NOVEL NEXT Chapter 74 - Time Attack
[Volume 2 | Chapter 74: Time Attack]
June 24th, 418 E.V.
10:12 AM.
The Trafalgar estate was just as lively as the day before, a pause was only needed due to last night's affairs drawing far too long into the dusk. But now, with the morning's dawn, Acacia stood at the same room's center, fingers steepled before him as he surveyed their assembled forces.
Ten hours remained before Luna reached conjunction with Spica.
Ten hours to prevent the unthinkable.
Noelle Lima, however, was not quite optimistic.
"So let me get this straight... we have credible evidence that Alaric Ptolemy is planning to sacrifice five children in a forbidden ritual, and we're not involving the IPA? Acacia... this is well beyond simply catching him having someone he shouldn't have!"
"I understand your concerns, Noelle, but... with how much Acacia has been leading us on this, I also believe his assessment deserves some consideration." Returning to her peacemaker state after a "good" night's sleep, Eleanor Trafalgar spoke softly, but with an unmistakable conviction belying her delicate cadence.
"With all due respect, Mrs. Trafalgar," Noelle continued, gesturing toward the astronomical calculations covering the whiteboard, "we do have compelling circumstantial evidence, yes, but nothing concrete enough to justify vigilante action. The IPA has protocols for exactly these situations, and specialized teams trained to handle thaumaturgical threats."
Sirius leaned forward, bow tie slightly askew from last night's revelations.
"Noelle raises valid concerns. As much as I appreciate our little team's capabilities..."
His gaze swept over his daughter and Elias, who sat side by side reviewing topographical maps.
"We're talking about confronting the heir to the House of Ptolemy practicing dark arts. It's not exactly an afternoon picnic, haha..."
"Father's right. The IPA has resources and experience that we don't. It's just factually the case." Leila added without looking up from her map.
Elias begged to differ.
That line of reasoning was the antithesis of the Code of Knights. Simply put, it was what a coward would say.
"By involving them, that makes the situation way worse!"
He rose from his chair, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his still-healing wound; that didn't deter him from speaking his mind.
"Think about what we're dealing with, guys! This guy's going to butcher five kids just to get stronger! The IPA isn't just going to swoop in and arrest him quietly. It's going to turn into an all-out scandal, and not to mention, he has a get-out-of-jail free card with his Birthright!"
Acacia nodded, finally deciding to join the fray.
"Elias gets it. We can't involve the authorities. Not directly."
He approached the whiteboard, dried ink still faintly staining the tips of his fingers from the previous night's frantic calculations. There was still a space where he described ⸢Ephemeral⸥'s abilities, so he pointed to that.
Noelle's expression hardened, visibly at odds with her typical cheerful demeanor.
"Why not? From where I stand, this looks like teenagers playing detective with lives at stake."
"Then you should understand that with lives being at stake, I'm not playing around." Acacia realized he sounded a bit harsh, so he decided to reframe his position a bit. "Sorry, I know you're tasked to look out for me, Noelle, but this is the best course of action. Think about what we know about Alaric's recent behavior. He's been systematically using ⸢Ephemeral⸥ to erase the memories of library staff every time he visits Windsor Prep. Clearly, he's past the point of sparingly using his Birthright to violate other people's minds and memories."
He circled the entry on ⸢Ephemeral⸥.
"Now, consider what happens if the IPA starts questioning him. Alaric knows he's guilty. He knows he's planning something horrific. He's also already demonstrated that when he feels threatened or cornered, his first instinct is to use ⸢Ephemeral⸥ to make the problem disappear."
"You're suggesting he'd manipulate the investigators." Eleanor reached his train of thought.
"Oh, not just that. He could make entire interrogation teams forget they ever suspected him. He could manipulate evidence handlers, witnesses, and even supervising officers. We'd be handing him the perfect opportunity to compromise the entire investigation from the inside. Even worse, if he catches wind that the IPA or Wind Brigade is onto it and that his careful timeline is in jeopardy, he might not wait for the optimal astronomical conjunction. He could attempt the ritual immediately, today or this afternoon, when we're not prepared to stop him. The conjunction is the optimal time for the ritual's power, sure, but it's not totally confirmed whether it wouldn't work if he did it within a reasonable timeframe."
"That... is an interesting thought. If he gets wind of any sector of the Windsor Investigation Department coming onto him, it would be impossible to predict his next steps. But, if we let him proceed as planned, we can at least have an idea of where to be and what to expect, right?" Sirius mused, leaning his chin upon his palm.
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"Never interrupt your enemy when they're making a mistake." Acacia shrugged.
He then stared straight at Noelle, facing her troubled gaze.
"The only way to handle this safely is to catch him in the act, with irrefutable evidence, when he can't use ⸢Ephemeral⸥ to escape consequences. That means we have to let him proceed to Oakridge Path tonight and stop him at the moment he attempts the ritual."
Noelle's eyes widened as she considered the ramifications of such a plan.
"That's... incredibly dangerous. And risky."
