Chapter 1:

Where do I start

THE CITY OF STORIES


Where do I start?...Let’s see maybe I should start from there.

My partner and I were investigating the scene of a murder. The victim Ms Blank a candidate for the title of greatest mage, she was murdered some time today, her body was discovered in the top floor of her apartment building, it was found in a rather grotesque state the lower half of her body had been completely blown off, her innards scattered across the living room floor, blood sputtered all over the walls and the roof destroyed.

The residents who live below our victim claim to have heard a loud BANG!! And screamAHHH!!” 

They came up as quick as they could but when they opened the door all they found was Ms Blank in a pool of her own blood.

 One witness claims the screams sounded like that of a young girl.

How strange.

Even more strange is the forensics team could only identify one person`s fingerprints at the scene of the crime.. Ms Blanks fingerprints. The case seemed to be too much for the police department, so it was delegated to the Supernatural Investigations Department and that department assigned it to my partner and me.

“The victim Ms Aste—”

“You don’t have to tell me her name I`ll refer to her as Ms Blank, I only bother knowing the names of people of value to my own life”

“Fine then…Ms Blank didn’t put up much of a struggle aside from the mess with the blood and organs everything else in this apartment seems to be untouched.” She uttered. "I`ll look around for residual traces of magic.”

My partner Lamia a supernatural being searched every knock and cranny of the apartment building for traces of magic.

I should probably describe Lamia`s appearance as the narrator I`m inclined to do that.

 Well she has a fairly human appearance, aside from her pointy ears and snake like eyes she looks plain ordinary, as of right now she`s dressed in the standard dark blue uniform, a requirement for all Supernatural Investigations Department personnel in that regard I`m also wearing one though I’ve got a cap on.

“I can’t find any traces of foreign magical energy.” She related nonchalantly

“What exactly does that...mean?” I asked

“All the magical energy in this place originates from that body on the floor,” Lamia responded, “she likely used highly advanced magic before death.”

Nothing was stolen, no one was seen, no evidence was left behind and no proof of murder whatsoever. In most cases this would look like…

“Suicide.” Lamia asserted with a blank expression. “You were thinking the exact same thing weren’t you.”

“Something about that doesn’t feel right.”

“Humans do vile things to themselves and others all the time for reasons such as this and reasons such as that.. It’s not that hard to imagine.” She replied.

I don’t know the specifics but according to Greek mythology the demon Lamia preyed on women and children. 

She was hated by humans and hated humans herself a monster feared and scorned, probably why she has a bad attitude most of the time.

With no evidence to go on, I decided to inspect the corpse itself.

 I marched on over to the half of her body that was left and began to feel around it for anything.

Boing!

“Hey there I don`t appreciate you rummaging through my body like that, I may be dead but I still have my pride as a woman to uphold.”

Boing!

Her voice was soft and calm like a gentle breeze or the waves at sea on a sunny day; she spoke in a slow passive tone.

“I didn’t realize it bothered you that much.” I replied

Boing!!

“Not really I was merely pretending to be bashful.” The voice bubbled “But could you stop?” She pouted her cheeks

Boing!! Boing!

“For future reference... What should I call you?”

Boing!

She smirked and declared “You’re not asking what my name is then, you already know the answer.”

Boing!

“…..” Silence I responded with nothing but that.

 She announced. “My name for the time being is Ms Blank, a candidate for the title of greatest mage.”

I had never met one until now but meeting a ghost or two was nothing too strange in this city and it seems this ghost has quite the personality.

“Human boy who exactly… are you talking to?” Lamia said with an empty expression.

“A ghost.”

“A ghost huh I`ll leave you to it then.”

“Your partner is quite the character,” Ms Blank whispered, “a demon in the literal sense how amusing.”

I still can`t find anything useful on her corpse like bruising from a struggle. 

Boing!

“So tell me, any questions you`d like to ask this dead mage cause I`d appreciate it if you could stop groping around my corpse…You can ask me anything what, secrets do yo—”

“Tell me then… how did you die.”

“That’s easy I killed myself.” she chimed in “I`m glad you didn’t ask for anything too outlandish like my bust size.”

“………..”

“You don’t look too satisfied with my answer, it looks like you`d be more content if I gave you a reason.”

“I just want to find out who or what could kill a candidate for the title of greatest mage, for the safety of this city if you could tell me I`d appreciate it.”

“Then can we go on a walk to the beach then?”

“Why the beach?”

