My gaze returned to the items on the table before us. Meeting the suspects only created more questions. My eyes narrowed as I picked up the pocket watch, turning it over in my hand. Its brass exterior felt cool to the touch as I ran my fingers over the ornate design.

Pulling mine from my pocket, I held them side by side once again. I still can't get over how similar to mine hers is.

Fleur noticed as she walked over by my side. "Do you think there's some significance to your watch? More than just that it was left to you by your father?" she asked me. "It is strange that it stopped at precisely the same time as the estimated time of death."

I pursed my lips as I glanced at her. "I don't know. For some reason, this feels personal to me."

Just then, a tall man emerged through the doorway. He glanced around at us with a cocked eyebrow. "Someone called me about a pocket watch?" he questioned.

Finally. Didn't Lavarsus call for him an hour ago? Slipping mine back in my pocket, careful not to mix them up, I held it up to him. "Indeed. This is the watch in question," I told him.

Narrowing his eyes, he snatched it from my hands without looking at me. "Oh my. I have only read about these in books. . ." he said to no one in particular. "The craftsmanship is remarkable!"

Fleur and I glanced at each other, staring at him. "What do you mean? Do you know anything about it?" I asked.

"And why it appears to have stopped precisely at the estimated time of death for the victim?" Fleur added.

He stared up at us as he clicked it open. "How very peculiar. . ." he muttered. "May I?" he moved past us to the table, taking a seat in the chair before either of us could even say anything. Then, pulling a satchel from his vest, he opened it to reveal a set of tools.

Getting to work quickly and with nimble hands, he managed to pop it open moments later, revealing a set of gears inside. "Oh my. . ." he muttered, shaking his head. "I have never seen anything like this before."

"What?" we both asked, glancing at one another as we approached him.

Pointing to a secondary set of gears, he gazed up at us. They were still turning, while the other set sat frozen in place. "Since the watch has stopped, you would expect that all of the gears would have stopped as well. However, that's not the weird part," he replied, turning back to his work.

Once again, in unison, we asked, "It's not?"

"Not at all," he said, before looking back up at us. "The weird part is I have never seen a configuration like this before. I can't even tell you what this other set of gears does."

Returning to his work, he sighed as he pulled another tool from the satchel. "What's this?" he muttered as he turned it over in his hands. A second later, there was a click. As it did, the watch face opened up, revealing a second dial underneath. "Oh. . . My. . . Gods. . ." he stammered, sitting back in the chair. "This. . . is a lunar dial."

"Is that unusual?" I asked him. Is there something like that in mine?

"Very. . ." he responded, almost breathless. He stared up at us, his bottom lip quivering. "Especially since this one appears to be counting down to something. . ."

"Counting down?" we both asked. We looked at each other. Why do we keep doing that? 

He sat there, silent, turning his gaze back to the watch on the table before him. Finally, a moment later, "This design is far more advanced than anything I have ever seen or worked with before," he said, raising his hand to his chin and rubbing it. "And I can't tell you why it stopped, either."

I groaned as I stood back, staring at Fleur. "So we're back to square one," I said to her with a shake of my head. "What do you suppose we should look at next?"

She shifted back on one foot, rubbing her chin. "Hm," she said, pondering. "I would say we should take another look around. Maybe there's something you missed?"

I thought about it. Three people who have confessed to the crime. Only one of them can be the killer. Right? "The problem is, I couldn't detect a lie from any of those three suspects. All of them seemed to believe they really were the culprit. The question is why. . ." I said aloud, gazing off into space. They all claimed to be under the control of a dark spell. "Fleur, do you know of any way to detect magical traces?" I asked.

"Well, that wouldn't be within my ability, I don't know any Spirit magic. But yes, if you get someone down here who does know it, that could work," she responded, turning her eyes toward the doorway. "I'll go and see if Lavarsus has someone in mind. Will you be alright with the artificer?"

I looked at him. He appeared to pay no mind, his attention spent solely on the conundrum of the pocket watch. Really hope he can figure it out. I nodded, glancing back at her. "I'll be fine."

She bowed on her way out, as I turned back to the room around me. Alright, Vianola, what else could you be hiding? My eyes scanned around. Squinting, I knelt as I examined the throw rug beneath the table more closely. Hm. This has been moved. Standing, I announced, "Sir, we're going to need to move the table."

