Chapter 33: KEY
"Well, those are the things that happened here," Valra said as she finished recounting the entire sequence of events to the white-hooded figure.
Her voice carried the weight of fatigue, her body still tense from the aftermath. Around them, the black-hooded figures moved with practised precision. They had already doused the flames that had tried to creep into the nearby buildings, and now they were combing through the debris of the broken structure, carefully collecting what little evidence remained.
The white figure let out a thoughtful hum, arms crossed, as if analysing every word Valra had just spoken. After a moment of silence, the figure asked in a low, analytical voice, "So... you’re saying you were the only one here when it all went down?"
Valra gave a firm nod, her expression sharpening. "Yes. I was the only one present when it started," she said, her tone serious, almost cold.
The white figure locked eyes with her, studying her face for a long second, as if trying to read every micro-expression. Then, just as the silence thickened, one of the black-hooded figures quietly approached from behind. They leaned in and whispered something to the white figure, then extended a gloved hand, revealing a small shard of glass. It glistened slightly under the torchlight, covered in traces of a faint yellow liquid.
The white figure took the evidence without a word, holding it delicately between their fingers. They examined it for a few seconds before murmuring with intrigue, "Hmm... interesting."
Valra’s curiosity piqued. She stepped slightly closer and asked, "What is it? Something unusual?"
The white figure glanced at her sideways, "Well, based on what we’re seeing, it seems your unknown enemy is likely an alchemist. Whoever it was... they infused their mana directly into kerosene. And they did it with expert precision — the ratio was just right."
Valra’s eyes widened, her mind racing to understand the implications. She gasped, her voice cracking slightly, "Infusing kerosene with mana... that would drastically amplify its flammability. Just a few drops of that... could bring an entire house to ashes in seconds..."
The white figure let out a small chuckle and nodded approvingly. "Hmm... looks like you haven’t neglected your studies after all," they said, giving Valra’s shoulder a few solid pats, their voice carrying a strange mix of sarcasm and praise.
Valra’s lips twitched faintly, almost into a frown. She wasn’t in the mood for jokes.