The dull, dry sound of wood being struck by knuckles made Nyle’s eyes suddenly open. Even in the sorry state he was in, it didn’t take long for him to figure out that he was laying sideways on his bed, still unmade from a couple of days before, with his clothes still on. He remembered walking through the front door, taking off his boots, and laying on his stomach to rest for a few seconds. But, evidently, he must have underestimated the fatigue he had accumulated yesterday.

As he squinted his eyes to lift the drowsiness from his face, that sound, repeated in the very same pattern and strength, came once again. A voice he was starting to grow accustomed to quickly followed. “Nyle! Inquisitor! Are you awake? Nyle!?”

He grunted loudly, burying his face into the soft mattress of the bed. What was the point of asking that useless question? If he answered within a certain amount of time, it obviously meant that he was awake. If not, he just wasn’t! Was that so hard to understand?! At that point, however, perhaps it was.

For the third time, this time more forcefully, a knock came from the entrance door. And Nyle lost it.

Lifting his head from the comfortable position he was in, Nyle shouted as loudly as his sleepy self could, expressing all the frustration he felt inside. “I’m awake, dammit!!!”

“Oh! Good. I was beginning to worry. Shall I wait for you here?” asked the man.

“…Give me a second. I’ll get up.”

“Of course.”

Nyle sighed, rubbing his eyes once more. This time, however, it was to calm himself. How was it possible that he had just woken up and was already feeling frustrated and on the edge of lose what little patience he had left? To make matters worse, judging by the little sunlight peeking out from the red curtains he had hanging in his bedroom, it must not even have been that long since the sun rose. What had he done so bad as to deserve all that?

Reluctantly, Nyle got up, stretching his rested limbs. Then, after washing his face with some cold water and drying himself with the towel he always made sure to prepare forehand, he dragged himself to the door.

“Good morning, Nyle!” said Avron in an annoyingly cheerful voice that deeply contrasted with the sleepy face of Nyle. How could he be so up lifted when it was so early?

“Yea-” an enormous yawn, one that came from deep within, and that made him open wide his mouth, made Nyle pause for a second. “…you too.”

After a quick glance, where Nyle noticed Avron’s perfectly rested face, he asked what he was thinking all along. “So, now that’s out the way, care to tell me what you’re doing here?”

“What do you mean? You’re the one I’ve been assigned to. Of course I should be up and ready for action first thing in the morning. We won’t catch criminals otherwise.”

“Wait.” said Nyle. “There’s no need for-”

“And besides, waking up early is a trait I have got accustomed back at my time at the Academy. I kinda stuck with it, I guess.”

Nyle huffed. Now that was something that he had to address, the sooner the better. No way in hell he was going to let him wake him up every day so early. That was simply not happening. Nor now, nor never. But first, since he was already up, it was better to grab a bite.

“…you hungry?”

Avron looked confused. “…What?”

“I asked if you’re hungry.”

“I have yet to eat. But I’m sure I-”

“Come inside, then. I should have something that might resemble real food somewhere.” Then, after thinking it through, he added. “…I hope.”

“Nyle, I can’t-”

“Shut up.” said Nyle. “I have to cook something whatever you’re going to eat or not. So, if you’re done trying to piss me off first thing in the morning, come inside and let me grab a bite. I refuse to continue this on the threshold of the door.”

Nyle turned around and, without even waiting for a reply, headed for the kitchen, which was located on the room near the living room. The mess he had left behind the previous morning still reigned supreme above all else, creating a chaos that seemed overwhelming.

A different person might have cared about inviting anyone inside his house if it looked like that. Surely, even Nyle, who had humble origins, knew that was a breach of etiquette common inside most households. But it was Avron, a rookie, who had come in; and he certainly wasn’t going to tidy up the furniture at such an early hour for such a normal guest.

“Watch out. It’s all a mess. I haven’t had the time to clean up. I’m sure you understand.”

“Daaaaamn.” said Avon, mouth slightly parted. “What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“…What do you mean you don’t know? It’s your house!”

