Possibilities

"Yes," Keal confirmed with a somber nod. "Two of them were killed by fire mana, there were traces of embers in their eye sockets. But the rest..."

He swallowed hard, steeling himself before continuing, "The rest... well, you may find this a little unbelievable. Even the peak Nascent Novice who was leading the group, one of them had their skull pierced clean through, and the other was neatly decapitated. There was no trace of mana found in their corpses, and the marks left behind by the killing blows..."

Keal's gaze met Vayn's, his expression one of disbelief and bewilderment as he finally revealed, "It-it truly seemed like they were slain by nothing more than a mere mortal sword."

"What?!" Vayn's composure finally shattered, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits as his mana flared out in a blazing inferno of power, causing the very ground beneath their feet to tremble. "You-that doesn't make any sense! The most we mages would ever use in terms of those archaic mortal weapons is modifying them to be utilized more efficiently in tandem with our brilliant displays of magic."

His voice took on a harsh, incredulous edge as he pressed, "Even a mana sword construct would still leave traces of residual mana behind on the corpses it struck. Just what are you trying to imply?"

"See?" Keal sighed, spreading his hands in a placating gesture. "I told you that you would find it hard to believe. But it's the truth – I had even gone back to the scene with mage scouters, and all of them confirmed that besides the two whose bodies bore traces of fire mana, there was no trace of magical residue left behind in the other corpses."

His brow furrowed as he reiterated, "And it truly does seem as though they were killed by a mortal weapon. Even the claws of a nascent beast would leave behind traces of physical-type mana when they strike."

"This..." Vayn's brow creased in contemplation, his mind clearly struggling to make sense of the baffling situation laid out before him. "This is far too strange. Did you manage to find anything else that could shed some light on this mystery?"

"Well..." Keal began to scratch his head, grimacing slightly as he revealed, "Apparently, Arianna was seen in the city... with a common mortal. And she was walking quite close to this person, almost intimately so."

"So she's alive, then?" Vayn clicked his tongue in clear displeasure, his eyes flashing with a hint of disgust. "That average wretch does have some skills by virtue of that Aether Innate Spirit of hers. She can combine various types of magic, but it should be impossible for her to face four other Nascent Novices at the same time, let alone overpower them."

His jaw clenched as he pressed on, "And it's even more impossible for a common mortal to kill one of those mages, much less a lowly, trashy mage from some backwater town in the middle of nowhere. Something is going on here, something we're clearly not seeing."

Vayn's gaze hardened with determination as he declared, "Those four mages shouldn't have just died like that, and Arianna shouldn't have been able to waltz back into the city with a common mortal in tow, as if nothing had happened. We need to get to the bottom of this, uncover whatever secrets she's hiding."

A devious smile curved his lips as a new plan formed in his mind. "We'll track them, keep a close eye on their movements. I have a feeling that Arianna will still need to scrape by, so she'll likely be taking on missions from the guilds. Whatever secrets she's harboring could prove to be quite valuable, not just to us but to the collective as a whole. Let's get prepared."

A matching grin of intrigued anticipation spread across Keal's features as he nodded in agreement. "Understood. Maybe we'll find something that can truly help elevate all of us to new heights of power and understanding."

The two mages shared a look of dark determination, their minds already churning with the possibilities that lay ahead. Whatever secrets Arianna and her mysterious common companion were hiding, they would unravel them – by any means necessary.

....

Within one of the various inns scattered throughout Emberstar City, a rather nice establishment that exuded an air of quality and refinement, Arianna and Gladius had decided to take up residence for the night. 

Initially, Gladius had assumed that Arianna would opt to pay for separate rooms, preserving a sense of propriety befitting her status as a mage. However, she surprised him by choosing to secure a single room for the both of them to share.

Naturally, the receptionist overseeing the inn's front desk couldn't quite conceal the expectant look of disdain that flickered across their features at the mere thought of a mage sharing such intimate quarters with a common mortal. 

But such petty judgments mattered little to either Arianna or Gladius, whose bond transcended the narrow-minded prejudices of the ignorant masses.

As they ascended the stairs leading to their accommodations, Gladius didn't really think it mattered all that much that they would be sharing a room. 

He wasn't some foolish, hormone-addled youth who couldn't remain calm and composed in the presence of a beautiful woman – he found such notions quite ridiculous. Although, he couldn't deny that most women would tend to be at least a bit more guarded when it came to sharing a room with a relative newcomer into their lives, even if said newcomer happened to be another woman.

So, out of a sense of consideration more than anything else, Gladius felt compelled to ask, "So, you're not the least bit worried about sharing a room? We did only meet not too long ago, after all."

Arianna let out a light, tinkling giggle, her smile of wonder blossoming across her beautiful features like the first rays of dawn breaking over the horizon. 

"Does that really matter?" she countered, her eyes sparkling with an almost impish mirth. "Besides, when you entered into that profound state of unity within the library, that ability to 'Soothe into the World,' I found myself yearning to experience that sublime sensation once more while we continue our studies late into the night."

A sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she added, "I can tell that you're the type who would much rather delve into the depths of comprehension and enlightenment than waste the night away in idle slumber."

"Well, I can't deny that," Gladius admitted with a nonchalant shrug, a faint smirk playing across his lips in response to her teasing candor. "Still, I doubt that you would be this open and trusting with most new strangers you encounter."

"Maybe. Or maybe not," Arianna replied, her tone tinged with a hint of enigmatic mischief. "But then again, us mages do tend to fall into rather predictable mindsets and patterns of behavior, at least from what I've come to understand during my time in this city. Common mortals, on the other hand, tend to be far more...complex? Intricate? At the very least, I would not feel nearly as comfortable or inclined to share living quarters with one of them."

She turned her gaze to stare directly into Gladius's eyes, holding his penetrating stare with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight into the depths of his very soul. "But you? You are trustworthy, Gladius. It's something that my innate spirit, my connection to the world as a whole, is simply telling me. Everything about you resonates with an aura of trust and integrity that I cannot help but be drawn toward."

"I see..." Gladius seriously contemplated her answer, mulling over the weight and implications of her words. 

To someone unfamiliar with the profound bond Arianna shared with the world around her, her statements might have seemed like the foolish, starry-eyed ramblings of a naïve girl harboring a mere crush.

But Gladius knew better. Just like him, Arianna had allowed her soul to soar into a deep, intimate union with the world as a whole, forging a connection to the worldly forces that most could only dream of attaining. She had, in her own unique way, cultivated a profound link that allowed her to perceive and sense things that would forever elude those who remained blind to the greater truths underlying existence.

In the same manner that Arianna could instinctively discern his trustworthiness, Gladius reckoned that she could just as easily detect when a perfectly smiling face was merely a mask concealing darker intentions lurking beneath the surface. It was a useful skill, one that he and she could both strive to refine and master in the future.

But for now, Gladius focused his attention on the prospect of studying deep into the night, immersing themselves in the pursuit of greater knowledge and enlightenment. 

The duo soon reached their room, which wasn't anything too extravagant or lavishly appointed, but still exuded a sense of quality and comfort that far surpassed the humble inn Gladius had stayed at back in that small, backwater town.

The bed was larger and infinitely cozier, the window offering a breathtaking view of the city's glittering spires and crystalline architecture. 

A well-appointed bathroom stood ready to cater to their personal needs, and the entire atmosphere was rich with sources of concentrated magical energy, adding an almost palpable charge to the very air they breathed.