Flashes of lightning covered the immensity of the cerulean sky with somber and horror. Azrael felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, her mind rambling with incoherent thoughts along with the harsh melody of thunder and heavy raindrops that carried a sense of foreboding danger lurking behind the hazy fog that now veiled the sky.
"Captain, I got the report that you asked for."
A voice had caught her attention from her stupor. Her eyes trailed at the sight of the birds flying aimlessly in the sky, searching for a dry place to land. Some managed to land safely but some were too unlucky to fall with their wings soaked in the rain. Vice captain August Montgomery noticed the window that were left open and hurriedly closed it.
"Geez, aren't you cold?"
Azrael ignored him and started to flip through the document's pages, carefully scanning every detail. The vice fiddled with his ring with an uninterested look before meeting Fleur's eyes.
"Why do you seem so interested with the princess' death?" August questioned her. His face was devoid of emotion but his eyes wore a complicated look that left Azrael uneasy. For the first time, Azrael felt the pressure of being scrutinized.
Azrael averted her eyes as she rummage through the documents' pages.
ROYAL SECURITY CASE FILE
Case number: 181478-05-76125
Date Filed: 8th of Ave, year 1814
Investigating Authority: Astre Military Police (former) Black Hounds (Black Corps' Advanced Team Division, Present)
Offense: Murder, Sorcery, Treason
Suspect Information
Name: Albert Pier
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Status: Deceased
Motive: Personal grudge over the Royal employment security system and the death of his older brother, Beckham Pier
Weapon: A letter under the enchantment of a deathly sorcery spell
Victim Information
Name: Gabriel Lincoln
Title: Princess
Age: 18
Sex: Female
Status: Deceased
Day and time of death: 8th of May, year 814, 8:59 pm
Cause of death: Forbidden Sorcery Spell (Hypnosis)
Case Timeline
3rd of Ave, 814
• Albert had reported his missing older brother, Beckham Pier to the police.
• His brother was working as one of the personal servants of the Concubine Mary Lincoln.
• His report was dismissed due to 24-hour policy.
• He went to the royal palace to ask the butler of his brother's whereabouts.
• According to the butler, his brother had left the palace 3 days ago.
• Albert went back to the police station to report again.
10th of Ave, 814
• The police found a corpse. The corpse's face was distorted but his belongings were identified to be Beckham Pier's.
• Albert refused to believe it was his brother.
• He isolated himself while the police and the Concubine held a funeral for his brother.
12th of Ave, 814
• Albert's neighbors suspect strange activities from his house.
• The police investigated his house.
• There were no one in his house.
• The police found evidences of ritualistic practices that involved sorcery in his house.
• The police headquarters had reported that Albert had attacked the concubine during her charity program for an orphanage.
• Albert was detained in the Royal dungeon.
Post 12th of Ave
• Rumors circulated among the palace's servants that Princess Gabriel, Concubine Mary's daughter, was visiting Albert in the dungeon.
8th of May, 814
• Princess Gabriel was found dead in her bed chamber.
• Captain Fleur's dagger was found stabbed in the Princess' neck
• Captain Fleur is present at the crime scene and was detained for investigation.
17th of May, 814
• A maid had reported that the princess had received a letter before she died. It was left in front of her bed chamber's door.
• Upon receiving the letter, the princess told the maids to get out of her room.
• The Black Hounds found the letter at the princess' room.
• The letter was from Albert Pier that contained death threats.
• One letter was confirmed to have been enchanted with a deathly spell that is triggered when the reader finished reading the spell.
• At 11 pm, a commotion in the dungeon had been reported.
18th of May, 814
• Albert was found dead before his execution.
Azrael closed the folder with a frown, question drew all over her face. Her mouth opened and closed, not finding the right questions to ask. Everything felt lacking, Azrael find it hard to piece it all together as several holes appeared in the story. The investigation felt like a well performed theater act that hides what's truly behind the curtain.
"Any news about the man in the left wing of the dungeon?" Azrael asked, wondering about Lucas' well-being.
"Captain Ross refused to release any information."
...
"Relax... We're not going to hurt you..."
"Breath in... Brea... out"
Lucas' eyes wandered through the hazy image in front of him, incoherent words buzzed in his ears. His head throbbed, blinded by the lights as silhouettes flickered in his eyes. In front of him was a woman whose face he can't discern. The woman was dressed in a uniform that indicates her involvement with the military.
Lucas tried to reach for his head but his hand surprisingly remained still. His actions turned sluggish, growing weaker by the second.
The woman stepped closer to him and with a snap of her fingers, the entire scene in front of him vanished in an instant. Lucas stumbled forward as he tried to balance his self. He clutched his head with a grimace, a memory flashed in his head. His hands trembled as his body shook violently.
"S-stop"
Lucas groaned as he muttered a weak plea under his breath. His eyes darkened as shadows began to devour his body.
"Arghhh!"
Vice Captain Serene retracted her hands from Lucas' head as the man jolted awake. Her eyes wore a frightened look, clutching her chest with trembling hands.
Lucas had gone out of control. His veins had turned black as well as his eyes. His body shook violently, trying to break free from the threads that binded his body.
Andrail, who was watching the scene stepped in to control the man. With a tranquilizer in hand, he swiftly injected it to Lucas. Andrail turned to look at the vice with a concerned and questioning look.
"What happened?"
"His mental barrier is quite strong. I had failed to enter his subconscious mind." Vice Captain Serene replied with a dejected look.
After the incident in the dungeon, Lucas, who had been captured by the Vanguard division of the Black Corps was handed to the Black Hounds. While, the combat division 'Vanguard' had faced severe punishments for negligence.
Andrail looked at the man with curiosity. The man who had been rampaging before now sleeps peacefully with an innocent look on his face. The Vanguard had refused to give any information about the man so the Hounds was left with no choice but to interrogate from scratch.