Nyle lifted a finger. “First, don’t shout. My neighbours are going to be a giant hassle if I make all that noise. Second, to answer you, I have had the wonderful help of that golden liquid that was inside that bottle right there. That should explain everything.”

His finger moved towards the direction where the bottle he had emptied the two nights ago was laying. Needless to say, it was dry empty. “That is something that could make you forget even your name. Simply delicious.”

“I don’t think you should drink this much, Nyle. It’s bad.”

“Huh.” said Nyle smirking. “It’s barely morning, I have already got annoyed, and now I have you trying to lecture me about my sweetest poison. Lucky me.”

“…this is a serious matter.” said Avron in such a firm conviction that even Nyle was left briefly surprised. “You are going to ge-”

“Leave it. I have no intention whatsoever of listening to that rumbling first thing in the morning.” Then, as he entered inside the kitchen, which had white walls and a varied assortment of furniture and tools, he added: “And for your information, that was just a one-time thing. The last few days had been…difficult to digest after all.”

Before Avron had the chance to keep on rumbling about whatever moral high ground he was so passionate about, Nyle went over to the crate of wood he kept in the back of the room, took a couple of logs, and threw them inside the old oven he used for cooking. Then, after taking the tinder, he set fire to a piece of scrap paper he took from the pile he always kept nearby. In a short time, the colourful little flame, with red, yellow and orange shades, engulfed the offering that it had been left, releasing a comfortable warmth into the room.

Just as Nyle was busy preparing some slices of bread by cutting the loaf he bought a couple of days ago, Avron couldn’t help but ask why he still kept on using such an outdated culinary device.

“Couldn’t you just buy the newest models? The ones were a fire diagram has been sculpted inside it? It’s much easier and quicker than that.”

Nyle looked at him dumb folded. How the hell could he afford something like that? But better yet, how could Avron even suggest something so…impossible? Sure, they a model of those back at the station, but it was one so old and beat up that it could break any moment now. Not to mention it was bought by the Order.

For him to suggest that, with all the expenses that living in the capital entailed…it was not possible for him to be so stupid…right?

“…Avron, I don’t know what kind of bullshit those instructors back at the academy have told you, but the salary of an Inquisitor isn’t great. There is no way I could afford that with all the expenses I have. It’s just impossible.”

Now it was Avron who looked surprised. “I don’t think those kinds of things are that expensive…”

Not expensive?! What the hell was he talking about?

“Let me ask you one thing. And please, be honest.” said Nyle as he took a couple of eggs from the basket he kept near the wooden table.

“…Sure?”

“Did anyone ever explained how expensive are those type of arcane devices?”

“Well, yes.”

“So how can you state something like that?! It would cost me almost three full salaries to pay that completely! And you know what? Even the arcanism that has been inscribed in my shower, which I remind you is less complicated than what is currently used on those things you consider not expensive, has been inscribed only with the help on the Order, who has kindly agreed to pay half of it. If it had not, I would have still showered with cold water that-” a shiver ran through him. “…don’t make me think about that.

“Inquisitor, I still don’t’ think that-” in that moment Avron stopped talking. Looking at him straight in the eyes, Nyle saw something click beyond those sky-blue eyes; something that was obviously creating tension in him, given the cold sweat that began to build on his face.

“…Of course! Of course!” said Avron in a tone of voice that was way too high for him. “You’re right. What was I thinking? I also seem to be suffering from the early hours, no matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise.”

A tense laugh soon followed.

It was a poorly attempt at masking what he had just done, and Nyle immediately understood that.

“…Well, no harms done. I guess even a young guy like you can be confused this early.” said Nyle. A condescending smirk was plastered on his face, as if he gave no importance to what had transpired. In reality, that brief exchange was something that made him suspicious. Now he was convinced that Avron was hiding something. Still, he didn’t act on it. “…Anyway, make yourself comfortable. Breakfast will soon be ready.”

