Olivia, Shina, and Adrian made their way down a flight of stairs and entered the union’s armory. Special weapons and armor filled the shelves from top to bottom. Some weapons were inside glass cases protected by crystals that served as a security system.

There was one particular staff that was floating in midair and was surrounded by the largest crystals. On its nameplate, the words ‘Excidium’ was written. It looked important.

Adrian sighed in relief when he saw the staff still in its stand. “Now we just need to tighten security and guard it from theft.”

“Why is this particular staff heavily guarded?” Olivia asked.

“In the hands of a normal summoner, it functions like any ordinary staff that helps concentrate a familiar’s energy when performing difficult spells. It’s particularly dangerous when the energy concentrated comes from a corrupted source,” Shina replied.

“Like your familiar for example,” Adrian added.

Suddenly, Mezolas the eye of nightmare materialized right after he was being mentioned.

“Mezolas?” Olivia wondered why he chose to show himself.

Mezolas poked the staff with a tentacle. The crystals did nothing to stop him from doing so. It immediately dissolved into nothingness.

"What did you do to the staff, you vile creature?" Adrian was angered.

"Foolish human of the corrupt House Icarus! Do your wise senses tell you not of the illusion magic before you? A man of your own house has bested you, betrayed you! You believe not."

"Honestly, I'd rather believe my own kin than a suspicious floating eye with wriggling tentacles." Adrian shook his head in dismay.

"These handsome tentacles are the pride of the other realm! Be in awe as they wriggle!" Mezolas tickled Adrian's neck and face with his eager tentacles.

"Stop it!" The prodigy of House Icarus tried not to succumb to laughter as the creature of nightmares defiled his profile with dancing tentacles.

"Calm down, you two!" Olivia tried to stop both of them.

Liriel appeared before them. She pointed a spear at Mezolas. "Halt, creature of darkness! I shall not allow you to continue with your ludicrous actions towards my summoner."

"Guys! Cut it out! The staff is missing and whoever took it is on the run. We shouldn't be wasting time like this," Olivia raised her voice.

"Olivia is right. We need to chase after my uncle, Glen Icarus." Adrian pushed away Mezolas' smooth tentacles. “He is the only outsider that has free access to this place.”

“Very well. If that is what my Lady commands, I will follow,” said Mezolas.

The group left the union headquarters and attempted to locate Glen Icarus. Fortunately, he wasn’t so far away from the base. They caught up with his carriage immediately and intercepted it.

“Uncle, please forgive my rudeness, but can we please inspect your belongings?” Adrian requested.

“What is the meaning of this, Adrian?” Glen Icarus replied from inside his carriage.

“An important artifact is missing from the union armory.”

“You dare accuse me of theft?”

“Your companions could easily have been the thieves.”

“I assure you. I saw nothing unusual during my visit. Perhaps you are looking in the wrong place?”

From the corner of her eye, Olivia saw someone dash away from the carriage carrying a briefcase.

“There’s someone making a run for it!” Olivia shouted.

“Let’s go after him, my Lady!” Mezolas appeared.

Shina and Olivia chased the person running. Mezolas extended his shadow and grabbed hold of the man’s leg, causing him to trip and fall. The briefcase fell out of his hands and fell on the ground. When Shina opened it up, the staff was found inside.

“Please don’t arrest me…” The man begged. “Master Icarus said he would kill me if I didn’t take the staff away from the carriage.”

“So he really was involved, huh?” Shina said. “Olivia, I’ll keep watch over this man and the staff. Adrian might need some help stopping his uncle.”

Olivia nodded and ran back to where Adrian was.

“How is it, Olivia?” Adrian asked.

“The staff was found inside the briefcase,” Olivia replied.

“So the thief was one of my servants after all.” Glen Icarus nodded. “I will be more careful next time.”

“You were the one who told him to take the staff and run.”

Glen Icarus looked at her angrily. “Don’t lie to me! Why would I steal the staff? Honestly, Adrian.”

Adrian looked at his uncle and then at Olivia. He was in a difficult position.

“My nephew Adrian, would you believe a girl with no accomplishments or your esteemed uncle who has long supported the union?”

Adrian sighed and closed his eyes. “Forgive me, uncle, but you’re the only one who could pull off an illusion trick like that using your familiar’s ability. For that reason, I’m forced to suspect you.”

Glen Icarus cursed and looked at Olivia. “I knew I should have gotten rid of you while we were at the library.” He called his familiar. Immediately, an illusion spell covered the area and enveloped Adrian and Olivia. “Forgive me, Adrian. I did not intend for it to come to this.”

“Be careful, Olivia. My uncle specializes in illusion magic. He is one of the best,” Adrian warned.

“Mezolas!” Olivia called.

Glen Icarus laughed. “The Eye of Nightmare. So you were actually the lady after all… What an unlucky coincidence.”

Mezolas gazed intensely at him. “I do not know you, but you dare attempt to trap my Lady in this flimsy illusion spell? I’ve seen powerful summoners wield the same illusion magic as you. They are the best of their kind. A worthy opponent. You bring shame to their name with such a weak spell! You should just be a party entertainer. Your skills are nothing but only for show.”

“D-Don’t insult me!”

A drop of sweat trickled down Olivia’s cheek as her familiar continued roasting Adrian’s uncle.

With one attack, Mezolas dispelled the illusion barrier like it was a thin balloon close to popping. “You actually believe to be worthy of using the very staff you stole? What a joke! The staff is only for ones who possess the strength. It is not for walking rotting corpses such as yourself.”

“M… Mezolas… I think that’s enough,” Olivia tried to stop him.

“Uncle, if you will turn yourself in, we won’t have to fight. I don’t want to have to harm my own family member,” said Adrian. “Please.”

“Adrian, there is no way I will voluntarily turn myself in,” replied his uncle.

“Very well…” Adrian closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. “Liriel!” He summoned his valkyrie familiar.

Liriel had her spear ready. “I am yours to command, Master Adrian.”

“Capture him alive. As much as possible, don’t hurt him.”

“As your wish.”

Olivia stood where she was. “Should we help them, Mezolas?”

Mezolas stretched his tentacles and yawned. “This battle is between kin. I do not wish to interfere in such matters. I’ve already lent my aid.”

“You were mostly just insulting him though.”

“Break a man’s spirit, and you break him in battle.”

Glen Icarus was no match for his nephew. Although he was an esteemed summoner of House Icarus, his familiar’s ability involved trickery and outwitting opponents. Such fighting methods were a bad match with his nephew. He and his familiar were immediately defeated and captured. By the time Shina returned with their other captive, the battle was over.

Adrian kept his back on her. “Olivia, please call the authorities. And thank you for today.”

“Are you alright?” Olivia was a little worried.

“I’m fine. It’s just hard seeing a man I respected fall like this. Indeed, House Icarus will be displeased with today’s incident. I will have to answer to the house elders. Until all this has been resolved, please keep what happened today a secret.”

In the end, Glen Icarus was arrested for theft. The whole incident was never announced to the public to preserve the honor of House Icarus. Adrian was deeply disturbed by the whole thing that he appeared less often in public. He was much too busy unraveling the motives of his uncle for stealing the staff.