- Shepherd’s Secret Continuation

"Yes, hello... I'm Hajina, the inspector who made an appointment yesterday... here to investigate the attack on Mr. Aiwas Moriarty." A young lady, appearing to be in her early twenties, wearing a blue and white uniform, stood anxiously at the gates of an estate, clutching her wide-brimmed hat with both hands. Her chestnut curls were tied into a ponytail, accentuating her high nose bridge. Her lake-blue eyes brimmed with the panic of someone who felt they had made a grave mistake. "I-I apologize, the district inspection bureau suddenly had an emergency meeting... There was another warehouse explosion in the White Queen District yesterday. Traces of a fire spirit were detected at the scene, suggesting the involvement of a demon scholar—I suspect it could be the same fugitive who attacked Mr. Aiwas the day before!" As Hajina spoke, her voice dwindled to a whisper, "So, therefore..." "So you took it upon yourself to attend a meeting you weren't required to and arrived late... by two hours and twenty-three minutes?" A stern, aged voice replied from the other side of the iron gate. It carried the long-drawn tone typical to the Elven accent of the capital. He clicked shut the gem-adorned pocket watch in his hand, tucking it back into his chest pocket, as he sternly eyed Hajina. Standing opposite Hajina was a tall, slender elderly elf dressed in a butler's outfit. His skin, wrinkled and reminiscent of tree bark, paired with verdant eyes that seemed more akin to a wolf's than a serene lake. The old elf, almost an intimidating two meters tall, stood with his hands behind his back, projecting the haunting silhouette of a bare tree under the moonlight. The rigid, unmoving posture exuded an imposing pressure. Despite being just a trainee inspector, Hajina had passed her graduation assessments ahead of schedule and was merely waiting for her griffin to be allocated before receiving her official title. There was no reason for her to fear a butler. But this elderly elf was different. For this aged elven butler had been her mentor. He had followed ancient traditions, serving the Moriarty family since the nation's founding, as a butler... and, concurrently, had also been the Chief Inspector who retired eighty years ago. “I had presumed you might be even later, Miss Hajina.” With his hands clasped behind his back, the old butler spoke with that slight arrogance typical of the Elven dialect, "Young Master Aiwas was attacked by a demon scholar two days ago and only regained consciousness last night. Despite needing a visit to the Glass Stair Sanatorium, he chose to stay here, cooperating fully with the inspection bureau's requests. He merely took some medicine and patiently waited by the fireplace for your arrival for two hours, while I stood here at the door for the same duration. "The daylight is waning; you might as well have come tomorrow. Seeing you’ve delayed this much, I personally wouldn’t mind delaying for an entire week, given the order from the inspection bureau—cases signed with warrants should ideally conclude with results in a week. With your credentials allowing early graduation, Miss Hajina, finding that demon scholar should be well within your reach. “If you’ve already captured the suspect, why trouble poor young Master Aiwas anymore? It might be best you return; I’ll explain the situation to Mr. Kent myself.” Kent was the director of the White Queen District’s inspection bureau. Even once Hajina got certified, he would still rank three levels above her. Were it not for the old butler's sarcastic tone, she would have readily turned tail and handed this problem over to her superiors. But the issue was, she was still just a college senior. Back at school, she was formidable, but she hadn't graduated yet. Unexperienced in social subtleties, Hajina couldn't discern if he was seriously making this proposal or merely jesting at her expense. Her intuition whispered that she should brace herself: if she rashly ran away now, only trouble awaited her. "... I am truly sorry." Thus, Hajina opted to bow her head in apology first: "And I will also apologize to Mr. Aiwas." After all, she'd arranged the meeting and yet arrived so late without notice... it was indeed her fault. She gazed at the iron gate barring her and the old gentleman, as her thoughts wafted aimlessly again. The intricate wrought iron gate bore only subtle thorns as decoration... not much like the property of a noble family. In truth, Professor Moriarty—the foster father of Aiwas Moriarty, the individual involved in this case—was a reserved, prudent, and magnanimous man. Professor Moriarty had also been Hajina's lecturer at university, teaching subjects such as astrology, astronomy, and advanced mathematics. Inheriting the Moriarty trade operations, owning three museums, and establishing the capital's only observatory, he preferred quietly pursuing academics at his university despite his affluence. Notably, he funded numerous orphanages and adopted many orphans himself, genuinely standing as a pillar of virtue and kindness. Her captain had specifically reminded her before she left that the Moriarty family was not only wealthy but also a founding family served by elves. Though Mr. James, the head of the family, was gentle in demeanor, extra caution was warranted. By regulation, any direct participant in a demon-related incident who survived must immediately be secured with an oath lock and escorted to the local inspection bureau for a psychic scrutiny by a law enforcer. Only upon a ruling of innocence would they be returned to a hospital or sanatorium. In demonic rituals, the roles of ritual master, participant, tutor, and sacrifice were not easily distinguished by merely assessing harm or victim