Lets do some Investigating

By walking around town after checking in, Mai and Lygawa found out a little more about what was going on in this place.

Apparently there had been a spate of abductions and murders, loosely linked with the ruling nobility that lived in Braxel. Mostly young women had gone missing, or been found dead in the nearby river, and rumor abounded that the irresponsible, greedy, rich folk were to blame, but as they 'owed' the police force too - nothing had been done about it all.

A fairly common theme of corruption and entitlement in any world it seems...

Lygawa had gone back to being watchful of everyone; with talk of harm to women like Mai whispered all over, but she did it with less notice and vigour than before at least.

But after retiring for the day, having a nice little meal and going to their room, the dragon had no problem falling soundly asleep in her own bed, leaving Mai to linger about their next steps.

The next morning they found a couple of policing towns-guards and trailed them back to their headquarters, and since they looked to be actively keeping an eye out for trouble, Mai thought an introduction would work in their favor.

It helped that her 'visions' didn't spark at all, and her 'gut feelings' seemed settled too - prompting her to be at least be a little trusting of these patrolling men in the armour.

"So what can we do for you miss?"

An older bearded man asked as the women approached the building's front.

"I believe you have been expecting me..."

Mai had contemplated long and hard about revealing herself as the sort after 'seer', but as 'regular people' the two had done as much as she could think of to do on their own.

After a moment of though, this more experienced man seemed to know what was going on, so quickly escorted the two inside to a small, but comfy, room to continue the conversation.

"I assume you've come from Yarra village?"

Mai had to recall if that was the village's given name, but agreed as they sat down to a small table.

"We're so glad you could come."

He spoke with some caution, but slight hope too.

"Then do you know who is responsible for this spike in crime?"

He completely ignored her companion, who stayed on alert, but quietly seated beside Mai.

"Sorry no. It doesn't work like that."

The dark haired man sighed and slipped his fit body back into the simple chair.

"But if I got near the suspects... I might have more for you then."

Mai was still only guessing at how her ability was triggered, but a glimmer of hope was all this tired looking guy needed to act upon it.

"I can do that for you, immediately... if you'd like?"

"Sure."

The man, who identified himself as Officer Marco Glover, lead them off, out the back of the building and toward the more expansive properties, neatly tucked away from the bustling towns central streets.

He said very little to them, as he walked them up the backstreets toward the 'better-off' part of the town, probably still suspicious of her, or cagey - in not wanting to influence any decision she would come by, or already have.

"Here we are... this is the residence of the highest Nobel in the land, and... who is also most rumored to be the culprit..."

He didn't do a good enough job to hide his lack of belief in his own words though, as they passed by the already guarded gates, into the most lavish looking gardens in town, and toward the big white house in its middle.

This was the very same large house I saw burning in my 'vision'...

Allowed access to the huge entrance, with curved stairs and grand decorations, the ladies and escort waited to be seen, inside the very quiet mansion.

"This is one person's house, yes...?"

Lygawa looked around the big room that could easily fit their entire modest house neatly inside it.

"I guess they have a lot of wealth."

Mai could tell this was by far the biggest 'house' she had ever entered.

"Such a waste of space..."

Lygawa stopped snooping about when people entered from up above.

"So glad we can have the rumored 'seer' here, and you're a woman in fact."

The fairly young man came down the stairs, quite excited to have Mai and company grace his doors, while an equally young woman and infant stayed upstairs.

"Again I'm so blessed to have you help..."

He reached out to shake Mai's hand, and the moment he made contact Mai's head pounded.

Mai was bombarded with a set of truly horrible 'glimpses' this time.

"Oh, are you feeling... unwell?"

"Mai?!"

Lygawa fretted as Mai stumbled back, while trying not to hurl.

That was gross... but those last images told me one thing for certain...

"I can tell this man is not responsible..."

Mai got over the harshest 'vision' she'd had to date, reporting to the nearby officer.

"See, I knew it was the right call to summon her here."

