The Dashin Empire guard stood up like his armor gave him a spine and pointed his gloved hand at three people: the wizard's son, the female staff, and the paladin.
"The ones closest to the wizard! They're the suspects!"
I didn't even blink.
"The blade was enchanted," I said, voice flat. "Whoever did this didn't need to be close. Magic that precise doesn't care about distance."
He turned on me instantly, eyes narrowing.
"You seem to know an awful lot about this dagger, huh?"
I stared straight into his skull.
"And you seem to be accusing everyone else. Deflecting, are we?"
His chair scraped violently as he stood, hand on his sword. I didn't flinch. But my eyes did flick to Tory—who stood behind me, fingers curled tight around the hilt of his dagger. Behind his back.
Idiot.
The paladin stepped in like a shield made of law and purpose.
"LISTEN," he barked, voice echoing off the marble. "One of us is guilty. That's it. One. Lock the doors."
He turned to the staff. "You two. Bolt them shut. No one leaves."
I made my way to Tory as the clanks of the lock echoed.
"That was stupid."
"What?" he asked, confused.
"He would've beat your ass in seconds. You don't need to protect me."
He looked down, then back at me with those storm-gray eyes.
"I owe you my life. And I'll protect you no matter what."
I smirked, just a little. He was a fool. But a loyal fool. He reminded me of my brother. And I hated that it warmed me.
The paladin stood over the body now, examining it with a calm that made me itch.
"Okay. Let's start introducing ourselves. Names, reasons for being here."
"Who put you in charge?"
The female staff, Ely, spoke without emotion. Not even looking up.
"No one," the paladin replied, "But unless we want the killer to strike again, we need order."
"Fine," he said, squaring his shoulders. "I'm Sir Kaelen. Paladin of Seth. I came here looking for a way to resurrect my god."
Bring a god back to life? I thought. And I thought my fake Queen-healing plan was ambitious.
"Ugh. Fine," the Dashin guard grunted next. "I'm Captain Dren of the Dashin Empire. I'm here for a cure. For the Queen."
Then the robed woman, still composed. "I am Queen Dea of Seia. I came to seek power—to save what's left of my people."
Seia... yeah. That place had been eaten alive by bandits recently. The Dashin Empire's rise pushed all the criminals into weaker nations. Seia was the first to fall.
Then it was our turn.
"This is Tory. I'm Lia. We came here purely out of boredom."
The paladin raised an eyebrow.
"Boredom? You don't want anything specific?"
Before I could say anything else, the guard stood again.
"SHE'S LYING. And I know it."
I gave him a teasing smirk.
"Oh really? If you 'know it,' then you must also know the cure for your Queen. Right?"
He lunged. Fast. Angry. Predictable.
I sidestepped, grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and shoved him to the floor. My boot landed between his shoulders.
Gasps filled the room.
"GET OFF ME!"
I did. Slowly. He scrambled to his feet, but the paladin was already raising both hands.
"Enough!"
I turned to Tory. "I can take care of myself."
He nodded, silently.
The paladin looked to the staff.
"Your turn. You too, chef."
The younger staff member stepped forward.
"My name's Gary. I've worked here for a few months. The wizard paid well. That's it."
Then the tall woman. Still stone-faced.
"Ely. The wizard saved me. Gave me a home. I served him loyally."
The chef scratched his neck before speaking.
"Name's Duit. The wizard pulled me outta prison, gave me a second chance. I've been cooking here ever since."
Finally, the wizard's son said nothing. He didn't have to. We knew who he was.
I decided if no one else was going to figure this out, I would. Someone killed the wizard, and they did it while the lights were out. That means they were fast, precise, and maybe even magical. I needed to know who—and the only way was to talk to every single one of them.
First: Ely, the staff woman.
She stood near the door, still eerily calm.
"You didn't flinch when the wizard was killed," I said as I approached.
"I don't see the point of panic," she replied flatly.
"You've lived here long?"
"A few years. He saved me."
I tilted my head. "So you owe him your life?"
"Yes."
"And yet you're not even shedding a tear."
She blinked once. "Tears are wasted."
I stepped closer and dropped my voice. "You know restriction magic, don't you?"
She froze.
"You have a band on your wrist, enchanted. That's not jewelry."
She clenched her jaw.
"Fine," she said. "Yes. He put it on me. Said it was for everyone's safety."
"Because you're dangerous?"
She didn't answer.
"Did you see anything while the lights were out?"
"Only the captain wiping blood off his blade. I don't know if it was his blood, though."
That was... useful.
Next: Gary, the young male staff.
He sat on the floor with his back against the wall, nervously picking at his nails.
"You look like you're ready to bolt," I said, crouching beside him.
"Can you blame me? A freaking wizard just got murdered."
"Did you see anything?"
"No. I swear. I was getting water when the lights went out. But—"
"But what?"
"I think Ely did it. She and the wizard always argued. She's... weird. Never smiles, never talks unless asked."
I raised a brow. "That's your logic? Emotionless equals murderer?"
"I'm just saying... she creeps me out."
He was worthless, but sometimes fear says more than facts.
Then: Duit, the chef.
He was cleaning a bloodstained cutting board. Not a great look.
"Busy?"
He grunted. "Cleaning helps me think."
"You were in prison once," I said.
He didn't even flinch. "Yeah. The wizard got me out. I owed him."
"You kill someone back then too?"
He looked me dead in the eyes. "Yes. But not tonight."
I tilted my head. "Then who do you think did it?"
"The paladin. He took control too fast. Seth's people don't wear gold. But he has a gold bracelet."
"Maybe it's sentimental."
"Maybe he's lying."
Interesting.
Then came the paladin.
He was still near the body, solemn.
"You really think we'll find the killer by talking?" I asked.
"It's better than waiting to die."
"Some say you took charge too quickly. Suspicious."
"I fight demons. I'm trained to lead."
I pointed at his bracelet. "Seth's people don't wear gold."
"It belonged to my wife. She died years ago. I don't remove it. Ever."
He sounded sincere. Too sincere... perhaps.
The guard wouldn't talk.
I didn't expect him to—not after I pinned him like a rookie. Still, his silence screamed something. Maybe guilt. Maybe shame.
Queen Dea.
She was sipping tea like this was just another evening.
"You think it was the wizard's son," I said.
"I heard the wizard say 'you're done' when the boy entered. Could've sparked something. Young men are prideful."
"Anything else?"
She nodded. "I heard a knife hit wood while the lights were out. Not a body—wood. Like it was dropped or thrown."
Lastly the wizard's son.
He was in the corner, pale and shaking.
"Rough night," I said.
"You think I did it, don't you?"
"I think your father told you 'You're done' when you walked in."
He looked down.
"He was going to send me away. Said I wasn't ready to inherit anything. I hated him for it... but I didn't kill him."
"Who do you think did?"
"The chef. My father pulled him out of a pit. But once a murderer, always a murderer."
Typical teenage logic. But not useless.
Six suspects. One killer.
And I was no closer to the truth.
But now I had threads. Blood. Wood. Arguments. Enchantments.
If I pulled hard enough... one would snap.