Chapter 29

"So, we need to find out who his opposition is." Crow said quietly, digesting all of that.

Politics, he hated politics, that was what the war was basically all about. The nobility had NOT agreed at all with the policies Osborne had set in place, with the royal family backing him, no less. They hadn't wanted to lose their prestige, their influence, everything that separated them from the 'lower classes'.

"And they'll probably need protection of some sort, including family."

"And…" Ash hated this, he really hated it because it was just a terrible thought, but it also was not out of Ouroboros depth of depravity either. "We need to keep our ears open for anyone who is voicing against Rogner and supporting the other candidate, enough loud voices usually are heard and Ouroboros will want to stifle them."

One person immediately came to the forefront of Melyssa's mind that would go against both Heidel Rogner and Ouroboros. "M-My grandfather." All eyes turned to her and that dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach surged almost violently. "My grandfather was close to the last mayor of this city. He's always been a FIRM believer in the traditions of Jurai and the power belonging to the commoners. I-If this is all true…and he spoke up against them…" Keep it together, don't think the worse yet, she mentally chastised herself, taking a slow, deep breath.

"Are your parents also traditionalists?" Juna asked, remembering Melyssa telling her about her grandfather living with her Mom and Dad.

"Yes. My grandfather instilled the traditions into his son, my Dad. They own the biggest fish market in Jurai, so they're pretty well known throughout the city." Melyssa felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Ash, nodding to let him know she was all right. "If we're going to find out who Rogner's competition is, my parents and grandfather would more than likely know. I-I'm not trying to sway us in the direction of my family because I'm worried about them either. I truly feel they will have the answers to our questions because of their influence and involvement in Jurai."

It made sense. Kurt couldn't deny it. "Then lead us to the fish market as long as it's all right with you, Instructor. They should be there right now, correct?"

"I would assume so, yes."

"It's up to the Instructor then," Altina spoke up. "I agree with Melyssa. This is our best lead and I do not believe she is doing it for personal reasons." After all, that wouldn't be very professional of a student of Thors Branch School.

"So, when I called you a fishmonger's daughter, that wasn't entirely accurate." This was not the time for jokes and he wasn't even joking, Crow was being absolutely serious. "You're THE fishmonger's daughter."

Someone who had influence, potential power, and backed the power belonging to the commoners. That was like… nobility with a soul and his eyes narrowed at Melyssa thoughtfully. Friends with his grandfather, who had been a very, very busy man. Busy enough that the few precious memories he had of said busy man were highly cherished. If Melyssa was being honest and he had every reason to believe her, he had spent more time with her family than his own.

"Hey, I told you my family took care of you as a child while your grandfather was busy being mayor. Did you think I was fabricating some elaborate story or something? The fact is we didn't just grow up together, Crow, we were RAISED together too. My family took care of you, clothed you, fed you, bathed you, made sure you got to school on time with me…you even had your own room at our house. And yes, I'm a lonely child…and you were like their adopted son."

Not only had he broken her heart when he ran away from Jurai, but her parents had been devastated as well. Her grandfather also because he had spent a lot of time teaching Crow how to fish. So many memories and he didn't remember any of them…it was a hard pill to swallow, but at least she didn't feel any animosity or anger towards him anymore. Crow raised an eyebrow down at her, wondering if she realized how she sounded.

He hadn't been questioning anything, simply making a statement.

"Let's go." Rean ordered before either could say anything again.

He was already seeing a headache forming. Maybe he should have asked his witch friend to see about restoring all of Crow's memories since either he hadn't come back with them all or he was purposefully blocking them out. Melyssa lead the way, each step feeling heavier than the next, but she had to be brave.

What if something happened to her family? What if Ouroboros had already struck? What if they were too late? It took everything in her power not to panic as she lead them to the biggest fish market in Jurai. The big sign in front of them read Brackett & Co. in big bold black letters. Melyssa froze at the sight of an older woman with dark blue hair, braided over her shoulder, cleaning the windows on the outside of the market. This was it. At least her mother was safe and sound. It'd been over a year since they last saw each other and Melyssa pushed down, fought back, the barrage of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Instead, she slowly walked toward the woman and cleared her throat, gaining the woman's attention.

