"He claimed that I was his betrothed... That it was our wedding night, I believe. We were the eighth, he mentioned. One more and we would be together forever."
Grace gently assisted Catriona Sinclair in piecing together fragments of her memory from the events at Berwick Castle. Their timely intervention – Michael's role in breaking the Magickal barrier around the castle and halting the purported matrimonial ceremony – seemed to have mitigated the extent of her memory loss.
In the interim, Michael and Agent Mitchell, following Grace's instruction to give Catriona space, signaled for the ambulance they had called, ensuring it could locate them even though the streets were deserted. As the ambulance arrived, Agent Mitchell directed the paramedics to Catriona, recounting how they had "discovered" her, while a police car pulled up shortly afterward. Michael, resigned to his inability to alter the situation, stepped aside as Grace shared final words with Catriona before the paramedics attended to her and Agent Mitchell engaged with the arriving officers. The officers placed a call to verify Agent Mitchell's identity and credentials. Though their demeanor suggested dissatisfaction at the outcome of the call, they refrained from treating any of them as suspects.
Five minutes later, the ambulance departed with Catriona, followed closely by the police car, leaving the trio standing alone.
"What are your impressions?" Agent Mitchell inquired of Grace, alluding to her conversation with Catriona, which he and Michael had overheard in its entirety.
"Not yet. First, I want to examine the Magick involved," Grace responded, retrieving the torn sleeve from her jacket.
"We can do that at the hotel. I have everything we need in my room," Agent Mitchell offered.
"That would be ideal. I didn't anticipate bringing any equipment for this low-Rank 0 mission, given the clearance requirements..." Grace remarked.
Agent Mitchell offered a wry smile. "That's why most low-Rank 0 missions are delegated to the Branches."
Grace refrained from arguing, and Michael remained silent, knowing that time would provide answers.
As fate would have it, Agent Mitchell had already reserved a room for three. The room featured a single bed on the left side and two beds joined on the right. A securely locked briefcase rested atop the left bed. Without a word, Agent Mitchell unlocked it and sifted through the predominantly document-filled contents until he unearthed an A4 page adorned with a drawing reminiscent of David's Runes, sparking recognition in Michael's mind.
"This is a single-use Magick Uncovering Rune," Grace explained to Michael. "Back at headquarters, the Resource and Finance Department is notoriously stingy. They won't provide basic amenities unless it's meticulously logged and signed off by Director Strange. If you don't threaten to break a few things, they'll simply direct you to the Exchange Center. As it should be, for a low-Rank 0 mission, we can request up to five Magick Uncovering Runes. Each sheet costs the Bureau around a thousand bucks. The Resource and Finance Department often grumbles that Agents never utilize the entire stock they receive – which, truth be told, we rarely do. Instead of returning them, they're sold outside the Bureau or even in the Exchange Center. It's a good source of quick cash."
"Why didn't you ask for some then?" Michael inquired.
"Because I don't need the money. You need Merit Points. And for a low-Rank 0 mission, these," Grace clenched her fists and tapped her head, "are more than sufficient. Is the Rune ready?"
"Two seconds... yes," Agent Mitchell confirmed. The sheet of Magick Uncovering Rune gleamed on his bed, emanating a black luster in the dim white glow of the room.
Grace carefully positioned the torn sleeve onto the sheet. The Rune's Magick illuminated the fabric, suspending it above the surface.
"If the creatures' Magick is typical for beings below the First Metamorphosis, the Magick Uncovering Rune will identify their kind," Grace elucidated to Michael.
As the Rune intersected with the Magick within the sleeve, both began to gradually deplete, fading away as if consumed from their edges by the radiant glow. In their place emerged a small holographic figure.
The figure depicted a diminutive being, standing no taller than a forearm, adorned with pointed ears and attired in earthy green garments that seamlessly blended with its surroundings. This ethereal manifestation appeared straight out of folklore.
With a mischievous grin hinting at its playful nature, the figure's eyes sparkled with an ancient wisdom, while its hair, akin to spun gold, captured the essence of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.
