*Click-click-click*

The sound of cameras filled the air, mixed with hushed whispers from the crowd. Around the lifeless body of a young man, strange symbols were carved into his flesh.

"Please step back! The station is closed for the day," one of the officers announced, sealing off the area with yellow tape and ushering people away.

"Hmm... what's this?" A calm, collected figure appeared, his hair white as moonlight, his golden eyes glinting. Dressed in a beige trench coat, a fedora, and sharp black shoes, he approached the scene with a curious expression. The officers turned sharply, glaring at him.

"Kid, who are you? This is no place for a child!" one of them barked.

"I'm not a kid!" he shot back, straightening his hat. "I'm Junior Linxi, detective from Team JADE."

That's right. The person standing here isn't just a boy. I'm Junior Linxi, a prototype robot abandoned by the family who created me. But my true self? I'm Leon Keith, an ordinary boy who died of cancer. Now, I'm in a completely different world—this isn't Earth or some story I've read. This world, Arcadia, only has basic magic and knows nothing about robots. And yet, this world is heading toward its end. The family that abandoned me... no, Linxi... they will soon launch their attack.

"Junior Linxi?" an officer asked, confused.

I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled. "Sorry, I got distracted. Now, let me take a closer look at the body."

The victim was tortured—his insides destroyed, burn marks across his skin, his blood drained. My gaze stopped on the carved symbol: the mark of them. The family. Baphomet.

"So... they're preparing for war," I muttered. Troubling, indeed.

"Hey, kid, who are you?" A new voice broke through. Turning, I saw a man in his early twenties. His deep purple hair shimmered like the evening sky, and his sharp green eyes studied me. He wore a casual yellow shirt, a denim jacket, and dark jeans, complete with pristine white sneakers.

"This is..." I cleared my throat. "I'm not a kid! I'm Junior Linxi, detective! And who might you be?"

The man raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Linxi, huh? So you're my new partner. I'm Nicholas Talon, detective from Team NEON."

NEON? I blinked, baffled by the naming sense of these teams. Who came up with this—some bored writer?

Nicholas studied me for a moment, his sharp gaze like a hawk sizing up prey. I held his stare, determined not to appear weak. After all, I wasn't here by chance—I had my reasons.

"Partner, huh?" I repeated, folding my arms. "I didn't agree to that."

Nicholas chuckled, the sound low and dry. "You don't have to agree. Orders from above. Looks like you and I are stuck together, Junior."

"Detective Linxi," I corrected, narrowing my eyes. "And if you're my so-called partner, maybe you should let me work instead of calling me 'kid.'"

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn't argue. Instead, he stepped past me and crouched by the body, his demeanor shifting from teasing to serious. "These symbols," he said, tracing a gloved finger just above one of the carvings, "look familiar. Ritualistic, maybe? Ever seen anything like it?"

I hesitated, crouching beside him. Of course, I recognized them. But revealing how much I knew about the Baphomet Clan would raise too many questions. "They're not just symbols," I said carefully. "They're a warning from the The Baphomet clan... a clan I once knew from the past, they wanted everyone to know who they are."

Nicholas glanced at me, his emerald eyes gleaming with curiosity. "And you figured that out just by looking at them?"

"It's called deduction," I replied dryly. "You might want to try it sometime."

His laugh was short but genuine. "Alright, Linxi. I'll bite. What else do you see?"

I leaned closer to the body, scanning for more clues. The burn marks were precise, almost surgical, and the drained blood pointed to something far more sinister than a simple killing. "The victim's blood wasn't just drained—it was collected," I said. "Look at the patterns around the body. They're too clean, too deliberate. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

Nicholas frowned, nodding slowly. "You're saying this wasn't just murder. It was preparation."

"Exactly," I said, standing up. "Preparation for something big. And if we don't figure out what that is, there'll be more bodies like this one."

Nicholas straightened, brushing off his jacket. "You're sharp, I'll give you that. But you've still got a lot to prove. If you want to keep up, you'd better be ready to get your hands dirty."

I smirked. "Don't worry about me. I can handle myself."

Before Nicholas could respond, another officer approached, holding a small evidence bag. "Detective Talon, we found this near the body." Inside the bag was a small, intricately carved amulet. It bore the same symbol etched into the victim's skin.

Nicholas took the bag, his expression hardening. "This just got a lot more complicated."

I stepped closer, studying the amulet. The craftsmanship was exquisite, almost too perfect. "This isn't just an ordinary trinket," I murmured. "It's enchanted."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Enchanted? How can you tell?"

"I just can," I said, dodging the question. "This kind of magic isn't common. Whoever made this had access to resources most people in Arcadia can't even dream of..."

Nicholas gave me a long, searching look, but he didn't press me. Instead, he slipped the bag into his pocket. "We'll take this to the lab, see if they can figure out anything else. In the meantime, we need to follow up on the Baphomet angle. If you're right about this being a warning, there's more coming. We need to be ready."

"Agreed," I said, my mind already racing with possibilities. The Baphomet Clan wasn't just planning an attack—they were sending a message to anyone who dared stand in their way. And now, Nicholas and I were caught in the crosshairs.

