The Tower.

A structure that stands thirteen stories tall, right in the heart of the capital. Built of an ivory-colored material that no one could quite identify, from afar, it looked almost like an inverted sword hilt piercing the sky. Windows dotted its surface, and terraces jutted out here and there, where mages occasionally appeared. As the tallest building in the kingdom, a popular joke said that no matter where you were in the capital, you could always catch a glimpse of the Tower’s white peak.

Yet, contrary to its mysterious facade and the enigmatic allure that the word "Tower" evoked, it wasn’t an especially secretive or mystical place. The first and second floors were always open to the public, and during large events, most floors were accessible. To the people of the capital, the Tower was merely a place to visit now and then, or simply the tallest landmark in the city.

Below the gleaming ivory Tower lay a sprawling plaza paved with marble. Well-maintained by the mages, the plaza was like a garden or a park, with carefully arranged flowers and greenery. Due to its popularity, the Tower was often viewed as a mere appendage to the plaza below—a rest area for citizens, a scenic spot for strolls, and a popular meeting place.

“Mom! Look, there’s a butterfly even in winter!” “Don’t run, honey.”

The sounds of cheerful families and children’s laughter filled the air, alongside couples holding hands as they strolled leisurely through the plaza. It was the kind of peaceful scene typical for a weekend in the capital.

“Achoo!”

The guard at the Tower’s entrance sneezed loudly, his eyes watering from the cold wind. Though the chill wasn’t unbearable, the guard’s dissatisfaction with his weekend duty and the contrast between his situation and the happiness of the people around him made the cold feel twice as harsh.

“What a pain to be working on a weekend…”

His complaint lingered in the air, with no one around to hear it. Of all days, he had to be on duty today. It was chilly, but the sky was clear, and with a warm coat, it was perfect for a walk. Visitors to the Tower were numerous today, likely because it was the weekend. While the influx kept him from being entirely bored, it did little to reduce his growing irritation.

“I should sleep in tomorrow.”

Despite advancements in security spells, human guards were still necessary. While this provided him with a job, it didn’t make it any more enjoyable. He continued to observe the people passing by.

“Hm?”

His gaze settled on a peculiar pair walking through the plaza not far from the Tower. The man was striking, with sharp features and a scar across the bridge of his nose, though it didn’t detract from his looks.

But the guard’s comment about the difficulty of their situation was directed at the woman beside him. She had deep indigo hair, and although her face was covered by a blindfold, she carried a cane, clearly marking her as blind. The combination of a tall, handsome man and a blind woman was unusual enough to draw attention from passersby, who couldn’t help but stare.

A blind woman.

The guard took note of the rare characteristics of these visitors. They strolled around the plaza, engaged in conversation, before eventually turning toward the Tower’s entrance. Seeing them approach, the guard straightened up, attempting to look more alert.

“Excuse me,” the man spoke first. The woman stood back, waiting silently. The guard glanced briefly at her before addressing the man.

“Can we enter the Tower now?” the man asked.

The guard replied in a businesslike tone. “The Tower is open to the public until 6 p.m. You’re welcome to enter and have a look around.”

“Understood. Let’s go inside,” the man said, smiling politely as he took the woman’s hand and led her forward. She nodded and followed, her cane tapping lightly against the ground.

The guard called after them as they passed through the open doors. “It’s open to the public, but there are items inside that might be dangerous. You should look after her carefully.”

The man turned back, nodding with a faint smile—one that struck the guard as somehow different from his earlier one. The guard had no way of knowing the subtle change in expression hinted at something more.

“Thank you for the warning.”

With that, they disappeared into the Tower’s interior.

==

“Did it bother you so much?” Maxime asked in a low voice, noticing Adeline’s pursed lips. She slowly shook her head, her cane moving naturally before her. Though he’d taken her hand to lead her inside with a feigned familiarity, she seemed completely unfazed.

“Not really. I just didn’t expect such a simple trick to work so well.”

Adeline gripped the cane firmly. Although she didn’t need it with her heightened sense of mana, a cane was a convenient place to hide a weapon. She ran her hand over the end of the cane, reassured by the knowledge that she was carrying a concealed blade.

“People are often more sentimental than you’d think. It allows us to be prepared for whatever might come,” Maxime said. It had been his idea to bring the cane, and while Adeline initially hadn’t seemed fond of the plan, she quickly accepted the disguise when she realized it would allow her to carry a weapon into the Tower.

“You certainly know how to make use of my blindness.”

He didn’t deny it; instead, he began scanning the first floor of the Tower, his heart racing slightly at the thought of finding clues about Christine.

“…Are you nervous?” Adeline asked, sensing his tension almost immediately. She was close enough that even someone without her sensitivity could have noticed. Maxime tried to keep his voice steady.

“A little. It’s different when you’re actually doing it.”

“Then you’d better do it right. This was your plan, after all.”

Her reply wasn’t the least bit comforting. Adeline resumed her role as the frail blind woman, leaning on her cane, while Maxime glanced around the spacious lobby. Just then, a mage—likely a staff member or assistant—approached them.

