Jeza VII

17th night of the Month of Ice, 16:45, After Midnight.

The documents spread on her desk almost cover every centimeter of the surface of it. No wood can be seen and it looks like she has a desk made from papers about murder and suspects.

Darule is at his desk staring with dead eyes at his own pile of reports and documents. Serves him right, he had been laughing at Jeza's disastrous desk before Captain Ulrik had appeared and dropped a pile on Darule's desk.

After the talk she had with Nima, she had found herself in front of another wall in their investigation. It was dead end after dead end, if this continued like this, Captain Ulrik would be forced to give the case to someone else, as it was clear this case could not be left unsolved. The king would not allow it.

Jeza lays her head on the desk and thinks. What other lead do they have? It was not Artemy, she is sure of it, Nima had the perfectly good alibi of not being in the vicinity of Mikhe Drest when he was killed and he was too honest to lie—why would he even lie about that anyway? As Vyshe he could probably get away with murder if he wanted—he had a missing tool, but Jeza couldn't be sure it was a missing knife. Maybe they had to return to the Golden Maid and talk again with his friends, maybe they had done it. Nothing could surprise Jeza at this point.

"Lady Zasya! What a surprise!" Shouts a voice right in her ear.

Jeza jumps and almost draws her service damasker sword.

Oh, it's Vyshe Kyome, with Ryoma Kyome and Enma Kyome at his back.

"Vyshe Kyome" breathes Jeza trying to calm her racing heart "What are you doing here?"

"Well, to report a crime of course!" Chuckles Vyshe Kyome "A petty thief stole grandpa Ryoma's purse and we came to inform a Nocturnal of the fact"

The old nomad grumbles at Vyshe Kyome's back, and Jeza wonders how old the man is, she was sure he had died years ago. But no, the grumpiest nomad in Neth still stood strong. At his side, the small Enma is swinging in place, like a little dance only she knows and probably bored about everything going on around her.

"A thief?" Asks Jeza, she feels like her brain is filled with molasses, this case is draining everything out of her.

"Yes, that's what I said" Vyshe Kyome says tilting his white bird mask at Jeza "Are you okay, Lady Zasya? You look very tired"

"I'm fine" She answers briskly and clear her throat "I'm sorry I'm not able to help you, Vyshe Kyome, I'm busy with work tonight"

"Ah, I can see that! You work as hard as us Vyshe" He chuckles "Both me and Nima have very long hours these nights! Me mostly because of research, but Nima is more secretive about his work!"

"Yes, I know, I spoke to him recently about that" says Jeza, trying to be courteous but wanting to end the conversation as soon as possible "He told me about the long hours at the Ogdra"

"That Nima! I'm surprised he still has energy after that to walk home" Says Vyshe Kyome leaning his elbows on her desk, his long braid escaping the confinement of his hood to drape over the documents on the desk.

"He walks home? I thought he had nervals at home" asks Jeza, suddenly curious.

"Yeah, he says the walk is good for his thoughts, whatever that means. The nervals are Lady Iset's " says Vyshe Kyome, he tilts his head like a bird would "It's also nice of him to walk my sweet Nashe home, she leaves before me most nights and she always waits for Nima, it's adorable"

Jeza's mind freezes and then starts reeling with information.

Vyshe Ardashir's Nashe is Hilde Gernot, who lives close enough to the Mud district, just a few streets over in fact.

"Oh" says Jeza and feigns interest "At what time do they usually leave? I thought Vyshe Ardashir stayed until much later at the Ogdra"

"Hmm? Not really, I usually stay longer than he does, he and Hilde normally leave a little before Walpurgis" explains Vyshe Kyome, then he stands straighter and looks down, Enma at his side and pulling at his clothes.

"When are we leaving?" the little girl asks with a pout "I'm bored"

"Now now, Enma, patience is a wonderful trait!" Says Vyshe Kyome with a happy tone "I'm super patient, you know? You should be too!"

"Grandpa is not patient" grumbles the girl with puffed cheeks "He said he was going to hunt down the thief himself"

"Ah!" Vyshe Kyome turns and indeed, the old nomad is gone, he spares a last look towards Jeza "So sorry, Lady Zasya, I lost a murderous old man, maybe we can continue talking at another time. Come, Enma, your grandpa is lethal when he's angry!"

With that he hurries out dragging the girl behind him and Jeza just stares at him as he leaves. Without turning, she addresses Darule.

"You heard that, right?" She says.

"Yeah and I hate it" groans Darule as he starts to stand "Should we go hunt down the Haruspex?"

"That's a good plan" mumbles Jeza still looking at the door to the Nocturnal office "we should further question Vyshe Ardashir"

"Where is he anyway? At the Ogdra?" Asks Darule as he leans against her desk.

Jeza shakes her head.

