The Detective Jr.

After our fight with Victor, Alina and Nicholas left early. Nicholas wanted to interrogate her, so I stayed behind, picking up the icy crystals Victor had left behind.

I held one of the crystals close to my chest and murmured, "Mother... what's your plan?" Then I stood up and walked away from the scene.

Meanwhile, in a ruined city under a blood-red sky, a dark figure hidden in the shadows spoke. "You're here. Did the plan succeed?"

Victor knelt before them, smirking. "The seed has been planted, but there's a small issue."

"Issue? What kind of issue?" the figure asked.

Victor lowered his head. "That thing is protecting Arcadia."

The figure clicked their tongue in annoyance. "Make sure it doesn't interfere with my plans. Now leave!" The figure disappeared, leaving Victor alone.

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Back at our base, a few uneventful days had passed. Nicholas and I were handling minor cases, and for once, there were no new murders. That's when Skye, the leader of JADE, returned. Her pink eyes and fluffy red-orange hair always made her stand out, and as a fire and wind magic user, she commanded respect.

"Linxi, I heard about the Baphomet Clan incident," Skye said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Tell me everything."

I explained everything- finding the body at the train station, being partners with Nicholas, Mia's death, meeting Alina, fighting Victor, and his escape. Skye listened quietly but looked worried.

"So Victor is your cousin," she said after a pause. "That must've been hard. Take a break for a few days- you've been working too much. No excuses."

Before I could argue, she was gone. "As fast as ever," I muttered. Now free of work, I wondered what to do.

Walking through town, I spotted Nicholas being scolded by a silver-haired woman. She seemed stern but elegant. "Is that his girlfriend?" I wondered aloud. After she left, Nicholas saw me and walked over.

"Your lover?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

He gave me a deadpan look. "No. That 'old hag' is NEON's team leader. She uses age-control magic to look younger."

"Age-control magic?" I asked, confused.

He chuckled. "Yeah, it's rare, unlike elemental magic. Anyway, where are you heading?"

"Our leader told me to take a break, so I'm going to the amusement park. Want to join me?" I didn't expect him to say yes, but to my surprise, he smirked.

"Asking me on a date~?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Forget it."

Laughing, he followed me anyway.

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The amusement park was alive with colors, laughter, and the smell of popcorn. Nicholas looked around like a kid in a candy store. "So, what's first?" I asked.

He pointed at the roller coaster with a grin. "Let's start with something thrilling. Unless you're scared."

"I don't get scared," I replied flatly.

He laughed. "We'll see."

The ride was intense, with loops and steep drops. Nicholas yelled and laughed the entire time, but I stayed silent, unfazed. When it ended, he stumbled out, looking at me in disbelief. "How do you not even flinch?"

"I told you. I don't fear anything," I said.

We spent the rest of the day trying games and rides. At the ring toss, Nicholas failed miserably, so I decided to try. On my first throw, I won a stuffed panda and handed it to him.

"For you," I said with a straight face.

He laughed so hard he had to lean on the counter. With slight pink cheeks he responded, "You're amazing...and hilarious."

As the sun set, we rode the Ferris wheel. The view of the city was beautiful, with lights sparkling against the dark sky. Nicholas leaned back, looking content. "This is nice," he said.

"Define 'nice' " I replied.

He chuckled. "Peaceful. Fun. It's rare for us."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. "It's... different."

Nicholas smirked. "Careful, Linxi. You almost sound sentimental."

"I'm just stating an observation," I said, though I couldn't deny the calm I felt.

When the ride ended, Nicholas turned to me with a soft smile. "Thanks for today. I didn't think I'd enjoy this, but I did."

"You're welcome," I replied. "But I think the panda deserves some credit."

He laughed, holding the stuffed toy. "You're right. I'll thank it later."

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As we walked home, the streets were quieter, the night air cool. "Do you think we'll get more breaks like this?" he asked.

"It's hard to say. Our work is unpredictable."

"Yeah, but I hope we do. Sometimes it's nice to just... be," he said, looking at the stars.

I considered his words. "I'll try to understand that."

He smiled warmly. "You're doing fine. Just remember, it's okay to let loose sometimes."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied. "But next time, you're joining me on another roller coaster."

"Deal!" he said, laughing. "And maybe we'll try karaoke too."

"Karaoke?" I raised an eyebrow. "That sounds... unusual."

"You'll love it," he promised. "I'll be right there with you."

Walking beside him, I realized that moments like this were rare and precious, a reminder that even amidst chaos, there's room for connection and simple joy.

"Wish this happiness would last long..." As I turned around to look a Nicholas I felt a sudden chills on my back, I quickly looked around as my eyes widened.

"Mother..."

_To Be Continue_