So the Nobel was the one who sort me out... well there's another twist to the tale...

"Come lay down..."

The well dressed Noble offered for Mai to follow him to a smaller and more private room, providing a seat for her to rest on.

"I apologise, I must introduce myself too, for I am Hector Montgomery - Baron of these lands."

"I am... Mai and this is my protector - Lygawa."

It didn't seem worth protecting their names now, since the dragon had nearly shouted hers out just moments earlier.

"A pleasure."

"Do you mind if we get right to the matter?"

"Oh no, please."

"We're looking for rivals, former or disgruntled employees... someone who wishes you and your family in particular harm."

The dragon-girl looked smug at the others, who were quite impressed by the 'seer', but the officer soon looked sour again.

"Afraid we already investigated nearly all those we could think of."

"Oh, and do you have a clue how these women are disappearing...?"

He shook his head.

"No. Even with my men about, we've never seen anyone out of place. All we know is that some of the workers around here... turn up dead in the river, from time to time."

Marco looked particularly beat by his own words.

Though after a little more time to ponder what was told to her, Mai had a daring thought, which peaked both men's interests as she explained it to them.

"Just... at least look like your working..."

Lygawa paddled the duster about, half-heartedly over the beds edge, as she sighed, again.

Mai supervised as the two went about their 'new job'; cleaning the Nobel's mansion.

Mai was also appreciating the nice little change to Lygawa; who was wearing something else for the first time, not that the house-maid outfit suited her persona, but it did look fetching on her slim frame. Mai too was dressed in the very same outfit, and while it felt nice and comfortable to move in, the bold black and white stood out in the light rooms they 'worked' in.

Mai at least used her cleaning magic to do something about the built up dust, while Lygawa did the least she could get away with, while keeping near.

"So what was next on the list?"

Mai asked, seeing the silvery girl stop again, after patting the bed 'free' of grime.

The dragon launched her duster successfully across the room into the basket, then unrolled the paper note containing their modest 'to do' list from her pocket.

"Next was... 'Dry the washing'."

"Now we get to go outside..."

"Oh good..."

She said sarcastically, not impressed to be forced into doing these chores.

The two had gone 'under cover'; getting a 'highly risky' job, as several previous maids had fallen victim to whomever was responsible for trying to frame the young Baron. Taken to the older Head-maid, who seemed rather depressed and sad, they told her they were new hires, and so were given a brief talking to, before being sent straight to work.

After receiving their 'uniforms' and then the list of tasks to do for the afternoon, they hadn't seen the head-maid again, who vanished off somewhere with her own tasks.

In fact; they hadn't come across any other workers in the house, which seemed quite unexpected for a place of such size and wealth.

In the meantime; Mai didn't mind doing the different housework, but Lygawa soon tiered of it and began to grumble.

"Wasn't there some other way of doing this?"

Mai pondered for a moment as they walked to their next task.

"You can leave me to clean, and go do a different job..."

Lygawa stamped her foot in the cute polished black shoes, and raised her voice in opposition.

"I am not letting you from my sight!"

So she was still taking her protectorate role very seriously.

"Well lets both get to it then."

Going to the side of the property, the two gathered up the already dried items and then flung some waiting sheets over the provided rails, then returned inside to the kitchen, for 'Dish washing', only to find no dishes, instead finally coming across the head-maid, who was currently preparing food there.

"I assume you've worked hard today, and as it is getting late..."

She looked afar for a second, before returning to her cooking.

"I shall dismiss you for today..."

Keeping to the 'rules', the pair stayed in their maid uniforms as they slipped from the side entrance and went off together down the smaller streets, heading back toward their accommodations.

Those about the streets all seemed in place, as guards and other workers went about, doing their own work, or like them, were now free from it, and nothing caught Mai's eye to be anything different than a usual sort of scene.

However Lygawa started looking particularly cautiously about in the dimming light.

"What's wrong?"

Mai stopped and whispered by the next crossroads.

"I have a strong sense... that a predator watches us closely..."