Turnabout Devotion: Chapter 7, "The Permitted Turnabout ~ Middlegame"

A quick look over the still-open food stalls results in Edgeworth picking out a food item involving a rod-shaped mass of sticky rice and an unfamiliar small pink bean, rolled in a thin layer of egg and griddle-fried until that is cooked, and served in a large leaf of some form of lettuce.

Once the whole group has selected offerings to their liking, they head to the concert hall, that being the most obvious place to find either of the suspicious members of the Marggin family.

Nathaniel: At this hour, they should probably be finishing up rehearsal, so we should be able to catch Rabbalap afterward.

Edgeworth nods. "Is there a particular room he would likely go to, or should we attempt to encounter him on the stage?"

Ellymoha: He'll be filing any scores used in the office, so we could talk to him there.

Edgeworth nods, grinning slightly. "That would be ideal." After all, if my suspicions are correct, we may end up making something of a scene...

Althea nods. "Let's wait there, then. No need to interrupt anything."

Edgeworth looks to Ellymoha. "Please lead the way."

Ellymoha leads the group through the performer's entrance in the rear, and along a corridor and to a tiny room consisting of a small desk, a few chairs, a couple of cabinets with drawers, and a safe. The room is a bit small to accommodate the entire group easily.

Edgeworth: Mmph. I suppose I'm unused to having to accomodate such a large entourage...

Edgeworth peers through the door, seeming to be trying to puzzle out who exactly to pack into the room and how.

Rabbalap turns a corner in the hall while carrying a stack of papers, only to start in surprise at all the people there.

Rabbalap: My, my. Do we have a band here?

Edgeworth: Er, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Marggin, but we wish to speak with you concerning recent matters.

Ellymoha: I'm still trying to convince Nathaniel to take up actual singing, but no, this is actually about the... um, matter I was worried about the other day.

Rabbalap: Since this isn't a solo act, I'm guessing that it was as dire as it looked?

Edgeworth crosses his arms. "Indeed, though its nature is not what Miss Cissot was led to believe. Aside from a medical examination finding something rather different than blinding sickness, there was — and to my knowledge still is — an active aura on the victim."

Althea watches Edgeworth, waiting to see how he plays this rather than adding anything yet.

Rabbalap makes a rising gesture. "I can barely make out what you mean."

Edgeworth: I understand that you require an anti-allergy medication, and recently purchased the ingredients for it. Please testify concerning that matter.

Rabbalap frowns at Edgeworth, making a rather transparent attempt at appearing confused at the change in subject but coming off as more uneasy than anything.

Dil appears mildly amused, but keeps his mouth shut.

Ellymoha lets out a slightly disappointed sigh but says nothing.

Rabbalap: My sister Zemershil usually buys the ingredients for my medication, but she's been more occupied than usual lately, so I did it instead.

Edgeworth: Occupied with what, precisely?

Rabbalap: Well, she's been involved in a game lately. I don't know all the details about it, though.

Edgeworth: And at the moment, I have no basis on which to challenge that latter assertion...

Rabbalap: She wanted me to buy more than I needed, so she could make extra for someone she wanted to win a favor from.

Edgeworth: Can you be more specific about this other person and why she needed a favor from them?

Rabbalap shakes his head. "She's been keeping me out of the affairs of this game for the most part. Maybe she's trying to get a gift for me? She's done that before." He shrugs.

Rabbalap: Anyway, she may have been too busy to buy the ingredients herself as usual, but she wasn't too busy to make it.

Edgeworth: Is making such a medicine a trivial matter for her?

Rabbalap: Oh yes. She makes it for me all the time. It's incredibly helpful...

Edgeworth: And is this the only thing she concocts for your family on a regular basis?

Ellymoha adds as Rabbalap seems to hesitate on this question, "She makes some of the cleaning agents, waxes and resins for the instruments here, right?"

Rabbalap: Well, yes. And she does make things for the flooring as well. She is a skilled alchemist...

Edgeworth: And yet, he didn't wish to be immediately forthcoming on that matter.

Rabbalap: I'm not sure why you're asking about this, though. What does this have to do with what was bothering Ellymoha?

Edgeworth points at Rabbalap. "OBJECTION!"

Rabbalap jumps slightly, then gestures downward.

Edgeworth smirks. "I'm sorry to inform you, but this has everything to do with what was bothering her!"

Edgeworth pulls out Illyvalen's report on her findings in examining Chidellof with a flourish, allowing its contents to be clearly seen.

Rabbalap looks the report over, then looks more openly uneasy. "Sentry's soporific?... But you haven't confirmed it, right?"

Edgeworth: That effort is currently underway. It is, however, consistent with the findings thus far — and the same person who found this also confirmed the similarity between your medication and the poison in question.

Edgeworth: And your sister is not merely someone who knows the rote procedure for a single chemical — she is an alchemist of some skill, by your own admission!

Rabbalap grows angrier. "There are hundreds of alchemists in Korranberg! Why are you accusing my sister of this?!"

Edgeworth puts the medical report away, only to pull out Rayhan's statements instead. "There are not hundreds of alchemists who bought more than they would otherwise have needed, Mr. Marggin."

Edgeworth: Or do you have evidence that she did, in fact, use them for the purpose you claim?

Rabbalap: Rayhan's reagent shop also isn't the only one in Korranberg. Have you checked them all?

Edgeworth spreads his arms and shakes his head. "Perhaps not, but it would certainly be worth our while to do so. After all, one of them likely sold the rest of the ingredients. That being said, we have more to ask you about before we take such measures."

Rabbalap: Ellymoha, are you really going to let him do this?!...

Ellymoha looks at Rabbalap with a pained expression. "Rabbalap, this is serious. Talbo's dead because of this. I don't want to believe it, but I can't... I can't ignore what I've seen and heard."

Rabbalap looks disbelievingly at Ellymoha. "I've heard the rumors, but..."

Nathaniel: I saw the body myself. I would not have believed it possible, least of all from a member of your family, but...

Nathaniel glances at Edgeworth, then looks back at Rabbalap with a grim expression. "No game should ever have people's lives as its stakes. We can't just drop this."

