In this part of the story, Abigail's account is indispensable, so I proceed to provide an excerpt from her book regarding the matter.

----------------------------------------

The sun was barely emerging from the sea when someone knocked on our door. Eight days had passed since that message my master had spread throughout the city, but no response had reached us. I descended the stairs to attend to whoever was on the other side. It was a tall man dressed like a military officer, the same one from that night. My master had already explained to me who he was.

The urgency of the moment we met had prevented me from paying attention to such a man, but now I could appreciate the details of his personality reflected both in his features and posture. His face exuded an intriguing combination of severity and vigor, capturing the very essence of masculinity in its fullness. The man appeared to be in his forties, visibly older than my master, yet more cheerful and jovial. The marks of time, etched precisely on his sun-drenched skin, spoke volumes about his years of service and countless experiences. His eyes—piercing and lively—reflected an indomitable determination and a passion for the cause he embraced. Beneath thick brows, sparks of enthusiasm gleamed like flames, revealing a sharp and alert mind. They were eyes that had seen the horrors of war, yet still harbored the unyielding hope of building a better world. His strong, square jaw conveyed an impression of firmness and resolution. The military man's posture, straight and erect, spoke of his pride and dignity as a soldier. The muscles of his face—taut yet controlled—bore witness to his discipline and bravery, hinting at the determination of one who does not flinch in the face of life's challenges and the trials of war.

Despite the gravity of the problem that seemed to surround him, a friendly and reassuring smile played on his lips. It was a smile that revealed an optimistic spirit and a camaraderie towards those who shared his struggle.

Lieutenant of Elker, that was a very important position. There were no marks of his name or position on the uniform he wore, but the mere image of his attire invoked the respect his position deserved.

He was not handsome in any sense, but he possessed that wild, commanding, and rigid appearance that many women consider an important part of masculine beauty. He was ugly in strict terms, but the ensemble of his features harmonized with a charm that was hard to ignore. I believed myself to be too young to categorize men by their appearance, but at that moment, I found that I could start to be wrong.

The first lieutenant apologized for the regrettable situation in which we had met, then introduced himself formally. Roldus d'Elker, second lieutenant of the city.

My master did not take long to appear on the other side of the room.

He was wearing a light trench coat soaked with coagulated blood, and in his hands still held the instruments he used for his autopsies. Memories of the night we met Briseida attacked me like lightning. That impression tensed all my muscles, for I had no idea how Lieutenant Roldus would react. I glanced discreetly at him, but he remained as smiley as before. Both were fine. Only very few people in the world got along well with my master, and the lieutenant seemed to be one of them.

I bowed and remained silent. I raised the blood to clean my master's clothing and approached a little closer to do the same with the floor. I already knew what to do with the residues.

He removed all his superficial clothing, remaining dressed then with his characteristic dark nolet of imperial cut and his hood. He looked at us peacefully while rolling up his sleeves, then smiled slightly as he met the man's gaze.

The lieutenant pronounced his name with great familiarity. Not Asmodeus, which was only an adventurer's pseudonym, but the real name that had accompanied him since birth and that very few people in the world had revealed to us.

My master walked slowly towards the furniture. He looked at the seat, but did not want to sit. His blue eyes shone slightly as he fixed his gaze on the ground.

—That woman… —he said—. You both wore the same uniform, although she is considerably younger than you. She's the fourth lieutenant, if I'm not mistaken.

—Elena d'Elker —the military man replied.

—Born and/or raised in the Port of Durkmon.

—How did you know? —the lieutenant asked, a little surprised.

—Her armband matched the one from the Durkmon training grounds —my master said—. Why is it d'Elker and not d'Durkmon?

I remembered the miss from that night. She was dressed just like the lieutenant. She was hooded, and her uniform covered her up to her wrists. I didn't remember such an armband. There was no way to see it without lifting her nolet, I thought. My master must have observed it at some fleeting moment when she stretched out her arm. It seemed impossible given the hustle and bustle of that night, but I had no doubt that he was capable of such a feat.

—They rejected her from Durkmon —the lieutenant said—. They said she was too weak, but I saw potential in her. I arranged for her to train in Elker, and... now she's a lieutenant. She keeps her armband as a memento.

My master proceeded to sit down, and I settled beside him.

—So, she's trustworthy, then —he said, more as a question than an assertion.

—She is —the lieutenant confirmed without a hint of doubt—. Though I wish I hadn't exposed her to such a scene.

The lieutenant looked at me. I knew he intended to steer the conversation towards my existence, but he held back his words.

—What information have you brought? —my master asked immediately.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Lieutenant Roldus took a few seconds to adjust to the change. I began to feel uncomfortable. My master's coldness felt impolite, although it didn't seem to bother the lieutenant. He appeared rather nervous about his inability to control the conversation. Roldus d'Elker must hold my master in high regard, I thought.

—Several have reached out —he began—. A favor from L'Asmodeus is too attractive to ignore.

—How did it go? —my master asked.

—Bad —he admitted with a sigh—. There were many 'testimonies,' almost all mere exaggerations.

—But...?

—One of them caught my attention —the lieutenant said—. Here it is.

The lieutenant handed a letter to my master, who then passed it to me, inviting me to read what it contained. Usually, he would keep me away from inappropriate topics like that, but now he seemed more willing to involve me. I timidly accepted and began to read.

"Dear L'Asmodeus,

I hope this letter finds you well and in a spirit of justice. I address you as someone who possesses crucial information about the crime that has occurred in the city of Elker and has shocked its population. I have the sincere will to help, but I have refused to do so for reasons of safety and fear of reprisals.

