50th of Anael, the first month of snow.

  Maxwells Journal

  With the massive undertaking done, I have moved into a small shop to work on my own. I have dragged Grendel into helping me as a gopher. He should do well in this post.

  Today I start on a device that detects AND automatically identifies elemental types. Of course, it will only show main and sub type, no tertiary, but that should be fine for 99% of elementals. If only we could find out the exact types we are looking for from that damned well. We know we have Water, Earth, Fire, and Lightning. But the workings aren’t differentiated between Protection/Containment/Empowerment in the well’s enchantment. Even the book doesn’t say anything about it.

  I will have to talk to the excavation crew about it. See what they have deciphered of the layout of the spell itself. The spell is a curving twisting thing that rebounds over itself often. I think it’s more god absurdity. I hate the gods just a bit more on days like this, even if I am one of them now.

  -

  The Celestial Realm,

  “Wisdom! I can’t believe you let Him into the realm!” Tranquility raved, standing in the library’s atrium. “Here, in this place, He could kill us all!”

  Wisdom rolled her eyes, “And that is exactly WHY I didn’t tell him we were in the Celestial Realm, And why I made it so difficult for him to find his way out from the stacks. I didn’t want him to be tempted to take the tour.” She took a deep breath, and released it. “A tour he is entitled to, by the ancient laws.”

  Tranquility paused, “…Um…Let’s not let that slip, shall we?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “I think we will keep the required tour to ourselves.” Wisdom nodded. “Could you imagine him walking around, shaking hands with all the lesser and small gods? His “mortal” form soaking up all that power?”

  Tranquility shuddered.

  -

  53rd of Anael

  Maxwell’s Journal

  Grendel had an excellent insight. We will be looking into it on the morrow.

  -

  Max and Grendel prowled the streets, elemental wand MKII in hand. Thus far they had found and identified three fire elementals being used to warm homes, and a water elemental purifying liquids in the lord’s kitchen. After two more streets of searching, night was full upon them, and they retreated to home.

  “Is the range too short?” Grendel asked as they stepped into the main room.

  “No, the range is fine.” Max responded. “The lockout for previously identified elementals is working too. I just think we haven’t found our suspect yet.” They sat at the table, and Max began cleaning the wand.

  Grendel, face deep in concentration, eventually spoke a new question, “Do you think it was the elemental we are looking for that was killing those people?”

  Max stopped mid polish and stared at Grendel. “…Oxbow’s arse! I think you’re onto something boy!”

  -

  54th of Aneal

  Max and Grendel started the day at the first murder scene. Use of an elemental tracing spell was inconclusive, so they moved on. On the fourth scene, the spell was successful. Kind of. There had been an elemental at the scene, but no conclusive evidence.

  “Maybe we should look at the corpses?” Grendel asked as the pair stood outside the victim’s home.

  Max nodded, “It would be nice, but they burn the dead here.”

  Grendel frowned, “We have two more places on our list. Lunch first?”

  “Lunch first.”

  A lunch of hot roasted pork on thick crusty bread with a side of mashed tubers and the whole plate slathered in a delicious gravy later, the pair stepped back out onto the street. It had started snowing.

  “I hate snow.” Grendel groused.

  “Could be worse.” Max said. “Could be a freezing rain in the mountains while fighting an angry dragon.”

  Grendel’s eyes grew wide, “Seriously?”

  “Yup.”

  “Damn.”

  They were about halfway to their next destination when Grendel stopped. “Hey, Why not have the wand on while we walk. Two birds, one stone and all that?”

  Max nodded, and muttered the activation phrase. The wand vibrated, lit up, and pointed straight down.

  Grendel and Max cocked an eyebrow, and said at the same time, “That’s new.”

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