CASE II: No Otome Game, Investigation I
[x] Plan Iron Lady
-[x] Write-in
–[x]But leaving a potential isekai in possession of an innocent (at least compared to an Isekai) that is in line for the throne for the sake of political convenience while another stands outside under the guise of an ambassador trying to get in here while abusing his powers and the local citizenry is cowardly, foolish, morally repugnant, a dereliction of duty, and an incredible security risk.
-[x] Write-in
–[x] Interview Circe, her closest friends, her head servant and retainer (and if any have been replaced recently, them too).
–[x] Have someone look into the headmaster. While he could just be trying to avoid a scandal, he could also be compromised.
~~~
[x] Plan Iron Lady
-[x] Write-in
–[x]But leaving a potential isekai in possession of an innocent (at least compared to an Isekai) that is in line for the throne for the sake of political convenience while another stands outside under the guise of an ambassador trying to get in here while abusing his powers and the local citizenry is cowardly, foolish, morally repugnant, a dereliction of duty, and an incredible security risk.
-[x] Write-in
–[x] Interview Circe, her closest friends, her head servant and retainer (and if any have been replaced recently, them too).
–[x] Have someone look into the headmaster. While he could just be trying to avoid a scandal, he could also be compromised.
~~~
You shook your head. “But leaving an Isekai to possess the Second Princess would be even more of a risk to the nation. The risks of not doing anything at all… someone so close to possible succession? We can’t just stand idly by to let that happen. And don't you remember that Isekai Ambassador hanging around the Academy gates – could that really be a coincidence?”
You remembered Averink’s own words, when you first met him to discuss his research. “Could you imagine what would happen if the Isekai were allowed to subvert our government? Our education?” he’d asked you. You, word for word, spoke these words back to him.
“A very wise scholar asked you that question when you took his case,” Averink said. “But this is different! This is the Princess! And I do happen to like keeping my head attached to my neck!”
“We are investigating Duchesses and Countesses,” you argued. “Is this not exactly the sort of thing your research was meant to prevent?”
Averink closed his eyes in thought. “You're right, of course. I just never expected this to happen during a simple research outing – but you have your duty, and I’ll assist and protect you however I can.” You could hear him think: “Even though I can’t possibly see this ending well for either of us.”
You turned back to your meal. “Then I will continue with my investigation as planned – interviewing the students whose Appraisals showed suspicious characteristics, as well as the friends and servants of Lady Justitia and Princess Circe.”
“Oh, and about the research,” you said.
“The research, right. Against everything else we’ve learned… ” Averink replied.
“Was this of any use to you? I can give you the notes on the individual interviews after they are done, if that will help any further.”
“I had developed a rough profile of my theoretical possession target, which I used to select the students to be Appraised,” Averink said, handing you a few pages of hastily scribbled notes. “Each of those young ladies exhibited one or more of those characteristics. I will of course make my research notes and my correspondence with Viponde available to you. Oh, and yes, the interviews should help.”
Averink paused.
“I was under the impression we would be preparing for possessions after the storm, not before. At the very least, if what we suspect is true... the Second Princess may be a shining example of my own theory of the Fujo Isekai and its intended victims.”
“You think that future victims could be built around Princess Circe’s Appraisal?” You remembered the different things you had noticed in her previous Appraisal. Fire affinity, bullying, seduction. You mentioned as much.
“We can only speculate now, but yes. If you find other girls with similar Appraisal skills and attributes, make sure they are listed in the at-risk category for future possession… hell, they may even be possessed already.”
You nodded.
“Is there anything else you need, or shall I return to my research?”
You looked at the notes, considering your answer. “I will need your assistance in one last thing, Mr Averink.”
“Yes?” Averink swallowed the last of the coffee, his expression that of a man facing the gallows.
“Can you look into the Academy’s Headmaster?”
~~~
You walked to the Academy’s courtyard, to collect your thoughts – and the students needed for further questioning. The school hadn’t changed at all since you left – not that you’d exactly expected it to, after all. By now, the students would have finished the last of the day’s classes, free to mingle, read, and practice their skills before the night’s curfew.