Rabbalap: But sentry's soporific can't kill anyone. And I definitely haven't seen any ingredients for a poison that could.

Edgeworth: So you have seen your sister's lab recently enough to testify to such a fact?

Rabbalap takes out a handkerchief and pats down his forehead.

Edgeworth: As for the relevance of this particular poison to the sequence of events, as you may have noticed, it was not Talbo who had been affected by it, but Chidellof. She was targeted first by the poison, and later by... a spell that blinded her.

Rabbalap: Which isn't quite in harmony with what Ellymoha was so worried about.

Edgeworth: Indeed not — she was quite deliberately misled.

Ellymoha: That was the point... to make me think Egmon had tainted her water with blinding sickness. Because he couldn't have used magic to blind her.

Edgeworth: On that note, I understand that your sister has some form of magical capabilities, but Miss Loeb could not testify to the specifics.

Althea: Though she was able to confirm that she is not the sort of caster who need rely on a spellbook, nor is she a bard...

Rabbalap shakes his head. "She's an unusual case. Most of our family learns music easily, but she wasn't very talented at it. She became involved with theater instead."

Edgeworth: In what capacity is she involved in theater?

Rabbalap: Well, she is a good actress, but her best skill is with illusions.

Edgeworth smirks. "Including the sort suitable for costuming oneself?"

Rabbalap: ...It would be terrible to keep such an instrument out of one's repetoire. She also helps with special effects often.

Edgeworth simply waits, not having more to say on the matter just yet.

Rabbalap: To help hide her presence from the audience when doing that, she has some limited skill in hiding her spellcasting. It wouldn't do to be overheard, after all.

Althea simply nods, as if expecting this.

Rabbalap: In case she needs to cross the stage unseen, she can even cast a spell to turn invisible for a moment.

Edgeworth: This is a very incriminating cluster of coincidences!...

Edgeworth manages to prevent himself from glaring, at least.

Althea: And I presume she's adept enough at moving objects from a distance?

Rabbalap: Of course. There are people better at it, but in the rare case that comes up, she can borrow that capability.

Edgeworth looks mildly baffled at that. "Borrow"?...

Althea frowns, looking as though she's struggling to remember something.

Nathaniel blinks. "She's a spellthief?"

Edgeworth does, in fact, glare as he looks to Nathaniel at that. "Please elaborate immediately!"

Nathaniel: Er, spellthieves have the ability to temporarily drain prepared spells or the potential to cast a spell from a caster. They don't normally learn magic on their own, but I've heard of some of the more exceptional kinds picking up a few spells like a sorcerer would...

Althea shakes her head. "That sounds like a trickster to me. It's a similar discipline, but they are more focused on arcane ability. Notably, a trickster would have access to the same repertoire as a bard, in addition to those normally learned by a spellthief, or those they can steal."

Edgeworth: So in theory, the limitations of her own knowledge would be of only limited relevance, would they not?

Althea nods. "Just like a sorcerer or bard, her grasp of magic would be intuitive, so she would not necessarily seek out knowledge of spells in order to learn them. In addition, a stolen spell can be retained for up to an hour before it is cast, though she would still need to find someone she could obtain the needed spell from."

Edgeworth spreads his arms. "And victims from which she could obtain mind-affecting enchantments are plentiful in this place, are they not?"

Rabbalap begins to look even more nervous at Edgeworth's comment. "What are you getting at now?..."

Ellymoha sighs. "I was supposed to witness that poisoning scene so that I could tell Talbo. Afterward, someone pretending to be Rayhan met with me to... to make sure I did..."

Nathaniel: Indeed, she did show signs of having been under a compulsion when she described the situation in detail.

Edgeworth: And I myself have detected traces of some sort of spell cast upon her.

Edgeworth taps his temple and grins. "Someone more highly skilled at such things than I would likely be able to confirm it in more detail, but as it happens, Nathaniel found the House Medani enclave's receptionist to be strangely uncooperative today."

Nathaniel: Indeed. We showed up as paying customers for a fairly simple service and were all but thrown out on the street. That's not a typical reaction to put it mildly.

Edgeworth pulls out Amika's statement. "Furthermore, someone attempted to thwart the most obvious backup plan — someone who could cast such a spell undetected."

Rabbalap begins to look conflicted...

Althea: ...I don't know if House Cannith is the most obvious backup plan, but it may have been a more opportune target than the Archive under the circumstances.

Althea: After all, if they knew who was investigating things, they'd know arcane scrolls won't do you any good. That only leaves so many options.

Edgeworth: The Archival Foundation has made itself known to the public only relatively recently, though, has it not?

Althea: True. And buying divine scrolls from churches to which one does not belong is an iffy proposition in most places. I guess I'm just too used to dealing with them myself.

Dil: "Buying" isn't really the right word, most of the time... more like trading favors on the Street of a Hundred Temples and getting lucky.

Althea shrugs. "Here, certainly. Back in Sharn money talks if you know where to look, but..."

Edgeworth crosses his arms and looks coolly at Dil. And he hasn't mentioned this "Street of a Hundred Temples" before why?

Althea: So, yes, spellbeads would be an obvious backup for a divine caster without a church backing them up.

Rabbalap seems distant from the conversation, continuing to look deeply uncertain...

Edgeworth: ...Rabbalap Marggin Adredar. It's clear that your sister means a great deal to you; furthermore, I understand it to be traditional here for one's family to be alone in deserving one's complete trust.

Edgeworth: But consider this. It is far from traditional for any ordinary citizen to kill here, and certainly not through bloodshed in broad daylight. Though the methods in play may be highly unorthodox from my own perspective as well, someone clearly arranged things to ensure that such a killing would occur.

Rabbalap shakes his head. "I don't hear how this poisoning and blinding accompany a murder, though..."

Edgeworth: That connection, too, is well-established.

Edgeworth takes out the duplicate of Talbo's request to Belgiwig and offers it.

Edgeworth: While Ellymoha did voice her concerns to you, you were hardly the first — and as you can see here, the version of events she was manipulated into believing stirred doubts in Talbo's mind.

Rabbalap takes the note and stares at it...

Edgeworth takes out the knife sheath next. "This was found on Talbo's body at the crime scene — a knife sheath belonging to his fiancée, sans the knife."