He glanced up from what he was working on. "Really? Why's that?" he questioned.

"Because I believe there may be something underneath this rug."

His eyes shot down beneath where he sat. "Intriguing, what makes you say that?"

My finger shot around the edges of the rug, particularly where the body once laid. "The floor hasn't been swept. But there is a clear void in the sand and dust if you look closely, just there, I think it's been moved recently."

"Oh dear," he got up from his chair, gently setting the watch and his tools back down. Then, he set to work to help me scoot the table over. It screeched along the sandstone as we did.

Finally, with it out of the way, I glanced up at him. "Moment of truth," I said.

Kneeling, I took hold of the edge of the rug and tossed it aside. We both stood back with wide eyes. "What do you suppose is under there?" he asked.

We found ourselves staring at a wooden hatch door, about a meter and a half square. On one side was a rope loop hanging loosely off of it. "Only one way to find out," I responded.

Slowly I leaned over, grabbing hold of the rope handle. But no matter how much I tugged, it just wouldn't open. Exhaling sharply, my muscles screaming at me, I gave up. Just then, I noticed a small keyhole that I hadn't seen before. "It's locked. I wonder if Lavarsus might have her key ring in evidence."

"Indeed I do," he grunted, lumbering in. Fleur gracefully followed after. "Also got a Spirit caster on the way. Could you tell me what you need these things for?"

I chuckled, shooting a glance at Fleur. "Well, Lavarsus," I started, breathing a sigh. "First of all. All three suspects claimed they were under the control of a spell, correct? I figure, we might as well check their story by having a Spirit caster scan them for any traces of magic," I explained, hoping he was following my logic. "Second, we've found this. It was hiding under the table the whole time." I pointed to the hatch door now plainly visible in the middle of the floor.

He stared at the door, and then at me. "This would be why we bring you on these things. . ." he groaned, motioning to someone outside. A moment later, another officer came in carrying an evidence satchel, handing it to the sergeant. He opened it, rummaged around for a moment, and then pulled out a ring with a bunch of keys dangling off of it, the clinking sound echoing throughout the room. He handed them to me, pursing his lips.

Kneeling, I flipped through each of the keys, six of them, trying each of them in the lock. The first went in, but it wouldn't turn. The second didn't fit. The third, no dice either. None of them worked. Scrunching my eyebrows, I stood up, shaking my head. "What are the chances that the key for this one hatch is missing from her key ring?"

"She might have removed it and hid it somewhere," suggested Fleur.

My eyes darted around the room. "What's a place we haven't looked yet?" I asked no one in particular.

Lavarsus grunted. "What's the deal with this door, anyway? What's so important about it?" he questioned me. "Does it have anything to do with the case?"

"Never leave a stone unturned, Lavarsus," I said simply, my father's words echoing in my mind as I started looking around. Fleur followed suit, and then the artificer even joined in. I glanced at him with a smirk.

He shrugged. "You've got me really intrigued!" he proclaimed. Then, wiping a hand on his vest, he held it out to me. "Oh, I'm Pentlas. Pentlas Ventris. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"

I smiled slightly as I bowed, then shook his hand. "I'm Kairine. Kairine Kamuya," I responded. Then nodding to my companion, "That is Fleur, my partner." Not sidekick as some people would say.

I shot a look at Lavarsus, who simply stood around, puffing on his cigar, not doing much of anything. Then we wonder why I have to do his job for him. Shaking my head, I turned back to my search.

But no matter where we searched, we couldn't find a stray key anywhere. Where could it be? I was out of ideas by this point. Just then, in walked a Cowin man. He stood just up to my waist line as he straddled in, glancing around at everyone. Great, they had to call him? "So this is where you've been, Ms. Kamuya. Is this what you're doing, instead of coming to school?"

I almost face palmed, shooting a glare at Lavarsus. "Professor Greenhorn! What a surprise," I said, shaking my head at the sergeant. "When I asked for a Spirit caster, I never imagined they'd call my teacher!"

"You just said call for a Spirit caster! You never said anything about them having to not come from your school!" Lavarsus whined, rolling his eyes.

Glancing at Fleur, I rolled my eyes right back. I suppose he will do. He just better keep his mouth in check. "Alright, well, Professor Greenhorn," I responded with a sharp sigh. I really don't want to deal with his mouth. "We have three suspects. All three of them have confessed to the same murder."

