of it all.
A few minutes later, Cassandra emerged, and after a brief pause, she said, "She wants you in..."
Cassian nodded and entered, giving a salute as he approached. He saw the older woman sitting at her desk, her white hair neatly styled in a professional, sleek manner. She wore the official uniform of the law enforcement department. With a calm expression, she said, "At ease, Constable. Or should I say, Detective?"
"Really?" Cassian asked, surprised.
The older woman chuckled. "Drop the act. Your friend there probably already told you about the promotions. And of course, we're promoting our brightest first—clearing two major cases in less than six months of joining the department."
Cassian blinked in surprise, still processing the sudden shift in status. "I wasn't expecting this," he admitted, trying to hide the mix of excitement and disbelief.
Commandant Sher gave him a sharp, appraising look, her expression unreadable. "You've earned it. Clearing those cases, especially the one with the mage and Sir Julius, wasn't easy. It showed you can handle the pressure." She paused, her eyes softening slightly. "But don't get too comfortable. Promotions come with their own set of challenges."
Cassian stood a little straighter, feeling the weight of her words. "I understand, Commandant."
"Good," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Now, with this promotion comes a new responsibility. You'll be working more closely with Sergeant Dallas on special assignments. You're no longer just a Constable, you're a Detective. That means you'll have to start thinking like one."
Cassian nodded, the gravity of his new position settling in. "I'm ready."
Sher's eyes twinkled, almost imperceptibly. "I hope so. Now, let's go over your last mission. Tell me everything, from start to finish. Don't leave anything out about what happened at the Valtross Academy exam camp."
Cassian sighed and began, starting with the first test, where many students were killed in the name of the exam. At first, Cassian thought it was nothing more than a typical trial, but soon realized those students were the children of nobles. The academy likely had clones of those people prepared in advance. As he explained this, Commandant Sher's expression grew darker. He continued, detailing the clones' abilities, how they were created, and the chilling fact that none of the clones had been captured—even the dead ones had been burned. All Cassian had was a bit of understanding from his research on them.
"Got any names of who might be behind making them?" the Commander asked. "These aren't just any simple mages. It must be someone with a big name, like that Artisix Butcher and others from last time..."
Cassian could only shake his head. He had only been in contact with the academy's people for a very short time and had only encountered the clones within that prison dimension.