Early to bed and early to rise.
This was Russell's motto when it came to his sleep schedule.
After washing up he began his daily meditation session to increase his arcana attainment. The scepter symbol was becoming more and more solid, it would only take a bit more than a week for full condensation.
A gratified smile played on his lips. He made his way downstairs to have his breakfast.
It was fortunate that nothing else happened last night, otherwise he would have started the day in a terrible mood. Even though he had a Peak Third Rank golem outside his bedroom it was too much of a stretch to expect him to sleep soundly after that discovery.
He even had nightmares in his dream, a very rare occurrence.
He dreamed about his past in the orphanage, and along with it many unfamiliar memories that were "tragic" to say the least. Because those were not things he had experienced he naturally surmised it as ominous visions.
That's right, including the Eye of Inquiry he additionally had powers to dream of the future. Though it was completely unreliable as it either suddenly activated on its own or remained silent for year-round at least it had saved him from facing doomed situations in the past.
"Yo! Slept soundly?" Russell asked teasingly, seeing Samantha's droopy eyelids and faint dark circles under her eyes.
"Hmph!" She was too lazy to reply. Her mind was still sighing in relief from having passed the rest of the night safely without any incident.
The breakfast passed in silence.
Russell's thoughts drifted back to his time in the orphanage.
From what he heard from others, a sanitation worker found his few days old self lying butt-naked on the central plaza in the early days of winter.
Failing to find his parents, the person in charge of investigation later entrusted him to the care of the local orphanage. He didn't have much memory of this period just like any other infant.
When he started learning letters and could finally read sentences as well as understand some of the meanings the Eye of Inquiry appeared, showing its miraculous effects, instantly deviating his life from a predictable future.
It was unknown how his four year old self remained calm and composed enough to not be exposed. Thinking back to it, something seemed to have changed within him after this power awakened.
He became more steady, actively putting up an unruly front to mask his true personality. From others perspective he was no different from children of his age, even very active and energetic.
Despite getting into many fights and arguments with his peers he was studious and diligent, rarely stubborn and quick to admit his mistakes thus adults in the orphanage found him likeable and doted on him.
He, on the other hand, quickly picked up drawing as his hobby early on to better utilize his power. The more words he learned and more information from the outside he gathered the better he understood the place he called home.
By the time he was six he finally understood how dangerous his current environment was. The orphanage's director was in cahoots with Deliverance Altar! Not only him but quite a few in high ranks were similarly so.
Before he didn't understand what Deliverance Altar meant or what kind of organization it was.
Only when he became somewhat knowledgeable and in a stroke of luck got to read an article in the newspaper that hadn't yet been put away did he finally understand that the orphanage might have been providing fresh blood to this assassin organization for years.
Thinking of the fate of those familiar faces who never came back after going to get their mage qualifications tested, young Russell felt choked from sorrow.
All those words about their quick adoption or being taken as an apprentice by a mage on the spot was nothing but lies! It was also that very day did he finally discover the fourth progressive stage of the Eye of Inquiry.
His vacant gaze from shock and disbelief lasting over an hour at least proved to be fruitful.
From that point on, the entire orphanage no longer had any secret in front of him. From the lowest of a cleaner to the highest of the director, all kids from fifteen to less than a month old, had been carefully put under the scrutiny of his Eye of Inquiry over the years.
Russell waited patiently. He was looking for a chance… to break through this tragic fate.
Four years later, he turned ten and the opportunity finally arrived!
In a seemingly ordinary afternoon a pigeon landed beside him who was then practicing his painting skills. He curiously looked at the bird, white as the drifting clouds in the firmament.
Seeing the information on the illusory page Russell's eyes dilated for a second in utter shock but years of pretense had long since made him accustomed to controlling his outer reactions to the best possible state, the fleeting emotion was extinguished before it could manifest any further.
"Oh? You can actually see me! Hahaha, finally! I found someone!!"
The cloud white pigeon shouted excitedly while flapping its wings. Despite his best effort the mere fact that he turned to look at it already gave him away.
Feeling extremely apprehensive, young Russell still asked in a "curious" tone, "I never seen a pigeon that can talk! Are you perhaps those magic beasts I read in the storybooks!?"
"Heh! You little kid is also an odd one! To actually be able to 'see' a fae… Tsk! Tsk! Those old fogeys would have abducted you on the spot!"
"Ah!? What do you mean?" He got up in a panic and quickly distanced himself from the talking pigeon. It shook its head before flying up, its size growing with each flap of its wings.
Russell stood dumbfounded and stared in awe at the now colossal bird that blocked the sun and covered the entire horizon.
"My name is Cloud Heart. The fae of clouds! You, human child! Introduce yourself!!"
"..."