As Avron took a seat around the dark wooden table, which was almost in the middle of the kitchen, Nyle prepared an omelette, which he immediately put on to cook inside a cast iron pan. The tension that seemed to exude from the rookie made Nyle shake his head. But the sudden appearance of a hungry gurgle made him focus on what was in that iron pan.

Later he would need to decide if it was worth investigating Avron. But for now, however, it was enough to quiet the hunger.

//////

The sun was now up in the sky, with its warm rays that made the blue roofs of the houses shine in their peculiar, and magnificent ways. Nyle and Avron were walking on the side roads after they had taken a carriage to be transported to the south-east part of town, where the Main Headquarters of the Medical Order were located.

The vast amount of people that were constantly going back and forth those roads was the perfect representation of how busy and never-ending was life in the biggest city within the Imperium. Bakers, fishmongers, butchers, various merchants who had come to the city after long and extenuating journeys, and any other worker who had to get up early were walking, speaking, and setting up trade for the giant flock of people that was surely going to walk on those roads as clock chimed the next hour. And judging by the time that the gilt hands of the giant clock of the old cathedral were indicating, they would have made it just in time to avoid all that chaos, if Nyle had done the math correctly. A good thing, given how much he disliked coming in contact with crowds so big that seemed to be endless.

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As they kept on walking in the same direction for the last ten, or maybe fifteen minutes, the roads began to get more and more crowded as the minutes went by. Even if that clock was now impossible to see to the naked eye, Nyle didn’t need it to perceive how much time he had left until the mass of people that he perceived as pandemonium was going to come crushing all over the place like an angry herd.

Fortunately, the pristine white outer walls of the unmistakable building that housed the Medical Order came into sight the same moment the space begun to get too crowded for his tastes.

Making a last stretch, Nyle and Avron reached the entrance passing exactly beside the ancient statue of Odaris, the god of medicine, herbalism, and healing of the old pantheon. Although it belonged to a bygone era, where the Imperium as it was now was completely different, many people, albeit in minority, still worshipped him. The care, gold, and flower donations that were laid at the magnificent marble fountain were he stood at the center were a blatant proof of how important that statue was to their lives.

Shaking his head at that waste of money, Nyle walked the last steps that separated him from the entrance door and pushed, convinced it was open. The complete stillness that greeted him made him quickly reconsider.

“What the-” said Nyle as he pushed once again, this time using the strength of his shoulders. It was to his understanding that those doors were never closed, no matter the time. After all, inside that gigantic building, there were many branches of the Medical Order. And all of them dealt with different things from one another.

As the door didn’t bulge in inch, Nyle stopped, only to begin knocking on it. “Hello?” he said shouting, but no one answered.

This time Nyle repeated himself, knocking with such force that the skin of knuckles almost got torn. “Is anyone there?!”

“Nyle, I don’t thi-”

“What? That I shouldn’t do this? Then what the hell am I supposed to do? Wait here until anyone comes for us? Fat chance of that. We have other things to do than waste time here all day.”

At the umpteenth knock, a man’s voice came from the inside. “What…do you want?”

“Finally!” said Nyle as he looked at Avron straight in the eyes. “Good morning. I need to speak with a certain High Physician.”

“And who the hell are you?”

“I’m an Inquisitor, and you’ll open these doors right now. I must question High Physician Vodril Isenold.”

“…Pleas-” a yawn so strong was heard. “…wait a moment.”

Nyle groaned. He did not know who the hell was that man, but he sure did not like him. Perhaps it was just his grumpy morning self that made him perceive him like that, but in his experience his gut feeling was hardly wrong.

“So…” said that sleepy as he soooo slowly opened the door. Nobody knew how, but that man, who was clearly around the same age as Nyle, had the peculiarity of making that simple movement look like extenuating. Even the door, which was made with some lightweight wooden material, looked like the heaviest thing in the world. “What do you want? I was-” a giant yawn escaped that man, who had brown eyes, if Nyle wasn’t mistaken. “…sleeping so peacefully. Though I don’t recall what I was dreaming about. Such a shame.”

