Two days before the new king declared war on Estravar.
Lord Fujioka sat in his office, deep in thought.
Mister Kurozuma said the journey was going to take a day or two. That means he was supposed to return after two to four days but it's been five. Where is that muscle head?
Lord Fujioka then decided that he would reach down and unlock the lowest drawer in his desk and pull out a bracelet lined with green stones.
He put it on and focused for a moment, the green stone lit up slightly before a voice rang in his mind.
"Never thought you would call, dear." It was the mage Yoruha Kageyama and Lord Fujioka's ex lover.
"I'm sorry that I'm bothering you but I have a job for you. Somewhere near the village of Thornwick a dear friend of mine has disappeared or I think that's the case."
"Thornwick you say? Well, I'll require a handsome payment for my services. It's such a long journey after all."
The mage said in a sweet, helpless tone like a damsel in distress.
"Alright but I know that getting there is just ten minutes of work for you. What do you deem worthy as your payment?"
"Oh, my sweet lovable old fool. Handsome payment means you~. I'll be living in your mansion and you'll take me out on dates. After all, I can tell from how chaotic your mind is that this person is very important."
"And I thought you moved on. Alright, you can move here but I will decide when your job is over."
A laugh was heard in Lord Fujioka's head.
"Alright, I'll contact you when I'm there."
Then the connection broke and the green stones dimmed until they weren't glowing. This entire conversation happened in the minds of Lord Fujioka and Yoruha, meaning not a word was said.
"I hate this artifact."
Said Lord Fujioka before he took it off and placed it on his desk. After taking a moment to get his head straight, he put it back on and hid it under the sleeve of his suit.
He then walked out his office and went to his living chambers, stepping onto the balcony that overlooked the training of his own private army.
Private investigation force would be a good name, since calling something so small in number an army is just laughable.
After a moment he walked out of his chambers and back to his office. A nice little walk never hurt anyone.
He entered his office and locked it before sitting behind his desk, waiting. While he was doing this Yoruha was drawing the teleportation seal with her mana.
It was made out of three rings and in those rings were cryptic letters. There was one circle in between each ring and in those circles were three vertical claw marks that were side by side. In the center of the seal were two clawed hands and floating above them was an eye.
She then gave the seal a large dose of mana and the circles started moving, running along the rings they were in between.
The rings started to spin a moment after and when the whole seal, except the center, blurred from the speed, two small portals opened.
Through those two portals came two red arms that were pulsing with mana, both ending in clawed hands. The hands ripped open the space directly above the seal's center, opening up a human sized portal.
Yoruha walked through and after a few minutes of investigating the area she established contact with Lord Fujioka.
"Well, Thornwick is destroyed and there are two very faint mana signatures along with a very strong one."
"Does that mean there were two mages?"
"No, two people. Everything has supernatural energy and we mages use mana. A single mage was standing in this spot while possibly your friend was avoiding weak offensive magic from what I can tell. But then a large spell was used, most definitely using a chant."
"A chant? But you told me mages use seals and basic magic spells."
"Yes, but some use chants instead and considering in which direction this spell went I think we have interference from another Kingdom."
Yoruha casts a floating magic spell and floats above the trees, getting a good look. After a moment she started following the spell's signature.
"Also, where the spell went is relevant because it passed straight through the mana signature that was moving and then it disappeared. My guess is that the spell took the person with it. So, while I follow it I'll ask how your day was?"
Yoruha asked.
"...Everything is too much lately. Maybe that's the reason I don't mind your flirting."
Yoruha laughs at this.
"So I help you relax? That makes me happy."
"Have you found anything?"
Lord Fujioka asked.
"Not yet, I'm moving slowly and it's so cold. I hope you can warm me up in your arms later~"
She shamelessly said.
"Just talk when you find something."
"Oh, why are you hiding it, dear? I know you're blushing, fighting back a smile. I can see how relaxed your mind is even though I can't see your thoughts."
After Lord Fujioka didn't respond she sighed and went quiet. After a few minutes she came across an area with a lot of weak mana signatures and where the spell landed.
"I've found where the spell went."
She then lowered herself down from the sky onto the snow. Having a look around, she could tell these mana signatures had times when they were all gathered in a few different spots.
This must've been a camp.
She then spotted a place where the mana signatures formed a circle. She walked over and when she uncovered the snow there was burnt wood.
"Sorry, I zoned out. Did you say you found something?"
Lord Fujioka asked.
"Yes, a camp site with a lot of weak mana signatures. Hm, the signatures I found at Thornwick were already weak but a spell was cast there so there was definitely a mage there. That means that either these are all mages too or they are regular humans who stayed here for longer."
She then looked at three signatures, two were standing next to each other and another was sitting in a different spot near them.
Three signatures are in a bizarre place and even more confusing is the fact that they seem to have been in these positions for long periods of time. Probably multiple people were taking turns being here but why? Were they guarding something? Someone? If they were guarding a prisoner then their mana signature would be here. Also, when the spell dispelled the magic signature that was taken disappeared too.
"I'll have to work my magic and for that I need to be focused. I'm cutting off the connection for now."
"I'll be waiting for an update."
Said Lord Fujioka before the connection was severed.