He just stood there like a statue. The bird was also very patient. After a minute of staring each other down, he finally replied barely concealing his turbulent emotions,
"I am Russell."
Ding-Dong!
With the sound of the doorbell his thoughts returned to the present.
Samantha stood up from her seat with a tensed face. He couldn't help but feel speechless but nonetheless he assured her, "Calm down! It must be the police here to notify us about further progress on that matter."
Without waiting for her response he went downstairs.
Not wanting to stay all alone she quickly followed behind but the fact that a wand had already appeared on her hand proved her heightened vigilance.
Opening the front door two figures came to their view, Constable Jose and a red haired woman in her late twenties.
""Good morning, Constable and Madam!""
Both of them gave a courtesy bow in greeting.
Jose was a familiar face so it was understandable but the fact that the woman next to him also required the same respect from them pointed to her equally high status.
Wearing the gray robe of Flowing Tide Pavilion, she had the identity badge of "First-rate Detective" pinned on her chest, a rank only held by those in the Valiant Mage realm.
Unlike the rank advancement procedures in police and military where one can be promoted to the next rank as long as their arcane attainment reached Four Symbols or broke through the next major realm the Flowing Tide Pavilion however only had one official rank for the mage in each arcana realm with stringent conditions.
When their arcane attainment reached Four Symbols, their spells proficiency were all in Casting-level or above, and their specialized arcane craft were at least of the late stage in conjunction with the realm would they be promoted to the next rank.
If one ignored combat power then it could be seen that she has surpassed the likes of Chief Constable Walter and Major Ryan Wilson in all aspects.
Rookie Detective, Second-rate Detective, and First-rate Detective. These were the three official ranks for the Lower Three realms in order.
As for anything above that Russell didn't know yet as those in the know were always from the prefecture making it impossible for him to unravel information at the fourth progressive stage.
There were no instances where he managed to keep any one of them within his line of sight for an hour straight. By the way, the twin sisters he assisted yesterday were both Rookie Detectives.
"Hmm. She is Lydia Reid, the only First-Rate Detective in our town."
"Good morning! It's nice to meet you two!"
Jose introduced Lydia who greeted back with a smile. After some exchange they were respectfully ushered inside. Only then did Jose informed them about the purpose of their visit,
"Last night, the culprit behind your home invasion unfortunately managed to escape the tracking spell of Miss Lydia. However, their last location she uncovered coincided with the same general area where a Patrol Officer had recently perished."
All officers' vital pulse were recorded in a special roster along with their identity information. That magical item could not only check their health condition but also mark the location of the general area where one had died during their service. It also served a far more crucial purpose, loyalty and control!
The recorded vital pulse could be used as a medium to incapacitate the person instantly, making them fall into a deep coma. Of course, to prevent backfiring many secret incantations and restrictions were placed on the roster ensuring that any third party couldn't do anything even if they somehow stole it.
Such a strategic item was naturally placed in an extremely secure place within the police headquarters of the local settlement. Pretty much all government organizations whether civil or military and even influential private groups as well as prominent families within the Caalmira Kingdom have similar measures for their members and subordinates.
"We have now temporarily determined their arcana realm to be in the Valiant Mage realm. Given that you have also played a key role in uncovering the smuggling den it's highly likely that the companions of those detained had now targeted you because of this."
"There were also a few other officers who regretfully died at the hands of those scums last night. Our Chief Constable was worried that one golem might not be able to ensure foolproofness so by following the protocol it has been decided that you two will take refuge at Beacon Tower for the time being."
Hearing the arrangements made by the police department Russell expressed that he will definitely comply. Housekeeper Samantha was also no exception but before both of them could get up to pack their luggage Lydia suddenly said, "Don't be in a hurry to leave yet."
"First, I will have to cast a clairvoyance spell on you. It's a mandatory check before we set off for the tower. Don't resist the spell effect though otherwise I will have to ask Jose to restrain you."
Without giving them anytime to reply she took her wand out of the sleeve pocket and began her work. Russell felt his entire body being invaded by something unknown, almost making him resist it instinctively.
Thanks to her reminder both of them, fortunately, endured successfully.
"Good! No trace of black magic!"
Lydia smiled in relief and got up leaving the two pale faced trembling Novice Mages to their devices. Jose gave a helpless smile before also getting up and waiting outside for them to finish packing up.
Russell glanced at her retreating back with shock hidden deep in his eyes.
[Name: Lydia Reid]
[Age: 28/85]
[Identity: First-rate Detective of Flowing Tide Pavilion in Little Clover Township, Member of House Reid in Coldstone Prefectural City, Liaison Agent of Slumbering Snakelets]
The red haired woman suddenly poked her head in from outside and met his gaze.
"By the way, thanks for helping my two apprentices. You're clearly suited for our pavilion. Want to join?"
Only a wry smile remained on his face.