In its hand, it clasped a small bouquet of wildflowers, a tribute to the natural world it held dear. With graceful movements, it orchestrated a dance in mid-air, causing the holographic flowers to sway and twirl – an enchanting exhibition of its profound connection to nature.
"A Cornish Piskie!"
"A Pixie!" Grace and Agent Mitchell exclaimed simultaneously.
"A fairy?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "That's our troublemaker?"
"A Pixie," Grace confirmed. "And yes, this marks the conclusion of the mission."
"An expected outcome," Agent Mitchell concurred. "May I?" Aware of the likelihood of confusion for HQ's newest recruit, he sought Grace's approval before elaborating, as Michael was her Partner.
Grace shrugged and settled onto one of the conjoined beds.
"Cornish Piskies aren't inherently malevolent creatures. When they tire of their natural responsibilities, they can become mischievous among humans. They conceal themselves, although those lacking in Magick may fail to perceive them even if they were right under their noses. Prolonged exposure to humans can lead to chaos, when the innocence of Cornish Piskies is tainted by human greed and malice. They become drawn to negative emotions – while positive emotions can have a similar effect, it's not the case here. Their fixation twists their form and nature to reflect the object of their attention. At this stage, they begin to misuse their Magick by granting wishes, often through distorted versions of the rituals they know."
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"Reminds me of Grimm's Fairy Tales," Michael remarked.
"Who says those are mere fairy tales?" Grace countered, now reclining on her back, gazing at the dark ceiling illuminated by moonlight filtering through the open window and the fading holographic Pixie.
"So," Michael turned to Agent Mitchell. "It's possible that someone in town harbored strong desires to marry, perhaps even perverse fantasies, and the Pixies entered into some form of arrangement," he hesitated, the word "contract" lingering in his mind, but he managed to rephrase it before speaking. "With said individual in a ritual offering them nine spouses instead of just one, or nine of their choosing?"
"Close," Agent Mitchell commended. "Cornish Piskies and Fairies do indeed have particular preferences, including odd numbers, with nine being their favorite. Your theory is sound. However, as Agent Vasquez stated, the mission is concluded. By disrupting the Cornish Piskies' ritual, we effectively nullified it. Opting to flee rather than engage likely caused a backlash that either restored them to their senses or returned them to their realm. Review the mission's objective. It's sufficient to ban Cornish Piskies from Berwick, which they essentially did themselves by failing the ritual. Unlike other creatures, they are bound by rules regardless of their state."
"What about the individual they made the agreement with? If they drove the Pixies insane, doesn't that pose a danger to others? Won't they seek out different Cornish Piskies or Pixies to strike another deal?"
"We're not law enforcement, Michael," Grace interjected. "It's not our responsibility to pursue matters beyond the realm of Magick. I foresee that the disappearances will likely cease by tomorrow night. If they resume in a week, a month... then it's probable that someone with Magickal abilities is involved – only those with Magick can perceive Pixies and actively engage with them. If the situation unfolds in this manner, the Bureau will reconsider the mission."
"I don't know... it just feels wrong to leave it like this," Michael admitted.
"You'll become accustomed to it. Think of it as beyond our jurisdiction," Grace reassured him.
Michael settled onto the second conjoined bed, feeling somewhat awkward. 'Should I create some space?' The thought crossed his mind. It would be disappointing if this were to be his first night sharing a bed with a woman, only to sleep side by side. Unable to decide, he left the beds conjoined. "So, when do we get paid?" he inquired.
"Finally asking the right question!" Grace gave him a thumbs up. "It won't be in Merit Points, so there isn't much cause to celebrate, but we'll get there. The Bureau will transfer the mission's reward after we return. Since it's your first salary, you'll receive a detailed message about a new finance account set up by the Bureau."
"If only Merit Points were that easy to obtain…" Agent Mitchell chimed in, joining the two as they rested on his bed.
"Train harder, get stronger, take on mid Rank 0 missions and up…" Grace stated the obvious. "By the way, Michael…"
"What?"
"You deserve double congratulations!"
"Double?" Michael propped himself up on his elbows.
"Agent Mitchell, I trust you won't spread what I'm about to say, right? Not that it's that big of a deal," Grace added.
