An ordinary quill...
It writes with no ink required.
Its classification was so confidential it only had a vague description. Being categorized as Extremely Dangerous...
What is its actual use? Can it also pair with an ordinary book to kill anyone whose name was written by it?
Just as Selina could reach for the door. Dunn suddenly called Selina in a raised voice, "Hold on Ms. Roy. There's more."
Selina halted a few meters from the entrance. A rush of resignation escaped her lips through her breath. Captain... It seems you're showing a much severe case of hazy memory compared to mine... Even so, aren't you too young to have dementia?
She turned to face Dunn and squeezed out a smile. "Is there anything else captain?"
"Your revolver. The one that was confiscated along with a knife, can be handed to you immediately once you filed for a badge. To do so, give your copy of the contract to Mrs. Orianna upstairs and place a request."
"However, I do have some suggestions for your chosen weapon." Dunn walked over to his table and sat back to his seat.
He continued. "A 45mm brass revolver is not a standard or safe choice to be used, regardless of gender without extensive training. This is because of its heavy recoil cartridge with a weaker brass frame, which makes it unsuitable for self-defense or target practice."
At this moment. Selina recalled her progressive use of her revolver.
She was certain beforehand that she would never be able to hit a single foe due to her lack of experience, which is why she risked getting injured just to get a clean, close quarter shot. The recoil did made a toll on her body, which often made her prone to imbalance during the whole chase.
This is why she limits her usage and actively rely on the hidden rockets as checkpoints to keep the swarms at bay.
During her direct confrontation as well. She used two of her hands as usual to even trigger the revolver. The subsequent bullets that fired were a result of her tensed fingers being driven by emotion.
Only when she finally achieved a spiritual relief did her consciousness gave away from all of those accumulated detriments throughout the chase.
Come to think of it... I should've gave out the moment one of them managed to land a hit on my back. Mr. Mitchell even said that a normal person wouldn't be able to survived that injury... Selina subconsciously reached for her back and strained for the claw marks.
Strangely, Selina felt no prickling pain the moment her fingers made contact.
I recovered so quickly as well, despite all of it... The Apothecary potion shouldn't be able to do any of this...
Seeing Selina checking her back unknowingly. Dunn Smith smiled just to ease her thoughts. "Don't worry. The armory stores most of our revolvers, available for when the members file for reimbursement and bullets for restock."
"Ask Old Neil and he'll gladly guide you in choosing a much more suitable revolver. The revolver you had before can either be kept here and return to you as per your request."
Dunn produced a paper slip, stamped with the department's sigil.
After receiving it. Selina nodded and said. "Very well. I'll be taking my leave now."
Before exiting, she paused for a moment, just to anticipate if ever the captain's dementia kicked in once more. However, this time, Dunn remained silent.
This relieved Selina for a bit as she turned the handle and gradually closed the door behind.
The solid cobblestone walls still emits a chilling presence. Through the support of the wall lamp's glow, Selina arrived back at the familiar intersection.
From there, she deliberately faced the path leading to the ominous Chanis Gate and decided to wait a few distance away.
Although she came close for only a few meters. Selina still felt the gate's haunting aura, with mysterious symbols engraved on its surface, she quickly recalled what Dunn Smith had advised.
Living sealed artifacts are kept there... I wonder how the staffs are able to enter without being affected...
At a distance, she saw the gates slowly opening. From there she spotted a man, slightly hunched, bearing paleness and gloomy air that upon looking can be suspected as a lifeless soul.
Sensing the domineering Chanis Gate, Selina quickly thought, He must be one of the two Keepers... Then this day must be Seeka Tron's turn to guard the gates...
When the slightly hunched man exited the Chanis Gate, what accompanied him back was another silver-haired woman. Holding a crate filled with questionable materials contained in glass vials.
Seeka Tron carried these materials and lowered it right outside the gates.
Afterwards, she turned toward the Keeper and said. "There's one more crate I've left behind."
The Keeper's eyes bore no luster as it reflects pure darkness while facing Seeka Tron. He nodded and left for the gates.
Just was she was about to follow, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Selina, watching the Chanis Gate from the distance.
She paused, looked toward Selina's direction and raised her voice. "You must be Selina Roy? Uh, how was your trip in the Captain's office?"
Considering that it be impolite to initiate a conversation at such a manner. Selina fought the pressure and walked over to Seeka Tron.
When she finally closed a fair distance, she replied amiably, "Captain told me to help you bring the materials to the alchemy room if ever I encountered you."
Seeka Tron glanced at the folded paper being tucked by the lady's hands, she lifted her gaze back and guessed. "Oh, did you accept Captain's offer?"
Selina nodded, letting only her gesture respond in her place.
"That's great! Then, could you handle this crate while I fetch the other?" Seeka Tron pointed at the Chanis gate with her open hand.
"Alright." Selina gave a soft smile.
Seeka Tron didn't escalate their conversation as she ended it by entering the heavy doors of the gate.
When Selina was finally left to face the chilling air being exudes from the gate's vicinity, her nerves quickly tensed as she deliberately kept her attention at the slightly opened door.
Only being at a distance and outside, I can already feel the pressure... What will happen if I really entered?
Dunn had already informed her of the characteristics exhibited by the sealed artifacts within. They are alive and actively trying to escape with the only exit which is also the entrance.
