Vana's POV
“I do. I plan to return to Ashern after I graduate. I also plan to publicly leave the Shadows and remain its member in the dark. Then, I’ll open my own detective agency—”
“You’re opening your own agency!” Jerome exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table, which startled me. “Seriously?”
“Y-yes?” I stammered, bewildered. “Something wrong with it?”
“Not really, but you’re going to do that alone?” Jerome scowled.
“No, why do you think I’m telling it to you?”
“It’s not what I think, is it?”
“More or less. It’s what I need your opinion—or your answer, in this case. I can’t do it alone, and that’s a fact. That’s why, if you would like, I would like to have a partnersh
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 1: Bandits on the Ship
Vana's POV Desperate call for desperate measure. The ocean waves splashed against the ship as it sails through the current. The sound of waves clashed against the ship’s exterior, humming in my ear. It was late in the morning when the ship neared the borders of Ashern, the island of Jasper far from my sight. I let my hand sway beyond the deck railings, letting my magic drop and play on the water. I froze the splashes and drops of water from the waves, converting them into crystallized, ice dusts that looked like glitter in the air. I rarely use my magic—I almost don’t use magic if not necessary. But out of boredom of being in the ship for the whole night, without any wink of sleep, I decided to amuse myself by using my magic. I don’t dislike magic. I dislike my magic—the kind of power my magic holds. “Vana, escaping the academy is a very bad idea,” I said to myself, sighing as I thought of the consequences of my actions. I had all night to think and realize how dumb my actions are
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Vana's POV The bandits dashed around me, grabbing me by the arm as they haul me along with the rest of the hostages. My hands were tied behind by back, sitting down along with the passengers as the bandits surround us from all direction. Wails and cries of children teared up next to me. I could feel the growing dread and fear in every passenger in the lounge. Their bodies shook from the danger they are facing, their heads lowering to the ground as they panic in their spots. “How are things in this lounge?” another man’s voice asked, a man entering inside the lounge. The man had a lousy posture, wearing a sleeveless hoodie and cargo pants that resembled my brother’s style. Too similar, in fact, that I suspected that it was him at first. The man had the same blonde hair as the woman from earlier. Are they related to each other? Are they the leader of the gang? I moved at the very back of the passengers, leaning back on the wall as I gaze at the man from afar. I observed him, notici
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Jerome's POV “All of you stay back and don’t you dare try do anything funny,” the woman said as they all tied us up on one corner of the room. Never have I thought that I’d be involved in a ransom-hostaging case, especially not after I snuck out of the academy grounds. I only wanted to take a break from the academy, why do I have to be caught up into this mess? The woman introduced herself as Vana Farasol, the sister of Storm Farasol. I know who she is; she is a member of our rival guild, Green Serpent. And she’s known in another name. The Cold Killer. From what I’ve heard, she was rumored to have killed her father. But that is not what I’m supposed to be concerned about right now. Half of the passengers in the ship are held hostage in the upper lounge. The other half is held here in the lower lounge, where I am also currently at. As far as I’m concerned, if I don’t’ do something now, something worse will happen to us later. I lifted my eyes up on the bandits within the room, coun
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