Aozaki Aoko Case File [496] (Patreon)

Vicar didn’t approach Aoko immediately. First, he carefully checked if the main doors were tightly shut, then came over and placed the box on the table beside her.

Next, Vicar took out three keys and inserted them into the box in a particular sequence. Moments later, there was a mechanical click, and the box popped open.

Inside was an exquisitely crafted pendant: a pair of hands holding a flower carved from sapphire. Even at a distance, Aoko could sense the powerful magic within.

“This pendant is called the Amulet of the Devout,” Vicar explained. “It once belonged to a powerful wizard who was also a cleric.”

“You mean...” Aoko realized.

“That’s right. This amulet amplifies both arcane and divine magic,” Vicar said. “Most mages have faith, but few become clerics. So the amulet was left here for years—until you arrived.”

Aoko showed no emotion—when the goddess of magic personally vouches for your devotion, who dares object?

She took the amulet, feeling its cool mithril surface. At first, she thought the flower was an ordinary enchanted sapphire, but looking closely, its color subtly shifted.

Aoko unclasped the chain and carefully put it around her neck. Instantly, she felt her spell save DC increase, along with an extra daily Channel Divinity.

“My task is complete,” Vicar said happily. “But I advise caution—don’t let too many people see this amulet. Many would covet it.”

“I understand,” Aoko nodded, tucking the amulet under her robe. The special weave of her outfit blocked all magical auras, making the amulet undetectable.

After saying goodbye to Vicar, Aoko left the sanctuary. She had no intention of praying before Mystra’s statue, and Mystra didn’t seem to care.

Ordinary clerics might need daily prayer to improve their spiritual sense and class level, but Aoko’s cleric level was basically granted. She had no sense of being a true cleric.

After this Baldur’s Gate trip, Aoko had swapped out nearly all her gear and felt a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Of course, these were just the tip of the iceberg among the city’s secrets: the Zhentarim-controlled Darkhold, Cazador’s vampire manors, and all sorts of filth in the sewers—Aoko had no interest in meddling for now, as it would only bring trouble.

With Ramazith still anxiously searching for his missing items, Aoko thought it would be rude to keep flaunting herself under his nose, so she decided to set off for Neverwinter.

Aoko was a woman of action. Once she decided something, she did it at once. After leaving the sanctuary, she went straight to the docks to buy a ticket.

The next luxury cruise to Baldur’s Gate was in two days. So Aoko spent two days holed up in her inn, sorting through the many scrolls and spellbooks she’d taken from the Ramazith's tower.

Especially that Codex of Szass Tam—packed with necromancy spells. It perfectly made up for the lack caused by previous school rivalries, but would take time to digest fully.

But this textbook was great—precise language, all risks and consequences clearly marked, so much better than those bootleg spellbooks.

The last two days in Baldur’s Gate were peaceful, though guests at the inn occasionally heard strange noises and wondered if the place was haunted. Even the innkeeper wondered if he should hire a cleric from Storm Coast Sanctuary.

Aoko acted clueless, subtly hinting that the innkeeper shouldn’t rush—maybe the phenomena would vanish in a few days.

He found that reasonable; after all, Aoko was obviously a powerful mage. And sure enough, two days later, the hauntings stopped.

Of course, this had nothing to do with her leaving. Nor did it relate to her conducting necromancy experiments in her room for two days. (Really.)

After some time at sea, Aoko returned to Neverwinter, where Bernard had kept her residence in perfect order as if she’d never left.

She found letters from her teammates in the mailbox, describing various strange happenings in Ten Towns—some far-fetched, but life seemed peaceful overall.

Aoko spent some time in her mansion, focusing on magical research. The date rolled around to the following February.

Normally, at Neverwinter’s latitude, this would be a bitterly cold time. But thanks to the river’s warmth from the fire elementals dwelling in the nearby mountains, the harbor never froze, and traffic remained busy even in midwinter.

But near the end of February, a courier team from Luskan arrived at her door.

They brought a letter hand-written by Edgin. The adventurers told Aoko the letter was from Ten Towns in Icewind Dale, but it had been sent a month earlier.

Even for a team used to traveling the Spine of the World, it had taken a long time to reach Luskan from Icewind Dale—this winter was exceptionally cold and getting colder, definitely not normal.

Aoko handed the couriers some gold as a tip, then took the letter to her study, opened it, and read it carefully.

Moments later, she set the letter on the table, frowning as she pondered the possibilities raised by its contents.