At this moment, Selina felt a terrible anticipation that after a few seconds, a walking vase would suddenly peeked at her from the slight opening.
I'm only scaring myself... She sighed, letting her thoughts and gaze wonder across the path, attempting to control her emotions.
There were the lingering plinks from the wall's small crevices, faint passing footsteps, muffled rattling of horse carriages all above the surface accompanied by distant murmurs from vendors beckoning the passing pedestrians.
The melancholic echoes from the lively street reminded Selina of the setting.
Upon familiarizing herself with the surrounding. She went to check if Seeka Tron and the Keeper were about to exit.
However, when she cast her gaze toward the slight opening. Her eyes froze. Her skin felt a crawling chillness that covered her whole being.
Standing there, peeking from the two gates, was a doll.
No, it was more akin to a children's toy, standing about an arm's length. Wearing a classic, black miniaturized regal gown with prominent stains and linings. It had a glowing red crimson eyes, staring right into Selina's soul.
Its haunting line, sewn on its face that can be seen as its lips, curved a horrifying smile.
It was cloth puppet! A toy cloth puppet!
Selina's thoughts raced the moment the cloth puppet faced her. Her hand subconsciously withdrew for the gun holster strapped around her thigh.
However, she felt nothing when she reached.
She had no weapons to be use as a defense!
At that moment, when Selina took her first step to run. The cloth puppet sealed its mouth. Its crimson eyes turned dark.
For awhile, it looked at Selina as if discerning something and after a few seconds, an unseen force dragged its body back into the gate.
Creak... Thud!
The Chanis Gate closed itself, trapping anything that had entered.
Restoring the tranquility of the basement.
Selina had yet to understand the situation when she realized that both Seeka Tron and the Keeper was still inside, fetching the crate!
A-Are they trapped inside as well? With that thing?
She couldn't swept the thought that her teammates are in trouble. Her feet instinctively paced around the gate's vicinity.
I-I should inform captain of this... Her mind settled.
Just as she was about to urgently ask Dunn Smith for help at his office. The ominous, heavy gate opened from within.
Selina tensed once more. However, what greeted her now wasn't another doll or anything of sort.
Seeka Tron, along with the keeper from earlier reached out of the door and successfully exited the gates.
She was carrying a batch of materials safely tucked in a wooden crate. Her gaze fixed at the keeper, telling him, "Thank you for accompanying me again."
The keeper didn't lingered after escorting Seeka outside of the gate. He only gave brief nod before returning back and completely closing the door with him.
When Seeka turned to Selina. She saw the lady's face uneased compared to their last interaction. Worried, she asked, "Ms. Roy, what happened?"
Selina took a deep breath before gathering his thoughts.
They were safe. The keeper was meant to be within the Chanis gate. The mysterious cloth puppet did not harm her either, rather it gave a strange expression before being forced back.
From the vividness of her memory. It was like a horror movie, of someone being chase and upon trampling on a branch, pulled back by the terror trailing on his wake.
It was alive... Is it one of the sealed artifacts within the Chanis gate? Selina's mental facilities slowly recovered.
She faced Seeka with a solemn look and asked. "Was there a sealed artifact which have an appearance of a cloth puppet?"
Upon hearing the term 'cloth puppet'. Seeka's mood shifted.
However, she refrained from appearing uneased as she responded calmly. "There is, but right now you don't seem to have the clearance to be informed of its description..."
"By the way, how did you know about it?" Seeka asked amiably, attempting not to alarm the lady.
Selina answered honestly, "Captain informed me of the sealed artifacts, some of which having the tendencies to escape containment due to having a living trait."
She drew a breath and deliberated her words before continuing, "Earlier, when you and the keeper were away. A sealed artifact with the appearance I've described peeked from the slight opening."
"Did it attempt to escape? Did it do anything to you like closing its distance?" Seeka's uneasiness grew prominent as she promptly lowered the crate from her hands.
"No." Selina unhurriedly shook her head. "In fact, it was dragged back into the chamber, which afterwards the gate closed by itself."
Seeka inspected Selina with scrutiny, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. The sealed artifact left me unharmed." Selina replied softly.
What will Mr. Smith do because of this?
Seeka held herself from elaboration as she withdrew with a smile. "Then everything's fine. Sealed artifacts do tend to do that on maybe once in a week. Our staffs would often hear jarring sounds within the door when it's their turn to guard. To be honest, I've experienced the gates opening by itself then closing afterwards."
Fine...? Selina wasn't content with the simple word.
Her interactions with past mystical objects that were actually referred as sealed artifacts, displayed terrifyingly bizarre capabilities. Not to mention the strange mask Deimsfel manifested during her wedding, without proper containment it would risk anyone within its vicinity.
Seeing Selina remained silent. Seeka tried to placate her by saying, "Don't worry, this matter will still be reported to the Captain. Shortly after we're done restocking the alchemy room. After all, we can't afford to be careless even in such situations."
She pointed at the crate beside Selina and said, "Can you help me with that crate?"
Selina couldn't shake off the feeling of fear, horror and alert from ealier. However, dwelling on it now wouldn't produce any results.
With slight reluctance, she still forced a genial smile before lifting the crate next to her.
"Then let's go." Seeka said in a passing tone as she raised her crate back to her arms and began walking into the path casted by the wall-lamps.
With Seeka Tron on the lead, Selina followed as her thoughts still fixated on the matter that had been forced to set aside.