As Kane neared the gates of the D'Angelo Estate, he felt a mix of apprehension and amazement. The vast estate before him was an assemblage of magnificent buildings that exuded a sense of authority and affluence. The gates were crafted from a marble-like material, and were impeccably smooth and flawless, void of any tool marks. Positioned by the guardhouse, the entrance was manned by vigilant house guards. Glancing up, Kane could also see manifested gargoyles silently monitoring the estate's activities as they soared in leisurely circles above the perimeter.

Upon reaching the gate, Kane introduced himself. The guards appeared competent, bright, and attentive, donning various types of equipment based on their expertise. He verified his identity by presenting his Sentinel Security badge and the briefing his employer had supplied him about the assignment. Once admitted, one of the guards escorted him to the servants' quarters, where a slender man dressed in a fine dark blue robe greeted him.

"Delighted to meet you. I am Lucius Beaumont, the Majordomo for House D'Angelo," said Lucius, his voice possessing a pleasant, melodic quality.

"I'm Kane Ranganui," he replied, extending his hand for a handshake. "I'm a Security Specialist for Sentinel Security, and I'm in my first year at the College of War."

Lucius nodded. "Thank you for coming. Would you please accompany me while I explain the situation? I'll give you a tour of the estate."

They strolled by the various structures: the servants' quarters where they began, a guesthouse, a chapel, stables, greenhouses, gardens, an artisans' quarter with a smithy, a manifesterium, and a wine cellar. Lucius also mentioned a small warehouse at the back of the estate that they wouldn't visit that day, and the main manor would be their final destination. As they walked, Lucius pointed out different security features and introduced Kane to the remaining staff members—maids, cooks, tutors, groundskeepers, and so on. Determined to remember all the names and faces, Kane shook hands and exchanged pleasantries as he was guided around the estate.

Kane discovered a few unique roles within the estate, roles he had never encountered before. The Arcane Custodian, responsible for the care of manifested objects; the Manifested Beast Handlers, who primarily managed the gargoyles, but could reportedly summon an entire menagerie of creatures if necessary; and finally, the Soothsayer of House D'Angelo.

The Soothsayer, an elderly woman named Cassia, had provided counsel and guidance to the house throughout her lifetime. When Kane met her, she proclaimed, "I saw you coming," followed by a cackle. "I saw you in the morning, with bitterness at daybreak. I saw you in the afternoon, burdened by the weight upon your shoulders. I saw you in the evening, with death in your destiny. Three times I saw you, and you came." Her voice was a strained rasp but remained audible. Cassia wore a tarnished gold headpiece, adorned with a transparent white gemstone that rested on her forehead like a third eye.

"Did you bring him here to be read, Lucius?" Cassia inquired. Lucius nodded in response.

"Lord Victor requested my full power yesterday, and I have little to offer now. Bring him back tomorrow," Cassia instructed. Seated on a cushion at a low table, she sipped from a cup of tea that had a strong medicinal aroma.

"Take all the time you need. I apologize for presuming, Cassia," Lucius offered a deep, apologetic bow, which Cassia dismissed with a wave of her hand.

"Tomorrow or the day after is fine. I'm not as fragile as you all think. Now off with you. The maids informed me that we've received a shipment of mundane books, and the latest Chronicle is among them. I must get my hands on it before Lady Jane does." Cassia chuckled, though Kane, unfamiliar with the book, didn't understand the joke. He was about to inquire when he noticed Lucius discreetly shaking his head, so he held his tongue and they exchanged farewells.

As they left the manifesterium and stepped into the crisp evening air, Kane turned to Lucius and asked, "What's the deal with the book? The Chronicles?"

Lucius rolled his eyes. "It's a romance series called The Chronicles of Lady Mischief. The ladies of the manor are enamored with it, and once they finish, the maids get their turn. By the time the maids are done, the next blasted chronicle has been released. It's all anyone talks about." Realizing he had been ranting, Lucius stopped himself.

