The guard led Holden, Sable, and Durik to the front of the Mages Union where a large carriage was waiting for them. Naomi herself was already sitting inside, expectantly holding the door open for them.


    “Good, you’re both here,” Naomi said when Holden and Sable got into the carriage with the others. “We just received word of the victim from the inspector on sight. It’ll take a while to confirm the identity of the woman. But as far as we can tell, she’s one of the beastfolk.”


    Holden couldn’t help breath a sigh of relief. He then realized how rude that was, and found himself apologizing again. “I was worried it was Elliandra. I don’t know if I could think clearly if it turned out to be her.”


    Naomi suddenly placed her hand on his and spoke in a somber tone. “It’s okay, Holden. No one could blame for being distraught.” Her eyes then popped as she quickly retracted her hand. “Sorry about that. I know I’m being a little overly familiar.”


    “It’s fine,” Holden replied. “Some people are just like that.”


    Sable the climbed onto Holden’s leg to avoid Durik, who was uncomfortably shifting in his seat since the carriages cabin was so small. “Yes. But I wouldn’t expect the director of te Mages Union-.”


    Holden yanked the cait-sith’s tail to prevent him from saying something rude, causing Sable to screech. “Hey, watch the tail. Stupid human.”


    Naomi shook her head disapprovingly at Holden. “No need to force Sable to hold back on my account. Like I said, I’d rather you just treat me casually. No need to worry about formality.” She then looked at Sable with a bright smile. “You can even sit on my lap, if it’s more comfortable.”


    Sable slinked back onto the carriage seat from discomfort. “No thanks. That would feel kind of ackward.”


    “I understand,” Naomi said with a chuckle. “Very well then. Coachmen, take us to West Chrimoria. The abandon warehouse north of precinct 7.”


    They arrived at their destination about half an hour later, and it was a place Holden and Sable were all too familiar with. This was the same abaondoned building where Sable had been tied up the same day he and Holden first met. It was the place here their partnership began. Now it was a dumping ground for a murder victim that hopefully would give them some clues into the missing officials.


    Once everyone started filtering out of the carriage, a question popped into Holden’s head that he couldn’t believe he hadn’t though of sooner. “Wait. Naomi, why are we coming here? Is the victim relevant to the case?”


    “You mean the guard didn’t ecplain?” Naomi asked, scowling at the guard in question.


    “Don’t blame him,” Holden insisted. “I kind of overreacted when he gave me the news.”


    “Oh. I see.” Naomi then cleared her throat. “Well, this person had a badge on her that identified her as a government employee. Though it was too damaged to tell what department of the government.


    “That makes sense,” Holden replied. “So, we suspect it could be one of our missing persons.”


    “Indeed,” Naomi said. She was about to go walking toward the crime scene when she suddenly turned around to address Holden. “Also, do try to keep your emotions under control, Holden. We need you to have a clear head, if we’re going to save Elliandra and the others.”


    “Yes, got it.” Holden then gave Sable a sideways glance. It was strange watching Naomi go between overly familiar, and extremely formal. It only made him and Sable wonder what her deal with them was. However, there was still a job to do. Digging into the director’s eccentric behavior would only slow them down.


    Naomi took the lead, and made her way onto the crime scene with Holden, Sable, Durik, and the one guard following behind her. The body had been found only a couple of hours prior, and reported to the police. They in turn reported it to Naomi, because they wanted to use her divination magic to identify the murderer.


    The body was found in the same part of the building where Sable had been tied up. It was still lain out right where it was found surrounded by several officers, and a man in an inspectors uniform leaning over it with his back turned to the group.


    “This is creepy,” Sable said when they arrived looking at Holden. “Do you think this was intentional?”


    “Doubtful,” Holden replied. “Likely just a coincidence.”


    “No way. This has got to be planned. I’m telling you that it’s the red pixie. And she’s going after us.”


    “Cat, you’re mental. How would the red pixie know that we’d be the ones investigating this? Use your head.”


    Their bickering was interrupted y the inspector assigned to the murder, who was none other then Alwin. “Would you two stop bickering. It’s getting on my nerves.”


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    Holden and Sable both said his name in unison. Holden then asked, “So, you’re the one assigned to this case. What did you find out?”


    Alwin’s eyes wandered over to Naomi as he listened to Holden’s question. “You nknow I can’t share that information with you, especially in front of the director of the Mages Union.”


    Naomi made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry inspector. Holden and Sable have been hired to investigate the missing government officials per my request. You can share any information with them, so long as it pertains to the investigation.”


    “Understood,” Alwin said with a hint of curiosity. “Well by luck or misfortune, the body we have here belongs to one of the missing persons, Sia Reinhouse.”


    “The inspector from the Workplace Compliance Union. She was the fourth to be kidnapped. Agh, does this mean the others are already dead? Or was there some other motive behind this?”


    “I don’t know. We haven’t heard of any of the others showing up dead. The director would’ve been notified if that were the case.”


    Sable looked over the body. It was scorched beyond recognition. He couldn’t even identify it via scent. “Alwin, how did you identify her body?”