You passed empty classrooms, ones you remembered attending. Magical Theory, Healing, Theology… You reminded yourself that you should probably speak with Father Cosmo, your former Exorcism teacher before you leave the Academy. He was a reclusive old man, and probably would be of little use in the investigation itself, but you were pretty sure you had levelled up since the Pied Piper Case, and he could help you further develop some of your abilities.
You entered the library, a vast room filled with tables, couches, and ladders that led up to great wooden bookcases two stories high. Books both small and absurdly large were stacked on tables or podiums, some even levitating behind mana barriers to prevent tampering or damage by clumsy – or overly curious – students. Mechtelt had, of course, still found a way to get through these fields so that she could read restricted grimoires and books on curses.
The students here read in silent solitude, taking down notes, or whispered very softly in huddled groups by tables or alcoves. It was, as you remembered from your student days, where you could run into many of the commoner students. Although students wore their white school uniforms to class, they could wear their own choice of clothing afterwards, and the commoners were often recognisable by their clerical robes, representing the fact that their allegiance was to the Church, whose patronage was why they could attend this school. Just like yourself, without pedigrees or connections to protect them, they had to instead rely on putting their all into academic success.
Of course, this was not to say there were only commoner students here, or that the noble students did not put any effort into their studies. You could see Rosemarijn in one of the alcoves reading, sitting next to another noble lady that you recognized. She had a tall wrap of flaxen hair surrounded with large ringlets in the Astemmian style, and was wearing a black corset with a fur-collared pink coat covering a typical aristocrat’s figure. This was Lady Linneke van Riehter. Not only was she one of tomorrow’s appraisees, but she was also a member of the school’s Council of Prefects, and now its head. She waved to you politely and smiled, which you returned.
When you first arrived at the Academy of Light, she had been dismissive towards you, however unlike most of the other nobles, she had eventually come around. You had never joined the Prefects, of course. This was not a Yankeevine school such as the University of Aafensenn, with its Student Councils who were either elected by the other students or selected by test scores. Prefects were appointed by the Board of Governors and had to possess pedigrees, of which obviously you lacked. Still, Linneke was a very capable student, and was an even better leader, so she probably deserved it.
If you remember correctly, her scores were… second of all the third years? In your own year Princess Circe was first, almost certainly through less than respectable means, second was yourself, third was Mechtelt, and fourth was a fellow commoner, a girl you vaguely remembered was named Annelies Rolthiof, who had since graduated.
You curtsied to the two young ladies. “It is very well to see you, Lady de Lievens and Lady van Riehter.”
Linneke nodded. “And to you, Lady Inquisitor Visser.”
“I must request the presence of Lady de Lievens for a private interview concerning her Appraisal, later tonight,” you said. You informed her of the time and place, and that Averink would send for her.
Rosemarijn’s face paled, and her aura suddenly shifted into a soft brown of anxiety. Nevertheless, she nodded. “I will, of course, fully cooperate with the Inquisition.”
You smiled, in an attempt to reassure her. Everyone in this Academy had their secrets, few of which were relevant to your investigation. “Thank you.”
“If there is any way I or the Prefects can assist you, please do not hesitate to call upon me,” Linneke added.
“Of course.” You curtsied again, and began walking out of the library.
Somewhere near the Magical Theory section, you heard soft footsteps following you. You turned around to see a young girl dressed in a nun’s habit. She was very young, and petite, the top of her head barely reaching your shoulder. Strangely, she was blindfolded – a strip of black silk, embroidered with runes and holy symbols, had been wrapped around her head, covering her eyes.
“May I help you?” you asked.
“A message.” She slid the blindfold off, and her eyes glowed white. The noise of distant voices faded. The wind rattled the closed windows of the hallway. Time seemed to slow. Her voice echoed.
“The third door you seek. It is hidden to you, and guarded, guarded by terrible shadows. If you move too hastily without the keys to the third door… the two doors lead only to the deepest abyss. Your hands will be stained in blood.”
