Most of the students were in the library and doing their homeworks that was due tomorrow. Also, they were learning the notes before Friday and they had to take this seriously like it was their exams. It was better to do everything in the library because it was quiet and the students could use the books in the library to help them with their homework. Also, the librarian didn’t tolerate any loud noises in the library which made it easier for the students to learn properly.

  Lithanya was sitting alone in the corner and doing her first homework out of five homeworks. She wanted to finish her homework and learn some notes from each textbook so she could spend the rest of the evening going through a case called Theodora.

  Eleanor appeared by the desk and took her seat on the opposite side. “Lithanya, from tomorrow we’ll be starting to investigate a case.”, she said.

  Lithanya looked at her, stunned. “Huh? But we just started the lessons.”, she mentioned.

  Eleanor pulled out the announcement paper that was written by Shilin. “I got this announcement paper before I came here.”, she handed it to Lithanya.

  She took the paper and read it thoroughly.

  Dear first year students

  Tomorrow, you’ll be working on your very first case. You’ll be assigned with a senior investigator who will be training you while you’re solving the case. You’ll meet your investigator at exactly eight o’clock tonight.

  Emperor Huang

  Lithanya slammed the paper on the table. “We just started in the academy and we were told that we’ll only start solving cases next year.”, she found this more suspicious.

  “I know and I don't know what's going on right now.”

  Lithanya looked at Eleanor, stunned. “I’m really scared about who’ll be my senior investigator.”

  “Hopefully, it’s not Miss Moonshadow. I heard that she is really strict and scary to work with during a case.”, Eleanor whispered. “Hopefully, I get Lisa because she seems so much fun.”

  “As much as I'm scared to know who’ll be our senior investigators, I’m more worried about the cases we’ll be receiving. This academy is known for dealing with really difficult cases.”, she whispered.

  Eleanor fully agreed. “I thought we were going to get trained for at least for a year then in the second year we’ll be doing cases.”, she pointed out.

  “That’s what I thought too.”, Lithanya was surprised too.

  A junior investigator just entered the library with a rolled paper. She stuck the paper on the galaxy shelf then walked out of the building. Some students appeared where the paper was. It was for the first year students and who would be the senior investigators in the cases for ten years. They started jumping for joy as they got to know who their senior investigators were.

  Lithanya and Eleanor appeared in front of the paper. Eleanor found her name and started clapping for joy to find out that Samantha wasn’t her senior. Unfortunately for Lithanya, her senior investigator was Samantha.

  The horror.

  She couldn’t believe it that she got the investigator she was dreading not to get at all. She continued looking at the list out of curiosity until she saw Yaithra’s name on the list and next to her name was Haoran. Her light ocean blue eyes became wider which shock.

  “Why’s my sister’s name on this list?”, she asked with shock, shocked then ever before.

  Everyone looked at the paper. “Oh, how is she on the list when she is your right hand knight?”, Cassian mentioned.

  Lithanya looked back at the paper, looking really shocked to see her sister’s name on the list. Until she realised who was the person behind this. She went back to the table to get books then to go see this culprit investigator.

  Haoran was in his office, going through the book he stole from Shilin’s storeroom. He had already started reading the book early in the morning and at times he didn’t need to teach. Someone knocked slightly roughly on the door. Haoran shot a silver light on the book and it disappeared instantly.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  “Come in.”, he answered.

  The door opened widely and Lithanya walked straight to the desk. “Why’s my sister’s name on the list?”

  He looked confused. “Please be specific.”

  “On the list of the first year students who’ll be working with the senior investigators.”

  “Oh, that list. I was the one who did it.”

  Lithanya was about to burst into fumes. “You do know that she is my right hand knight. She isn’t attending the academy.”

  “I know that but I noticed she has been attending the classes. Also, learning from your textbooks.”, he mentioned.

  Lithanya shook her head. “Because she has been getting bored sitting in her room.”

  “Well, to not make her bored so I decided that she should participate in the cases. And I’ll be her senior investigator. There’s nothing you can do about it because the decision has already been made.”, he explained with some cockiness in his words.

