The Beginning of the End of Magic

Grimoire 01 - Chapter 02 - The Aptitude Test [Part 02]

Cel walked down the street with her hands tucked into the pockets of her trench coat. She enjoyed the gentle breeze as it played with her ice blue long hair and walked with light steps.

To be fair, Cel was just the nickname she gave to Finn.

Her actual name was Celeste. Celeste Neves von Reis. None other than the third princess of the Empire.

But why would a person of such aristocracy be walking down the streets without a single guard by her side? In a foreign country no less?

That question was resolved quickly.

Celeste continued the tempo all the way till she reached an alleyway. Instead of entering however, she rested her back against the brick wall adjacent to the entrance of the alleyway.

"So? Found anything yet?"

She said out to seemingly no one in particular in a volume which was only audible to another within an arm's reach.

"A local drugstore in the neighbouring district was involved in a robbery sometime in the morning yesterday. From the reported sightings, it was young female with brilliant silver long hair and striking red eyes. She was lightly dressed and had a distinct laceration running across her entire left thigh."

A man dressed in a splendid suit was standing against the brick walls inside the alleyway.

It was Ruger.

The two were maintaining as low a profile as possible. What they were doing was technically a covert operation in foreign lands. Disaster would surely follow should they be compromised, not just for them, but for the two countries of the Albion Kingdom and the Empire.

Ruger took a puff out of his cigarette as he finished a part of his report to Celeste. Listening to the new information given to her and what she had on hand previously, Celeste made the connection and concurred with Ruger.

"It must be her, no doubt."

"Yes, that much I'm certain."

"Do we have a location?"

Celeste asked while she fiddled with strands of her hair.

"Based on eyewitness accounts, she must still be somewhere within these few districts. After all, she can only move around on foot, and if that's the case, that injury would only serve to strain her further, limiting her movements."

Light smoke filled the general vicinity as Celeste crossed her arms.

"Not only that, but she has to stay out of sight if she wants to abstain from attention. That means she only has several routes she can take to traverse the city. And if she dropped by a drugstore, that would mean she managed to procure some medical supplies, to which means that she's finding a place, both to lie low and to tend to her wounds."

"You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm even needed at all. The princess is more or less proficient in my area of expertise already."

"You jest, surely? I wouldn't want to. I'm too lazy."

"Heh."

Celeste stretched her arms up high in the air as she took in a deep breath. The crisp air made her smile a little.

"Make sure you find her by today. I may not look like it, but my patience is running thin. I'll see you again later at the appointed time and place."

"Got it, princess."

Celeste was about to turn around and walk away before she was stopped by Ruger's sudden query.

"By the way princess, who was that boy just now?"