Disappearance of Roselei Hawthorne

Chapter Eighteen

"You won?" StellaLuna perked up immediately upon hearing Fenris' words.

"Yeah, they were great!" Lillia smiled as she gave Fenris a small pat on the head. "We won that arrow. Now all that's left is to figure out why Roselei would want us to have it."

"Rosie? Wait, is this what we were looking for?" StellaLuna asked as she took a closer look at the arrow in Lillia's hands. "It's just a dumb shiny arrow. Why on earth would we think this is what we're supposed to find?"

"Stella," Lillia couldn't help but chuckle, "it was your idea."

"It was?"

"Yeah, you figured out the answer to the riddle in the middle of your drunken stupor." Vulcan snickered. "Although, I have to admit, it was pretty clever. I don't think I would have thought of that."

"Well... I guess it checks out." StellaLuna scratched the back of her head in thought. "Who would've thought? That after days of struggling to solve the riddle, all it took was a bit of wine for me to figure out the answer."

"A bit?" Gideon raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, a lot, but my point still stands." StellaLuna shrugged. "Anyways, Lillia's right. We need to figure out why this arrow is so important."

"Can I look at it?" Fenris asked, reaching up to grab it.

"Sure." Lillia said as she handed it to them.

Fenris looked over the arrow in their hands, rolling it in their palm to feel its weight. It truly was a magnificent arrow. Of course, it could never be used for sport, as the gold made it far too heavy. But Fenris supposed it would be nice to hang on a wall, as a sort of decor.

"There's something we're about its shape." Fenris frowned as they handed it back to Lillia. "See here? Its way too thick around the middle. It looks funny."

"Huh, I guess you're right." Lillia said as she examined the arrow closer.

"Let me see it." Gideon said. Lillia handed him the arrow, and he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he held it close to his face. He hummed to himself for a moment, before holding it up to his ear, and gently tapping the side of it. "I think its hollow."

"That's not surprising." StellaLuna commented. "That way, they used less gold to make it. Then the arrow is lighter, and easier to carry around."

"That could be part of it... but I don't really think that's it." Vulcan frowned. "Can I see it?"

"Go for it." Gideon passed the arrow back to Lillia, who passed it over to Vulcan.

Vulcan admired the arrow for a moment, taking in its beauty, before gently touching the head of the arrow. It was surprisingly sull, so Vulcan was able to firmly wrap his hand around it. He pulled, and to everyone's shock, it came right off.

"You broke it! Nice going, moron." Celty rolled her eyes.

"No no, I did that on purpose. See?" Vulcan tilted the arrow so everyone could peer inside. "After Gideon said it was hollow, I thought it might be another capsule. Like what we found on the Mountain of Dragons."

"He's right, I think there's something in there." Kallen said as he took the arrow, and tipped it into his hands. Out slid a rolled up piece of parchment; what everyone assumed could only be another letter.

"Unroll it." Lillia said excitedly, but Kallen had already done so.

"Should I read this one aloud too?" He asked. Lillia gave a small nod in response. Kallen cleared his throat, and began to read.