Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic (Part I)

C8: Magical Acknowledgement and Beedle the Bard

It was high noon; the sun enjoying the leisure of the cloudless sky.

London's streets were overcrowded by watchmen. Mixed among the watchmen were strange men, wearing stranger hats and holding wooden sticks.

Rickon Piery's Shop of Hundred Wonders was the center of attention.

The talk among the officials was that they had found three bodies there, all badly mangled. The work of a beast.

A huge venomous Boa Constrictor, who had escaped the glass cage and had attacked the three thieves.

Close to this shop was an ordinary hut. Inside, Arlen was sitting with a heavy frown on his face. Sonia and Shae were sitting near the columns of books, but it was Sonia whose face was blank.

Another Contestant had joined them in the vast hall. The Contestant from the 1st floor, Simon. He was around the same age as Desmond but looked older. He was lean, but his back was slightly hunched. His face was full of freckles, and he only had one eye.

The moment a rhythmic knock rattled the door, Simon's right eye was the first to react.

Arlen was the second to jump up to his feet, his face gaining an ugly expression. Sonia had almost made a run for it if Arlen hadn't stopped her by the gesture of his hand.

"No one moves," Arlen commanded, taking out the wand. "Simon, stand back."

Simon was quick, his feet moving like a pheasant darting around. Arlen flicked the wand at the door, and it swung open with a bam. The two figures didn't linger outside more than they needed to.

They were Kai and Desmond, each holding a Broomstick.

"What have you two done?!" Arlen fumed, pointing the wand at them. "Where were you? And what is this mess you have created?"

"Captain," Kai addressed gently. "We have no idea what you are talking about."

"Yes, Arlen," Desmond nodded, his eyes searching for Sonia. "We just went in and out in a matter of moments. But then many official wizards began appearing around us so we had to hide for some time."

None noticed the slight twitch of Desmond's left shoulder when he moved around.

Arlen must have sensed all eyes staring at his pointed wand, feeling his anger, so he put it down.

"They found three people dead in the shop," Arlen said. "The wizards and witches from the Wizard's Council are all over the place. Mr. Beedle is just on the verge of abandoning our service. If you two had come in time, then we would have left this cursed place by now."

"What?!" Desmond's jaw dropped, and he snapped his head towards Kai. "Three corpses?!!"

Kai's jaw was dropped too. His mouth was even wider than that of Desmond's.

*

*

[

Side Mission: Assist Contestant Desmond in stealing a Broomstick

Side Mission Status: Success

Side Mission Rewards: 75 Mission Credits

]

...

There was not much difference in the Mission Credits, despite the bloody events that took place at the shop, Kai noted.

It became obvious to him that, once assigned, Side Missions didn't take into account what happened later. If it wasn't for the ambush, then the 75 Mission Credits for break in and stealing broomsticks were reasonable.