“A shapecrafter with earth affinity,” Aveline said as she served them breakfast the next morning. They were back in their cottage.

“And only one because the Kagee village is probably a lot smaller than Vermeil,” Lyam said. Breakfast was a porridge of mixed grains and more rye bread. “You said, crafters who are really good with their powers can summon a storm with a snap of a finger. Seems like there are multiple people of such prowess in this group.”

“They’re also very organized in what they are doing. It’s safe to assume that there have been more attacks in other parts of Brismont. Very effective to overwhelm the Crown.” Aveline nodded.

“Is this group big enough to be called a guild?”

“It’s certainly a possibility. I might even say they are something bigger.” Aveline took the seat across from him. “I think we need to pay a visit to Diamond Veil before our next hunt. We’ll see what the count has found out about these attacks.”

Lyam hesitated. He kept his eyes fixed on his bowl of porridge.

“What is it?” Aveline said.

“Um…can we take a stop on our way to Diamond Veil?”

“Stop where?”

“Eisdel,” he said. “I'd promised mamie that I'll meet her there once I survive the fire.”

Aveline looked at him curiously. “Are you certain you want to see her now?”

“Of course I'm certain. She must be killing herself with worry. I want to let her know that I’m still alive. And…also let her know about Emma's condition.”

“Didn’t you say she hates all things magic? Also, you're trying to investigate the shapecrafters who have probably abducted more than a hundred children across the kingdom in less than a month. You are also going to be fighting in an underground tournament against deadly magic users. You think she is going to feel reassured that her twelve year old grandson has put himself in such a situation?”

Lyam frowned deeply. “I see what you mean.”

“You still want to meet her in Eisdel?”

“Yes,” Lyam said. “Even if I don't go and talk to her, I at least want to make sure that she still survived the fire.”

“Fair enough.”

###

It was early afternoon when they arrived in the city of Eisdel. A peaceful silence greeted them both with a gust of hot air blowing in their face. The shuffling of their boots was louder than it should’ve been on the cobblestoned street.

They passed by a tavern–its sign dangled from a pillar, swinging back and forth with a metallic groan. A cat lounged atop the perimeter wall of a bungalow, asleep.

As they kept moving, Lyam heard a soft, swishing sound in one of the buildings. He looked up to see a window of a house, the curtain was down. Somewhere behind him, a door squeaked on its hinges. For some reason, the silence didn't sound so peaceful anymore.

He leaned close to Aveline. “Something isn’t quite right.”

“Agreed,” the shapecrafter said. “I don’t think a city is meant to feel this…empty.”

Lyam nodded looking down at the deserted street in front of them. “Absolutely. Where in Fahn’s name is everyone?”

“I assume you both are passing by?” a new voice spoke up from behind them.

It was a man with a thin moustache and greying hair. And a face that was just starting to wrinkle. He was probably in his early thirties but somehow seemed to be pushing forty. He wore a grey woollen shirt and a leather vest and trousers. He had a truncheon on his hip and a bronze whistle hanging by his neck. And pinned to his woollen shirt was the badge of a City Enforcer, glinting in the afternoon sun.

“Yes,” Aveline said, pulling the sleeves of her shirt lower on her wrists to hide her tattoos.

“I supposed that was the case.” The enforcer nodded and stepped past them. “You aren’t on any horses which means you walked here. You two must be tired from your trip. I don’t mind offering a glass of water to either of you.” He kept walking without glancing at them. As if he was certain that they were following him.

They obliged but kept their distance.

The man introduced himself as Nicolas Moreau, Lieutenant Enforcer. Before Lyam could say anything, Aveline introduced both of them to the man. “I'm Emily and this is my nephew Gaston.”

Lyam winced internally. Gaston? Really?

“It's a pleasure,” the enforcer said. He hummed quietly as he led them down one empty street after another. Lyam noticed the same grim silence wherever they went.

The city enforcer’s office was a single-storey building with wooden floorboards that creaked as they walked and walls that were sealed with wanted posters, a map of Rose County and several bulletins about the Triumphant day. Another enforcer, probably a junior, was resting with his head down on his desk in the corner, probably asleep.

Nicolas pointed them to the two chairs opposite to his desk. “I assume you both have noticed the silence of this quaint little city?” he asked as he poured them both some water in stainless steel glasses.

“Indeed,” Lyam said. Both of them took a sip from their glass.

“I also assume you must’ve heard of the recent shapecrafter attacks.”

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“I think we have,” Aveline said in a careful tone. “Something about a nearby village getting burned.”

“Ah, so you know about Vermeil.” Nicolas sighed. “Certainly a tragedy with what happened to the place.”

Lyam’s chest tightened with worry. He almost hoped mamie had moved on to some other place before the shapecrafters came to Eisdel (if that was the reason why the town was so quiet and empty). He couldn’t imagine anything worse than running from the crafters in Vermeil only to encounter them somewhere else. He leaned forward and spoke in a cautious voice. “What happened to this town, though? It…It doesn’t seem like it was ‘attacked’.”

“No, they attacked this place rather differently.” Nicolas shook his head. “It happened yesterday morning. The businesses were opening up, the streets were still fairly empty. And suddenly everyone lost consciousness.”

Aveline frowned. “How is that possible? Shapecrafters can’t cast mind control magic.”

“It wasn’t mind control.”

Now Lyam was frowning too.

“There are these mutated creatures called the slumber moths. When an adult female sucks the nectar from a dust bloom, she can lay around two hundred eggs a day after mutation giving birth to more mutated moths,” Nicolas said. “The slumber moths are capable of secreting life dust that puts people to sleep the moment they inhale it.”

