The soldier shook his head, his expression somber. "None."

Jamie's heart sank, a cold knot forming in the pit of his stomach. He spun around to face the smoldering wreckage; the carriage was now a mass of flame and ash. "It can't be," he muttered, disbelief etching lines of shock across his face.

All the planning, the daring invasion, the risks taken to capture the nobles. It had all been for nothing. The flames devoured not only the evidence of their conspiracy but also any hope of extracting the truth from their lips. There would be no confessions, no justice served. It only remained the silence amid the crackling blaze.

Beside him, Thomas stood, his rugged features shadowed by the dancing firelight. The two men exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment of defeat. They walked a short distance and sank onto the cold, hard ground.

Minutes stretched on like hours as they sat there. Jamie's mind churned with unanswered questions, his gaze vacant yet troubled. The scent of smoke filled the air, stinging his eyes and throat. He barely noticed the arrival of the first mages until a cool mist began to settle over the area.

Mages moved with precision. Their hands were weaving intricate patterns as they summoned streams of water from the nearby river. The liquid arced through the air before cascading onto the flames, hissing upon contact. Steam shot upward, mixing with the soot-laden smoke.

'How in the nine hells did they manage this?' Jamie thought, his jaw clenched. 'A mage wouldn't have had time to cast something this destructive from afar. Did they leave a trap behind?' His eyes flickered over the scene, searching for any clues.

Rising to his feet, Jamie approached the epicenter of the explosion. The ground beneath his boots was scorched and brittle, radiating heat. Blackened debris lay scattered in a rough circle, indicating the origin point of the blast.

"It didn't start from the ground," he mused aloud. "If it had, the scorch marks would spread outward evenly. But here..." He knelt, running his fingers over the charred cobblestones. "The burn patterns suggest the explosion came from above ground. Maybe from within the carriage itself."

Thomas watched him, arms crossed over his chest. "What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice low.

Jamie stood, brushing ash from his hands. "That's why none of them tried to kill us; they simply left the Empire," Jamie remarked. "They knew from the start that none of them would live long enough to speak."

"Did they have someone on the inside to sabotage things?" Thomas suggested.

"Maybe, but there are still too many possibilities," Jamie answered.

The bard began pacing, his mind racing through possibilities. 'Could there have been an accomplice among the guards? Or a concealed device timed to detonate?' Each scenario seemed more implausible than the last.

As they pondered, more mages arrived at the scene. They bore the attire of the Arcane Tower. Their presence commanded respect, and they moved with an air of authority.

The Arcane Tower mages formed a loose circle around the blast site, their hands raised as they muttered incantations under their breath. Threads of luminous energy wove between them, casting an ethereal glow over the wreckage. Symbols flickered in the air..

Jamie tried to catch snippets of their hushed conversation. Yet the words were lost amid the chaos around them.

Thomas stepped closer, his gaze following Jamie's. "You think they might find something we missed?" he asked.

"Possibly," Jamie replied, not taking his eyes off the mages.

Thomas considered this for a moment. "Could it be a blessing?"

Jamie glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "If we're considering divine powers, then anything is possible," he said thoughtfully. "But I need to eliminate other possibilities first."

It took quite a while for the mages to finally finish their assessment.

Meanwhile, the crowd began to disperse. Citizens who had gathered out of curiosity or concern were returning to their daily lives. Slowly, a semblance of order was returning. Through the thinning crowd, a procession of carriages approached.

Emblazoned on the doors of the leading carriages were the crests of the City Guard. The captains had arrived to take control of the situation. Their stern faces peered out from beneath plumed helmets as they surveyed the aftermath of the explosion.

Trailing behind was a carriage Jamie knew all too well. Adorned with the emblem of the von Hafenstadt family, the vehicle came to a halt with deliberate grace. The door swung open, and Maria emerged. She wore a modest, tailored dress. It was simpler and shorter than her usual attire, yet allowed her unrestrained movement. Her dark hair was pulled back tightly, accentuating her sharp features.

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"Should we go find out what's happening?" Thomas suggested, nodding toward Maria as she began issuing instructions to the guards and aides gathering around her.

Jamie hesitated, his gaze fixed on the activity unfolding near the scorched remains of the carriage. "No," he decided, turning away from the scene. "It's better if we wait."

Thomas shot him a puzzled look. "Why? This concerns us, doesn't it?"

"We're not in the Lower Quarter," Jamie reminded him. "To the soldiers and nobles here, we're outsiders. Meddlers who have no place in the affairs of the Noble Quarter. Pushing our way in now could cause more problems."

