CHAPTER 70: THE INVESTIGATION AUTHORITY

The bell rang, and the class began to stir. Books closed, chairs scraped, and the low murmur of conversation filled the air as students filed out into the corridor.

Noah was sliding his notes into his satchel when Professor Cecilia’s voice cut through the din.

"Webb. Stay behind for a moment."

Several heads turned, curious, before their owners shuffled out. Noah stood, slinging his satchel over his shoulder, and walked toward her desk.

"I wanted to ask about your duties in the library," she said in a quieter tone, her eyes narrowing slightly in that way she had when she was considering multiple threads at once. "You’re not thinking of abandoning them, are you?"

"Of course not, professor." Noah replied. "I have two weeks left on my punishment."

"Good." She gestured for him to walk with her. "Let’s talk as we head out..."

They stepped into the corridor together, but any conversation they might have had was cut short.

Two men in the dark gray robes of the Investigation Authority stood waiting just outside the door.

Each bore the crest of the kingdom stitched into their sleeves, and the cold gaze of their eyes made Noah’s stomach sink.

"First-year Noah Webb," the taller of the two said, stepping forward. "You’ll need to come with us for questioning regarding the disappearance of Juniper Rowe."

Noah froze, blinking. "...Juniper disappeared?"

The question left his mouth before he could think. A faint chill traced down his spine.

Professor Cecilia turned toward the investigators. "What is this about?"

"Academy personnel may submit a formal request through the academy office to the Investigation Authority for further details," the second mage replied with a clipped tone. "Until then, that information is not for open discussion."

Her expression tightened, but she said nothing to challenge it. Instead, she looked back at Noah, her voice softening.

"Cooperate with them, Noah. I’ll see what I can do from this side. And remember, answer truthfully, but do not volunteer more than you must."

Noah nodded once, forcing his thoughts into order. "I understand, professor."

The taller investigator stepped aside, gesturing down the hallway. "If you’ll come with us."

Noah fell into step between them without resistance, feeling Cecilia’s gaze on his back until they rounded the corner and she was lost from view.

Whatever had happened to Juniper, it seemed like he was tangled in it, whether he wanted to be or not.

He sighed. ’Just another problem.’

As he was led out of the building and onto the campus, he could feel them.

The eyes.

Every step he took through the courtyard seemed to draw more of the student body into his periphery, heads turning, and conversations stopping.

Then the whispers began to bloom like wildfire, chasing him and the two gray-robed investigators all the way to the front gates.

He didn’t need to strain his ears to imagine the words. The rumors. He knew they wouldn’t be favorable. That was just the way the world works.

Even when he is exonerated, the rumor would still follow him around. A stain on his reputation that he may never be able to wash off.

He exhaled. Why was this happening to him?

The black carriage waited just beyond the gates, its lacquered surface absorbing the morning light.

The driver, cloaked from head to toe, didn’t so much as glance in Noah’s direction. The door swung open, and one of the investigators gestured for him to step inside.

The moment he settled onto the cushioned seat, a bag was thrown over his head, cutting his eyes off from the outside world.

The world became nothing but the muffled creak of the carriage and the faint scent of leather.

The vehicle lurched forward, and the sound of hooves never came. An enchanted carriage.

The silence of motion was eerie, stretching on for what felt like hours, though Noah knew it could have been far less.

When they finally stopped, the investigators guided him out, a firm grip on each arm.

He couldn’t tell if the air outside was fresh or stale, the bag over his head smothering every sense but touch and sound.

Their footsteps echoed as they descended a set of stone steps, each one resonating in the hollow space below.

The temperature dropped the deeper they went, the air gaining that unmistakable underground chill.

The corridors were long, and their turns sharp. His shoulder brushed cool stone more than once as they guided him through the maze.

Somewhere behind the bag over his head, he could feel the magic. The enchanted wards and barriers, something meant to keep intruders out or prisoners in.

Finally, they stopped. A door opened with the heavy groan of metal hinges, and he was ushered forward. A chair caught the back of his knees, and they pushed him down into it.

Fabric scraped against his hair as the bag was pulled free.

Blinking against the sudden light, Noah took in his surroundings. A narrow room with plain stone walls, a single table bolted to the floor, and three chairs.

The two investigators now sat opposite him, their gray robes standing out against the dim light of the single crystal lamp overhead.

Their expressions gave nothing away.

At this point, Noah knew. There was no mistaking what was about to happen.

This right here was no casual conversation. It was an interrogation.

The older investigator leaned forward first, his eyes narrowing just enough to make the question feel heavier.

"Where were you in the evening yesterday?"

Noah met his gaze evenly. "With my friend, Arlo. The whole time."

The second investigator didn’t bother writing anything down before speaking. "Then why did you meet Juniper Rowe that evening?"

"I didn’t." The answer came without hesitation.

Noah frowned. Juniper had disappeared yesterday evening?

With all that had happened with the monolith and Arlo, he hadn’t even had time to think about Juniper. But his mind could piece together what was in front of him.

They were treating him like he was the prime suspect in Juniper’s disappearance.

"You expect us to believe that?" The first investigator asked, folding his arms. "We have multiple witnesses who say Juniper left her friends yesterday evening to meet you."

Noah leaned forward in his seat. "And I’m telling you, how could I have met her if I was with Arlo all evening? Did any of these witnesses see us together?"

"That’s interesting." The second investigator tilted his head slightly, voice flat. "Everybody said she met you, but you say she didn’t. Then who did she meet, if not you?"