The horse-drawn carriage rattled softly over the cobblestone streets. Inside, Maria, with her golden hair flowing down her back, clutched her beloved teddy bear. Beside her, Cain, a boy with raven black hair, was engrossed in sketching in his notebook. They both seemed calm, but their ears caught every word that came from the mouth of the burly coachman.
"So, imagine," the coachman's voice echoed inside the carriage, "two famous detectives, known for their brilliance, caught red-handed! Preparing poison in an old warehouse! Who were they trying to kill? No one knows! But the police found enough evidence to arrest them." He flicked his whip, making the horse jump slightly.
Maria lifted her head, her eyes shining with curiosity. "Really, Mr. Coachman? What kind of poison did they use?"
"That's still under investigation, Miss Maria," the coachman replied with a smile. "But the case reminds me of the mass murder in Oakhaven village a few months ago. The police found traces of the same poison, you know! It's quite mysterious."
Cain, who had been engrossed in drawing, now joined in listening. "Have they found the culprit, Mr. Coachman?"
"Not yet, sir," the coachman replied, his voice a little more serious. "But there's another even stranger case. A young noble girl, Princess Maria of the Cliffers family, disappeared three days ago. No trace at all. Like she was swallowed by the earth!"
Maria frowned. "That's terrifying!"
Cain closed his notebook. "Maybe it's connected to the murder case, Mr. Coachman?"
The coachman shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe not. This world is full of mysteries, kids. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction." He whipped his horse again, the carriage continued to move, taking Maria and Cain further, towards a destination they were heading to with the carriage.
The coachman didn't know that the two pieces of information he had given to his two passengers were not considered mere idle chatter by them.
The carriage stopped right at the city's dock. Dropping off its two passengers at a place where dozens of ships of various types were preparing to sail or were resting.
Before the coachman left them after receiving his fare, he asked, "Do you want to go to the Fog City?"
Maria, who didn't understand anything, could only look at Cain, a boy younger than her, to represent her in giving an answer.
Cain looked a little annoyed and looked at Maria with a disappointed look. While Maria tried to look unaware of the meaning of that look by laughing softly.
"Yes, we want to go to Fog City."
The cashier looked surprised, he looked around as if making sure no one was watching him. Then he looked at Cain and said, "You'd better give up your intention, that city has been cursed for 12 years. As a result, criminal acts occur almost every day in that city. I suggest you don't be reckless in choosing the option you have."
Cain smiled at that, he replied, "You're a good person. I hope you'll die as a good person too."
The coachman furrowed his brow as he felt uncomfortable and replied, "Don't talk like that, I don't want to die at my age that can still work. My two children and my wife are waiting at home, you know?"
"Hahaha, I'm just kidding. I'm just happy to see your kindness that wants to help. You must think we don't know about that information, right?"
"Yes, am I wrong?"
"Yes, you're wrong. We...," Cain looked at Maria then felt hesitant and continued, "I mean, I know about that."
Maria could only smile to look useful by being funny.
While the coachman who was still curious also asked again, "Then why do you... You want to go there?"
Cain smiled wider than before and answered without hesitation.
"Because every problem has a solution."
"Can you remove the curse?"
"No, I'm not a magician."
"Then how do you remove the curse if you can't remove the curse?"
"Did I ever tell you that I believe in the nonsense about curses that many people talk about?"
"You don't believe?"
"It's impossible for me to believe in things that don't have logic. Every condition has a cause and effect. We just don't know it yet. But people are more comfortable knowing lies than not knowing the truth. Because they can believe the lies and feel comfortable that they already know a condition even though it may not be true."
The coachman was surprised to hear that, then he laughed before he said, "You're a really interesting kid. Honestly, I'm not too sure about things I can't see with my own eyes. What can I do, right? Most people already believe in that. I'll just be ostracized if I reveal what's on my mind."
"That's what sets you and me apart. I don't care about trivial things like being hated or wanting to be killed by others."
Maria, who felt the conversation was heading in a bad direction, tried to give a sign for Cain to stop using provocative words.
