The day she had been looking forward to for years has finally arrived. The past ten years have been tough, but they were tough for a reason. To become a full member of the Pivanu organization, you must travel a long and hard road. Not every recruit is suited for this, and the long training period ensures that every unsuitable recruit does not make it to this day. However, she is more than suitable, and today is her day. When she began this training, there were about twenty of them. Over the years, several dropped out, and a few joined. But by the end of the training, only two were left. She and Calator are the only ones who will participate in the inauguration ceremony. After today, they will be official members of the organization, no longer recruits.
For the last year, they were the only two recruits remaining. As a result, they were given more specific tasks and learned things that suited them better. However, they had already proven themselves suitable for the organization; in the past year, their mentor Arthur let them excel in their specialties. He also ensured that Ryko noticed them. He decided a few weeks ago that their training was complete and that it was time for the ceremony.
Above her, Ulfride hears movement; Calator is awake as well. It's time to start the day. “It's finally here, Ulfride, the day we've both been eagerly awaiting. After today, I can go find Ilenia and save her. I hope she's still alive, Ulfride. Otherwise, all this was for nothing...” Despite becoming loyal to Pivanu over the years, Calator has had a second motive all along. It took years before he told her this. However, since they spent the past year together, every secret they still had from each other has been revealed. They know everything about each other and are perfectly in sync. It wouldn't surprise her if they were sent on missions together because as a team, they're even stronger than alone.
Calator arrived at Pivanu later than she did. As a result, he had less training, but he already had sufficient experience from his life before Pivanu. Calator has lived many lives. In contrast, she can barely remember her life before Pivanu. She remembers that she was twelve when Arthur found her. This was in East Cordinia; her parents had died when she was only seven. They died during an ogre attack, which not only killed her parents but also destroyed her village. For five years, she lived in the wilderness, responsible for her own survival. This life ended when she met Arthur. He brought her here and told her that she could make something of her life now. While she is here to improve her own life, Calator is here for Ilenia, the woman he left behind in the city of Fizetia.
He has undergone this entire training to free her from the hands of Captain Bulen, the captain of the pirate ship Yvara, where Calator served for a time. Arthur has promised Calator several times that he will help him free Ilenia. However, Arthur expects that Ilenia will also become a member of Pivanu afterward. Ulfride knows very well that Calator doesn't want this. He wants Ilenia to be free to go wherever she wishes. She doesn't know if she will help Calator free Ilenia. She isn't sure if she will remain loyal to him when the time comes. Calator is her best friend, but she is a loyal member of Pivanu. She will always do what the organization asks of her. So if they want Ilenia to become a member, then so be it.
They both get dressed and gather their weapons. They hang their main weapons at their sides, but several smaller weapons are hidden in various pockets. They also carry various poisons and other small items in their inner pockets. They are both perfectly prepared for any possible scenario, which is expected of a full member of Pivanu. Just as they are about to leave their room, there is a knock on their door. The door opens, and Arthur walks in, looking very stressed. “We’ll have to postpone your ceremony. Something terrible has happened; I don’t yet know all the details myself. You both need to come with me now and, above all, don't ask any questions.”
Disappointment immediately overwhelms her. However, she understands well enough that there are more important matters than her ceremony. The ceremony can take place any week; she knows that Pivanu is pleased with her and that she will become a full member regardless. However, she cannot imagine what could be important enough to interrupt the ceremony. She has never seen her mentor so stressed in her entire life. She sees that this is really not the moment to disobey him, so she walks behind Arthur without saying a word. Calator also follows very meekly.
The three of them walk through the mountain toward the entrance gate. Around her, life continues as usual. No one seems to notice that something strange is happening. Servants pass her, hurrying to complete their daily tasks. They also encounter several recruits on their way to the dining hall. Everyone seems to be busy with the daily routine; what could be going on? Could they be under attack by a rival gang? No, that doesn’t make sense, because then everyone would know. She is certain that Pivanu is strong precisely because of their large number of members.
When she exits the mountain and steps onto the inner courtyard, everything seems to be going on as usual there too. She sees more guards on the battlements, but that has been the case for several months now. Oudenhuysen mentioned that he feared an attack from outside and that they needed to be more alert. Could this be related? Could they have captured some spies and be planning to give her and Calator one final test?
To see how they would act toward their adversaries. However, by now, Pivanu should know that in such a situation, they will always choose the organization. She grows more nervous by the second, and she’s not the only one. Her master is beginning to sweat more and more, something that is entirely out of character for him. “Open the gate, we are leaving now on Duriël's orders. I don’t know when we’ll be back, are our horses ready?” Horses, where are we going? She has so many questions.
The gates open, and she sees three magnificent horses standing there. These are the kind of horses only the best members of Pivanu are allowed to ride. Normally, she wouldn’t be entitled to this privilege for years. The fact that she now suddenly has this right makes her even more nervous. They quickly mount their saddles, and Arthur immediately urges his horse into a gallop. They ride at a brisk pace through the forest bordering their base. However, once their base is out of sight, Arthur signals that they may slow down. A few minutes later, Arthur signals again and stops his horse.
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“We’ve arrived at the designated location. I promise you that within a few minutes, everything will become clear. There’s a reason this has to be done so secretively and quickly. We don’t want everyone in the organization to know what’s happened; otherwise, chaos will ensue.” “You’re right on time, Arthur. Duriël made a good choice in informing you about this situation.” Ulfride looks toward where she hears the voice coming from. In the tree, she sees a kobold, the kobold that’s always near Duriël—Kirdik.
