While it may have been useful to do so during the actual war, once things have settled down in Hashat once more it finally seems time to get a new bodyguard. Better late then never! The tricky part was finding someone suitable. While Melita hadn’t been the most experienced which had ultimately lead to her death, there was still an element of friendship and trust there.

Valerio makes some inquiries but to no avail. There are plenty he could hire but they just don’t seem right. Perhaps he is still grieving for Melita or maybe he just has a bad feeling about the the mercenaries who are so clearly only fussed about the gold. However one day on his way to meet up with Sorini to discuss their next venture he finds himself taking a wrong turn in a part of the city that is yet to be renovated. He stumbles across a few unsavoury individuals who seem intent on mugging him. Just as he fears he is about to face a repeat of that night with the Dentist, as if out of nowhere a young woman is able to relieve the assailant of his knife and send the thugs on their way. She introduces herself as Elena. She had learned to fight having grown up in one of the harshest parts of the old Caves but had recently been given the opportunity to attend school thanks to the new regime.

She walks with Valerio as they make their way through the rougher part of the city. By the end of that short journey he decides that she would be perfect for the job. He also offers to help her with her reading and writing as she’s eager to go for one of the university scholarships that have become available to the poor again. Despite his better judgement, he can’t help but take a liking to her.

Meanwhile, Valerio and Sorini work hard to set up their new detective agency. There are still a lot of unsolved cases in the city, especially as only the extremely wealthy could afford such services before everything went up in smoke with the Fleet’s arrival. It’s deeply fulfilling work. Over the course of his life the team (joined by Elena and Antonia) travel Esharia to help people where they can. Many of the mysteries are missing persons cases which have varying degrees of difficulties whereas some are simply jealous partners trying to spy on spouses and colleagues. Problems big and small, almost every case is cracked for the rich and poor alike.

Over time, despite his best efforts, Valerio propose to Elena and the two are extemely happy together. They lead a fullfilling yet humble life despite his status as a Diite which means a lot more with the recent shift in family dynamics. Their first child is officially the Diite heir and becomes the next Grand Magnate of the Wetlands but inherits the sweetness and sincerity of their parents as well as the same brilliant mind.

Valerio and Antonio also go on to inspire a series of bestselling detective novels. The most popular title to date are “A Study in Grue” and the “Crabs of the Baskervilles”