95 || The Dectective of Demons

Tara no longer hides her Node Clones existence, as An had been interested, but doesn't speak on how she acquired the ability. True clones were a rare skill different from afterimage producing footwork. They could be used to increase proficiency in other talents while the Prime body focuses on growing their Stages. With this in mind, Tara divides her Clones.

Cluster Soma goes with the Eightsword Sect to visit their brother sect Hundred Iron Arms Sect. The Eightsword Sect focuses on the four cardinal weapons of swords, sabers, spears, and shields. The Hundred Iron Arms Sect practices every weapon as they are also a Forging Sect! With this, Tara could learn more Dagger Arts while practicing her forging!

Mindful Dark goes with An to work on Darkness Elemental Raiment and mental pressure release. Between Tara having to filter Darkness through Lunar energy and Mindful Dark being formed from Msireta but not Tara's own, it takes her longer to learn this Elemental Raiment. The frequency was off, so she wouldn't be able to use it naturally or instantly until Tara got the final Mote of Darkness! It's only then An will teach Mindful Dark a powerful aural art for Light and Darkness.

The Ordained Soul heads to Avezil, to learn from the Solar Vanguard and Lunar Protectors, the Twin Sphere warriors of the city. With the city's vast resources, Zolani pill and potion making were different then human or even animus alchemy. Spirit was an important aspect of alchemy and good for learning how to use spirit pressure.

Tara's prime body went back to home with one of the visiting Arraylist to oversee the circulation halls. Upon seeing the Bedawing Sun Array and Slumbering Moon Array, the Arraylist was eager to assist and advance their craft. Once it's done, Tara brings Princess Lei and Yaoying to train with the other Squires and work on her fusion techniques together. Yaoying was welcomed as he was Lei's assigned bodyguard. Meanwhile within the Sleepscape, Tara is able to consolidate all of what she learns together.

It was during this time as well that Tara received her rewards from her Chain Quest! Besides 100 Silver, there were three items! The first was a Unique Accessory, the Penannular Void Broach! This item gave her currently the Flame Cloak and the Rain Mantle, which were two abilities that coated her upper body in Fire or Water Energy with specific effects!

The other items are 2 feathers, cerise red and cerulean blue, with no name...

As Tara looks over her rewards while bettering herself, elsewhere, a 14 year old girl with silvery blonde ringlet hair can be seen sneaking through the halls of a grand palace. Her sparkling green sclera glows as black triangular irises search back and forth as she attempts to not get caught. Her manicured fingertips dance with energy as her fancy floor length red dress and small heeled shoes disappear.

In its place is a pair of black slacks with a pouch on her hip and a white button up shirt, traveling boots, white painted leather armor. A familiar buckler shield and bardiche now rest on her person. This was in fact Aelix Blackhart, in-game name Lightning Dancer!

Furthermore her appearance and body had shifted, from a beautiful teenage girl with snow-white skin to a handsome, battle hardened teenage boy. His hair is now cut short and more blond than silver now. His irises are replaced with black circles instead of the sign of royalty. After all, Aelix is the young princess of a Demon Nation!

Legend states the first demon spawned from a nightmare, the first angel was crafted from the first laugh, and that the first elementals were born at the start of the universe. Aelix's people are all demons, beings with powerful mystical and telepathic abilities! For example, Tara could expand her mind 50 meters when she became an aurator, but Aelix naturally had double that distance from the start! Furthermore, this ability of Aelix's to fully change his looks isn't something everyone can do. Only those with the purest and strongest demon blood can warp their bodies with tangible illusions!

Aelix taps the clear pendant on his necklace, an invisibility cloaking tool his father had given him for emergencies. As the youngest of his four siblings and cherished by his family, many people wanted him safe. Casting a spell to hide his steps and scent, Aelix once more made it out beyond the castle walls.

After about an hour-long stroll down a black bricked path, he arrived within the capital city's marketplace. Though his home was a Demon Country, other than extra features such as fangs or horns and the different colored sclera, most folk looked no different than humans. Hawkers called out to passersby, neighbors checked in with each other, children ran and laughed as they played without a worry. These were the citizens of Navidon, his country.

Walking about another 20 minutes, Aelix arrives before a modest sized two story building. It was made of white and red alternating brick, with a monochromatic wooden awning and black shutters over wide windows. Placed above the awning, between a balcony, is a sign that reads Lightning Rangale Detective Agency.

"Welcome to the Lightning Rangale Detective Agency, how can I--oh! Good morning, sir!" At the front desk in an adorable receptionist outfit, is a young girl anywhere from 11 to 12. A singular, broken pointed horn pokes out of her head as her long red hair cascaded down her small back in a french braid. Freckles dot her face as large green eyes widen in surprise.

"Verity, how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me sir," Aelix exasperates with a shake of his head.

"Sir will always be sir to me. Not after all you've done for me. I'm sure everyone else will also agree." Verity says as she simply smiles in victory. Aelix can't help but return the gesture. The young demon was one of the many orphans Aelix had run while going around the city as the princess. The girl had become a good friend and confidant, with a knack for clerical work and organization.

