Christina checks her appearance in the mirror one more time, straightening the cuffs of her modest white silk blouse and adjusting the blue bow tied across the collar. The long black dress emphasizes the length of her legs and with a final touch up of her make up, Christina smiles in satisfaction. The clothes are understated, but of high quality, befitting a young lady from a respectable and wealthy family. Donning a black jacket, Christina leaves her dorm in the Lodge of Heroes, striding out into the campus of Robeur Keep.

Christina walks along the footpath, making a beeline toward the stables. Its early morning and the air is crisp without being stifling, a happy effect of the sun not yet reaching its apex in the sky. Christina passes a few apprentices, busy doing their morning workouts in the garden and as she unconsciously flicks her long hair back, more than a few eyes are turned her way. Beauty has a way of attracting beholders.

And there is nothing more beautiful than an attractive young woman in love.

Christina does not notice though, she has an appointment to keep. Her feet keep moving forward with barely concealed anticipation, carrying the young woman to her destination. Chewing her lips in nervousness, Christina's cheeks flush involuntarily. Put her in front of any male apprentice, and they would be eating out of her hand in seconds. Beautiful, talented and wealthy. Its little wonder that many apprentices see her as the queen bee of the Lodge of Heroes. There have been fights among the male apprentices as they compete for her attention.

Christina has no time for boys though. Beautiful women naturally want suitable matches, and Christina has already found a man to love.

Right in front of the stables is a carriage painted in the colors of the Robeur House hitched to a pair of horses obediently waiting for their instructions. The driver notices Christina approaching and raps against the carriage, signaling whomever is sitting inside. The door of the carriage silently swings open, beckoning Christina to enter. Barely managing to suppress a grin, the young woman almost skips toward the carriage.

Could today be the day she has been waiting for so long?

Settling into the leather seats of the carriage, Christina casts her eyes at the object of her affection, dressed neatly in the formal uniform of the House, the insignia of Battle Mage proudly displayed on his breast.

"Henri." Christina says sweetly, her eyes fluttering submissively downward.

Senior Brother Henrik nods and bangs the side of the carriage with a closed fist.

"Driver. Get going." Henrik instructs. And with that, the carriage creaks into motion, small jolts rocking the interior as the wheels roll over uneven cobblestones.

"Hey, Henri ," Christina smiles happily, "Does this mean we no longer need to hide our relationship? We're using the House carriage and everything."

Henrik's delicate features make a subtle movement and Christina suddenly senses disapproval weighing down on her like a mountain.

"What did I tell you before?" Henrik says flatly.

"Instructors and Apprentices cannot have private relationships," Christina frowns, "But -"

"Am I dressed as an Instructor today, Christina?" Henrik demands.

"Yes, Henri." Christina nods glumly, but there's anger in her eyes.

"Then we are not in a relationship today." Henrik states with finality.

"That's not what you said a few nights ago!" Christina nearly shouts but a stern look from Henrik quickly silences her.

"I've explained this already." Henrik replies calmly, "We can reveal our relationship after you've fully qualified as battle mage. This secrecy is necessary for both our sakes."

"Its just difficult, carrying on like this." Christina purses her lips, "People are already beginning to talk. Almost everyone knows I'm seeing someone."

"Do they know with whom?" Henrik asks with sudden concern.

"No." Christina shrugs, "People think I've a boyfriend, but have no idea its you."

"Then its fine." Henrik nods, "Be patient Christina, if we're found out, it would be the end of your reputation and mine."

"You promised that we would be going on a fun outing today." Christina sulks.

"Something cropped up that requires my attention." Henrik sighs, "Believe me Christina, I want to spend time with you more than anything else."

"Yeah." Christina grumbles and looks pointedly away from her lover.

"I'm letting you tag along Christina, please be reasonable." Henrik placates, suppressing the wave of irritation rising in his heart, "I've also dealt with that complaint you made sometime back."

"About Mac Nair?" Christina brightens up immediately, "I'll be finally free of him? Henri, you're the best!"

"Yes. I'll have it arranged for you to complete your training under me." Henrik confirms, "Why do you dislike Nair anyway? Has he done anything to you?"

"He couldn't even if he tried." Christina scoffs, "Anyway, where to begin? Mac's lazy, negligent and incompetent. Apprenticing under him was sheer torture. A complete dead end."

"Come now." Henrik smirks at Christina's description of his colleague, "It can't be all bad with Nair."

"Did you know Mac claimed to have everything under control after he lucked out in a fight with goblins?" Christina queries, "A goblin warlord nearly killed him and I almost needed to intervene to save Mac's hide."

"True, you're already more powerful than Nair." Henrik agrees, "Just don't show your disrespect to him. Keep all this between us."

"I won't." Christina reassures her lover, "You taught me to uphold the grace of a Battle Mage at all times."