Edgeworth looks to Althea.

Althea: I was able to view the psychic impressions of the attack. Talbo was wielding that knife at the time he confronted Egmon, but it was removed from the scene before we got there.

Althea: The entire reason for their altercation was due to the fact that Talbo believed Egmon was about to try to kill his fiancée.

Edgeworth: This entire scheme, strangely untouched by the Trust as it was, was concocted in such a way as to try to make Egmon look like a murderer. But I can say now with confidence that Egmon is not a murderer — rather, he was the murder weapon!

Edgeworth: Whoever the true murderer may have been, to my mind they've forfeited the right to any love. Whether you agree on this point or not, however, is hardly my decision to make.

Rabbalap offers the note back, still silent.

Edgeworth takes and repockets it.

Ellymoha appears pained but resolute.

Nathaniel maintains a grim expression and remains silent.

Dil seems uneasy at Edgeworth's characterization of things himself, but does seem to have at least shifted from a mostly neutral observation to looking at Rabbalap specifically.

Edgeworth: The Trust seems willing to not merely allow this murder to happen, but to let the murderer walk away, and even fight back against those who would thwart that effort. Can you, in good conscience, do the same?

Rabbalap begins to tear up.

Rabbalap: I... all right. I... did see a bottle of something she doesn't use in the anti-allergy medicine in her lab a few days ago. She's probably disposed of it by now. I... think she probably got it while I was buying the regular ingredients.

Althea: Can you describe it?

Rabbalap: It was a green bottle, very small. I didn't see a label. Maybe it was labeled with an invisible arcane mark, I don't know.

Rabbalap: But it wasn't anything I recognized from any of her usual formulas.

Rabbalap: And she hadn't mentioned anything new she wanted to try, and... dodged the qu-question of what... it was for.

Edgeworth crosses his arms and begins to tap his finger. And it would seem as though familial obligations alone were holding him back on the matter. Were it anyone else, I doubt he would have been nearly so uncooperative.

Edgeworth: And are we the first people you've told of this?

Rabbalap: I was sure the Trust would watch any suspicious purchases and stop them from being abused...

Edgeworth: Mm, just why the Trust has allowed all this to happen is the greatest question before us.

Edgeworth: Though the idea of someone being tailed — or, perhaps, scried upon — simply for buying something suspicious as opposed to directly illegal is an uncomfortable idea...

Edgeworth: Do you have any idea where she would go to obtain something that would, presumably, arouse Miss Loeb's suspicion had she bought it at her shop?

Rabbalap shakes his head. "I know there are a lot of reagent shops out there, but I don't know the differences between them or even where all of them are."

Edgeworth: Hmph. I suppose that would be too easy.

Edgeworth: I am left to wonder, however, if Illyvalen knows even more than she initially let on...

Althea: I suppose Illyvalen would be the best person to ask on that point.

Edgeworth looks to Althea. "I was thinking much the same thing. Do you suppose her analyses are complete by now, or would be by the time we made it to wherever she's likely to be conducting them?"

Althea: I can check with her if you give me a minute...

Edgeworth nods. "Very well, then."

Edgeworth then looks back to Rabbalap. "In the meantime, is there anything more you wish to share?"

Edgeworth: A pity that I can't tell his shame at having admitted as much as he has from any shame he might have about hiding more.

Edgeworth uncrosses his arms. "At the very least, would you be willing to write down the observation you've already admitted to? Such things are, as you've seen, of great use to me."

Rabbalap: ...I... I suppose... if you'd let me into my office?

Edgeworth steps backward carefully, so as not to run into any of the others. "Of course."

It doesn't take Rabbalap long to write out his statement, bring it back out, and offer it to Edgeworth.

Edgeworth accepts the sheet of paper, then bows. "Your cooperation is appreciated."

Ellymoha: I... I'm so sorry, Rabbalap...

Rabbalap: ...You're... supposed to be a victim in this too, right? So...

Ellymoha shakes her head. "I'm not worried about that right now. There are people who are still suffering because of this..."

Edgeworth: Indeed, suffering that it wouldn't do to prolong much further. Fortunately, at the rate this investigation is proceeding, I suspect it'll be complete sometime tomorrow.

Edgeworth: But the question then becomes, what do we do with what we've uncovered in a place like this?

Althea looks up, looking slightly worried. "It seems Illyvalen ran into some possible interference as well. When she got back to the lab she's been using at the Library she was told that it had been closed for some kind of emergency maintenance, and that none of the other labs that would have what she needed were available either..."

Edgeworth looks to Althea with a glare. "That would seem to indicate that as you suspected, the perpetrator has taken note of us specifically."

Althea nods. "Under the circumstances, she decided that the best option was to return to her family's residence. That's where her clinic — well, really more her cousin's at this point — is located. She's working on the analysis, but it shouldn't be too much longer."

Edgeworth: Then let us make our way there next.

Illyvalen's family residence turns out to be a fairly large house in an upper-class district; the adjoining clinic advertising itself as free to those in need seems a little bit incongruous under the circumstances. Said clinic looks to have been built as a separate wing of the residence, perhaps originally intended as servants' quarters. Through the wide windows of the clinic, several workers and a few patients can be seen, but the level of activity suggests it is not as swamped as such facilities might be in more impoverished locales.

As the group enters the clinic, a gnome with long candy-red hair and violet eyes who bears some resemblance to Illyvalen looks over towards the group with a reserved expression. "Yes, what do you— Oh. You brought him here..."

Edgeworth blinks, then raises his finger to his temple. "Has Illyvalen described me to you, then?"

Dil shakes his head and mutters something.

Tikra appears to be working in the clinic as well, changing bedsheets.

Jeslaryun: Hardly. She's been in the back since she got here, working on some "critically important test" or something. Look. If you turn around and walk out that door right now, I'll pretend I never saw you.

Althea blinks in confusion.

Edgeworth: Er, ma'am, we're here —

A somewhat older male gnome with shorter hair of the same candy-red and grey eyes comes storming out into the front area of the clinic. "I told you if they showed up to show them to the lounge!"

