Trust and Betrayal

After several hours of interrogating people, Nanahoshi and I returned to our tent and studied the evidence we had gathered so far. Sitting on our beds across from each other, we laid out our findings, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Nanahoshi, her arms crossed in front of her, leaned forward to start our discussion. {"So, let's go over this again. What evidence do we have?"}

{"We've spoken with five individuals, each with their own motives,"} I replied before outlining our discoveries throughout the day.

From Alphonse to Eustace, I briefed all of their activities and reactions to my question about something unusual. Everyone's introspections were mostly the same but three of them stood out from the rest.

{"Ramdon mentioned Florence giving him an essential oil that made his headache worse,"} I began. {"Then Florence herself seemed genuinely concerned upon learning about it and tried to correct her mistake, but something felt off about her."}

Nanahoshi nodded, her eyes narrowing. {"And then there's Eustace talking about a terrifying shadowy figure at the edge of the camp. He seemed genuinely scared about it, but it was possible he could be lying."}

{"True, but remember how adamant he was about learning magic. He even insisted Florence to teach him,"} I reminded her. {"It would be a bit much if he was truly the apostle. Why draw so much attention to himself?"}

Nanahoshi fell silent, tapping her fingers on the bed as she mulled over my words.

{"So, who do you think is more suspicious?"} she asked, her tone laced with frustration.

{"Honestly, I'm torn between Florence and Eustace,"} I admitted, sighing heavily. {"Florence seems too eager to help, but Eustace might be covering something up with his uproar."}

{"Urgh, this investigation is getting nowhere,"} Nanahoshi complained. {"Let's call Orsted and see what he thinks."}

{"Agreed."}

Following her instruction, I slipped on the reconnaissance ring Orsted had given us last night and whispered, "Recall."

Within moments, a faint blinking light emanated from the ring as if suggesting something. We headed to the outskirts to see whether he was signaling us to meet him.

---------------------------------------------

Upon arriving at our meeting place from last night, I was glad to see Orsted waiting for us right under the dead tree. He appeared from the shadows, his presence imposing as always.

"What have you found?" Orsted asked, his voice low and authoritative.

I quickly reported our findings to him, describing our interviews with various people and our assumption that either Florance or Eustace was the apostle.

"We couldn't decide which among them was the one we were looking for," I explained, feeling the weight of our uncertainty.

Orsted listened intently, his expression unreadable. After I finished, he looked reflective for a moment before speaking. "It appears that either both of them are apostles or one of them is a diversion while the other is the true apostle."

"I agree with that, but the question is which one was correct," I pondered aloud, feeling the pressure of the situation.

The Dragon God remained silent for a moment, regarding our dilemma. Then, with a decisive nod, he spoke again. "Continue your investigation, you two. Look for any inconsistencies in their behavior that may hint at the apostle's true identity. After that, report back to me with any significant findings."

"Understood."

After I complied with his instruction, Orsted immediately turned around and was planning to leave. However, I tugged his coat, prompting him to stop and glance at me.

"What is it, Dante?" he asked.

I couldn't help but smile as I replied, "Oh, you know, we've been putting so much effort into finding the apostle, and you're just leaving us without providing compensation."

"And what would that be?" Orsted pressed, a hint of bemusement in his tone.

With a playful roll of my eyes, I clarified, "The magic training you promised, of course. I think it's about time you teach me magic, don't you think?"

That being said, Orsted sighed wearily and relented to my request. He proceeds to teach me two beginner magic spells — Rock Bullet and Detoxification Magic.

"Rock Bullet!"

Upon chanting the incantation, a rock the size of a bullet manifested from my palm and I shot it toward a boulder that Orsted conjured at a distance.

"Jackpot~" 

"Hmm, great work. How about her?"

Turning to my side, I noticed Nanahoshi struggling to cast her magic spell, seemingly nothing was manifesting from her hand.

{"Are you okay over there?"} I asked, concerned about her situation.

Nanahoshi sighed heavily as her arm gave in. {"It's no use... I can't do it..."}

{"Really? Did you pronounce the incantation correctly?"} I suggested.

She then turned to me with a glare. {"Of course, I did! But even so, nothing will come out..."}

Nanahoshi fell to her knees and slouched down, feeling dejected. Witnessing this, I turned to Orsted, hoping he could answer what was happening.

"What's happening to her, Sir Orsted? Why can't she cast magic?" I asked, concerned about my companion's well-being.

The Dragon God scrutinized Nanahoshi for a moment, then sighed. "She came from another world, correct? Then it's likely because she has no mana."

"No mana?! So, that means..." I murmured, gripping on the hard truth. "If that's the case, how will she attend Ranoa if she can't do magic?"

Considering my question, Orsted paused for a moment and reached for his breast pocket yet again, pulling out two distinct colored rings.

"These are not much, but she could use some magic items instead," Orsted replied, handing the two items to me. 

Receiving the rings, I scrutinized them before glancing back. "What do these do?"

"These magic items are infused with mana that contain specific abilities. In this case barrier magic," Orsted explained. "Just tell her to say 'Aegis' and 'Veil' to activate each ring."

Hearing his explanation, I immediately turned to Nanahoshi who remained kneeling on the floor, looking depressed. I gently tapped her shoulder, prompting her to raise her head.

{"What do you want?"} She said solemnly, her eyes devoid of light.

{"Listen, you likely don't have mana, but that doesn't mean you can't use magic,"} I reassured her, showing the two rings. {"Look, these might help you. Orsted made sure of it."}

Nanahoshi took the rings, her expression softening slightly. {"You guys can't just expect me to cheer up with a piece of jewelry or two. It's hopeless for me."}

{"No, no, it's not like that,"} I interjected. {"Those rings aren't for show, but rather those could help you perform magic without needing your mana."}

{"What?!"} Nanahoshi exclaimed, the light in her eyes returned as she looked at me. {"So, this means I can attend Ranoa with these?"}

{"You know it! So, cheer up, will you?"} I comforted.

