Chapter 33: Cursed Child

The trio—Balthar, Livra, and Calen—finally arrived at the floating island of Aeris. The vibrant city buzzed with its usual energy, a sharp contrast to the undercurrents of conspiracy they were chasing. With no clear idea where an abandoned orphanage might be, they decided to contact Fin Valtheris, the administrator of the LCC.

As they connected through their intercom, Valtheris’s calm, calculated voice greeted them. "Ah, so you’ve reached Aeris. What do you need?”

"We’ve got a lead. We need to find an abandoned orphanage. You know where it might be?" Calen asked, cutting straight to the point.

"An orphanage? Yes, I do," Valtheris replied, his tone both intrigued and guarded. "And I also know people who came from it."

There was a pause, heavy with unspoken details.

"Then tell us," Livra demanded impatiently.

Valtheris sighed, relenting. "The orphanage you’re looking for is on the floating islets, not far from the LCC headquarters. When the LCC expanded years ago, much of the islets’ territory was absorbed. As a result, the orphanage had to close."

"And you just left those orphans without a home?" Livra shot back, her voice sharp with accusation.

"Calm yourself, Veyne," Valtheris responded evenly. "There were hardly any children left by then. Most of the orphans had grown up and moved on. Those who ran the orphanage, former orphans themselves, were relocated and compensated. In fact, they were offered employment here at the LCC to make up for the disruption."

Valtheris let that revelation linger for a moment before continuing. "That’s why I said I know people from there."

"Who are these people? Do I know them?" Calen asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You do," Valtheris said gravely. "One of them was your partner, Rion Zilion. The other, the administrator of the orphanage at the time, is now the LCC’s second-in-command—Tessa."

The air in the intercom crackled with tension. Livra glanced at Calen, whose face was frozen in stunned silence.

"Tessa?" Calen finally managed, his voice tight.

"Indeed. Go to the islets immediately. Search for anything that might shed light on Ava Lysan’s connection to the orphanage. Neither I nor Magistrate Vosca have been told any trace of her being there. Meanwhile, I’ll speak with Tessa directly to see if she knows anything."

Without further discussion, the group made their way toward the LCC headquarters. As they approached the towering structure, its sleek, levicite-powered elevators hummed softly, waiting to take them to the floating islets.

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In the quiet of his office, Valtheris sat in grim contemplation. The weight of suspicion pressed heavily upon him as he tapped the intercom to summon Tessa. She had always been an exemplary worker, steadfast and dependable, with a mind for strategy and an unmatched knowledge of the intricate workings of the LCC. She had stood beside him during critical moments, including the installation of the levicita reactors. Tessa had long been considered the obvious successor to his position.

Yet, something had changed.

Her behavior had grown erratic in recent weeks, especially after the death of Kael Torson at the entrance of the LCC headquarters. Could she be involved in the web of deceit and danger unraveling around him? The possibility gnawed at Valtheris as he waited for her to answer his summons.

When the intercom remained silent, Valtheris clenched his fists. He had tried multiple times to reach her, each attempt ending in frustration. Slamming the device down, he muttered to himself, "If I can't get through to her, I'll have to focus elsewhere. The magistrates must be informed about what we've uncovered so far. Perhaps they'll see what I'm missing."

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In the towering glass-and-steel building that dominated Aeris’s skyline, Magistrate Ilara Drena sat in her opulent office, her expression as sharp as the angular furniture that surrounded her. Across from her stood Sienna Veilore, her once-proud demeanor subdued by her recent demotion. The young woman with tightly coiled curls and a stiff posture listened attentively as Drena laid out her orders.

“Your new responsibilities may not be glamorous, but they are vital,” Ilara began, her tone clipped. “The deaths of Leontius Veyne of Aelith Shore and Elenora Miren of Tharvannis have stirred unrest across the continent. If we fail to contain this unrest, a war with the Earthlands is inevitable. Your task is to manage the bureaucratic and diplomatic fallout.”

Sienna straightened her back, swallowing her resentment. “What would you have me do, Magistrate?”

“First,” Ilara continued, “we must issue reassurances to the people of Aelith Shore and Tharvannis that investigations are underway and culprits will be brought to justice. I’ll draft the framework of the statement, but I expect you to finalize the details and liaise with our ambassadors.”

Before Sienna could respond, the communicator on Drena’s desk buzzed. With a flick of her wrist, she answered, and the face of Fin Valtheris appeared on the sleek screen.

“Magistrate Drena,” he began without preamble, “I’m calling to report progress in the investigation into the deaths. We’re uncovering threads that suggest Ava Lysan, contrary to all reports, is alive. This could complicate matters.”

Ilara’s eyes narrowed. “Continue.”