There are powerful figures involved in the matter, people whom I would like to keep very far away when they find out that their affairs are being investigated. It was your involvement in the matter, Mr. Asmodeus, that encouraged me to step forward, as I am aware of your reputation as a man dedicated and committed to the truth. I trust that you can guarantee my protection as a witness in this delicate matter.

To ensure our safety and minimize risks, I would like to propose a confidential meeting at the Aventus bar. This establishment is widely known for its discreet atmosphere and security measures, making it the ideal place for this type of encounter. I suggest that we meet there at noon, two days after this letter is delivered to Lieutenant Roldus, to discuss the information I possess.

I sincerely hope that you accept this invitation and that you value the importance of what I have to say. The truth must prevail, and the guilty must be brought to justice. If anyone can do it, I believe it is you.

I beg you to keep the confidentiality of this letter and to take all necessary precautions. I am eager to discuss the details of this case and to collaborate with you."

A seal of the Aventus guild lay behind those words, followed by detailed instructions for accessing the meeting at their bar. I dropped the sheet on my lap and looked at my master and the lieutenant.

—Many others were asking for the favor before the information —the lieutenant said—. This one offers us a meeting.

—Also, he's quite cautious —I added to fill the silence of my master—. Ambiguous message, neutral language, guild intermediation... yes, a cautious person.

My master reached out, took the letter, and held it up to the light, not only focusing on the letters but on the paper itself.

—Cautious, no doubt —he said—, although not cautious enough. I can tell, from a mere analysis of this letter, that it's from a lower-class student, a skilled man of no more than twenty years of age with high academic performance.

Despite the initial disbelief on the lieutenant's face, he chuckled quietly. "Give me that," he said and examined the letter as best he could.

—Is there any secret stroke or mark on the paper? —the lieutenant asked, a little frustrated—. I admit I see nothing but a sheet here.

He offered the letter to me immediately, at which point I also tried to examine it carefully. I timidly glanced at my master and then spoke.

—The paper quality is unique —I said, then gained confidence from my master's slight smile at seeing me—. There are three types of papers —I spoke just as my master did when explaining a topic—. This one is a bit battered, but it's of high quality. You can tell by the thickness of the fibers and the precision of its texture, as well as its smoothness and strength...

I had gotten carried away by the excitement of my observations, but at that point, I stumbled completely. I babbled something while trying to sharpen my reasoning as much as possible, but it was in vain. I admitted to having no idea what had led my master to say that it was a poor and intelligent man, then I lowered my head.

Lieutenant Roldus threw a glance at my master before speaking again.

—High-quality paper —the lieutenant said, pointing at the letter—. It would be smarter to buy the cheapest paper, which everyone has access to, so that their true identity would be diluted in speculations. I think it's more likely to be a stupid nobleman than a smart poor man.

—Why, then, would he buy this quality paper? —my master asked—. Notice, lieutenant, the state of the paper. It's battered. It's one of those they sell off because true nobles only want the perfected product. It must have cost him only a quarter of what a new one would. He wanted to buy such paper to appear as a status different from the real one, but that was the only thing he could afford.

The lieutenant arched an eyebrow, but did not object. He only asked a question.

—Why do you say he's skilled?

I leaned forward, this time more excitedly.

—My master had already taught me that —I said, and showed the letter to the lieutenant, pointing out the details of some letters in it—. By passing the hand over the fresh ink, some smudges may occur on the side corresponding to their dominant hand; right, in this case.

—Ok —the lieutenant said, surprised—. What about being a young and intelligent man?

I tried to reexamine the letter to find the answer, but remained silent. I didn't know how my master could know that. I glanced at him and shook my head.

—The stroke, the firmness, and consistency of the writing suggest that it's a young man —my master said—. The study of handwriting is called graphology. It's not a discipline comparable to exact sciences, but it's quite indicative in investigations.

—Then it could be a woman —the lieutenant said, suspiciously.

—A woman with masculine tendencies, yes, it's possible, but not probable.

—And what about intelligence?

—I didn't say he was intelligent.

My master sounded a bit annoyed. He didn't like his words being misrepresented. "High academic performance" was the term he used.

—No school in Stavenger requires excellence in penmanship from its students —he said—. Look at the strokes of this individual: they're perfect, better than those lucky enough to receive private tutoring from an early age. Someone who has mastered such a little-valued skill to such a level must excel in other areas.

My master took the letter and handed it to the lieutenant. He glanced at it quickly and then dropped it on the table.

—You're just as I remember you —the lieutenant said, smiling—, only a little quieter than usual.

My master remained silent for a few seconds.

—I would speak more if it weren't for the circumstances in which we've met again.

The lieutenant nodded his head, assuming a more serious expression. He had gotten us both into a very serious problem, and he couldn't help but feel bad about it. In fact, from the way he looked at me, I knew he felt especially bad about involving me. I could perceive the friendship between my master and the lieutenant just by the way they conversed, but I also sensed a bit of tension lingering in the air. I didn't know where it came from, whether it was from my master or from the lieutenant himself, and I didn't want to find out.

—Young nobleman, man, skilled, and with good grades —the lieutenant said after a few seconds—. Who could it be?

—It's useless to speculate —my master said—. We'll have to find out on our own.

—That he wants to meet makes him seem promising —I said.

—Or maybe he's an assassin setting a trap for us —said the lieutenant.

—I doubt anyone is dumb enough to challenge Lieutenant Roldus —my master said—. Accept his invitation. See you there tomorrow.