Jeslaryun looks back at the other gnome. "And I told you not to lurk in the back room. But we don't always get what we want, do we?"

Edgeworth glares. "I beg your pardon, but I haven't come to engage in idle chatter!"

Toralnik: Idle? Hardly! You're investigating a murder in Korranberg — in Korranberg, of all places — and you think I want to just shoot the breeze about inconsequential matters? Who do you take me for?

Edgeworth crosses his arms, his glare lessening. "By now, someone who doesn't know the meaning nor the underlying social implications of 'no comment.'"

Althea looks awkward. Should I know who this is...?

Jeslaryun: Now, father, just because Illyvalen keeps meeting strange people while you're out of the country doesn't mean you're entitled to grill them for everything they know the moment you get back.

Edgeworth grits his teeth. Must people keep referring to me as "strange"?

Toralnik: Now, that's not—

Jeslaryun: Besides, after what happened to poor Tikra, I can hardly blame anyone for being reluctant to have an interview...

Toralnik: There was nothing wrong with my article about Tikra! Yes, I admit that the response was a bit... noticeable... but that just shows how significant the interest in our growing cultural diversity is.

Edgeworth sighs. Should I ask?

Jeslaryun rolls her eyes.

Dil cuts in. "So how much do you know?"

Toralnik: About him or the murder?

Dil puts his finger to his lip. "Both, actually."

Toralnik grins slightly. "He's supposedly an 'atheist cleric from another world', calls himself a criminal prosecutor, has a holy symbol no one recognizes, and considers himself empowered by truth."

Toralnik: Also, he's been teaching Illyvalen that funny language of his.

Edgeworth: I am a criminal prosecutor, and that "holy symbol" is in fact my badge of office.

Toralnik has a pen and notebook out before Edgeworth has finished his sentence, writing quickly.

Toralnik: As for the murder, the victim is Talbo Santor d'Sivis of the Speaker's Guild. You've detained a man named Egmon Niralamba Santiar at a Tharashk facility in connection with the murder, and you're investigating its connection to the recent blindness of one Chidellof Vadin Chivarach, the fiancée of the deceased.

Toralnik: And most remarkably of all, the Trust is letting you do it.

Edgeworth taps his finger on his arm. "Indeed, I'm told that not only is a murder of this kind highly abnormal here, but that it's more abnormal still for the Trust to allow people to so much as notice one."

Toralnik: Indeed. I actually checked the calendar myself just to see if Daanvi had gone remote in the past couple days.

Edgeworth: Anyway, do keep in mind that to report anything about the murder now would be rather premature. Our investigation is still underway. That being said, there is one detail that begs to be clarified, lest you lose sight of the truth entirely.

Toralnik looks half-disappointed and half-offended. "Do you take me for some kind of fool or inexperienced novice? This is not the first murder I've worked on. It's just the only murder in Korranberg."

Althea frowns slightly.

Ellymoha blinks and seems about to ask a question, only to apparently recall something that answers it for her.

Edgeworth's manner softens to neutrality; he uncrosses his arms. "So long as we're clear on that point."

Dil grins, seeming to catch something about Edgeworth's change of attitude.

Edgeworth: Anyway... at this time, Mr. Niralamba's detainment is entirely for his own safety.

Toralnik: Is that so? Hmm, yes, I suppose it wouldn't do for Chidellof in particular to find out when you're planning to release him.

Edgeworth: There is more to it than that. This murder was nearly a murder-suicide.

Edgeworth spreads his arms and shakes his head. "Though it is a rare thing indeed for the murder weapon to be the one to attempt suicide rather than the murderer themselves."

Toralnik blinks. "And how exactly does a sword attempt suicide?"

Althea holds her forehead. I thought it was supposed to be Edgeworth who hates dealing in metaphors.

Edgeworth shakes his head again, lowering his arms. "The incident was the outcome of a scheme so elaborate that it makes the question of why the Trust allowed it to occur all the more pressing. There are several points at which they could have interfered."

Toralnik: Presumably, the blinding and the altercation itself, but I take it you've identified other critical moments?

Jeslaryun: Not that I'm not interested, but I have other duties. If you'll excuse me.

Jeslaryun heads toward the back area.

Toralnik blinks in surprise at Jeslaryun's departure.

Edgeworth: It's hardly surprising. Illyvalen is conducting a pair of tests right now — one to confirm preliminary results about an apparent poison she found in Chidellof's body, and one that will allow us to prove our observations at the beginning of all of this.

Toralnik: Oh, Illyvalen can handle that on her own. But Jeslaryun would usually make the time for something this good... well, at least, she used to... she works herself too hard here with Illyvalen gone...

Edgeworth: Anyway, as to your question, the poison in question relates to other points at which the Trust could have intervened.

Toralnik nods. "Presumably relating to when and how it was procured?"

Edgeworth: Apparently, the culprit was allowed to brew what we believe to have been sentry's soporific; taint water that Chidellof drank with it while in the guise of Egmon; and then, in the guise of Rayhan Loeb Dalian, subsequently manipulate Ellymoha Cissot Adredar into believing that Egmon and Chidellof were going to duel, Egmon had placed blinding sickness in her drink, and the Trust was allowing this to happen out of the belief that Zilargo would be better off without either.

Toralnik: Which no doubt relates to why Miss Cissot Adredar is now among your entourage?

Edgeworth: Verily. After all, the perpetrator was not content to simply let things run their course; once Ellymoha was convinced of this, the culprit enchanted Ellymoha to deliver a warning to Talbo.

Toralnik nods. "From what I gather, more often than not it's the sheer number of steps taken to make sure everything goes right that ensures there's enough evidence to catch the culprit."

Edgeworth: Mm, and this case is an exceptional example of that.

Edgeworth: I apologize for my earlier behavior, by the way. I've seen far too many people who ought to be allies of truth instead caring more for their own glory.

Edgeworth: Among reporters, sometimes even those who are well-meaning say too much too soon. Indeed, under normal circumstances I would be less forthcoming for fear that an early report would color the trial process.

Edgeworth glances aside with a slight frown. "As there will be no trial this time, though, I can be freer with information."