Lyam looked at a housefly lying idly on the lieutenant’s desk.

“That shapecrafter stood where I met you two today. He had two glass cages with small holes in them. The cages were full of those moths. He dropped them to the floor, shattering the glass and setting the moths free,” Nicolas said as he watched the idle fly himself. “At least five hundred of them. They invaded every house and every corner of the city. In less than ten minutes, everyone fell asleep” Nicolas said, “And that’s how they managed to take the children away with barely any effort.”

“That sounds ghastly.” Lyam was about to take another sip of water when Aveline stopped him.

“I think we’ll get going now, lieutenant.” She gave a curt smile.

“I wouldn’t really recommend it, Miss Emily.” The enforcer walked to a cabinet in the corner and unlocked it. She caught a glimpse of a bundle of papers inside. “The sun is a lot more fierce this afternoon.”

“I think we can handle a bit of sun just fine.” Aveline chuckled nervously, yanking Lyam out of his chair. The boy was frowning. “Thanks a lot for your hospitality, Lieutenant.”

The two of them made their way to the entrance.

“Miss Emily,” Lt. Nicolas called out. “I recommend covering your faces. The air isn’t too good for a woman or a child alone.”

“We’ll do that. Thank you.”

“No, wait.” Lyam slid his hand out of her grasp. “I want to ask something to the lieutenant.” He turned to the old man. Aveline watched him with a strained look. “I don’t expect you to have an answer for this question, but, by any chance did you encounter an old woman who came here from Vermeil? Perhaps, one of your juniors know about her?”

Lieutenant Nicolas raised an eyebrow and took a pause. Lyam’s hope went up as the silence lingered. Then the old man said, “I’m afraid I haven’t, son. I don’t remember talking to any woman from Vermeil recently.”

The boy nodded, trying to hold back a mournful look. He wasn’t sure if the news gave him more hope or just took it away. The only sensation he could feel was his head getting drowsy and his eyes getting heavier. Before he could say anything, Aveline pulled him out of the building. Her pace was a lot quicker when they walked through the deserted town. She pulled out two scarves from her satchel and handed him one. “Here you go, cover your face.”

“Wh-What's wrong?” Lyam wrapped the scarf around his nose and mouth. “Why are we putting these on? And why are you walking so fast? Wait, why are you pulling out the mutant-logue?”

Aveline rifled through the pages. “Here it is. The slumber moths!” she snapped in a hushed whisper. “They are capable of putting other creatures to sleep. The dust they emit allows them to do this. And once this attack is executed their dust remains in the air for five days straight before dissipating.”

Lyam yawned. “So what?”

Aveline frowned down at him. “Why are you yawning?”

“I didn't yawn,” he said as he let out another yawn.

“Lyam.” She grabbed him by his shoulders. “You are getting sleepy!”

“We walked all the way–”

“No, that shouldn't affect you!” She shook him by his shoulders.

The boy blinked several times to focus on her. “M-Maybe it's the dust from the moths.”

“No, no, no, no. The slumber dust only works on lower tier mutants and non-magic users.” She leaned closer, her face straining in concern. “It shouldn't be affecting you or…” —her words were cut off by a sudden yawn. Her head was starting to feel heavy.

Wind blew past them in a shrill whistle. Aveline shivered. Footsteps echoed down the empty street. She looked up and saw the enforcer lieutenant approaching them.

“Oh, no.” She lifted Lyam into her arms and started to walk again.

The boy groggily batted at her shoulder. “P-Put me down…I can walk…”

“No…you can't…” Aveline's own feet were unsteady.

“Miss Emily, wait!” the lieutenant called out from behind.

“You should step into the office and get some more water.” He caught up to them. “The air is not good for you.”

“We…we are okay, lieutenant.” she was struggling to form words now. Lyam had fallen asleep on her shoulder.

The man took the boy from her arms. She tried to hold onto him but the strength had abandoned her body. “You don't seem okay.”

“We…are…”

Aveline tried to keep walking but her legs gave out. She collapsed on the cobblestone road. Through her fading vision, she looked up at the enforcer. He wasn't wearing anything to cover his face. And the slumber dust in the air wasn't affecting him either. He was a wielder too, there was no doubt.

Then something else occurred to Aveline. “The water…was spiked…wasn't it…?”

The enforcer shook his head. “Wrong, the glasses were.” His voice seemed to echo from somewhere far away.

Then Aveline fell asleep.

###

Lieutenant Nicolas put the two unconscious strangers in shackles and chained them to a corner in the Enforcer's office. Then he sat at his desk and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. He wrote:

To the honorable Count Jacques of House de Croy. This is an urgent request for help regarding a case of unauthorized practice of magical arts. Two outlaws have been arrested in the city of Eisdel. It would be of great help if an elite basilisk wielder is sent to arrest and escort the two criminals for trial.

Awaiting your help.

Yours faithfully,

Enforcer Lt. Nicolas Moreau.

He rolled the letter and sealed it with the enforcer’s blue stamp. He carried the letter over to the Avian Dispatch office just outside of the city. It was a small building full of cages of carrier pigeons. These were only for the use of enforcers. He took one pigeon out of its cage and bound the letter to its talon. He stepped outside and whispered to the bird, “To the head office in Diamond Veil,” and set the bird on its flight.

He went back to his own office in the city and went to the room in the back of the building. It was a small armoury where they kept swords and spears and shields and extra truncheons. He unlocked a cabinet that was in the corner. Inside was his plate armor. He donned it and next he grabbed his crossbow. He dragged a chair over in front of the two outlaws and loaded a bolt on the bow. Now that he was fully prepared, he waited for the help to arrive.