CHAPTER 41: Shadows Beneath Velmore

At the High Court of Velmore, the grand hall radiated mystical grandeur. Towering enchanted pillars stretched toward the ceiling, swirling with glowing runes, while floating magical inscriptions shimmered in the air. The regal atmosphere reflected Velmore’s deep connection to magic and wisdom.

In the center of the hall, Leina and Baihou stood before a high-ranking officer, the man in charge of investigating the Umbral Foundry incident.

“So, you’re saying that after investigating the site, you discovered a hidden facility deep within the Black River West’s forest?” Baihou crossed his arms, his chin resting in his hand as he absorbed the information.

The officer nodded. “Yes. It came as a surprise. We had no previous knowledge of a facility there, and yet… it was being used to forge corrupted Sapphire Hearts. Thanks to the Sapphire Heart Collectors, the operation has been dismantled.”

Leina’s gaze sharpened with intrigue. “But how did they manage to find it? We’ve visited Black River West before—there was never any sign of such a place.”

“It was concealed by illusion magic as they said,” the officer explained. “A deception meant to make people believe there was nothing but wilderness in that part of the forest.”

Leina and Baihou exchanged knowing glances.

“I see…” they murmured in unison.

The officer continued, his voice dropping slightly. “However, after interrogating the captured culprits, an interesting claim was made… They accused a faction within Thalvaris of being involved in the operation. Yet, this faction has remained unseen—completely off the radar.”

Baihou’s expression flickered. “Huh… That’s suspicious.”

The officer gave a slow nod. “What confuses us is why the Sapphire Heart Collectors haven’t mentioned Thalvaris at all. If they had encountered them, surely they would’ve reported it.”

Baihou exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. “Maybe they had their reasons…”

“We should bring this up with them,” Leina suggested.

“That would help,” the officer agreed.

“Anything else we need to know?” Leina asked.

The officer hesitated before responding. “I’m not sure if this is directly related… but we’ve been conducting research on one of the corrupted Sapphire Hearts we retrieved.” He crossed his arms. “It’s exceptionally powerful—yet highly dangerous. We’re awaiting confirmation from His Highness before permanently banning it from further use.”

Leina’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. “What makes it so dangerous?”

The officer’s expression darkened. “Unlike regular Sapphire Hearts, this one was forged for Abysmal Beads—a terrifying hybrid combination. Its mere presence is enough to affect those nearby… corrupting their minds, pulling them toward the Greeds.”

Baihou’s brow furrowed. “Wait… You mean it has an Aura?!”

Leina’s mind raced. The Aura—a dark energy field that swirled in the air, sensed only by those attuned to it.

She considered for a moment, then asked, “Would we be allowed to examine it?”

Baihou’s nose twitched in alarm. “Hey—Don’t tell me you’re gonna mess with it.”

Leina turned to him with a calm but unwavering gaze. “This could provide crucial clues for our investigation.”

Baihou groaned, already knowing there was no stopping her now.

The officer watched their exchange with mild amusement before adding, “It’s possible that this corrupted Sapphire Heart does, in fact, emit a corruptive Aura—but only a select few can actually perceive it. That makes it all the more dangerous.”

Baihou exhaled. “Oh? Just what we needed! Invisible dark energy.”

The officer walked over to a wooden bookshelf near the grand courtroom’s walls, his fingers trailing along the ancient tomes stacked in rows. After a moment of searching, he pulled one free, flipping through its worn pages.

Then, he turned back to Leina and handed it over.

“As a reward for your efforts, this book may achieve your passive attributes. It contains knowledge on how to unlock the ability to perceive Auras.”

Leina’s expression remained composed, but a glimmer of excitement shone in her eyes.

Baihou, on the other hand, nodded appreciatively. “This helps a lot. Thanks, Commander!”

The officer gave a final nod. “Also—if you wish to examine the corrupted Sapphire Heart, it is currently secured in the Underground Research Facility. Let me know when you’re ready.”

