A bustling marketplace welcomed travelers and individuals from different races. Given that the sun had finally shown itself after the heavy rainfall from the day before, merchants eagerly sold their wares—earnestly trying to make up for yesterday's lack of sales.
A cloudless sky greeted the fair face of a certain priestess as her gaze drifted above.
By the time the rain stopped, Lumi and Siegren had already decided to go to town. The sun was already at morning's peak when they arrived, and the crowd was beginning to accumulate as they passed to the aisles.
Behind Lumi was Siegren, whose grey eyes roamed the place, gaze finally fixing on the castle from the far distance.
Currently, they are in the town where the commoners lived. Residential houses, inns, guilds, and taverns are located in Aclaria's town. There is also a market along the streets that harbors numerous stalls. In the town, security is much lax.
Red triangular garlands hanging on top dangled as the breeze blew forward. The capital was still several distances away, and the castle requires them to venture even further.
The two of them stopped by one of the merchant stalls.
"Excuse me,"
The merchant then looked up into the hooded girl who had spoken to him.
"I'd like two apples, please."
The merchant then nodded as he received several copper coins from the girl.
"By any chance, do you know why the Saintess' grave is located too far?"
"What do you mean?" The merchant asked as he glanced at the girl, catching a sight of golden strands from her pale blond hair. Her lips were only curved into a smile, awaiting his response.
"Ah, you must mean the abandoned graveyard. They said the Saintess' body is right there, but I don't think anyone has visited it for ages."
"Do you know why the graveyard isn't maintained? I'm actually a traveler who's into sightseeing. I wanted to find where Saint Hibton was buried so I could give my offerings," lied Lumi, blue eyes darting to the merchant.
"Well…"
--
Siegren bit into his apple as he and Lumi continued to amble their way to the streets of Aclaria.
"…The body we've seen in that coffin obviously wasn't the Saintess'," Lumi exclaimed as chewed on her apple. "But one thing is for sure. The Saintess' grave is still located elsewhere here in this country."
Siegren listened.
The merchant told them that asking the townsfolk about Saint Hibton would prompt a default response: 'to the old graveyard'. It is old knowledge that regular people wouldn't know where the 'real' body is located. Only the temple would probably know the truth.
Uninformed travelers, just like how Lumi acted to be, would have no idea about such a thing.
After going back and forth and asking merchants and the citizens, Siegren and Lumi decided that in order to search for more clues, they must head upwards.
Lumi stared at the road ahead.
To the capital.
**
Another puppet had died.
The head priest sighed as he massaged his temple. While looking at the large pool of water that displayed the jasper disappearing into the rogue's grasp, he dropped a concoction in the water, making the projected image disappear. As the jasper lost its luster, one of the clay dolls from the shelf broke, crumbling into dust.
Sighing, the old man leaned to his chair. His jaw clenched; then, he looked over to his side as the door opened, revealing a person covered in white elegant clothes. The woman's silvery-white hair caught the priest's eyes first, and when he was certain it was 'her', his brows furrowed.
"I heard you lost the catalyst," she said.
"I did not," the priest's adamant response over gritted teeth.
The woman chuckled. "Why do you look so upset, then?"
The priest's brow twitched. "That girl… I honestly don't know what she's thinking. I've raised her and educated her enough to know she's doing something for the greater good, and yet she's still being stubborn."
The woman's sky-blue eyes then glanced to the water below. It was crystal blue, and clearly, it was not just any water.
"Is this holy water your way of seeing her?"
"It is," the priest exclaimed. "Through the puppets. But one had died already, so I lost h—" the priest stopped, then cleared his throat, "…lost track of her again. Momentarily."
The woman smiled.
"Hmm~ so, it's not a demon we're dealing with, right?"
"I don't think so," the head priest replied. "The one who terrorized the temple and coerced the catalyst is clearly human."
"Hmm…" the woman's smile grew sweeter as she stared at her reflection in the water. "A human, eh?"
**
A carriage stopped at the side of the road that afternoon. As it departed, two cloaked individuals stood by the sidewalks as they watched the carriage disappear from their sight.
The first thing that caught Lumi's attention in the capital was the garlands. They had the image of two fire hawks, which mirrored one another behind a shield, and in that shield was a scale that signified the truth.
It was no other than the emblem of the royal family which was neatly sewn in every garland that was found dangling on top of the entrances. These decors extended towards the rooves of the shops, and to the glorious edifices that are built intricately with detail.
Unlike the town below, this place had its roads lined with alternating brick stones and lamp posts powered by magic. The architecture and even the adornments are much refined, complementing the warm glow of a simple afternoon hue.
Even the palace itself looked much bigger now, as it was closer.
But the palace wasn't what they came here for.
**
Dusk came quickly as if it chanced only in the blink of an eye. However, like the town below, people still frolicked about despite the stars revealing themselves in the night sky.
"One pint of ale for the young man in the black cloak," said the bartender as a large glass of a golden-colored liquid with a foam on top was placed in front of Siegren.
He stared at the ale, and then at the bartender who now proceeded to clean one of the wares. Siegren's eyes drifted into the familiar brooch with a unique frost symbol on the man's collar.
"You," Siegren mouthed, "has he come here?"
The bartender then grew alert, "what do you mean?"
"You are one of Uriel's."
"A-ahem," the bartender cleared his throat, then whispered, "so it's… you."
"Has he come here?"
The bartender then looked at his surroundings before he began to talk. "No. He hasn't."
"For how long?"
"It has been years since I talked to him. He doesn't come here anymore. Maybe, at another tavern. He's a free soul, after all."
Siegren then took the pint of ale and drank it in one go. With one silver coin left at the table, he sauntered his way out of the tavern, lost in his own thoughts.
The girl sitting in the corner noticed him go, and so she followed.
--
As he got out of the tavern, Lumi silently trailed behind him as they walked outside. She observed him closely, and it seemed to her that he was finding something. Or someone.
But it wasn't her business.
However… "Have you ever been to Aclaria?"
Siegren paused before answering her, "No."
"I see. I thought you were here before since you seemed to know the bartender… oh! Don't worry, I'm not trying to pry. You can keep your business to yourself, of course! Besides, our relationship isn't that close to share—"
"I'm searching for my brother."
Lumi blinked. "What?"
"His people wear his brooches and they're called his informants." He said.
"Y-you're telling me this?"
Siegren didn't reply.
It felt weird for Lumi to know that Siegren had a family. A brother, at that. After all…
She viewed him as a monster.
"You know, I…"