"I've been looking for you" Brother Aaron said. Being ignored was one thing but being avoided was another. The blatant attitude and dealing with the townsfolk had already set his teeth on edge. Rin struggled in his grip and tugged however she didn't have much strength behind it.
"Tell me what you know about those bottles you've been delivering" the priest said in a threatening tone. The two of them struggling attracted many gazes of the onlookers. But none wanted to cross a priest, even less to outright disregard the church.
"U have nothing to say to you" Rin said. Whatever curiousity or goodwill she had initially was all gone the moment this man started treating her roughly.
"The crime of devilry is harsh one I know of that. However admitting your wrong doings will lead you on a better path" Brother Aaron said with a smirk. Rin withdrew herself from him, her face was already filled with disgust. The look the woman was giving was already filling him with anger.
"Come with this Brother" the priest said while dragging the girl with him. Rin struggled against his tugging and tried to remove his grip from her. The tightness of its was already causing her pain. The crowd looked on as the girl struggled but they knew there wasn't much they could do. Rin digger her heels in as she desperately pulled at the wrist caught in his grasp.
"Stop resisting, otherwise I'll take that you truly are guilty of your crimes". The threat in Brother Aaron's voice was quite cold to people's ears. Although they didn't know what the girl had done, but it wasn't an unusual sight anymore that people from the local chapel would drag others away. The thought of the punishments that await made them shiver reflexively in fear. As Rin let out noises to signal her reluctance and need to escape the priest's anger cracked.
"Dammit woman, keep quiet" the priest shouted raising his hand in and spreading it flat to strike the girl. As the hand came down Brother Aaron felt his blow was held in mid air. His wrist ached to the point he felt like his bones were breaking and instinctively let go of Rin. Looking up his hand was held tight, his wrist was creaking under the pressure.
"If someone as filthy as you guys her I'm sure she'd be diseased" the voice snarled at the priest. The crowd withdrew further back and gasped. To call a priest diseased was beyond refusal. It tarnished the very institution of the country. The priest however let out an evil chuckle at this.
"There are very few that would disobey the church, delivery boy" Rin looked up, Leon was still holding the priest back, his arms visibly flexing as the grip tightened causing the offending man to pale from the pain. Bringing him down to one knee, Leon openly sneered at the man.
"You are right about that church boy" Leon said. The confidence that the priest had slowly stained away. If one wasn't scared of this reputation either he was insane or the powers that backed him were truly immense. Sensing a potential bluff the priest however showed some resolution still.
"Actions are greater than words, delivery boy" the priest's eyes were openly hostile. His pride being hurt made him ignore his current physical pain. Wordlessly Leon stared as he reached into his tunic and brought a necklace made of steel. On the end of lay an insignia of a lion wrestling with a serpent in a death struggle. None of the crowd understood what was going on but the priest had trouble keeping his jaw from falling open. Immediately despite the pain in his hand Brother Aaron gave a deep bow.
"Apologies sir. I hadn't realised I have troubled you so and will take my leave." The priest seemed in a panic and fluster. The onlookers were curious, especially from the reaction of the priest to silver medallion. Seeing that the priest had no want of conflict anymore Leon eased up on his grip. Having been let go of this human vice trap Brother Aaron swiftly left and disappeared into the crowd. Although everyone wanted to see where the man with his tail between his legs had run off to but he had already snuck away. Rin looked over at Leon still standing there. Possibly it could have been since she was lying on the cobblestones that Leon towered over here. Rin knew however it was not in the physical sense. Leon held his hand out to her, which she gratefully took as he helped her up. Clinging onto his arm she felt safer there than anywhere else in the town. Of course she would never admit it outloud.
"Are you alright?" Leon asked, the concern was ample in his voice. Rin nodded as she was pulled up off the ground straight into his arms. She could smell the aroma of labour and the warmth of the sun from his tunic that had been dried outside. The reflections of the medallion caught her attention as for a brief moment she stared at it. Leon quickly hid it under his tunic again and made an awkward cough.
"We should leave" Leon said. Rin nodded in agreement and walked away under the states of the crowd. Although they cheered I. Their hearts as the treatment that was given by the church was beyond repute they were just as nervous having someone clash so openly with them. Going back to their work the atmosphere in the town was quite unsettled as gossip spread quickly.