Fate - First Reply Stolen Papers (College of Elbion)

[Aiko]

Where is it?

The thought pierced through Aiko’s mind as she searched around the table with as much quickness as she could manage without showing. There was a difference between moving with purpose and being frantic. There was a time and place for the first, but never the second. Aiko knew well to never be seen as overwhelmed, even if that was the instinct clawing at her mind. Today that instinct was brought upon at the loss of her notebook, which she would have sworn was on the table mere moments ago. Aiko had never been one to lose things before, but this was the third such missing notebook Aiko had found herself dealing with in the last two weeks.

After a thorough search of the table Aiko remembered some words her father had told her. "Once is happenstance. Twice a coincidence. A third is enemy action." She had also remembered the words when the second notebook had disappeared, and brought additional preparations. From her purse she rolled out a scroll that held a map of the College of Elbion, and also pulled out a quill and ink. An incantation was spoken, and her fingernails began to glow a light purple hue. The quill slowly moved about the map, floating unaided before dropping the smallest speck of ink onto the page. The elf examined the spot. It was at least a hundred paces from her, probably more with the smaller human legs.

A thief then.

Aiko packed her things and began to move swiftly, but with purpose, to the spot on the map. She was unsure of exactly what she would do when she found her notebook, but on the Yamaguchi name she would not allow this behavior to continue.

 

[Yuebing Coquelicot]

Yue had been spending a quiet morning in the garden. She preferred to spend most mornings in silence...alone...if possible. This morning the quiet peace of the garden was disrupted by the sound of a scuffle and a splash. She stood slowly and and with a disgruntled expression. She really hoped that it wasn't one of the rowdier first years messing around in the pond again. There was a small pond with koi that she had taken to visiting on occasion. It seemed that not all of the students treated the pond's residents with such high regard.
As she approached she found the source of the noise earlier. It appeared a notebook had been haphazardly discarded along the edge of the pond. One of the koi had come up to give it a nibble. She had better remove the book before the fish took a chunk. She reached in to retrieve it.

Only after holding the soggy book at arm's length with a look of disgust, did she spot Aiko entering the garden with a purposeful stride. Aiko was one of the few students Aiko normally wouldn't be displeased to run into. Only....there was a bit of an aura about the elf at the moment. had she perhaps said something to upset someone again? She began mulling over what she could have done to make Aiko angry.

 

[Aiko]

As Aiko made her way closer and closer to the location marked on her map she noticed a familiarity to where she was going. Was it going to the koi pond? She did study there at times, perhaps she had left it . . . no, she hadn't studied there in three days, and she definitely had the notebook yesterday. The elf continued forward and noticed a girl at the pond. Was that Yuebing? It was, with her book her hands. She didn't see the girl pull it out, but the look of disgust on her face . . . it implied a hand that preferred things a bit less soggy. Unless she too held Aiko's ears in disgust?

"Yuebing." She said with a bit of caution on her tongue. "That is my notebook. Or it used to carry them at least." She said. She could see the ink bleeding through the pages on the water. She would be lucky to get anything useful from it.

"Do you know how it arrived here?" She asked. Aiko's tone was neutral, not accusing Yuebing, but clearly looking for information.

 

[Yuebing Coquelicot]

Yue's eyes slowly moved from Aiko back to the book. Oh. It was her notebook. Well that cleared things up a little. She returned her sharp gaze to the elf and shook her head.
"I was a moment too late.....I had come to see who was bothering the koi...." It would seem the culprit had made their escape but they could be too far. Yue was invested as well now. Who was bold enough to throw another student's belongings about. From what Yue had seen Aiko was no slouch with spell craft . Some of the students here seemed to lack any fear of retaliation to their actions.
Perhaps they should rectify that.

But first. She held the book a little higher to eye level and called to the spirits of paper and ink. Yue might not be able to do some of the flashier spells but she was decent at mending. The book glowed faintly for a moment then as if in reverse motion, dried and recovered some of it's ink.
It wasn't perfect, she could never manage to put something back exactly as it was. Which was a shame considering how artful Aiko's calligraphy strokes were. Still it was at least legible now.

She held the notebook out to return it to it's rightful owner.
"Given you asked....I don't suppose you have a suspect for this rogue vandal?"

 

[Aiko]

Aiko watched Yuebing carefully as the girl explained what had happened. She seemed mostly annoyed at the situation, that anyone would disturb the koi pond. The Dornochi girl held an demeanor that seemed more impersonal than anything else. What a contrast to the other Doroch resident Atticus. Perhaps their roles were as different as Aiko and her brothers back home.

The display of magic was a kindness that the elf had not expected, and one that assuaged her fears that Yuebing might have been involved. She wouldn't say she knew the girl well, but stealing a notebook to later attempt a fix was a bit more elaborate of an ordeal than she expected from any first year. Aiko took the notebook and bowed in thanks.

"No, I saw nothing of when it disappeared. I cast a spell to track it some time ago, and made my way over. It is odd though, that I saw nothing on the way over . . ." The elf thought a moment. The disgust on Yuebing's face, the comment of a 'moment too late' implied it was just dropped off. Invisibility spells were not typically taught to first years, and Aiko knew little of the upper classes.

Who then would find pleasure in taking her notes?

 

[Yuebing Coquelicot]

Yue's displeased frown deepened. Unless their goal had been to dispose of the notes purposefully, then she deduced that perhaps their thief had noticed the spell. Caught off guard they had disposed of it quickly to avoid being caught. That was only moments ago....there was chance yet that the culprit was still nearby. However it was only a chance...this was a collage of magic after all. Logic didn't always apply.
Perhaps they hadn't even set foot in the garden and only levitated it over or something.

Alas the only seeking spell she knew required a memento of the target. They were lucky that the thief had been hasty and careless, for if the book had been burned Yue would not have been able to restore it. Not careless enough though as they hadn't left much evidence to follow. Yue's eyes swept the ground and the edge of the pond. The ground of the garden here was made of loose pebbles and pavers, noisy but they made it hard to see foot prints if there even were any. If she had been paying more attention she might have been able to hear in what direction they went. "If only they had left a bit of hair behind or something....." Yue muttered to herself
With a sigh.

 

[Aiko]

Aiko examined the area around the Koi pond. She did not find anything as obvious as a torn cloak or footprint, but did notice slight disturbances in the landscaping. Pebbles in places they shouldn’t be, and water outside the pond.

“Perhaps there is thread to track.” She said aloud. “Thank you Yuebing. I appreciate your aid, but I shall have to continue searching.” She excused herself, not presuming the girl would come with her. Aiko preferred that she did, but would not try to force her hand.

The pond had a trio of entryways. One of which Aiko had come from, and another which was close to where the gravel had been disturbed. It was a gamble, but one she bet on as the direction of the vandal. The girl continued before noticing a small trail.


“Water.” She said softly, with a smile. If she was lucky it was splashed onto the thief’s clothes and had dripped off as the thief tried to evade. Nothing was guaranteed of course, but this was better than nothing.