“Welcome to the Tower.”

Maxime nodded as the mage greeted them, seemingly ordinary and without any hidden agenda. To be sure, he gave Adeline a slight nudge, and she shook her head subtly, confirming his suspicions were unfounded.

“What brings you here today? Our current exhibition is an enchantment experiment on the second floor,” the mage said, casting a curious glance at Adeline. Maxime subtly shielded her from the mage’s inquisitive gaze. He knew it wouldn’t be wise to linger around a mage for too long.

“My sister wanted to visit the Tower, so we’re starting with the first floor,” Maxime replied.

The mage studied Maxime’s face briefly, then nodded. “Ah, you two must be quite close. It’s rare to see siblings visiting together. Would you like a guide?”

The mage’s curiosity was palpable, and Maxime quickly declined. “No, thank you. We’d prefer to explore at our own pace.”

The mage looked a bit disappointed but moved on. Maxime felt a chill run down his spine at the mage’s overt interest, certain that he had been silently questioning her blindness and imagining various scenarios.

“Well then, please enjoy your visit. While it’s open to the public, some areas could contain dangerous artifacts, so be cautious.”

After a similar warning as the guard’s, the mage walked away. Maxime let out a short sigh.

“Our colleagues should start their investigation within the hour. If we notice any commotion on the first floor, we’ll need to observe closely. Until then…”

“Until then?”

Maxime shrugged. “We should familiarize ourselves with the layout. I’ll guide you through it.”

Adeline’s expression remained stony, but she nodded reluctantly. “…Lead the way.”

Raising an eyebrow at her unexpected cooperation, Maxime began describing the first floor, noting the central monument with engraved text about the mage who founded the Tower and the ideals he believed all mages should uphold.

“There’s an open ceiling here. You can see all the way to the top of the Tower.”

“Please, skip the unnecessary details and just explain the layout.”

Her icy response made Maxime’s temples throb, but he stifled his irritation and continued walking. They moved slowly, with Maxime explaining the positions of various rooms and where the staircase to the second floor was located.

Adeline’s expression grew more rigid as they walked. At one point, she halted and closed her eyes as if deep in thought. Maxime stopped beside her.

“Is there something on your mind?”

She shook her head, though not with much conviction, which only added to Maxime’s suspicion.

“No, nothing,” she replied, but she continued to glance around, her expression uneasy. Just then, a commotion erupted near the entrance.

“Focus later. It looks like our colleagues have arrived, right on schedule.”

“I’m aware. I can hear them,” Adeline replied coolly.

Maxime turned toward the lobby, where several mages were confronting what appeared to be Dennis and Charlotte. The mages were waving their arms, trying to block their entry.

“What sort of financial investigation are you doing at a time like this? Do you really expect us to believe you’re here on royal orders?”

“If you’re really here to investigate, show us the warrant. Even if you’re royal knights, we won’t allow illegal entry!”

“Please, let’s step outside to discuss this. There are guests here, and it’s inconvenient for everyone.”

“Oh, come on! Keep your hands off your swords. We’re only trying to talk.”

“Why don’t you show us some proof? How do you expect us to just let you in?”

The mages’ voices were loud and agitated, and Maxime winced at the cacophony. Adeline, listening intently, shook her head with a faint sigh.

“It’s a good thing we sneaked in.”

Maxime shrugged. If the mages reacted this defensively over a financial audit, he could only imagine the uproar if they tried to probe into their research records. Important documents would likely be hidden away before the investigation could even begin.

These mages were exactly as Christine had described: obsessed with their work, greedy, and sly. Maxime reminded himself of this as he scanned the mages’ movements, hoping to pick up on anything unusual.

“Do you sense anything suspicious?”

Adeline raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. Maxime stiffened as she pressed her finger to his mouth, signaling him to stay silent. She focused on the vibrations around them, straining to detect any hidden currents of mana. He carefully observed the bustling lobby, noticing how some mages tried to distract onlookers while others hurried up and down the stairs, clutching bundles of papers.

There.

Maxime’s gaze landed on the mages carrying documents, watching as they split off in three directions. Some entered rooms, some lingered near the corners of the first floor, and some hurried along other routes.

“…I found it.”

Adeline pointed to a slightly ajar door on the first floor. Her voice was uneasy, yet certain. “There’s something ominous about that room. I believe what we’re looking for might be in there.”

Maxime quickly committed the location to memory. Just then, a mage approached them.

“Excuse me, but we’re closing for today due to a visit from the royal delegation. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

The mage ushered them toward the exit. As they passed, Maxime exchanged a glance with Dennis, who silently mouthed, How did it go?

Maxime shook his head slightly. Not sure yet.

Dennis glanced at Adeline before resuming his conversation with Charlotte, the two of them moving to continue their investigation with the mages. Once they were gone, Maxime looked back at Adeline, whose face seemed a shade paler than usual. Although her eyes were hidden, the unmistakable tension in her expression revealed a hint of fear.