The Beast to Beauty

Chapter 3 Motos

Deven and Elwin were transported to the rooftop of a tall building in the center of Motos City. From their vantage point, they could see the castles in the distance. To the east was the royal castle, which flew a red flag emblazoned with a lion, the symbol of the nation. The western castle had a blue flag, but from this distance, Deven couldn't make out the emblem.

Looking down from the rooftop, Deven could see the bustling streets below. Merchants were enthusiastically serving customers, people strolled along the streets, children played, and even non-human beings enjoyed meals at outdoor cafes. No one seemed to be in a state of panic or fear. Deven and Elwin surveyed the surroundings but saw nothing alarming.

“They’re way too calm. If there had been an attack by the Dark Witch, they’d definitely be reacting. Even with the protection from the magic stones, people would be worried about their safety,” Deven remarked. She used her heightened senses to scan the area, but she couldn’t detect the Dark Witch’s presence or hear any discussions about her. Instead, she noticed a surprisingly high number of magicians and witches in the streets.

“Why are there so many magicians and witches here?” Deven asked Elwin.

“Motos is famous for producing magicians and witches. The western castle houses one of the top three magic schools in the world, Blue Ocean Magic Academy. Most students come here to study water or psychic magic,” Elwin explained, pointing to a direction. Deven saw a witch using magic to water an elderly lady’s plants.

“Water magic is the easiest to learn, but psychic magic is the hardest to master. There’s a genius psychic magician here named Zavier Bedon. Maybe he could help break the Dark Witch’s curse,” Elwin suggested with a smile.

“Don’t joke. If breaking the Dark Witch’s curse was that easy, people wouldn’t fear it so much,” Deven replied skeptically.

“Rumor has it that Zavier has been researching how to counter dark magic with psychic magic. Although it's still in experimental stages, it might be worth checking out. After we handle things here, I could accompany you to meet him,” Elwin offered.

“If the Dark Witch here is the one who cursed me, I won’t need to see that genius. I won’t forgive her for killing my family!” Deven’s eyes turned gold with anger.

“Of course, meeting him could still be beneficial. If he can lift the curse, I could regain my original powers and even revert to my male form,” Deven said, calming down as her eyes returned to blue.

“Haha, let’s gather some information from the locals,” Elwin said, picking up Deven and jumping off the rooftop.

“Can you stop carrying me like that?” Deven protested, jumping out of Elwin’s arms.

Even if my appearance is female, I’m still male inside, you i***t!

Their dramatic entrance drew attention. Some people whispered, some continued their business unbothered, and a few watched in surprise. Disliking the attention, Deven moved to a less crowded area, with Elwin following closely. They observed the reactions of the people around them.

Typically, patrolling officers would investigate any disturbance. They decided to ask some locals for information first before speaking with the police. As an official member of the church, Elwin had a badge that would secure police cooperation.

They approached a fruit vendor, where Elwin engaged in conversation while Deven casually picked up an apple to eat. Elwin, used to Deven’s antics, apologized to the vendor and paid for the apple while scolding Deven about paying before eating.

Just then, a cheerful merchant approached them. He was a red-haired middle-aged man in a green striped suit. Despite the suit fitting him, his large frame caused his belly to jiggle with every step.

“Hello, beautiful lady and handsome gentleman. You must be new to Motos. Do you need a guide? I can recommend one. If you need accommodation, I can also help with hotels or hostels. We have both short-term and long-term options,” he offered enthusiastically.

“No, we’re not here for tourism,” Deven said, not fond of his over-friendliness, and tried to walk past him.

The merchant blocked their path again and, after glancing around, whispered, “I also sell information. If you need any, follow me.”

Deven and Elwin exchanged glances. They needed information, but getting it from such a dubious source seemed risky. Seeing their hesitation, the merchant grew anxious. Just then, a young man approached.

“Hello, Mr. Chadli. I was looking for you. Could you help my junior find nearby accommodation? He’s coming here for school soon.”

“Hello, Henry. How have you been?” Chadli greeted him warmly.

“Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting?” Henry noticed Deven and Elwin, feeling embarrassed.

“No, we’re in a hurry,” Deven said, not wanting to engage further and preparing to leave.

“Wait, here’s my card. If you need anything, feel free to contact me,” Chadli handed his card to Elwin, who took it and pocketed it.

“Why did you take his card?” Deven asked.

“We might need his help later. It’s good to have backup plans,” Elwin replied.

Two policemen approached Deven and Elwin. One, wearing glasses, questioned them, “You don’t look like locals or magic students. Do you have entry permits?”

“Hello, officers. We’re members of the church on assignment. Here are my credentials and authorization letter. Can we discuss this at your station?” Elwin presented his documents. The officers verified them with magic and returned them to Elwin. Seeing Deven, they asked for her ID.

