บท 33: Chapter 33: Don't Die
"You really didn't have to," Elena said, covering her mouth, "I was just trying to motivate you."
Don't think I didn't notice the smirk on your face.
"Well, thanks for that," Li Xiang responded, half-annoyed.
"Haha, you're so fun, you know that?" Elena finally couldn't hold back her laughter. "Ahem, okay, let's get to the serious stuff."
"This is the symbol of our Zodiac group," she said, pointing to the horn-shaped insignia. "Its origins are quite ancient, dating back to the 5th century. You've heard of the Arthurian legends, right?"
"Yeah," Li Xiang paused, masking his surprise, "It's a famous tale. I know a bit about it."
"In the stories of King Arthur, there was a figure known as King Vortigern. He had a force called the Black Knights, a group that could rival the Round Table. The Black Knights had two divisions: one was a formal order of knights, and the other was an intelligence unit named after the Zodiac. Their leader held the title of the Zodiac Commander."
Li Xiang was stunned.
This version of the Arthurian legend seemed... off.
He knew Vortigern from the legends—Arthur's uncle, a manifestation of the White Dragon of Britain, and Arthur's greatest enemy. But what was all this about the Black Knights and their intelligence unit?
"The Zodiac Division of the Department of Law has been around for over a thousand years. It's always been an intelligence group, tasked with monitoring the activities of the magic world."
"But we're just twelve people, aren't we?"
"Well, officially, yes—there are only twelve of us stationed here at the Clock Tower. But outside, almost every city has its own branch."
Li Xiang watched as Elena spun herself around on her chair, clearly enjoying herself, treating the office like her personal skating rink.
"So, does this mean you can access the records of any mage?" he asked.
Elena abruptly stopped her playful movements, her expression suddenly cautious. "Even though you're an official member now, there are still certain files you're not allowed to access."
"I'm not asking to see other people's files. I just want to see my own."
"Your file?" Elena's smile faltered. "Why?"
"I... I've lost some of my memories," Li Xiang admitted, deciding to be honest. Elena was too perceptive for him to hide the truth.
"Lost memories?" Elena looked at him with a strange expression before shaking her head. "No, you haven't lost any memories."
"Why do you say that? Have you read my file?"
"Of course," she replied casually, "I needed to review your information before your test. It's all clearly documented—up until you were 18, you lived in the normal world, attending school. After the college entrance exams, you received an acceptance letter from the Celestial Division."
Li Xiang frowned. What Elena said wasn't wrong, but there were still unanswered questions. Why had the Celestial Division sent him a letter in the first place? And how exactly had he ended up at the Clock Tower?
"Does the Department of Law have my application on file?"
"No, your application would be with the Celestial Division. And application files are just personal records, which should match the intel we've collected. Besides, you wrote your own application, didn't you?"
"I don't remember writing it at all."
"That's strange," Elena admitted, "But the Captain already ran a check on you. Your soul is completely intact, meaning no memory-altering magic has been used on you."
"Wait, what?" Li Xiang asked, alarmed. "When did the Captain check me?"
"Your first time here at the Department of Law."
"My first time?" Li Xiang couldn't believe it. "Are you talking about when I was brought here after that... incident? I don't recall anyone examining me. Did the Captain check me while I was asleep?"
"Bingo!" Elena snapped her fingers. "No reward for guessing right, though."
"Does the Captain know something?" Li Xiang asked, now feeling more frustrated.
"Hmm..." Elena dragged out the sound. "The Captain knows a lot. But right now, you're not in a position to access that information."
She leaned forward, resting her hands on the chair's arms, a slight smirk on her lips. "Maybe once you're sitting in my seat, you'll understand."
Li Xiang blinked.
He glanced away from Elena's tablet, realizing he wasn't going to get any answers. He changed the subject instead: "What happened to the person who held this position before me? Did they graduate?"
"No, they died."
Elena's tone was casual as she slid off her chair and walked to the back corner of the room. She pressed her hand against the wall.
There was a slight tremor.
Bluish light began to float through the air like jellyfish, drifting around them.
"Follow me," Elena said, grabbing the strands of light and weaving them together into a pair of ram's horns.
Intricate patterns emerged, writhing as if alive. In the blue glow, a doorway slowly materialized.
Elena stepped through the door.
Li Xiang followed.
The scene that greeted him was a vast expanse of blue.
Electric arcs flickered across the grid-like structure that encased the space, forming a massive area. Countless books drifted in the gas-like ether, resembling planets orbiting in space.
It was like stepping into a futuristic world.
As Li Xiang stood there, stunned, a beam of light descended from the ceiling, enveloping him.
"Li Xiang, student of the Modern Magecraft Division, official member of the Zodiac group. Access level: Tier 12."
"This is the intelligence room, controlled by the spirit particle computer," Elena said. "You can ask for any information you want."
"Li Xiang," he said aloud.
Instantly, a blue light bloomed before him, and a file materialized. He squinted at the title.
**Li Xiang's Personal Record**.
"This place is that advanced?" Li Xiang, amazed, quickly flipped through the file, only to feel a wave of disappointment wash over him.
It was detailed.
From the moment he was born up until now.
It even listed his scores for every single exam he had taken.
But everything was too... normal. Just as Elena had said, there was nothing unusual in his record.
"Access levels range from 1 to 12, with 12 being the lowest. Even with that, you can still access most of the data. Once we leave, I'll teach you a spell to open the Gate of the Zodiac," Elena said, noticing Li Xiang's distraction.
Her voice broke through his thoughts.
Li Xiang put the file back.
It immediately flew away, disappearing into the ether.
He hurried after Elena, realizing there was no point in lingering.
After walking deeper into the space for ten minutes, the blue environment began to darken.
"Lights!" Elena called out.
Suddenly, the area ahead lit up, revealing countless wooden plaques hanging in the air, densely packed and uncountable.
"You wanted to meet your predecessor, right?" Elena pointed at one of the plaques.
Jenny Bowie, age 19, died in 2001 at Finsbury Square, London.
Li Xiang read the words silently, a heavy feeling settling in his chest.
"Two years ago, a catastrophic fire broke out in Finsbury Square," Elena explained, her voice low. "A mage obsessed with eldritch beings used a ritual to surround the buildings with a magic circle. His plan was to sacrifice thousands of people to commune with a deity."
Elena's voice wavered slightly, her eyes fixed on the plaque. "A lot of people died... a lot. So, Li Xiang, whatever happens... don't die."
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