Kikuno Itou stood in the portal circle of Atrevaar with her hands on her hips. The spider legs on her back shifted the charred corpses around. Most had died from the heat, but a few had died from other means.

Sai crouched nearby. "I haven't seen anything like this." She ran her finger through the soot covering every surface. At least, every surface remaining.

"Only Power 7 could cause this type of destruction." Kikuno crouched across from Sai. "Who was there when the fight started?"

"Most of a platoon, Veph Veriss, the Rat, and the portal guards." Sai looked at the sky where the dark cloud of smoke still hung like an ominous storm. "I believe that's all."

"Vephthru and Sofia are both wizards," Kikuno said. She stood and let her spider legs continue poking around. "Nobody in the Security Regime would do something so careless."

The investigation was going nowhere. Unless they had a witness, there was nobody specific to blame. Since the waves of fire cleared, there had been no sign of any living person. Kikuno crouched as her legs worked through more corpses and stared at the smoke above. Just because she knew something didn't mean she could use it as evidence.

Why would Sofia do something so stupid?

On her way back to the portal, she passed the goblin. He had caused quite the commotion as he showed up bleeding and burned. He refused to stop as his skeleton appeared and dragged him toward Althowin's compound.

Before Kikuno could go through on her own, Sofia appeared. The woman had grabbed Kikuno's shoulders, apologized, and cried. They hugged, and Kikuno still didn't know what to think.

She hadn't actually confessed, and Kikuno wasn't going to be the one to suggest Sofia had willingly killed upwards of two hundred people.

"Miss Itou!"

Kikuno and Sai stood.

A Security Regime messenger ran up, out of breath and sweating. Some soot had stained his cheeks.

"What is it?" Kikuno asked.

"Veph Veriss lives. She is at Void Nexus, directing reconstruction efforts. She said her people will assist in fixing the plaza."

Kikuno looked into Sai's eyes. The liaison couldn't keep the scowl from her face.

"Thank you, sir." Kikuno waved him away. When he was gone, Kikuno grabbed Sai's hand and pulled her up. "What are your reservations?"

"Vephthru Veriss is selfish. Helping the city rebuild would be for public relations with Void Nexus." Sai scratched her face, accidentally smearing some soot on her cheek.

"Say what you want to say."

"Veph's hiding something. I don't know if she is behind this, but I'm sure she was part of it. Few people could do this. Even fewer could be here when it happened and still be alive."

Kikuno just nodded. She fully agreed. Even if it was Sofia who had used the Power 7 spell, Veph was tied into the mess in some way.

"Let's go to Void Nexus." Kikuno followed Sai. They were both from outside Atrevaar, but the city was as close to home as anything could be. The smaller woman walked nervously. With recent events, it was hard to imagine Sai would be calm.

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"You can stay at my place," Kikuno said as they walked through a destroyed street.

Sai just nodded.

People were still flowing back into the city. Most stood in the wreckage of their homes, searching for anything that survived the incredible heat. It hurt her heart to see the families weep. For some, it was an excuse for a fresh start. For most, it was an unbelievable loss. She had been there before.

"Why would someone use Power 7?" Sai asked quietly, making sure her voice didn't carry into the wrecked apartments.

Telekinetic magi, berserkers, and menders stood by to assist moving and healing as needed while the families dug through the ruined building.

"Desperation," Kikuno said. "True desperation."

Void Nexus was an entirely different environment. The destruction had barely reached the hero company. Parts of the building were still smoldering, mostly from the fires that had spread rather than the spell itself.

Veph stood out from the commotion in her golden suit and mask. She shouted orders when necessary, but was mostly passing information along to a woman Kikuno didn't recognize.

Before they could reach her, someone grabbed Veph's attention and turned it to Kikuno.

She supposed she didn't blend in well. Her wide-brimmed hat was already visible enough, and the spider legs obviously helped people identify her easily.

"Kikuno," Veph said.

"Veph."

"It's been a while."

Kikuno just stared.

Sai smiled politely. "Miss Veriss, we have some questions."

"On whose authority?"

"I am working as the liaison between the Security Regime and the bounty hunter, Kikuno Itou." Sai gestured at Kikuno like Veph didn't know.

"Fine. Ask."

Sai brushed her black hair behind her ear and pulled out her notebook. "Who used a Power 7 spell?"

"Sofia Halaby. The Rat."

Sai wrote down the answer.

Kikuno's stomach sank.

"What did she use, why, and who did she use to cast it?"

Veph crossed her arms like she was impatient and they were taking up her time. "Ethereal Ignition Wave. She used one of my people."

"And you didn't report this immediately?" Kikuno asked.

"I had other priorities."

"Why?" Sai asked. "Why did Sofia Halaby use a Power 7 spell against your people?"

Kikuno looked at the deep bruise on Veph's temple. Bone was surely broken, and even after being healed by a mender or potion, the bruise remained. That was the sign of a serious injury.

"The goblin turned feral after his fight and turned on us. I had some of my heroes come in for backup. Then the Rat snapped, attacked me, and killed my people." Veph adjusted the ear loops on her mask. "I tried to stop her."

"You have more shards," Kikuno said.

"And you see why she used Power 7." Veph turned away from them and shouted a few commands to her workers.

"You will testify that it was Sofia Halaby?" Sai asked.

"Yes. Fine." Veph turned back toward them. "Are you taking the bounty on her?"

"That's why I'm here," Kikuno said.

"You should get the goblin while you're hunting for the Rat."

"Owin the goblin has committed no crimes as far as the Security Regime is concerned. There's no official bounty on the goblin." Kikuno was ready to leave. They weren't going to gain anything from Veph.

"Let me know if you need assistance," Veph said.

"I won't." Kikuno turned on her heel and walked the other way. Sai scrambled to keep up and finished her notes.

"The bounty will officially go out for Sofia Halaby, the Rat, for forty million dungeon gold for the crime of using a Power 7 spell in a civilized area. Does that sound right?"

"It does." Kikuno bit her lip. Her mind was sluggish, unable to come up with any solutions. Was she really going to kill Sofia? The girl was so nice. She was . . .

"Go bring your information to the commander. I'll be back in a few days," Kikuno said.

"Where are you going?"

"Vraxridge. I need to talk to someone."

"Okay," Sai said, nodding quickly. "I'll just wait for you?"

"Sure." Kikuno set off. She pulled her grimoire from her bag and ran her fingers over the worm-like texture of the cover. Would Althowin Alegarra have a solution?

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