“Sorry, officers. My friend’s ID isn’t ready yet, but the authorization letter mentions two operatives.”

"She cannot be allowed in here without any legal identification," the bespectacled officer said, frowning at Deven. Deven glared back at him. "Especially since she's not human. Even if she wears the Church's necklace, we won't accept a creature of unknown origin."

"Who are you calling a creature?" Deven's face darkened with anger. Normally calm, she was suddenly enraged. For some reason, being called a 'creature' infuriated her. Deven stepped forward, ready to punch the officer who insulted her. Elwin and the officers were surprised by her reaction, especially Elwin, who knew Deven rarely let others' words affect her. He realized that 'creature' struck a nerve that other insults did not.

Elwin quickly restrained Deven, while the officers drew their guns, pointing them at her.

"Wait, she's under my supervision," Elwin said, trying to calm the situation. "She is mostly harmless and won't attack anyone without reason."

"Don't lie! She just tried to attack us!" the bespectacled officer retorted.

Deven, finally calming down, felt a sudden headache. She tried to remember something, but the memories were hazy and painful. All she could recall was the wolf village and the dark witch; everything else was a blur.

Seeing Deven in pain, Elwin helped her stay upright, using his magic to ease her suffering. Gradually, Deven calmed down, but she had a vague memory of a dark prison, a place she couldn't remember visiting.

"I have a binding contract with her; she won't do anything dangerous," Elwin explained to the wary officers. "It's a high-level spell, and I can prove it."

The bespectacled officer was skeptical. "There are only seven high-level mages in the world, and I know all of them. None of them are named Elwin."

"This should be proof enough," Elwin said, lifting Deven's sleeve to reveal a complex red tattoo on her arm. This tattoo is a complex and captivating design. It is primarily composed of deep red ink, with the rose petals intricately layered, as if stained with blood, exuding a sense of vitality and dangerous beauty. Winding around the stem of the rose is a detailed iron chain. At the center of the rose lies a closed eye, resting quietly. The eyelashes are long and slightly curled, and beneath the eyelid seems to lie a profound secret. This eye is tightly shut, evoking a sense of both mystery and unease, as if it is guarding an important truth or awaiting a significant moment. Overall, the tattoo presents a strong contrast and sense of conflict, blending beauty and danger, freedom and constraint, tranquility and mystery, creating an unforgettable visual impact.

The bespectacled officer, silenced by his colleague's insistence, led Deven and Elwin to the nearby police station without further trouble. Elwin, relieved, adjusted Deven's sleeve back.

Deven didn't resist the contract; she knew it had saved her from losing control before. Now, deep in thought, she followed Elwin silently, feeling the weight of her memories and the contract's binding force.

At the police station, they were greeted by a stern-looking man with blond hair and blue eyes, who introduced himself as Frey, the chief. He invited them into his office, where Elwin explained their mission.

"We received reports of a dark witch attacking Motos. Have you noticed anything unusual?" Elwin asked.

"We haven't received any such reports. If a dark witch had attacked, the streets would be in chaos, but as you can see, everything is calm. I believe you might have received false information," Frey said, sipping his tea and looking out the window.

Elwin had considered this possibility, but upon arriving, he had already used magic to test the frequency of the magic stone in the area, and it was indeed unusual.

"Don't you find it strange that there are fewer soldiers around here?" Elwin asked.

Frey paused, realizing he hadn't noticed this before. He looked out the window again, seeing the usual patrol areas devoid of soldiers.

Frey, known for his keen observational skills, was now deeply puzzled by this anomaly. "I think you've all been hypnotized by the dark witch. As the chief, you couldn't have overlooked this. I request that you help us inquire at the knight's headquarters; this will expedite our search for information."

Frey's face darkened. To determine if he had been hypnotized, he called the knight's headquarters, but no one answered, making him reluctantly believe Elwin's words. However, without seeing the situation firsthand, Frey couldn't give a definitive judgment.

"Then why not take us to the knight's headquarters? That's the quickest way to find out," Deven urged.

Elwin was about to respond when he was interrupted by a sound like shattering glass. The noise reached both Elwin and Deven's ears, though not everyone could hear it. Only a few people on the street reacted. Sensing something unusual, Elwin led Deven to a secluded corner and began chanting a series of spells. His blue eyes transformed into a deep violet, filled with the imagery of a starry sky. Deven recognized this spell—it was the All-Seeing Eye, a high-level spell that was extremely difficult to master. Its purpose was to observe distant events in a short amount of time.

Elwin looked up at the sky and saw the protective layer formed by the magic stone's power slowly cracking.