  She again couldn’t believe this at all. “Is this a retaliation for what I said last night when I tried to stop you from fighting with Yichen?”

  “It could be. After all, your sister also lived a soft life. This will also teach her how to fight properly, have powers and be a proper right hand knight.”, he hissed. “Also, I chose Samantha to be your senior investigator because she is really strict and expects high expectations from you. Also help you to become a proper empress. And she doesn’t tolerate any nonsense so you better do very well. She doesn’t like it when people fail.”, he hissed.

  “After what you just did, I’m thinking about whether now I should really work with you.”, she hissed back.

  “Too late, you already made the decision earlier.”, Haoran spat back.

  Lithanya couldn’t believe that he was doing all of this because of what she told him yesterday. Right now, she was regretting helping him and trying to stop from fighting Yichen. Lithanya walked back to the doors with full irritation but in her body. Haoran flicked his fingers and the book appeared again instantly.

  Lithanya was walking in the empty passage when she saw Samantha coming out of her office with her arms crossed. Her royal blue eyes went straight to Lithanya’s direction. Lithanya caught her attention and greeted Samantha by bowing.

  “Come to my office now.”, Samantha instructed her.

  Lithanya stopped and stood on the same spot with some confusion. Then she immediately walked to the room because Samantha didn’t like any delays.

  Samantha was standing by the desk. “Close the door.”, she watched Lithanya coming into the room. Lithanya listened and closed the door immediately. “As you know that I've being selected as your senior investigator for ten years and we’ll be working on cases together.”

  Lithanya didn’t know how to answer her. “It’s an honour to be working with you, Miss Moonshadow.”, she tried to be positive.

  “My attitude in the classes will be different when dealing with cases. But again, I expect absolute excellent responsibilities from you since you’re the oldest student in the academy. Since you’re learning how to be a proper empress, I expect to see that responsibility in you.”, she explained firmly.

  “Understood.”, Lithanya acknowledged.

  Samantha glanced at her. “Like I said in class earlier, I expect good expectations from you. Higher in this situation because you’ll be working dangerous and difficult cases. I don’t like failures so I don’t expect that from you. I’m going to be really strict on you, that also means no unnecessary excuses unless they’re valid. Understood?”, she asked clearly.

  “Understood.”, she acknowledged firmly.

  Samantha was glad to hear that. “I’ll see tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, Miss Moonshadow.”, Lithanya bowed, then walked out of the room.

  Samantha went to the chair by her desk to do some important work before she could call it a day.

  Lithanya was back in the library but this time, looking for a book that was related to Theodora. The library was completely quiet because most of the students were now in their rooms after they finished their homeworks. Lithanya was walking around the room and was looking for that book Lona told her that she should find. Also, Lithanya was being mindful of her surroundings so no one would find her suspicious. This library was so massive that it was going to take her a while to find.

  After walking around for fifteen minutes, Lithanya hadn’t found anything that was related to Theodora. She stood in the centre of the library and was thinking really hard where that book would be. Unless, that book was hidden in a secret chamber.

  It’s in the history section.

  A man spoke in her mind. Lithanya stared at the shelves with confusion because she didn’t know whether to listen to that person or not.

  Listen to me and follow the instructions.

  Lithanya finally listened and walked to the history section which was on the other side of the library.

  She had arrived at the history section that was filled with tall galaxy coloured shelves and books. Now she was waiting for the next instruction.

  Third row, turn to the right then turn to the right again. You’ll find the book there.

  Lithanya listened to the instruction and did as she was told. She stopped by the third row then turned to the right. Her eyes went to the shelves she was instructed to look at. Now she was looking at the book that had the name Theodora.

  After searching for five minutes, she finally found the book that she was looking for. She pulled out a light and yellow thick book from the shelf slightly higher than her. She carefully pulled out the book without making a sound or dropping it. Once she got the book and held it tightly, she immediately walked back to her room while the librarian was also busy in the storeroom.