What kind of joke is this?»
«Wait. Listen,» he put a finger to my lips, strangely finding them in the gloom, «I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, I just didn’t have time to think of anything.»
Struggling to resist the untimely urge to lick the palm pressed against me – now, knowing that it was him, I could not drive away the swarm of uninvited thoughts, especially when he was so close, almost pressing me with his body against the wall – I said again through clenched teeth, but with less irritation:
«What happened that couldn’t wait? What can’t be discussed in my office? Just ask in the hallway? By the way,» I suddenly remembered, «I need to go to the investigator, and you’re detaining me.»
«Yes, yes, that’s why,» Erchin removed his hand from my face and moved, obviously trying to give us some space, but the attempt was not very successful: it was easier to breathe, but our thighs were now almost rubbing against each other, "I needed time to talk before your interrogation…»
«Not really interrogation. Just conversation…»
«Oh, you shall believe me!» He snorted in exasperation. «The captain doesn’t waste time talking. Okay, it’s not about your interrogation, in the grand scheme of things.»
«So, what’s the deal?»
«It’s about me,» Mavinus sighed. «About Azuin, to be exact. More precisely, in their suspicions… against me…»
«Suspicions?!» I gasped. «Do they suspect you too?»
«Too?»
«Well, Adiree said she was hinted to, too…»
«Hah, they hinted! No more hints! They’ve already searched my office…»
«Like most of us,» I interjected.
«And now they’re on their way to my house to turn it upside down,» he growled in displeasure, moved again, touching my chest, which sent hundreds of hot lights through my body. «I have nothing to do with it. Why the hell are they going to get into my life?!»
«Ahem,» I shook my head, focusing on the topic of the strange conversation, «it’s just their job. They’re checking everyone, why are you so excited? You know,» I finally protested, «this trick of yours,» I waved my hand, circling the space around us, «it’s not in your favor. Why do you have this kind of behavior if you have nothing to do with it?»
«Do you think I…»
«No, I don’t think so. Why do you need such a headache as the snake Azuin? Only a crazy person will voluntarily make contact with it. But why did you drag me here?!»
«It was necessary that no one saw me talking to you before the interrogation. They may draw the wrong conclusions…»
«And so they’ll draw the right one, of course! Squeezing into dark, dusty corners is exactly the right conclusion that the dean and his teacher need, yes.»
Erchin shifted from foot to foot, wheezing strangely.
«No, of cause. Sorry… It was awkward. But you’ve already gone there, and… I did it faster than I thought…»
«Men… Pff…»
«I just… Anyway, listen,» he took me by the shoulders, «help me.»
«Help?! But with what?»
«Just don’t take for granted everything Wolfrock tells you. And remember, I had nothing to do with it. And you’re the dean, and…»
«Do you think,» I said, «that I’m going to help you get away with it because I’m your boss? What the heck…»
«Oh, no. Think so… More precisely, not to go out, but simply not to get bogged down deeper. You see, if my boss is going to have doubts, then these bloodhounds are even more so. It’s just that believe me, I have nothing to do with it.»
«We’ll see who’s what,» I stepped to the side, pulling back the curtain and shaking his hands off my shoulders. «I’ll draw my own conclusions…»
«I just wanted you to understand…»
With a grunt, I slipped out of the alcove, dusted myself off, and began to go up the stairs.
Perhaps it seemed to me, but at some point the professor wanted more than just understanding…
***
John’s office faced west, and the sight of the sun beginning to set shocked me. It’s not that I’m new to such sights, but as long as I’ve been studying and working here, I’ve never seen the windows and the whole this office so free of clutter.
Well, not garbage, just miscellaneous furniture – cabinets, chests of drawers, bookcases, tables, chairs, stools and stepladders, equipment – appliances, cones, sets of chemicals, artifacts of all kinds from different parts of the world, thousands of books and hundreds of gifts. Today, the holy of holies of Vice-Rector Roginis seemed almost empty. The carved three-dimensional maps of our Enthuaria, Bergar, and other states of the Core World, which occupied the entire far wall, were now especially striking: magnificent works of art, after all.
«Damn! I thought only the Emerald Azuin had been stolen, but I see it’s more serious. The thieves did their best,» the smile on my face quickly faded as soon as I met the man sitting at the huge desk. Yes, the joke failed, it seems.
The captain – evidently, he was – was not a bilious old man at all, but a young man of interesting appearance – not particularly remarkable, at first glance, but for some reason not allowing you to take your eyes off.
He was of medium height, as far as I could tell, with wheat-brown hair, a little longer than is customary for civil servants, a sharp, well-groomed goatee, and penetrating eyes as blue as mountain lakes. A blue shirt and a dark jacket… The guy was handsome, if you look closely: he was spoiled only by tightly pressed lips and strictly knitted eyebrows. However…
That «however» I didn’t think of: he finally deigned to introduce himself.
«Greetings, Dean Chimer. I’m Captain Christophe Wolfrock, Senior Investigator for Special Cases at the Azuin Office for the Supervision of Magical Phenomena. I am glad that I can talk to you.»
Neither «hello» nor «sit down» for me. He didn’t even deign to get up from the table. Yes, politeness is clearly not taught in these detective universities, or whatever it is. Pff…
Without asking permission, I sank into the chair opposite him, carelessly straightened my hair, and, putting on all the sternness of which I was capable, addressed the man who had so intimidated my friends:
«Good afternoon, Captain. I’m ready to answer your questions.» I wasn’t going to get nervous and take the situation too personally. To be honest, I hadn’t recovered from our little close encounter with Erchin yet, so I had a lot to worry about other than this question… or interrogation, judging by the stories.
He leaned forward slightly, looked at the papers on the tabletop, pulled out a small colored card, and pushed it toward me.
«Here. Do you recognize it?»
The photo was small and old, I did not take it in my hands, but only bowed my head a little lower, peering at the image.
«Yes and no,» I shrugged and looked directly at the investigator; strangely enough, he was silent, asking no further questions and giving me a chance to speak myself; knows how to play these games, ahem. «Yes, it’s Emerald Azuin, obviously. I’ve seen paintings – not photos, really, – and