The Snowflake Drake

We went to bed. Well... I went to bed. Yuri gave me his bedroom, and Oro'thion gave Aurelie his for the night. Both rooms were rather plain, and the bed was hard... It reminded me of the time my brother and I built forts and slept on the floor - nice memories. I think the guys slept on the floor? Anyways, as I was preparing to sleep, I felt something cold as ice on my thighs. It was a little snowflake drake! SO CUTE!!! I wrapped it in a blanket so I could cuddle with it, but after two hours of playing with it and not sleeping, I realised it SHRUNK?! I immediately unwrapped it, and it looked so tiny - UwU. Something loud from the other room attracted my attention, so I went to have a look. Aurelie, a frog, and a baby crocodile named Snoodle were looking at each other, none of them moving. I choose to place the drake inside and see what happens. A minute goes by, and they still are just looking at each other. I picked up the drake, who obviously chose to adopt me, and went to meet the others.
 
We had a little breakfast-naan with tea when we got interrupted by a Noonblessed. Lordi, a waiter, received a wanted poster with all our faces on it... - The winds are not allowing me to rest, which is kind of exciting and annoying at the same time. Lordi walks out to catch the Noonblessed to gather more information - a bright dragonborn, I'm sure he will take over the Ta'Alaq one day. He returns with another Noonblessed, who recognises Yuri in a bad way. Her name is Maria Goldenlight Turinja, a Guards Captain. She gives us some information:
There are 6 dead people and 3 missing.
Dead:
1. Abbyad Al-azzan, a merchant in Eatifat at the Lanterns Market, was murdered and dismantled - we should see Alchamis Free Alchant about the bounty and our innocence.
2. Two families, the Merris and the Kahen family, were murdered in their own homes. (4 people)
3. The Malijisun, struck by lightning in his tower - which we saw...
Missing:
The children from the 2 families.
 
We talk and ask her as much information as she is willing to give us. She stayed to see the spectacle for which the tea-house is known. The sun hits the waterfall, and the whole area is flooded in warm light. It is beautiful - magical.
 
When she left, Yuri told us a reason she could be mad at him. He trespassed into a circus, stabbed a tame lion, who was just entertaining the crowd, and stole a red panda. The lion lives, but I am sure that that was traumatic for the poor animal. Yuri isn't even thinking of returning Te'Sarim. Although it seems as if he is enjoying his life with Yuri. Honestly, I have never heard such a dumb and absurd story! Eager to hear more stories like this and discover if that is the real reason she so much dislikes him.
 
After the story, I leave my little drake at the tea-house out of fear it might melt in the hot sun. We make our way to the crime scene. People are watching us, debating whether we are the murderers. I have to give the impression that everything is fine, and I have nothing to do with all this. I do not want it to reflect badly on my family or my business. I wave and greet the people; everything is fine. But some of the group are not used to the public eye and are looking way too suspicious... Everything is fine... It will be. It always is.
 
The other group that escaped in the other direction yesterday was already there. They are trying to find evidence that we are the culprits... They are framing us. Not telling us a thing. - Idiots -
 
While Aurelie, Oro'thion, and I go to inspect the Merris house, Yuri, Steam, and Frederik inspect the Kahen house. The parents were apparently killed by necromancy. The women had a red line around their necks and the same symbol on the back side - an Arabic knot - where their souls escaped their bodies. - Oro'thion was disturbed that that happened, although he seemed relieved that his search wasn't in vain. His Master and Mother, Nera Emhira, gave him the assignment to find creatures who steal souls. Yuri also knew that it must have been a soul knife... - The men, on the other hand, were both amyotrophic. Their souls went to the Raven Queen, as they should. There were signs of struggle even from the children, who were kidnapped. Furthermore, there were claw marks near the windows facing the courtyard and lots of porous sand everywhere.
 
Cravine, the halfling with tigerstripe tattoos, a druid, quite the chatterbox, and a bit naive too, told us that their employer was an elderly lady (human) with gray hair. She was examining the male corpse as she was sharing her information with us.
 
