The sun had begun to sink behind the horizon, the half still visible bathed the landscape in a soft, red glow. For just a bit longer they were under protection from the daylight, however soon enough the sun would depart, leaving the cold night and the evil lurking within. Elora had her first witness, and her first plan. However in order to carry out her plan, she needed the help of Daisuke which would be a difficult task. She prepared her speech as she walked, trying to persuade him was like reasoning with a starved shark, near to impossible. Though if she followed what that arrogant boy had told her about the system here, she could offer to help him in return for a favour. Surely this would work. He couldn't be completely unreasonable, right?

She appeared before the guard from earlier, trying desperately to remember her name.
"Good evening, Soleh?"

"Miss Pineswift, what brings you here at this pleasant time of day?"
Elora performed an awkward action between a bow and a curtsey, internally slapping herself.

"I was wondering if you knew where Daisuke might be?"
She nodded, her plaits bobbing.

"He was in a meeting with some other rather high ranking soldiers from the four nations."

"That must be important then, when does it finish?"

"Ten minutes ago, he should be on his way, if you would like to wait here I'm sure he will return soon."

Another familiar voice sounded from around the corner, "Oh hey guys! Are you waiting for Daisuke?"
Aira came bounding around the corner with her usual smile plastered onto her face.

"Yes actually!"

"I see, what about you Soleh?" Said Aira, her head cocking to the side.

"I have no reason to wait, I am simply on patrol and I agreed to let Miss Pineswift wait with me."

"Well Miss Pineswift probably wants to be called by her first name!" Aira laughed, exaggeratedly throwing her arms around the two girls, giving Elora a mouthful of her curly hair.

"I-it's fine, I don't mind." She pushed her voice out through the tight squeeze, urging Aira to let go. She looked her up and down before clapping her hands together, earning a sigh from the Soleh.

"Your dress is gorgeous Elora! So detailed, Soleh do you remember when you used to wear dresses? You used to looks so cute."

Soleh cringed "They get in the way of my magic, I think you should take some advice from me. You are a training mage are you not? Maybe you should dress more appropriately."

Aira scowled, "My dress is perfectly practical! It doesn't limit my magic, most of the time...."

"I understand you don't use magic Miss Pineswift?"

"Oh I actually do." The two girls were slightly taken aback, they considered this for a moment.

"Wait what? But you don't have a weapon?"

"I usually use a sword..." Elora explained, "Sadly it was confiscated back in my realm. Besides the magic I use was banned."

They gawped at her, their words not formulating. To her relief the conversation was avoided as Daisuke appeared from the Canopy layer, Elora noticed the bounce in his stride and the bright look in his face, she relaxed a bit, maybe his mood will lead him to accept her investigation.
"What's wrong with you two? Have you been slapped or something?"

Aira shook herself out of the daze quickly "No, sorry just shocked, we were waiting for you. Me and Elora both have questions to ask!"

"Ah okay, well seeing as none of you are asking our meeting went brilliantly! Three people were assigned from each realm to come to the meeting, no one from Boreas came!"
Both Daisuke and Aira let out a huge sigh.

Elora thought quietly, "Boreas, is that the nation of wind?"
All three nodded.

"The watcher of Boreas is a power-crazed tyrant, anytime he sends someone over they cause havoc, luckily this time we can remain in peace, especially with the watcher's dance only two days away."

"Actually Daisuke," Aira began "that's what I wanted to ask about, how many guards are stationed and where?"
Elora took out her notebook.

"Around 20 at the front gates, 15 at the back, either side is protected by treacherous thorns, Lady Xyla's personal assistant has control over this anyway."
Soleh and Aira both knodded, Elora was scribbling this into her notebook, he turned to face her, "Why do you need to write this down?"

"Oh just incase you need my help." She lied. "Is Lady Xyla your watcher?"

"Yes, Xyla Silverbraid is the watcher over Springvale. Though only those high in rank have permission to say her full name." He glittered with pride.

"I see, now my question, do you two mind if I take Daisuke for a minute?"
They both shook their heads, "Thank you!"

She dragged him over behind a market stall, wanting desperately to smack the amused look off of his face. "Daisuke I, I need your help."

"Hm? With what?"

"Well, I really want to investigate what is going on with the murders in Springvale, I know you don't like it but I just have to. Please could you help me out a little."

"What do you want?" He said through a grunt.

"A sword."

His jaw dropped.

"And access to the Springvale mail records."

"ARE YOU INSANE?"
She jumped a bit.
"I'm not letting you chase around a murderer with a sword. End of, and of course I can't let you look at the mail records it's an invasion of public privacy!"

"I know, but could you make an exception? For the sake of peoples lives-"

"Don't ask me again, the watcher is a very skilled fey sage, you do not want to get on her bad side."
He walked off, leaving Elora seething, she'd have to work this out alone. Fishing her notebook once again from her pocket, she jotted impatiently as she walked to her lodgings. Canopy layer, upper floor of the Springvale defence headquarters, they rented out the rooms up there for an affordable price considering she had barely any money.

The reception was pristine, white marbled floor and windows all around, lilies grew under supervision in little water baths at the edge of the building, each and every one was perfectly aligned like a stack of books.
"May I help?" This sharp tone had caught her by surprise though she walked over to the desk looking unbothered.

"Hello, sorry for exploring." She grinned.

"May I help?" He said it slower this time, emphasising the vowels and giving each word a sharp edge.

"I'd like to check into my room, please?"

"Number."

"13."

"Name."

"Elora Pineswift."

"Who booked you in?"

"Master Daisuke Dirgefang,"
He shoved the key towards her and pointed to the door, his personality seemed to match his pointy chin.