Nyle and Avron exchanged a look that spoke volumes. What the fuck was going on? And better yet, what was his problem? Is that how he was supposed to appear to strangers?

“…Uhm.” said Avron, clearly unsure on how to address him. “Good morning, M-”

“Oh yes! A fine morning indeed.” interrupted him. “Look at the sun! So bright, isn’t it? I would have not known if you had not woken me up. I’m soooo lucky.”

Now even Avron, who Nyle thought to be the calm and collected type, was starting to get angry. “Sir, I wouldn’t impose but-”

“Impose? You guys? You must be kidding.” the sarcastic voice he used, that stung more than snake’s venom ever could, made Nyle angry. How did he-

Ready to either verbally assault that stupid fucker, or to knock him out completely with a well-placed fist, which, to be completely honest, he wouldn’t have minded, Nyle was ready to take a first step forward. However, Avron preceded him.

“Now listen here.” said Avron as he looked at that man straight in the eyes with a such a force that it seemed so unusual coming from him. By lowering the gaze, Nyle also noted that his hand was now tightly clenched into a fist, ready to strike at the minimal input. He believed he wouldn’t do it, but it was an indication of how angry he was.

“I don’t know why you’re acting this way. But honestly, I don’t even care. We are members of the Ministry of Surveillance, and we have a job to do, with or without your approval. And you, a man whose only job it would seem to keep watch from that comfortable desk I glimpse behind you, has the courage and the nerve to stand in our path? You must be out of your damned mind if something like that has crossed your mind.”

“…Huh. I suppose not all of you in that sorry excuse of a Ministry are gutless. Good! Good. I have seen way to many people that are nothing more than scaredy-cats walk these halls.”

“…W…wha-”

“Ah! Right.” said the man as his eyes lit up. “Please, come inside.”

“Well, we sure would like that.” said Nyle, who quickly recovered his composure thanks to the experience maturated over the years.

Avron instead looked like he just recovered from a knock out, his gaze trapped in an endless back and forth between the two men, unsure on how to act.

As that man welcomed them inside, a light breeze appeared out of nowhere and caressed their faces, arms, and legs with a touch so gentle that it felt amazing on their skins. Yet, as far as Nyle could see to the naked eye, the wide skylights, which ran the entirety of the building, giving the interior a polished and bright appearance that seemed to perfectly reflect the beliefs and disciplines of the Order housed there, were closed shut. So that could not be coming from outside. But if that wasn’t the case, then where…Ah! So, that’s what was going on.

Looking up, Nyle noticed the distinct pattern of an arcane diagram traced on a column. Its lines, which even from that distance seemed to be sculpted out by the steady hand of a master, traced a complex diagram that must have costed a fortune.

“Daaaamn. You medical folks sure got deep pockets to own something like that.” said Nyle as his gaze kept on wandering over the lines, perhaps imaging the master that so carefully carved them on the sturdy white marble.

“Us?” asked the man, lifting an eyebrow. “No way.”

Then, as he slowly made himself comfortable in his own chair, he continued on. “No, no. That wind arcanism has been completely paid by Elain. Something about comfort, or something like that. I never paid too much attention to those bureaucratic things.”

“I don’t know who she is. And for that matter, I don’t even know your name.”

The man grumbled. “Of course. ‘Sorry about that. I’m Elros.”

“Nyle, Avron. Pleasure.” said Nyle dryly. “Now, can you tell me who the hell is Elain? I’m guessing some big shot…”

“Big shot?” he laughed sincerely amused. “Yeah. I guess you could call her like that.”

“…And she is…?”

“The woman who manages the relationship between our Order, yours, and any other person, entity, and company wishing to come into contact with us. As a friendly reminder, if you come across her path. Don’t try anything funny. That pointy ear is scary when she gets angry.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep it mind.”

“Yeah. Trust me on this, you’ll thank me later.”

“Anyway, let’s get back on track. Firstly I would like to know why the doors were closed shut. As far as I remember, they should always be open.”

