Ashes

Light dots of energy scattered in the air, similar to swarms of fireflies. They moved slowly, circling around two people.

One of them is a man in his mid-twenties. He gestured his hands amongst the light dots. "Shall we go now, Professor?"

"Proceed."

Without further ado, the one that gestured his hands snapped his fingers. All the light dots then quickly swirled to them and brightened. After a blinding flash, they were gone, leaving discontinued footprints in forest clearing.

Upon arriving at the end point of the teleportation. They were puzzled.

"You should have rested a bit longer, Rosch," said the professor.

"M-my apologies."

Their sudden appearance scared nearby townsfolk thus alerted guards. It didn't take long for the guards to recognize the renowned researcher.

"I'm embarrassed. I underestimated my unfit condition and it shifted my teleportation accuracy."

"You've done well. Help yourself find an inn. Just tell them my name. You can keep all tabs on me," said the professor through the wagon window that he called moments ago.

The horse screeched after a whipping sound. Then, the wagon's wheel frictioned with the pavement.

"It's a pleasure to work with you. I'll be sure to be in the laboratory in two days!" Rosch waved his hand together with a big smile. Shopping day is near.

The professor sighed. He couldn't help it that he had pressing matter at hand since Rosch's Vis of Vea, an Aspect that bends space, was the preferred method of travel.

The wagon passed a sign which read, "Welcome to Kingdom of Troya." Night befell on this expansive capital. The palace of Troya harbored one the Six Primordials, Crystal of Terra.

Luminous gemstone posts light up the capital road. Some pubs are still bustling with people laughing and chit-chatting. Cheering on the most fabulous Troya heavy stuff.

Thanks to the Crystal, it blesses Troya's soil as it is rich and fertile. Their farmland yields are abundant.

"We're here," told the coachman. The wagon stopped in front of a gate.

"Thank you. Here's your payment." He handed the coachman a gold coin engraved with the number of one.

The coachman's eyes widened. "Sir! This is too much." That gold coin is worth a thousand silver, while he charged his service ten silver.

But the professor had already gotten off and went on in a hurry. Not seeing the professor would mind with the payment, he then just took it and left with the wagon.

"Professor Lefazio, what matters that brings you at this near midnight?" said the palace guard.

"I must say it's classified. Is Alcei present?"

"The headmaster has gone home."

"Alright. I'll need to go to the lab facilities. Could you escort me there?" He just couldn't remember the palace complex.

"Yes, Sir. It would be my honor."

The gate slightly opened for two people in. As they were busy making through the turns and the road down the lab facilities in the palace basement, they met a young girl with eyes like pearls. She is one of Alcei's students.

"P-professor Lefazio! It's rare to meet you at such a time like this. Is there anything I can assist you with?"

"Anastasia. Perfect timing. Would you do me a favor to call over Alcei to the lab? It's an urgent matter that needs to be responded to immediately. Tell her that I'll be at her office."

"With pleasure, Professor. Now if you'll excuse me."

After a moment of concentration, she coated herself in brown colored Vis. Then, her body transformed into a bat. She swiftly flew off in the hallway and through the palace window. It never ceased to amuse the guard.

They took quite a walk to get to the lab front door. Many greeted the professor with bewilderment as he rushed to the laboratory headmaster's office. Not long after, the awaited person finally appeared with teleportation.

"So, what is it, Professor?"

The professor took out a small vial of blood from his robe. "I want you to investigate this."

"This? Whose blood is this?"

"The former Elementalist, Ruvian."

Alcei couldn't hide her jaw dropping expression. "Did I hear that right?"

"It is if your ears are functioning."

That woman in her forties froze in surprise. She stepped back and slowly sat in front of her busy table. "This can't be. Aren't we all sure he died? Where's him now?"

"He came on his own. Through the cottage's portal. Adelle is with him now. He was severely wounded."

Alcei put down her pointy hat. "I'm both amazed and terrified to hold this subject. Even though we had theorized that would possibly happen. But, this truth is … staggering."

"With this, our long process of inventing a methodology to determine whether a person is the Reincarnate of Necrolyte or not finally could be put to real test. But now, we also have a loose Necrolyte alive on earth–"

"Enough muttering."

"Ah? Pardon me. It's just, after all this research even during the war ...."

"I want this investigation to remain classified."

"Understood. I'll arrange for my trustworthy thaumaturges to proceed with this case. I'll inform you as fast as I can."

"There's one more thing I would like to ask."

"I'm all ears, and they're functioning."

"I want to pay a visit to the Crystal Chamber. I believe that it's within your authority."

Alcei sighed. "Well, it can be said like that. But I'll still mention your visit to His Majesty."

"Wouldn't be a problem."

"Alright, accept my Vis then." Alcei snapped her finger and just so they teleported to a spacious hall which only has one altar in the center. "We're here."

The professor focuses his eyes on the green translucent object. "Was there anything unusual related to the Crystal of Terra?"

Alcei shrugged off her shoulder. "Why?"

"The boy, Ruvian. I thought I felt a faint, slight aura similar to this Crystal from him." Lefazio examines the Crystal closely and touches it.

She thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with something worth mentioning. "I do suggest we keep a close watch on him."

"I had that in mind." Since they're running out of clues and no more information can be gained. "Let's head back."

Alcei snapped her finger again. Right at that moment when they vanished completely, the chamber's door slammed by a royal guard. "Who goes there?!"

"See?! I told you. It's past midnight," yelled the other guard. He got replied with a baffling stare from his mate.

The night then came to an end in this peaceful capital, slowly bathed in warmth of the sun from the horizon.

But deep down in its palace basement, the headmaster of thaumaturgy who hadn't any sleep is still full of vigor and thrill.

"We're going to witness how the puny creature of evil, the Necrolyte, tampers with life and death, as if it were mere toys." She then stretched her arms, expanding her magnificent dark magenta robe.

Four of her loyal thaumaturges stand circling her evenly following the runic pattern drawn on the basement floor.

Her hands glowed with reddish Vis of Victus, an Aspect that resonated with life force. "It was power beyond imagination. But now, it is the moment of truth!"

"Can you quit that psycho speech, Alcei?" Lefazio stared at her with unimpress. He opened the vial. Slowly the blood in there comes out floating.

She replied with sinister laughter. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. The urge of dramatization is over me." The four thaumaturges sure knew that she made it up.

"We now begin!" she continued. Alcei projected her reddish Vis onto the floating blood. It bounces off and is redirected by the thaumaturges to the runic pattern which made them glow eerily.

Gradually, thousands of intertwined hologram red strings appeared around them. Alcei took a deep breath. It was where the hardest part begins, deducting every atomic bit of information represented by the strings.