Chapter 1: Krystal Lucidia

Krystal Lucidia was buried underneath sheets of paper and surrounded by piles of books in her dormitory. It was summer, and her third year at Halifax University was over. She had aced all her exams and a lengthy and relaxing summer awaited her. However, she did not spend it that way. Day and night she spent reading law books, getting ready to take the bar exam next year. She read about the rules concerning law, the trials and cases that had been previously held, and biographies of the famous defense attorneys and prosecutors. When she got bored, she turned on her television set and watched a courtroom drama television show.

She was indeed a law fanatic. She pursued her goal of becoming one of the most successful defense attorneys relentlessly, and the passion manifested itself, whether it was her buying every single courtroom documentary she could get her hands on or her reading of previous case files when she had access to them.

The dreams and passions, though, immediately shattered that day. While reading on the rules regarding presenting evidence in Evidence Law, she heard a loud voice outside in the dormitory hall. There were two distinct factors about the voice she heard. Firstly, it was old, meaning that it came from a professor or faculty, which was quite strange, for they rarely entered the dormitories. Secondly, it was trembling, hinting that the information to be presented was likely ominous or deeply tragic. Krystal shut her book and rushed to the door. Outside, she saw the old professor, knocking on doors. "All students, please report to the auditorium. The dean is holding an unplanned but mandatory and urgent assembly. Please, all students report to the auditorium." After he knocked all of the doors, he ascended the next floor. Krystal stood up, picked up the book, left her room, and headed to the assembly, unaware of the impact of the news she was about to receive.

"Faculty members, staff members, graduates, and undergraduates at Halifax," the dean announced. His voice reigned in the quiet auditorium. However, he did seem unpleasant while talking, for he knew that no one would receive it well. "The news I am about to disclose may shake the very foundations of our university and test the very bonds that hold us together. However, I urge you all to be strong upon receiving the news I am about to share. No matter what happens, we must persevere and continue our crusade for knowledge. At the same time, though, I must remind you all that an important quality of a 'Halifaxian,' as you may all know, is lending a helping hand in times of trouble. After all, if we are creating future pioneers in the field of justice to defend the innocent and prosecute the guilty, it would be downright embarrassing if we cannot even handle the simplest or most basic form of aid. What I am saying is that a terrible tragedy has struck our city, and we should view it not as a signal of our bleak future but rather as an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities to help those in need. This terrible tragedy I am referring to," he paused for awhile. "Is the bombing of two major Halifax sites."

Many of the students began screaming in fear that they would be the next ones to get attacked by a bomb. After all, Halifax University was also a major landmark of the city. Krystal, though dumbfounded by the shocking news, did not display the fear that her fellow students did, for she knew the university was unlikely to be attacked. As she stared at the Dean's grief-stricken face, Krystal remembered how when she was a kid, her friends and she would always wish for an earthquake, typhoon, or other disaster to strike just so they could miss a few extra days of school. She had been terribly naïve then. The value of life—the very idea of living one's dreams or striving for accomplishment—had far outweighed a few tiring or boring days at school.

She realized, however, that she had not changed much: she was still terribly naïve, for during the two-hour lecture, her entire life had fallen apart. Though her prospects as a law student were excellent, her reason to become a defense attorney had turned void, for apart from the bombings that later on were revealed to have killed around sixty something people, her best friend had to flee the country. More importantly, her mentor, the person whom she idolized to be, the person whom she studied under, the person who fueled her fiery passion to become an attorney, had gone missing and was even reported dead.

She lay on her bed in her dormitory for the three days following the Dean's lecture. Perhaps my reasons for becoming an attorney were misplaced. I was too dependent on my mentor. Then she shook her head. That's not the problem. It's just that I wasn't prepared to face the world. My mentor, another defense attorney, is gone. For all anyone knows, I may be the next person to go. And on and on she talked to herself and argued with herself, trying to determine the unknown force pulling her heart down.

Krystal Lucidia was buried underneath sheets of paper and surrounded by piles of books in her office. In her hand, she held an old newspaper that detailed the incident two years ago. She lowered her head, looking down at her desk. She recalled everything so vividly.

After order was restored in the auditorium, the Dean continued his lecture. However, only a few moments after bombings and halfway through his speech, the Dean received worse news: Halifax's largest bank had been robbed. Around four million dollars had been stolen. Television broadcasts later reveal that the bombings and the heist were connected, and they dubbed the slew of tragedies the "Shattering Crystal Heist." "Shattering" for the explosions, "Crystal" for the huge amount of money stolen.

Krystal soon learned that the perpetrators, the masterminds behind the grand heist and the terrorist scare were none other than the Desperadoes, an infamous terrorist organization composed of psychopaths inclined on not only leaving their marks on history, but also ridiculing the Halifax police force and taking a few lives down with them. Although they have had many attacks beforehand, the Shattering Crystal Heist was their masterpiece. With the elements of a scare and a robbery so well entwined, it was almost artistic—if one were able to look beyond the suffering it brought.

She sighed.

Caught in a tangled web of all her emotions—melancholy, regret, anger—Krystal forgot why she was reading the old newspaper on the "Shattering Crystal Heist" again. She had other important duties to do, namely a case to prepare for, and she certainly couldn't get emotional at a time like this. Then the phone rang, and she suddenly remembered. Earlier ago, she had received a phone call from one of her best friends—the one who fled the country—and that was enough to trigger the depressing past to reappear.