“Well, you’re right.”

“So why-”

“Safety, Inquisitor.”

Nyle looked at him confused. What was he talking about?

“I’m sorry, but I fail to understand. Did someone threaten the Order? Did-”

“No.”

“…Then what-”

“After the last riot, the higherups have decided to enforce a complete lock on the doors during night hours. At least, until the tension deescalate. I’m sure you understand.”

“…I see.”

In that moment, Avron cleared his voice. Damn it. What the hell did that rookie want? Now that they were finally talking…

Ready to voice his displeasure at that sudden interruption, Nyle turned around, glaring at him; but he shrugged it off without any problems whatsoever. He was looking at Elros with such a confused look that even Nyle questioned himself about what was going on. “Uhm…Inquisitor?”

“Yeah? What is it?” he asked him clearly confused. What could Avron want?

“Are we just going to ignore his behaviour? Just like that?”

Now Nyle was even more confused. What the hell was he talking about?

“You know, the total lack of respect from before. I don’t think we shoul-”

Nyle clicked his tongue so loud that it seemed to resonate through the atrium. “Don’t tell me you’re still mad about that? It was nothing serious.”

“I’m not mad.” said Avron in the calmest voice he could muster. “But I believe some apologies are needed. We all have our problems to deal with. Yet, we don’t try to answer in such a…maddening way. It’s just not right. I mean, it’s not like we came in here disrespecting anyone, right?”

“Oh, c’mon. Are you seriously going-”

“Yes.”

“Why?!”

“Because I th-”

“Ok, listen. I apologize, alright? Don’t make such a fuss over something like that.” said Elros yawning. He clearly wasn’t hiding the fact that he found all of that completely boring. “It’s way too early in the morning for anything like that.”

Nyle sighed out loud. While it was true that damned rookie was assigned to him only yesterday, he also had always been convinced that he was able to get a good reading out of every person he ever encountered. But this time he had to admit that his intuition was wrong. Avron wasn’t so simple after all. And maybe, after thinking it through, that stubborn temperament he had just been given proof of was exactly why he was assigned to him. Such fortune…dammit.

“Now, with that out the way, can I finally tell you why the hell I even wanted to enter to begin with?”

“Oh. Oh! Yes, of course. I kinda forgot about that.”

“No matter. Anyway, to put it simply, I’m searching for a certain High Physician named Vodril Isenold. I believe he has worked on a case that might help us some years ago. Can you tell me where I can find him?”

“Vodril?” asked Elros in a sarcastic grin. “Ah! Good luck then.”

“…I’m sorry, why would I need luck? Is there some kind of problem?”

“Problem? That’s a euphemism. I don’t think you’ll be getting anything out of him even if you somehow manage to get him talking.”

“Get him to talk? What are you talking about?”

Nyle exchanged a quick look with Avron, to see if he was the only one who was feeling left out. But just like he had though, he too shared the same look of confusion on his face. Some explanations were clearly needed.

“Ok, you’ve lost us. What the hell are you talking about?”

“A sad story, really. I don’t think any of you is familiar with our Research Department?”

To Nyle’s limited knowledge, the Research Department was the most secluded, secretive, and utterly mysterious of the branches of the Medical Order. Little and scares information was circulating about them throughout the whole Imperium, and no one had ever been able to discern the true from the false. So it was no wonder that its reputation had grown to an almost mythical level. What was strange however, was the total lack of inquires that should have been forwarded by the other Orders, his included. As far as he knew, not even the emperor knew exactly what took place in that shady Department. An exaggeration, surely. A lese-majesty, even. But one that left no doubt about the feeling of distrust he was concealing inside.

“…I just know it by name, and little else.” said Nyle lying. Well, not exactly. He just kind of omitted the things he had heard here and there, so he wasn’t technically a liar…right? The things he thought to excuse his actions…

“Same.” answered Avron.

“Alright. Then, to give you guys a bit of a backstory, so you won’t look at me with same confused look you’re having right now for the next minutes-”

Nyle and Avron once again exchanged a look. And just like before, they looked like the perfect depiction of the word disorientation.

