Chapter One " Sphaera Sensum"

"At court, highly respected knights who had already retired were murdered. The Duchess first tried to solve the cases with the help of her royal bodyguard. Unfortunately, hardly any evidence and traces were left at the crime scenes. The guards hardly made any progress with their investigations and at the beginning special attention was paid to discretion. However, the strategy did not work out and the series of murder continued. After the masses heard about the events, panic broke out among the population. Especially the poorer inhabitants did not feel well. At night nobody could be trusted anymore and the violence increased noticeably.

From this point on Anna-Henrietta decided to entrust an expert with this case. A witcher was summoned. It was nobody less than the white wolf, Geralt von Riva and at the same time he's a very good friend of mine.

During his investigations he quickly came to the conclusion that the series of murders could not be committed by a human being. The next attack was not long in coming and the witcher followed the alleged perpetrator. When they met it turned out that the culprit was a higher vampire. Until then I did not know that the perpetrator was a friend of mine. I interrupted the fight of the two opponents and tried to clarify the problem in the common dialogue. Unfortunately my friend is very impulsive and needs some time to clear his head again.

He withdrew and was untraceable for us. While I was searching for him, Gerald tried to get more information from the Duchess. Our joint investigation revealed that the vampire was being blackmailed by kidnappers who allegedly held his lover captive and would kill her if the demands were disregarded.

The Duchess also expressed the suspicion that her sister Syanna could be behind the attacks and thus also behind the blackmail at the same time. Her fears came true and my friend found that the blackmailer and victim were one and the same person. Syanna wanted to use him as a murder weapon to bring down her sister and rule Toussaint herself as Duchess. When her plan was uncovered by the witcher, my friend was , how can I say?" Regis cleared his throat briefly and drove his hand through his hair. "Displeasure is probably best fitting for it."

"For true Regis." Livia left her tea at the table and crossed her legs. Gloomy she looked out of the window and continued. "But one should know one's limits and not cross them, even if one is an extremely powerful being." She gave her visitor a stern look. "I can imagine the continuation of the story figuratively. You have a very prudent and at the same time mild nature Regis. Probably you tried to appease your friend. Unfortunately the attempt failed and Syanna was murdered by her disappointed lover." Regis wanted to return something, but was interrupted by Livia with a gesture of her hand. "Don't protect him Regis! He attacked Beauclair with his followers and injured and killed countless innocent people. A betrayal weighs heavily but does not justify such an act. Your friend is a monster. A beast that must be put in its place. I therefore ask you Regis," Livia stood up and looked down on her friend. "why did the witcher let him go? Isn't it his job to kill monsters?"

An oppressive silence reigned in the small room. The vampire fought visibly for his composure and clenched his hands to fists while tightening his jaw. Livia's eyes briefly reflected her fear of Regi's reaction, yet she remained steadfast and took no step back. His gaze was inscrutable to her. It was like looking a predator in the face. The feelings in it were hardly comprehensible to a human being.

"I can understand your reaction and yet I would like to ask you not to judge him directly. The witcher saw the same as I did in my friend and therefore let him go. He is only a victim of modern civilization. It drew him, just like me, to the people. You are fascinating creatures and no two are alike. While most of us only follow their animal drives, you impose rules on yourselves to achieve a harmonious coexistence. My friend was curious and probably too naive due to his natural instinct. Concealed power games, sneakiness and malice towards his own loved ones were alien to him. As a token of our friendship, I had given him a moth-shaped pendant.

Syanna was the sun for him. Unfortunately he never turned his eyes away from her and burned his wings. Now he has to decide how he wants to live his life. Either in complete darkness and loneliness or in the shining light of civilization. As his friend I cannot accept that he gives himself up and continues to live in seclusion. He must understand that not all living beings are like this. That the witcher has spared him was already the first step in the right direction."

Livia pressed her lips together and continued in a cool tone: "And as thanks for his insight he was sent to prison by the Duchess. Regis, I see that you care a lot about your friend, but you can't completely ignore his actions. You yourself described him as impulsive. What should keep him from committing such an act again?

Now Regis also stood up and came close to Livia. He bent down to her until only a few centimeters separated her faces. His cool breath embraced her like the first snow in winter. She could not turn her gaze away from him and remained motionless.

"His conscience."

After he turned away from her and stepped to the window she realized that she had forgotten to breathe. Slowly she sucked in the stuffy air and sat down on her chair again. The tea was already cold and tasted bitter. Just like the scolding of Regis. Her fingers played with themselves as if by themselves, while she did not dare to look up at her interlocutor.

The silence continued after she decided to make fresh tea. As the water slowly heated in the kettle, she added aromatic herbs. Immediately the freshly bitter lavender scent struck her. As the first bubbles rose in the water, she took the kettle from the fireplace.

Regis was still standing in front of the window looking into the darkness. Thick wafts of fog were running over the landscape and made the entrance to the forest appear even darker. She gave a heavy sigh and broke the silence. "Regis I... I am sorry. I didn't want our conversation to end like this. I understand that you care a lot about your friend.

"I owe him my life. Now it is up to me to do the same for him.

"What role should I play in this story?

Regis pointed to the package at the table. "Help me to bring him back to his senses. Show him that he is wrong and that the world is not as corrupt as he thinks it is. Not everyone burns himself in the light."

Livia took the parcel and examined it from all sides. It was very easy and she thought she could hear something rolling in it. After unpacking she held a glass ball in her hand. White smoke was inside it circulating slowly.

"It is called sphaera sensum. Translated in your language it means as much as {ball of emotions}. These balls are extracted in Nazair from the extremely rare mineral Markcooperite. With the help of three runesmiths the glyphs can be transferred into the mineral. Last but not least you need some blood from the person whose feelings should be visualized.

In contrast to the manufacturing process, its use is extremely simple. White swaths indicate a relaxed state. The person concerned, for example, sleeps. Red swaths indicate an extremely agitated state. The person may be aggressive or shocked. Grey, on the other hand, indicates an indecisive condition. The stronger the colours, the stronger the momentary emotion.

The white smoke in the sphaera sensum calms me down immensely. My friend seems to be at rest and has no nightmares."

Livia was shocked and the sphere fell out of her hand. The impact on the ground caused no noise, but on the surface of the sphere, filigree luminous patterns appeared. "Among other things, the glyphs prevent the sphaera sensum from breaking in a collision. If you wish, you as the owner can also determine that the displayed emotional world is only visible to you. For others it would only be a transparent glass ball. Thanks to the glyphs, the sphere has another useful function. The person concerned knows the position of the sphere owner at all times, as long as he is carrying the sphere with him, while the owner can call the person concerned using the sphaera sensum. All you have to do is enclose the sphere with one hand and call for it in the spirit."

Livia stared at her unpacked gift full of horror. When she wanted to complain about the gift she had received, Regis' haunting glance that kept her from doing so. She swallowed her doubts and picked up the item again.

"All right. I'll play along with your game for now. But if it gets too hot for me I stop immediately."

A light smile lay on Regi's lips and he bowed before her. "I thank you for your trust. I swear you won't regret it."

"That will show itself Regis, that will show itself."