“I promise you at the beach we`ll meet the reason.” She said with a kind smile that could melt even the coldest ice.

For some reason I trusted her it felt as if we had been friends or like we`d known each other forever...How strange.

The ghost and I left the apartment building and started our walk to the beach taking in the city lights each step of the way.

“Is it okay to leave without telling your partner anything?” Ms Blank wondered “Won`t she be worried?”

“It’s fine she and I have an understanding.” I joked “Outside of work she doesn’t really care much about me.”

“I can tell that beast has faith in you even if she won`t say It.” Ms Blank chuckled

“I`ve been meaning to ask why aren’t you wearing any clothes?”

“Oh that it’s not by choice…As your soul leaves the physical plane your earthly possessions are left behind.”

“So has the sight of a naked woman aroused you?” She jabbed.

“Who could say...” I replied. “Does it bother you?”

“Not really I was merely pretending to be bashful.” She smiled.

As we got closer to our destination and the silence of the night sunk in, she asked me something strange that I still think about every now and then.

“Hey…Tell me have you found it,” She questioned, “that which shines and glitters in your eyes?”

It’s strange but I`m just now realizing how beautiful her silver hair is under this moon lit sky.

“That which shines and glitters in my eyes by that you mean gold?” I replied.

“Yes that which you treasure more than life itself. “She Declared. “Someone or something you`d be willing to live for and protect or if need be...DIE for to me that is gold.”

“I can’t say I have anything or anyone like that, and you.”

“For me it’s my little sister” She said with a beaming smile.

“My sister and I would take walks on the sandy seashore smiling, laughing together, making memories and having simple chats together. I`d give anything to be able to do that with her again, so please promise me when you see her you`ll tell, her that I was truly happy to have had a little sister like her.”

As we arrived at the beach there was a girl crouched down on the sand next to the sea I`d say she looked like a middle school girl.

 She had a strange expression on her face It wasn’t quite sad or happy.

As we walked over to her she asked me something...

“Can you see it?”

“She isn’t talking about me she can`t even see or hear me.” Ms Blank joked with a smile 

“She means something else.”

“I can’t see it...” I responded as I took a seat right next to her and said…“You killed her right.”

“Yes I did, so are you hear to arrest me?”

“Not really.” I exhaled

“My sister sent you right?” She guessed.

“She did, but you knew that didn’t you.” I acknowledged. 

“Is that why you admitted to killing her.”

She agreed.

The two of us sat in silence as we stared out at the sea.

After a while I decided it was time for me to go, but before I left I said one final thing to the girl.

“Your sister told me to tell you something, she thinks of you as gold but to me…You’re more like fool’s gold”

The rising sun`s light glittered on the surface of the calm sea putting an end to a long night Ms Blank and I walked side by side as we enjoyed the view.

“Thanks for delivering my message to her it means a lot to me.” She giggled “If I was alive I`d probably fall in love with you.”

My face turned completely red

“Are you flustered.” She jabbed

“Not really I was actually just pretending to be bashful.”

It was time for the two of us to part ways.

 I only ask the names of people I believe will be of value to my life which is why their was something I needed to ask her, the girl who had just been murdered the girl I called Blank..

“Hey before you go could you….Tell me your name.”

I suppose you could consider this an epilogue of sorts... After the ghost departed I then marched my way back to the station where I met up with my partner Lamia.

She handled all the official case work while I was out wasting time.

In the end, the murder came to be known as a mysterious suicide, to the public...

But I did tell Lamia the truth at least and she only had this to say…

“Tell me what exactly did you get out of all this?”

“Absolutely Nothing.” I replied.

"Ha!"

I nearly forgot one detail of this story, as a narrator I apologize...Before parting ways I did inquire Ms Blank`s name to which she replied

“One of the twelve candidates for the title of greatest mage the silver Witch of dreams it’s Asteria Azrael!!” she broadcast-ed as she struck a funny pose. “if you don’t mind would you tell me yours.”

This is the first time I’ve heard her shout, her face is turning beet red it`s priceless,

 Ha! ha! ha… I suppose I owe it to her, to reply with just as much energy or else she`ll die from embarrassment…

"The latest member of the Supernatural investigations Division He who`s eyes see past the distortions of this world!!” 

I trumpeted. “My name is William parker the dark haired blue eyed friend of the SILVER WITCH!!”

“Until we meet again!” we both said with faces completely red.

Yuuki
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Elukard
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