[center][h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5157586][color=MediumAquamarine]Arin von Astastel[/color][/url][/h1][/center]
Arin’s patience was wearing thinner by the second. Waste of time? The only person wasting his time was the princess. Who was she to tell him how to do his job? No proper investigation has ever been done, and never will be done, by [i]not[/i] looking. Why was he even summoned here in the first place if not to investigate? 

Slowly, but surely, the letter in his pocket became something unpleasant and hard to ignore. Reminding him of what happened to bad little Astastels who failed to uphold a deal made in the House’s name. The thought sent shivers down the elf’s back.

[color=MediumAquamarine][i]You just had to make life harder for me, did you?[/i][/color] Reluctantly, but no less annoyed, Arin focused on gathering arcane energy to one focal point. When just the right amount accumulated, he cast two spells in quick succession.

Sensing something amiss, the guards rushed forward to defend their princess, ready to cut down the foolish elf who dared to ambush a member of the royal blood. Arin, unfazed, raised his hands in the air and waited for them to settle down. They anticipated for an attack that never came. When nothing happened a few more seconds later, the soldiers relaxed a bit. 

[abbr=“I cast a spell that encrypts what we say. No one here except for you and I can understand what we are saying. I believe this will make it easier for you to answer… what I presume to be difficult questions,”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]V pnfg n fcryy gung rapelcgf jung jr fnl. Ab bar urer rkprcg sbe lbh naq V pna haqrefgnaq jung jr ner fnlvat. V oryvrir guvf jvyy znxr vg rnfvre sbe lbh gb nafjre… jung V cerfhzr gb or qvssvphyg dhrfgvbaf,[/color]”[/abbr] Arin bowed dramatically and added, [abbr=“Lady.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Ynql.[/color]”[/abbr] The guards looked at each other in confusion, before aiming their confused expression at their mistress. 

The elf straightened up and began to peruse the study. Examining whatever he got his hands on, squeezing past others when he needed to, in order to find the thing that he requested earlier from the princess. Seeing that she never said no ---she in fact, never spoke about it---, Arin decided that it was a yes. As he did, he spoke in an even tone.

[abbr=“To begin, I must point out that I have been summoned here to do a very specific job. A job which you are actively getting in the way of me doing. To investigate is to carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts concerning whatever the subject is, in this case, a series of thefts. This is done to establish the truth. Preventing us to inspect the scene of the crime, princess, is the equivalent of trying to determine the cause of death of someone without their body; go horse riding without the horse; a tea party without tea. Or whatever analogy you prefer. The point is: you are preventing us from doing a thorough investigation. You... do understand how strange your insistence that we do not do our job comes off as, yes? Makes you look dubious.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Gb ortva, V zhfg cbvag bhg gung V unir orra fhzzbarq urer gb qb n irel fcrpvsvp wbo. N wbo juvpu lbh ner npgviryl trggvat va gur jnl bs zr qbvat. Gb vairfgvtngr vf gb pneel bhg n flfgrzngvp be sbezny vadhvel gb qvfpbire naq rknzvar gur snpgf pbapreavat jungrire gur fhowrpg vf, va guvf pnfr, n frevrf bs gursgf. Guvf vf qbar gb rfgnoyvfu gur gehgu. Ceriragvat hf gb vafcrpg gur fprar bs gur pevzr, cevaprff, vf gur rdhvinyrag bs gelvat gb qrgrezvar gur pnhfr bs qrngu bs fbzrbar jvgubhg gurve obql; tb ubefr evqvat jvgubhg gur ubefr; n grn cnegl jvgubhg grn. Be jungrire nanybtl lbh cersre. Gur cbvag vf: lbh ner ceriragvat hf sebz qbvat n gubebhtu vairfgvtngvba. Lbh... qb haqrefgnaq ubj fgenatr lbhe vafvfgrapr gung jr qb abg qb bhe wbo pbzrf bss nf, lrf? Znxrf lbh ybbx qhovbhf.[/color]”[/abbr] Arin closed the book he was skimming through and slid it between his underarm. 

[abbr=“Do you know what happens to commoners who do not live up to a sovereign’s expectations, princess? What you may get a slap on the wrist for, commoners are executed for. It is not unheard of in other kingdoms and there is nothing you can say that will convince me that your family do not have the same temperament. So if you are trying to make us take part in some kind of elaborate runaway, please, do it on your own time.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Qb lbh xabj jung unccraf gb pbzzbaref jub qb abg yvir hc gb n fbirervta’f rkcrpgngvbaf, cevaprff? Jung lbh znl trg n fync ba gur jevfg sbe, pbzzbaref ner rkrphgrq sbe. Vg vf abg haurneq bs va bgure xvatqbzf naq gurer vf abguvat lbh pna fnl gung jvyy pbaivapr zr gung lbhe snzvyl qb abg unir gur fnzr grzcrenzrag. Fb vs lbh ner gelvat gb znxr hf gnxr cneg va fbzr xvaq bs rynobengr ehanjnl, cyrnfr, qb vg ba lbhe bja gvzr.[/color]”[/abbr] Arin turned to Rynn, giving his undivided attention. [abbr=“If you are serious about what you said, however, then please stop wasting our time and give me straight answers to my questions. I need facts.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Vs lbh ner frevbhf nobhg jung lbh fnvq, ubjrire, gura cyrnfr fgbc jnfgvat bhe gvzr naq tvir zr fgenvtug nafjref gb zl dhrfgvbaf. V arrq snpgf.[/color]”[/abbr]