You stood in silence, taking in the strange occurrence. You stopped your mana build-up, realising that this was not some sort of Isekai surprise attack. You knew that the Church chose commoners who were unusually talented, or had special and valuable gifts, to send to the Academy. After all, you yourself were one of these. Once in a very great while, the Gods blessed – or cursed – a person with knowledge otherwise hidden, or forbidden. Most of the time, such people joined the Church as Appraisers, Holy Oracles, Seers… or Inquisitors. Being the subject of such a… abrupt prophecy, if this was indeed a prophecy…
“You will only find the peace you seek if you find the key.”
You nodded.
The girl slipped her blindfold back over her eyes. “You understand, then?”
[ ] Yes.
[ ] No.
[ ] … Maybe?
[ ] Say nothing.
[ ] Write-in
The girl, oblivious to the world, walked past you until she disappeared around a corner, her unseeing eyes guided by forces beyond you.
You would think more on this later. For now, you had students to interview. If – if you were getting prophecies, you must be doing something important, perhaps more evidence on the matter of the Princess, or even something of which you could hardly imagine yet.
Your steps took you out of the library and back to the courtyard, towards the Pit and sparring grounds. You had the feeling that Justitia van Fors would probably not be in the library to study from dusty old books on theory.
At the sparring grounds near the Pit, you could see a small crowd of students gathered. You could feel a buzz of anticipation, of excitement in their auras. Curious, you pushed your way through them until you saw a face you recognized.
“Yasmijn? What’s happening here?”
Yasmijn pointed. The crowd, you realised, had formed a rough circle around Lady Justitia and another girl, both dressed in white, close-fitting duelling outfits. You did not recognise this other girl, who stood out even among the eccentric personalities of the Academy. She was olive-skinned, her black hair arranged into a neat braid, and matched the descriptions you’d read of those of the Megasthenes Raj – the hot, sunny coasts far to the south, on the opposite side of the Autumn Sea.
They bowed to each other, then dropped into a combat stance – legs slightly bent, leaning forward slightly, hands at eye level. They leapt forward, grappling with each other. They moved almost more swiftly than your eyes could follow, trading kicks and strikes.
“They’re quite evenly matched,” Yasmijn said. Justitia seemed to be more forceful, striking with her hands and elbows; her opponent was more nimble, preferring to kick and dodge.
Justitia sidestepped a high kick, and with the other girl off balance, moved to grasp her under the arm, flipping her over and onto her back – exactly as Alizea and Theodore had described earlier, you realised.
Justitia extended her hand, helping the Megasthene girl to her feet. They shook hands.
“Looks like the student has become the master!” Justitia said.
“Hmph. I allowed that to happen,” the other girl said. They became aware of your presence, and gave you a slight bow.
“Lady Inquisitor,” Justitia said. “I introduce to you Lady Heleneia Shah-Jahan, from the Metropol of Raj Makedovia.”
You remembered that name – she too was on your list of tomorrow’s appraisals. You curtsied. “It is very well to meet you, Lady Shah-Jahan.” You turned back to Justitia. “Lady van Fors, I must request your presence later tonight for a private interview concerning your Appraisal.” You again informed her of the time and place. Averink would send for her, you said, and explain what to expect.
“Of course,” Justitia said. “I have nothing to hide.” Her aura and thoughts betrayed nothing, just as it was when she was Appraised.
“I’m sure you don’t,” you said. “I hope I have not interrupted your…sparring.”
“It was no inconvenience,” Heleneia said. “Perhaps you or your associates from the Inquisition might like a lesson in pankratia yourselves? It is a noble art of combat, and our greatest Brahmins and philosophers are trained in it.”
So that was where Justitia had learned how to throw men around, you thought. “Perhaps after my duties here have been fulfilled,” you said, smiling politely. You highly doubted you would ever have to face an Isekai in a grappling match.
“After these Appraisals, we shall have a rematch,” Heleneia told Justitia.
“You clearly just want to be thrown again,” Justitia said.
