Detective Marius walked up the front steps of the Bell-Gate hospital. It was a foggy night in Warlender City and Marius wore his long frock coat over his blue vest and trousers. His gun was holstered on one side and his police issued magic wand was on the other. His partner, detective first class, Kelsey, was shot an hour ago by a burglar fleeing the scene.

Walking inside, he went to the front desk and announced himself. "I'm looking for Detective Kelsey." He took off his gray derby hat. Before he could get a response by the nurse, two uniform police officers walked up to him. One was short with a bull neck and wore his spotless uniform with pride. The other cop was medium height with blue striking eyes.

Marius said, "What do you need gentleman?"

"Detective Marius," the shorter man said, "we were asked by HQ to get you. You didn't answer your car's radio."

"On whose orders?"

"Captain Lombard."

"Wait. I want to see my partner."

The taller cop said, "You have to go with us now."

Marius was not accustomed to being talked in this manner. He was the senior detective in his department. Marius noticed the uniform cops had a nervous itch to them like a dog who cannot scratch its back. Marius was tempted to blast past them. But he nodded. "Ok gentlemen. I will go with you."

The two cops moved toward the back of the hospital. He noticed the shorter cop walked with a hitch. He heard the tell-tale sounds of springs and metals. The cop had an artificial leg. This should have warned him what type of police officers they were. Yet, he was surprised when they approach the landing pad.

Marius said, "I don't like to fly." He saw a dark metal plane attached to several large balloons. Riding hot air planes was dangerous and most cops that piloted these machines always had severe injuries.

"Come on. It is safe. Are you scared?" The tall cop said.

"No, we could use my hansom car. I parked my automobile in front of the hospital."

"This is the fastest way to get there. The captain is waiting for you at the crime scene."

Marius entered the cockpit and placed goggles over his eyes. He took off his derby hat and grabbed the helmet on his chair. "Where are we going?"

"We are going to Dartmore College. Keep your hat on," the bullnecked cop said.

"The arcane college?"

The cops did not say anything. The tall cop sat in the front chair and pressed a button. The engine thumped and whined. The plane lifted. Marius looked away and felt the sickening sense of disorientation. He was always like this when he flew. The twin propellers started to spin. He chanced to look down and saw the lights of the city covered by the thick fog. His breath was shallow, and the world started to dim. "Are you ok detective?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Don't look down. Close your eyes and breathe normal."

The plane shifted back and forth.

"What's happening?" he said.

"It's the wind currents."

These uniform cops were called behind their backs as balloon men. Officially, they were called the WAP, Warlender Air-force Police. Yet, he would never call them balloon men to their face. Their mortality rates among the WAP were very high and injuries were abundant. These planes were known to explode in mid-air. Marius had commented many of the times to his captain that the police should disband the WAP, but the high command saw the planes as the wave of the future.

The plane dipped and shook in the winds. His dinner hung precariously in his throat. He grabbed the leather chair and straps. They rode in drifts of fog obscuring the view below. He hoped they wouldn't hit the tall structures poking up from the fog. They started to descend and Marius looked through the windows. The grey mist was thick as soup. He looked at the cop stared at the glowing instruments before him.

He said, "How do you know where to land?"

"What's wrong Detective?"

"Answer me."

"Ok," the tall cop said, "these instruments show me where I am at and if there was anything in front of us." He squinted at a round glowing panel. "This is powered by arcane magic. It is safe."

The propeller in the back stopped. They drifted downwards in a slow manner. Yet, the plane jarred as it hit the ground. Marius fell to the side and gritted his teeth.

"Sorry," the pilot said.

He disdainfully gave the cop his goggles. Marius wondered if he landed the plane like that for his benefit. He dismissed the matter, took his hat and jumped out of the ship. Looking around, he saw a large field in front of several high buildings. The perpetual fog hung all around. Marius was about to turn back to the balloon cops, when a figure came through the mist. Marius already had his hand on his weapon and relaxed when he saw who spoke to him.

"Senior Detective 1st class Marius."

"Yes, captain."

He noticed somebody trailing Captain Lombard. He was surprised.

Marius said, "Hello, police chief commissioner."

He wondered what was happening and why he was summoned to this criminal case. The commissioner merely nodded. They were both dressed in tuxedos as if they were at a banquet or meeting. The mist departed and buildings loomed in front of them. Tall dark bushes lined the path cut into squares. Marius heard the boots of the balloon cops from behind and the creaking leather shoes from the captain and commissioner. Several officers stood on a lighted patio. They looked at the group with nervous stares.

Captain Lombard said, "Stay here. Jonah and Eric." Marius thought he heard them swear, but the captain barely slowed walking into a spacious town home.

Marius said, "The teachers live on campus?"

"Yes, the university gives homes to the tenured professors."

Marius wanted to look around the front room, which was filled with shelves of books, paintings, small statues, leather couches, and other nick knacks that he couldn't discern in the dimness of the light. They walked up a red oak staircase to the second landing. The commissioner stayed downstairs talking to a group of police officers.

Captain Lombard directed him toward a room on the left. Another uniformed cop stood at the door.

'We found him in here," the captain said.

"Is the coroner here?"

"Yes. I hope you did not have dinner."

The first thing he noticed was the smell. He knew the metallic scent of blood, but there was something else.

"Be careful where you step. Do you have your Detective's kit?"

Marius nodded.

"Get some gloves and your gyro-glasses out."

The room seemed to have exploded in all directions from the middle. Blood and entrails splattered all over the furniture, floor and walls. Marius hasty dinner almost came out of his mouth. A tall figure was standing in the midst of all this carnage. It was Doctor Perry, the coroner, staring at a spot on the floor.

"Captain," he said, "whose body is that?"

"It is Professor Julius."

"Are we sure about this?"

"Professor Julius was the prominent member of the Arcane University and a city Council member. This case is high priority, detective."

"I believe so, Marius," Doctor Perry said, "but I have to run blood test. Look over here. Place your gyro-glasses on."

He opened his kit and placed the glasses over his eyes. He instantly saw it. The blood glittered.

"You see it. Magic-users blood always glitters like that."

"What's that other smell?"

"Dylithic stones, I think."

"Those stones are found in our machines and lanterns."

Captain Lombard said, "We think it is the technologists."