FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The new Arcano Emitter works wonders. Mia's touch is evident; I can bypass security measures with a single stroke of a claw. By Hämish, I even managed to sneak a short message back home to my brother. Before he could answer, the connection was severed, but this is still great progress. Mia's hardware always allowed me to do wacky stunts by overloading Arcano Interfacing spells at the cost of blood, but we always had both an exorcist and a healer nearby. I have hosted several spirits.

On the other hand, Jasper's magic keeps the contraption grounded. The connection is stable in most cases; I don't need to burn any excess mana to operate it, and I don't have to fear being possessed. These two complement each other, I must admit.

— Noodle — I turn to the lion, who just finished sucking the meat clean of a beef shank.

— Yes, Levi?

— Did you summon something? — his nose slightly wrinkles up with disgust.

— Nah, I don't think I did.

— You don't *think*?

— Yeah, nah.

— Do you summon things without keeping track of them? Perhaps by "accident"?

— I don't like the mocking tone, mister.

— And I don't like how aloof you are in the matter.

I slap my crystal onto the desk with a bit more force than healthy.

— You have my attention. What is it?

— The room stinks.

— You live with a mustelid; no amount of furwash will change that. — I already shower four times a day.

— No, it's not your stench.

— Ouch!

— This is something else.

I sniff the air curiously, but I can't detect anything out of the ordinary.

— No idea what you mean — I shake my head. — I didn't use any strong magic either, so if you are one of the Hounds, you aren't after me.

— Hound?! Don't you think that's a little offensive?

— So this is where you draw the line?

We sit in silence for a minute, fuming without words. The absence of sound is sharp; there is no hiding from it. You can't hide from the nose of a Hound either. This name has stuck with those born able to sniff out different magics because most of them are of the canine genus. They also have a tendency to be spineless snitches when someone must use a banned or less-savory spell. Summoning isn't forbidden, though.

— So you are positive; you didn't summon anything.

— By Hämish, yes, I am sure! If I summoned anything, I would know.

— I'll be damned...

He puts the bone down and starts to sniff around the room more thoroughly. My hands start itching.

— Maybe your glorious nose isn't as good as you think it is — strange to feel this annoyed with him. It usually takes a lot more to get me to say my thoughts aloud.

— No, no, my nose is working just fine; I'm currently burning mana to enhance it.

— So you are burning mana to sniff out mana burned. Makes perfect sense.

— Yes Noodle, it does! Judging by your reaction, I believe you don't know much about Transmutation. Similar to Illusion, it is a traceless, subtle form of magic that is hard to detect with conventional means. This includes olfactory techniques.

— Alright Shellcock, you got yourself a mystery then. Who could have summoned something in this room if it wasn't the illusionist, who failed Conjuration 1, twice?

— By process of elimination, it would leave me as the summoner, but that is highly unlikely. I bind my summons immediately. Also, I appreciate the comparison to the great rooster detective; however, I prefer to think of myself more akin to Coalambo.

— So we will never see your wife.

— I am not married, Noodle.

— Ugh, nevermind.

This little distraction stilled the anger inside. I unclench my fist. I don't even remember getting up.

— Detective, I'm going to be your sidekick as you unravel this mystery. The Catson to your Shellcock. The Captain Pugstinks to your Poarrot. The... did Coalambo have a sidekick?

— No, but you can help.