Author's Preface
“Two hours in, and he still has that smug smile on his face,” Casimir said, observing Jett through the glass window into the interrogation room. From its stark white interior to its headache-inducing lighting, everything in that room was designed to invoke the most discomfort without intruding upon basic human dignity.
And yet, Jett remained unfazed. Despite being stripped of his flashy robes for a humble pale smock, he sat in his arm and leg restraints, relaxed, whistling the same insipid tune on repeat.
“Sully should be arriving shortly,” Iker said, studying Jett’s recovered notebook at the desk containing a control panel for the room’s lighting, microphone, and speaker system. A red shine from the buttons on the panel formed a highlight on the edge of his square jaw and hawkish nose.
That blighter is too comfortable. Casimir grumbled and leaned against the back wall near the door with his arms crossed. His gaze drifted up to the circular analog clock in front of him. 5 am and counting.
“Patience, nephew, we need to let him stew for a bit.”
The door beside Casimir creaked open, and Sully entered with an old leather bag. He bested Casimir in height by a head and so many inches like most of his Inquis brethren. His dark, deep-set eyes glanced down at Casimir, then his thin lips morphed into a ghoulish smile that blended in with his pasty-white skin. Before Casimir could respond, Sully reached down and placed an intrusive hand on his head.
“Cut that out,” Casimir snapped.
Sully let out a low chuckle and ruffled Casimir’s hair before letting go. He then greeted Iker with a polite nod. “Master Iker, you called?”
Iker spun his chair around and handed Sully Jett’s notes. “Yes, Casimir caught a Weaver accused of poisoning his apprentices.”
Sully glanced back at Casimir with a look of mild amusement. “That is a jump from collecting overdue Weaver fees. ”
“He got onto my radar for that very reason. Then I noticed that his apprentices had the habit of disappearing around him.” Casimir lowered his head. In hindsight, it was obvious.
“He should have paid his fees, then,” Sully mocked, while parsing through Jett’s notes. “What an idiot.”
Iker continued, “After a thorough search, we gathered enough evidence to charge him with two murders and the desecration of a corpse. However, we also believe he is possibly responsible for the disappearance of at least one more common-born Novice Weaver and might be working with someone else.”
Sully went up to the window and studied Jett like a butcher deciding the grade on a cut of meat. “Hmmm, and he is a common-born himself… The corpse was missing an Aether heart?”
Iker confirmed with a nod. “And that is not all, the organ tissue of his victims was oversaturated with Aether, and the autopsy of his recent victim revealed that the boy’s Aetherian organ system became horrifically deformed and his Aether heart ruptured.”
Sully quirked an eyebrow. “Two novice Weavers with Aetherian Degeneration Disease… Do we have a motive yet?”
“It looks like the classic case of a Master Weaver using his apprentices as guinea pigs. This Jett character is possibly a liaison between the mastermind and the victims,” Iker grunted. “Nikola is still analysing the samples, but he has determined the function of the two batches of potions. One batch was meant to increase Aether resistance, and the other was a highly concentrated Aether-infused liquid that could kill anyone without high Aether tolerance. Both potions required sophisticated equipment that was not found in the suspect’s lab. It aligns with the perp's notes that we found in his hideout.”
Sully rubbed the inside of his cheek with his tongue before reading aloud, “Although his spirit was there, his body gave up on him, and regrettably, I must find another. I need to make a full return on my investment soon. Master is growing impatient. I can probably get another W.I.T student, but I have to make sure I’m not stepping on any toes. That little mutt sniffing around is not fit for fertilizer. I’ll boil him soon. Yes, I’ll find a better one for my master.”
Sully cracked a smug grin and turned to Casimir. “He takes every and any opportunity to insult you. What did you do, ask for his Weaver fees after hours?”
“Hmph, he feels betrayed by my existence like most Weavers.” Casimir left his position by the door and joined Sully by the window. “But, isn’t this similar to the case you solved near the capital?”
“Sort of, the noble in that case targeted desperate Apprentice Weavers who need a Master Weaver’s mentorship for their career advancement.” Sully gave Casimir a cursory glance before returning his gaze to Jett. “But there was no poison involved. He just encouraged them to follow a diet rich in Aetherian beast meat and put them on a rigorous work schedule in his sweatshop. When their bodies broke down, and they outlived their usefulness, he harvested their blood, bones, organs...”