"Better than calling the authorities. I'd rather risk a broken arm than a psychological break in someone who has the ability to mind control people."
I can't also let info of this operation get out to any authorities... Bismarck's integrity is on the line.
The Assistant Inquisitor fell silent. Acacia's logic was sound to her. As an Inquisitor, she understood the need for discretion and careful timing in investigations. Yet, as a responsible adult, her first instinct was to reach out to the authorities, to rely on the structures and systems designed for situations just like this.
And most importantly... she didn't want to see Acacia hurt. Perhaps at the beginning, she was mostly concerned about his safety because Pandora told her to be, but as she spent more time with him and realized just how different and talented he was, she grew more and more concerned.
Perhaps it was just her instinct as a young woman who had always yearned for a sibling.
"What Acacia's saying makes sense to me," Elias agreed, already getting pumped up.
Leila sighed. "Well... if he can make library staff forget entire days, what could he do to IPA Officers?"
No one wanted to imagine it.
"Fineee...." Noelle sighed exaggeratedly before looking at the whiteboard, then at her notes, then at everyone else in the room.
But then, at Acacia specifically.
"So, what's the plan, mission man?"
Acacia blanched briefly at the question, his mind whirring.
"A plan... right."
He had been so focused on proving his theory and gathering support that the actual logistics of stopping Alaric had slipped his mind. He needed a workable strategy, not just an idea.
"Alright then. Leila, Noelle, you guys will be my allies. Let's go to the lab, stock up, and think of something." Acacia quickly set up a few preliminary steps to ensure they were all on the same page, but then another thought crossed his mind. "Wait, Leila, you also said you made me a gift or something back when we first fought Alaric a few days back at Windsor Prep. Is the gift still..."
He trailed off as a flashback of their previous argument entered his mind. Leila's eyes also seemed to dim, a similar recollection likely surfacing in her thoughts.
"It... might be useful for the situation, so... I can give it to you, no problem!" Leila said.
Acacia nodded, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
"What about me?" Elias's voice cut through the room, tight with barely contained frustration. "You're just... leaving me behind?"
It was more of a challenge than a question.
Acacia paused, turning slowly to face his friend. Elias stood with shoulders squared despite the visible pain the posture caused him; his mint eyes blazed, as if daring Acacia to deny him.
"You're injured, Elias. Alaric already beat you up last time. You're still just as injured as you were before. This time, he won't hesitate to finish the job."
"So what? I'm just supposed to sit here and do nothing while you three risk everything? I have ⸢Windwaker⸥! I can still use [Roa] without reopening my wound! I can—"
"You can still get yourself killed," Acacia interjected, an uncharacteristic emotion bleeding into his tone. "Then what? What good does your noble sacrifice do for those five kids?"
Elias's mouth flapped open, then closed.
Sirius stepped forward, placing a hand on Leila's shoulder.
"While I appreciate your concern for my daughter's safety, Elias, Leila's participation in this mission is expected of her. As a fellow admit to Vanguard, you should know that."
Eleanor nodded, her elegant features composed in perfect serenity despite the danger looming over her only child. "Being a student of Vanguard University carries responsibilities beyond academic achievement. These prodigies represent the future of our province and the next generation who will safeguard our way of life."
Leila straightened herself, addressing her next words to everyone as she put a hand on her chest.
"I'm not just going because I want to help Acacia. This is what I've been trained for, and what Vanguard expects of me as a representative."
The explanation only twisted the knife deeper in Elias's chest. He too had been admitted to Vanguard. He too should be standing alongside them, protecting Windsor from threats that ordinary subjects couldn't comprehend.
Instead, he was being left behind.
Again.
"...Be careful."
He didn't know how he managed to force the words out, how they emerged without trembling, without breaking.
Acacia understood what Elias was feeling. He understood more than anyone else what it felt to be powerless, and how vexing it felt to see others fight battles you want to help them with—only to be unable to for reasons thinner than glass.
Alas, now was not the time for empathy.
"We will. Let's go."
The trio headed toward the laboratory door, Noelle and Leila falling into step behind Acacia synchronously.
As the door closed behind them, Elias remained motionless in the center of the room, acutely aware of Eleanor and Sirius's concerned gazes. Their pity burned worse than the wound in his chest ever could.
Useless.
He'd failed again, just as he'd failed to live up to the impossible standard set by his brother. Even now, with lives at stake, he couldn't rise to the occasion. He couldn't be what others needed him to be.
Couldn't be Zachary.
If he'd been faster against Malleus, smarter, stronger—if he'd been more like his brother—perhaps he wouldn't be standing here now, relegated to the sidelines while others fought the battles he should be fighting.
Zachary would never have allowed himself to be injured this way. Zachary would have found a solution and have convinced Acacia to let him participate despite the risk. Zachary would have been essential, not an afterthought.
Zachary wouldn't have been left behind.
If only he could be like Zachary.
If only he were worthy of the Scryer name.
If only he weren't so damn useless.
The laboratory door swung shut with a final, damning click.