"What?"
"Do you understand what you are saying, Captain?"
In an oval-shaped hall with a high ceiling shrouded in darkness and faded crimson walls paneled in oak, several voices echoed sharply.
The subtle glow of a flickering magical light that came from the middle of the large mahogany table placed in the center of the room, ringed by velvet armchairs, kept the room from being devoured by the darkness.
Sitting on those tall velvet chairs were seven high priests, including Father Augustus.
All of them wore similar clothes and had almost the same expressions on their faces. Their eyes were fixed on the single man standing on the far end of the table.
Captain Hunt looked back without fear. Hiding the doubt he had in his heart, he nodded. "I am also surprised I am saying this, but I have some reliable information that suggests that the boy is somehow connected to the murders."
"What information? Where did it come from?" Father Augustus raised his voice unnaturally; he did not look his usual lazy and sleepy self. "What could you possibly have that could justify a boy killing three people, two of whom were bigger in size and power than him?"
"With all due respect, Father, he is an awakened man now. No longer a child," Captain Hunt said coldly. "I came to know that he is in possession of a certain item that the second victim kept and was known to be the owner of."
The seven high priests looked at each other in doubt before looking back at the old captain.
"That still does not make him a suspect." The youngest priest in the group shook his head. "Tell us everything you know about this kid and the investigation, and we will have our people look into it."
"Father Luck, I would like to be a part of this—" Just as Captain Hunt was about to express his intentions of joining the investigation, another priest cut him off.
"Captain Hunt, this is an internal affair of the Order of the Seven. I am directly ordering you to stand down. From here on out, the churches will personally handle this investigation. Do you understand?"
The old captain pressed his lips into a thin line hearing the order. His eyes gleamed with dissatisfaction, but the power of authority and superiority radiating from the seven-figure sitting on the table made him realize how weak he was.
So he did the only thing he could.
Nod in agreement and swallow his pride while suffering in silence.
"Prepare a team of three awakened personnel and send them to the orphanage first thing in the morning."
"Keep in mind. I want our best people on this."
With the agreement of the seven priests, the meeting was adjourned and Captain Hunt sent back.
…
At the same time, back in the orphanage.
The matron was now pacing around her room in circles. The images of the three deaths flashed in her mind. The warm orphanage no longer felt like the safe haven it used to, and that thought kept her awake.
Not to mention the students, and even the teachers no longer felt like teaching. Everyone was now scared for their lives, scared of the thought that they might be the next one to be found.
Knock! Knock!
Hearing the sharp knocks on the front door, Sister Agnes froze. Her gaze moved towards the wooden gate and narrowed slightly. 'Who could be here at this time?'
Even though being a nun meant that she was not to resort to violence, her hands moved towards the candle stand placed on a shelf nearby.
"Sister, are you up?" Hearing the familiar voice, her hand froze. She instantly straightened up and rushed towards the door and opened it.
"Jinn, what are you doing here at this time?" Standing in front of her was none other than the black-haired boy whom she loved dearly as her own family.
"I was worried about you, so I came to check up on you."
…
The night had already claimed the city of Veloria, and some of the houses had already snuffed their lights out. Standing in the cold night, Jinn looked at the matron worriedly.
"I heard about Mr. Clark." Jinn stepped into the house, and Sister Agnes made no effort to stop him. They acted like it was not the first time Jinn had come over to her room this late.
"You should not be worried about me, dear. It is my job to worry about you." Closing the door, the matron led the boy to the living room.
"Oh, so you were not running around the room before I came here?" Jinn asked while taking a seat on the uncomfortable sofa.
Sister Agnes puffed her cheeks in embarrassment but could not refuse his claims. She silently sat beside him, leaning back into the seat, and whispered, "You know. In times like these, I wish I also had the opportunity to be awakened."
"Maybe, just maybe… things might not have turned out like this."
Jinn stayed silent, letting her pour her heart out to him.
"First it was my family… my sister, my mother." Her voice cracked as tears threatened to spill out of her eye. "Why do innocents have to die because of the greed of others?"
"Why do the people I care about suffer because I am weak?"
"Why…"
Unable to hold herself anymore, she broke down in tears. Jinn wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Without uttering a word, he just allowed her to cry on his tiny shoulder.
The two of them stayed like this until Sister Agnes finally stopped crying. Even then she did not move away from the embrace and stayed like that. Then a second later, Jinn heard a whisper near his ears.
"Never again…"
The voice was faint, almost a murmur, but since it was right next to his ear, he heard it clearly. Jinn finally broke the hug and realized that the matron had fallen asleep at some point.
Her breathing was even, and her eyes were closed shut. Her eyes had swelled from all the crying, turning slightly red.
'Soon, it will be very soon when everything will become clear to you.' Jinn thought to himself while cradling the woman in her arms, carrying her to the bed.