Sully counted the parts on his fingers and then shrugged. “Basically, anything that could be ground up or liquified into pills for himself.”
Casimir scrunched up his face with a mixture of disgust and confusion. “I don’t understand it.”
Sully briefly hummed Jett’s tune and continued, “Neither do I, but some Weavers from the older houses believe that consuming Aether-rich flesh and blood is great for Weaver health and development. Some even believe it is a natural remedy for Aetherian Black Heart disease and AeDD. There is a big market for it, but most stick to Aetherian beast meat.”
Casimir shook his head, “And they are supposed to be our betters.”
Sully chuckled and rubbed Casimir’s shoulder. “Despite receiving your badge, you are still a mere fledgling. I’ve seen worse, but that case was certainly up there.”
Iker furrowed his brow and said, “Indeed, but we currently don’t have any evidence of that. Find the truth like you always do. Casimir will assist you.”
Casimir slightly jumped. “Pardon?”
“The suspect gets chatty whenever you are around. He might let something slip.”
Casimir glanced up at Sully, who grinned at him with overwhelming joy, then sighed. “Understood.”
Sully’s dark eyes twinkled. “I will do my best, Master Iker.” His hand slipped down from Casimir’s shoulder, and he gave him a tight side hug. “Come on. We shouldn’t keep our friend waiting.”
***
I forgot how stale the air was in here. Casimir followed Sully into the interrogation room, rolling a wooden cart painted with the same white hue as the room. Jett perked up upon seeing them.
I guess he was getting bored.
When they approached him, Jett flashed Casimir a smile dripping with malice. His sharp green eyes aimed to slice through Casimir’s countenance. “You brought Mindrattler’s reject to interrogate me? Wow, you guys really are trying to insult me.”
Sully glanced at Casimir before addressing their prisoner with a cheerful smile. “Don’t worry about Casimir. He is here to assist me. As a master who had several young charges under your care, I trust you understand.”
“Y–yes.” Jett looked at the leather bag suspiciously.
Sully dropped it on the table and pointed for Casimir to prepare the tools of his trade.
Swiftly, Casimir pulled out several brown translucent glass bottles. Antiseptics, anesthetics, pain-enhancers… These are downright nasty. He deserves all of it, though. He then placed two syringes, gauze, a scalpel, and a flesh knife on the metal tray, following it up with a bone saw that Sully promptly removed from his grasp.
“This one is my favorite to use on the living.” Sully caressed the saw with his thick, gloved hand. “Which one is yours? Judging by the cuts you made on your victims, my guess is the scalpel. ”
Casimir noticed a look of mild concern forming a crack in Jett’s blasé persona. He got the syringe ready. “If you don’t want to lose a hand, I would comply if I were you.”
“As if I would take advice from a neutered mutt living among a pack of mongrels!” Jett’s green eyes turned into pinpoints, and he gnashed his teeth. “Heaven-cursed, Aetherless cattle! You don’t have the right to look down on me just because our spineless Emperor gave you a badge and a title!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Casimir answered coldly. “Aether is wasted on murderous scum like you. Such a shameful perversion of your gift. Your existence as of now is an affront to life itself.”
“Are you for real?” Jett mocked, then he squinted his eyes and studied Casimir for the slightest change in expression. When he was finished, Jett asked in an amused tone, “You are glowing green with envy, aren’t ya?”
Vile, putrid, filth, envious of what? A blood-sucking gnat with a smart mouth begging to be squashed! Casimir looked down at him with pure hatred and kept his mouth closed because he knew his lie unraveled from his biting tone. If I had a shred of his power… If I could use my family's abilities...
“Oh, you are?” Jett laughed. “This made my day.”
He would rue the day! All of them would!
Sully gently nudged Casimir in the arm.
Right. The task at hand. Casimir composed himself and replied in a stern voice, “You also violated the trust between an apprentice and his master, which is considered a sacred bond among Weavers.”
“What does that matter to you as an outsider? An apprentice’s duty is to his master.” Jett smiled fondly to himself. “If my master says kill, I kill. If he tells me to kowtow on rice until my legs bleed, I gladly will. And if he tells me to die, I will ask in what manner.”