He stood back on one foot, crossing his arms as he pondered this. "That is a mighty fine conundrum indeed, Ms. Kamuya," he replied. "So, even with your powers, you can't detect if any of them are lying?"

I shook my head. "That's precisely the problem. They all firmly believe they did it," I said, gazing at Fleur.

She chimed in. "However, they all also claim to have been under the control of a dark spell."

He narrowed his eyes to a squint. "That is very interesting. . ." he replied. "Alright, but don't think this will count for extra credit, Ms. Kamuya!"

Like I was expecting any? "Sure thing, Professor."

Turning to Lavarsus, glaring up at him as only he could, he said, "Alright. Show me the suspects. I'll sort this out, lickity split!"

Fleur leaned in to me as the sergeant left the hut. "He really seems full of himself. Like what does he think he can do that you couldn't?" she whispered to me.

"I don't know. But at least he can tell me if there is indeed any traces of magic on them," I whispered back, crossing my arms. "If you think he's full of himself now, try having him as your teacher."

She gawked at me like I'd said something offensive. "Really? What does he do in class?"

"He's even worse in class. Here, he's somewhat tame, probably ‘cause adults are around," I responded, thinking back to the last time I was in class. That was a while ago. I'm not sure why I stopped going. "And he seems to carry the fact that he's a Mystia caster over my head."

"But why? Doesn't he know what you can do?"

I shook my head. "Fleur, some Mystia casters seem to believe they're superior to a psion." Maybe that's why I stopped going.

Shaking her head, she turned her head back to Professor Greenhorn. He was gazing around at all of the trinkets and tinctures around us. "Well, let's see if we can't change his mind," she said finally after a pause.

Looking at her, I raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"

She gave me a knowing look and a smirk. "Isn't it obvious? You solve the case. Right here in front of him," she responded, cocking her head to the side. "I've seen your brain working. You already have some ideas, don't you?"

I grinned back at her. "I do. I just need him to confirm my suspicions."

"Atta girl!"

When you put it all together, the answer actually is quite simple. But also complicated at the same time. Finally, Lavarsus walked in with the three suspects in tow.

As they all lined up before the Cowin professor, he flicked his fingers, looking back at me with a wide grin on his face. Then he set to work, moving his hands in a peculiar motion as he spoke some words. A moment later, a sprinkling of purple glitter appeared around all three people, the noble, the wekan, and the vikarahn. A wide smile spread across my face as Professor Greenhorn stared back at me with wide eyes. "H. . . How is that possible?" he stuttered. "That was supposed to work! Are you tricking me, Ms. Kamuya? I demand answers!"

"The truth is really quite simple," I responded, taking a step forward. "Your spell only confirmed what I already suspected. They were all under the spell."

Lavarsus glared at me, then Fleur. "Then who killed this woman?!" he growled, his face bright red and his jaw clenched.

"Isn't it obvious?" I replied. "None of them, but one of them at the same time," I proclaimed. "Let me explain."

"Please do!" Lavarsus snarled.

Ignoring him, I turned around. "Someone in this room had the opportunity to kill her, but not the motive. The truth is, the only one with the motive is your suspect, Lavarsus. But she didn't have the opportunity. She was never here. In fact, I don't believe she's ever stepped foot into this hut before today."

I noticed it in how she walked in. She looked around like she'd never been here before. I continued, looking back at Lavarsus, then Professor Greenhorn. "There was only one here with opportunity. Judging by his reactions to me, I would argue he also had motive. But Professor Greenhorn's spell just now proves that Mystia was involved."

Immediately I raised a finger directly at the noble. "He did it!" I declared. "His motive would be quite simple. He's terrified of the press if it got out he was having an affair. So that would give him plenty of motive to murder her. However, the look in his eyes tells me otherwise. He really doesn't know why he did it. That's when I first started to suspect a spell, even before they all claimed it."

"Then who cast the spell on them?" asked Professor Greenhorn, shrugging. "My spell can only tell you there are magical traces, it can't tell you who cast it!"

That was the part I was still working on. "I don't believe it was anyone in this room." I said, pursing my lips. "And no, I don't think it was Pili either. Not her colour. She's a Wind caster, if I'm not mistaken."

