(Picture : Haze "Hazard" van der Villes)

Another fine Saturday at The Grand Library.

Haze was sorting books and placed them in boxes.
"Virgil!" he called. But no answer. He sighed. Virgil should have helped him. "That Virgil... Where could he be?" Haze murmured to himself, a bit upset.

Sir Alvard came down, "No, shouting, Haze. Here, let me help you," Alvard said and started to sort the books too.

Dryad came to the library in such haste, "Oh my! Sorry, I'm late!"

Sir Alvard glanced up to her, "Ah! You're here, at last! Come, help us!"

"Why are we sorting these books today? Are you planning to discard them?"

"We'll donate them," Haze answered while placing some books again on the box.

Master Alvard nodded, "Yes. That's true. We'll be giving away the books to a charity organization so that they can be used by other people in need,"

Dryad's eyes lighten up, "I see. That is good!" She started to organize the books carefully as if it was important to her. "How many books have you sorted by now?" she asked curiously.

"Hm? Oh, nearly 200," Haze said.

Virgil came out of nowhere, he almost bumped into Haze in surprise.

"Sorry," he uttered with a small smile before walking away to his place near the table.

"Watch your step, Virgil! Anyway, where have you been?" Haze inquired.

"Out and back. Why?" Virgil said and started to help too. He then approached Dryad and whispered, "Do you know that I found a rabbit hole in the garden? It's really hidden between the bushes."

Dryad's eyes lit up, "Really?"

Virgil nodded, "Yeah. They're so adorable! I almost lost track of time watching them!" he said almost like a child who just found an imaginary treasure.

"Well, you are, indeed, lost track of time, Virgil. Look! What time do you think it is?" Haze said, overheard them.

"Alright. Alright. I am sorry, okay?" Virgil said with a playful tone.

"Anyway... You found rabbits in the garden? Hm... That is unusual. So, perhaps we will have rabbit stew for dinner?" Haze suggested.

Dryad and Virgil glanced up at him in a flash.
"Haze!" Dryad and Virgil exclaimed almost at the same time. "

"Spicy and aromatic stew would be delightful," Hazard continued.

Both exchanged surprised looks.
"Did he really say that?!" Virgil asked Dryad in disbelief.

"They're cute, adorable little things. How can he eat them? So the pen-name "Hazard" does really fit him, after all," Dryad repplied.

Sir Alvard chuckled over their playful banter, and he shook his head. "No worries, you two. As I remembered, Haze doesn't like meat. And he won't dare to eat that rabbit."

Haze laughed a bit, "Calm down! I'm just joking around. I didn't mean anything by it," he winked.

They continued on while playing some riddle games. Virgil always knew funny riddles. As the mood in the library was lightened up and cheerful, Sir Alvard laughed along and even joined the games.

After a while, Virgil glanced at a particular table in the middle of the room. It was an eight cornered table that was usually used for meetings.

Sir Alvard followed his gaze, "What's wrong?"

"No. I just... It's been a long time I've been thinking. Something intrigued me about that table. You see, don't you think it looks quite thick? but when I knock over it on one corner, it sounds hollow as if there is a space inside," Virgil approached the table and stood before one of the corners he talked about, "this corner. right here."

Sir Alvard seemed to be interested as well as he approached the table. Dryad also followed suit. He knocked on it and indeed, there was a hollow sound from inside. "Yes, you are right! This table is odd..."

Dryad examined the carved iron plate that was attached to the side part of the table. "Is this some kind of trap? Maybe it is a secret compartment under the table?"

"Maybe it's both," Sir Alvard answered thoughtfully, "It certainly makes sense. This table has been here before I came, and no doubt it has been used for some kind of secret."

"Let me see," Haze came closer. The rest of them stepped aside, giving him space to inspect the table. Haze crouched low and ran his fingers along the side of the plate, then moved his hands down and ran it along the bottom of the surface. He frowned as he felt something, a small yet long, square area, as if used to place something beneath it. "What is this? A stick?" Haze mumbled to himself. He then picked that thing and let it out.

"Is that wood?" Virgil asked.

"A wand!" Dryad squaled.

"Wand?" Sir Alvard frowned.