“We don’t have time to waste. Arthur, are you sure you want to take these two along? They are still recruits for a reason; you understand that if something goes wrong, you’ll be held responsible.” “I’m well aware of that, Kirdik. Your master trusts me, so just follow his orders and take us to him.” Kirdik is clearly not pleased with the tone Arthur uses. He snaps his fingers and suddenly stands before them. “Now, to make this work as effectively as possible, you all need to dismount your horses. Then, you must stand as close together as possible so that you and your horses are within the same radius.”
After they stand close together, Kirdik points his staff at them. He murmurs a sort of rhyme, and shortly afterward, an orange magical stream flows from the blue sapphire mounted on his staff. The stream envelops them, and the reality around Ulfride begins to blur. She closes her eyes, and when she opens them again, she is no longer in the forest. They are all standing in a luxurious room. In front of them stands Duriël, who looks visibly relieved at their appearance.
"My sincere apologies for all this trouble. You must have many questions, and I fully understand that this must seem strange. Normally, you would have become full members of the organization today. However, something has happened that demands all our attention. Arthur told me that you might offer new insights into this matter. That’s why you are here. You must understand that everything you see here today is strictly confidential. Many members don’t yet know what has happened. We trust you, so don’t betray that trust, or the consequences will be severe.”
Ulfride can barely contain her curiosity. She wants to know what Arthur and Duriël are talking about. Before she can say anything, Duriël points to the door behind him. "The moment you step through this door, everything will become clear. Take everything in carefully and report back to me afterward. Every detail I might have overlooked could be important."
Duriël steps aside, and Ulfride and Calator cautiously approach the designated door. They both take up positions by the door: she on the left, Calator on the right. They pause for a moment and then signal each other. Both hold a dagger at the ready as Calator silently opens the door. They look inside simultaneously, and the first thing that hits them is a horrific stench of death. Instantly, they both bring a hand to their noses and mouths. The smell came so unexpectedly that Ulfride struggles not to gag.
She carefully surveys the room and sees that it is an exceptionally luxurious bedroom. The furniture is of a quality Ulfride has never seen before. Above the bed hangs a large chandelier, in which various gemstones sparkle. In the bed lies a corpse, and as Ulfride and Calator approach, they can’t believe their eyes. Lying in the bed is the body of François Oudenhuysen. How could this have happened? He was one of the leaders of the organization, one of the founders. She immediately understands why this is being kept secret for now. But who did this? Which of their enemies dared to do this?
“He wasn’t killed by just one person. Do you see the traces around the bed, Ulfride? At least four people must have been involved in this murder, and there was definitely a giant present. I can still faintly smell its scent.” Despite all these years, Ulfride is still amazed by Calator’s senses. It’s a gift possessed by only a few individuals on Mysterix. They’re called Scouts because their senses are so sharp that they are the perfect people to scout ahead. Additionally, a Scout often has a deep bond with an animal. However, Calator doesn’t have an animal; he hasn’t had the chance to bond due to his commitments to the organization. Yet Ulfride doesn’t feel inferior to Calator. Thanks to her years of survival in the wilderness, she is always alert. This trauma-learned talent has saved her many times, just as it does now, for she senses that something is watching her.
Instinctively, she grips her dagger tightly, turns, and throws it directly at her target. She sees her dagger flying swiftly toward a bat. But just before the dagger hits the bat, an enormous flash of light blinds her. She is completely blinded for several seconds. When she can see again, she rushes out of the room, with Calator right behind her.
"What was that light? What did you do?" Duriël asks. "Stop that bat! It was spying on us!"
"Which bat? You’re not going to tell me that a bat killed Oudenhuysen, are you?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I had the feeling we were being watched, so I acted on my instinct and threw my dagger at the danger. It turned out to be a bat, but before my dagger could hit it, a bright light suddenly appeared."
After she says this, Duriël whistles sharply with his fingers. A dozen members of Pivanu appear, and Duriël begins giving orders. They must search the entire base for the bat. The recruits leave immediately, while Arthur and Duriël look at them expectantly. Clearly, they hope to find more than just a bat.
"I don’t know what the bat has to do with Oudenhuysen’s death, but one thing is certain: it’s magical. Additionally, I’ve concluded that at least four people and one giant must be responsible for his death. Oudenhuysen has multiple stab wounds, and he wasn’t killed subtly. It seems more like an act of revenge, and to me, a poorly planned one—if it was planned at all. Do we have enemies who possess magic, giants, as well as ordinary people?"
There’s a long silence after Calator’s words. Then Duriël speaks again. "I couldn’t say. The organization has existed for so long that we’ve made countless enemies. But the manner and the place where Oudenhuysen was killed seem strange to me. As you said, Calator, it seems more like a spontaneous decision than a planned mission. But maybe that bat can give us some answers. Both of you, go after those recruits and find that bat. I want answers!"
"Doesn’t Knijster know what happened to his master? How is it that he’s not here? Judging by the state of the corpse, Oudenhuysen has been dead for several days. How is it that we’re only finding out now?"
"Knijster has disappeared, Ulfride. That makes this matter even more troubling. We don’t know if he was kidnapped or if he’s somehow complicit in his master’s death. Either way, we’re already searching for him. Ryko considers finding him the organization’s top priority. He and his white ravens are devising various plans, but you don’t need to worry about that right now."
After these words, Arthur signals that they may leave. They walk together in the direction the other recruits went. The organization will never be the same after Oudenhuysen’s death. A sense of dread creeps over Ulfride as she thinks about the possible consequences of this event.