Nova Mesto, West Side of City, Tavern 02:00 P.M
Isabel sighing many times today. In the last two days she has arrived at Nova Mesto and for two days straight she waiting alone in the Tavern to meet her contact. And looks like for the third day she will be back with nothing. Since before she has waited no one showing sign that he or she is her contact. Drink in the table almost finished, she is sighing boringly. When she hears that two of visitors talking loudly behind her table.
"Have you heard the new tax regulations? It is been raised again?"
"Hmph! The gossip is true!? This is too much, till when Duke Barrington raise the taxes?"
"It's said that the one who raises the taxes is St. Varos Church."
"Then what the Duke reactions? He seems doesn't care about Nova Mesto."
"What can he do? Since St. Varos Church come, Nova Mesto develop at very fast pace. Maybe that's why the Duke just let it go. After all, lately all administration works handled by St. Varos Church. Duke Barrington is also old, and his old sickness is back. So now he is resting at the city outskirt.
"Right, since that tragic incident he's changed. He seems like lost his life purpose, and his health conditions are deteriorating. Most of his time spent alone in the city outskirt."
That conversations make Isabel remember about accident that happen ten years ago which has killed Duke Barrington's wife and daughter. The story of the Duke who lost his wife and daughter in tragic way have made some story in the past. Many gossips about who behind the back of this incident. But until today the culprit has not been caught and become mystery of God Punishment for Duke's sin in the past time. Some people still talk about it now, and become general public secret, and the topic always tied to Duke Barrington's health which deteriorating. Isabel drinks all her drink and raises her hand to order again, but someone approached her and made her stop.
"How many glasses have you drink?"
Stand in front of her tall, beautiful blonde woman. On her shoulders vainly show tattoo of agent. Isabel glanced at her, annoyed, folding her hands.
"It is you my contact, Roselle. What happen that make you late? I almost gone to Dumar if you have not appeared today."
Isabel recognized her as Roselle. One of her collegue since the first time she become an agent. They were recruited together. Roselle sits, and with serious face.
"I was on the watch. Some of Temple Knights suspicious to me, so I have to evade their watch first…but that takes more time than I expected."
"It is unusual that you overwhelmed, so Roselle what kind of informations that you bring today?"
"According to gossip, St. Varos Church is interested with Seraphine Aile, and maybe they got some information about it. Father Juan is one of the priests that research Seraphine Aile."
"Where can I meet him?"
Roselle takes out a small iron key and put it on the table.
"You cannot expect to meet him on usual way, he stays mainly on the Sanctum. But I know a secret way to go inside. Go to City Library, find some wall with High Priest Theodors Paint, around you will find some switch to some passage. Go there and you will find door, open the door with this key and the door will lead you to Sanctum's inside."
"Okay, I will do it." Isabel takes the key and preparing to go.
"Isabel be careful…and good luck…"
Isabel turned "Calm down, I will not make commotions."
Isabel soon out and mingling with the crowd. Inside her head is to focus to complete her mission. City Library is located more middle in the city than the Sanctum which located in the north. No one will suspect that there is secret passage between City Library and Sanctum.
Nova Mesto City even though is famous recently, is already build in long time ago and has been rebuild many times, it is not weird if many secret passages hide in the Nova Mesto City. The City Library maybe is one of the many secret passages in Nova Mesto.
Isabel looks inside the library before entering with steady feet. Inside atmosphe was serene even though many people inside. Faintly smelled of old books. Isabel opens her hood and observing the spacious library. The old building still looks sturdy with three storeys.
Isabel going inside while taking look around her. According to her instincts, the secret passage can't be in the upper side, but on the underground. She walks calmly but fast while avoiding contact with people inside the library. She rounds some bookshelves, before she found the High Priest paintings. Isabel looks around to make sure that nobody around. Luckily the paintings placed deep inside and far from the other visitors. Isabel starts thinking trying to remember High Priest Theodors's face. High Priest Theodors is high priest once served before, and he is already retired. He has been replaced by High Priest Alfonzo.
Isabel shakes her head, for her the all the high priest paintings look foreign and similar one to another. She tries to find High Priest Alfonzo painting, which was has familiar face to her. She looks around the paintings beside High Priest Alfonzo while hope her guess is correct. And fortunately, her guess is correct, she found some loose crevice. She tried to push and slide before 'click' sound heard, the painting and the wall behind opened. Isabel enters hurriedly before the wall closing. She is trying to adapt her eyes in the dark, dim passage before starts walking. The passage is like tunnel, the air feels colder and keep going down, but Isabel sure she's not taking the wrong way because the tunnel looks been used with some torch lighting all way. The passage getting darker and lower, moss and humid smells make her uncomfortable. Isabel didn't know how much time has passed or how far has she walked, before tunnel going up. She hurried her steps to get out of this place. At the end of the tunnel looks some ancient wooden door. She remembered the key that Roselle gave and used it.