"Hi, welcome to Brackett &…" Miranda Brackett's words died on her lips the moment she looked away from cleaning the windows, staring back at her own daughter. "Goddess…Mely, i-is that you? Is it really you?" Tears instantly began sliding down her cheeks as soon as the young lady in front of her nodded her head. "Oh, Aidios! You're alive, you're alive and you're back!"

Melyssa grunted when her mother threw her arms around her, hugging her close and she could feel how badly she was shaking. "M-Mom…"

"I prayed, oh I prayed to the Goddess every night for your safety! I had no idea what happened to you, if you were alive or dead all this time! Aidios has answered my prayers!" Miranda was beside herself, not caring who saw her because her baby girl had finally made it back home safe and sound.

"M-Mom…" Melyssa tried again and finally had to break free from her mother's grip, placing her hands on the woman's shoulders. "Please stop, okay? I-I'm not here for…a family reunion. T-This is my Instructor at Thors Branch School, Rean Schwarzer…and these are my classmates. W-We need to talk to you, Dad and Papa. It's urgent."

Miranda frowned, finally noticing the uniform her daughter sported and covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. "Y-You're the Ashen Chevalier, aren't you? And you joined his class at Thors?"

"Yes, he is and yes, I did and we don't have time for this. Where are Dad and Papa?"

Miranda swallowed hard, her face growing pale at the mention of her husband and father-in-law. "Mely…"

That dreaded feeling was in her stomach again. "Mother, where's Dad and Papa?" She tried asking again, only for Miranda to completely break down, and began crying. "Mom…"

Miranda shook her head, unable to find her voice, and wrapped her arms around herself.

"MOM!"

"Whoa Melyssa, calm down…"

Melyssa shoved Ash away when he tried to touch her, tears of her own already sliding down her own cheeks. "Mom! W-Where's Dad and Papa? A-Are they all right? A-Are they here?! DAD! PAPA!" She rushed past her mother into the shop, not sensing anyone else in here. "DAD! PAPA! WHERE ARE YOU?!" She shouted out, taking the stairs two at a time, and felt a coldness take over her racing heart, flinging every door open. They were nowhere to be found. "Goddess no, please…"

Miranda's husband, Robert, had been captured a month ago and she had no idea where they were keeping him…or if he was alive. Robert had done exactly what Melyssa feared, spoken his mind, along with her grandfather, Thomas, and they had paid the price for it. Thomas had been killed as a 'warning', by Ouroboros, and when Robert pursued his goal of protecting Jurai, despite what happened to Thomas, that had been the final straw for them.

Miranda gestured everyone to follow her inside before telling them what happened, not wanting it out in the open for everyone to see. She didn't trust anyone right now in Jurai and the only reason their business was still going because they were the largest fish market in the city. Some of the smaller ones had already been shut down. People were terrified for their lives and some had even left Jurai to start new lives elsewhere.

Melyssa listened from the top of the stairs and felt her heart shatter in her chest, not believing her Papa was dead. He hadn't died an old man either in his bed peacefully or because of some disease. He was MURDERED…by Ouroboros. Now, they had her father captive or he was already dead as well…and her poor mother was all alone to deal with this. She thought back to Crossbell, to her encounter with McBurn, and wondered if it really was a coincidence after all. No, it had to be because McBurn didn't even know her name and called her 'girl'.

It had to be a coincidence – a wrong place, wrong time scenario, right?

Unless of course, McBurn had known who she was, whose daughter she was, whose granddaughter she was and then the coincidence was out the door. Knowing all this now, again after the fact, had Rean's mind playing catch up as he began sorting this all out. Fishmonger, when he had heard that, he had thought of a small family, small business, commoner type of deal, and Melyssa's family were not exactly common. Not if they were the largest supplier in Jurai.