With the day’s “entertainment” finished, the crowd dispersed, walking their separate ways. You and Yasmijn wandered the campus, looking for Azaze och Behelial or Princess Circe.
~~~
“Do you really think you can get away with this!?”
Hearing that, you knew you’d found who you were looking for. You knew the voice belonged to Azaze och Behelial, and it was tinged with anger. You found her in a shaded corner outside the Academy, near the kitchens.
Also in the shaded corner…was the quite recognizable demonic-glamoured figure of Theodore, standing over even the actual demon.
“Yes…? Tell me, what do you think I am getting away with?” he said, his voice returning to the false baritone. There was a group of spying girls nearby, hidden except to your aura-seeing eyes, that sniggered and whispered with delight upon hearing his voice.
“You – you stupid…” Azaze hissed at Theodore. “Do you think I am the only one here who reports back to the Empire? You are a dead man! Or worse!”
“I do not care.”
“What Elayet are you even from? What faction?”
“I am just here for a job. I fled the Empire so I didn’t have to answer to people like you,” Theodore said, putting on a stoic disregard. “I like keeping my bits too.” If he was in his normal persona, he would undoubtedly be laughing now, but this was no laughing matter.
“Oh? And that’s why you left? Put your bits in someone you shouldn’t?”
“Why I left is none of your business,” Theodore said. “And unfortunately for you, I am under the Inquisition’s protection – bits and all.”
The hiding girls seemed to like him even more for this. You could hear Azaze still whispering in Sarutish under her breath, causing you to flinch even from this distance.
Well, you figured you should stop eavesdropping and step in now, to save your agent from having to keep making up more backstory for himself. The more he talked, the more chance Azaze had to trip him up. You walked into the open.
“Oh, there you are! And Miss Behelial too, good, very good,” you announced with excessive volume and exaggerated unawareness to their previous conversation. “Lady och Behelial, I was just looking for you!” You gave her an exaggerated curtsy. “I must request your presence later tonight concerning your Appraisal. I remind you, this is entirely routine, and something your family agreed to as a condition of enrollment in the Academy.” You provided her the time and place for her interview, and added that Averink would explain the process in further detail.
Azaze glared at the two of you. Finally, she growled: “Fine! As long as that deviant of yours won’t be there!”
She stomped away, curls of smoke blowing from her nostrils as she huffed.
The other girls walked away giggling – except for one, a delicate-looking girl with long waves of golden hair and large blue eyes. She seemed very sad, and paused to sympathetically pat Theodore on the arm before re-joining the group.
“I don’t think she bought it,” Theodore said once the three of you were alone.
“I thought you were a Bard and an actor,” Yasmijn teased. “You couldn’t come up with a better story?”
“I didn’t expect there to be a demon student!”
“I’m sure nothing will come of it,” you said, before your agents could start their bickering again. “Let’s find Princess Circe. And any of her friends or retainers still here.”
“Speaking of that, you’re not going to like this,” Theo said.
“What?”
“The Princess, or well, whoever she is now, they’ve apparently pre-empted our plans. I asked around, and all except one of the maids were sent away before the Appraisal inspection was even announced. I’d reckon it was a coincidence but… well, I highly doubt that.” Theo frowned. “You know, the Princess is being a lot more careful than a person who’s supposed to have a pretty damn low intelligence attribute, and whoever she is now isn’t much higher. Someone this dumb should’ve been caught by now. They shouldn’t be able to pre-empt and defend themselves like they have.”
You stopped to look at him. “Are you suggesting that someone is helping her?”
“Yeah. I know the saying that conspiracies tend to collapse the bigger they get and all that, but something veeeeeerrry fishy is going on here.”
“I’ve asked Averink to look into the Headmaster. He may not know anything…or he may, and is simply trying to cover up any scandal. Or –”
“Or he may himself be compromised,” Yasmijn finished.
“What about the guards?” you asked.
“Here, obviously since we just saw them… I wasn’t able to talk to them without drawing Circe’s attention, but I asked the students about them, and they say all of them are new.”
“She didn’t have guards before, or these particular guards are new?”