Kane had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

Lucius took a moment before continuing, "I should explain why Sentinel Security has been hired. I don't know all the details, but something of great value was stolen from Lord Max, and his father, Lord Victor, is wroth. Not with Lord Max, but with the situation. He has requested that I arrange for an external perspective and protection to ensure nothing like this happens again." Lucius spoke softly, aware that the information would be prime gossip material if overheard.

"We have Marrion covering the day shift, and you'll be on nights. There's also a small budget for engaging external services if needed. So, where would you like to begin?" Lucius inquired. "We'll introduce you to Lord Max when you're ready."

Kane considered his options before responding. "Is Marrion still onsite? Can I get a handover from her? Also, can you tell me more about the theft? Do you know if it was targeted or just a coincidence?"

Lucius nodded and flagged down a young boy emerging from the servant's quarters. "Teliv, please find Lord Max, and ask his guard Marrion to come out to us." The boy chirped his agreement and skipped away.

"I'm not sure if it was targeted. The atmosphere in the main manor has been incredibly tense since the theft, so we've all been walking on eggshells. I haven't asked for more information than what I've been told," Lucius admitted.

Kane frowned. "Can you tell me what was stolen?"

Lucius shook his head slowly. "No, I'm not privy to that information. All I know is that it was extremely valuable."

"If you can't tell me what it is, can you tell me if House D'Angelo has more of it? Are we worried more will be stolen? Does the family have any active enemies, could this have been a targetted event because of that?" Kane's weary mind sifted through potential scenarios.

"I'll ask," Lucius replied, looking like he'd rather do anything else.

Kane sighed. "It doesn't need to be tonight, but soon, please. We'll do better if we understand the full picture." He considered what he needed. "Do you have my ward's itinerary? Also, while I still need you to ask the family about the theft, we should make some discreet inquiries with information brokers in the city. The further removed from yourselves, the better."

"Why can't we use our regular brokers?" Lucius asked, surprised.

"I want you to put in inquiries with them as well, but we need to be sure the information we're working with is reliable. Can we have someone unaffiliated with the house approach a few brokers I know? I'll write down their names and locations." Kane knew that brokers could be bought. If someone controlled the brokers House D'Angelo used, they could control the information they received.

"I can do that," Lucius agreed. "And yes, we should be able to put together the young Lord's itinerary. Do you want it written down?"

Kane nodded. "Please, it's easier to reference and plan that way. Are there any significant events coming up which I should know about? Especially public ones?"

A third voice chimed in, "Just one in the next few days: a dance at House Hastings."

Both Lucius and Kane turned to see Marrion approaching. Marrion was a strong, handsome woman who Kane had once seen put a man halfway through a wall. Her grimoire and manifestations focused on enhancing her strength, resilience, and speed, and she had a trump card – making her nearly unstoppable when she got going.

"Hey, wonder boy," she said, slapping Kane's shoulder as she approached, then giving a more appropriate bow of her head to Lucius. "Lucius."

Marrion stretched, yawned, and joined their small circle of conversation. Kane noticed her knuckles were slightly torn up, and made a mental note to ask her about it later.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"House Hastings? I'm unfamiliar with their estate," Kane admitted. The truth was he was unfamiliar with all the major nobility's estates, as Sentinel Security mostly dealt with minor aristocrats. "Can we trust their protections – wait, I haven't asked yet, where did the theft take place?"

"On an airship, during its maiden voyage yesterday morning," Lucius supplied.

This made Kane frown even more. "That sounds more like a crime of opportunity than anything else. Were there other thefts on the airship? When was the theft discovered?"

"The theft was discovered almost immediately, as I understand it. A distraction was set moments after the item was stolen, but only a few minutes had passed at most." As Lucius explained, Kane felt his frustration rise; he felt he was going around in circles trying to pry all the information out. Lucius seemed convinced he had no absolutely no idea about what had happened, yet additional details kept emerging during the conversation.

