CHAPTER 25: Veil of Deception

A girl’s legs, elegantly crossed, as she sat atop a polished dark wooden desk, her posture effortless yet commanding.

A man approached, his steps measured, deliberate. The dim candlelight cast long shadows over his frame, but his uniform was unmistakable—the same as the Warden’s.

“A new mission,” he stated, stopping just beside her. “You’re assigned to handle the Sapphire Heart Collectors. I assume you’re familiar with at least one of them.”

As he passed, she let out a soft, intrigued gasp.

Then, after a beat—her lips curled into a slow, sly smirk.

“I can’t wait to see you, Anna~”

The morning sun bathed the city in a golden hue, illuminating the lively streets near the Timesquare Waterfall. The cascading water shimmered under the sunlight, its rhythmic splashes blending harmoniously with the murmur of passing pedestrians and the gentle melodies played by street musicians.

Nestled among the morning crowd, Sakura and Kaziel sat at a small table near a food vendor’s stall, each holding a warm, freshly baked treat. The aroma of sweet bread filled the air, wrapping them in a sense of comfort.

Sakura watched Kaziel as he took a bite of his pastry, curiosity glimmering in her emerald-green eyes. “What is that?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Kaziel smiled, his expression playful. “It’s a croissant with chocolate filling~” he said, taking another bite, the crispy layers crackling between his teeth.

Sakura’s gaze remained fixed on the golden, flaky bread. “Croissant?” she echoed. “Ohh, this is my first time seeing it.”

Kaziel found her innocent curiosity utterly endearing. A soft chuckle escaped him before he tore off a piece and held it out toward her. “Here, take a bite~” he said, grinning.

Sakura hesitated for a moment before reaching for it—only for Kaziel to mischievously pull it away at the last second.

“Ah-ah~” he teased. “Say ‘aa’ instead~”

Sakura blinked in surprise, her cheeks slowly turning pink. She glanced around briefly, then shyly parted her lips. “A… aa…”

Pleased, Kaziel gently placed the croissant piece into her mouth.

Her eyes immediately widened as she chewed, her expression melting into delight. “Mmph! It’s so delicious!” she mumbled, savoring the buttery layers and rich chocolate filling.

Kaziel’s smile softened as he watched her reaction. “I know, right?~” he said, resting his chin on his hand, amused by how easily she found joy in small things.

Then his eyes caught something on her cheek. “Oh, wait—there’s something on your face.”

Sakura blinked, startled, and quickly touched her cheek. “Eh?! What’s on my face?”

Kaziel chuckled, shaking his head. “Your face looks cute~” he teased, his voice dipping into a lighthearted murmur.

KYAAAAAAA— Sakura froze.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the square.

CRASH!

Kaziel suddenly found himself knocked off his chair, a ceramic plate smashing into his face with alarming precision.

Sakura gasped, her eyes widening in horror. “KAZIEL?!”

As the dust settled, she turned sharply toward the source of the flying object.

Sitting at the table next to them, Anna’s entire body radiated an aura of barely restrained fury, fiery embers flickering around her form. She gritted her teeth, arms crossed, as her eyes glowed with burning intensity.

Across from her, Helion remained completely unfazed, leisurely sipping his tea as if this were nothing new.

Sakura, flustered, could barely process the scene. “A-Anna?!”

Anna huffed, closing her eyes with an air of exaggerated indifference. “Oops. My hand slipped.”

Kaziel, now sprawled on the ground, groaned dramatically. “Why… did you just throw a plate at me?!”

Anna opened one eye, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oh, I dunno~ Maybe because someone was flirting shamelessly with a cute, innocent girl in broad daylight?”

Kaziel’s brows twitched. “I wasn’t flirting! I was just—”

“Shameless,” Anna deadpanned.

Kaziel sat up, rubbing his face where the plate had hit. “You nearly killed me!”

Sakura, still flustered, looked between them, unsure whether to intervene.

Helion, finally lowering his cup, let out a long sigh. “Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long.”

Kaziel shot him a betrayed look. “You knew?! And you didn’t warn me?!”

Helion gave him a slow, knowing smirk. “Fate weaves its own entertainment.”

Anna smirked, arms still crossed. “Exactly.” She leaned back, looking entirely satisfied with herself.

Sakura, blinking rapidly, whispered under her breath, “…So this is normal?”

She wasn’t sure whether to be more worried about Kaziel’s safety or impressed by Anna’s throwing accuracy.

Either way, she had definitely learned one thing.