Sound of door unlocked heard, slowly and cautiosly Isabel peek and make sure that nobody behind the door. After sure nobody behind the door, Isabel gets out and looks around. It is look like inside storage or warehouse, there are many new priest clothes, books, candles, wine and hosti. She peeks outside from small window, looks some young priest passed around. Isabel waiting for her chance, and when a young priest walked pass alone, she pulls him inside. Isabel takes her knife and put it to his neck.
"Don't be noisy or I will kill you."
While in shock and fear the young priest nodding.
"Where can I find Father Juan?" Asked Isabel while moving the knife to deeper to his neck.
"H…he…is inside of his workroom. Lately Father Juan spent his time inside…"
Isabel pulls the young priest to the small window "Show me where his workroom is"
"Th-there…He is inside that tower…everyday he goes there"
"You sure?" Isabel sharply staring
"I-I swear. That's all I know." The young priest gulped with scared look.
Isabel then hit his back to knock him. She tied his hands and legs also gag his mouth.
She takes priest robe and wear it. Bells are heard and from the window Isabel saw the priests are returning to the middle hall for supper.
Isabel sneak outside trying not to look suspicious. She hastens her step to the tower that the young priest told before. In front of the door, Isabel opens the door slow and silently. Looks like nobody inside. There are many books piling. Father Juan totally immersed in his research, looks like some books scattered, and many pages are marked. Those pages talked about Seraphine Aile. Isabel tries to read some of the pages, but she cancels her intention when she heard foot steps getting nearby. She hides in the inside part of the room where many books are piling. The door sound open and Father Juan get inside while taking his foods. But instead of eating Father Juan go to his work table and turning some pages.
"Father Juan?" Isabel out from her hiding place.
"Who's there!?" Father Juan turn around in shock.
"You don't need to know. I just need some information about Seraphine Aile…and you better not be noisy" Isabel getting close while pointing her knife.
Father Juan watch Isabel's clothes and sighing," Looks like you are not from Temple Knights even though you bring weapon. You need information, you don't need to threaten me. What kind of information you need?"
Father Juan takes a chair and sits while continue to write in his work table.
"You are not afraid?"
Father Juan stops a while
"Dangers always around Miss, even in the safest place it is just illusion." Then he continues writing.
"According to my information, you research about Seraphine Aile. Where can I find it?"
Father Juan stops writing then close the book he writes.
"Seraphine Aile is not treasure that anybody can have…Seraphine Aile is actually is…"
Father Juan not finished talking, some knock heard outside
Isabel glance "Don't try to scream, say you are busy and not to be disturb."
Father Juan then said "What happen? I am busy right now and cannot be disturb."
Answered heard "I bring important message from High Priest. I just need a moment."
Father Juan turn to Isabel while shrugging his shoulders.
Isabel nods and gives sign to Father Juan to open the door while she hides behind the door.
Father Juan open the door a little and asked "What message?"
That priest then gives Father Juan an envelope. Father Juan open the envelope to read, but inside only a symbol. Father Juan turns the letter but nothing written behind.
Confused, Father Juan asked "What do you mean…?" but only cold shudders felt, that priest has gone. Father Juan confused close the door.
Father Juan turn to Isabel "Looks like some lost letters sent to me. So, until which part our conversation? Oh, about the Seraphine Aile not treasure that anybody can have, and you better not to search the information about it, because…"
Father Juan not finished talking, some knocks heard again, but this time the knocks a bit harder.
"What else now?" Father Juan sound upset; the he walks to open the door. Isabel intends to stop him. But not yet he opens the door, the door suddenly slams open and appear some shadow of scary creature and not look like animal at all.
Has not lost Isabel and Father Juan surprised, that creature suddenly attacks Father Juan. Father Juan screaming loudly. That creature attacks Father Juan fiercely and tearing Father Juan's body parts until unrecognizable. Isabel watch with wide eyes, speechless. Her body frozen, and when she awakes, that creature has finished with Father Juan, it turns to Isabel. Isabel takes her knife out shakily, and while slowly take step back That creature looks her sharply then suddenly that creature run fast to the door, become shadow and gone. Isabel sat limply, her breath is rough and fast because of unimaginable fear. Father Juan's room become slaughter room full of blood splattering to around inside.
"AAA" Suddenly heard scream in the door. Isabel turns and sees a priest in front the door scream in horror seeing Father Juan's body.
"He…Help!!! Father Juan has been killed!! The killer is here!!" screamed the priest while running in fear
Isabel realizes that she was the one was meant by the priest. She runs to the door to escape. But she remembers her purpose going to Sanctum, she looks Father Juan's table and take the book placed on top of the table and run outside the room. Isabel wants to run downstairs but it's too late, hurried footsteps heard from downstairs. She forced to turn up. Sound of emergency bells are heard. Looks like Isabel has to try hard to escape because Sanctum has mustered their Temple Knights to catch her.