Minister Brian had the girls use the bath to cleanse themselves before lunch as he planned to meet with Cyrus. Heading down the hall towards the guest, the guards would stand aside as the man knocked at the door before entering. Brian entered and sat across from Cyrus, sizing up the demon-kin, "how have you come to know two of my students," Brian asked harshly.
Cyrus sighed, explaining himself every time was getting on his nerves. So he explained how they met, his duel, and the creation of their party by Angela. "She takes her role as party leader a little too extreme, even forcing me to come here since I'm a member of the party."
Brian rested his chin against his hand as he considered what to do, "what was father Maxwell thinking, allowing you to come," Brian pondered as he took a deep breath.
"Try to consider it from my perspective; I'm in a building that hates anything demon-related. I'm always thinking you're going to send someone to smite me," Cyrus responded half-jokingly.
"If that's the plan, it would require authority far above me," Brian stated.
"If you're not going to do that, what are you going to do? Did you come so we could have a cup of tea?" Cyrus asked, becoming sarcastic.
"Watch your tongue!" Brian yelled angrily.
"Then what will you do? Keeping me locked in this room the entire time isn't an answer," Cyrus kept pushing back against Brian before his eyes shifted to the door, "actually, never mind, I don't think your input is needed."
"Why you!" Before Briann could say anything else, someone else would knock on the door. Brian quickly turned to the door, calming himself before speaking, "who is it?"
"It's me; I wish to speak to the demi," A soft voice stated, causing Brian's eyes to go wide. "Of course, we would be humbled by your presence."
The figure would walk in, wearing a golden robe, with a veil over their face. "You're the demi called Cyrus?" They asked, their words trailing off as they had to consider everything they spoke.
"Reverence, there is no need to talk to him yourself," Brian interrupted.
"Maybe not, but I am the one who decides the course of action we take," The Reverence declared.
"Reverence? I knew someone higher would meet with me, but I never expected the top. Yes, I'm Cyrus, the one who's been working with Angela and Ezra," Cyrus explained.
"Angela and Ezra, your students, correct?" The Reverence asked, turning to Brian.
"Yes, Ezra is almost a prodigy with holy magic, and I expect her to do great things within the church. Angela didn't have any talent with magic but excels in swordsmanship. I have high hopes for her against the demon lord's forces," Brian explained.
"Interesting, I wonder if this is a change in the world, a demi working with people to stop the demon lord." The Reverence figure pondered.
"I don't believe this is a situation you can keep pushing away for too much longer, as demon-kin will only increase as the years go on," Cyrus pointed out.
"Don't speak unless their Reverence speaks to you," Brian hissed.
The Reverence would raise their hand and slowly shake their head. "It's alright what he says is true. Demon blood is very strong, strong enough that it will continue to show through many generations," the Reverence explained.
"What do you propose?" Cyrus asked.
"An experiment," The Reverence would take a few steps towards Cyrus and extend their hand. The robe and gloves covered their arm, but Cyrus noticed they were as thin as a twig. "For you," they would drop a ring in front of Cyrus and turn to leave.
Cyrus would pick it up, and after a quick analysis spell to see if it was a trap, he placed it on his left index finger. As the spell took effect, his white hair would shift to a bright blonde, as the eyes changed from red to a pale blue and his horn slowly dissipated. The spell was an illusion instead of a transformation, as his hand moved up to feel the horn that was invisible to everyone else.
"You will join in the festivities, and we'll see the true you," the Reverence announced as they opened the door and left the room.
Brian and Cyrus glanced at each other, then back to the door, "I don't mean to sound rude, but are they usually that eccentric?" Cyrus asked.
Brian didn't answer and stood up, "if that is the Reverence's decision, then I shall abide by it. You'll assist us in preparing for lunch, but make sure no one knows your a demi." Brain warned.
"Doesn't seem I have a choice; lead the way."
Meanwhile, Angela and Ezra would be in a basement sitting in a large tub with heated orbs along the bottom powered by fire magic. Ezra would be sitting in a corner trying to meditate while Angela would lean against the edge, feeling herself unable to relax.
"I can feel your unease," Ezra stated, turning to her friend. "Is the water too hot? your skin is starting to match the colour of your hair."
"Nothings wrong, but that may be the problem," Angela sighed, looking over to her friend. "through if you want to talk about skin, being in robes all the time is making you look pale."
"You never liked being here, but this seems different for you," Ezra pointed out.
"Having a taste of the outskirt where every morning wasn't ceremonies or duties, but freedom. We would head to the guild and go on adventures instead we'll be gathering in a hall and listening to someone speak for an hour," Angela complained.
"We'll head back in a few days, and you'll be able to go on adventures. I'm sure you can handle a few days here," Ezra stated.
Angela's face slowly sunk halfway into the water as bubbles came from her mouth as she crossed her arms. "You only say that because you like it here," she countered when she came up for air.
Ezra sighed, "yes, yes, we talked about this before, so how about we talk about something else, like..." Ezra tried to think of another conversation point but couldn't think of anything on the spot. She didn't want to bring up Cyrus, so her eyes started to look around the room for something. Her eyes fell upon her friend's flat chest, but even as a joke to lighten the mood, it wouldn't work on Angela.
Angela preferred her flat nature since she always considered those things a nuisance that got in the way of fighting. Ezra looked down to herself as she fell into a middle ground, where she didn't attract stares but was happy enough with how she looked.
As Ezra tried to come up with an idea, Angela splashed some water towards her friend, "you're not five; you shouldn't play in the bath, especially inside the church," Ezra scolded.
"You were so deep in thought I was afraid you would never come back," Angela teased as she slowly stood up, "I'm heading out, it's probably lunchtime, and I'm getting hungry."
Ezra stood up as well, nodding her head, "we should go to minister Brian and ask if there is anything we could do to assist."
Angela couldn't refuse since those who don't work don't eat. She still shot her friend a look of annoyance as they dried themselves off. Putting on white vestments, they headed to minister Brian, but when the girls met up with the minister, they didn't recognize the blonde Cyrus that accompanied him.
"I don't think we had the pleasure to meet; I'm Ezra," Ezra introduced herself.
"We've been separated only a short time, but you already forgot about me?" Cyrus replied, causing the girl's eyes to go wide.