"The Archduke has ordered formal interrogation to begin tomorrow at dawn," she said without preamble. "Captain Valerius has been given full authority to extract information by any means necessary."
Kazuki felt his blood run cold. "Torture?"
"The preferred term is 'enhanced questioning,'" Reina replied, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "But yes, essentially."
She knelt beside him, lowering her voice. "I've convinced the Archduke to allow me to continue my examination through the night. I argued that your unusual arrival suggests magical properties that could be damaged by crude physical interrogation."
"Thank you," Kazuki said, genuinely grateful.
"Don't thank me yet," Reina cautioned. "I'm still not convinced of your innocence. But I believe in methodical investigation, not brutality masquerading as justice." She opened her satchel, withdrawing several items: a small ceramic bowl, a vial of dark liquid, and a silver needle.
"I need a sample of your blood," she explained, uncorking the vial. "This solution will reveal any magical contaminants—including traces of spells that might have been used to send you here."
Kazuki extended his arm without hesitation. "Take whatever you need. I have nothing to hide."
Reina's eyebrows lifted slightly, perhaps surprised by his cooperation. She pricked his finger with the silver needle, collecting several drops of blood in the ceramic bowl. She then added three drops of the dark liquid, which hissed upon contact with his blood.
She began to murmur in that strange language again, her fingers moving in precise patterns above the bowl. The mixture began to glow, first red, then shifting through a spectrum of colors before settling on a deep violet hue.
Reina's eyes widened. "Impossible," she whispered.
"What is it?" Kazuki asked, alarmed by her reaction.
She looked up at him, genuine confusion in her expression. "Your blood contains traces of transrealm magic—extremely powerful, extremely rare magic that allows passage between different worlds. But it's... integrated into your cellular structure." She shook her head. "This isn't something done to you; it's part of you."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "In theory, it should be impossible. Transrealm magic requires massive power sources—like the entire crystal network beneath the castle. No single individual should be able to channel it without being destroyed in the process." She studied him with renewed interest. "Unless..."
A commotion outside interrupted her speculation—raised voices, the clatter of armor.
Reina quickly packed away her implements. "Something's happening. Stay quiet."