A dimly lit room in Asterdelle’s palace, converted into a makeshift morgue. The room is filled with various medical tools and a single large table in the center, where the body lies under a white sheet.
Greyson and Onyx stood side by side, staring at the covered body on the table. The room was silent except for the occasional drip of water from a leaky pipe in the corner. The air was filled with the sterile scent of antiseptic.
"Alright, ready to get started?" Greyson asked, adjusting his gloves and picking up a scalpel. His usually stoic demeanor was softened by a hint of excitement.
Onyx nodded, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Let's do this. It's not every day I get to assist the Grim Reaper with an autopsy."
Greyson chuckled, the sound echoing softly in the room. "Well, consider yourself lucky. Now, let's see what we have here." With a flourish, he pulled back the sheet to reveal the body beneath. "Meet our John Doe."
Onyx peered over, his nose wrinkling slightly. "Poor guy. Any idea what happened to him?"
Greyson shook his head. "That's what we're here to find out. Grab those forceps, will you?"
Onyx complied, handing over the forceps and taking a pair for himself. As they began their examination, Greyson pointed out various features and anomalies, explaining each one with the enthusiasm of a teacher sharing his favorite subject.
"This here," Greyson said, pointing to a bruise on the body's torso, "is a contusion, likely from a blunt force impact. And these," he continued, gesturing to the body's hands, "show signs of defensive wounds. Our John Doe fought back."
Onyx nodded, intrigued. "So he was in a fight. But what killed him?"
Greyson smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his mask. "That's the million-gold question, isn't it? Let's find out." He made a precise incision, carefully opening the body to reveal the internal organs. "Onyx, what's your guess?"
Onyx leaned in, examining the organs with a critical eye. "Hmm, heart looks fine. Lungs, too. Maybe something with the liver?"
Greyson raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. But look closer." He pointed to the stomach. "See those discolorations? That's a sign of poisoning."
Onyx's eyes widened. "Poison? Any idea what kind?"
"Not yet," Greyson admitted, "but we can run some tests to find out." He glanced at Onyx, a playful glint in his eye. "Feel like playing detective?"
Onyx grinned. "Absolutely. Let's get to it, partner."
They spent the next few hours working together, analyzing samples and comparing notes. Despite the grim nature of their task, they found themselves laughing and joking, their camaraderie making the work seem lighter.
At one point, Onyx held up a vial of a suspicious liquid. "Think this could be our culprit?"
Greyson took the vial, examining it closely. "Hmm, could be. Let's run it through the spectrometer." He handed it back to Onyx, who promptly dropped it, the vial shattering on the floor.
"Whoops," Onyx said, looking sheepish. "My bad."
Greyson sighed dramatically, though there was a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And this is why we can't have nice things, Onyx."
Onyx laughed, grabbing a broom to sweep up the shards. "Hey, I'm new at this. Besides, it was probably a red herring anyway."
As they continued their work, Greyson couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. It was rare for him to find someone who shared his enthusiasm for the macabre, and Onyx's playful nature was a refreshing change from his usual solitude.
Finally, after hours of meticulous work, they identified the poison: a rare, deadly toxin derived from a plant native to the Darkwood. Greyson looked at Onyx, a sense of triumph in his eyes. "We did it. We solved the mystery."
Onyx grinned, clapping Greyson on the back. "Not bad for a couple of dorks, huh?"
Greyson laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Not bad at all. Thanks for your help, Onyx. This was... surprisingly fun."
"Anytime," Onyx replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe next time we can try something even more challenging. Like, I don't know, solving a murder mystery while riding dragons?"
Greyson shook his head, still smiling. "Let's take it one step at a time, partner."
As they cleaned up and prepared to leave, Greyson felt a sense of satisfaction. Not just from solving the case, but from the bond he had formed with Onyx. In a world filled with darkness, it was moments like these that brought a little light.
