Chapter 62 Draven finds important information [1].

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Draven finds important information [1].

After storing the objects Zenash had sent him, the following day Draven continued observing the administrative facilities.

He took advantage of class changes, breaks, and the moments when Taliah conversed with other students.

After several observations, he managed to determine that the guards at the main entrance changed shifts during the night.

He also discovered that the employees in charge of moving materials left the building shortly after academic activities ended.

However, there was one important detail.

The side door remained protected even when the employees left, and the rear entrance was connected to an alarm system.

’Then I’ll have to use another method.’

Draven recalled his abilities.

The Shadows of the Forgotten allowed him to move between dark zones, though he couldn’t use them without limitations.

Besides, he still had to avoid spending too much mana due to his recovery, but luckily he didn’t need to face anyone, since his objective was to enter, examine the objects, and leave.

’If everything goes well, no one will discover I was there.’

That same afternoon he made a decision: he would do it that night.

The Valdegrim residence remained silent while Draven watched the clock on his desk.

Quite some time had passed since Ena had come in to check that he was resting, and he also knew Taliah was in her own room.

’It’s time.’

He rose slowly.

His shoulder was still somewhat sensitive, but he could move it without too much discomfort, so afterward he put on dark clothes and checked that the instruments Zenash had sent were inside his bracelet.

’It’ll only be a quick visit.’

He carefully opened the window, observed the surroundings, and no one was nearby.

Draven concentrated a small amount of mana and the shadow beneath his desk began to expand until, shortly after, his body disappeared inside it.

Draven reappeared in a poorly lit area on the outskirts of the mansion, so he made sure no one had seen him and then began walking toward the academy.

During the journey he avoided the main streets and used small displacements between shadows when he needed to cross crowded areas.

He didn’t want to spend too much mana; moreover, traveling long distances with that ability meant holding his breath for several seconds.

Finally he reached the academy’s vicinity, so from an elevated position he observed the facilities, and most of the buildings remained dark.

Some windows still had light, especially in the administrative zones and the teachers’ residences, but Draven directed his attention toward the annex building.

’Two guards at the main entrance.’

Just as he had observed during the day, but the side door was unoccupied.

’Perfect.’

He waited several minutes and one of the guards began walking toward the opposite end of the building while the other remained by the entrance.

Draven took advantage of that moment to move toward a nearby dark zone, so he reappeared behind a small structure used to store maintenance tools, and from there he could observe the rear door.

’Now I need to avoid the barrier.’

He approached slowly.

The magical inscriptions remained active, so Draven examined them for a few seconds.

’They detect mana alterations on the door.’

That meant attempting to open it through magic would probably trigger the alarm, but there was a difference between going through a door and using a displacement ability to appear on the other side.

’It all depends on whether the barrier also covers the interior.’

Draven closed his eyes to concentrate a small amount of mana and extended his perception toward the building’s shadows.

There was a dark zone immediately behind the door, and he also distinguished a small space that seemed to connect with a hallway.

’I can reach it.’

But before using his ability, he examined the inscriptions again and finally found something interesting: most of the system was concentrated on the frame.

’So it only monitors the opening.’

Draven smiled slightly.

He concentrated his mana, so the shadow beneath his feet expanded until in an instant he disappeared and reappeared inside the building.

He remained motionless for several seconds and heard no alarm, nor did he perceive any nearby movements.

’It worked.’

Draven observed the hallway, in which there were several closed doors and small mana-powered lamps installed on the walls.

One of them partially illuminated a plaque that indicated the direction of the warehouse, so Draven began walking.

His steps produced almost no noise, but after advancing several meters he heard voices, so he stopped immediately and saw two employees conversing near an intersection.

"...I’m telling you there are still several documents missing."

"Then leave them for tomorrow."

"I can’t, since the supervisor wants the report finished before noon."

"What a pain."

Draven retreated slowly.

’There are still employees.’

He waited until he heard both of them moving away, so afterward he continued advancing and finally reached a larger door, above which there was a metal plaque.

[WAREHOUSE OF CONFISCATED MATERIALS.]

Draven smiled.

’I found it.’