Nanahoshi nodded slowly, slipping the rings onto her fingers. {"Thank you, Dante. And also, tell Orsted I thank him as well."}

I complied with her request and informed Orsted about her sentiment. In response, he merely nodded and turned around.

"It seems I have compensated you two long enough," he declared. "Head back to the refugee camp and continue your investigation."

"Understood."

With those words, Orsted walked away from us and we turned in the opposite direction.

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The following day, Nanahoshi and I continued our investigation into finding out the apostle's true identity. Realizing that subtle questioning had proven ineffective, we decided to utilize a more daring strategy. We planned to confront our suspects with bold statements, hoping to provoke a revealing reaction.

First, we approached Ramdon. His customary location was the makeshift kitchen, where he busied himself with meal preparations. Upon entering, the smell of various spices greeted us.

"Sir Ramdon, we need to talk," I began, my tone unyielding.

He turned around, curiosity and concern in his eyes. "What is it?"

"Well, I heard from someone that you have a deep secret. Would you mind explaining?"

Ramdon's face momentarily faltered before he regained his composure. "A secret? Don't you mean..."

"Yes, we found out you're—"

"Is this about the time I called my junior chef an idiot sandwich?"

The sudden shift in topic caught me off guard, but I kept my focus. "No, it's something more serious. We believe you might be hiding something critical from the camp."

Ramdon chuckled nervously, wiping his hands on his apron. "I assure you, I'm just a modest cook here. If you're referring to my headaches the other day, Florence already knows about those. I have nothing else to hide."

His casual demeanor and quick response left me uncertain. If he was hiding something, he was doing an excellent job of concealing it.

"Alright then, we'll leave you to your cooking," I remarked, deciding to move on.

Next, we sought out Florence. She was busy organizing supplies in the open clinic when we entered. The scent of herbs and medicines filled the air.

"Miss Florence, we need to have a word," I stated firmly.

She looked up, mild surprise on her face. "Of course, sweetie. What is it?"

"We've come across some troubling information. It seems someone here has a deep secret," I declared, watching her reaction closely.

Florence's expression remained calm, though a flicker of concern passed through her eyes. "A secret? Are you implying it's something to do with me?"

"Yes, we heard that you might be involved in something harmful. Care to explain?" I pressed, maintaining eye contact.

She sighed, setting down a bundle of herbs. "If this is about the wrong essential oil I gave to Ramdon, I assure you it was an honest mistake. I've already replaced it with the correct one."

Her response was measured and logical, making it difficult to discern any underlying deceit.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?" she added, her tone composed.

"No, that will be all for now," I replied, feeling the weight of uncertainty still hanging in the air.

As we left the clinic, Nanahoshi and I shared a look of frustration. Despite our efforts, neither Ramdon nor Florence had cracked under pressure. If those two were the apostles, they were highly skilled at maintaining their cover.

{"We need to keep digging, Dante,"} Nanahoshi declared, endurance tinged her voice.

I nodded, agreeing with her. {"Yes, let's visit Eustace next. He might give us another lead."}

Arriving at the small farmland, we found Eustace tending to his crops, muttering to himself as he used his newfound magic to water the plants. His yesterday's enthusiasm seemed to have waned, replaced by a brooding intensity.

"Sir Eustace, we need to talk," I called out as we approached him.

He shudders before turning around, annoyance clear on his face. "What now? Can't you see I'm busy here?"

"This won't take long," I assured him. "We need to know if you're up to anything suspicious lately. Anything at all."

Eustace narrowed his eyes at me, clearly irritated. "Me, suspicious? What the heck are you suggesting, boy? I've been minding my own business, tending to my crops. If you think my efforts to learn water magic are suspicious, then you're gravely mistaken."

From how he reacted, it seems that he is genuine with his claim and our accusation seems unwarranted. I guess we're wrong to doubt this old man after all.

"I understand, but we have reason to believe someone here might be hiding something that could put everyone in danger," I explained, trying to keep my tone steady. "We need to rule everyone out, including you. So, could you help us?"

Eustace's scowl deepened, but he eventually sighed. "Fine, I'll play along. Last night, I-"

Before he could continue, a projectile flew past me, hitting the old man in the shoulder. Upon closer inspection, it revealed itself to be an arrow laced with poison.

"Urgh!!"

"Sir Eustace!" 

Seeing the old man fall to the ground, I immediately went to check his condition. But before I could do it, someone pulled me away to the side.

{"Dante, look out!"} Nanahoshi warned. 

Surprised by her sudden action, I protested, {"What the heck, Nanahoshi? I could have saved him from the poison!"}

{"There's no time for that, look!"} she argued as her finger pointed in a certain direction.

I followed where she was pointing and my eyes widened to see the main imposter or rather two imposters before us. I knew there was something off about them but instead, I doubted my intuition and got an innocent old man wounded.

"W-why? Why would you two do this? Tell me, Sir Ramdon, Miss Florence, why?!"

Cloaked in hooded mantles, the two suspects we had suspected earlier were right in front of us. One held a crossbow, while the other dipped an arrow into a bottle. Initially, I assumed it contained essential oil, but I soon realized that it was poison.

"I-I'm sorry, sweetie, but we don't have much of a choice," Florence apologized, drawing her crossbow's string. 

Ramdon grumbled bitterly, giving the poison arrow to her. "At least after we're done with this, the odd person in our dreams will leave us alone."

Don't have much of a choice? An odd person won't leave them alone? Don't tell me, Hitogami is forcing these two to act against their will.