บท 273: A puzzling trap

Cael was flying in circles above the city, trying to sense a hint of Mimi or Dante. Both had distinctive mana, but neither showed close enough for Cael to sense. Maybe they were outside of the city by now, or maybe they just hid somewhere in it.

The capital of the Mattoni Empire was kilometers in diameter. Even if Cael flew over it all in a spiral, it would take him a while to scan the entire city. By then, Dante could end up anywhere!

But it's been thirty minutes since Mimi's disappearance, and Cael wasn't yet desperate enough to give up.

Then he saw an unusual bird approaching him from below. Cael paused, sensing that it was magical in nature. The spell that held it together was actually familiar…

"Cael Oliveira!" the crow-like bird croaked in Dante's voice, flying up to Cael. "You won't miss him. Tell him that Mimi is alive and unharmed."