"The Vyshe and Echelons have a lunch break until five" she explains "He should still be at home, if we are lucky"

"Let's go then" says Darule "I'll grab my vayaard, you should probably take your sword"

"You expect a fight?" Asks Jeza as she gets up.

"I hope not" Sighs Darule "Our chances of beating him in one are slim to none"

"Let's go get him then" says Jeza as she starts walking towards the door.

——- ——-

Nobody answers the door and the house, normally brightly lit and visibly so from the outside, is dark.

The Haruspex is not home.

"Shit" grunts Darule "What now?"

But Jeza is not paying attention to him, she is looking at the nerval that is calmly grazing at the side of the house, it's reins dragging on the ground.

She knows that nerval. It's her father's, she would recognize the animal anywhere, the saddle heavily decorated in swimming fishes that only the Zasya house uses as a sigil.

"Jeza?" Asks Darule, but his voice sounds to her like he is far away and not a few meters away from her.

"That's my family's" she mumbles and then approaches the animals, that merely stares at her and continues eating.

"Who…?" Starts Darule without understanding.

But it doesn't matter, because there's only one person from her family that would visit Vyshe Ardashir, and that is Enuma.

"Enuma!" Yells Jeza as she looks around "Enuma!"

"She is not here" explains Darule calmly "We would have seen her or she would have seen us"

"Where is she then? I don't understand" says Jeza and she feels hopeless. Did she lose her heir already? How could she be this useless!? How could she lose her only responsibility at the moment? Someone she was supposed to protect…

"Jeza, look" exclaims Darule. He had moved and now stood at the side of the house, looking at the grass. He is pointing at it "someone has been walking around here, the grass has been flattened, it looks like a trail"

"Let's follow it" says Jeza immediately "It could be Enuma, there are caiths and ulas in the woods, she could be in danger"

She stomps ahead of Darule, following the trail. Two set of footsteps. Enuma and Nima? Are they walking together or is her heir in danger?

"Should we take the nervals?" Asks Darule from behind her. Jeza stops, she is becoming stupid with worry.

"Yes, thank you Darule, that's a wonderful idea" she says and forces a professional smile.

Riding, what would have been a longer walk becomes a five minute gallop. Jeza dismounts before Thasi stops, she can see them, a red figure and another half hidden behind them. A couple of lanterns on the grass not far from them.

Nima and Enuma. She is sure of it.

Jeza runs, almost tripping many times on the way, just as she is nearing the pair—close enough to see that Nima is in full Haruspex outfit and that he is shielding Enuma from seeing Jeza—Nima does the unthinkable and shoves Enuma.

She stops suddenly, how could she not? When instead of crashing against the Yashma, Enuma goes right through, like the barrier wasn't there.

Her Asha reacts before Jeza processes it, a whip of water that crashes against Nima's side and launches him to the side, making him crash against the grass a few meters away with a loud grunt.

Darule at her back lets out a truly embarrassing yelp and Jeza turns slightly to him. It's better if they work together in this, it's, after all, the way all Nocturnals are partnered. In their case, water and lightning.

"Darule" She says as quietly as she can. He looks at her with a panicked look.

"Jeza" he whispers back "What the fuck? Why did you do that?"

he sounds terrified, but Jeza cannot calm him down right now, Nima stands, dripping water and breathing heavily for just a second before breathing in and out deeply, calming himself. Ah, how could she forget? Nima has a terrible temper.

"Darule" repeats Jeza, trying to be as appeasing as possible, like he is a wild and scared nerval "We have a chance to win, but we need to work together"

"How can you possibly think we can win?" Asks Darule in a distressed tone.

"Easily" says Jeza, turning back to look at Darule "We need to make him angry"

Nima had pushed his sleeves up, baring his forearms that have already started to glow orange-red, his mask is gone and he drags a hand through his hair, pushing the wet curls back and freeing his face. Jeza and Darule get a single second to prepare themselves, Jeza unsheathes her damask sword, putting it horizontally to block any attack, Darule pulls out his vaayard, but holds it loosely, panic etched on his face as he switches his stance constantly.

The haruspex launches forward, eyes a blank rage that worries Jeza, closed fist radiating heat as he punches at Jeza, that blocks it with her sword, the punch pushes the sword closer to Jeza and she cannot help but flinch at the heavy heat so close to her face, Nima takes the opportunity to kick at her knees and grab the sword right on the black, his face not changing even as his hand starts to bleed. Jeza growls under her breath as she falls to her knees and with her free hand charges up some water to use as a whip, she needs distance to use her sword. She freezes the water just as she throws the water right at Nima's face.

But he's faster, breathing fire from his mouth like a naga would and melting the ice, creating some steam as water hit him instead.

