Back home, Arno began to go through the files Angie had given him earlier. And soon, the link he sensed between Erica and Sophia Luminis, the SSI investigator, appeared. Three years earlier, Sophia had been found with amnesia in the very place where Erica had found death and that the same day... It could definitely not be a coincidence... And yet, no trace of her in the investigation file related to Erica's death. How did the investigators at the time miss that?
Arno now had a starting point from which to dig, witnesses to consult, and he planned to take advantage of them. First step, question the person who had discovered Sophia, three years earlier, inanimate in the cathedral. A nun named Maria Zelata.
The next day, after his shift was over, Arno went to her house to question her. She lived in a small pavilion in a residential area with a relatively wealthy population. When he knocked on the door the first time, he received no answer, yet several clues indicated that she was at home, a car was parked in front of the entrance, lights were on and he could hear music through the door. He knocked again: "Madam, Zelata, police, please open the door, I have some questions for you! »
This time he heard a response from inside and a few moments later the door opened.
A woman opened the door for her, she was between thirty and thirty-five years old, rather pretty, her hair short, black tinged with purple reflections, her eyes small, she was dressed in a white robe bordered by a pink satin border. Her hair was still damp, obviously, she was getting out of the shower and hadn't taken the time to dry herself properly. She was the exact opposite of what he had imagined and the fact that she opened the door to him in this outfit further increased the feeling of discrepancy. He introduced himself and immediately she invited him in. There again, he was surprised, it was a rather modern interior, without superfluous but especially without any visible religious sign. He was really starting to wonder if he was at the right person.
- What do I owe the honor of your visit? »
His voice was soft and calm, she radiated a benevolent aura that made him feel at ease right away.
He handed her Sophia's picture:
"Well, I'd like us to talk about this woman, according to my information, you handed her over to the SSI three years ago, why? And above all, what is your link with the events that took place that day? »
She considered him for a moment before answering:
"I entrusted Sophia to the good care of Captain Morales, she had amnesia and no ties, it was the best thing to do... But, tell me, why are you interested in this old case, did something happen? »
It was almost imperceptible but the tone had changed, she was measuring it, she was trying to know what he knew and where he was going. She wasn't quite as relaxed anymore.
This change was a rather good sign, Maria must have been the kind of person who didn't know how to hide his emotions and he intended to use it well... If he beat around the bush longer, she could anticipate his questions, it was better to test his reaction by bringing the subject Erica directly.
"No, don't worry, she's fine, but I would like to talk to you about the second girl, the one who died that day! »
At these words, he saw her turn white, so he was right, she knew Erica.
She immediately recovered and tried to pretend ignorance, but Arno had already drawn his weapon and pointed it. "Don't move, now that I know you're involved, I won't back down! "Of course he had no right to threaten her, especially since he was not part of an official investigation, but he didn't care, at that very moment she was his best hope of knowing more about Erica's death, he wouldn't let her hide anything from him. But contrary to all expectations, Maria did not seem intimidated by the gun and faced it with the same calm that she had displayed since their meeting. She snapped her fingers and immediately, a spark appeared at the breech and Arno's weapon ignited, he dropped it by reflex but already, the sleeves of his jacket had caught fire. He immediately tried to put them out but the fire persisted. Strangely, Arno did not feel the bite of the flames on his arms, even his jacket did not burn, if he did not see them with his own eyes, he would not believe in these flames.
Maria's face also showed surprise but not for the same reason, she had used magic to get rid of her weapon but the fire should not have spread like that, but above all, it should be under her control...
Once the surprise had passed, Arno had regained a relative calm and his brain could analyze the situation:
"What's going on? My hands are burning but I feel no pain, and this feeling is like fire is part of me..."
This sentence he had just pronounced confirmed Maria's fears, Arno had just unconsciously channelled the flames and was now appropriating them little by little. She had never seen anything like it, did he have a natural affinity with fire, a latent magical power? To make sure, she cast a second spell, a spell of light this time and the same phenomenon occurs, he assimilated the spell, the flames disappeared and he found himself surrounded by a halo of light. So he had the ability to assimilate the surrounding magic. Such a capability could be extremely dangerous in the hands of the uninitiated, so it had to be sealed as quickly as possible.
Maria thought for a few minutes and then offered him a deal: she would give him information about Erica's death if he would let her apply an anti-magic seal.
Arno was doubtful, magic? If he had not had this experience a few minutes earlier, he would have laughed in his face, but anyway, whether he believed it or not was not the question, he would finally be able to obtain information. So he accepted without hesitation.
The hour that followed was one of the strangest of her life, Maria drew a mark on her back while reciting a kind of prayer. It wasn't painful, he felt a heat running down his back and getting soaked in him little by little.
When she had finished, she began her story. A story that began 5 years earlier.
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