At last I was done with this village, and it was time to leave.

With everything and my plans set to roll. For now I can take a rest before going to Gordon Mountains sometime later.

Besides I have to question the baroness, she has to know something about this artifact, worse case connected. My clothes were battle worn, sleeves ripped, dusty, with blood stains. I needed a rest. Walking out of Madel’s house, I meet Aria waiting patiently at the door, it seems she had witnessed me beat up the abuser well. Not that she even cares.

"Can we return to the estate now?"

"I already guessed those would be your words." Exhaled. "Sure, I’m done with our outing."

Aria then stepped closer. She wrapped her arms around me from behind. Freeing her wings, she took into the air, heading straight to the estate.

–

Minutes later, as Aria flew us back to the estate, gliding through the sky, until some moments later the estate became more visible from the sky.

Aria dived down, towards the mansion, slowed her speed to lower me to the ground.

She released her arms around me, once my foot touched the ground. Her wings folded behind her.

I casually glanced over the Mansion, before setting my eyes on Aria. Uncomfortable in her stained dress.

"That was a hell of a trip, right?"

She dusted her dress, it didn’t help so she just folded her arms before her.

"It was, I would suggest we take a bath, and change into new clothes. Take a rest for today."

The sky already began to darken as the night’s curtains rolled over the kingdom.

I nodded before walking through the main door back into the mansion.

Guards were stationed at the door. Some on patrol, a few maidens. Surely this number of people made me realize how hard it’ll be to catch the spy.

But for now, I had someone to tail. I felt the artifact through the fabric of my pocket.

"You, come." Aria ordered a guard.

Who marched to stand at attention, waiting for her next words.

"On the road, to the road to Rollway village. There’s a property which belongs to me on the road. My car. Retrieve it for me, with no further damage."

"Yes ma’am!"

’No surprise she wasn’t planning on abandoning the car. Well.’ I shrugged.

Just a step into the building, I paused. Retreating out of the mansion so I could speak to Aria.

"Aria. Take me to Maltie."

She went silent, I could sense her stare on me. When I faced her, she was adjusting her dress. Detailing every blood stain on her dress, but on hearing my words she paused. A sigh escaped her lips.

"We just got back from an unplanned but eventful journey, at least allow me to freshen up... Spade Barony is miles from here."

"What of the vault? Is it located in Spade?"

"No, the vault is located close to the queen’s palace. It’s still a bit far."

That was much better. If the vault was in the Spades it would mean I’ll be walking into their territory to point fingers at their leader.

It wasn’t the case now. The chances of us meeting her at the vault was also high.

Might be there for routine checks, or to clear up evidence.

But Aria wasn’t feeling too good about leaving to the vault, uninvited.

"I’m not taking you to the vault. Not today." Aria said.

"If I let it go today. What if she clears all evidence that would implicate her."

I showed her the artifact, "you don’t know how many forbidden magic she’s already in her possession."

Aria focused on the artifact, having second thoughts, she glanced at me. Then exhaled. "Fine. I’ll take you to the vault. But that’s our last trip for today."

I gripped the artifact, sensing its cold steel against my palm. "Of course."

"We’ll take a carriage. I’m too tired to fly."

Later on Aria called for a carriage, when we arrived we got on board and rode away to the vault. It wasn’t a long journey, only minutes had passed before we arrived.

Still the sky had darkened more.

Bulbs running on man stones were our source of light, in the estate.

As the horse galloped, and the wheels rolled to the vault, I was seated, leaned into the seat. As I stared out the window, watching the landscape swoop by.

Aria, on the other side of the seat, was rather weary. I studied the way she breathes. Aftermath of the battle still lingered.

I noticed her eyes were slit shut, though she sat upright, she was actually asleep, the carriage bumped, and her head dozed off, her white hair in waves, obscuring her face partially.

This had to be the first time seeing her fall asleep. And she looked beautiful doing so.

Never did I expect I would one day grow fond of dragons.

However my goal still is the same. To reclaim what was my family’s.

Having a dragon companion like Aria would also be nice. Her loyalty would be of good use.

I changed my seating, to sit beside Aria. There I rested her head gently against my shoulder, moving her hair off her face. Hooked it behind her ear.

She looked delicate with her eyes shut. But those serpent eyes. When open, had a feral feel in them.

We arrived at our destination as the one riding the horse alerted us inside the carriage.

I tapped Aria on her face gently, to wake her up.

"Wake up, we’ve arrived."

Aria’s eyes peeled open, she leaned off my shoulder, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes.

The carriage went silent, till she was fully awake.

"Let’s go." Aria got to her feet. Hiding how drained she was.

Genuinely, I respected that cause we don’t have time to rest in a place which wants me dead.

"Lead the way."

The carriage door then swung open, stepping out, I stood before an unsettling construct, a cube shaped building with no windows, or such, just a single door. With eight huge poles around the cube. They had talismans plastered all around the poles, a thin laser line passing through each pole, forming a secondary barrier, as the first barrier was like a dark dome around it, transparent enough to see the building on the inside.

The place was eerily silent. No signs of bulbs running on man stones, while the surface of the building absorbed the light around it. I didn’t know what its surface was made of, like a dark living matter.

"This is the vault."

Aria then stepped forward, she stood before the barrier, then there was an entry point in the first barrier, with a golem placed in front of it.

She placed her hand on the golem, its eyes lit up red, followed by the barrier deactivating at the entrance so she could follow through.

Which made me second guess who Aria truly was, if she had access to the vault where forbidden magic was, she couldn’t just be the queen’s personal guard...

Did the queen fully trust her, that she was granted access to such places.

That was another mystery which had to wait for now.

"Come on, let’s go."

I then walked forward, passing through the gap where the barrier didn’t meet with me, while Aria fell in from behind.

The barrier immediately reset to its original form, as Aria walked in, reverent, entrance from another.

A single hall stretched down, lined up at the walls, where golems’ eyes tracked up. The dark hall, dark. Their crimson eyes lit up.

Each footstep we took echoed through the hall. The mana from the vault itself was oppressive, like it was living.

Just like the necklace I found on Joe. This vault itself could be an artifact.

We stopped before the main door, it was massive, easily triple our size. At the ceiling of the door was the skull of a ram, made of dark steel, looking down at us.

But for some reason I believed it was targeted at me.

I sensed a threat from it, something was coming, I took a step back, tightened my fist, ready—

Then Aria stepped before me, shielding my frame from the skull.

It didn’t react, its burning light in its eyes died down.

And slowly the door creaked open by itself.

Just a small opening, and a shiver ran down my spine. I caught my breath, the same cold feeling in my veins from before. Noise began echoing in my ear, like cries of unknown creatures, or ghosts of people. The air from this room wasn’t just mana, it was demonic, dark mana, if I should name it.

"I hate this place." Aria said, her face was twisted in a mix of disgust and anger.

’She has been here before...’

Once the door was fully open, revealing the dark hall before us, I stepped inside.

A few steps and it became clear there was a second door, no, this one was different, I surveyed it walking close. Aria didn’t follow, staying at the door.

The vault, shield, was fully metal, bigger than anything else, a dark presence cloaked the hinges of it.

I spotted three placeholders at the gate.

It seemed like keyholes. Wide enough to fit a person’s arm. But the dragons weren’t giants so it was impossible.

I reached to feel the metal.

When suddenly a voice called me from behind. And it wasn’t Aria’s.

’I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’

I snapped to the voice, invisible in the shadows. The mana from the vault clouded my senses, to even notice another person’s presence. Even Aria didn’t notice, but she wasn’t startled.

"It’s been a long time since you came to visit... Aria."