Leina tucked the book under her arm. “We’ll inform you when the time comes.”

With that, they took their leave.

Upon returning to the Goldenleaf Springs Inn, Grandpa Otto greeted them with a warm smile.

“Oh~ Kaziel and the others just went out,” he informed them. “They were investigating the matter as well.”

Leina and Baihou blinked, surprised.

“They’re already looking into it?” Baihou muttered.

Grandpa Otto chuckled. “Looks like you all have pieces of the puzzle. Why not gather your information together? That would be the most efficient way to move forward.”

Baihou and Leina exchanged glances before nodding.

“Got it. Thanks, Grandpa Otto!” Baihou grinned.

Leina remained quiet, but her thoughts were already elsewhere.

If Kaziel and the others were already investigating… then it was time they compared notes.

There was much left to uncover.

The villagers near the borderlines had provided valuable insight, pointing Kaziel and his team toward someone particularly knowledgeable about the land—an old man who had spent years cutting the tall grasses near the borderline wall.

And so, they found him.

At first glance, he bore a striking resemblance to Grandpa Otto—short, elderly, but with a presence that carried both wisdom and humor. The most notable feature, however, was his hair—blue, much like Kaziel’s.

At that moment, Kaziel understood whom Grandpa Otto had meant when he spoke of an acquaintance.

As they approached, the old man let out a hearty chuckle. “Ah, so you’re here to learn a thing or two about the mysterious borderline?”

Kaziel nodded respectfully. “Yes. You must be Mr. Whisker?”

The old man puffed his chest out proudly. “Indeed, that’s me! But call me Grandpa Whisker instead!”

The group exchanged uncertain glances before Anna decided to go along with it. “Alright, Grandpa Whisker. Can you tell us a bit about what’s been happening here?”

The old man let out a dramatic sigh, stroking his beard as if pondering a great mystery. “Ah, well… recently, the grasses have been growing much taller than usual, and frankly, I’m not as strong as I used to be to handle it all myself.”

Kaziel blinked. “…Wait, that’s what you meant by something happening?”

Anna’s eye twitched. “Eh?”

But Grandpa Whisker nodded sagely, completely unfazed. “Yes, yes. Over there—see those ridiculously tall grasses? Used to be that I could cut them down no problem, but now… I simply don’t have the strength anymore.” He sighed wistfully. “And it just keeps growing back… over and over. I’m certain something’s not right.”

They let out a slow exhale. This wasn’t exactly the grand mystery they were expecting.

Sakura glanced at Kaziel, observing the way he handled the situation. Even when things didn’t go as planned, Kaziel never dismissed someone in need. His patience, his willingness to listen, with a small, knowing smile,

Kaziel nodded. “Alright. We’ll help you.”

The tall grasses stretched endlessly, their golden-green blades swaying gently in the wind. The once-open field had transformed into something resembling a miniature forest, thick and overgrown.

Anna stood at the edge, eyes wide. “Thi-this… is a lot.”

Helion flipped his coin idly, his gaze scanning the overgrowth. “How many years has this place been abandoned?” His tone was unreadable, but there was a hint of intrigue behind his words.

Grandpa Whisker stroked his beard again before flashing a grin. “Ah, it’s been abandoned for years… though I couldn’t quite remember the last time I cut it.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he perked up. “Oh! I forgot to mention—I have a scythe!”

Kaziel’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “A scythe?”

The old man nodded. “Yes, a special one.. It contains a Sapphire Heart. I used to wield it back in my younger days.”

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the weapon.

A large scythe materialized in his hands—its long, curved blade gleaming under the dull light. An elegant yet ominous aura surrounded the embedded Sapphire Heart at its base, glowing faintly.

Grandpa Whisker grinned proudly. “I used to be a magician, you know.. This weapon saw plenty of action back in the day. But now?” He chuckled. “I’ve retired, become just another villager… tending my farm, living a simple life. These days, I only use it for cutting grass~ Haha!”

The group exchanged looks.

