Kaia's (Mervyn's spy) POV

It was late evening and Kaia along with fellow spy Damien were patrolling the city streets per Mervyn's instructions. "Damien, do you know what Master was doing tonight?" Damien shook his head. "Not a clue, he said he had a sparring match with that Illio kid earlier but he didn't say anything about his plans after. Just told me he was busy."

Kaia nodded in thought as the two continued along the rooftops. "He told me the same but I'm slightly worried....ever since he started asking us to look into....well you know." Damien nodded a grave expression appearing on his face. Looking around to make sure no-one was present, he once again faced Kaia. "I'm worried too, looking into the Emperor is a serious offense, but, Master's right....too many things aren't adding up."

Damien looked around once more. "We both know it was an Emperor's spy we saw dead at the competition, not only that, he was one of the imperial clans numbers! There's only ten with the title and they say they were looking for someone at the competition. If they're after a student, we have to be careful."

Kaia nodded still uneasy. "I know, I'm just a bit concerned that's all." Damien nodded sympathetically. "I understand, anyway we're done with our patrol now. Lets go meet up with Simurgh and we'll attach a report of our findings back to Master." Kaia nodded, on patrol nights, pairs of spies would patrol the city before writing down their findings and giving it to one of Mervyn's spirits to give back to him.

Continuing along the rooftops, Kaia and Damien finally approached the meeting point, when they suddenly heard a cry if pain. "Simurgh!" yelled Kaia running towards the meeting point forgetting all attempts at stealth. As she arrived, she saw the griffon rear and give one last mighty shriek of pain, before he slowly started to fade them vanish. "Simurgh." She cried once more running to griffons side, however, just as she arrived the griffon was gone, as if it had never been there to start with.

Finally catching up, Damien saw Kaia collapsed on the ground in shock and sorrow. "Kaia what's wrong? What happened? Where's Simurgh?!?" Kaia let out a sob. "He's gone....he just vanished.." Damien paled. "Vanished....that only happens when the spirit's summoner...." Suddenly Damien trailed off in realisation. "Kaia we need to find Master. Now."

Kaia gasped, realising what had happened and quickly followed Damien back towards the school. Bursting into Mervyn's study, Kaia and Damien came face to face with Axel and Nia, Mervyn's other two spies. "You too?" Asked Damien and Nia nodded. "Shabaz disappeared right in front of our eyes. Homā was with Master and I don't know about the fourth spirit....If such a thing has happened, we must prepare ourselves for the worst. I'll take the city, Axel will search the school, Kaia the forest and Damien the caves - meet back here in ten minutes."

All nodding in agreement, the four spies separated and each went a different way. Searching through the forest it wasn't long before Kaia came across a large field filled with holes and scorched ground. "What in the world happened here?" whispered Kaia aloud, however all thoughts stopped as she saw Mervyn.

The master she had been with for five years currently lay in front of her stabbed in the heart and decapitated. "No," she whispered in denial "Noooooooooooooooo," the scream was a heart rendered one. Almost instantly the three other spies appeared, having predicted what had happened.

For a moment none of them spoke, but, merely stared, before all four succumbed to their emotions and let tears run down their faces. It was no mistake to say Mervyn had been like family to all of them and yet not one of them spoke words of revenge.

Mervyn was a powerful magician there was no doubt about that. Anyone who had managed to kill him, even, if he only had one spirit by him was far above their league. Besides, no matter how close they had been, their work for him was merely work. And now that it was over, the four would move on. But for the moment they wallowed in their grief.

..................................................................................

Emperor's POV

Within the Emperor's palace the Emperor sat on a golden throne scowling in annoyance at his attendant. "So who has called an audience with me and why?" The attendant looked away nervously. "The meeting was called by a woman named Kaia, who has claimed to be Mervyn Oakshield's aide. As for the subject of the meeting, I am currently unaware, she claimed it was of the utmost importance."

The Emperor let out an amused smile. "Well now, I suppose whatever has happened must be very interesting for her to come. Send her in." The attendant nodded and motioned for a young woman, with eyes clearly red from crying, to be escorted in. "So what news do you bring?" Asked the Emperor clearly interested. "Mervyn Oakshield is dead." Claimed the woman in an uninterested voice, not at all matching her grieving appearance.

"What?!?" Asked the Emperor clearly shocked. Although he wasn't fond of the man, and was clearly wary of him, he still had respect for his skills and found it hard to believe someone had enough power to take him out. "When did this occur? And do we know who was responsible?" Kaia shook her head. "We have no clue about the one responsible. However, we are aware that attacks had been carried out against one of Mervyn's apprentices recently."

The Emperor nodded in understanding, this did not bode well for his plans. "Keep all teachers and students in the school as they may know something. Tomorrow I'll send one of the numbers from the imperial clan to ascertain if one of the culprits was associated with the school." If Kaia was shocked with the sending of such high level assassins she didn't show it, but instead nodded and left without being dismissed.

The Emperor sat in silence things were not going well. The boy he had been searching for still remained a mystery and now there was Mervyn's death to deal with as well. Something had gone terribly wrong and he wasn't quite sure if he'd be able to fix it without the truth coming out.