However, when he tried to examine the lock, he discovered another magical inscription, and it was considerably more complex than the one on the rear entrance.

’Of course it wasn’t going to be that simple.’

The academy wasn’t going to protect its confiscated materials using only a conventional lock.

Draven examined the mechanism, and the inscription seemed connected to a recognition system.

It probably required a specific authorization to open the door, but there was also something else: a small crystal installed above the frame.

’That could detect any attempt at manipulation.’

Draven sighed.

’I’ll have to use the shadows again.’

However, this time he couldn’t clearly perceive the interior space, since the door was reinforced with materials that partially interfered with his perception.

Draven remained thoughtful and then observed the shadows that stretched beneath the door; although they were small, a connection to the interior still existed.

’It could work.’

He slowly concentrated his mana.

The displacement required more precision than the previous ones, since if he miscalculated he could appear too close to some object or, even worse, activate one of the internal protections.

Draven took a deep breath.

’Let’s go.’

His body disappeared and, when he reappeared, he had to brace a hand against a shelf to keep his balance.

"..."

He remained motionless, but his right shoulder protested immediately.

’That hurt.’

He waited a few seconds, but there was no alarm, so Draven raised his gaze and found himself inside a considerably spacious room.

Numerous shelves occupied the walls and several tables were distributed throughout the center.

There were boxes, weapons, magical containers, and various objects identified by small labels.

Some shelves were protected by transparent barriers, but others contained apparently harmless materials.

’Now I have to find the right objects.’

Draven approached a table situated beside the entrance, where several records lay on top of it, so he began carefully reviewing the labels.

Most indicated dates, places of origin, and file numbers, so after several minutes he found what he was looking for.

[Incident of the Edran Forest.]

Draven examined the document, which contained a list of materials recovered from five unidentified individuals.

Various weapons, armor fragments, remains of magical tools, a set of small personal objects, and some devices whose functioning was still being investigated.

’Here they are.’

The record indicated that the materials were located on one of the shelves at the back, so Draven advanced toward it and finally found five boxes identified by different numbers.

Each one corresponded to one of the mercenaries, so the young man remained observing them for a few seconds.

’Five people.’

He recalled once more the confrontation with those five guys.

’If any of them carried information about their employer, it should be here.’

Draven began reviewing.

The first box contained armor fragments, some coins, and remains of a sword.

The second had similar materials.

In the third he found small valuable objects and a metal fragment that seemed to belong to a communication device.

Draven examined it using the crystal Zenash had sent, and the instrument emitted a small light, but after several seconds the result indicated that the object was too damaged to recover information.

’Useless.’

He continued reviewing.

The fourth box contained remains of a long-range weapon and several enchanted projectiles, so Draven immediately recognized the bullets.

’This belongs to the sniper.’

He took one of the projectiles and recalled the pain he had felt when they wounded him.

’These damned projectiles.’

He placed the bullet on a table and used the analysis instrument.

The crystal’s surface showed several magical inscriptions, which were similar to those he had detected during the combat.

One of them served to mark targets and another allowed maintaining a temporary connection with the projectile after firing it.

Draven observed the results.

’Interesting, but this doesn’t tell me who hired him.’

He carefully put the bullet back in its place and then opened the fifth box.

There he found several fragments of magical tools, but some were completely destroyed and others retained small amounts of mana.

Draven took one of the objects, which was a circular metal piece, partially deformed, and when he placed it on the analysis instrument, the crystal began to glow.

"..."

Draven raised his eyebrows slightly.

’What?’

Several inscriptions appeared on the surface, so the young man examined the results.

At first he believed it was a communication device, but after observing the magical connections he discovered something different.

’This doesn’t transmit messages.’

The device was designed to send a very simple signal that indicated whether a certain mana source remained active.

Draven remained thoughtful, but then took another fragment from the same box and placed it beside the first.

The instrument reacted immediately and the inscriptions began to connect.

’Wait...’

Draven examined the results again and the information seemed to correspond to a magical mark linked to a living being.

As long as the individual remained alive, the mark sent periodic signals toward a receptor, but when the individual died, the signal disappeared.

"..."

Draven observed the fragments.

’So someone was watching them.’