The elf stared straight into Rynn’s eyes, [abbr=“Why do you not want us to investigate the vault?”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Jul qb lbh abg jnag hf gb vairfgvtngr gur inhyg?.[/color]”[/abbr]
[abbr=“If you must know, we don't fully trust you all. At least, not enough to let you around the vaults.”]"[color=White]Vs lbh zhfg xabj, jr qba'g shyyl gehfg lbh nyy. Ng yrnfg, abg rabhtu gb yrg lbh nebhaq gur inhygf.[/color]"[/abbr]
[abbr=“As good as any reason, I suppose.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Nf tbbq nf nal ernfba, V fhccbfr.[/color]”[/abbr]

The guards expressed shock when they heard the princess speak. It didn't take them long to figure out what or who caused it. Their bodies tensed once again, ready to attack as soon as their mistress would allow it. Fortunately for the elf, the Lady didn't.

[abbr=“Did you lie to us at any point?”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Qvq lbh yvr gb hf ng nal cbvag?[/color]”[/abbr] 
[abbr=“I have not lied to you, but I see no need in answering ridiculous questions.”]"V unir abg yvrq gb lbh, ohg V frr ab arrq va nafjrevat evqvphybhf dhrfgvbaf."[/abbr] 
[abbr=“Let me say it is for the same reason you do not want us to go into the vaults, but I digress. Are you involved in the theft of the dagger?”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Yrg zr fnl vg vf sbe gur fnzr ernfba lbh qb abg jnag hf gb tb vagb gur inhygf, ohg V qvterff. Ner lbh vaibyirq va gur gursg bs gur qnttre?[/color]”[/abbr]
[abbr=“No. You wouldn't be here if I had been.”]"Ab. Lbh jbhyqa'g or urer vs V unq orra."[/abbr]
[abbr=“Would I not? Being part of a royal family would make it very easy to hide in the open. None of your subjects would dare, at least openly, suspect their princess.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Jbhyq V abg? Orvat cneg bs n eblny snzvyl jbhyq znxr vg irel rnfl gb uvqr va gur bcra. Abar bs lbhe fhowrpgf jbhyq qner, ng yrnfg bcrayl, fhfcrpg gurve cevaprff.[/color]”[/abbr]

For the first time since he cast the spells, the elf's voice took a softer tone, [abbr= “Is your life in danger?”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Vf lbhe yvsr va qnatre?[/color]”[/abbr] 

[abbr=“I have spent my life training, becoming the best warrior I can be. I like to think that if my life were in danger, I would be able to handle it myself.”]"V unir fcrag zl yvsr genvavat, orpbzvat gur orfg jneevbe V pna or. V yvxr gb guvax gung vs zl yvsr jrer va qnatre, V jbhyq or noyr gb unaqyr vg zlfrys."[/abbr] 

Arin seemed to contemplate something before pulling out the letter that was safely tucked away in his pocket. There was nothing extraordinary about the paper minus the insignia of two intertwined wyverns on it, [abbr=“Do you know, exactly, who requested assistance from House Astastel? Who arranged a deal with... ‘us’?”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Qb lbh xabj, [i]rknpgyl[/i], jub erdhrfgrq nffvfgnapr sebz Ubhfr Nfgnfgry? Jub neenatrq n qrny jvgu... ‘hf’?[/color]”[/abbr] 

[abbr=“No, I don't. I would assume my father, if not by his own hand.”]"Ab, V qba'g. V jbhyq nffhzr zl sngure, vs abg ol uvf bja unaq."[/abbr] 