Haze inspected it and noticed it intrigued carving, there was something on one side, like iron or perhaps magnet? He examined carefully the whole of the wand. "Hmm... Ah! I see!" with a triumphant grin, Haze stood up and pointed the wand to a specific spot of the table. Then the secret compartment opened!
Everyone was surprised.

"Wow! It's like magic!" Dryad exclaimed, "How can it happen?"

Haze laughed a bit, "It's not magic. The compartment is secured with a magnetic lock. I just realized it when I saw this unique wand. Well, it's not actually a magic wand. You see, in fact, any magnet will do fine to open this compartment."

Sir Alvard nodded and smiled. He is quite impressed by Hazard's knowledge. "Well done! it seems like you have some unique skill in detecting things."

Hazard's expression turned somber in an instant. He sighed and smiled bitterly, "Well... It's no wonder I know such things. Alexey taught me something like this."

Dryad looked up to Haze, "Alexey?"

Sir Alvard turned to Dryad. With a bittersweet smile, he answered on Haze's behalf, "The late Alexey is my younger brother, Dryad. He and Haze were very close. Sadly, he died in war."

"Oh, I see... I am sorry to hear that," Dryad looked at Sir Alvard sympathetically.

Sir Alvard sighed and smiled, "You know, he was brilliant and often revealed many secrets hidden like this one. By the way... let's see what's inside the compartment!" He said as if trying to change the subject before a surge of emotion came inside out.

Haze took out something from inside. "A scroll?"

Dryad stood beside him as Haze untied the red ribbon that held the scroll together. "Oh! It's not just a scroll! It's the last will! We found it!"

"What?" Virgil raised his eyebrows.

"Last will?" Sir Alvard's eyes widened as he saw the scroll. He approached Hazard to take a look at it. "May I?"

"Certainly, Sir," Haze smiled and handed it to him. Sir Alvard took the scroll and carefully opened it. He was stunned as he read the will. Virgil peeked over his shoulder, he also seemed to be quite surprised as he read what was written on it, but also relieved at some parts too... This was indeed a very important document.

"Well, what does it say?" Dryad asked curiously.

Sir Alvard paused for a moment while processing the information. He couldn't believe that Lord Basilisk the First actually decided to give away most of his fortune and the mansion itself to Alvard instead of passing the wealth down to his own son, Vladislav. He looked at Dryad, "Is this... true?"

"Goodness! I am glad for you, Sir Alvard!" Dryad exclaimed.

Virgil then said with a wide grin, "It's a great fortune that falls from heaven! Now you are our real 'Master'! True?"

Sir Alvard gave a faint smile at Virgil. But he still seemed to be a bit worried, "No. It is quite unexpected too. I guess, the Will must be kept secret for now. I am afraid that if everyone knows about it too soon, they might do something stupid like trying to fight over this mansion or getting rid of me and you all out of this place."

"...or out of this world," Haze mumbled, continuing his words.

"The Will also stated that Zaard, the loyal butler, would be granted a sum of money, how much is it?" Virgil read it, "wow... it is more than enough for his needs in life!"

Hazard shrugged, "too bad, Zaard can't enjoy his fortune since he has already passed away."

"Passed away?" Dryad frowned. "What do you mean by that? He was the one who assigned me the task!"

"What task?" Haze confused.

"To find this will and the grim..."

"Ah!" Virgil exclaimed suddenly to cut her off. "We forgot something!" He glanced at Sir Alvard as if giving him a silent code, "Right?"

"Right! What time is it? Shouldn't we donate the books and deliver them by this afternoon? The cargo train might have arrived as we talk. We can't waste anymore time here!" Sir Alvard quickly interrupted the conversation and started to prepare everything. He came back with a few letters at hand, and turned to Haze, "Go with Virgil. And, please deliver these letters to the post office too," he instructed.

Haze nodded as he took the letters, "Right away, Sir."

When Virgil and Haze left, he sighed in relief.

Dryad stared at him puzzledly, "Sir Alvard? You seem troubled? Is everything alright?"

Sir Alvard turned to her and smiled, "Everything's fine, dear child. But let me explain something to you. And... let's just hope I won't scare you too much."