Chapter 1: 1 – Report number 12.1, AKA, Mangy Wolf

There are few individuals in this world who could establish such a perfect balance between prestige and infamy to the point of being declared, simultaneously, hero and enemy of the nation. His feats range from using a child as bait for a dragon, to slaying a King shortly after saving his life.

I am speaking, of course, of Raevus Drakensteiger, better known as Raevus of Fenrir, or Mangy Wolf among his intimates. Yes, I met him in person, and not only that, I managed to get my hands on his personal journal – the very existence of which is a surprise in itself as Raevus didn't seem like the type of individual given to pen confidence.

It's, then, no wonder that I was called in to be questioned about him in order to corroborate the investigation of his whereabouts and objectives.

So here I am making my way through the halls of the Judiciary Fortress, and even though I'm just a guest, the two royal guards accompanying me make me feel like I'm a prisoner being escorted to the cell.

"Welcome to the court of the Royal Knights, Lord Henrich."

I was greeted by a beautiful blonde woman in a military uniform who was apparently waiting for me. I greeted her with a formal gesture. She opened a tall double door that revealed a spacious and luxurious salon, although it was clearly just an office. I waved goodbye to the guards and we went in.

"This way."

At the end of the office was a wall decorated with the coat of arms of the Royal Knights and the flag of Evengard. Behind a large table strewn with books and papers, sat an individual dressed in imposing golden armor. I thought he was lost in thought, but as we approached he dropped the pen he had in his hand, stood up and extended his hand to greet me.

His appearance was like an angel prepared for war.

It was then that I recognized him: Arz Schneider, who was our colleague at the Royal Academy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he is among the most revered knights in the known world; I didn't expect to see him ever again, least of all under these circumstances.

Thus, my surprised expression was evident.

"I suppose you didn't expect to see me here, old friend Olly Henrich." He said as I returned his handshake.

"It definitely took me by surprise. I expected to meet a surly middle-aged man." I replied, sitting down in the chair in front of his desk. He smiled.

"Don't worry, you're not the first. In fact, it's been a little over a month since I've sat in this chair; its previous owner would certainly have met your expectations. Did you have a good trip?"

"Excellent."

"I'm glad. Do you accept tea? Or maybe something stronger."

"Tea only, please."

"Lieutenant Ross, could you bring us some tea? Oh, and also some cookies." He told the woman that had opened the door for me. "Yes sir." She replied and left. At that moment I understood that she was his secretary.

"I see that you are still well accompanied."

"More than you can imagine." He replied. "At this point, he took some papers from his desk and started to organize them into a pile: "I would love to spend the afternoon discussing my officers' qualities, but I'm afraid we don't have that much time, so let's get right to the subject. I suppose you already know why I summoned you from so far away."

"Raevus of Fenrir."

"Exactly. Is it true that you obtained his diary? In fact, why the hell would someone like him, who hated books, write a diary in the first place?"

Both Schneider and I studied with Raevus at the Royal Academy, and at one point Schneider actually became closer to him than I was, so the fact that he is skeptical that an individual nicknamed the Mangy Wolf would have written a detailed introspective journal only reinforced my own suspicion of the diary's legitimacy. 

"I asked myself the same question several times, believe me. But yes, I got his book. I verified it was his by the handwriting and also by the person who gave it to me."

"Who?" He asked as I handed him the book so that he would verify it for himself.

"Laii Ez, a girl of isvrelyn race who worked as a telecognitive for the Black Hounds. She was Raevus' partner for some time. You probably already know everything about them."

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"Not everything. In fact, I'm surprised to hear this name from you. Laii Ez is on our blacklist, as well as the other Black Hounds and those associated with them. How did you find her and, more importantly, how did you convince her to give you the diary?"

"Actually, she found me and asked me to keep it; and what's more, she also told me to write to the Royal Nights about it and that they would call me in for questioning." When I said that, Schneider looked quite surprised.

"In other words, she or maybe Raevus himself wants us to analyze the diary."

"Indeed."

"Does it mentions anything about the Black Hounds?"

"No, at least not by this name. Based on its contents, it seems that some of his companions may indeed have beem from this organization; moreover, Laii called it a diary but I don't think it is one at all. Although it is written from his perspective and touches on some rather personal matters, its format is much more like a novel than a diary... it seems to have been written in a certain way on purpose. Planned. I wouldn't be surprised if this is some form of coded message."

"Intriguing... it's likely, then, that someone wants us to see something in it, maybe something that might help exonerate Raevus from his crimes. That would also explain why he wrote it in the first place."

At this moment, Lieutenant Ross returned with the tea and biscuits. She served us so graciously that I considered the possibility of her becoming one of the servants of the royal family if the career in the military frustrates her in any way. Schneider thanked her.

"I think it unlikely that he calculated that far ahead. After all, the book was written over the course of three years or so." I said, soon after taking a sip of tea. It was fabulous, by the way.

After leafing through the diary some more, the golden knight handed it back to me and replied:

"Yes, but the chance is not null. And we know he didn't act alone. It's definitely his handwriting, I'd recognize that horribly odd handwriting anywhere. And besides, it's easier for me to believe that he wrote it for the purpose of recording something subversive than out of his own free will. It would suit him better" – We both chuckled – "but a lot here is written in a strange language."

"It's his native language, Hungo."

"I assume you're fluent."

"Not really. I know enough about writing, but speech is another story."

"Excellent! Then you can translate it. As far as I can see the diary is mostly about his encounter with the valkyrie Eries and the Blade Sanctuary incident, am I right?" It didn't seem to me that Schneider gave enough time or attention to the diary to make that assumption, but he was correct. "I confess I'm curious to know his perspective on us and that time, because he was one of the few people I considered inadequate."

“Inadequate” ... I found the choice of this adjective curious.

As he spoke, Lieutenant Ross had seated at an adjacent table, smaller than Schneider's, but equipped with some magical scrivener devices. I assumed she would record our entire conversation in the minutes. This was an interrogation, after all - although an unofficial one. The knight continued:

"Mr Henrich--"

"Just Olly, please." - I corrected him – "We are old friends after all."

He smiled.

"Very well. Olly, in this case I ask that you treat this moment more like a nostalgic conversation between friends than an inquiry." -  Lieutenant Ross looked at him as if to say “you're not being professional”, but he ignored her. – "So I want you to read the diary
for us and, in the discourse, we will comment as necessary, because I also need to ask you some questions."

"It's all right. I was already expecting that."

"Well, you can start."

I opened the journal and skimmed the first page, which only had a bunch of scribbles and drawings that denoted Raevus' struggle in deciding how to start.

The first intelligible part read:

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