    “One of our diviners was able to identify her with a spell,” Alwin explained. “Though they couldn’t determine how she died. That’s why we asked the director of the Mages Union to come here.”


    Naomi took that as her cue to step in and get to work. “Fortunately, I have everything I’ll need to cast my best divination spells. I’lll just need help setting up the magic circle, if you all don’t mind.”


    Naomi had a handbag with her that was magical enchanted to be bigger on the inside then it was on the outside. It also reduced the weight of everything inside, making it easier to carry. Naomi pulled out several items from this bag. The first of which was a book full of ritual spells. Many spells within the divination class of magic require a ritual to cast, which meant it required the use of a magic circle and certain items to perform.


    The spell Naomi planned to cast was a rank 4 spell that would allow her to see everything that happened to the target of the spell for the past three days. This would hopefully provide them with a lead on who kidnapped Sia Reinhouse. Although, Naomi didn’t get her hopes up given how divination magic hasn’t been able to identify the culprit so far.


    Regardless, she gave directions to Holden and the others to help set up the ritual. The magic circle had the same dual-circle found in Naomi’s office with runes written between the two circles. Once the magic circle was finished, twelve lit candles on candle holders made from fine crystals were placed equal distance around the circle. Naomi then covered her face in a veil made from the skin of a white snake. She held a ruby in one hand, and a sapphire in the other. The charred body was laid down in the center of the circle. Naomi sat on her knees in front of the body with a crystal ball in her lap. She then began chanting the words for the spell.


    “Time is but an illusion of our finite understanding created by our limited perception. The truth is all that has happened and all that will happen is happening now, in the moment of the eternal now. All of eternity can be found in the present. So, show me a glimpse of the present that I wish to see.” Naomi than held out her hands toward Sia Reinhouse’s dead body. “Show me the sequence of events that have led to this unfortunate soul’s demise. Grand Divination.”


    The faint trails of smoke from the twelve candles met just above the center of the magic circle forming a large ball of smoke that descended upon Naomi, who’s eyes began to glow brightly. The large ball of smoke was then absorbed by the crystal ball on Naomi’s lap. The scene of Sia Reinhouse’ death then started playing above the magic circle for all to see.


    It began with Sia arriving in her office. Her eyes popped the moment she laid eyes on the chair behind her desk. However, the chair was empty, causing confusion among all of those watching the scene along with Naomi. Sia was then knocked on conscious, then disappeared. The next scene wa of her death. Sia suddenly appeared in the exact location where her body was found. It then looked as if her entire body spontaneously combusted. She burned to death in agony, and that was the last thing Naomi’s magic revealed to them. With the spell now complete, the ruby, the sapphire, and the crystal ball all shattered into tiny pieces.


    Naomi huffed in both shock and exacerbation. “It looks like the culprit is blocking divination. But why did we only witness the vents of her disappearance and death, and nothing else in-between? There was at least a full day between those two events.”


    Despite his studies of magic, Sable still didn’t know much about divination magic. It was because of this and his curiosity the cait-sith felt compelled to ask, “So, you’re saying your spell should’ve showed us all of those events, but something is blocking divination?”


    “Yes. Lead can block divination, so long as there is enough in it. Though, Sia would’ve had to have been held hostage in a lead container, or a lead mine for it to work. That being said, that doesn’t explain how the culprit concealed themselves.”


    Sable then recalled his and Holden’s most recent case. “Mars Rent had an item in his possession that allowed him to block divination. Though I’m not sure what it was since Holden and I never laid eyes on it.”


    “Oh, is that so?” Naomi asked, looking to Holden for confirmation.


    “It is,” Holden said. “Maybe the culprit is using something similar. Could we get a look at the report for his case?”


    “I can request the files. But it’ll take some time,” Naomi informed them. “It would be faster if someone from the police department requested it.” She then glanced at Alwin. “Like a certain inspector who’s current case might involve such an item.”


    Alwin sighed, feeling a sudden headache coming on. “I have a feeling I’m about to get caught up in all kinds of trouble. You’re the director of the Mages Union. Couldn’t you request it yourself?”


    “You have any idea how much work that’ll require?” Naomi said, hands on her hips. “Even though I am working with the police, bureaucracy demands that I fill out a bunch of forms and get approval from the police commissioner before any files unrelated to my case are disclosed to me. As an inspector, though, you don’t have to jump through as many hoops.” A cheeky grin then appeared on Naomi’s face. “Plus, seeing as you’re a fellow inspector, you might just be able to coax the information out of the one assigned to the case.”


    “Just as I thought,” Alwin grumbled. “Now I’m getting caught up in a big mess.”


    “This is your case now,” Holden reminded him. “You’re the inspector assigned to the murder of Sia Reinhouse. So, suck it up. You’re opart of the team now.”


    “Getting to work with the infamous Holden, and the sensational singing cat, along with the director of the Mages Union to boot.” Alwin then scowled from stress, adopting a mocking tone to further show his displeasure. “What an honor.”