“Kaeron! Answer to this!” Shiria’s head raised suddenly, cutting through the oppressive silence…”
“If I was the killer, I would have killed you first! Tsukasa has been saying you’re a good detective since Noir’s death...and she kept hidden your strength for a long time! It doesn’t make any sense, right? Only Tsukasa, who is another possible culprit, knew about your strength!”
Kaeron narrowed her eyes. She did have a point.
“What I’m seeing here right now is...that she kind of convinced you I am the culprit at the pub, right? While I was recovering with Alicia and Lan’en from my panic attack. What if she’s just messing with your head?! Again, if I was the killer...I would have killed you first...the only exception that would have stopped me is knowing about your immense strength!”
Kaeron looked at Tsukasa.
Tsukasa met Kaeron’s gaze with a calm, unreadable expression, but the tension between them was palpable.
Kaeron, despite her conviction, was clearly considering what Shiria had said.
It made sense.
If Shiria were the killer, why leave someone as capable as Kaeron alive, especially knowing she was a detective? The only reason she could have let her do something so dangerous was that she was aware of Kaeron’s powers. However, nobody on this cruise knew about her besides Tsukasa.
Tsukasa tilted her head, her fox ears flicked nervously and her tail started swinging behind her, “Oh? Shiria’s biting back. I see,” She sounded amused, “Well...you do raise a fair point. I have no alibi...just like you.”
“You were the one who went in her room as well, right? You’re the one who brought up the shoelace’s argument,” Lan’en crossed her arms.
“That is correct as well. Yes,” Tsukasa nodded, “So...are we going back to me now? Is that it? Are you going to let Shiria’s dirty hands get away with it?”
Azrael laughed loudly, “Ahahahah!!! This is so goddamn fun!”
“Yes!! *nom* *nom*” Lilin nodded happily, munching on more chips.
Kaeron sighed, “Let’s focus on the facts here. Tsukasa, it is true. You were the one who convinced me to consider Shiria as a possible murderer. While every clue points towards her...you’re still a suspect. You have no alibi, and you’re the only one who could have known about my powerful aura.”
“I respect the way you’re handling things, detective,” Tsukasa smiled at her kindly, “I cannot account for my whereabouts during the murders...I’m in the same position as Shiria. However...what about the clues that lead to her? Even if I did lie about the shoelaces...the red mark was still there, wasn’t it? And what about the presence of your sword?”
Kaeron closed her eyes and started thinking in silence.
Azrael chuckled again and stretched, “Wow. This is just amazing.”
“Shut up!” Shiria snapped, “We both know it isn’t me, Azrael. You followed me, right? You saw what I did. I didn’t kill Servalia...I didn’t kill anyone.”
“We’ll see,” Azrael replied calmly, looking at Kaeron next, “So? Detective?”
“Tsukasa, may I ask you something?” Kaeron’s head raised back up.
Tsukasa nodded slowly, “Of course, Kaeron. Ask away.”
“Your power. How does it work, exactly?”
“Hm…” Tsukasa thought about her question, looking upwards, “When I activate it, I see and smell a scent. When I get close to that scent enough, I can discern the information about it.”
“And when it comes to me, you don’t see a scent that comes from me directly, right? You said it’s a crimson haze that comes from outside.”
“That is correct,” Tsukasa nodded, “What is your point, exactly?”
“That scent you see is my sword. That is the seal of my true self. When I got out of the bathroom, Shiria was there…she moved my sword to free up the bed for us."
----------------------------------------
> Kaeron was taking a hot shower to clean her own thoughts.
>
> Shiria was right. Despite everything, she had to move on. She had to fulfill her lover's final request.
>
> After she was done, she got out of the shower, and Shiria was there...wearing her sleeping attire.
>
>
>
> Shiria smiled and nodded at Kaeron. She grabbed her sword, which was on the bed, and placed it on the desk to free the bed for the two.
----------------------------------------
“So? What are you trying to say?”
“You could have picked up the sword’s scent as she went to search for Lan’en. Maybe she didn’t see you...and on her way there, you saw that the scent was leading in her room.”
“This is...very far-fetched. I doubt my power would be capable of such a thing. Besides, I was in the SPA at the time...I couldn’t have seen Shiria while I was deep in the hot tub’s waters, could I?”
“Can someone prove that you were there?” Alicia turned against Tsukasa all of a sudden.