But suddenly the coachman said, "I don't mind that, miss. He's right, I'm just a coward. But that's how humans are."
"Cowards are the type of humans I hate the most," Cain replied.
"Ahahaha, that means you hate all mankind in the whole world, kid."
"It seems I misjudged you. Good people are strong people who stand firm in this world full of evil. But you are a good person who is weak. It's easy for you to switch sides to that side."
The coachman just smiled and said goodbye politely. But before he walked away, Cain and Maria could hear a sentence from the coachman.
"Sometimes a human has to know when he has to be a coward. Not everything can be solved just with courage."
Cain looked annoyed, Maria was silent and couldn't say a word, while the coachman left with a smile on his face after feeling he had had a very pleasant conversation for him. Because for him, it was his duty as a 50-year-old man to guide young children so that they could continue to walk on the path they thought was right. That could be called kindness, or it could be atonement for past mistakes for him. That's why he smiled until fate separated them.
After the somewhat awkward parting with the coachman, Maria and Cain walked onto the bustling dock. The atmosphere around them was in stark contrast to the tension they had just experienced. Sailors and merchants shouted, offering their wares, while ships sailed in and out of the harbor. But for Maria, it was all just a faint background noise, her mind more focused on the adventure to come.
"Are you sure about this, Cain?" Maria asked, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of curiosity and fear. "Fog City sounds… strange."
Cain smiled broadly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Trust me, Maria. Every adventure starts with a little uncertainty. And there's something fascinating waiting for us there."
On the way to Fog City, Cain explained his plan to meet Jack Shepard, a professor from the city's renowned academy. "He has a lot of information about the ongoing cases and might be able to help you understand what's really going on," he explained. "He's connected to Thomas and might be able to give us clues."
Maria nodded, feeling a little relieved. "And after that, we'll go to that secluded island?"
"Yes," Cain replied, looking ahead, as if seeing into the future. "But we need to make sure everything is safe first."
As they arrived in Fog City, the atmosphere there felt different. Thick fog enveloped the streets, making it seem mysterious and slightly frightening. Gas lamps flickered, creating dancing shadows on the walls of old buildings. Maria felt a tension in the air, as if the city held many secrets.
"Here we are," Cain said, stopping in front of an old, dilapidated-looking building. The inscription above the entrance stated that this was the High Academy. "We need to get in and find Jack."
They stepped inside, and Maria felt as if she was entering a different world. Inside, the atmosphere was calmer, with the sound of footsteps echoing in the corridors. Cain led the way, his eyes sharp, looking for signs of Jack's presence.
Soon, they found an old man with a white beard and thick glasses, sitting at a desk surrounded by piles of books and papers. Cain approached him with confidence. "Professor Shepard, we need your help."
Jack raised his head, his eyes narrowed. "Ah, Cain! And this… Maria, isn't it? The missing one, right? What brings you here?" His voice was deep and firm, but there was warmth in it.
Maria was surprised to hear her name mentioned. "How do you!?... Whatever... Yes, that's me. We're looking for information about… about what's happening in this city."
Jack nodded, his face serious. "There's a lot to talk about. This city is in the grip of tension. Many people believe that the two famous detectives, including his cousin, are involved in mass murder. They're not what they seem."
Cain frowned. "Do you believe they're really guilty, Professor?"
"Believe it or not, it's not just about the truth. It's about what people want to believe. And right now, people are looking for answers, and they'll find the culprit, regardless of the truth itself," Jack replied in a dark tone.
Maria looked at Cain, feeling the tension between them. "What should we do?"
"First, we need to investigate what really happened. Jack, can you help me find clues about what happened on that secluded island?" Cain asked hopefully.
Jack nodded, "I can help, but we need to move fast. Time is not on our side. After that, we can discuss your trip to the uncharted island. There's a lot we need to learn before we go."
Maria felt a surge of tension and hope. Their mission had just begun, and Fog City held many secrets that needed to be revealed. She knew that she was caught up in something bigger than she had anticipated, and her curiosity was burning stronger than ever.
With determined steps, they prepared to explore the mysterious place, hoping to find the truth before it was too late.