As we left the crime scene, the weight of what lay ahead settled over me. This wasn't just about solving a murder. It was about stopping a war before it began.

I look up at the blue sky as I whisper to myself "Mother... Is this your decision...?"

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_TO BE CONTINUE_

After finishing up at the station and meeting Nicholas, I returned to the base. It was an ordinary building, nothing special. I checked the news only to find out that the news about the Baphomet Clan was already spreading like wildfire. As I was about to enter the building, someone suddenly called out to me.

"Yo, Linxi! How's your new partner?" Dylan greeted me, his usual cheerful self. With blonde hair like sunshine and wine-red eyes, he was a fire magic user who always had a grin on his face.

I let out a small sigh. "He's... decent, I guess. Anyway, when is the leader coming back?"

Dylan followed me inside and sighed. "She's off to Sky Valley, chasing rumors about dragons. You know how she is."

"Dragons, huh? Well, she'll manage. For now, gather the others. We need to hold a meeting," I said, heading toward the meeting room.

"Yes, Vice-Captain," he chuckled before disappearing to round up the team.

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A few minutes later, the team assembled. Raven, a wind magic user with long black hair and piercing brown eyes, entered alongside Jarvis, the water magic user with messy blue hair and matching eyes. Dylan arrived shortly after.

"So, what's the issue?" Raven asked, her cold tone straight to the point.

I placed a picture of a dead body on the table, pointing to the symbol carved into the victim's skin. "This is the mark of the Baphomet Clan—masters of advanced magic and strategy."

Dylan frowned. "I've seen this symbol before. It was on the victims in our investigation too."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Jarvis leaned forward to inspect the photo. "So, what's the plan? How do we stop them?"

"For now, we stick with your partners and investigate quietly. If anything happens, report immediately. Meeting dismissed," I said firmly.

"Yes, Vice-Captain!" they echoed before leaving.

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I retreated to my room, mulling over the case. "The Baphomet Clan... what's their goal? The victims are all men, around the same age. There must be a connection." I opened my laptop and began researching their backgrounds. Suddenly, I found something that made me pause.

"That's it!" I quickly saved my findings and grabbed my phone. But as I prepared to share it, I groaned, realizing I didn't have Nicholas's number. "Of course…"

Jumping out of the window, I sprinted back to the station. Nicholas was there, sipping tea, as calm as ever.

"You really came back for me, huh, Detective Junior?" he teased with a smirk.

"Detective Linxi!" I corrected before shaking my head. "Never mind. I found a link between the victims."

His teasing vanished as he leaned forward. "What is it?"

"They all came from the same orphanage—the Sunrise Orphanage. Same age, same gender," I explained, showing him my findings.

Nicholas's expression turned serious. "The Sunrise Orphanage? Didn't it shut down after a fire ten years ago?"

"Of course it did, but there were some survivors too..." And one of them was me... But I don't need to say that to him.

Nicholas leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look crossing his face. "So, you're suggesting that whoever is behind these murders might have a connection to the orphanage? That's a solid lead."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Exactly. If we can find out more about the survivors, we might uncover a motive or even a suspect. The Baphomet Clan might be targeting these individuals for a reason."

Nicholas set his tea down, his eyes narrowing in thought. "We need to dig deeper into the orphanage's history. There could be records or even people who might still be willing to talk. Do you have any names of the survivors?"

I pulled out my laptop and began typing furiously, pulling up any data I could find on the orphanage. "There were a few names that stood out during my initial search. One of them is a guy named Leo. He was known for his exceptional skills in healing magic. There's also Mia, who was rumored to have a connection with dark magic."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Dark magic? That's a dangerous path. If they're involved with the Baphomet Clan, we might be dealing with something far more sinister than we anticipated."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought. "We should start with Leo. If he's still around, he might have some insight into what happened back then—or why these murders are happening now."

Nicholas nodded in agreement. "Let's pay him a visit. Do you have an address?"

I quickly searched through my notes. "Yes! He was last reported living in a small town just outside the city. We can head there now."

As we prepared to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping into something much larger than ourselves. The Baphomet Clan wasn't just a group of powerful mages; they were playing a game that involved lives—lives that were intertwined with my own past.

Once outside the station, we hopped into Nicholas's car. The drive was filled with silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. I glanced at Nicholas, wondering what he was thinking. He seemed focused, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes that I couldn't ignore.

"Hey," I said, breaking the silence. "You okay? You seem a bit tense."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... the orphanage fire. It was a tragedy that shook the entire community. If there's a connection to these murders, it could bring up a lot of painful memories for those involved."

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I get it. But we have to find the truth, no matter how difficult it may be."

Nicholas shot me a sideways glance, a small smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "You're right. Let's uncover whatever secrets the past holds."

As we drove towards the town, I felt a surge of determination. I was ready to face whatever lay ahead, even if it meant confronting my own history. The Baphomet Clan had their motives, and I was going to make sure they didn't get away with their crimes.

We arrived at a modest house with a "For Sale" sign out front. A tall, weary man answered the door. His dark hair was tousled, and his eyes looked tired.