It's at that moment that Darule decides to act, the wire of his vaayard coiling around the arm that still holds Jeza's sword. The haruspex doesn't even turn to look at his new attacker, his forearm heating up even more and melting the wire right off and making the bladed end of the vaayard drop at his feet with a thud.

The fight is not going well.

She has to get him angry, it has been such a long time since they last interacted as friends, but she knows neither her or Darule will be able to keep going for much longer. Her partner has armed himself again with his vaayard, using the one on his left hand as replacement for the lost one. Jeza can change the tide of the fight, but she must hit the right weak points.

"Nima! Just surrender, we know what happened!" Shouts Jeza. They do not know what happened, but they must make him think they do. "The king will be merciful"

She doubts it, but if talking makes him stop, she won't need to make him angry. Nima doesn't answer verbally and instead growls like an animal and a whip of fire extends from his hand, swirling around him before launching itself in Jeza's direction.

Okay, plan b then.

"Do you think the prince will consider you as a friend after this!?" Shouts Jeza as she dodges the fire and tries to smother it with water "You killed his uncle! His blood!"

And that's the moment Nima stops, face frozen in a strange grimace, eyes shifting in what Jeza hopes is guilt and anger.

"He won't ever look at you again! He will finally realize what you are, like he should have after you tried to kill Anax all those years ago!" Screams Jeza, some anger of her own making an appearance. Nima locks eyes with Jeza and she can see anger there, his body tense and breathing harshly.

And then, Nima ignites like a match and Darule shrieks.

Jeza is not surprised, it's not her first time she sees an enraged Nima—the last time he had been a tiny twelve year old boy and the complete fire armor had been a terrifying sight, more so with Anax crying on the ground—And she knows what happens after he spends too much time like that.

Nima is still breathing harshly, his head a complete bonfire, his eyes completely invisible thanks to all the fire, his clothes are intact and Jeza knows the Haruspex clothes are made of the most fireproof clothing in Neth, but every visible stretch of skin is on fire.

"JEZA!" He roars and Jeza flinches. Yes, he is clearly angry. He may make fun of her temper, but his is maybe even worse.

"Darule, follow my lead" orders Jeza as she materializes another water whip, allowing it to surround her and Darule. He doesn't hesitate and immediately charges the water. It won't help much, but anything at this point has to be done to try and distract Nima.

Nima has not moved yet, but the fire on his body is getting bigger, covering his clothes and making him look entirely like a living and moving flame. Jeza's throat is dry and she knows she is reaching her limit, but not as much as Nima is.

He finally acts, not bothering with approaching them or fighting hand to hand, instead he expels a torrent of fire against them.

"Darule!" She shouts as she dodges, moving the charged water with her. Darule yelps again, but dodges just in time to not become roasted human.

She decides is time to act and whips the water towards Nima, going for a fast hit, fearing the fire will evaporate the water if it's stays close to all that fire for too long.

The hit connects and steams blinds them for a minute.

It shouldn't take too long, all that fire so suddenly, Nima is overusing his Asha, of that Jeza is absolutely sure, and if the fight keeps going his body will force a cool down soon and Jeza will consider that a win. They just have to keep him going and not get hit.

Her damasker sword is unsheathed from her side, the beautiful bluish blade the perfect weapon for a water Asha user. Jeza infuses water into it, the blade glowing blue, signaling is ready for an attack. She looks back at Darule, that pants and has his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"I'm not…firing my…vaayard at the fucking Haruspex!" he says with difficulty, his breath ragged "No way!"

"Suit yourself" shrugs Jeza and then glares at the dissipating steam "I'm bringing him in, one way or another"

Nima is still on fire and with a roar he shoots another blast of fire at them. Jeza calmly slashes the air in front of her, the sword producing a water slash that launches itself at Nima the moment is created, turning to ice just as its about to hit.

The torrent of fire, much lesser in power than the last, dispels slightly, enough for it to never reach Jeza's unmoving figure.

She can practically see the moment Nima overworks himself—completely burns out, one could say—the fire extinguishes itself suddenly, like it was never there, leaving only smoke rising from Nima's body. His clothes are intact but Nima himself looks too pale.

Jeza runs to him. He's still standing, but his eyes are unfocused, lips blue and his body is trembling.

He has overused his Asha and now his body is retaliating against him. He falls in a heap just as Jeza reaches him, his eyes watching her as he violently shivers. That's not just a cool down, he has reached his limit too suddenly and he is entering hypothermia.

"Fuck" she whispers. It's worse than what she expected, the last time this had happened it hadn't been this bad. "Darule! Come on we have to take him to Night Hall, we need a fire user now!"

Jeza will worry about making sure Nima doesn't die on her watch, then, she can worry about what had happened to Enuma and where had she gone.

But first, saving Nima and figuring out what happened on the night Mikhe Drest was murdered.