Jett looked up at Casimir and smirked, “Just like when the Emperor tells you to bark or bite someone, you do so, understand doggy?”
Sully raised an eyebrow. “So who is this master you are willing to fall on your sword for? What did he offer you that the Empire did not?”
Jett’s visage radiated with pride, although his attention remained on Casimir, he acknowledged Sully’s question, “True purpose and power unrightfully barred from me.”
“Purpose?” Casimir gave Jett a smirk that got a rise out of him. “You already had one and threw it away just to peddle half-baked potions in the backwoods to desperate teenagers. Such a noble cause, you and your master are a bunch of shameless hypocrites.”
“Put a muzzle on that mouth! My master is a true visionary! His power exceeds all!”
“Oh sure, and I bet he is greater than Emperor, and all of his Sublime Weavers combined, but an apprentice is a reflection of his master, and you lost to me,” Casimir said in the tone that gutted Jett’s pride and twisted into it like a hot knife.
Sully’s lips formed a smug grin.
“By cheap tricks!” Jett shook in his restraints as his rage boiled over. “But, fine! That is what I get for deviating from the script a bit, if only you didn’t have such a killable face… He will be most displeased.”
Sully looked at Jett curiously. “Was this all over Casimir?”
Jett’s teeth remained clenched shut, but his homicidal glare silently told Casimir, ‘yes’.
“Me?” Casimir pointed at himself with a mixture of shock and disgust. “You killed those novices just to get my attention?!”
“Brilliant deduction skills, moron!” Jett said, rolling his eyes. “Not only did you fail the genetic lottery physically, but mentally as well. Lord Winston the Wise is spinning in his grave.”
“No,” Sully’s eyes twinkled with mirth and a spark of realization. “You were supposed to be his target, but he didn’t want to waste his master’s precious potions on you. ”
“Th–that is not it!” Jett blurted out with a look of terror in his eyes.
“Ah, finally, we are getting somewhere,” Sully said, stroking his chin.
Casimir furrowed his brow, and a look of confusion remained on his face. He turned to Sully and asked, “But why me?”
“It is just a hunch, but my guess is one of Winston’s former colleagues could not stand the fact that his son was born without Aether and decided to engage in some mischief,” Sully circled Jett like a shark that smelled blood in the water. “The potions probably would have just made you extremely sick, but they would not have killed you like those students. Despite being Novice Weavers, they don’t have the same amount of Aether resistance as someone with a rich Weaver heritage.”
“I didn’t say any of that!” Jett protested. “I made the mistake of not vetting my apprentices properly! The potions were too potent for them, and that wretch was just in the way!”
Taking advantage of Jett’s waning bravado, Sully inched closer with the saw and chuckled to himself when Jett struggled in his restraints. “So, who is this master, hmm? It could not be one of the Sublime Weavers?”
Jett remained silent, but he simmered in distress, and his gaze shifted between Casimir and Sully.
Both Casimir and Sully encroached on his personal space, making him feel more trapped. Much to Jett’s relief and chagrin, Sully refrained from using the saw and instead used his shoulder as an armrest. “Is it Sageman?”
“No!” Jett protested sharply while trying to shake Sully off.
Not convincing… But Sageman? He has not been seen in Nivilies since his exile. Casimir frowned, and a mild look of concern appeared in his eyes.
Sully could barely contain his mirth, “You are Sageman’s apprentice? By how artless your cuts were on those corpses, he must have lowered his stand—.”
Before Sully could continue, gunshots sounded off in the interrogation room, causing Casimir and Sully to instinctively duck.
Uncle? Casimir moved towards the interrogation control room’s door, but Sully caught his arm.
“Wait!” Sully pulled him back.
“Let go! We need to–”
Suddenly, glass from the interrogation room’s window shattered, and a human-sized projectile careened into the room.
Iker landed on his side among the shards, glowing from a thin layer of Aether that protected him from getting shredded.
“To think he was able to do this much with his Aether suppressed,” Iker muttered.
“Uncle!” Casimir met resistance from Sully, pulling on his sleeve, preventing him from checking on Iker.
“Stay back! This is out of your league,” Sully commanded.
“But!”
Jett’s hysterical laughter interrupted Casimir’s protest. “Finally, I can’t wait to see you dogs get slaughtered!”