"Can I help you?" he asked cautiously.

"I'm Nicholas, and this is Detective Linxi. We're investigating the Sunrise Orphanage, Are you Mr.Leo?" Nicholas said.

The man hesitated, his expression shifting. "Yes... Come in. Let's talk."

Inside, the weight of the past felt heavy. As the man spoke, I realized that uncovering the truth about the Baphomet Clan wasn't just about solving a case. It was about facing my own past—and the secrets I'd long tried to forget.

_To Be Continue_

We settled into Leo's small, dimly lit living room. The air felt heavy, filled with old memories and unspoken words. Leo motioned for us to sit on the worn couch, and I could tell this conversation wouldn't be easy.

"What do you want to know about the orphanage?" Leo asked. His voice was calm, but there was tension beneath the surface.

Nicholas leaned forward, his tone professional yet gentle. "We're investigating murders tied to former residents of Sunrise Orphanage. We think the Baphomet Clan might be involved. We need to know what happened back then."

Leo's face darkened. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "The orphanage was a refuge for many of us, but it also had its secrets. The fire… it changed everything."

A knot formed in my stomach. "What kind of secrets?"

Leo hesitated before speaking. "There were whispers—stories about dark magic and strange rituals. Some kids had abilities, but no one taught us how to use them. Mia… she was different. She had a talent for dark magic, and people noticed."

Nicholas exchanged a glance with me. "What people?"

"Visitors," Leo said quietly. "They'd ask questions and pay special attention to Mia. I never trusted them. Then, one night, the fire broke out. Everything was chaos. So many of us died."

My heart raced. "Do you think the fire was an accident, or was it deliberate?"

Leo looked away, his jaw tightening. "I don't know, but I've always suspected someone set it on purpose. After that night, I lost contact with everyone. I tried to find Mia, but she disappeared. And now, with these murders... it feels like the past is catching up to us."

"Do you have any idea where Mia might be?" Nicholas asked.

Leo shook his head. "No. I've only heard rumors. Some say she went deeper into dark magic and joined dangerous groups. I always feared she'd get involved in something like the Baphomet Clan..."

I felt a chill. "Do you think she's connected to them?"

"It's possible," Leo admitted, his voice trembling. "If she's still alive and practicing dark magic, they might've recruited her. The Baphomet Clan is known for seeking out powerful mages..."

Nicholas sat back, thinking. "We need to find her. If she's linked to these murders, she could help us figure out what the clan wants."

Leo nodded. "There's someone who might know more—Marcus, another survivor from the orphanage. He lives in the city, but I haven't talked to him in years."

Nicholas straightened. "Do you know how to contact him?"

"I used to have his number," Leo said. "I'll check social media. Maybe I can reach him there."

"Good," Nicholas urged. "We need as much information as possible. The Baphomet Clan won't wait for us to catch up."

Leo pulled out his phone. As he typed, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. The mention of dark magic and the clan sent shivers down my spine. This house, once a safe haven, now felt like a vault of hidden truths.

After a moment, Leo spoke. "I'll send him a message. Hopefully, he remembers me." He paused, his face serious. "If Mia's involved with the Baphomet Clan, this is bigger than a few murders. We could be dealing with a dangerous cult."

Nicholas nodded. "We're prepared for that. But we need to know what we're up against. Anything you can tell us—about the orphanage, Mia, or the rituals—would help."

Leo's eyes clouded with memories. "There were gatherings outside at night. Some kids sneaked out to watch. There were chants, symbols in the dirt, and candlelight. It felt wrong, but also... tempting. Mia was always in the middle of it. She drew people in."

"Did you ever take part?" I asked.

Leo shook his head. "No. I was too scared. It felt like we were playing with something we didn't understand. Others, though… they got lost in it. I think that's why the fire happened. Someone tried to control that power, and it went horribly wrong."

"Do you think Mia caused it?" Nicholas asked.

Leo's expression grew conflicted. "Maybe. She had a gift, but it also pulled her into that world. It's hard to say if she was a victim or a part of the problem."

Just then, Leo's phone buzzed. He checked the screen and looked surprised. "It's Marcus. He answered quickly."

Leo read aloud. "Hey, Leo. Long time no see- What's going on? Are you in trouble?"

Nicholas leaned in. "Ask him about Mia and the Baphomet Clan."

Leo typed back. "Not in trouble, but I need your help. Do you know anything about Mia? We think she might be connected to the Baphomet Clan."

We waited. The silence felt heavy. A minute later, Marcus replied: "Mia? Haven't seen her in years. Last I heard, she was into... strange practices. I might know where to find her, but it's risky. Meet me at the old diner on 5th Street tomorrow night. We need to talk."

Nicholas looked at me, determination etched on his face. "We've got a lead."

Leo put down his phone, looking resolute. "We need to prepare. If Mia's tied to the Baphomet Clan, we're stepping into something dangerous."

As the gravity of the situation sank in, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were about to uncover something far darker than we'd imagined. The past wasn't just a memory—it was alive, and it was waiting for us...

_To Be Continue_