"Crow, Ash, I want you two down by the docks to check out the warehouse." Because a fishery, a business, this size would have to have a place down at the docks as well.

Miranda felt something akin to hope flare as action was FINALLY being taken over this.

"On it."

Miranda's head also shot up at the name Rean Schwarzer said, her eyes wide. "Crow? Crow Armbrust?"

Was the Goddess smiling down on her today or making a mockery of her? The man had silver hair and crimson eyes – there was no mistaking it, this was the same boy she had cared for and practically raised. However, she did not see any recognition in his eyes as he stared back at her and Miranda was somehow not surprised.

"Never mind, we'll talk later."

Crow merely nodded and followed Ash out the door.

"Juna, Altina, and Kurt, I need you to go around town, discreetly, and start questioning people on the possible whereabouts of Ouroboros' hideout. More than likely that's where they're keeping Robert Brackett hostage." Rean was all business, determined to help this family, and stood, his eyes moving to the stairs.

"What about Melyssa?" Juna asked, worry lacing her tone for her friend.

"Let the Instructor deal with it."

Kurt knew they had to put the investigation first, but that didn't mean Melyssa had to be involved, not until she was in the right frame of mind again. Finding out her grandfather, who she adored, was killed by Ouroboros, because of a Noble, and then her father was taken hostage…it was a lot for anyone to take in, especially on their birthday.

This was the worst birthday of her life.

As far as Rean concerned, right now the best place for Melyssa was here with her mother. Firstly, it allowed her to grieve in peace without the pressure of having to hold everything together for an investigation. Second, if anyone came through that door with ill intentions, it would rouse her and grief would be channeled into something else, which was a win-win. Crouching down by her, he reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his heart breaking at the tears and brokenness in those teal eyes.

"I want you to stay here until I come back, watch over your mother and take some time." He ordered softly. "Okay?"

Melyssa understood why he was doing this, leaving her out of the investigation, and just nodded, not able to find words. She should have been here all along instead of being selfish, trying to track down a man, who didn't even remember her. Her Papa was dead and she wasn't here to try protecting him. She was off at a military academy or sleeping in the woods being stubborn and bullheaded.

"Rean…" She grabbed his arm when he went to stand up, watery teal meeting concerned yet determined fuchsia. "Please…please save my Dad." In her heart, she felt he was still alive and she would hold onto that hope as long as she could. "Please…I-I can't lose him too…"

Rean's first instinct was to promise that he would and he even opened his mouth to say as much, but then he shut it, his lips compressing into a thin grim line. "I will try." He said finally, letting her hear the truth in his tone. He wasn't promising anything because he didn't want to have to disappoint her if he couldn't keep his promise, not after the day she was having, the news she had heard. Rean couldn't bear being the one to break her again by not living up to his word. "I'll be back." He whispered, brushing his lips against her forehead before getting up and stepping down to look at the remaining students. "We're moving out." He was going to, however, leave a few of the second years behind to keep an eye on the place from a distance.

Crow and Ash would be the ones to stay behind after they returned from the docks and warehouse, but that would take a while. Altina told Rean she would stay behind to keep an eye on Melyssa and her mother, while Juna and Kurt went with Rean to try to find the whereabouts of Ouroboros' hideout. Rean wasn't taking any chances, wanting this place and family protected. Melyssa felt worthless just sitting at the top of the stairs with her head in her hands, showing weakness.

What was she proving by sitting here, wallowing in pity?

Her Papa couldn't be brought back to life…not like Crow had. He was gone. Forever. Her Dad was in danger and she should have been out there with the others, grilling people for information. Instead, all she could do was sit here and cry, now understanding why she'd had a feeling of dread wash over her the moment Rean announced they were going to Jurai for their field study.

Papa, I'm so sorry I wasn't here to protect you. I love you so much and I miss you. Dad, please be safe. Goddess, please protect him and keep him safe until we can get to him, Melyssa silently prayed, clasping her hands tightly in front of her.