Investigation

The biggest flaw in the king’s accusation of Kyr Solian was the sorcerer’s ability to open the spire. 

The argument goes that Kyr attacked his fellow guardians, chased them out of the Spire of Knowledge all the way to Lumis, burned the town, then went back to kill Aven.

But how did Kyr reopen the spire if he left to go to Lumis? Why did he stay inside the spire after killing Aven?

When Leatrix learned of the codex’s existence, she realized it was the reason the king was hellbent on the idea that Kyr took it.

But therein lay a new contradiction. One told by every guardian including her uncle: “Aven was inside the testing room when Kyr attacked us.”

Meaning the hero had the codex up to that point.

Even the king must’ve realized this. He probably thought that if Kyr didn’t have it, someone conspiring with him must have, so he kept the sorcerer in prison as bait.

When Kyr opened the Spire of Knowledge, Leatrix was surprised, but the contradiction remained. In fact, it only strengthened when she saw the room of testing herself. It was undamaged. More than that, Aven fought in the corridor outside and potentially lost the codex after.

Conclusion: It was impossible for Kyr to go to Lumis.

So what of Roy’s version of events?

“I’m afraid the old hospice had burnt down, inquisitor. All healing is serviced at the monastery these days.”

The old woman bowed to Leatrix as she placed a hand over her lips in the tradition of the sacred order. She made a similar gesture in return.

“That badge is pretty useful,” Roy said after the old woman left. “But I guess that means we reached another dead end.”

Leatrix studied the empty lot where the hospice used to be. According to Roy and the townsfolk, it was a two-story building with glass windows styled after the sun's rays—the town's only noteworthy structure before the fire. They apparently planned to rebuild the place, but priorities pushed it down the list.

She looked back at the road they walked so far. The inn the entrance of town, the tavern at the central plaza, the line of close-knit shops along the riverside, and now the non-existent hospice at the northern edge.

All the places Roy was familiar with had either been rebuilt or completely disappeared. The layout of the town stayed the same, but finding any clue to what transpired six years ago was impossible.

“I still remember the commotion outside the inn,” Roy lamented. “I was in my room considering how I'd convince Kyr and Aven to let me join their group... when I heard cries for help.”

“That’s when you saw the guardians?” 

“That’s right,” Roy said. “So many things were happening back then, but I recognized that pompous knight Radon when I looked out the window. I knew it was them. They looked beaten. Morick looked like he was on death's door. When I rushed down to meet them, I ended up following the crowd all the way to this hospice. I heard them yelling about Kyr when the healers asked what happened. I took off for the Spire of Knowledge after that.”

Meaning there was a clear delay between the culprit chasing the guardians out of the spire and arriving at Lumis to burn it down. The guardians themselves corroborated this. In fact, they probably wouldn’t have come to Lumis if they knew they were bringing danger to it.

“We didn’t intend to leave Aven behind,” Morick told her. “We meant to lure Kyr out of the spire. We knew he was more powerful in the open, but we didn’t want to risk getting the tower destroyed either.” Morick shook his head as if ashamed. “I nearly died. Jessa is gifted, but no healer can heal wounds that grave. With Kyr out of our tail, Lumis was the closest option.”

Leatrix blinked. The sun was about to set, so they headed for the monastery in the western side of town.

“Did you know Vysa wasn’t with them when they arrived in town?” Leatrix asked as they walked.

Roy scratched his head. “I guess I was too shocked to notice. The official story is she waited for the culprit or something, right? Jessa only managed light healing on her eye, but she insisted to stay in order to protect their escape. Did she go back to the tower?”

“She was unlucky and encountered beasts,” Leatrix answered. "They already cleared the spire of monsters before they went in, but there was always more lurking in the shadows."

“Ah, no wonder we missed each other," Roy lamented. "I honestly didn’t know how I managed to get to the spire unscathed. Not that either of us would’ve been able to get in.”

And after that, a fire so big anybody could see it for miles around.

Even with Roy’s story, Kyr was physically incapable of making the trip.

Which left Leatrix with her suspicions...

Cinza waved at them when they reached the monastery. It was a white building with a domed roof fashioned with symbols of the sun. Atop it was the sculpture of a bird with outstretched wings. More importantly, a large crowd had gathered outside the building.

Leatrix and Roy shared a look.

“What’s going on?” Leatrix asked Cinza as a knight ran past them, carrying a miner in brown leather.

“Trouble at the mines,” Cinza said. “Beasts. I heard they came down the mountain.”

“Should we help or something?” Roy said.

“I think they have it covered,” Cinza replied, then gestured with his chin up north. “Look up there.”

Leatrix looked up but didn’t know where to—

“Is that ice?”

“What happened to the mountain?”

“The mines! Check on the mines!”

While injured miners were carried into the monastery, even more people were running out to see the pillar of magical ice that formed.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me…” Roy whispered. “Is that…”

“Our friend,” Cinza finished. “I think they’re still there, searching the mines.”

Roy turned between Leatrix and Cinza. “Are we going to be okay? What if they learn who he is?" He  lowered his voice. "We’re gonna get chased out of town! That’s if they don’t kill us!”

“We'll go check on them now,” Leatrix said to Roy. “Cinza, make sure our caravan is ready just in case.”

“Oh—uh, okay!”

“Will do.”

Roy ran off with the crowd, but Leatrix held Cinza’s arm before he could leave. “Did you check on what I asked you to?”

Cinza nodded. “Someone in the monastery worked in the old hospice. I’m surprised you bothered to check that place.”

“No stone left unturned.”

“Anything this humble butler should know?”

Leatrix bit her lip. “Not yet. Remember to not tell anyone about this, Cinza. I’ll speak to this survivor while you see to the caravan.”

“Just make sure you’re not standing too close to fire, milady. The healer’s name is Yana. She’s old and built like an ox. Definitely one of the survivors, but rarely talks about it.”