The sheer contrast—a powerful, enchanted weapon reduced to a glorified gardening tool—was almost comical.

Anna, however, was already reaching for it, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Ooooh! I like this.”

Kaziel and the others leaned in, examining the intricate engravings running along the blade. It was clear that this scythe had a history—one that Grandpa Whisker had long left behind.

Kaziel gave the old man a warm smile. “This is still a huge help. Thank you, Grandpa Whisker.”

The old man simply let out a hearty chuckle, giving them a final wave.

“Well then—good luck with your first job! I’ll leave it to you young folks~”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving them with the towering grass and the weight of an unexpected task ahead.

Kaziel forced a wry smile. “Well… cutting grass won’t be that hard.” He tried to sound reassuring, but even he wasn’t convinced.

Anna, Sakura, and Helion sighed in perfect unison.

“…But we did come all this way to investigate the borderline.” Anna muttered, crossing her arms.

Kaziel exhaled. “Well… they did say Grandpa Whisker knows something about the suspicions around here. Since he lives so close to the borderline wall, maybe there’s still something to uncover.”

His gaze shifted toward Helion, expectant. “Helion, any thoughts?”

Helion flipped his coin lazily, eyes half-lidded. “Hm? Looking for answers from me again, are we?”

Kaziel huffed. “Just wondering if you see anything we’re missing.”

For a moment, Helion’s golden eyes flickered toward the distant forest. His fingers idly brushed over the edge of his coin, deep in thought.

“…Well,” he mused, “if we use the Sapphire Heart Scythe, it might lead us to something.”

Anna glanced down at the scythe in her grasp, intrigued. “Oh? You think this thing could actually reveal something?”

Helion’s gaze remained distant. “Sapphire Heart weapons are infused with traces of magic. They resonate with specific energies… Unfortunately, they can only be fully activated by magicians.”

Kaziel folded his arms, thinking aloud. “And Grandpa Whisker did mention he no longer has the strength to wield it… almost as if he’s been waiting for someone else to take up the scythe in his place.”

Anna’s expression dropped immediately. “Ugh… so it’s useless to us.”

The group sighed collectively again.

Kaziel turned to Sakura. “Do you know any spells?”

Sakura hesitated. “U-Um… my magic knowledge is… well, mostly basic.”

A brief silence settled between them. Helion, as usual, remained unbothered, idly flipping his coin between his fingers.

“Rest assured,” he murmured, his voice calm, “we’re in the right place. That’s all that matters.”

At the very least, they could agree on that.

Kaziel took a deep breath, shaking off his thoughts. “Alright, enough overthinking. Let’s just cut the grass and take a break from investigating.”

He shot them a carefree grin.

Sakura, who had been quietly feeling useless, found comfort in that.

Maybe she didn’t have all the answers yet…

But for now, she could accept that.

Kaziel’s curiosity flickered as he pointed toward the scythe in Anna’s hands, his signature grin in place.

“About the scythe, I’m curious how it works~”

Anna adjusted her grip, spinning the weapon slightly in her palm. “This, huh? I’ve used one before… wouldn’t hurt to try cutting some grass.”

Stepping forward, she shifted into a proper stance, both hands gripping the weapon firmly. The others stood behind her, watching with anticipation.

With a swift motion, she swung.

A single, fluid slash—and an entire patch of overgrown grass was cut cleanly, the blades falling like cascading leaves.

The group erupted into cheers.

“Woah! That’s amazing!”

Anna smirked, twirling the scythe confidently before resting it on her shoulder.

“Me next!”

Kaziel eagerly took the weapon from her, rolling his shoulders before shifting into his own stance. Unlike Anna’s controlled precision, Kaziel’s movements carried raw energy.

As he swung, faint crackles of lightning flickered along the blade, amplifying the strike.

With a forceful push, the scythe sliced through a massive section of grass in an instant.

The group gasped, eyes wide in astonishment.

“Wow..! Nice, nice!”

Now, it was Sakura’s turn.

She hesitated.