“No. Nobody can,” Tsukasa calmly replied, “I guess I could be lying. Yes. But answer this…why would I risk getting caught by you?”
“I do realize that earlier, I attacked Shiria by saying that the killer wouldn't have risked being seen by me. However, I'm reconsidering that idea now...the killer could have decided to risk bumping into me. If they noticed I was there guarding my sword, they would have brought up a random excuse and left,” Kaeron replied.
“How on earth would I have had the time to climb through Shiria’s emergency hatch and come back down anyway? Shiria was in front of Lan’en’s door for several minutes...right? We established only she could have had enough time to do everything, given that she lied about waiting in front of Lan’en’s door. Anyone else could have gotten into her room after that, and they wouldn’t have had enough time. It’s simple math,” Tsukasa retorted.
“True,” Kaeron nodded, looking at Shiria, “She stayed in front of Lan’en’s door for five minutes...this means that the killer had to do everything in the next five. I took ten minutes to have that shower. This means that when ten minutes passed, we both were in the room and we would have noticed the killer climbing out of the emergency hatch to leave.”
“See? Couldn’t have been me after all,” Tsukasa said, slightly irritated, “Shiria...you’re just stalling.”
“However, Tsukasa...something suddenly came up in my mind,” Kaeron stopped her, “You’re the one who always tried to give Youma food...and you were also the one who was always right behind me when I typed in the code of my door.”
“That’s right!” Shiria exclaimed.
“So you could have done it. You could have used the mere five minutes you had left after Shiria went elsewhere, leaving the hallway empty...to snatch my sword, leave, and get in and out of my room using my code...leaving, essentially, Shiria's room undisturbed."
“I never watched you while you typed in your room’s code! I have some decency! Didn’t you see how I always turned my back around?!”
“That’s right. This is why it’s possible that you used my sword’s scent for that too. I always type in the code of my door with my left hand, which also grips my sword’s scabbard all the time. It’s a habit I started to have because of dangerous planets where I had to have my dominant arm always ready while interacting with doors or similar things. What if you could see the prints of my scent against the right buttons? It’s a 4 digit combination. A couple of tries...and it could be done. You could have simply hid in my room until you were sure everyone was asleep before leaving.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Tsukasa sighed and covered her face with her hand, “This is just preposterous. Why are you turning against me all of a sudden?”
“Because I want to be sure it was Shiria.”
“Alright, alright,” Tsukasa took a deep breath, “For the argument’s sake. Let us say I could have committed Youma’s murder using the scent on your sword as a tool. What about Servalia’s? I won’t even question Noir’s because...well...I was with her before she died. I can plead gulty to her death for free. I have no rebuttals. But Servalia’s murder? Again...the red mark on Shiria’s hand. Her shoes. Servalia’s death points to her, does it not?”
“It does. And that’s exactly why I’m doubting it. Just as you said while we were at the pub together...that red mark...the more I think about it, the more I’m starting to feel as if it was made for me to see.”
“What? And made how? By me to her? She would have reported that immediately, am I wrong?” Tsukasa shrugged, “Shiria...I know we’re not on common ground. But I never touched your hand. You must have the honor to be truthful about that.”
Shiria squinted her eyes and scratched, “I mean...it’s true. I honestly don’t remember how the hell that red mark appeared.”
Kaeron’s eyes narrowed towards Shiria, “Shiria, do you really not remember what caused that mark?”
“No…uhm...wait..."
Kaeron looked back at Tsukasa and crossed her arms, “Tsukasa. While Shiria tries to remember...I have another question for you.”
“Go ahead.”
Tsukasa’s tone was more irritated and impatient now. Despite her calm demeanor, her restless tail and her voice told a different story. She didn’t like being under the spotlight at all.
“You said you have been hiding from us Shiria’s true, artificial nature until now. May you repeat why is that?”
“Because she truly believed she was human. She admired my long-lived nature and she...she just looked like a lost child. I couldn’t break her heart telling her she probably belonged to the Elysium family.”
“Doesn’t that imply that you were the only one that could have taken advantage of that?” Alicia butted in.
“Exactly. What if you did something to Shiria’s hand and then made her forget?” Kaeron said.
“Oh wow, now you’re all grasping at straws…” Tsukasa chuckled awkwardly, “What am I? A sorceress?”
“It’s not about sorcery. It’s about you being an ambassador,” Shiria suddenly spoke up for herself, “You told me yourself...you’re good with words. You are able to seal deals and change a politician’s opinion using your power. What...what if you did something to my head?"