He paused. "Besides, if that soldier from earlier says one more word out of line, I might have to rip out his tongue," he spoke grimly. The encounter had left a bitter taste, and he had no desire to escalate matters further. It was best to withdraw.

Thomas knew how fierce Jamie could become, depending on the provocation. So he simply nodded, agreeing with his decision.

As they distanced themselves from the wreckage, fragments of conversation drifted on the breeze. Jamie's ears perked up at the mention of magic.

"It's impressive, executing such a spell from a distance," remarked one of the mages passing by.

"But what range are we talking about?" his companion inquired, a younger mage with keen eyes that darted nervously.

"Judging by the mana residuals, the activation point was beyond the city walls," the first mage explained. His tone was hushed, yet it carried a gravity that sent a chill through Jamie. "We're dealing with someone of at least the fifth circle."

The younger mage's eyes widened. "We were lucky then," he murmured, his voice unsteady. "An individual of such power limiting themselves to destroying a single carriage... It's rare."

As the two moved away from the crowd, the soldiers who had been put to sleep began to groan and stir. Some of them finally regained consciousness. They sat upright, their eyes vacant and haunted. Though no longer aggressive, a profound emptiness lingered in their gazes.

Suddenly, a piercing cry shattered the muted murmurs. "They knew!" a soldier screamed, staggering to his feet. His face was a mask of anguish and fury as he stumbled toward Maria, his steps unsteady yet driven by sheer emotion. "They expected it! The damned knew, and still they—"

Before he could reach her, fellow soldiers intercepted him, their firm grips restraining his wild movements. "Easy now," one murmured. "Calm down."

But the distraught soldier was inconsolable. Tears streamed down his cheeks, cutting clean paths through the grime. "All my friends and comrades... all gone," he choked out, his voice breaking. Overwhelmed by grief, his legs gave way, and he sank to the ground.

Maria watched him with deep sorrow etched across her face. The weight of the tragedy bore upon her, yet beneath the surface, Jamie sensed a resigned acceptance in her eyes.

"Shall we?" he asked, turning to Thomas beside him.

Thomas nodded, his expression grim. "Yes," he replied, casting a final glance at the devastated scene before them.

They made their way toward the bridge that separated the Noble Quarter and the Lower Quarter.

Their steps were slow; they had no reason to rush back. They used the moment to sort through their thoughts.

As they neared the stone bridge, the sound of hoofbeats could be heard behind them. A carriage slowed to a stop beside them.

The door opened, and Maria stepped out gracefully. She approached them, her gaze fixed on Jamie.

"You weren't planning to leave without speaking to me, were you?" she inquired, a hint of reproach tempered by fatigue in her voice.

Jamie met her eyes before turning his gaze forward. "I thought the matter was settled," he replied.

"Far from it," Maria said, falling into step beside him. "But you're correct in thinking we won't accomplish anything further here, not at the moment."

Thomas glanced between them but remained silent, sensing the need for them to talk privately.

Jamie hesitated before asking, "What did they find?"

Maria sighed. "Some form of curse," she explained. "A spell that would claim the lives of all involved should any of them speak. Perhaps they hoped I would attempt to interrogate them. Or maybe they intended for someone important to be caught in the fallout alongside the prisoners." She paused, her brows knitting in contemplation. "It raises more questions than answers."

A frown shadowed Jamie's face. 'Is that why the gods knew we'd gain nothing?' he questioned himself.

"No leads, no inquisitors, no prisoners," he contemplated aloud. "Seems there's little left for us to do."

"For now," Maria agreed. "But I doubt they've abandoned their plans."

Jamie glanced at her sidelong. "What is it you need?" he asked.

She took a measured breath. "Your help."

He raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "With what?"

"Have you heard about the governor?" Maria inquired.

"Not yet," Jamie admitted.

"It's still a secret. Only a few merchants and nobles know," she continued, her voice lowered conspiratorially. "But... my uncle was captured. He entangled himself with individuals he ought to have avoided."

Jamie shrugged lightly. "Sounds like a noble's problem. What could I do?"

"Diplomacy," Maria replied. "The one who seized him is a vassal of Frostwatch."

At the mention of Frostwatch, Jamie's expression hardened. Memories flickered at the edge of his mind. "I'm no longer part of Frostwatch," he reminded her. "I was expelled."

"Details," Maria dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Such things can be amended. Especially if..."

He eyed her warily. "Especially if what?"

She halted her stride, turning to face him. There was a glint in her eyes. Jamie could see a mix of resolve and vulnerability. "If we make the rumors true," she declared.

Jamie stared back in confusion. "What rumors?"

Maria offered a faint smile. "That you're going to marry me."

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