Aurelie went outside and inspected the courtyard between the houses. There were the same signs in front of the windows where the claw marks were. But these signs were encircled - portals. Whatever creature(s) took their lives and kidnapped the children couldn't materialise inside the houses... It HAD to break in. Oro'thion tried to activate it (with a spell slot), but something was missing. He tried it with sand and it worked! The sand was teleported, and as it went through the portal, it looked less porous. But Oro'thion couldn't get through. He asked Aurelie to try it. She was hesitant, as if she knew it would work with her; nonetheless, she did try, and she vanished! We all panicked for a bit; luckily, she appeared again after a short while. Aurelie told us that she was on another plane and that she heard children's voices and a deep, raspy voice saying, "My little ones, we are building a new kingdom". She was in a stone room with 6 pillars and 4 tombs. Stone statues arose from the tombs and attacked her. In that moment, she returned to us.
 
After the Water Genasi from the other group let a bomb explode, we checked if everything was okay. It was, except that the guard is a massive dumb-ass who trusts every word she says. Anyways, we make a quick stop at my place, Faelight Haven, before going to Zahara. I let them in and tell them to stay in the lounge area and go greet my lovely three spider-babies. They are enjoying the sun coming through the window and basking in it at their usual places. Tissera above the weaving loom in the back of the workshop, where she can overlook the whole room, Nyxa on top of her glass ball with the colourful light reflections when the sun hits it just right, and Zari in her gold-gleaming basket near the big window. I then go upstairs and grab my gear. It looks like Aisha isn't and wasn't home either... I hope that nothing bad happened and that she is just having fun, but I am still a bit worried after everything that happened. No note, no trace of her or the delivery... When I return to the trio, I give them some of my homemade spider-food pellets and some scratchies and pets. I step into my shop and there is just mayhem going on... Three mattresses are dirty. Oro'thiom, Yuri, and Steam were jumping on them... Don't they have any manners?! How dare they! And then Oro'thion acts as if he didn't do anything and was looking through our fabric assortment for a new outfit. Not even nightgowns but street-ware... Not sure he realises what kind of shop we have... Also, he doesn't sleep? Neither does Aurelie, although she is kind of dead, so that's... normal? Either way, she and Frederik were the only ones who knew how to behave. She lay on the chaiselongue where I told them to wait, and he was admiring my three little babies through the window to the workshop. Like NORMAL people! Not to praise her too highly, but she is only four years old and has better manners than a 242-year-old elf-kind. They should be ashamed.
 
Anyway... we leave the shop and I check the mail. Lots of fan-post! All praising our products. I couldn't be happier, but I have no time to be happy about it yet. First things first. We go to Zahara's place by Giant Dragonfly. Steam doesn't know where he lives, so I just delegate without knowing myself, but at least we are getting somewhere. Upon arrival, Ghobi & Atakarma, her twin daughters, greet us very sweetly. Zahara brings lots of snacks and drinks, and we go to the beautiful rooftop terrace. Their home is lovely. Filled with stone and plants. We show Tholim the sand and the symbol. He is quickly fascinated by the sand and horrified by the symbol. He tells me to destroy it at once, which I do. There are seven cursed pillars in the south of Shal'Azura. All of them have symbols on them, and the one (at 6 o'clock) has this specific symbol on it. It is said that those who go there never come back...
 
Tholim takes the sand to study it. Steam, Oro'thion, and I go with him. The twins are always near us, teasing Steam. Somehow, he thinks it's a good idea to tell them how we are friends and tells them I gifted him a towel he STOLE from our customer's-toilet! - delirious! But he seems like a good kid, and I am used to people wanting something from me... So I grant him his wish and tell them that, yes, we are friends... I don't think they bought it though... Thorim starts working and abruptly forgets his surroundings. It takes hours. We let him work and join Zahara on the rooftop. She wants to show us the Founder's Island, but we were more interested in Lake Haiyeti. Zahara is confused and tells me that something went on on the island yesterday, though I didn't know anything... Again, I was worried... I got a message this morning, but maman didn't tell me anything... I thought it was just the normal "Oh my god, child, what did you do" but apparently something more is going on... I guess I have to go see them...
 
