Madeline Might made her way angrily through the dense streets of Gladesdale towards one of the larger buildings found in the heart of Gladesdale, the courthouse. She wore a cloak artifact that disguised her face as someone else to those that looked at her because she didn't want to be delayed by the masses of the city on the way.
She didn't know why she was asked to come to court by Zorrel, she only knew he needed her, even going as far to use one of the favors she owed him. She assumed he needed either one of her artifacts or someone who was not scared to mess with a powerful criminal group— or probably both.
That was what usually occurred when he asked her for help.
Arriving at the front of the court, she materialized her badge to show to the guards at the entrance who all recognized it immediately and respectfully made way for her.
Not only was the courthouse a massive building, it was the most guarded and well built structure around. Its exterior was built using a compound of strong metals and rocks found throughout the Bridge and it was reinforced by a powerful ember user. Its design made trying to enter extremely difficult, and leaving even harder.
You couldn't forget about the tens of guards posted around the perimeter, and the few stationed inside. The reason for this was because the courthouse wasn't only a court but also a prison for residents of Gladesdale.
In the basement of the courthouse was where the prison lay. Its size was unknown but it was said to be at least 5 stories deep and since most people in Gladesdale were crossers, it was a very dangerous place to be.
Luckily It wasn't built for the most dangerous of them all, those people would be sent to a more secure prison in Arcon.
The one who overlooked this courthouse was Zorrel, the Chief of Security in Gladesdale and one of Madeline’s old friends from her crosser days.
‘This better be good.’ Madeline complained, annoyed at being called so suddenly. She was a busy woman now that she retired from being a crosser and It didn't help that she had horrible sleep the last few days.
She strolled into the court's main room and came face to face with a patiently waiting Zorrel sitting down enjoying a cup of coffee. The two didn't greet each other as Madeline pulled herself a chair and sat across from him waiting for him to explain what she was doing here.
“Got two prisoners I need some information from.” Zorrel bluntly stated.
“Not even gonna ask how I'm doing on this shitty morning?” Madeline raised a brow in a joking way but then seriously asked. ”What info do you need? Let's make this quick.”
“You might have heard that a huge fight happened recently, I'll tell you now that it was between two criminal groups, one you're very familiar with.” Zorrel stood up and motioned for Madeline to follow. “The fight was interrupted by the Beast Tide which in turn made it harder for us to intervene.”
“All members of the fight are either dead or had escaped from the fight. Luckily we managed to snatch two members of the Red Pyramid and now we just need answers from them.” Zorrel explained.
“The Red Pyramid?” Madeline's face scrunched into anger. “They're still around?”
“Yes they are slowly regaining power and seem to have been working together with another up and coming criminal family called the Mad Hatters. We aren't sure why they were working together but something happened leading to a huge fight between some of their highest ranked members and we want to know why.”
“Fuck man.”
“Exactly. Come meet our prison's two newest guests.” Zorrel pointed into a cell where one man and one woman sat still and unconscious.
A horrifying scene was displayed in the large holding cell, one Madeline had seen a few times but still disturbed her to this day. A giant purple octopus-like creature stood at the back of the cell, its large thigh sized tentacles curled around the prisoners bodies and into their mouths.
This was Zorrel’s creature companion, a horrifying creature capable of sending you into eternal slumber as long as it could get its tentacles into you and feed you its hypnotic ink. This creature's ability, paired with other abilities from artifacts, embers or other creatures, kept the prisoners here docile and easy to deal with. Without them, prisoners would be able to freely use their abilities to escape.
Upon their arrival, the creature removed its tentacles from the women's mouth. She didn't take long to wake up but her body was still numb from the special ink that was running in her system.
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“Meet Angela and Markus.” Zorrel gestured at them, Angela snarled at his appearance.
“The fuck do you want!”She growled at them, sounding a little drowsy.
“The same question I've been asking the whole time. What caused your partnership with the Mad Hatters to break down into a giant fight that happened nearby?”
“And I told you we disagreed with the way they acted and it broke down into a fight.” She replied, her eyes wavering ever slightly that the experienced Zorrel and Madeline caught it.
“You see when you're in this business for a while, it's easy to spot lies from truths. The only difficult part is getting the truth out and that's why I brought my friend here.” Zorrel turned back to see Madeline walk into the cell causing Angela’s eyes to widen.
Angela’s expression distorted into anger and hatred. “You better stay the fuck out the Red Pyramids business or hell will come to you.”
“It wouldn't be the first time I've messed with you guys and you know that.” Madeline smirked.
“Heh but last time you didn't have a daughter, you think you can keep her safe if the entire Red Pyramid goes after her?” She threatened Madeline but only received a snort in response.
“Like you guys could handle my daughter, I'm not worried about her.” Madeline crossed her arms. “Except, like any good mother, those you threatened my family will be dealt with.”
