Arthur's life in the days after was becoming less ideal by the day. The investigation has made the entire campus filled with tension, as a student dying was something rather uncommon.
A person, who he believed to be Arlo, started rumors about the campus about him being the main suspect in Trevor's murder. This has made him isolated by both his dorm and an enemy of the Nightfall dorm.
During his classes, Arthur was either targeted or isolated. Either way, he dealt with it using his restraints or by acting indifferent.
He was still being monitored, so he had no way of meeting with Sarah or Miko. He might be able to arrange an inconspicuous meeting with Sarah, but Miko was an assassin. If anyone links him to that organization, he wouldn't be a suspect but a culprit.
Reece seems to have realized the gravity of the situation, making him cease all contact with Arthur. The person who treated him in the same way, ironically, was Rae. She was the person who hated him the most and it was probably why she kept challenging him at every chance she could get.
That included duels, classes, and even while they were on their break. His winnings were more than his losses, which always drove her away with rage but determined to return.
He started to diligently work on his skills before testing them in the virtual game. A bit by bit, he was improving steadily. However, his growth has stopped since he became monitored.
Arthur had to find a way around this investigation. He either needed to find the culprit or to prove his innocence. Both cases, and to solve what the Enders were doing with the missing students, he needed to visit Rayxin.
The only issue was that he had no idea how to go into the pocket dimension. That's why a week later from the death of Trevor, Arthur went to meet Yurirl at the address he gave him.
It was in the cafe that he had met Miko, a floor set up as a giant office room with entertainments and refreshments on each side. As soon as he entered, most of the people stood up.
"What are you doing here?" A guy with glasses, who always accompanied Yurirl, looked at him threateningly. "How did you get in here?"
"Through this." Arthur waved throwing the card Yurirl gave him. He turned to Yurirl who was still sitting and nodded. "You've asked me to participate in the investigation."
"That was before you became a suspect." Yurirl looked at him with confusion. "Why are you here since you know that?"
"I can be of use if you allow me on the investigation committee," Arthur answered.
"Like sabotaging our plans?" Prince Caleb stood up and coldly stared at him. "You think we're that stupid?"
"If I was the culprit, why did Magi allow me to walk away from the investigation?" Arthur saw their faces change when they heard Arthur's words.
"You've met Magi?" Yurirl asked with doubt. "How did you manage to get his name?"
"He's a nice boy."
"That word will cost you your tongue if he hears it." Jenny smiled. "But I guess you're capable enough to see his real appearance. I think we can let him in."
"Are you mad?" Caleb glared at her. "He's a suspect. You have no idea what sort of schemes he's planning."
"A suspect isn't a culprit." Jenny shrugged. "It's also easier to monitor him in case something new happens."
"We'll vote for this," Yurirl said. "Whoever thinks he should be included in the committee raises their hands."
The committee was divided between the Nightfall dorm and the Daybreak dorm. As the votes were cast, Arthur realized he was one vote short.
"What do you have to offer?" Yurirl asked, he hasn't raised his hand yet. Arthur nodded and took out the bracelet he got from the shop owner.
"This was ruined by Jason before he disappeared. I think it's an important clue."
"A ruined bracelet?" Caleb laughed as he tapped on the table. "If we're going to search through all of their belongings, we'll never see the end of it."
"Yurirl, I believe you can feel that this bracelet isn't normal." Arthur took a few steps forward and placed it on the table. He then pushed it and it slid until it stopped in front of Yurirl.
Yurirl stared down at it with a frown. Mana twirled in the surroundings as they gathered around Yurirl's eyes. His frown deepened as Arthur assumed he had seen the miasma. Yurirl lifted his finger and touched the bracelet, but his hand flinched.
"I see," Yurirl sighed. "You're on the team."
"Yurirl!" Caleb stood up abruptly. "This is not your call to make."
"I vote for him joining us. It would be a tie. As the leader, I'm the tiebreaker. This is the end of it. Jenny will be monitoring him from now on."
"You think you can do this, peasant?" A guy standing next to Caleb snarled at Yurirl. "Just because you're..."
Before he could finish his word, a gush of wind fluttered their robes as a sharp force struck the guy and slammed him into the wall. Yurirl finger was pointed his way as he coldly stared at him.
"When you're stronger than me, you get to decide," Yurirl said in a flat tone. "Otherwise, you're more of a peasant than I am." After the display of strength, Yurirl turned to Arthur and gave his instructions.
"Answer to Jenny from now on. She'll brief you."
Arthur nodded and Jenny stood up to leave the tower. He hurried to follow after her through the city's streets.
"Where are we going?" He asked as they walked through the crowd. "What are the latest updates on the missing students?"
"Shut up until I say otherwise." Jenny shot him down. "Follow me, we have a score to settle." She walked angrily toward Woodrock Street.
They entered Aba's Repairs shop and Jenny was holding the man's collar before he could greet them. She pulled him from behind the counter and slammed him to the wall.
"Any other information you've been hiding?" She grinned at him as he wheezed.
***
The torture, which Jenny named interrogation, lasted an hour. During that time, Jenny would threaten or 'politely' ask the owner for any information they might have missed.
After that, they were heading toward the forest. As it turns out, the owner reprimanded Jason for his dirty boots on that day. It raised both Arthur's and Jenny's suspicion since the day which he has disappeared only had theory classes.
This made them suspect the forest. Arthur was reminded of the cloaked man he had seen the day he enrolled, which proved the theory that something was going on in the forest.
"The forest can be dangerous today," Arthur warned Jenny who simply glanced at him.
"For someone who killed Regan's son, you're a bit too cowardly."
"I didn't kill anyone." Arthur refuted. "And I'm not cowardly, I'm cautious."
"Does being cautious include not fighting back?" Jenny said without a change in her expression. "Even if you were to lose, you should've done better than that. Unless..."
She allowed her voice to the trail and didn't say anything further as the two walked toward the forest. Arthur debated what he should tell her and decided to stay quiet. However, she smacked him on his arm.
"Don't ignore me."
"I'm not, what do you expect me to say?" Arthur rubbed his arm.
"The truth." Jenny spat. "I don't vouch for cowards, weaklings are fine."
"If I fought back at that time, it would have been worse," Arthur answered and she nodded. The two walked through the gate and went toward the watchtower.
After asking the guards, they were provided with the logs of the student's entrances to the forest. On the day of the disappearance, Jason went into the forest.
"Should search the forest?" Arthur asked as they left the watchtower. "Maybe we'll find some clues." He was hoping to find the place the cloaked man went into.
"Not so cowardly now." Jenny smiled. "But no, we need to report this to Yurirl. It seems most of the missing students had something to do with the forest before they disappeared."
"What's the next move then?"
"Well, if I know Yurirl well, it's an expedition toward the deeper parts of the forest." Jenny grinned. "This will be fun." She began walking away toward the city.
"Shouldn't the college do this?" Arthur was confused. "Unless..."
"The committee isn't only a bunch of students, but we represent our households or guilds. Jerano suspects that the missing students' issue has something to do with their staff."
"There's a traitor?" Arthur was stunned. "How come they couldn't weed him out yet?"
"It's impossible to do so. If you investigate anyone, you're offending their family or backing. This place is too political to function ideally."
"What about the monocle we were tested with?"
"It doesn't work on the same person twice. That's its biggest flaw." Jenny shrugged as Arthur fell into deep thought.
"Isn't there a guardian spirit for Jerano?"