Chapter 107: A Night of Resolve


    Abel dashed across the rooftops, his body light and nimble as he moved under the dark, starlit sky. The bell''s sound echoed behind him, he knew this was how the officers communicated but he paid it no mind. He was heading back to his temporary villa after a long night of discoveries, exhilarated by the information he had uncovered. The cool night air felt refreshing, and the presence of the stars above gave him a sense of calmness and power, as though the starlight itself was guiding him home.


    He leaped from roof to roof with an effortless grace, each landing soft and controlled, barely making a sound. His control of every muscle was clearly at its peak, and by the day he felt his body change and improve, reborn anew from the star he had consumed. The streets below were quiet, eerie even, with most of the townspeople locked away in their homes for the night. Abel wasn''t concerned about the outcome as the strange feeling he had felt seemed to vanish that same night, however, he would restrain his desire to consume stellar bodies for the moment, as he was unsure of the dangers that lurked in the sky. His thoughts swirled with the plans he had for the following day—moving his belongings into his new Starry Villa, welcoming his housekeeper, and beginning his deep dive into the mysteries of encryption and enchantments.


    He was also curious about the Murman family, a name that hadn’t been on the center of his radar until now. If they were hiring people for magical tasks, it would be worth learning more about their involvement in the town. Tomorrow, he''d ask Jet for information about them, as well as about the upcoming Dance of Flowers holiday. The festival was widely celebrated in Reinhart, and Abel wanted to understand more about its significance, especially how it might tie into the town’s magical undercurrents.


    As he neared First Street, the villa''s gates came into view. He slowed down, blending seamlessly with the quiet of the night, his mind now calm and composed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.


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    The scene of the brothers’ gruesome deaths was chaotic. Enforcement officers swarmed the house, meticulously combing through its every corner. The cries of terrified survivors filled the air, their pale faces and trembling bodies a testament to the horrors they had endured. Officers, trying their best to maintain composure, offered reassurance while escorting the victims to safety.


    Burt, the head of law enforcement, arrived with two officers, his hardened demeanor betraying the weight of the situation. His sharp eyes scanned the carnage, taking in the blood-streaked floor and the broken remnants of the brothers’ operation. “What in the world happened here?” he demanded, his tone gruff yet steady.


    Jenny, the officer freed earlier by Abel, stepped forward. Her uniform bore signs of the ordeal—dirt and blood streaked her sleeves—but her stance was firm. Recognizing her, Burt asked with concern, “Jenny, are you alright?”


    Jenny nodded, her expression grim. “Yes, sir. But it’s... complicated.” She recounted the events in detail. “The younger brother approached me while I was patrolling. He claimed to need help but used a strange technique—possibly linked to the glowing watch he was holding—to control me. I felt paralyzed, like my mind and body weren’t my own.”


    She paused, her voice steady despite the unease in her eyes. “They tied me up and masked themselves, but the dim light made identification nearly impossible. Hours later, someone else was brought in—a stranger. There was a scuffle, and that person freed me before leaving. Whoever it was, they knew what they were doing.”


    Burt''s jaw tightened. “And they took something, didn’t they?”Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Jenny hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. Tools for some kind of ritual. It’s clear they had plans—dark ones—but whatever those plans were, they’re gone now.”


    Burt let out a heavy sigh. “This just keeps getting worse.” His fingers pressed against his temples as he absorbed her words. “We can’t let the townspeople know about this. The last thing we need is panic. Here’s the story: these brothers went rogue, got into a fight, and it ended... messily. Nothing more.”


    Jenny hesitated, her skepticism evident. “What about the watch? That wasn’t exactly normal, sir. What do we tell people if they ask?”


    Burt’s brow furrowed as he weighed the options. “We’ll say they used Sleep Flower powder—a hallucinogen from the south. It explains the unusual behavior. Keep searching for the watch. If it’s still here, it could reveal more about what they were doing. If not...” His voice trailed off, the implications clear.


    Glancing at the surrounding officers, Burt barked orders. “Double your efforts. This scene needs to be secured, and I want a full report on my desk by sunrise. No detail is too small.”


    As he turned to leave, his steps slowed. The unsettling thought that magical artifacts were spreading through the town gnawed at him. It wasn’t the first incident, and it wouldn’t be the last. If this trend continued, Reinhart could face a catastrophe.


    Pausing at the door, Burt added grimly, “Jenny, take care of the survivors. I need to speak with Mayor Elliot about this mess. Keep this quiet until we have more answers.”


    Jenny nodded, turning back to the room where survivors huddled together. Their wide, fearful eyes met hers as she knelt to reassure them. Despite her exhaustion, she felt a renewed determination to uncover the truth. Whatever dark forces were at play, Reinhart’s peace hung by a thread—and she wasn’t about to let it snap.


    <hr>


    As Abel entered his villa, a deep sense of contemplation washed over him. The soft click of the door shutting behind him echoed through the quiet halls, blending seamlessly with the faint hum of the night outside. He set the bag containing the remnants of the ritual near the entrance, his movements deliberate, as though each step carried the weight of the night’s events. The brothers’ deaths, the strange watch now in his possession, and the unsettling aura that lingered—it all painted a picture of a town teetering on the edge of something darker.


    He crossed the room to the large windows overlooking the garden. The stars above continued their silent vigil, their serene light filtering through the glass to dance across the polished floor. For Abel, they were more than just celestial ornaments; they were a reminder of the infinite mysteries of the universe, an anchor in a world rapidly growing more complex.


    Abel let his gaze drift across the garden, where flowers swayed gently in the night breeze, their vibrant colors muted under the night. There was an eerie beauty to the scene—a fragile tranquility that stood in stark contrast to the chaos brewing beneath Reinhart’s surface. His mind churned with questions: Who was supplying these magical artifacts? What were the Murman family’s true intentions? And how did the threads of these mysteries intertwine with the town’s recent unsettling occurrences?


    The watch felt heavier in his pocket, its presence a constant reminder of the secrets it held. He retrieved it, letting the faint, pinkish light reflect off its surface. Abel studied it carefully, his sharp eyes tracing the intricate designs carved into the metal.


    With a sigh, Abel tucked the watch back into his robe, his movements slow and deliberate. He felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly as he turned away from the window and moved toward the stairs. His body was beginning to feel the weight of the night’s exertions. Tomorrow, a new chapter of his life would begin in the Starry Villa, a fitting name for the sanctuary he now called home. It would be a fresh start, one that promised challenges and revelations in equal measure.


    He paused at the foot of the staircase, his thoughts still lingering on the night’s events. The brothers had mentioned the Bazaar, the strange rituals, and the Dance of Flowers—threads that all seemed to lead somewhere. Abel’s resolve hardened. Reinhart’s mysteries weren’t going to unravel themselves, and he was determined to uncover the truth.


    The stairs creaked softly under his weight as he ascended, his mind already working through the plans for the days ahead. For now, he would rest. The stars above would watch over him, their light a constant reminder that even in the darkest of times, clarity could be found.