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Later that night, Lucius returned to the shop under the cover of darkness, slipping in unnoticed. Sleep, however, eluded him. The memories of what had transpired clung to him like damp clothes—unshakable and heavy.
Morning came with pale light filtering through the curtains. When Lucius rose from the couch, he found Margaret already seated by the window, sipping from a porcelain cup, a slice of toast resting untouched on a plate. A newspaper lay open in her lap, the golden hue of dawn painting the room in warm contrast.
"You're awake," she said without glancing his way.
"Yeah... Where's Nai?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"She's at the public library," Margaret replied, casually turning the page. "Studying magic."
"Alone?" Lucius frowned.
"With Liam, of course," she added, finally setting her cup down and meeting his gaze. "There's news this morning—a corpse found in the outer district. Six bullets in the chest. The report suggests the killer used a revolver."
Her voice sharpened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You didn't return until this morning. And the revolver I gave you? Empty chambers, and you were covered in blood."
She turned the newspaper toward him, revealing a blurred photo of a bloodied corpse under a sheet.
Lucius exhaled and leaned back against the wall. "Alright. It was me."
Margaret raised an eyebrow but said nothing, taking another slow sip of coffee.
"He was hurting a woman," Lucius continued. "But not in the way people might think. He was... changing. Just like you said. His head—his limbs—it wasn't human anymore." He looked at her with grim frustration. "I had no choice."
Margaret rested her chin lightly on her fingers, her expression distant. "The public will likely blame a rogue force wielder. They'll think the killer disfigured the body with spells. That's how it always goes."
Then she narrowed her gaze. "But if what you say is true, then it confirms something far worse."
Lucius frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The parasite," Margaret said darkly. "It's already here. In the Moving City."
Lucius froze. "Parasite? You never mentioned that."
Margaret rose from her seat, her expression shadowed with concern. "...Someone must have entered the city without clearance. That's likely how the parasite began to spread."
Lucius's brow furrowed as he recalled the vivid dream from earlier—unshakable, unsettling. "What happens if an outbreak occurs here... on the Moving City?"
Margaret's face turned grim. "Then it will be the end of us all. Especially those working beneath the surface to power the engines—there's nowhere to run when the city itself becomes a cage."
Lucius clenched his jaw, the thought of Harriet and Yu Xuan flashing through his mind, tightening the knot of worry in his chest.
"I noticed you handled the revolver decently," Margaret remarked, watching him closely.
"Pure luck," Lucius muttered. "I barely know how to aim."
"I'll arrange for you to visit the training center," she replied without hesitation.
Lucius nodded faintly, then spoke with more resolve, "Whoever's spreading this parasite... I need to find them. It might lead us to the truth about what happened sixty years ago—and maybe even about the force wielders."
Margaret acknowledged him with a thoughtful nod. "But first—there's something else. In three days, I've been invited to a formal prom. A ball. It's being held in honor of the host's daughter's birthday. As the city's most prominent fashion designer, I'm expected to attend."
Lucius scoffed. "How charming."
"I want you to come with me," she continued. "You and Nai. It will give us a chance to observe the higher circles and maybe gather information."
Lucius sighed. "I don't even know what a ball is. What's the point?"
"It's more than a dance. It's a gathering of power and influence," she explained. "The host—the man who governs this city—will be present. Think of it as... a new experience. Besides, there's more than one way to investigate a threat."
Lucius glanced away, grumbling under his breath, "Shouldn't we be focused on stopping the parasite?"
"We will," Margaret assured him, reaching for an umbrella to shield herself from the morning sun. "And the party may provide our first clue."
As she stepped toward the door, she added over her shoulder, "When Nai returns with Liam, you'll both be moving to my main atelier in the central district. Liam will guide you."
With that, she exited, leaving Lucius alone in the quiet room, the weight of growing uncertainty heavy on his shoulders.
To be continued -