The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Horatio had pretty much left the old mystic speechless.

He'd been summoned up the mountain in what seemed like an emergency. Horatio thought it was something monumental. Turns out, he was supposed to learn divination!

Not many monks were into divination, but Horatio, being the stubborn monk he was, insisted on learning properly.

He'd dived into all the mystic's teachings, refusing to let the old man leave the mountain until he'd mastered it

Looking at the divination chart before him, the mystic pointed out a mistake, "This direction is all wrong. You've got the gates of life and death mixed up. Change it, and you'll get it right."

Horatio quickly made the adjustments and, sure enough. the anticipated divination appeared!

"So, I've got it. Much appreciated, my friend.”

The old mystic just waved his hand, eager to get off the mountain and have some fun, not really caring what Horatio was up to. “Off I go. Don't bother me for no reason!”

Horatio packed up his things and followed him down the mountain.

The night was clear, the sky a dark chessboard dotted with stars.

Horatio sat at a small café at the foot of the mountain, his monk's robe fluttering in the wind, his prayer beads gently rolling in his hand His gaze landed on a girl speeding along on a... shared bike.

Elara parked the bike, finding a spot after a bit of a search, and sat down opposite Horatio, as agreed.

"Sorry, Reverend, got held up with lab work. Tea's on me!”

"No worries."

With the café bustling, Elara decided to brew a pot of tea for Horatio herself.

After a sip, Horatio shared his findings, “Based on the divination, your mother encountered someone from the Polaris Star Project, sanctioned by Noella herself."

Elara nodded. "So, you're saying my mom got into trouble because she met with one of the top brass?”

"Indeed. The fire and illness weren't accidents. Noella mentioned her grandmother had stumbled upon a project and was investigating it before she passed.”

Horatio took another sip of tea.

"It seems Harriet and your mother might have encountered the same project."

He paused before speaking up frankly.

“If it weren't for your status in the Schnabel family. you might have ended up in the Polaris Star Lab... as a test subject.” The word 'test subject’ made Horatio visibly uncomfortable, prompting him to take another gulp of tea.

Elara's intelligence was rare, even among the Schnabels.

Polaris Star had marked her from years ago!

Luckily, Noella's involvement with Polaris Star had uprooted it entirely, avoiding further issues.

Elara pondered, "I want to know more about Polaris Star. Who should I ask? I'm worried about bringing up painful memories for Noella. Damn that Garrick!"

Thinking of her sister suffering made Elara seethe at Garrick's cruelty.

Horatio calmly suggested, "I've been with Polaris Star, alongside Noella.”

"If you don't mind, you can ask me. But for confidential matters, it's better to consult Noella.” Horatio added after a moment, "She wouldn't refuse your questions.”

"That's out of the question!" Elara firmly declined

“Even if Noella doesn't mind, I do. You don’t understand.”

Gazing out at the calm river, her smile was gentle.

I love my sister dearly! At first, I worried she wouldn't like me, might think was usurping her place. But Noelfa i is truly wonderful. Being her sister is a blessing!" Conterit’ belongs t6 -

"As her sister, it's my duty to protect her!"

Moved by Elara's warmth, Horatio felt a stir in his heart.

"..It's good that Noella found her family."

He knew Noella’s past struggles well.

Elara stood up, "I must go. Thanks, Reverend... Oh my! Who would steal a shared bike?!" Just as Elara stood, she saw someone making off with her bike!

They were at the foot of Dragon Monastery mountain, near a seldom-visited café.

Shared bikes were scarce around here, and now hers was stolen!

Elara was on the verge of tears, contemplating a taxi ride back to Imperial City but needing a bike to reach a cab-friendly area. Horatio dusted off his robe.

"I'll accompany you."

"Really? Reverend, you can drive?"

Horatio could indeed drive, but his offer to Elara involved a ferry across the river.

"By boat, it's quicker. You can easily get a taxi from the city."

"Sounds good!"

As they set off, Elara waved to Horatio from the ferry’s bow.

"Reverend, it's getting windy. Head back! See you next time!”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Horatio waved back, waiting until the ferry disappeared before he allowed himself a moment of reflection

"It's not the wind or the flag that moves.”

What truly moved, he mused, was a mystery only he might understand

Sitting in a diner, Noella checked her phone.

Raising an eyebrow, she read, "The monk says he's off to wander the world? Out of the blue, what's he up to now?”

Last time I checked, Horatio mentioned he'd be spending a while at the Dragon Monastery, schooling the novices, didn't he? And now he’s hitting the road again?

Must be something up if he’s reaching out specifically!

Palmer gently picked up a napkin, carefully dabbing away the frosting that Noelia nad accidentally gotten on her fingers from the cake, softly saying, I Horatio's amonk, © wandering’ s pretty much part of the job."

"I get that, but he tald me my sister's digging into our mom's past, thinks it might tie back to Polaris Star, and asked me... to lend a hand?" Since when did the monk start asking for favors like a diplomat? After a beat. Noella decided to just call Horatio and get to the bottom of it. Phone calls only go so far, so she got Horatio to drop by the diner.

Horatio showed up in his traveler's garb, and even though it had only been a few days, Noella couldn't shake the feeling that there was something mere serene about him!

"Do you need me to sort anything for your trip?”

"No need. My martial arts should hold up well enough, and it looks like our paths won't cross for a bit. Just got something for you to pass to Elara, if you don't mind.”

With those words, Horatio turned and left, not ancther word shared.

Noella, puzzled, opened the N sandalwood box Horatio left behind. Inside,an old set of prayer beads lay in silence, each bead engraved with harid- carved Sanskrit scripttires.

Noella was taken aback!

Weren't these the prayer beads Horatio had worn since he was a kid, never once taken off?