Fleur then brought up a good point. "What about the box that was sitting on that mantle over there?"

"I don't believe that ever left this hut," I told her with a grin, motioning to the hatch in the centre of the floor. "Professor, if you would be so kind as to pop open that lock."

"Alrighty!" he answered, turning and making more peculiar hand motions as he spoke some words. An instant later however, he stood back, defeated. "It's enchanted," he said, staring up at me. "My spell won't work."

Just as I suspected. She really didn't want anyone to get to that box. A wide smile spread across my face. "I figured as much. Thank you for confirming." 

He glared at me for a long time. "You are a very clever girl. The smartest in my class. It's a shame you haven't been in so long."

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," I responded. Turning to Lavarsus. "Sir, if you would be so kind as to search Sekiseeth's pockets."

He grunted as he did as I asked. A moment later, he pulled out a strange looking key. "What's this for?"

I grinned. "That would be the key to the hatch! She must have given it to her dear, close friend for safe keeping."

Sekiseeth looked equally confused. "H. . . How did that get there? I don't recall ever having that!" 

He shook his head. "But I don't understand, how did you know it was there?" he asked, scrunching his eyebrows as he shifted his stance.

Exhaling, I said, "She was a friendly person. She was kind to people who have never known kindness before," I replied, giving Sekiseeth and the Vikarahn a smile. "She saw you both as friends. I think she sought out the loneliest souls and befriended them, which shows the kind of person she was. She hid that key in Sekiseeth's pockets without him ever knowing because she knew and trusted it would be safe with him." Approaching him, I gently rest a hand on his big furry arm. "She trusted you and truly did care about you. The both of you."

Sekiseeth and the Vikarahn, Rukkhok, stared back at me with long faces and weary eyes, as tears fell and dripped on the sandstone floor. Giving them a slight smile, I turned to Lavarsus. "Would you do the honours?" I asked him.

He grunted as he stepped forward and leaned down next to the hatch. As he stuck the key into the keyhole, we could see the crack of ruby and violet energy around it. Then he turned it. The door popped open, revealing underneath a box, ornately crafted. Strange symbols were carved along the outside of the dark oaken wood box as he lifted it out of the hole. Thick, black iron bands, two of them, wrapped around the middle as a heavy padlock hung loosely from the front.

After a moment of silence, as we all stared at it with no words, I turned to him. "How about you take that into the Maji Guard's vault for safe keeping? I have a feeling there are some who would like to get their hands on it. In fact, I think that's what this whole affair was about."

My gaze turned to the noble, Alaion Erqen, who just stood there, his body rigid as he stared wide-eyed at the box. His fists clenched tightly and his jaw tightened. Suddenly, before I could say anything, he lunged for the box, screaming and growling like some kind of wild Mystimon as he did. Lavarsus moved for his gun just as a crack of blue and white lightning struck him, rendering him unconscious. "Good shot, Fleur," I declared with a smile.

"All in a day's work," she said with a grin. "You're welcome for saving you, Lavarsus, hun."

He merely grunted as he spit out his cigar, standing to his feet and brushing himself off. "Thank you," he said finally, as though straining himself. A moment later, another pair of officers came in and dragged Alaion away. I bowed to Sekiseeth and Rukkhok, giving them my condolences as they went on their way.

When I was done, I turned to Professor Greenhorn with a smile. "Thanks for the help, Professor," I told him, bowing.

He stared at me for an uncomfortably long time. Then, "You've always been my best student, Ms. Kamuya. I just wish you would come to class more!"

I choked a laugh. "I'll try, sir."

As everyone had gone, leaving Fleur, Ventris, and myself, we all stared at the watch. "You really can't tell us why it stopped?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.

He exhaled sharply. "There are some additional tests I'd like to run on it. I'll let you know."

"Alright. Thank you for the help. When you know something, just come by our place. Fleur can give you the address," I replied.

As he bowed and shook our hands, he grabbed his satchel along with the watch and promised to let us know within a week.

Leaving just us standing here in the middle of this hut. She sighed, turning to me. "Who do you think cast that spell on him?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"That's a mystery for another day," I responded, pursing my lips. "Whoever they are, they're powerful."

"And clearly after that box."

There was obviously a lot more at play here. I solved one case. But it seemed to only leave more questions.