“The Research Department, unlike all the slander and legends that have spread like wildfire over the years, is nothing more than a restricted access department dedicated solely to the development, and testing, of new cures, ointments, poultices, and whatnot. You can understand why all that secrecy is needed.”

That made sense. After all, even if all the Orders, Departments, Ministries and so on were publicly founded, a leak of a new product in development could prove fatal. All the various Merchant Guilds, which could freely operate in the Imperium territory, would have done anything to get a sample that they could alter slightly to avoid suspicion of foul practices and put on the private market.

“Yeah. Though I fail to understand what does that have to do with Mr. Isenold?”

“It matters…” said Elros as he stretched out his upper limbs. “Because he had an accident during some testing some time ago.”

“Accident? What kind?”

“I can’t disclose the details. Unless you’ll bring us a written order to lift the secrecy from the Supreme Magister, that is.

Shit. Now that was something outright impossible. The Supreme Magister? Yeah, the wouldn’t even came near him. Let alone request a written order.

“What I can tell you is that he inhaled a large quantity of a potent ingredient used to make that thing, which has caused his mind to become a…” he stopped talking.

“What?” asked Avron curious.

“…A maze.”

They cursed softly. Just what they needed to hear. “…Can he understand what’s taking place around him or…?”

Elros chuckled. “Now that’s the problem. It depends.”

“…Meaning?”

“On some days his mind is sort of ok, and you can have a brief conversation with him. Sensible, but short. Now on most days, on the other hand, that’s not the case. It’s just an endless series of disconnected, meaningless words. It’s not easy to watch that.”

“Is there anything that could be done to help him? I don’t know, some cure?”

“…I think not. Truthfully, I can tell you that no stone has been left unturned. We even tried calling for some arcanists, in the vain hope that they could have helped him. You guessed it, nothing has worked out in the end.”

As Elros finished talking, Nyle caught a glimpse of a flash of curiosity behind those eyes that seemed way to alive for someone who had presented himself as lazy. “But, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you need from Vodril? Is it about some autopsy?”

Nyle slightly closed his eyes as suspicious slowly arose. Of autopsies he had never asked anything. For that matter, Avron too had kept a closed mouth. So how could he know that? They had to investigate further.

“…How do you know about that? I’m sure we haven’t said a word about any that…” asked Nyle drawing near.

“Inquisitor, it’s simple logic. I cannot think about anything else that might have attracted yours, or your Order’s attention. That said, I’m afraid I cannot be much of help. Aside from the same reports, that I’m sure you’ve already visioned a copy back at your Ministry’s archive, I don’t have anything else that could help you. I’m afraid that only the man himself could really tell what you’re looking for. Whatever that is.”

“Shit!” said Nyle frustrated, not realizing how loud he was.

“Nyle.” blurted out Avron. “You’re being too loud. People are glancing our way.”

Nyle scoffed. He was right. He had to contain himself.

Now what the hell were they supposed to do? They had come inside hoping to gain an advantage, or at the very least gain a deeper understanding of what could be going on. Instead, they had found nothing else but more questions. Just his damned luck…

In that moment of crisis, Elros drew near. And what he said might have restored back some hope.

“…I’ll tell you what Inquisitor.” he said as Nyle was taking a few calming breaths. “If you wait until my shift ends, I can take you to Vodril. Don’t know if it’s worth a shot, or how the hell are we going to let you pass the guards, but you could give it go. You never know. It might work out in the end.”

“How long w-”

“Moments, really. It shouldn’t be more than minutes.”

Nyel stopped for a moment, thinking it through. Elros was right. Perhaps they would have gained nothing more than a total waste of time. Given the condition High Physician Vodril was in, that was the most likely outcome. Not to mention that they couldn’t even know for sure they could even get inside. But at that point, turning back would only prove foolish.

He sighed. Of course it wouldn’t be simple. Nothing in his life seemed to be.