"Good." Henrik grunts, "Nair may be a ridiculous figure, but he's more than you can handle if he decides to get nasty."

"Mac won't be able to take a single battle spell from me." Christina scoffs, "He would be dead before he drew that sword of his."

"Not what I mean." Henrik rubs his brow at Christina's immaturity, "Remember, Nair is a sword master, despite his many faults. He has enough clout in the Keep to make life for you very difficult, especially since you're still an apprentice."

"But you'll protect me right?" Christina demands, "Not that it'll come to that, I've always shown proper respect in front of Mac's face."

"Of course." Henrik grins indulgently, "You'll be back as my apprentice soon. I've already set the wheels in motion."

Christina leans into Henrik, clutching one of his arms possessively.

"Its alright like this, isn't it?" Christina whispers, "No one can see us now."

"Its fine." Henrik responds, stroking the young woman's hair.

"Where're we going?" Christina murmurs, shutting her eyes and enjoying the ride.

"The railyard." Henrik snorts, "The gendarme sent an urgent message last night, demanding a representative from the House be sent. Robeur asked me to go."

"Annoying." Christina huffs, "But that's the price of being with a capable man I suppose."

Henrik clears his mind, no longer listening to the young woman beside him. Whatever the task ahead was, it would probably need his full attention.

......

"Battle Mage." the gendarme officer greets as Christina falls in behind Henrik. The trio form a loose procession, marching past the warehouses that dominate this section of the railyard.

"So what's going on here?" Henrik demands, his voice authoritative.

"Its like this," the gendarme officer licks his lips, "Two nights ago, one of the railyard's night watchmen spotted someone attacking two people on the premises. He called out, and that distraction allowed one of the victims to draw a pistol and fire at the attacker."

"I see. And?" Henrik quizzes.

"The attacker shrugged off the shot." the gendarme officer continues, "But both victims managed to make a break for it. The night watchman fled the scene as well to summon help."

"Smart." Henrik comments, "The attacker would have been a mage if he could take a bullet without flinching."

"The attacker and the victims were gone by the time help arrived." the gendarme officers adjusts his cap as he speaks, "The railyard's management originally thought that was the end of the matter."

"But it was not." Christina pipes up, rolling her eyes at the obvious.

The gendarme officer leads the pair to one of the warehouses, this one guarded by a squad of his fellows standing outside, hands clasped behind their backs.

"Yesterday, one of the workers found a body stashed in that warehouse." the gendarme concludes, "Stabbed to death it seems. One of the victims didn't get away."

"But why have we been summoned?" Henrik demands.

"The victim is a House Robeur civil mage." the officer explains, "And since another mage might be involved in the killing, well ..."

"I get it." Henrik murmurs, "House Robeur might need to take direct action in this case."

"Is it the Midnight Stabber?" Christina asks, "I've been hearing about him for the past few weeks."

"Maybe." the officer shrugs as the trio enter the warehouse, "Its certainly a possibility. Mind your step Miss. Its dark inside."

"That would be quite an escalation if it is the Midnight Stabber." Henrik muses, "He has never targeted mages before. Never killed outside Temple district either if I remember correctly."

The scent of stale blood permeates the interior of the warehouse and Christina quickly covers her mouth, preventing herself from gagging just in time. Henrik merely narrows his eyes and sweeps the scene with a steady gaze. In the corner of the warehouse is a bloodstained corpse, flanked by a pair of gendarme officers taking notes and preparing the body for transport.

"Who is the victim?" Henrik finally says, his cursory search turning up nothing new.

"Civil Mage Guy." the officer accompanying him says, "Nasty bit of business. When we first discovered him, a bag of gold coins had been found been stuffed into the corpse's mouth. Rammed right down the throat. We needed tools to pry it out."

"He's the Robeur mage then?" Christina mutters, having managed to get her bearings.

"Yes." the officer says affably, turning away as the corpse is carried out by his colleagues.

"And the other victim?" Henrik follows up, the cogs in his mind turning.

"We did a thorough search of the railyard." the gendarme quirks his mouth upward, "Found no other bodies. We think the other victim managed to flee while our man was busy gutting the civil mage."

"Track the missing survivor down." Henrik demands, "We need a lead on who the killer is."

"No need to worry about that." the officer smirks as he pulls out a scroll of parchment from his jacket, "The night watchman saw the killer's face. We managed to get a good portrait out of him."

"Wonderful. Things will be easier this way." Henrik accepts the scroll and eagerly unfurls it.

"No way!" Christina shouts in surprise as she takes in the face painted on the scroll.

"Certainly unexpected." Henrik confirms dourly, "But again, this makes things easier."

The face on the scroll glares back at the duo with wild eyes, but even bearing that savage expression, its clear who the painting represents. After all, that exact same person had been making a fool of himself stumbling about in a dress not so long ago.

Mac Nair.