“She had a sworn knight before, but he’s gone and disappeared, according to the students. I have a sinking feeling that this is going to be a pattern here. Everyone of any use has already been removed, hence me thinking someone is helping this Princess Imposter. This was all planned.”
“Well, that in itself is not all bad,” Yasmijn said, nodding slowly. “If they’ve gone and removed everyone who can talk… that just tells us that they’ve something to hide. People don’t just go and purge all of their former associates all at once for no reason.”
“It's certainly a red flag,” you agreed. While you wanted to be optimistic about this, if Theodore was right about Circe purging her previous associates, it meant that gathering information here, while you still had jurisdiction, would be much tougher. Certainly, you needed more time than a two-day research outing and inspection.
Before you could respond or think of another plan, you saw a girl running as fast as she could across the field, holding the skirts of her purple dress in one hand, and a book in the other. You and your agents stopped in your tracks, to avoid bumping into her. She squealed in malicious laughter, her rose-gold ringlets flying behind her.
“Give that back! That’s personal!” you heard from a few feet off. You knew that voice – it was Lady Annelijn de Osveld, in hot pursuit of the girl who had apparently taken her book.
Theodore snickered, and Yasmijn watched as calmly as ever. You, however, knew what it was like to have your personal things stolen by bullies and pranksters, so you whispered a mana spell, preparing to help.
“Ignite!” However, before you could do anything more, Annelijn had hurled a ball of golden fire into the girl’s skirts. The girl gave a satisfying squeal as she stopped to put out the flames, dropping the book. You walked over to retrieve it, and handed it back to Annelijn.
“Uh, thanks, Lady Inquisitor,” Annelijn said, giving you another clumsy curtsy before scurrying off.
With a sigh, you recognized the thief. She was Lady Marijke de Vandewiele, whom you recalled as one of Princess Circe’s cronies. A mean and vicious girl, though not very bright and very much the second string to the Princess and Nacissa. She was on your list of appraisees tomorrow, and she would certainly have to be interviewed regardless.
“Why didn’t you stop her?!” Marijke snarled, holding up her skirt, now decorated with a smoking burn hole and singed at the edges. “Look at my dress!”
“You shouldn’t take other people's things, then,” Yasmijn said.
“Perhaps you could tell us where we could find Her Highness?” you asked. “I know you were friends.”
“Were. She prefers gardening and flowers now. She ditched us after Nacissa graduated.” Marijke then turned away from you, ignoring the fact that you were an Inquisitor, and marched off. “I can’t believe she did that! My dress! I swear, she’s done for! I will have her sent to Saint Clortho’s for this one!”
~~~
“Not only has she got rid of her servants and guards, she seems to be avoiding her old friends as well,” you said. “This rabbit hole goes deeper than I thought.” Everything you discovered seemed to damn the Princess more and more.
Just as Marijke had suggested, you eventually found the Princess by the gardens. She stood beside a crouching Aoileann de-weeding flowers. She actually seemed happy to do this messy work, humming a happy tune and her aura a soft gold. In all the ages, you never thought you would see Circe de Meer, the Second Princess of Astem and future Consort of the Demonic Empire, tugging vigorously at a ragweed.
You and your agents bowed. “Your Highness, I must request your presence later tonight for a personal interview concerning your Appraisal,” you said, giving her the time and place. “I assure you this is entirely routine.”
With one more tug, the roots of the weed finally loosened from the earth. Circe stopped to catch her breath, holding up the ragweed, obviously quite proud of herself.
Aoileann curtsied to you before walking off. “I’ll leave you to it then, Lady Inquisitor.”
“It didn’t take you long to come find me, huh?” the Princess asked you. “You know, I was always scared you would seek revenge for what we… I did to you. I didn’t think you would do it like this, though,” she said, frowning as she looked at the flowerbed.
“It is just routine, you have nothing to fear. It will actually help me a lot.”
The Princess paused, and in the blink of an eye, she smiled brightly towards you. A smile with warmth and heart behind it, a genuine smile. Something truly alien on her face.
