Page 63 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“I think there’s a demon here. A high-ranking one. Maybe a Son of Tenebreis,” I tell him excitedly.

He tilts his head to the side as he watches me.

“So?”

“So?” I echo. “This ishuge, Kai!”

“And how would you know that without your powers?”

“Because souls are missing!” I exclaim.

I give him a quick rundown of what happened in the infirmary earlier today and how three souls had vanished.

“Souls don’t just vanish! I didn’t even see them come out of the bodies of the deceased.”

He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “That is unusual.”

“Right? There must be something here.”

“Except I cannot sense any demon in the surrounding area.”

I blink. Without my powers, my senses are not as strong as before. But still, the missing souls alone are an indication that something odd is happening here.

“But there is no other explanation! There has to be something…”

“Minerva.” He sighs. “If this is your way of getting me to return your powers to you, then you are making a mistake. It isnotin my power to do so since your punishment was mandated by the House of Moirai.”

“But surely you can see that something’s happening here! Think about it. It could be a Son of Tenebreis, Kai. They can also hide their energy signatures.”

Kai rolls his eyes.

“The presence of Sons of Tenebreis on Anthropa is a myth, Minerva.”

“But Commander Azerius said?—”

“He does not have any proof for it. There might besomeSons of Tenebreis who were not in Tartareia when it was sealed off. And there might be some that can temporarily leave. But there is no indication they would come to Anthropa.”

“There’s the war. A lot of souls, isn’t that right?” I add weakly.

This isn’t going how I envisioned it.

“Anthropa is not the only world ravaged by war.”

“But, Kai?—”

“You are not getting your powers back until the end of your punishment, Minerva. Do not try to circumvent that. It will not work. Since you decided to stay in Anthropa, you’re on your own.”

He gives me a harsh look before he flashes himself out of sight.

I blink.

That’s…it?

I don’t understand. Shouldn’t he at least look into this? Missing souls is not a trifling matter. Itneverhappens without a reason. So what if he cannot sense a demonic presence nearby? I’m sure there must be something. And I aim to prove it.

So I will show both KaiandCommander Azerius that I can operate even under extreme duress, even without my powers. After all, I came first in my theoretical classes. I know plenty of chants and rituals that might aid me. It’s just a matter of finding a source of energy to fuel them.

Still annoyed by Kai’s lack of faith in me, it takes me a while to realize that my wound isn’t healing properly. It’s still bleeding, and it hurts.

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