The scythe was much larger than her, its weight heavier than she had expected. Gripping it tightly, she swung forward—

But only a small section of grass was cut.

“Wah—!” She stumbled slightly from the momentum.

A brief silence.

Then—Kaziel immediately clapped loudly, breaking the moment.

“Woah!! You did great! That’s the spirit!”

The others followed suit, smiling encouragingly.

Sakura exhaled, embarrassed that she had never used a weapon like this before… but she felt a small warmth settle in her chest.

Finally, it was Helion’s turn.

Unlike the others, he didn’t shift into a stance or adjust his footing.

He simply stood still.

One hand on the scythe.

A single, silent moment.

Then—a flicker of motion.

With one effortless swing, Helion cut through an entire section of the field in a split second.

The group froze, stunned.

Then, applause erupted once more.

“Helion makes everything look effortless!”

“Nice, nice!”

Helion merely nodded, the corners of his lips tugging into a faint, smug smirk. “Hmph. You’re expecting too little of me.”

“Oi oii~! What kind of party are you guys holding?!”

A voice suddenly rang out from above.

The group, still engaged in their work, jolted in surprise as Baihou’s head appeared upside down from a tree branch. His golden-furred tail was wrapped securely around the wood, suspending him midair as he smirked with confidence.

“Huh?! Baihou?! How did you get here?!” Kaziel’s expression twisted in shock.

Baihou casually crossed his arms while hanging upside down. “Heard from Grandpa Otto that the Sapphire Heart Collectors were snooping around the borderlands. And since we were in town, the girls let us know you were out here looking for clues~”

Kaziel exhaled, walking up to him. “Well yeah, but as soon as we got here, we weren’t given any clues at all. Instead, we got roped into—” he gestured toward the vast field, “tending grass.”

Baihou raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Leina approached.

Holding her staff firmly in her hand, she glanced at Kaziel with an unreadable expression.

“First time?”

Kaziel and the others exchanged glances, sensing that something was about to unfold.

Anna, with a flick of her gaze, stepped forward and handed over the scythe to Leina.

“Leina,” she said, serious. “You think you could cast a spell to see what’s ahead?”

Leina raised an eyebrow, her fingers brushing over the weapon. “You mean… detecting the dark energy?”

Kaziel nodded. “We’ve figured out that the real clue might be tracing the dark energy near the border walls.”

Baihou blinked, finally dropping down from the tree with a graceful flip.

“Wait, hold on! How did you guys figure that out so quickly?!”

Leina glanced at him before looking back at Kaziel, who rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh, about that…” Kaziel paused before nodding toward Sakura.

“We have Sakura, who can see them. But as soon as we got here, we couldn’t find its trace nearby.”

The air shifted.

Leina and Baihou turned their full attention to Sakura.

A knowing look crossed Leina’s face.

“The Thalvarian…” she murmured, her blue eyes narrowing with curiosity.

Sakura stiffened. Something about that gaze—like she was being read.

Baihou’s tail flicked lazily. “So… she can’t see what lies ahead?”

Sakura shook her head, glancing toward the half-cut grass. “No… it’s as if something is blocking it. I can sense that it’s there, but I can’t see it.”

Leina hummed thoughtfully. “Blocked, huh? Then… it might be the grass that’s preventing visibility.”

Kaziel’s eyes widened. “Oh! Then all we need to do is cut the rest!”

Anna turned to look at Leina “You think you could do something about it?” She was holding out the scythe in her hands.

Before they could get ahead of themselves, Baihou and Leina remained unmoved.

Then, Leina crossed her arms, her gaze flicking back to them.

“Sure but before we proceed, we have a few questions about the Umbral Foundry you discovered.”

Suddenly, a heavy silence settled in the air, a tension threading between them.

Kaziel and the others felt it—a shift, subtle yet undeniable.

They knew Baihou and Leina wouldn’t stay in the dark for long.

Curiosity would pull them in, whether they were ready for it or not.

After all, they were part of this too.