“This food was poisoned.” I said. I heard some gasps and Valeria rushed over to have a look.

“It… it might indeed be poison.” She admitted, then she frowned. “But, we have already moved on to the cake. If the fish was poisoned, someone should have felt it.”

My friends had walked over and were staring at the poisoned snack.

“I did eat one of those and feel fine.” Skadi said.

“Maybe only one was poisoned?” I wondered. I had not tried this type of snack myself.

“How did Nyx get this treat? Do undead even eat?” Valeria wondered.

“Clearly Koyuki is trying to get attention! I bet she set it up!” Florence shouted.

“Nyx mostly eats bones. She is attracted to things containing mana. Maybe there was mana inside the poison? She probably levitated the treat from a table, when no one was looking.” I theorised.

“Guards, detain all servants!” Valeria shouted. “Make sure everyone is accounted for. Then inform the city guards.”

Armed men and women entered the room and took the servants away. Then Valeria addressed her guests: “My dear guests, I would like to apologize for this. While it seems that no one was harmed, this needs to be investigated. I shall do all in my power to find and punish the culprit.”

Valeria sounded shaken. This might reflect badly on her family, especially if the culprit was not found.

“Poisoning only one snack seems weird…” Cassie mumbled. Then she looked for another snack of the same type.

“Cassie, don’t do anything foolish!” Skadi warned.

“It’s fine!” Cassie said, while she returned with the food. Then she placed the fish on the frozen blood. It turned green as well. Cassie gathered more and repeated the process. Every time the fish turned the blood green.

“Maybe it’s not poison? Just some seasoning, or something?” Skadi wondered.

“I have never seen seasoning change your blood.” Helena said.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

I shook my head. “There is some damage to the undead. It’s not that bad, I can heal it. Maybe it would be worse on a living target. Or it was just meant to cause discomfort.”

“You mean, someone wanted to make me look bad? But why is everyone feeling fine?” Valeria wondered.

“It’s Koyuki! She is just trying to get attention. She should be arrested!” Florence said.

Archibald put his hand on Florence’s shoulder. “I am sure the guards will handle it.”

“That is a rather serious accusation.” Bridget said. “My family will certainly investigate this matter. I have already sent someone to inform my father. This case will get the priority it deserves.”

“Koyuki, I need your blood!” Cassie said, interrupting the conversation.

“What?” I looked at her.

“Just a bit of blood, I have a theory!” She announced.

I shrugged and held out my hand.

“Nyx, please help.” Cassie said, pointing at my hand.

Nyx poked me with a claw. Cassie held a piece of fish beneath my hand and let some blood drip on it. Nothing happened.

Cassie nodded. “Now put some death mana into your blood. Wait, you haven't eaten any fish, right?”

“I have not.” I confirmed. Then I followed her orders and pulled on my core. I turned the mana into death mana and dripped blood on the fish. It turned green.

Cassie looked smug. “Basic alchemy. You mix things, you get a reaction. You see, this poison only works when it comes into contact with death mana.”

“Oh, like from that book, where they poisoned the princess!” Skadi said.

Cassie blushed, slightly, then continued. “Ah, yes. Anyway the poison would have probably lingered in the blood for a bit and as soon as she would have used death magic it would have triggered.”

“How do we know it needs death mana and not just any mana?” Helena asked.

“Um. I guess we don’t know for certain. It just seemed likely…” Cassie said. “Anyone wants to try? Anyone who has not eaten the fish.”

“I can do it.” Melina said, stepping forward. “I have an earth affinity.”

We repeated the experiment. Her blood stayed red.

“So we know it does not target everyone.” Valeria said, looking thoughtful now.

“Koyuki is not the only one with death mana, try mine.” Leo said, stepping forward.

“You did not have the fish?” I asked.

“I did not.” He confirmed.

We all watched as his drop of blood turned green.

“So it was not just Koyuki. It reacts to all death mana. I think your theory might be right, Cassie.” Leo said, giving her a nod.

“An attack against necromancers? Might be Ilestria.” I mused.

“If they did it, they will pay. I do not take an attack against me lightly.” Leo announced.

Soon guards arrived and started interviewing the guests. They also collected evidence. It would take time for an expert to analyse the poison.

“Getting interviewed by the guards is a lot more pleasant than talking with nobles.” I said to my friends, as we were walking home.

“True.” Skadi agreed.

“I want to see the face of the assassin, when they realise their plan failed because Nyx tried to steal a snack!” Cassie said.

“Well, I did not eat the fish. So Their plan had failed anyway.” I pointed out.

“Maybe someone would have offered you one before you left? Would you have turned it down if a servant brought it to you before leaving?” Helena asked.

“Hm, maybe not…” I admitted.

“If the poisoner was still there, they could have put it into another food after the first failed.” Skadi pointed out.

That got me thinking. “If they had put poison in more things, using my mana could have triggered it…”

Cassie paled at that thought. “Oh, yeah… I… I did not think about that.”