Finding More Information

As Gab happily made the drinks, the Earl began to look through the letters and reports. Mavislin could only sit there and memorize the Teuton domain.

"So, how's Minwoo back there? Still flirting?" asked the Earl, smirking at the Valkyrie.

"I find small talk rather dull. Shall we move on to the pressing matter at hand?"

The Earl seemed shocked at first, but he scoffed at the young girl. Mavislin merely gave a ghost of a smile as she looked through the recent documents.

"You seem to be a commoner, howbeit you act like a noble person," commented the Earl.

"I'm not acting like a noble person. I'm acting like a brat because I've places to be, and I can't stay at any domain right now."

"And why is that?"

"The victims of the Umbra cases are all Mages. The more Elemental Energy that a Mage accumulates, the higher the chance of being caught by them. I'm no different. My Elemental Energy alone could power the Umbras for centuries to come," explained Mavislin.

"So, what are you able to tell me on the circumstances of the current situation?" asked the Earl, receiving his white wine.

Mavislin happily sipped on her grape juice before answering the Earl's question. Such a child, thought Earl Yan.

"Well, I know you have not answered Marquess Dalles' reply."

"Ah, that one. So far, from what my sources could give me, the cases have been an estimated 30."

"And what are the descriptions of the cases?"

"We have none."

The poor Valkyrie nearly choked on her juice.

"What do you mean, you have none? How about the link towards the common cause? Or bodies being twisted?"

"All of the victims have disappeared. No one can remember them; we don't even know if such cases existed. That's why it has taken us so long to reach out for external help. Their verbal complaints are gone if there were any."

The Valkyrie thought long and hard.

"From what I understand, the Umbras kill by taking the Mage's power?" asked Gab, sitting beside the Valkyrie.

"That's part of the truth. The other part is that it takes the Mage's power by stealing a day from the being's life. An added thing is that it erases the Mage from history," explained Mavislin.

The Earl took a feather and began scribbling on some bits of paper, presumably notes.

"Just one day? That's not so bad," commented Gab.

"Their birthday," answered Mavislin.

"Ah."

"But, there is something I want to clarify. Who are they? They are cousins of Sir Noble. What's the difference between the two?" asked Earl Yan.

His eyes held a hunger for the truth of these twisted beings. Beings that were birthed by the darkest corners of the Universe. Rejected, made from dark matter itself. Originating from the Abyss of Stars, Earl Yan wanted to know what caused the Umbras to be different from Baldwin Noble.

"And why do you ask? Knowing too much might lead to your downfall," said Mavislin sipping on her grape juice.

"To fight an enemy, you must first understand your enemy, right?" asked Earl Yan.

"Well, that is something you can use against your opponent. You could use their feelings to your advantage. But what could convince me that you won't use the information against the Arks?" asked Mavislin, smiling a calculative grin.

The Earl was still as he looked at the grinning Valkyrie. Gab could not give a definite answer. The Earl quickly regained his composure and answered the Valkyrie.

"I only need information on how did the Umbras come about. I don't need the difference. We have a common enemy. Seems fishy if you're going to hide information from us," said Earl Yan, extending a hand towards the Valkyrie.

"You've beaten me. Alright, the Umbras are a family of Shadow beings. The reason why they've gone berserk is by the reason for eating the wrong food."

"Eating the wrong food?"

"What do humans do when they consume wrong things, Baron Tuazon?" asked Mavislin, turning towards Mavislin.

"Well, if it is not non-lethal, the most that would happen is stomach discomfort."

"Like that special drink he gave me the other day," complained the Earl.

"Otherwise, the human would just drop dead."

"Shadow beings feed by consuming other Mage's power. Once they consume one, they assume the identity of that Mage. Usually, only the Core Elements are good for them to eat. But the Umbras have consumed something called the Element of Existence," explained the Valkyrie.

Earl Yan continued scribbling while Gab imbibed in his red wine.

"The Element of Existence?" asked Gab, confirming with her once more.

"Yes, this information was from Baldwin."

"Hm... I don't think all of the information is true," replied Gab, looking at the scattered papers.

"You doubt me?" asked Mavislin, shocked.