Shadows of blackwood

The biting wind of Blackwood Academy swirled through the ancient, gothic spires, carrying with it the scent of snow and secrets. Detective Jeo Mark, his trench coat pulled tight against the chill, surveyed the scene. Professor Alistair Finch, esteemed Charms instructor, lay sprawled in his study, a single, crimson stain blooming on his pristine white robes. The air crackled with residual magic, a faint whisper of a spell gone wrong.

Jeo, a seasoned investigator with a knack for both logic and the arcane, knelt beside the body. Finch's eyes were wide with a terror that transcended death. The room was a chaos of overturned books and shattered vials, but the only obvious clue was a shimmering, obsidian feather resting on the desk – a feather from a creature known only in legend.

His gaze fell upon Elizabeth Frank, a striking young woman with eyes that held a depth of knowledge that went beyond her years. She stood near the doorway, her face pale, her hands clasped tightly. Elizabeth was a student at Blackwood, and a suspect. The evidence was circumstantial: she had been seen arguing with Finch earlier that day, and a rare, forbidden grimoire, rumored to contain dark magic, was missing from her dorm room.

"Miss Frank," Jeo began, his voice calm despite the storm brewing within him. "Can you tell me what you were doing here?"

Elizabeth swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I came to see Professor Finch. About my research."

"And what was your research about?"

She hesitated, her gaze darting around the room. "It's... complicated." Her secret, Jeo knew, was about to unravel.