“This is absurd! You’re all accusing me of something utterly ridiculous.” Tsukasa groaned with frustration.
"I remembered!!!"
Shiria suddenly lit up.
----------------------------------------
> “Absolutely not! You’re a suspect!” Youma grabbed her arm, “You’re staying here with the others!”
>
> “Kaeron could kill me if I tried anything anyway!” Shiria.
>
> “Let her go,” Tsukasa sighed, “If anything happens, it will be her fault automatically, no?"
>
> Youma sighed and left Shiria’s arm. However, Tsukasa suddenly stopped her again as she began walking.
>
> She grabbed her hand tightly, so tightly that Shiria was surprised by her stregth. It was a determined, yet nervous grasp.
>
> image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0u2xp2xbl5y9v0kpal4nt/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-black-backgroun-s-3226502555.png?rlkey=8dl76tqb2slwfts2v5a0hp9rs&st=st3w5eyr&raw=1]
>
>
>
> "I trust you, Shiria. I know you're innocent. Please...help Kaeron realize that. We need her. She the only one who can solve this mess."
>
> Shiria nodded with determination and left the lobby.
----------------------------------------
"So you did touch her hand..." Kaeron nodded.
"That's just...ridicolous!!!" The fox woman looked as Shiria with an outraged, angry face, "I was trying to cheer you up! How could the grip of my hand leave you such a mark? You would have noticed!!!!"
"That's why you were trying to distract me with that sentimental sentence! I didn't pay attention to your painful grip fully!" Shiria replied.
“We cannot know about your tricks up your sleeves, fox! This could make sense!” Lan’en suddenly stepped forward, “The more I think about you, the more I feel suspicious. Why were you invited again?”
“I was invited because of my noble accomplishments, unlike you...barbaric vigilante.”
“Oh wow, the little fox is heating up! Hehehe!” Lilin swung her feet and threw her empty bag of chips into the fountain behind her.
“Try to defend yourself instead of calling names. If you’re so sure that Shiria is the culprit. Tell me about where you were during Servalia’s murder again," Kaeron interevened.
“I was in my room. I was thinking about Lan’en’s situation...our situation. I was also thinking about your sudden burst of anger. I was there, with myself, trying to come up with who could have committed such a horrible thing against that poor little girl, Noir.”
“Is there anything particular you were doing? Using the console? Reading a book? Anything specific?”
“I don’t remember. I don’t keep track of everything I do on a cruise...a place where someone just relaxes and has fun. My Goddess, Haetestia...I was born under her star! The goddess of trust and goodwill! Why would I kill someone?”
“Vocations aren’t the point now. Try to answer my question.”
“Answer me this, instead!” Tsukasa looked at her directly, getting more and more impatient, “Tell me, how the hell would I have ripped that cable off that wall with a wire myself? I don’t have access to such...trinkets. And my dresses are all made with pure silk!”
“You could have used your dresses’ accessories that you use to keep it all tied up to cover your body.”
“Oh? So you truly believe that pure silk can rip off a thick, strong red cable off a wall?”
A deadly silence fell all of a sudden.
Alicia cleared her throat.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/94pxtrskoh25p6ath6arj/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-dark-background-s-3316502978.png?rlkey=iaw87db8jr588ef8rr29wf1j1&st=tdirsyxo&raw=1]
“Tsukasa, how did you know the cable that was ripped off is red?”
Tsukasa gasped, covering her mouth.
“Whoops!!!!” Lilin giggled.
“That’s a bad, bad slip...Tsukasa!” Azrael laughed with her friend, “Hope you don’t get hurt!”
“We never told anyone about the cable’s color. Also...Alicia covered the wall’s inner wiring before we set out to report our investigation to all of you,” Kaeron said, “So? How did you know about its color?”
Tsukasa’s expression shifted from indignation to a mix of surprise and fear, her facade cracking under the scrutiny. “I...I just assumed! that’s all!” She stammered, attempting to regain control of the conversation. “You can’t pin this on me just because I know the color of a cable! Red is a common color for cables! You always see it in movies…”
“True. But Azrael and Lilin, who have been aware of the true murderer all along...had quite the reaction,” Kaeron looked at Azrael next, “May you two explain why you called Tsukasa’s previous sentence a slip?”