Toralnik sighs and shakes his head. "I imagine the scene you witnessed upon coming in didn't help. Jeslaryun likes to tease me about my sensitivity regarding missing news happening around the family while I'm away. It's not the first time I've come back to find Illyvalen sitting on the makings of a remarkable story."

Toralnik glances to where Tikra is working. "I first found out about her at the lightning rail station. That was a good three months after Illyvalen and Jeslaryun found her dying and nursed her back to health."

Edgeworth blinks. It would seem there's more to their relationship than I suspected.

Toralnik: I've forgotten to introduce myself, too, haven't I. I'm Toralnik Mirilas Forlin, reporter for the Chronicle. I usually cover foreign stories, but I make a point of coming back to Korranberg when I can.

Edgeworth makes a sweeping bow. "Miles Edgeworth, though I presume you've had me at a disadvantage all this time."

Toralnik: True enough; your name is becoming well-known around Korranberg even without any coverage. And I recognize Mr. Salyrria Tarren as one of Illyvalen's colleages at the Library. Though I'm not familiar with you, sir.

Toralnik looks to Dil with this last sentence.

Dil nods. "Dil. I usually spend my days doing shopping, negotiations, scribe work, and the like for the Archival Foundation. But I've found myself spending the last couple of weeks helping this man through his awakening."

Toralnik nods. "So he is a new cleric, then. The rumors have been less than clear about that; I think many have the impression that his world is somehow full of cleric-prosecutors without gods, but I've heard others suggest he somehow became a cleric against his will and is trying not to be one..."

Edgeworth: I would not go so far as to say I was trying not to be one. In serving the truth, I've never really had a choice; this was simply a particularly bizarre and uncomfortable development in that journey.

Edgeworth winces during the latter part of his statement.

Toralnik: So it was in crossing to our world that truth has called you to go beyond the role of priest and take the next step? Curious.

Edgeworth: OBJECTION! People do not worship truth in my world! Indeed, science and religion have been at odds for as long as science has existed.

Toralnik shakes his head. "Devout, then, if you do not guide others to your cause. It is strange, though, to think that a world would turn its back so firmly on Aureon that science and knowledge would be cast out."

Althea: I'm not sure that's quite... you know what, no, I don't even think I'm qualified to speculate at this point...

Edgeworth: Hmph. Humanity in my world — the only sapient, tool-using species known there, for the record — has always craved knowledge, but until several hundred years ago had little to no concept of how to go about it.

Edgeworth: Religions and untested speculation filled the gap for thousands of years.

Edgeworth: In some parts of the world, people who made new discoveries that contradicted such assumptions were decried as heretics and burned alive. In others, new discoveries were largely shrugged at and regarded as toys, rather than deeply explored, once it was clear that they didn't in and of themselves entail some sort of elixir of life.

Edgeworth: In still others, people were content to live at the level of subsistence or of trade.

Edgeworth: This is not to say that the world was entirely in stasis. Indeed, yet another part of the world pursued further understanding of mathematics in particular.

Edgeworth spreads his arms. "In time interaction between these different parts of the world — some congenial, some not, and most driven by a hunger for resources that were not yet universally available — led to the beginnings of change."

Edgeworth's features harden. "Such change did not come easily. Some of the world's more powerful religions did not wish to cede their dominant positions as the sole controllers of what constituted 'knowledge'. Even today, there are those who turn their backs upon the truth, or are too naïve to submit what they think they know to the scientific method."

Dil has started writing things down himself.

Toralnik has turned to another page, writing quickly as Edgeworth delivers this speech. After about half a minute, he adds, "So in your world it is the churches who became the power that rose up to challenge nations, wielding a monopoly on accepted knowledge as the Twelve wield monopolies on goods and services?"

Althea frowns. "Haven't you mentioned the existence of religious icons for the very ideas you promote, that merely fell into disuse as their religions foundered?"

Edgeworth: The civilization those date from was highly unusual for its time. It dated from before the dominance I described grew stifling and dangerous, and engaged in a great deal of philosophical thought. Many of the old ideas that did not come directly from a religion came from it.

Edgeworth glances aside. "But they believed that contemplation alone would lead to truth. They did not seek evidence or test their theories."

Althea's expression becomes troubled. "I see. Perhaps the knowledge and understanding of Khorvaire will some day be swept away by an oppressive power from without as well..."

Toralnik blinks. "I hope that was not a prophecy of the next planar invasion, Miss Tamochi d'Jorasco."

Althea shakes her head. "Just a thought on the various threats that are always facing us."

Toralnik: I see. I would like to have a chance to discuss your perspective on those at some point, but I think that had better wait for the moment.

Edgeworth glares at no one in particular. All the more reason to continue to walk this path even as it leads into parts unknown.

Toralnik: So, I guess that without the legacy of the giants, the historical perspective of the elves and the gnomes' passion for study, humans in your world were left at a disadvantage in coming to discover the nature of their world. Yet you found your way there, albeit among a more conflicted path...

Edgeworth crosses his arms as he contains himself. "Indeed so. Perhaps the single most important factor in that was that the printing press made its way to the most oppressed yet most industrious part of the world. It was accepted because it allowed the church to circulate sacred texts more easily, but others used it as well to share other ideas. Many were exposed to ancient Hellenic thought for the first time due to this."

Toralnik: Mm, for reaching a mass audience such an advance is critical. It's difficult to scale the casting of Amanuensis sufficiently to cope with the need to make thousands of copies.

Edgeworth grins. "I was pleased to see even a small press soon after my arrival here, for reasons that should be obvious."

Toralnik grins as well. "If you'd like, I can probably get you a look at one of the Chronicle's presses. The main office here is responsible for printing the copy for Korranberg, Zolanberg, and various nearby towns."

Edgeworth: I suspect I'll have much to discuss with House Sivis after we've finished our investigation. Your cooperation would be most appreciated.

Toralnik blinks. "I see. Those are not unreasonable terms under the circumstances. But in exchange, I'm not going to sit this out passively. You clearly have a number of observers for your investigation already, so one more should not be a problem. And I want a full interview with you afterward."

Edgeworth blinks at first, but finally nods once Toralnik finishes speaking. I suppose I really don't have a choice.

Toralnik: Then it's a deal. Shall we see if my niece has any results for you yet?