Flirting in front of Anna had consequences.

A sudden commotion disrupted the lively atmosphere of the square. The murmurs of the crowd hushed as all eyes turned toward the source—a man struggling against the firm grip of a city guard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the man protested, his voice laced with frustration.

Sakura’s gaze landed on the guard—her heart skipped a beat.

That man… wasn’t he the leader standing beside the king last night?

What is he doing here?

“We’re certain you hid all the documents away,” the guard snapped, his grip tightening on the man’s shirt. “You let your father take the fall, just so you could take over his business!”

The accusation rang out in the tense silence.

The man’s expression twisted, his hands gripping the guard’s wrist in an attempt to free himself. “That’s a lie! I never—”

Before the situation could escalate further, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Don’t cause a scene here.”

Anna stepped forward, her presence commanding.

The guard’s eyes flickered toward her, and then to the group behind her.

Kaziel stood a few steps back, still rubbing his sore face from the earlier ‘plate incident.’ He looked far from intimidating at the moment.

The guard hesitated before clicking his tongue in annoyance. He shoved the man back roughly before turning away without another word, retreating into the crowd.

The tension eased slightly as people resumed their conversations, though some still stole curious glances at the group.

Anna exhaled, crossing her arms. “Geez, what’s up with that guard?” She turned back toward the man. “Are you alright?”

The man sighed as he fixed his disheveled collar and adjusted his glasses. His eyes glinted with irritation as he watched the guard disappear. “That fool never learns how to respect the people he supposedly serves,” he muttered. “The nobles here only care about what benefits them. They don’t care who they trample over.”

Helion smirked as he approached, his golden eyes gleaming knowingly. “And yet, you’re still one of them.”

The man stiffened. His sharp gaze landed on Helion, suspicion flickering in his expression. “You…”

Helion tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening. “Your outfit gives it away,” he remarked, gesturing lazily to the finely tailored coat and the subtle embroidery along the cuffs—small details that marked the wealthier class of Lumehaven. “Someone of your status doesn’t just get harassed by a guard without reason. If he came alone, that means the higher-ups still have unfinished business with you.”

The man fell silent.

Anna and Kaziel exchanged knowing glances. There was more to this than what met the eye.

Finally, the man exhaled, shaking his head. “It seems you people know more than you let on…” He adjusted his glasses, his voice lowering.

“As you can see, I am the owner of the Sapphire Heart Tradepost—a name that holds the top spot in Caelivara’s trading industry.” His tone carried a hint of both pride and weariness. “And that guard? He’s been after me for a while now.”

He crossed his arms, frustration seeping through his controlled demeanor. “My father… he was imprisoned recently. Since then, they’ve been hounding me, demanding documents I don’t even have.” He scoffed, adjusting his glasses once more.

“They think I inherited his records, but the truth is… he never passed them on to me.”

Sakura listened intently, her mind racing. This man… he’s the informant’s son.

It made sense why the guards were so relentless. His father had been the informant, yet the documents in question had been stolen away. And if it wasn’t Helion who took them… then who did?

Helion’s smirk remained, but his gaze sharpened.

“It’s no wonder his son would be the next target…” Anna mumbled, her arms crossed.

The man exhaled, his fingers held onto his glasses. “That’s not even the real problem… I never touched my father’s desk, aside from handling paperwork and records.” His voice grew heavier, laced with frustration. “But what truly shocked me—my father was running illegal business deals. Smuggling, off-record trades… things I never knew about.” He scoffed, shaking his head. “And now, if the guards report this to the superiors… the Tradepost will be shut down.”

Kaziel stepped forward, his usual playfulness gone. His expression was serious, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“We’d like to hear more.”

At the Sapphire Heart Tradepost, they stood inside the office where the informant once sat. Now, his son stood before the desk, adjusting his tie as he approached them.

“I am Illiad, by the way. Welcome to the office. Though… it might be a bit messy.”

Kaziel smiled, introducing himself. “I’m Kaziel. This is Anna, Helion, and…” His gaze lingered on Sakura before offering a small smile. “Our new group member, Sakura.”

Illiad nodded. “I see. Nice to meet you.”

Anna and Helion remained silent. They had been here before. Anna still remembered the sting of the flashbang potion—the informant’s way of ensuring his escaped stayed hidden. But she kept her thoughts to herself.