Azrael finally got up from the fountain’s edge, walking in the middle of the circle, “Kaeron...you are a very talented detective. But you must choose wisely. Tsukasa isn’t the perfect culprit, while Shiria is...all the clues point to her. However, your feelings for her may be betraying your mind.”
“Both could have done it...but your cold heart wishes it was Tsukasa. Because you fell in love with Shiria last night, didn’t you? We saw how you looked at her last night!” Lilin jumped off the fountain as well, landing beside Azrael.
Kaeron closed her eyes and hung her head.
The air was thick. It was almost hard to breathe. Suddenly, the two witches had all their fates squished in their hands.
“Tsukasa! Shiria! Many choices...only one is the correct kind! Your final answer will let us decide if you’re leaving with us...or you’re dying here~!”
“Wait, what? What the hell do you mean?” Lan’en spoke up, “Doesn’t the Elysium go back around in a week or so anyway?”
“We...destroyed the Elysium’s fuel supply while we were at it...so...the only way to leave this place is to leave through the escape pod,” Azrael added.
The air became thick. It was almost impossible to breathe.
Suddenly, all the passengers’ fates were being squished by the witches’ grasp.
“So? Which is it, detective? A or B?”
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mvbl25km5mk8b6wbuxiv1/Kaeron-Montemira.png?rlkey=6bacwbhyy0vxu29t82xmc0kn2&st=4hp2s7j9&raw=1]
They’re truly evil witches.
It’s not a guarantee. It could have been Shiria...and Tsukasa may just have happened to be another match of this puzzle...a wrong match nonetheless.
And it could also be the opposite. Shiria could just be a victim of Tsukasa’s bigger scheme. Only she could have done or known things about me...and she matches perfectly...as perfectly as Shiria. Lilin is right...Shiria did do something to my heart yesterday.
I must guess it right. I have only one chance. Azrael is serious.
Let’s go over it once more, calmly.
First death: Noir.
Noir could have been killed by both equally. It was dark. Nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything.
It is true, though, that Tsukasa was already out of her room...and she was the last one who interacted with Noir before her death.
Shiria, on the other hand...even if by just a little...has lower chance to be the culprit because she had to take that simple yet present next step of knowing about the emergency button’s existence.
Second death: Servalia.
In this case, both girls could have been around the medical bay while nobody else was there.
However, clues point towards Shiria in a stronger way. The mark on her hand was real...I was the one who witnessed that. She’s the best candidate if we stick to the story of the door’s trick by the way it was made.
The thing is...what if Tsukasa seriously tampered with her mind when she touched her hand? Maybe Shiria truly didn't realize the red mark was being fabricated on her skin.
It’s such a stupid theory...but who knows what her true abilities are? Maybe the moment where Tsukasa squeezed Shiria's hand...was the point where Tsukasa decided who her scapegoat was going to be.
It is far-fetched...but it’s a possibility.
The fact she also knew about the cable’s color...is a big problem. She couldn’t have known about it...or she could have just guessed it. No matter how much Alicia is convinced she had to know...the human mind can make up things when it’s stressed. She seriously could have just guessed.
Third death: Youma.
Youma is tricky.
Shiria could have literally done anything under my nose while she pretended to go to Lan’en. Those five minutes she claimed to have spent at her door could have been used to do the whole thing before leaving and going to search Lan’en. Moreover, she was the one who definitely knew where my sword was.
However...would the killer trap themselves so easily? Shiria would have surely thought a plan through before going for it, right? Would she have really gambled on the time I was going to be in the shower? What if I was the type of person that washed quicker than that?
Tsukasa, on the other hand...sounds more plausible. As soon as she noticed my scent inside Shiria’s room...she seized the moment. She knew about my code...so there was no need to gamble on how much time either I or Shiria were going to be absent.
My left hand did touch those digits...Shiria did touch that scabbard...she could have definitely caught on to those two clues.
This is all I have. I have to make a decision.
What do I do, Keina? Once more, I have lives in my hands. I can’t be wrong.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vuwoaxo8wvau9n87fmlrb/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-black-backgroun-s-211672987.png?rlkey=y343qrlke8berxg92ms59isq7&st=6szo8bqt&raw=1]
Tsukasa?
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o3g1ubrh9twrr46r6zwrx/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-black-backgroun-s-1371190143.png?rlkey=sl8sc4wcbzml1nzwcvb4i84ad&st=5qyo2k8u&raw=1]
Shiria?