"Was anything else stolen?" Kane reminded Lucius of the previous question.

"Oh, yes. Lord Max was traveling with his friends, and almost all of them had something taken," Lucius finally answered.

Kane was left puzzled. The facts didn't seem to lead to a conclusion yet – whether it was a crime of opportunity or a targeted event. If it was a targeted theft, was the intended target the item itself, or just Lord Max and House D’Angelo?

"Lord Max saw the person who stole it," Marrion added cheerfully.

Kane slowly turned his head and locked eyes with Marrion. "We have an idea of who stole it," he said in a deadpan tone.

"Yup, he told me, but I can't really remember what she looked like, only that she was attractive. Some woman wearing a crew uniform stumbled into the group of nobles, talking about something related to the voyage. By the time they realized anything was stolen, she was gone. Lightdived off the ship."

Kane rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to fend off a headache. If the thief was prepared with a crew uniform, had a pickpocketing manifestation or a rogueish grimoire, and was ready with light gear to rapidly exit after the theft, it indicated a level of preparedness beyond everything discussed so far.

"Alright," Kane took a deep breath. "I'll get the description of the thief from our ward when I meet him. House Hastings – what can we expect in terms of security? I can't imagine they want us to provide or send additional guards?"

"Lord Max can take up to four people with him in his entourage. Normally, he takes his valet and no one else. If you want, you can take some of the House guard, or if you prefer to bring in external staff, as long as they're vetted properly there should be no issue," Lucius responded.

That was a start, at least. He would need to bring at least one house guard and consider options for the other two spots.

Kane got a briefing from Marrion about their duty shifts – they would handover around the 6th bell each evening. She was flexible with timing, which was good because his classes could sometimes run late. She made her exit after the discussion, heading home for the day.

"I think it's time to meet the young Lord then," Kane declared.

The main manor was one of the most lavish places Kane had ever seen, decorated in traditional Astreyan style – tall open spaces, marble flooring, and gold accents. The entrance foyer and the grand staircase were larger than the entire complex housing Kane's apartment. Lucius, acting as his guide, didn't let him linger at the doorstep gawking at the opulence, and instead led him down corridors towards Lord Max’s rooms.

"It's best to address him as Lord Maximillian initially. Once you've established a more familiar relationship, that will likely be relaxed," Lucius explained as they walked. "Lord Max isn't big on formality, but the rest of the family is."

Lucius knocked on the door twice and announced them both. "My Lord, it's Lucius, and I bring Kane from Sentinel Security, at your convenience." Then he waited.

"Please enter," a slightly muffled voice came from behind the door.

Kane's first impression of Lord Maximillian was that the man had somehow won the cosmic lottery. He was tall (nearly as tall as Kane), with clean lines in his face and jaw, caramel skin, and unruly brown hair. Dressed in fine clothing and a well-tailored jacket, he had just stood up from a desk cluttered with books and papers.

Kane stepped forward and extended his hand. "Good evening, Lord Maximillian. I'm Kane, I’m a Security Specialist at Sentinel Security. Pleased to meet you."

"A pleasure," Lord Maximillian responded, his handshake firm without trying to assert dominance through a forceful grip. "Make yourself comfortable," he gestured around the room. "Your colleague Marrion mostly uses the chaise," he indicated and was about to return to his work before Kane stopped him.

"Apologies, my lord, but Marrion and I have different roles within Sentinel. She is, in the kindest of terms, the thug you want beside you if a fight breaks out."

Maximillian's eyes met Kane's as he asked, "And your role is?"

"Prevention. Proactive security. Information gathering. Recommendations. I am trained to protect you in a fight, but not to the same extent as my colleagues. However, given the right resources, I can make it so the fight never happens in the first place. It would be ideal if you could find some time for me, before or after your commitments," Kane gestured at the table laden with paperwork, "to discuss why Sentinel is needed."

Maximillian glanced at the table, grimaced, and then gestured at another table and chairs, "Let's talk now. Would you like any refreshments brought?"