“Oh, well then, of course I’ll come help!” she said, with a smile radiating compassion. True compassion, not sickly sweet or false.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
“Ohohohoho,” she laughed… gently. A soft echo of what you remembered. This could not possibly be her, you thought. Your head spun.
“Good job,” you heard Aoileann say, arriving with a wheelbarrow filled with dirt just as you turned to leave. “Now we’ll spread the compost right onto the flowerbeds. Grab that shovel, will you?”
~~~
“Jesus,” Theodore finally said. “I see what you mean.”
“I take it she wasn’t like that when you knew her,” Yasmijn said.
“Not at all,” you replied. “We have to find the Princess’ friends, anyone still in this school who was close to her. We must also brief Alizea on what has happened.” You let out a heavy sigh, knowing what came next. “Yasmijn, can you please go and inform Marijke, the girl with the burned dress from earlier, that we will need to speak with her. Theodore and I… will go and tell Stefan.”
Yasmijn nodded, and walked away to chase after Marijke.
There were others, of course. The singular maid you could bring in. The guards, even if they were new, perhaps could help. Old friends of Circe like Marijke.
It took some time wandering the many halls, corridors, stairways and alcoves of the Academy before you found any sign of Stefan. While wandering in one of the more quiet areas around the walls of the Academy, you noticed Theodore had stopped, and had pulled out a strange object from his pocket. It was a flat rectangle, made of a glossy pink material that reflected the light from the sun. He poked at it, and it emitted bright white light.
“This is the… Isekai Black Box, right?” you asked.
“Yeah,” he said, absentmindedly looking at the light on the box. Numbered circles had appeared on the magical box. “1, 2, 3,” on the first row, down to a solitary “0” at the bottom. He frowned at the numbers. You understood that, from the numbered pattern and his evident frustration, it was a lock of some sort, the circles like tumblers waiting for a key.
A key that Theodore clearly did not possess. He waited for some time, looking at the screen, for something you did not understand. You had heard of these mystical Isekai objects from your Inquisition training, but had never actually seen one until now.
“Never mind. It didn’t pick up anything,” he said, placing it back into his pocket. “The smart– I mean, Black Box. I don’t know the code numbers to unlock it, but even on the locking part, sometimes a square called a notification appears for something called “Friendar.”
“And Friendar…?”
“It finds people nearby that have Black Boxes. I was thinking maybe the Princess had one. If she had it unlocked, then maybe that was why she knew what to do. Tough luck with that idea, though…” he said.
“Where did you even find a Black Box?” you asked, an eyebrow raised.
“Stole it from its previous owner obviously, right before I fled Yankeevine. I hope you don’t think I decorate all my possessions in pink.”
You nodded. It was a good try anyway.
“We still need to find Stefan,” you said. Theodore nodded, and you continued on.
That search would eventually lead you to a crowd of students gathering in an open-air amphitheatre. Unlike the Pit, this was a more official space for lectures and ritual events, or demonstrations. You would have thought it odd that the Academy of Light would have a demonstration this late, with classes supposed to be finished, until you noticed a few things.
First was thankfully Stefan, which you picked out by his aura and lewd thoughts without even needing to see him in the crowd. At least you knew where he was. He was currently acquainting himself with yet another well-endowed student, of course. If Stefan were the cause of this crowd, this could be over quickly; unfortunately, he was not.
Secondly, Alizea was also here, and immediately approached you, quickly informing you that she had noticed both Stefan and a large number of students all converging here from other parts of the school, but that she did not know why.
Next, you saw there were large cages in the amphitheatre, and those cages had… very large monsters inside of them. Some were scaled, others with fur. They had tusks and horns and all manner of gruesome things. They were war beasts procured by the Demonic Empire and used by the Army of Astem, knights and…
…Templars.
…
…
“OHOHOHOHO!!!” The amphitheatre echoed with an obnoxiously loud and all-too-familiar laugh.
For there, standing beside a dismounted and opened suit of Siege Armour and a submissively sitting war beast, was an all-too-familiar face.