"Speaking of, can I get a location of who's where currently?" Aelix asks, leaning on the desk with familiarity.

Verity's head bounces with a nod as she waves her hands. A light blue screen made of magic appears as a layout map forms. This is Verity's unique mapping talent. As long as she's walked to an area she can create a fairly simple yet real time map of the area. First, it's simply the building they are in, with several different colored dots. Besides the black dot of Verity and Aelix's dark purple dot, there's a blue dot in the kitchen area and yellow one in the library/conference room. Two light green dots are out in the training yard just out back.

The map extends before Aelix before it's the entire capital, with the exception of the castle grounds and noble mansions the walls. Verity had visited many places within the city as an orphan before now running errands for the Agency, so she had a fairly comprehensive view.

There are four more markers on the city map; a light blue, a red, and a darker green circle in three different areas of the city. Aelix's attention is on the pink square that is rapidly moving through the streets and alleys.

Verity's markers for each of her fellows who live at the Agency are circles when things are good, diamonds when things are looking tense, and square when there's trouble they need to get away from.

'Have the twins stop training and be on guard, pull Kala from her books and check on the defensive circles, and get Sarion to start cooking a healing meal.' Aelix is already out the door in a flash of purple lightning, leaving the mental message to Verity. Luckily, Aelix's movement technique is not easily recognizable and only captain level guards should be able to glimpse him as he dashes across rooftops.

As Aelix sped to the location of the pink square, his appearance shifted once again. This time it was a tall, buxom mid 20s looking woman with short cut lavender hair and storm gray eyes. Aelix's outfit didn't change except for a long flowing black scarf and white fedora. This was what she looked like when portraying Navidon's Great Detective, Nova Xidon!

A young child about 8 with bright pink hair and a rhombus on their forehead quickly ran. Despite their short legs and tiny feet, they were swift and evasive, as they were being chased by several men and women from the local Zarvine Family enforcers. Just as they were blocked off in a dead end, a recognizable flash of purple stopped in front of them. The child clapped in cheer, letting go a silent breath of exhaustion.

"I didn't think you'd stoop this low, Barrick, to go after a child," Aelix glares, her bardiche ready and shield in front. The group all stop with only one person, a large muscular demon with two sets of arms, standing confidently in front.

"Just following orders, O' Great Detective. Seein' as you're here, though, means we don't need a hostage no more." Barrick sneers. This woman stuck her hands too much into his employers' business since she arrived. Plus, he'd finally get payback for breaking his nose after their first confrontation. "Get her and the kid!"

Aelix tried very hard not to roll her eyes. She trained with the Royal Guard and her siblings daily. These goons weren't even worth her using her actual Arts or Crafts. But when she looks back at Mattie, who had both a look of excitement and fear, Aelix steels her resolve. An untrained dog barks the loudest and bites the hardest.

'Lightning Polearm Steps: First Step, Chasing Thunder.' Crackles of Lightning energy begin to dance around her body before gathering at the tip of her weapon. The group of enemies charged at her, but couldn't even begin to touch her afterimage. Aelix's [Chasing Thunder] increased her Agility by 200%! With her element being Lightning, while she couldn't see that specific stat as a Novelist, it should not be low to begin with. It doesn't take long to sweep through them, leaving only Barrick standing. His veins are popping in his bald head out of fury.

"This isn't over. No, actually it's just begun!" He yells, pulling out a coin the size of his large palm. Aelix's eyes narrow as her expression darkens. Why would this chump have such a dangerous item like this?

"Mattie, if you wouldn't mind, cherie." With [Chasing Thunder] having a minute cooldown, Aelix isn't fast enough to stop him from activating it. There's only one thing quicker than her right now and that's Mattie's special ability. The young kid's hair floats up as a vertical pupil appears in the rhombus on their forehead. A wave of pink energy instantly enters Barrick's glabella before he slumps over, the coin rolling on the ground before it's floating carefully in the same energy.

"Few things are faster than thoughts. Thank you, Mattie," Aelix said, ruffling their hair. Mattie was born with powerful hypnosis and telekinesis abilities that came to them naturally. Even with her royal blood, it would take Aelix some time to display the same control once she has access to those Skills.

The coin has a stylized P within a skull. This is a token that would allow one the power of a Prion, a dangerous mind destroying entity that preys on demons. The stronger your mental energy and willpower, the more appetizing you are to them. Aelix's first case involved saving Mattie and rooting out the Prion possessed Commander of the City Guard who had done a string of high profile murders. Of course, she hadn't faced him by herself, as she had just started her sessions. No, her elder brother the Crown Prince had been the one to defeat him. Still, for Barrick to have this token, it didn't bode well.

Before Aelix can think a bit more on this matter, a message from Pakeej catches her eye. It was a personal summons to the chatroom for everyone in their group, including the other Dreamers. But first, Aelix has to take Mattie back home for dinner and get back to the castle!