"Now where do I start? Alicia smiled; her eyes giving of a faint glow for a split second. In that split second she was finally able to detect the presence of everything and everyone located in the Night.
But strangely no strong mana signature, like the one she expected the crystal to have, could be found.
Muttering some silent curses, the intruder walked through many passages and steps before she stopped at the large hall that contained Fang the Midnight panther's skeleton.
"Strange" was the word that formed on the mage's lips when on closer observation, she noticed that two of the beast's fangs seemed to be missing.
"Maybe he lost it in battle". But then again Alicia couldn't exactly place her finger on what had actually caused the great beast's death, some claimed it was Draghyr while others including Orus the stag attributed the panther's death to old age.
Alicia's curiosity on the subject only lasted for a few seconds and with a sigh, she continued to search the great hall for any hidden compartment or passage that could contain the crystal.
Her reason for even coming here in the first place was because based on the few things she had observed about 'Fanghyr', there was one thing she could beat her chest and say with utmost confidence.
Like every other member of the Night, he was extremely loyal and it would only seem right to assume that after he handed the precious item to the Midnights, they would have probably hidden it in this great hall which she had heard also doubled as a library and a vault for magical items that the Night had not deemed fit to be sent to the Sun.
Still the only thing that irked her since she arrived here and probably since the crystal went missing; is how Fanghyr had managed to hide the crystal's magical signature.
"Or could it be that he and the midnights had known about the book beforehand.
Alicia at this point flew very high; almost touching the roof as her glowing eyes scanned every piece of literature in the many shelves.
"That can't be it, their reaction on entering there really seemed like that of surprise and so I doubt they had been able to access that lab beforehand.
"That boy is really more than what the Night is showing him to be and to think that they hid such a valuable variable from us".
"I just hope he isn't what I think he is". Alicia sighed shaking her head and oblivious to her reptilian observer.
"What is she looking for? Basi hissed. "I should probably warn the others about her, but for some reason even the adults seem be unable to notice her.
At first the snake's guess at the intruder's invisibility trick was that maybe she had simply used a 'Blinding spell'; a mid-level but sometimes effective spell that made the user invisible to human eyes though the downside was that most mages and even magical items would still be able to detect their presence.
Which was why the Night had several magical runes embedded deep into its walls; runes that would lock the castle and also alert all assassins that an intruder had arrived
But to Basi's surprise the damned runes had not showed any reaction to the mage's presence even when the intruder had placed a hand against one in order to regain her footing.
Stretching out a crimson tongue the snake knew what he must do.
*Crash*
The snake's heart went up a beat but ultimately relaxed when he saw that it was just the mage throwing a book in what appeared to be a tantrum. Eventually the reptile decided not to push his luck and with a hiss had left the hall.
"WHERE IS IT! Alicia shouted in frustration, thankfully the sudden outburst never left her lips.
At a point Alicia had even harbored the idea that maybe Leo himself had kept the crystal on himself, that would have made more sense if not for the fact that she had thoroughly scanned the assassin when he had left the castle.
"Maybe he isn't as virtuous as I thought" she smiled, heading out to search a place she should have started from in the first place….
"For a rude and pompous lady, Celia sure knows how to cook! Bethran smiled, tearing off the skin of what was his twentieth chicken thighs.
"I prefer my meals alive" A croaked voice said out of the blue.
"F*CK! Bethran shouted, spitting out his chicken and immediately heading for a small dagger that laid on his reading table.
"Was it what is saidss" Basi chuckled; slowly appearing on the oak table in front of the green eyed assassin.
The reptile's sudden appearance only added more to his shock but on hearing the last hiss, he calmed himself down and frowned deeply.
"What are you doing here?
"Nice to see you too" Basi hissed. "Glad to see that the castle is how you said it will be".
"You will forever have my gratitude" Basi added with a low hiss as he opened his hood and bowed.
"You're welcome I guess" Bethran scratched his head. "Though I'm pretty sure you didn't come all the way here just to attempt giving me a heart attack, and expressing your thanks.
The snake deflated his hood and spoke in a serious voice. "There is an intruder in this castle as we speak".
"Are the Night watch okay? Bethran asked; his voice having a tinge of fear.
"Yes I don't think anyone at the moment can see her".
"Even the runes?
The snake nodded. "Which is why I think only you will be able to see her and probably stop her from getting whatever it is she wants to find here.
Bethran remembering something smiled.
"She's dark skinned, has bright turquoise eyes and is dressed in very bright golden robes, right?
The snake looked quite surprised. "Yes but how...
"Don't worry Alexandre had predicted such a thing might happen".
The snake at this point nodded but eventually hissed in visible annoyance when he saw Bethran taking off his cloak as he seemed to prepare for bed.
"Don't worry you can have the chicken" Bethran yawned.
"That's not my point fool" Basi hissed. "Why aren't you going to stop her".
"Don't worry snakey she is eventually going to leave here disappointed, infuriated and most importantly empty handed".
"Cause what she is looking for, isn't here and believe it or not is in a place that she can never reach.
Basi simply shook his head and with a light shimmer slowly faded into his surroundings
"I guess this means your magic powers are starting to come back?
An affirming hiss replied from the doorway.
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I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE UPDATE RATE. I am really sorry but it couldn't be helped for we had been suffering from a black out for some days now.
Thankfully the issue has been resolved meaning more chapters from yours truly.
Don't forget to vote and comment.