Edgeworth nods again, more firmly. "Please do."

Toralnik leads the group into the rear portion of the clinic and along a hallway to a closed door.

Toralnik: There won't be room for all of us in here, so most of you had better wait in the hall.

Toralnik gently opens the door, looking in to make sure Illyvalen isn't in the middle of anything delicate before speaking. "So, how are things progressing here?"

Illyvalen doesn't look up from her work. "I'm going to be a little while yet."

Edgeworth: Has anything unexpected been found at this time, or have these tests simply proved to confirm what we know so far?

Illyvalen does look up at this. "Oh, Mr. Edgeworth. Um, no, everything's checking out so far. I can't be absolutely sure the poison was sentry's soporific, but if not it was almost certainly a variation on that formula."

Edgeworth: And all is as it seemed concerning the blood on Egmon's sword as well?

Illyvalen returns her focus to her work. "I need more time. Nothing out of the ordinary has come up yet, but..."

Edgeworth nods. "Very well. There is another reason we wished to speak with you, however. It has been brought to my attention that some other reagent dealer may have been the source for one of the poison's ingredients, but I have no idea what other ones exist in this city."

Illyvalen: There are some others in the alchemy market. I think there are a few others who deal in them without maintaining actual storefronts. You could probably ask Je— no, she'd be busier than I am right now. Just a minute...

Edgeworth: It's somewhat improbable that the other shop in play would be in the alchemy market, given that Rabbalap testified that Zemershil was somewhere else entirely when he was buying the ingredients and that he suspected she was buying this suspicious small green bottle while he was doing so.

Edgeworth: Furthermore, if the intent was to prevent it from being immediately obvious to observers that she intended to make sentry's soporific, being in the same area at the same time as Raballap would seem to defeat the purpose.

Illyvalen remains turned away from Edgeworth, and there is a subtle and odd change in her tone of voice as she responds. "Ah. In other words, you're looking for the kind of dealer someone like me isn't supposed to know about."

Edgeworth looks uneasy. I've scarcely seen anyone but the guilty change their demeanor in such a way...

Althea: What in the world...?

Ellymoha blinks in surprise quickly followed by apparent amusement.

Nathaniel nods knowingly.

Edgeworth looks to Toralnik, keeping how disturbed he is from entirely showing in the process.

Toralnik coughs slightly, as if trying to catch Illyvalen's attention without actually commenting at all.

Illyvalen: In this case, though, I suspect the people you really want to ask are my parents. They did a lot of... "exploring of options" back when it seemed my ill health would claim my life as a child... The little I've heard is mostly what they've warned me away from.

Edgeworth nods. "Though I know nothing about the alchemy of this world, and precious little of... er, I don't believe there's actually a Common word to draw the distinction between what in English would be called 'alchemy and chemistry'."

Edgeworth: Ergo, I don't know what precisely I would be asking for a source for. All kinds of different things could be stored in a small green bottle, after all.

Illyvalen: But in this case, we're not looking for just anything, we're looking for a restricted substance that makes up part of the formula for sentry's soporific. Probably the detoxified extract of sassone leaf, that would be the most cost-effective form of the active ingredient as far as I know...

Edgeworth nods. "I see..." And to think that before, Rayhan had seemed the more troubling woman on this topic...

Edgeworth: Would your parents be anywhere in the house at this time?

Illyvalen: Yeah, I should introduce you and explain what's going on.

Illyvalen turns around and starts suddenly as she takes in the size of the group watching her. "Ah, er, th-that was... um... n-nevermind."

Dil looks amused. "I guess I'm not the only changeling in the room."

Edgeworth recoils. Has she been —

Dil: Oh, don't worry. We can't actually change our mass that much.

Illyvalen: Please don't make fun of me...

Althea: Er, I don't think Dil meant it that way. Just... well, that's not exactly how you normally behave, the way you were acting a moment ago.

Illyvalen blushes even deeper. "Um, well, you did ask about stuff that... well... I mean I can't just pretend not to know under the circumstances, but... it's hard to know how to deal with stuff this... this awful... without resorting to that..." At the end, she starts to tear up.

Edgeworth seems completely off-kilter and at a loss.

Nathaniel: I think you can be forgiven for being driven out of character in such trying circumstances. Even the best performers have to step off the stage at some point.

Illyvalen: I just... don't like to be like that except around family. I mean, it's okay if it's Tikra, or Althea, or Mr. Edgeworth... I just didn't realize you'd brought everyone here.

Althea blinks. Did she just... no. Not if she's including Edgeworth. That's pretty much unthinkable at this point.

Toralnik: Er, Illyvalen is maybe something of an unusual case. I don't know how much you've heard or read about Zil society...

Edgeworth: Um... well... the Trust, and your, um, love of knowledge and schemes.

Althea: I presume you're referring to masks?

Toralnik nods. "For most it'd be more subtle, but they say the face a Zil lets you see in public is never the whole truth. Only in her case, it's not entirely clear whether she's putting on a mask or taking one off..."

Toralnik speaks a little more quietly. "...In my own opinion, I think when she gets flustered enough she tries to act like my daughter because she's not sure how else to cope..."

Edgeworth lowers his voice as well, glancing around with an uncertain frown. "I've personally only seen the guilty shift quite so dramatically in such a direction."

Illyvalen does burst into tears at that.

Edgeworth: Nnnggghoooooh!

Althea glances awkwardly at Edgeworth before stepping forward to offer a hug to Illyvalen.

Illyvalen embraces Althea tightly and continues openly crying for a few minutes.

Several clinic workers pop their heads around the corner of the hallway, peering curiously at the group.

Nathaniel stares at Edgeworth for a moment before shaking his head.

Nathaniel: It is one thing to be surprised at an incongruity in one's actions and quite another to accuse one of wrongdoing...

Edgeworth steps back from Nathaniel. "OBJECTION! I was not accusing her of anything!"

Nathaniel: Well, it certainly sounded something like that.

Edgeworth glares in an oddly vulnerable-looking way at Nathaniel. "I — I'm perfectly aware of that now!"

Dil simply sighs and shakes his head.

Toralnik manages somehow to take notes without pulling his eyes away from the scene before him.