Satisfied with the answers, Arin finally took his gaze off of Rynn and returned the letter into his pocket, [abbr=“Thank you for your honesty, Lady Rynn.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Gunax lbh sbe lbhe ubarfgl, Ynql Elaa.[/color]”[/abbr] He bowed slightly before resuming what he was previously doing, [abbr=“I do respect your cautiousness on the matter, but ‘trust’ is a two-way street, Lady Rynn. None of us here trust you either. Your royal title alone cannot win our trust. This is, at the end of the day, a business. A modicum of trust must be given for everyone to perform their given duty. A society just would not function properly if everyone is paranoid. What if the baker poisoned their loaves of bread? What if the people who made the roads made sure it led to our deaths? Etcetera, etcetera. It is never-ending and ultimately a pointless endeavor. Lady Rynn, I am not telling you to trust us wholeheartedly, that is unwise even among friends, but allow me to do what I was hired to do. To investigate the thefts.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]V qb erfcrpg lbhe pnhgvbhfarff ba gur znggre, ohg ‘gehfg’ vf n gjb-jnl fgerrg, Ynql Elaa. Abar bs hf urer gehfg lbh rvgure. Lbhe eblny gvgyr nybar pnaabg jva bhe gehfg. Guvf vf, ng gur raq bs gur qnl, n ohfvarff. N zbqvphz bs gehfg zhfg or tvira sbe rirelbar gb cresbez gurve tvira qhgl. N fbpvrgl whfg jbhyq abg shapgvba cebcreyl vs rirelbar vf cnenabvq. Jung vs gur onxre cbvfbarq gurve ybnirf bs oernq? Jung vs gur crbcyr jub znqr gur ebnqf znqr fher vg yrq gb bhe qrnguf? Rgprgren, rgprgren. Vg vf arire-raqvat naq hygvzngryl n cbvagyrff raqrnibe. Ynql Elaa, V nz abg gryyvat lbh gb gehfg hf jubyrurnegrqyl, gung vf hajvfr rira nzbat sevraqf, ohg nyybj zr gb qb jung V jnf uverq gb qb. Gb vairfgvtngr gur gursgf.[/color]”[/abbr] Arin pointed at his pocket without looking away from the book in his other hand, [abbr=“This letter is more binding than you can ever imagine.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Guvf yrggre vf zber ovaqvat guna lbh pna rire vzntvar.[/color]”[/abbr] 

Arin added another book between his underarm, [abbr=“Due to the nature of this contract, I will end up entering the vaults regardless of how much you trust me. Mind you, this is not a threat, it is part of the Houses’ reward for helping: to study the magical items your family possesses and borrow it, buy it if we must, depending on its magical properties. I personally wanted to examine the vaults to see if magic was even used to break into them. If the vaults do store a great number of magical items, I can only assume that the vaults are equally magical or anti-magical. That is all ignoring the possibility that there are secret passages that only a handful of people should know about. To be able to circumvent all that requires specific knowledge and resources. Things that I will not be able to find the specifics of because I cannot examine the vaults.” ]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Qhr gb gur angher bs guvf pbagenpg, V jvyy raq hc ragrevat gur inhygf ertneqyrff bs ubj zhpu lbh gehfg zr. Zvaq lbh, guvf vf abg n guerng, vg vf cneg bs gur Ubhfrf’ erjneq sbe urycvat: gb fghql gur zntvpny vgrzf lbhe snzvyl cbffrffrf naq obeebj vg, ohl vg vs jr zhfg, qrcraqvat ba vgf zntvpny cebcregvrf. V crefbanyyl jnagrq gb rknzvar gur inhygf gb frr vs zntvp jnf rira hfrq gb oernx vagb gurz. Vs gur inhygf qb fgber n terng ahzore bs zntvpny vgrzf, V pna bayl nffhzr gung gur inhygf ner rdhnyyl zntvpny be nagv-zntvpny. Gung vf nyy vtabevat gur cbffvovyvgl gung gurer ner frperg cnffntrf gung bayl n unaqshy bs crbcyr fubhyq xabj nobhg. Gb or noyr gb pvephzirag nyy gung erdhverf fcrpvsvp xabjyrqtr naq erfbheprf. Guvatf gung V jvyy abg or noyr gb svaq gur fcrpvsvpf bs orpnhfr V pnaabg rknzvar gur inhygf.[/color]”[/abbr] 

Arin walked back to his original position, [abbr=“So when your father asks me how the thief got in, and we find out nothing in the Underground, I am pointing my finger at you.” ]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Fb jura lbhe sngure nfxf zr ubj gur guvrs tbg va, naq jr svaq bhg abguvat va gur Haqretebhaq, V nz cbvagvat zl svatre ng lbh.[/color]”[/abbr] He shrugged, [abbr=“Hopefully before that happens you will reconsider and allow me to examine the vaults… but by then I fear there will be little to no traces of the perpetrator’s magic left to detect. Just keep that in mind.”]“[color=MediumAquamarine]Ubcrshyyl orsber gung unccraf lbh jvyy erpbafvqre naq nyybj zr gb rknzvar gur inhygf… ohg ol gura V srne gurer jvyy or yvggyr gb ab genprf bs gur crecrgengbe’f zntvp yrsg gb qrgrpg. Whfg xrrc gung va zvaq.[/color]”[/abbr]

Arin snapped his fingers, dispelling whatever it was that he cast. “[color=MediumAquamarine]Well then, I suppose I should go get my bags. Long way ahead and all that.[/color]” He then took the two history books between his underarm and showed the cover to the princess and her guards. “[color=MediumAquamarine]I am also going to borrow these.[/color]”