9 An Answer and More Questions (2/2)

”Hey come on, let's get this over with.” Ronin called

”Yes, yes. We're coming!” She yelled back.

They entered the hall to find it much the same as the last time they had been down there. Lia was particularly excited. She was running from mural to mural like a child on christmas morning.

Being a huge history buff, it didn't take her long to figure out who was in the murals. ”These are the Elemental Knights!” She exclaimed. ”I get it now! The Knight's Hall, it's their hall!”

”Yes this was a hall built by the first Queen in their honor, 500 years ago.” Sara affirmed.

Turning to Casey, ”And you! Your artifact came from here.” Her eyes lit up in excitement. ”You're one of them aren't you? A new holder of one of their artifacts?”

Sara smiled, ”I see she figured it out.” Gesturing towards Casey she said, ”I suppose I should reintroduce you. Lia, meet Sir Casey Bennet, Knight of Frost, First Rider of the Queen.”

Casey couldn't help but turn a little red at that introduction, ”What was that? Why'd you have to introduce me like that?”

Laughing Sara said, ”Why wouldn't I? Those are your official titles as the Knight of Frost”

Lia stared at him unspeaking, mouth open and eyes wide.

”I think you broke her.” Ronin remarked.

Snapping out of her dumbfounded state Lia stammered, ”H-hah, it's actually an Elemental Knight, I can't believe I'm meeting one.”

Casey poked her forehead, ”Oi! It's still me, you've already met me. And besides, I'm still in training. I don't even know how to you my abilities.”

”Right, you're right.” She sighed.

”Alright let's get to work. It's that mural over there.” Ronin pointed to the mural with the depiction of the Shayde.

Lia's previously excited state abruptly halted when she reached the mural. ”Wah!” She cried as she fell back slightly. ”T-this is a S-Shayde!?”

”Yes that was a Shayde” Ronin answered.

”It's d-definitely terrifying.” She took a step towards it in order to examine it more properly.

Pulling her sketchbook out of her bag she began comparing the Shaydes foot to the tracks they found. Casey joined her in examining the mural.

Its red eyes still sent shivers down his spine, but he tried to ignore it focused on the creatures feet. When compared to the remains of the people in the mural, it's foot seemed slightly larger than theirs. He focused on its sharp claws on its foot. 1, 2, 3, 4… That can't be right!. He frantically recounted hoping he missed a claw, but to no avail. There were only four claws on its foot.

Ronin was also examining the mural. ”Don't jump to conclusions, it's still a little difficult to tell if the tracks match just by looking at it's foot.” He tried to calm Casey who had grown very pale.

”Look over here!.” Lia pointed to a corner of the mural, an area of the road that was particularly muddy. In the middle of the mud, a clear footprint was sunk in the mud.

The footprint was a perfect match to the tracks they had found.

”Damn it! No matter how I look at it, it's a perfect match!” Lia was clutching her journal so hard that her fingers had gone white.

”Let me see your sketch.” Ronin said and took the sketchbook from her hands. ”There's no mistake… the print in the mural is the same as the print in the sketch.”

”What does this mean?” Casey couldn't help but ask.

”It means that we might have a large problem on our hands.” Ronin answered gravely.

Sara abruptly grabbed the journal and slammed it shut with a bang that echoed throughout the large hall. ”Now hold on a moment! Everyone just take a breath.”

Without realizing it, Casey had been holding his own breath. When she slammed the journal shut it woke him from his stupor and he was able to breathe again.

She spoke in a low voice, ”We have yet to hear anything from the Riders we sent out to track it down. Until they return, we will not jump to any conclusions.”

”But-”

”No buts! This is far too important for us to make any mistakes. For now we do our jobs. We are Riders, the Kingdom's information network. If we are too hasty, panic will spread out of control.”

Ronin sighed and collected himself. ”You're right, we don't have all of the information. We'll wait for the trackers to return.”

”Is that enough?” Lia asked.

”No, for now we have to find everything we can about the Shaydes and that war.”Sara frowned. ”But I imagine the only place where there are any records left is my study.”

”What do you mean? Surely there's more out there.” Casey said.

”Like I told you, the Church banned most of the information about that war. And the books that mentioned it in the Royal Library all went missing.” Ronin rubbed his temples in frustration.

Suddenly his eyes lit up and he grabbed Casey's collar. ”Casey. If there was anything in your book about this… You need to tell us now.” His voice was low and threatening.

”Wha-” Lia tried to stop him but was silenced by a glare. Sara also just stared at him, waiting for his answer.

Feeling their eyes on him, Casey clenched his fists. ”That's just it! None of this was in the book! Absolutely none of it. There were no Elemental Knights. No Shaydes. No dangerous animal in the forest. I don't understand any of this.”

Ronin released his hold with a sigh. Shaking his head he said, ”I'm sorry Casey. That was unnecessary. You already told me the answer.”

”No it's alright. I understand why you asked and I wish I had the right answer, but I don't.”

”Alright, I think this is enough for tonight. For now let's just go back to our rooms and get a good night's rest. We'll report this to the Captain tomorrow and see what she wants to do.” Sara stepped in and diffused the conversation.

”I really don't understand what that was all about, but I think that is a good idea.” Lia said, retrieving her journal from Sara.

Ronin reached his hand out towards Casey, ”Is this alright?”

Casey shook Ronin's outstretched hand. ”No hard feelings.”

Ronin gave an inquisitive look and pulled back his hand. ”Okay, then let's leave this place.”

As they were walking back, Sara abruptly called out, ”Ah right, Casey! I'd nearly forgotten. Your magic trainer has arrived. You begin magic training tomorrow.”

With a laugh that broke the heavy atmosphere Casey punched the air, ”Finally! I can finally learn magic!”