Calm Rivers, Wild Waterfall

"Jump into deep water and touch the bottom. Practically impossible, like our dreams. But jump into deep water from a great height and touch the bottom. You will reach your goal, but at what cost?"

-Azrael Stoneheart

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-Year 838, 6 Month, Era of Unity-

"Cias-" She interrupted him immediately with a hug.

"I heard what happened and I'm sorry I wasn't there. I hate myself for it." A completely overwhelmed and sad Cias cried on Cassian's shoulder.

"There's nothing to apologize for Cias. It was just teasing and your stupid brothers."

"Teasing ?! He could have hurt you !" Cias's face immediately turns to anger and then she aggressively grabs his mouth and pulls it to her lips, whispering softly

"My patience with them is slowly running out, Cassian." then he slowly moves his lips slightly to Cassian's ear and slowly

"IF ONLY I-COULD-KILL-THEM," She says softly and in a whisper in Cassian's ear with a smile on her face.

This surprises Cassian.

"They are your brothers. Would you kill your-"

"I'd kill anyone who even looked at you. I'd even kill Vaacus himself if he hurt you." He interrupts aggressively, though calmly, and continues in the same style

"As long as you're mine, no one will hurt you." Cassian smiled and she kisses Cassian in an aggressive yet elegant manner.

They look into each other's eyes, so deeply that they share another kiss.

"I love you." It comes out of Cias' mouth, and Cassian, who smiles, kisses her on the forehead

"I love you," Cassian replies, and they start to hug again.

---[Holy Parliament, Cassian's room]---

(The next morning)

Two Angels, with black groomed hair, and black uniforms belonging to the National Royal Investigative Security, knock on the door of Cassian Blackheart's room early in the morning.

"I hope that-" The opening of the door interrupted the upcoming conversation between investigators. They were very surprised by the quick response.

"I've been expecting you, so I'm ready." Immediately upon opening the door, he says quite calmly, to the Angels who were slightly tense.

"High Marshal, we're glad to have your cooperation. Please follow us." The Investigator replies, and they make their way to the offices of the Royal Investigation Chamber.

I must deal with the twins, and then enjoy doing nothing. Cassian thought to himself as they walked over to the Quade brothers.

---[Royal Investigation Chamber, Quades Office]---

They are already at the door where the investigator is about to knock, but there is a call from the other side for them to come in. So they open the door and enter the office.

"My lord. We have brought the suspect-"

"I know who you brought. Take your leave." One of Quade's twins says aggressively.

Everyone was leaving. Of course, expect Cassian and the Quades.

"High Marshal, I am Alexander Quade and this is Chernobog Quade. We've received a report-"

"A report of an incident in the Main Hall with Gregorian and Emanuel Whiteheart. I know about it, I was there gentlemen." Confident Cassian without a hint of remorse or a hint of nervousness.

Chernobog whose forehead vein jumped slightly and Alexander who just smiled as if he had expected this.

"Cassian, please. Behave yourself a little. I'm trying to only resolve that situation. That's my job." Alexander, who extends his hand to Chernobog, who hands him the papers that he places on his desk, opens and begins to read.

"This said Emanuel Whiteheart, Gregorian Whiteheart, and about 22 other witnesses have testified that you attacked first." Cassian puts his foot over his leg and then pulls out a cigarette which he lights while he listens to Alexander continue.

"On the other hand, Samael Blackheart and 27 other people testified otherwise." He shifts his gaze to Cassian, who makes no bones about it.

"Let me put it simply. Worrying about shit like that around here, I'm not curious about it. And to be completely objective, neither of you is innocent." Alexander says confidently

"It's pretty obvious that you provoked them somehow and he attacked, so he's practically to blame."

"Looks like the chief investigator is rightfully in his position if he can get the right statements." Again with a calm face.

"Except, Your Highness Cassian, neither of them testified to what I just told you and this is all pure but true deduction on my part." With a proud look, he strikes back at Cassian, but he showed no signs of surprise.

"Of course, I'm not going to make a science of it. The reason why I have called you in the first place is for another reason." He changes the subject completely, at which he puts on a serious face.

"What is it, Alexander ?" Cassian asks, already serious.

"Of the 22 witnesses that stood behind the Whiteheart testimony have disappeared. There is absolutely no trace of them." Alexander says seriously, noticing the slight shock in Cassian's eyes.

"Mere teasing doesn't really interest us, however, disappearance or even murder is another coffee Highness Marshal."

"Of course, I know that if anyone is behind the disappearances, it's not you."

"Why do you think?" Cassian asks curiously.

"The newly elected Marshal and High General and yet he didn't care all along. Then when he punched you, you kept a completely calm face and didn't make a big deal out of it. In the last line, the retaliatory strike you returned was not an act of revenge, but an act of showing strength. Or to show that you are on a completely different level from him and that a cat should not jump on a tiger. You'd take any punishment, and you certainly wouldn't be bothered about such a petty thing."

Cassian sighs and finishes his cigarette

"You are the best for your position, but you are wrong about one thing Alexander." Alexander is intrigued by the answer he got wrong.

"I'm similarly strong to Gregorian mainly because I'm forbidden to go beyond my limit." Cassian gets up and goes to the window.

"It was not an act of show of force or an act of revenge... But I just had to return the blow, because otherwise, he wouldn't have let me go so easily." He turns to the brothers

"Gregorian is a complex person and an even more complex character. His sense of humor is a pain, and his laughter is an agony." He turns to the window again

"In truth, if Seere Stoneheart did not exist in this world. To me, Gregorian would be at the top of the list of psychopathic lunatics, and I mean that quite seriously." Chernobog has become interested in this topic. He gets up and offers Cassian another cigarette

"Is he that dangerous ?" Chernobog asks, receiving a nod of the head in agreement from Cassian in response.

"If I had to compare it to something. You, me, Samael, or any other normal are a clear, calm river with occasional ripples. We are calm however sometimes we blow up I think. Gregorian Whiteheart.. although

He sits back down in his chair, puts his head back, and begins to stare at the ceiling while he continues

"Not only Gregorian but most of Whitehearts are not the calm rivers. They're the waterfall. A thousand emotions at once, disturbed, crazy or obsessed." Words that complete the sentence, at which the brothers look at each other with mild shock and surprise

"I guess you saw it with your own eyes."

Cassian laughs heartily

"You guessed right, and coincidentally, twice yesterday." Cassian shifts his serious eyes to the brothers

"When you're walking around the building at night, slightly drunk, and suddenly you hear Gregorian shouting all sorts of nonsensical words from his room, sentences that sound demonic, and a few seconds later you see him starting to burn himself with fire and cutting off his skin in the last row, which he then laughs about, it makes you think about it all the time."

"After all, everybody has their perversions. I, for example, have a crush on his sister."

He smiles, and so do the brothers.

"You'd better just punish me so they blindly think they've won."

Cassian rises from his chair, gestures to Chernobog with his cigarette as if thanking him, and adds.

"I like playing with others anyway."

Then he leaves, where he stops at the entrance

I'll help with the investigation with these witnesses. I also want to know what happened to them."

Alexander nods his head in agreement.

"Then you know where to find us, High Marshal. Anyway, thank you."

Cassian, who already knew in his soul, and who already had a name in his head that could be responsible for the disappearance of those persons.

To be Continued...