Ellymoha: You can't ever really truly know what's in anyone's heart, but actions and reputation resonate more than one's words... and Illyvalen Mirilas Forlin has a stainless reputation in our community.

Nathaniel: Indeed. I've never once heard anyone impugn her character in the slightest.

Edgeworth forces himself to pull himself together somewhat. "Setting aside the question of the nature of reputations, I've been given no substantive reason to doubt her character in the least. Ergo, I was completely unprepared for what just happened."

Edgeworth: From my own perspective, it was a complete non sequitur.

Tikra makes her way down the hall toward the group, looking into the room.

Tikra glances at Illyvalen and Althea. "I presume he had another difficult question?"

Edgeworth shakes his head. "Er, no. I simply misspoke..."

Dil's amusement seems to have run out for the moment. "At least this time you weren't trying to insult anyone."

Althea: Edgeworth... reacted poorly to seeing an... unexpected side of Illyvalen...

Tikra blinks and her eyes widen a little. "She removed her mask for you... I suppose a matter this grave might have required it..."

Tikra shakes her head. "That is not something she would do lightly. It says much that she was willing to do so for your sake."

Edgeworth looks away and grabs his arm, his expression pained.

Illyvalen releases Althea and wipes her eyes. "It's... it's okay. I'm okay."

Althea looks at Edgeworth and frowns. I'm not quite sure how to bridge this divide in perspectives, even if I can see across it myself...

Edgeworth: ...Say what you must.

Althea sighs and puts a hand to her forehead. Why did I have to be the only non-Zil here.

Althea: Please try to understand that you're dealing not just with a foreigner but with someone who had not so much as heard of the existence of gnomes, let alone Zil culture, a mere couple of weeks ago. As he said, he basically fell back on the perspective of his own world, not to mention his profession, in reacting to the unexpected. That's not a justification, just an explanation. I gather he's had to force more than a few masks off of those who wore them for a much more immediate and situational reason, and wasn't prepared to distinguish between matters of... identity versus self-preservation...

Tikra shrugs slightly. "I too knew not whether I could trust Illyvalen the moment I first saw her. I came to know that with certainty, but it did take time."

Edgeworth remains in his allegedly self-protective position. "Those masks I've seen were often more than just fleeting things meant to defend oneself from justice in the heat of the moment. Indeed, mere days before my being deposited here, I brought down a man who was a striking example of how far evil will go to appear harmless."

Edgeworth: He must have presented that façade for nearly a decade — and he's hardly alone in using such tactics over the long term.

Edgeworth: To see that sort of shift in an apparently innocent woman, without her being backed into a corner with evidence proving her otherwise... I simply didn't know what to make of it.

Edgeworth closes his eyes and squeezes his arm. "Nor do I know how to atone for mere admission of such an incongruity."

Illyvalen merely smiles sadly at Edgeworth. "No, I should have known better. It was too soon. I guess I... just imagined you'd understand for some reason... my family always warns me against being so impulsive..."

Tikra actually looks slightly uncomfortable at this.

Dil frowns enigmatically at Illyvalen, but doesn't comment.

Edgeworth: One thing is clear: I still have far more to learn than I imagined. An entire other world, indeed...

Illyvalen: Anyway, you need to talk to my parents, right? I'm pretty sure they're here.

Edgeworth finally 'unwraps' himself and looks to Illyvalen, though his expression is grim. "Indeed. The next obvious step in my investigation lies somewhere quite obscure."

Illyvalen enters the hall, looking over the assembled group. "Uh, maybe it's best if not everyone comes along... Uncle Toralnik, could you take everyone else to the kitchen and offer some tea?"

Toralnik: Mm, that's probably for the best under the circumstances.

Illyvalen leads the group through a hallway connecting the clinic wing to the main residence. From here, the group splits, Toralnik leading most into a kitchen with a small adjoining dining area, while Illyvalen leads Edgeworth, Althea and Tikra upstairs and to a large set of double doors upon which she knocks briefly before calling, "Mom? Dad? Are you here?"

The doors are very suddenly pulled open and a middle-aged gnome woman with aqua hair and the same striking sapphire eyes as Illyvalen pulls her into an embrace. "Illyvalen, dear, I didn't know you were going to be here today, you're usually so busy these days. Ah, and who are these? New friends of yours?"

Illyvalen: Yes. I told you about Althea already in a letter. And this is Mr. Edgeworth. He's the one that people have been talking about, the one from 'Earth'.

Desrala gives both Althea and Edgeworth very intense appraising looks.

Edgeworth crosses his arms and taps his finger, waiting this out while more subtly sizing Desrala up.

Another gnome, a well-dressed man with silver hair and eyes of an almost navy blue color, emerges from a side room into the large room the others are standing in front of. He makes his way over to the others, his expression seemingly mildly curious, but his bearing giving a sense of intensity even to that.

Edgeworth: I've rarely encountered people quite this obviously purposeful in their curiosity outside of the justice system...

Desrala: So you are the one about whom so much fuss is being made right now. An 'atheist cleric from another world'?

Edgeworth lowers his arms. "Indeed. Do you require more information before my own questions are to be answered?"

Desrala looks bemused. "Well, you don't like beating around the bush, do you? If you want frankness I can certainly oblige. What exactly are your intentions toward my daughter?"

Illyvalen looks taken aback. "Mom!"

Edgeworth blinks. "My intentions in what sense, ma'am?"

Desrala: In every sense. From what I've heard, you two have spent a lot of time together. You're not the first person she's endeavored to teach Common to, of course. But then there are these... other rumors.

Edgeworth crosses his arms again. "Go on."

Desrala: ...it's been said that in the wake of your arrival a murder has occurred in our city, and that you immediately got mixed up in it.

Edgeworth looks aside disdainfully, his arms still crossed. "I have been here for nearly two weeks, and quite frankly have a solid alibi for the apparent time of death. Given the amount of attention I've garnered, you should be able to find someone who was at the concert hall that day and took notice of our presence without much issue."

Edgeworth glances at Illyvalen, Althea and Tikra as he finishes this statement.

Desrala crosses her arms. "So, you claim to have had nothing to do with either the incident itself or with its aftermath?"