Dust like particles spewed out of her hand as she summoned one of her famed artifacts, The Sword of Judgment. It looked like a normal knightly sword as it materialized in her hand, except for the fact the sword was only the size of her hand.
“You're gonna regret this.” Angela screamed realizing what was about to happen.
“Alright shut up already.” Madeline then approached Angela who was trying to wiggle herself awake but her entire body beside her face was frozen numb. She stabbed the sword into Angela's chest and then took a step back.
Angela’s pupils disappeared leaving her eyes white.
“Ask away.” Madeline said to Zorrel.
He thanked her with a nod, and stood over Angela. “What caused the recent fight between the Red pyramid and the Mad Hatters?”
“...We were fighting over a powerful item.”
“And what exactly was this powerful item?”
“...The berries of the mythical plant of life, Dryialla.”
Zorrel and Madlines eyes snapped to one another and a confused expression appeared on both their faces.
“You were fighting over the berries of Dryialla? The plant said to only exist in legends?” Zorrel had to make sure what he was hearing.
“...Yes.”
“And how did you find the Dryialla?”
“...We were venturing through the Lost Forest when the mythical anomaly, the lost garden appeared before us. In the center of the garden was a single Dryialla with three berries.”
After Angela said this, the room was silent. Madeline and Zorrel both knew the implication of what she was saying if they were true.
Firstly the fact a mythical anomaly happened was one thing— it was called such because it happened so infrequently, people didn't even know if they existed. Only those who actually experienced it could confirm if it was real.
Then came the fact they knew the legend of the Dryialla, its golden berries were said to be able to revive the dead, or even make someone eternally youthful. It was a plant full of life and its capabilities were unknown.
If those myths were true and the Red Pyramid had managed to obtain one, Madeline couldn't help but worry. She feared it could be used on one of her old enemies, the late leader of the Red Pyramid.
“Did you guys successfully get the berries?” Madeline inserted herself into the interrogation and asked.
“...We successfully managed to take two while the Mad Hatters took one. After the battle, I'm not sure what happened to them.”
Madeline worriedly bit her lip. “Shit.”
“Okay that's enough.” Zorrel said to Madeline.
She recalled her sword and Angela’s pupils came back and she looked around confused. The octopus creature reinserted its tentacles into her struggling mouth causing Angelina to fall back to sleep.
“Fuck.” Madeline swore again.
“Don't worry, I'll take this information to the higher ups and then they should hopefully take this seriously. We can't have a repeat of what happened 20 years ago.”
“No we can't and we won't.” Madeline spoke her last words and stormed out of the court not looking back to Zorrel who called out to her. She headed back home, her emotions all over the place.
Disguised once again, she made her way through the bustling streets towards a familiar shop. It didn't take long for her to enter "The Friendly Alchemist," a small shop she frequented, and approach the owner.
“Welcome to the Friendly Alchemist, what can I get for you today?” The owner, a large bald man greeted her.
“You know what I'm here for.” Madeline said, trying to contain her restless emotions. ”Do you still not have any?”
The owner shrugged, “Sorry ma'am, none of the relaxant potions have come for a week now.”
“Do you know who the producer is?” Madeline asked.
“Even if I did, I couldn't tell you private information like that.” The man replied.
She narrowed her eyes and did something she didn't like to do often, she removed her disguise showing her real face to the owner of the store.
The man gaped at the sudden sight of seeing her and stood there stunned in silence.
“Listen you know who I am, you know I wont do anything bad to whoever is making these, I just really— really need one right now.” She almost growled at the man.
“How do I know you're the real Mrs. Might?” The man cautiously asked, a little nervous. “Can you… prove it somehow?”
She materialized the Sword of Judgment for the second time today and raised it in front of the man's face. “You recognize this?”
The man's eyes glowed with admiration. “Of course I do! The sword of judgment, a famed artifact in all of Gladesdale and probably even Arcon itself.”
“Okay I believe you. I can give you the name of the person, but not anymore than that or I'll risk my reputation as a merchant.” The man compromised.
“That works for me. So what's his name?” Madeline asked.
“Hoho, it's not a man but a young woman.” The man jokingly spouted out but looking at Madeline's deadpan look, he cleared his throat and continued. “She introduced herself to me as Iris Faith.”
“Iris?... Do you know what she looks like?” The man seemed to not want to say more but Madeline said that would be the last thing she would ask him.
The man complied and said. “She was a short woman who wore long black robes like a witch. Couldn't really see her face because it was covered by her hair. That's all I'll say, no more. ”
The image of a woman appeared in Madeline's head and she raised her brow.
‘It can't be such a coincidence?’
“How long ago since she gave you a batch of potions?”
“Since it's not a personal question… roughly a week ago.”
‘Seriously, it's her?’ The picture of her daughter's new friend came to mind and the pieces seemed to click together.
“She was under my nose the whole time.” Madeline whispered. She thanked the owner and walked back out, now heading home to find Iris.