Nacissa van Luttefmont-Furholjan
“Ladies and gentlemen!” she announced with a theatrical flourish. “I, Corporal Nacissa van Luttemont-Furholjan, have been called here to familiarise those of you contemplating Holy Service for the Church with the arms and operations of the Knights Templar! You may now applaud.”
The audience dutifully clapped. You struggled to grasp why she was even here.
Nacissa was never the sort of person to do anything in a quiet or modest fashion. It had seemed to you, back when you had attended the Academy, that everything she did was a calculated choice made to garner the maximum amount of attention to herself, even if it meant challenging Princess Circe for the spot in the centre. To your eyes, she hadn’t changed a bit since leaving school. Her golden hair was arranged in the typical Astemmian grand ringlets, and she wore a close-fitting blue and white duelling outfit highlighting an outrageous figure akin to Circe’s, but where Circe was soft from shortcakes and avoiding anything like effort, Nacissa was robust from riding, duelling, and marching. It was something you could never deny her – she really did put in the effort she boasted of and then some. She looked over the crowd, and for a moment she looked straight at you.
“The Order of the Knights Templar is, of course, the first and last line of defence between you and the Isekai threat! While the agents of the Holy Inquisition shuffle paperwork inside their cushy offices, only emerging to throw a mana bolt or two once we've properly beaten the stuffing out of them, we take the fight to their own lairs!”
You could hear a few snickers from the students, and you tried not to roll your eyes.
“And the most effective of the weapons we bring to bear against the Isekai is the Siege Armour suit!” She gestured to it, a towering contraption of steel and bronze, cogs, and bolts. A great steel barrel was hoisted behind its shoulder, this being a Mana Battery, originally invented in the Yankeevine Empire, which supplied the wearer with magical energy and allowed them to move its great bulk more smoothly and swiftly than would otherwise be possible. A monstrous fusion of a lance and smoothbore cannon was attached to its right arm that fired enchanted cannonballs larger than a human head, some of which lay at Nacissa’s feet. You could see Nacissa’s butler, a demihuman with copper-coloured cat ears and tail, dutifully polishing it until the metal plates shone as brightly as a jewel.
“Of course, such protection does come at the price of adding bulk and weight, so when needs be, we are carried into battle by our war beasts, generously supplied to us by our allies in the Demonic Empire,” Nacissa said, stroking the head of her mount. It looked like a bull with great golden horns and hooves, but it was larger than two carriages, and had a great pair of feathered wings. The Bull of Heaven, they called it in the Empire, sacred to Ishtar.
“I call this big fellow Fluffles. He’s saved my life on the field more times than I can count!” He snorted and licked her hand in response.
You were quite sure you did not select Nacissa for this case. She should not even be here. How was she even able to get through the gates, let alone set up this kind of demonstration during an Inquisitorial Appraisal? Your thoughts ran through these questions repeatedly, utterly befuddled by this turn of events.
“Now now, you will all get a turn with the armour, however I do have a little errand to run first!” The sweet cheer in her words hid the malicious glee that had built up within her upon seeing you. “If you all would just line up over there, you can take turns petting Sir Fluffles! Oh, and my faithful butler Igor, can you be a dear and tell these students all about him?”
At least Nacissa was acting how she was supposed to be acting, unlike the Princess.
“Your will is my command, Madame,” Igor said, bowing deeply.
Igor, as you remember him, was Lady Luttefmont-Furholjans’s perfect butler. Dressed in a black tailcoat, matching trousers, and a bowtie. The other girls looked on in envy as the pretty catboy slavishly did as instructed. He was perfect to all except you. You could see that his eyes were focusing on his mistress’ chest and behind, as usual, and the aura of bright pink around him.
Igor was certainly loyal to his mistress, but for reasons other than professional. If nothing else, your empathic power to see auras allowed you to see through such guises. That said, at least he was acting professionally and wasn’t being mentally manipulated, as was the case with Stefan, who was walking towards you, the girl he was previously trying to seduce entirely forgotten as the Attractor kicked in.