Illiad exhaled, his voice steady. “We started this trade a decade ago. My father ran the business well, but eventually, he became an informant—holding vast amounts of information on nobles and high-ranking officials.” He leaned against the desk, his expression darkening. “That was when he took a risk… connecting with Thalvaris, who held an important status. Though, some say the leader was part of a tribe involved in forbidden research. One of the members… was my father.”

Sakura’s breath hitched. A cold shiver ran through her as memories resurfaced—painful, relentless.

She could still feel the cold steel restraints, the weight of the chains biting into her skin. The Warden’s chilling voice echoed in her mind, a ghost from the past she could never quite silence.

“The Thalvaris,”

Thalvaris stood as both a political powerhouse and a force lurking in the shadows. While the world recognized it as a ruling entity, few knew the truth—behind closed doors, it controlled far more than laws and land, an underground noble faction, controlling the black market trade of magical artifacts. Ruthless and unseen, their influence stretched deep into Caelivara’s hidden networks, ensuring that power remained in the hands of those who could afford it.

"My father traded corrupted Sapphire Hearts for the Farmlands." His voice was firm, yet beneath it, a trace of bitterness lingered. "They sold thousands—right under the government's nose. And no one knew they were using forced labor to keep the operation running."

He laid out a stack of aged documents, spreading them across the table. Contracts, transaction records—evidence of his father's dealings. The inked signatures on the parchment were undeniable proof of a truth long buried.

Kaziel exhaled, his fingers pressing against the paper. "They believed that using the Sapphire Heart could overpower the Elyssence, granting them unmatched strength." His tone darkened. "But in truth, if the user was overwhelmed, the consequences were far more severe. The energy would turn against them, corrupting their very essence."

His eyes narrowed, scanning over the words written in black ink, as if reliving the very sins of his bloodline.

"The side effects were catastrophic—a manifestation of the dark energy they had long exploited for their forbidden research."

Sakura clenched her fists, her chest tightening.

The Sapphire Hearts—the same ones the girls had used to grow plants, to create life—had such a dark history behind them? Nobody actually knew the truth?

Sakura stepped forward, frustration boiling over.

"Why aren’t you stopping him?!"

Her patience snapped as she slammed her hands against the desk in front of Illiad, the impact echoing through the room. The tension thickened. Kaziel and the others looked at her, startled by her sudden outburst.

Kaziel moved closer, sensing the raw emotion in her voice.

Illiad, however, remained still. His fingers curled slightly against the table as he let out a slow breath. His expression hardened.

"Because I wasn’t there to witness what my father had hidden all those years ago..." His voice was steady, but beneath it, a hint of something deeper—regret.

His gaze dropped, shadowed by guilt. "By the time I took over, it was too late. I was just as shocked as you. After my father was taken to jail, only then did I uncover everything. I should have acted sooner."

Sakura’s chest tightened, emotions swirling inside her.

Before she could say anything, a warm hand rested on her shoulder.

"Sakura… it’s alright."

Kaziel’s voice was gentle, his touch light, yet grounding.

When she looked up, she was met with his reassuring smile—soft, steady, calming the storm inside her.

Anna, who had remained silent, finally let out a slow breath, her gaze flickering toward Sakura. She understood now.

The true intention behind Thalvaris.

The weight of it all settled in her chest. And for the first time, she felt a twinge of sympathy for Sakura.

Kaziel’s expression hardened toward Illiad, “Isn’t there any security or higher-ups who uncovered this forbidden trade?”

“Forbidden? That depends on who you ask.” He leaned back, adjusting his glasses. “The Sapphire Heart Tradepost is the heart of Caelivara’s economy. Do you think the nobles care where their rare gems come from? No. They just want them polished and ready.” His fingers drummed against the desk. “My father understood that. He made deals with those who could provide—no matter where the supply came from.”

Anna's gaze flickered to Helion before settling on the tradepost owner. "Then, we need a way to expose those behind the smuggling… without implicating you.”

Illiad sighed, his fingers tracing the edge of an old parchment. “There’s an event tomorrow night. A masquerade ball held by Duke Valcrid, one of the biggest investors of the Tradepost. If anyone knows how deep this corruption goes, it’s him.”

Helion grinned. “A ballroom party, huh? Fancy.”

Sakura blinked. “Wait… you’re saying we should spy on a noble gathering?”

Anna smirked. “Exactly.”

Illiad nodded. “Valcrid is well-guarded. But during the dance, security is distracted. If you can slip inside his study, you might find records on who my father worked with.”

Kaziel stretched his arms. “Then it’s settled. We crash a noble’s party.”

Sakura swallowed. Something about this felt… dangerous.