"Don't insult me, HQ," Agent Mitchell grumbled.
Grace grinned. "Congratulations on completing your first mission, Michael, and your first day at the Bureau!"
"What?!" Agent Mitchell blurted out.
"Oh, yeah…" Grace's grin widened.
Amidst the farewells to his family, the whirlwind travel to an undisclosed destination, navigating the Bureau's registration process, exploring the Exchange Center, delving into the intricacies of Metamorphosis, receiving his inaugural mission, and ascending on his second flight via private plane – all within the span of mere few hours or so – Michael found himself utterly disoriented. He couldn't believe that everything had unfolded within the course of a single day – or 24 hours!
"Thank you for remembering?" Michael expressed his gratitude, still incredulous.
"What are Partners for," Grace chuckled.
"Wait, did you just say it's his... your first day at the Bureau, not as an Agent... but in the Bureau?!" Agent Mitchell interjected, his astonishment palpable.
"Michael is-" Grace began.
"Unique! Bloody...!" Agent Mitchell clenched his teeth to stifle a curse, offering a strained smile. "Congratulations, Agent Mir. If you don't mind, I'll nod off. It's been an eventful day, to say the least."
"Good night," Grace bid, beginning to remove her shoes with her feet and undress down to her underwear.
"Good night," Michael echoed, feeling a bit awkward, hesitantly removing only the pants and jacket of his suit.
…
06.09.2023
08:00, within the Material Magick Bureau's Headquarters, Michael and Grace returned from their mission. After spending the initial night, they received orders to stay for two more nights to confirm the departure of the Pixies. With no reports of disappearances during those nights and their inability to detect traces of Magick in and around the town, Michael, Grace, and Agent Mitchell couldn't find any reason to prolong their stay. Consequently, on the morning of the 6th, Michael and Grace bid farewell to Agent Mitchell and departed.
"I'll draft the report and send it over for you to review. You'll need to sign it. You can do it with your phone or tablet," Grace explained as they stood on the 15th floor of the underground structure, each by their respective room.
"You're not tired, are you?" she inquired.
"No, I don't tire easily these days, and the intermittent breaks were sufficient. Besides, you know... time constraints and all," Michael responded.
"What do you want to do?" Grace asked, curious about their next move.
"I think I'll start with breakfast, just need to figure out where in these fifty stories there's a cafeteria or a vending machine. Afterwards, I want to delve deeper into the materials you sent me about Metamorphosis. Hopefully, there's information about the differences between Levels, how to increase the amount of Magick Ions, how to attain the First Metamorphosis, if having a Path is the only way, and so on…"
Grace pondered, opening the door to her residence. "Change into something casual. I'll finish the report and meet you in fifteen. We'll grab a meal together, I'll show you around HQ, help you with your finance account, and give you a brief explanation of what you want to know, based on my understanding so far."
"Fifteen minutes and a proper shower? Not just a 'Clean' Spell," Michael suggested.
Grace considered. "Make it forty-five minutes."
...
The 30th Floor, R & R Center – ground floor of floors 1 to 30 residential area.
Apparently, the Bureau boasted a dining room that operated on set hours, serving meals three times a day. Agents could choose from a variety of dishes prepared and served by cute robots, which, according to Grace, "Are definitely imported from a Material Dimension with a Japanese counterpart as the largest superpower."
In addition to the dining room, the 30th Floor housed the "30 Floors Park", visible from the first thirty floors and named through a vote by HQ's Agents. It also hosted two clothing stores, a branch of the world's largest fast-food chain that left Michael dumbstruck, a "local" restaurant, a multi-Dimensional eatery that accepted only Merit Points, a cinema, a hobbies store, and even a daycare bunker – a surprising discovery.
"If you don't have a child at the daycare, it's off-limits," Grace cautioned.
"Sure," Michael nodded. "But why the high security? Does the Bureau keep monsters?"
"Yes, on Floors 51 to 100- Oh, damn!" Grace suddenly nodded discreetly toward a tall, thin man with short hair and a pale complexion, who was marching purposefully toward their table in the dining room. "Looking at his face, I'm afraid he will take it farther than I expected..."