"That would be very kind. I came straight from War and haven't had time to eat." Kane's stomach strongly agreed with the statement. Maximillian turned to Lucius with a nod, and he left in the direction of the kitchen.

"Do you work at War, or do you study there?" Max asked as they settled in, and Kane retrieved a notebook and materials from his bag.

"I study there. I'm only in my first year, though. I worked at Sentinel part-time for a few years before attending," Kane explained.

"How do you find it?" Max asked, leaving the question open-ended.

"Well," Kane paused, not expecting the conversation to head in this direction. Lord Maximillian was surprisingly easy to talk to. "I find the classes quite mixed, but that's really due to my own strengths and weaknesses. I excel in and enjoy the more martial classes. Wilderness is incredible; it's practical and interesting, and the lecturer, a seasoned scout, is no-nonsense, which I appreciate. The other classes can vary greatly, depending on the lecturer, the material, or even the day."

"Fascinating," the young Lord said, and Kane thought he might be genuinely interested. "My path in education was predetermined. I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if I had attended War or Arcana," Max pondered.

“Do you attend History then, or is your education private?" Kane asked.

"I study History, as do most of my family members. My youngest sister, Jane, however, fought for her passion and managed to enrol in Arcana," Max said with a soft smile.

There was a minor interruption, as the food and drink were brought into the room on steaming platters. There was an amiable silence while they ate, only broken midstway as Max asked "Is Marrion truly that reliable in a fight?”

"Many people ask the same question," Kane laughed. "Of Sentinel's roughly forty active field staff, Marrion could easily take them all down in a brawl. On a good day, she could even beat them if they fought her together." He wasn't exaggerating much. His boss could take her on single handedly, but was no longer active in the field. Marrion was a force to be reckoned with.

Max snorted, "I'm not sure if that's a glowing commendation of her abilities or a jab at the rest of your colleagues." He sounded skeptical, as most people did until they witnessed her in action.

Kane just nodded. "If you get bored, suggest that your House guard is slacking in their training and needs to be put through their paces. Then watch what happens naturally." Max seemed intrigued by the idea.

"I just might," Max said thoughtfully.

Servants came and cleared away the finished plates and cups, and it was back to business.

"I've spoken with Lucius, and while I understand this is a sensitive subject, I need to know as much as you can tell me about what was stolen. He was helpful but limited in his knowledge," Kane explained.

Max stretched and made a strange face. "I'd like to, but I'm bound by an oath of secrecy regarding the item I carried," he lamented.

Kane considered this. While this could be a general oath based on integrity or honour, he was also aware of manifestation-bound oaths, which are quite rare, but could be used to enforce contracts. He didn't want to ask which type of oath Max had sworn, as he suspected they would be equally important to the young lord.

"Can we discuss the matter without violating your oath's restrictions?" Kane asked. "For example, if I inquire whether your House has more of the stolen item or object?"

Max's face lit up in surprise. "Oh, I think I can answer that. What was stolen was unique."

Now we were getting somewhere.

"Do you personally believe the theft was targeted, or were you simply a victim of circumstance? I understand your friends were also robbed during your travels."

"It was targeted," Max replied without hesitation.

"And what makes you say that?" Kane inquired.

Max opened his mouth to speak but stopped. After a few seconds, he waved his hand and said, "I am certain of it." His inability to elaborate was intriguing—perhaps he was bound by a manifested oath after all.

"Last question, then. Given that you were intentionally targeted and robbed, do you believe it will happen again? Is your House at risk? Please be honest with me. I make no judgments, but I need to know in order to fulfill my role." Kane had been constructing a mental image of his duties as Lord Max's guardian throughout the night. This question would reveal the scope.

Max clenched his jaw, pondering his response.

"Yes," he finally said with a hint of venom. "Yes, I think they will try again. My house is at risk."

Kane felt a chill run down his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

“I understand” Kane said as confidently as he could muster. “Now, tell me about the thief”.