“Oh, what a surprise! If it isn’t little Visser and her squad of pencil pushers, ohoho.” Nacissa said upon approaching you. She let out a quick laugh, the back of her hand in front of her face. “I thought you didn’t need us?” she asked.
“Why are you even here?” You ignored her attempts at baiting you.
“Demonstrating Siege Armour operation for the next generation of Templars, clearly.”
“Why are you here?” you repeated.
“If peasants cannot even speak the language, how are we ever to teach them their letters?” she asked. “Teaching you a lesson,” she thought. Fortunately, while Nacissa was trained in anti-telepathy, she was too brash and arrogant to actually conceal her thoughts properly.
“You came just to annoy me, then? Just because I didn’t pick you for this case?” you accused her. “It’s not like you needed the money, perhaps you should have just lowered your fee.”
“This is why everyone hates you, Visser. You simply cannot keep your grubby little telepathy to yourself,” Nacissa retorted. “As for my fee – I just know my worth.”
“I don’t hate her,” Stefan suddenly said, gazing misty-eyed at you. You decided not to encourage him.
Nacissa looked at Stefan. She then looked at Theodore. “Really, Visser? Another one? My, you’ve managed to acquire quite the reverse harem.” She looked at Theodore again. The peasant has got herself a demon boytoy this time, if he’s as big as he looks… by the Gods, she really is trying to get herself killed by the Princess. Naughty, naughty little Visser, still stealing all of Circe’s toys, even after graduation…
You resisted the urge to say some very unprofessional things. “Since you are here, perhaps the Lady Corporal Luttefmont-Furholjan would like to grace this humble little Inquisitor with her exalted presence later tonight? I have some questions about the Princess, and thought that you might like to share your insight on the matter.” Nacissa is, after all, Princess Circe’s closest friend… or was.
She smiled, the expression a sickly sweet coating over poison. “You should have thought about that before you selected some… Tourish bandit over me.” She glared at Alizea, who glared back.
You Decide To:
[ ] Ignore Nacissa
[ ] [roll] Try to persuade Nacissa into helping you with Princess Circe. [CHA] [Challenging]
[ ] Try to force her to aid you.
[ ] Try to bribe Nacissa into helping you.
[ ] Try to blackmail Nacissa into helping you (You possess minor blackmail material)
[ ] Write-in
She turned on her heel, and left, back towards the group of students examining the Siege Armour. “Ah, yes, of course I will explain how the gunlance works!”
“The Astemmian Villainess, everyone,” Theodore quipped. “Nice. A textbook example.”
Alizea nodded. “The Yankeevine propaganda almost writes itself, doesn’t it?”
You turned back to Stefan. “Perhaps you’d like to come by later tonight for a personal interview, Baron von Kürschner?” You smiled sweetly and fluttered your eyelashes. May as well speed this up.
“A ‘private interview’ at night with you is something I’ve been waiting for a very long time. You know I’ll be there.” Stefan replied. “I’ll just go and pick out my very best outfit for the occasion…” He winked. “Even if you’ll be taking it off me soon enough.”
After he had given you a bow and turned to leave, you grimaced. You were not looking forward to this.
It was time then that you started your investigation in earnest; however, the specific ordering may very well be of importance. You had given each of your intended interviews a specified time from evening to night. You looked down at a piece of paper you had written for yourself.
What was that ordering?
(This is a ‘ordering vote’, and as such you will not vote a singular choice, but instead arrange the available options into a hierarchy of choices from top being first to bottom being last, representing the sequence of interviews that Visser will perform)
The interviews are as shown (not ordered):
-Princess Circe de Meer
-Princess Circe de Meer’s retainers, servants, friends and possible paramours
-Lady Justitia van Fors
-Lady Justitia van Fors’ retainers, servants, friends and possible paramours
-Lady Rosemarijn de Lievens
-Lady Azaze och Behelial
-Baron Stefan von Kürschner
Ordered Vote
[ ] (1):
[ ] (2):
[ ] (3):
[ ] (4):
[ ] (5):
[ ] (6):
[ ] (7):