Edgeworth: I had no hand in its cause. I merely was among those who spearheaded the investigation when we discovered the body.

Desrala narrows her eyes. "An investigation you have involved my daughter in, unless I have heard falsely."

Edgeworth: Not by force.

Illyvalen: Um, I was kinda already there. We were just on our way back from the concert...

Illyvalen: I... I couldn't just ignore something like that. Not if more people could end up hurt...

Desrala sighs. "...I suppose that sounds about right." She looks over toward Althea. "I assume you also just happened to be there?"

Althea nods. "Edgeworth, Nathaniel, Illyvalen, Tikra and I were heading back toward the Library District together at the time. Tikra was the first to notice something out of place. We all found the murder scene together."

Desrala: I suppose that's the best answer I'm going to get, then... What did you want to know? You said you had your own questions.

Edgeworth lowers his arms and takes on a more neutral, businesslike demeanor. "Indeed. In the course of this investigation, Illyvalen has determined that a certain restricted substance was involved in the frankly convoluted chain of events we've uncovered."

Edgeworth: The question is where our suspect might have obtained such a thing as sassone leaf, whether detoxified already or in a state allowing an alchemist to do so oneself. Furthermore, she suggested the two of you as who to ask.

Desrala raises an eyebrow. "Did she now? I wonder why that would be?"

Edgeworth frowns. "She spoke of past desperation for a cure for her on your parts, perhaps too readily."

Desrala frowns as well. "I see. So naturally, you presume us to have scoured the city for every disreputable alchemist we could find. And that we would be more than happy to repay any assistance they might theoretically have been by throwing you at them."

Edgeworth: Er... Blast, I should have considered that last detail. Mrs. Mirilas, if we cannot decisively prove that our suspect obtained a crucial ingredient that could have been used in the process of brewing sentry's soporific in place of a dose of anti-allergy medicine, we'll simply be accused of spouting baseless conjecture and she'll walk away laughing.

Illyvalen: Mom, please. This is really important.

Noremdal: Now, now, no need to get upset. I think I have some ideas myself on this point. If I can procure for you by morning a signed statement as to whom the buyer was, would that suffice? I think I can still bring some pressure to bear in these matters.

Edgeworth smirks. "That would do nicely, yes. At that point, we would essentially have all the evidence necessary to establish what happened, and would only need to determine motive."

Althea frowns slightly. "Er, and what consideration in return would be... appropriate, given our somewhat constrained circumstances?"

Noremdal looks thoughtful. "I see you have acquired the cautiousness so many foreigners lack. I suppose you would prefer something to be dispatched immediately so you can put your debts behind you... I'm afraid I don't really have anything I'm looking for just at this moment that would be properly commensurate..."

Noremdal looks directly at Althea. "From what I have heard recently, though, it seems you've been shouldering this man's debts... and I've heard a little bit about the work you do back in Sharn..."

Edgeworth frowns. Where is he going with this?...

Noremdal: I may not have as active a role as I once did, but like many I deal in information, and having contacts in useful places is quite important to me... so here are my terms. I may need information about goings on at Morgrave. I don't know precisely when or precisely what yet. But when I do, I want your best effort to get it for me. It shouldn't be more difficult than what I'm about to do for you...

Edgeworth looks to Althea at that.

Althea looks slightly uncomfortable, but nods slowly. "I can see how that would fit the expectations of Zil society."

Noremdal laughs at that. "You don't like our games, I see. But you're not refusing, are you?"

Althea looks at Edgeworth, then back to Noremdal. "...I'll accept those terms."

Edgeworth nods as well, then looks back to Noremdal.

Noremdal: Very well. I should have what you need by morning. You're welcome to stay the night as Illyvalen's guests if you like, we have plenty of room.

Edgeworth looks back to Althea. "Would you be forced to pay for tonight's inn stay regardless?"

Althea looks to Edgeworth. "This is a bit late to check out, so yeah."

Edgeworth: Hmmm. Then that seems terribly unfair to you when you're already shouldering ever more debt on my behalf. Quite frankly, it's all but highway robbery by now...

Noremdal shrugs. "Suit yourselves. Oh, there's just one more thing before you go."

Edgeworth looks back to Noremdal. "That being?"

Noremdal's voice turns cold. "There's one thing that matters more to us than any game or deals, and that's our daughter's safety. If any harm were to come to her... it would be the work of the rest of our lives to make whomever is responsible pay for it... That's not a threat, it's just a fact."

Illyvalen: Daaaad! Stop trying to intimidate my friends!

Edgeworth simply glares back. I know all too well what can happen if a parent's love goes too far... and apparently, these parents take it to an entirely different level than my father did.

Noremdal simply slips out of his icy demeanor as if he hadn't said anything, returning to his earlier guise of affability. "Well, then, I will see you tomorrow. Good evening."

Edgeworth's glare doesn't let up.

Desrala: It's good to see you again, dear. I hope you'll find more time to stop by.

Illyvalen: Um, yeah...

Illyvalen looks over toward Edgeworth.

Illyvalen: Um, it's not personal, they're like that to everyone... Even Tikra's had to deal with that.

Edgeworth just seems more indignant and cold in his glare.

Tikra shrugs. "I merely answered truthfully."

Edgeworth: ...Hmph. Quite frankly, the truth is that there are limits concerning what I, personally, can do to guarantee that. On the other hand, thus far the only resistance we've encountered is someone enchanting people who might otherwise help us to instead obstruct us.

Edgeworth: That being said, it has never been my intention to let her or anyone else here come to harm. I simply cannot be expected to be held responsible for things that are out of my hands and currently beyond my power to prevent or undo.

Althea: I would never willingly let Illyvalen come to harm... but there are limits to what I can do as well.

Noremdal turns toward the large windows in the back of the room. "...I think you may have misunderstood me. I'm not placing Illyvalen in your charge; it's long been obvious we can't protect her from everything. I just want you to know where things stand if you betray her trust."

Edgeworth finally eases off, then also looks back to Noremdal. "I am not one to betray those who do not first commit some gross violation of the law themselves — and I find it highly unlikely that Illyvalen would do anything on the order of attempting murder."