We enjoy the snacks and drinks for about two hours and plan what to do next. Oro'thion and Steam will search the ice-cold lake - crazy. And I will go home... The others will stay here and enjoy their time. Before I go, I give them the gift of Longstrider so they can search a larger surface area.
 
The twins are super excited to bring me to the island. They want to wait for me at the port... I guess that's okay? I walk home. Take in the fresh air and the beautiful plants in the park. Nothing new. Just the same old buildings and families, as always. The maids and butlers are already waiting for me and greeting me with these amazing, fresh, warm face-towels that smell like rose-water, and fresh, hot tea. Then I see my family waiting for me at the door... Their faces troubled... - fun... I go to greet them. We instantly go into the treasury. There are smoke marks on the magic barriers... Garmagir has been stolen, but Kéanu could rescue it and killed the two bandits in doing so... - not sure if he is okay, after killing people. Now is not the time to ask. - They are now lying frozen in the Temple of Gond and Zahir. They had to penetrate 13 barriers to get here... HOW?! Maman is certain that it has to be an inside job... I agree; however, only the four of us know about it. Not even the Majilisun knew... I cannot believe that one of us would betray our family. I also really hope that they don't think that I would...
 
I tell them that I had to prove my innocence, but of course, she has it all worked out. Maman wants to know with whom I have been traversing since yesterday. I tell her. Furthermore, I tell her what Yuri did in the circus. We both agree that that's hilariously dumb. It's no secret, so I don't care if she knows. I was always open with her, even if she doesn't always share her feelings with me. "Trust no one.", she says and gives me a memory shard with all the information on it. But I can't use it. I have to prove to myself that I am indeed able to do things on my own. Without needing their help, but them needing me. I can do it.
 
The rift Yuri saw yesterday has to be a byproduct of the theft... The time Garmagir wasn't in its place. Outside of the house... Honestly, I am amazed that my little brother saved it. He really is grown now. Not my doll anymore. No more dress-ups.
 
Maman and I went to see the corpses. They are in rough shape. Their heads are missing and their bodies burnt crisp. But you can still recognise their tattoos. It's the same as the Blind Storyteller. The same as the Allaena from the story. The same chains and shackles. - I wonder if Mistress Diamanté is the one who is after us and the artefact. - I tell maman that they all have the same tattoos, yet she isn't registering the story or anything related to the tattoo... it happened earlier too with papa and Kéanu. I have to keep an eye open for that.
 
I break a piece of their clothing - because they are frozen. Say my goodbyes. We all hug. Kéanu messes with my hair and horn as if I were the little sister. He leaves before me. Maman gives me a sending stone - the fourth sending stone in a year... woops. She also gives me the invitations for Zahara and Tholim for the upcoming ball next month and tells me that if I want to solve my case, I should look in the library, as I already wanted to do, and ask PRT H.E.L.I.O.S., the Helpful Founder, if he knows anything. We say goodbye again, and I leave.
 
When arriving at the dock, the girls are beaming with joy, and their faces are flushed red. If I had a guess, I'd say they saw my little brother. They took me back to their estate. Steam and Oro'thion didn't find anything in the lake. - as expected. We went to the dining room and started without Thorim as he was still in his study. He busted in during the meal and talked about what he found. The sand is older than the Schism. It's not from our time. It's old... I tell him where he can find more, and on his way he is.
 
The family leaves so that we can chat about what we will do next. Instead, Oro'thion asks me what my title means, how it is acquired, and how it all works. While explaining, I realise that I don't know my grandparents... I forgot. I must have forgotten.
 
We agreed to go to the Bahar Library, where we will search the Ealam section, and if we can't find anything, we will go to PRT H.E.L.I.O.S.
 
After dinner, I want to see Steam's room. Did they really just give him a tiny storeroom? No. He just never bothered to open the door to the actual bedroom... He slept in the corridor this whole time! His aunt gave him a Faelight Haven mattress and bedding, and he slept on the floor... I remember Aisha embroidering his pillow with his name on it! Not Steam but Siham. I remember now that's how he briefly introduced himself before insisting on calling him Steam.
 
We all go to bed, apart from Aurelie and Oro'thion, who are enjoying the wonderful terrace.