status. If a sacrifice survived, it indicated ritual failure—sacrificial victims might survive but were often still silenced. Thus, the injured party might not necessarily be the victim, possibly a participant. Yet, the rules seemed to have been laxed. Director Kent turned a blind eye to these tangible leads. It was the old butler who initiated the contact for today's meeting with Kent, as if this pressing matter only 'suddenly dawned on him.' No legal overseer was assigned to accompany Hajina; she, without griffin, armor, or sword, was sent alone. Such overt shielding... Hajina sensed that even if Aiwas was indeed involved, she wasn’t likely to bring him in. Yet, the gravity of it suggested... maybe, just maybe, he was indeed connected. ...How fortunate... A mere adopted orphan, favored and taken in by the Professor due to sheer luck, had now become untouchable by the inspection bureau... Standing at the gate, Hajina dazedly pondered with a tinge of envy. Just then, the gate slowly swung open. Startled, she lifted her gaze to see the old gentleman’s expressionless face, now inexplicably less irate. The old elf cast her a silent glance before turning and idly ambled back inside. Realizing she was being beckoned to follow, Hajina hurriedly donned her hat and rushed to catch up. She had just begun to walk when reminded to close the gate. But upon turning, she saw it sealing itself shut. Moreover, radiant runes began to illuminate from the otherwise ordinary gate’s interior. In the slanted daylight and paused evening breeze, Hajina felt an invisible force shrouding the area, altering the estate's atmosphere. "I do not intend to trouble you, Miss Hajina." Despite the old elf walking ahead, his softened voice somehow echoed clearly in her ears, "Yet it is vital to honor our appointments. When you agree to meet, the timing should be precise. Neither early nor late. Yes, perhaps the school tends to leniency on rules, but outside, there are griffin knights patrolling the streets, legal overseers auditing corporate taxes—no provisions like you, perhaps arresting persons of interest. “In this country, ‘rules’ hold weight for all. The inspection bureau, law courts, and the arbitration office protect not only Her Majesty’s decrees but also Parliament-established rules. “I shall overlook your fault this time, and I won’t tell Mr. Kent of your mistake. I’ll say you arrived on time, stayed to learn the details, and indulged in a couple of teas with some snacks afterwards. “But remember, it's only because Master Aiwas is merciful. I had resolved to call the bureau once you were an hour late. He stopped me. He believes in giving a chance... any reason is better discussed face-to-face." The old elf leisurely spoke until they reached the manor's entrance. In the next moment, his voice dropped slightly, yet it still resonated clearly in Hajina's ear: “Although Avalon does not have the so-called 'nobility' of other countries, the descendants of the founders are equally prestigious. Without the sacrifice of those twenty founders, everyone would have perished—even the queen must respect the descendants of the founders. "I sensed your sincere apology, thus I temporarily forgave your broken appointment. But you might want to ponder if you have offended or obstructed anyone... as I said, this was a meeting that did not require your presence.” These words left Hajina momentarily stunned. When they reached the entrance, the elder gracefully turned towards Hajina and offered a slight bow: "Please follow me, Miss Hajina. The young master has been waiting for quite a while." It was at this point that he donned the butler's mask to receive a guest. His earlier demeanor was more akin to that of a trainer addressing a disappointing pupil. Amidst this mental chaos, Hajina followed the old elf towards the living room. The plush carpet beneath her feet momentarily startled her, prompting her to look up, wondering if she should remove her shoes—but the old elf’s unflustered demeanor left her uncertain. Thus, with a heart filled with apprehension, she trailed behind, feeling the sudden warmth of the winter hearth. Only then did she realize she had made an elderly gentleman wait at the door for two hours on a cold winter evening. Shame and guilt washed over her, leaving her tongue-tied. Even her suspicions towards Aiwas were surprisingly diminished by this sense of remorse. That's when she encountered the reputedly carefree Aiwas Moriarty. He was seated in a wheelchair, a blanket draped over his legs. His pallid, weakened face was devoid of color, and although he appeared just seventeen or eighteen, his striking features were quite distinct from those of Professor Moriarty. Draped in a pure white fleece robe, he looked as if he had just emerged from a bath. His silky platinum hair glistened under the cozy glow of the fire. Lost in a book, his serene visage radiated a gentle elegance, reminiscent of a poet and the dancing flames in a home fireplace. The scene was picture-perfect, causing Hajina to widen her eyes unconsciously. But just then, as if hearing something, the young man deftly turned his wheelchair around. It was only at that moment that Hajina noticed he was in a wheelchair. ...Could this be the cost of being attacked by a demon scholar? Somehow, at some point, she instinctively dismissed the notion that "the demon scholar was Aiwas." The young man looked over, his deep blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean. "Miss Hajina." The voice that reached her was clear and aristocratic, perfectly matching his refined appearance. His voice, lively yet polite, contrasted with his frail demeanor: "It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. Hello. “—I wonder, have you come to arrest me?”