“There’s more. It seems the missing daughter of the Veyne family has resurfaced—Livra Veyne. She’s currently under my jurisdiction, working on some...delicate matters. Her cooperation could be key to stabilizing Aelith Shore’s leadership. I suggest we act quickly.”

“Understood,” Ilara replied, her tone measured. “Keep me informed.” She ended the call and turned her gaze back to Sienna.

“Good news,” Ilara said, folding her hands on her desk. “It appears Valtheris has located Livra Veyne. She may be instrumental in calming the tensions with Aelith Shore. Your task is now twofold: find her and ensure her safety. She is to be provided asylum immediately. Additionally, we must prepare a joint statement with her cooperation. Is that clear?”

Sienna clenched her fists at her sides, hiding her unease behind a composed nod. “Yes, Magistrate. I’ll see to it.”

Ilara dismissed her with a curt gesture, and Sienna left the office, her heels echoing down the marble corridor.Sienna didn’t met the Veyne girl before, but she was sure after talking to that mercenary in the pub some nights ago that this girl was the one Calen was seeing.

As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with Magistrate Velis Korran. The tall, broad-shouldered man exuded an air of smug authority, his predatory grin making her stomach churn.

“Magistrate Korran,” Sienna said, inclining her head in forced deference.

“Miss Veilore,” Korran replied, his voice dripping with mock politeness. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you gracing these halls.”

Sienna straightened her posture and moved to walk past him. “If you’ll excuse me, Magistrate, I have urgent matters to attend to.”

“Not so fast, my dear,” Korran said, stepping into her path. “I know what Magistrate Drena has tasked you with, and I believe we may have a...shared interest.”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Sienna said, her voice carefully neutral.

Korran leaned in closer, his grin widening. “Oh, I think you do. Livra Veyne—she’s a nuisance for us both, isn’t she?”

Sienna’s heart raced, though she kept her expression impassive. How did Korran know about her personal life?

“Magistrate, I’m afraid I don’t see how that pertains to my assignment.”

“Come now, Sienna,” he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. “We both have something to gain by ensuring that Veyne doesn’t remain in play. I can provide you with the means to remove her from the equation—permanently.”

For a moment, Sienna hesitated. Her feelings for Calen burned in her chest, a painful reminder of what she couldn’t have. If removing Livra meant reclaiming what she believed was hers, perhaps aligning with Korran wasn’t such a bad idea.

“What exactly are you suggesting?” she asked cautiously.

“Let’s just say,” Korran said with a sly smile, “if Livra Veyne were to disappear, it would solve quite a few problems for both of us.”

Sienna nodded slowly, her mind racing. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” Korran replied, his grin triumphant. “I’ll be in touch.”

As Sienna walked away, her thoughts swirled with conflict. She knew she was treading dangerous ground, but the idea of finally ridding herself of Livra was a temptation she couldn’t ignore.

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Just moments earlier, Tessa stood in a dimly lit room, the faint glow of monitors illuminating her sharp features. Beside her sat Ava Lysan, frail yet radiating an unnerving intensity. The room was a hub of intercepted transmissions, screens flickering with snippets of conversations and data streams.

"It was a wise move to intercept Valtheris’s communications and have the magistrates offices monitored," Tessa said with a measured tone, her eyes fixed on the girl beside her. "You’re always three steps ahead, Lady Lysan."

Ava Lysan offered a slight smile, cold and calculating. The monitors replayed the conversation Valtheris had just had with the group investigating her.

"Now we know where our little bird and that technician are headed," Ava said, her voice a whisper yet cutting. "It’s time to finish this. There can be no mistakes, Tessa. Give Auren the order and see that they’re dealt with. Immediately."

Tessa bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment, her movements precise and disciplined. Without hesitation, she turned on her heel and exited the room, leaving Ava alone with the hum of the machines.

Ava sat silently, her skeletal fingers clutching the arms of her levitating chair. Her body, wasted and frail, betrayed her illness with every labored breath. Suddenly, a violent coughing fit overtook her. Blood spattered across her lap, staining the fabric and trickling down her thin legs. She trembled, her body wracked with spasms as she reached toward a nearby drawer.

Fumbling, she retrieved a small vial of liquid and a syringe. Her hands shook as she prepared the injection, stabbing the needle into her neck and releasing the contents with a sharp gasp. Her breathing steadied slightly, though her pallor remained ghostly.

Her bloodshot eyes locked back onto the monitors, their glow reflected in her gaze. Determination burned there—a ferocity born of desperation and madness.

Ava Lysan’s frail body might have been failing, but her will remained unbroken, her mind sharp and focused. Whatever plan she had set in motion, there would be no stopping her.