The day came to an end, everyone sat around the table as Myo started bringing them bowls of the same stew from earlier. The plan was complete and with an extra reward.
Once done, He walked to the chest and took out another book, a violet one. Quickly tossing it to Calliope.
Once he sat back down, dinner began, everyone started wolfing down the delicious hot stew, even Calliope and Colton as well.
The dinner quickly became loud as the other team members started talking to one another, even if it was just a day or two of time that passed, they all talked to each other as if they were old friends.
"By the way, that book is safe to open, I reckon you already know about what happens with em right?" Myo assured her. She nodded in response before slowly opening it and reading.
"I don't think I ever got any of your names or who you people actually are." He turned to Colton. Starting the introductions with him.
"You, black robe guy. What's your name?"
It took him a few seconds to reply, trying to swallow the stew in his mouth.
"C-Colton."
"Colton, interesting name. What about Missy over here, she's your team leader right?" Colton quietly nodded in response.
"Calliope." She replied in an instant, not waiting for Myo to ask further.
"Well, alright then. Now what about the others."
The rest of the group began introducing themselves to him afterwards, some explaining their backgrounds while the rest simply brought up their name. Soon, Myo was acquainted with everyone.
After an hour, everyone finished their meals, Calliope shut her book and looked straight at Myo with a face of seriousness.
"Where are the other books located?"
"That was sudden. Well like I said, some of the books are in the cathedral, the rest are in other places. If we cooperate more, you may find their locations. Ain't in any maps y'know. All just in my memory." He explained.
"Our deal was to help you in exchange for books, we need more books."
"Well, I do have one new mission in mind. It'll involve us being more hands on though." Calliope was confused, but listened to what Myo had to say.
He took out another map and placed it in the middle of the table, it was a map of the area around the cathedral and market.
"Judging by the fact none of you are from here, and I do have a liking towards all of you. I propose we change up the deal a little." The entire group leaned their heads closer, awaiting what Myo had to say, excited.
"This place may hold far more than even I would think, if you truly wish to get those books. I would suggest we go straight into the heart of the city. Calliope, read the book again, what does it talk about?" Calliope skimmed through a few pages after he spoke, closing the book, fully understanding what he meant.
"You want us to go in disguise?" He snapped his fingers upon hearing Calliope's response.
"Exactly!"
"I want this deal to be more of a pact, you may have all the knowledge books you want in this world. I simply want to map things out and gain intelligence from the city. And that cathedral seems to hold such information. Rest assured, the information isn't related to the books." He explained,
"You all look trustworthy enough, considering you took a deal from a thief and are even willing to kill just to finish our task. To be honest I wasn't expecting any of that." Myo chuckled for a moment.
"If there are conflicts of interest though." He took out his short sword and stabbed it into the table in front of everyone.
"We may have to resort to a bit of problem resolution. But I doubt it will go there." He extended his hand to Calliope from across the table with a smile on his face.
"And again, if all is said and done, you may consider this place as a safe abode. You have everything you need anyway. Walking pouches of gold, markets with delicious food, what more do you need?"
Calliope took a minute to consider her thoughts. The other members of the group stared at her, awaiting her response, fearful as they have gotten nothing but good things ever since they arrived. To be seen as enemies by Myo or unwelcome would break their morale.
"We need to get those books quickly, even if we don't know how to escape the library and return home…" She mumbled, being near to her, Colton managed to hear every single word while the rest couldn't.
While they were thinking, he took away the book. "While I gain more information, you can consider that entire city your home with the spell in this book. That is if you manage to blend in. And if you have the money."
Calliope put her head down and let out a deep sigh, she wanted the books above all and to accomplish the mission.
"Very well." She shook Myo's hand, causing him to place the book back down in front of her. The sooner she could get the books, the sooner they could get closer to their mission's end.
"Well, the new plan now is to simply make you all informants of sorts, to go down below and gain as much information as possible on the notable landmarks rather than just finding them." He placed the map of the area up north the team recently went to.
"We can start here, where we went to earlier. The spell in that book should aid you, those twin hooded ones seem capable since they have capabilities." He explained while looking at the twin clerics who had their hoods down.
"The hard part now is, from what I saw in that book. You need someone to disguise as, just identify who you want and cast the spell on yourself or someone else." He walked to the window, the wind blew on his hair and clothes.
"It's nighttime, people are generally sleeping, your best bet would be the guards."
As he talked, Calliope's hands began to glow. Suddenly, the book Myo had given her started to vanish, the information contained inside it rapidly flowed through her brain.
Myo quickly turned around, noticing the glow. His face was shocked.
Once the book had fully disappeared, he stepped closer to Calliope.
"So, you can absorb that book. You had a bond with whatever was in there beforehand, something that related to it." He made his way to the window.
"I assume you got all the knowledge from it? Find enough people to use as a disguise and come back here, infiltrating at night is suicide." He spoke in a calm manner again, not turning his back to her but still staring off into the night.
With the book, and the plan given, Calliope signaled for Colton to follow her.
They both went out of the home, feeling the wind slam into them. On the ground, they started their move, to the gate of the city.
"Colton, I wish to ask." Colton turned to her, awaiting what she'll say.
"Do you trust that man, Myo?" Colton didn't know how to respond, but found enough words to respond to her.
"I do, sort of. He seems to know more than us. And knows that we aren't from here." He responded. A brief silence followed, only broken by the sound of rustling bushes and the occasional sound of animals still hiding in the trees.
"That does not sound suspicious to you at all?" She finally spoke.
"A little, but as long as we accomplish the task, we need all the help we can get. And he did give us a few books and some food."
"I suppose so, though I still have my doubts about him." The two went on without another word, stopping their conversation for later and trying to reach the gate first.
Large torches were placed on the sides of the path and on the walls. The two hid in the bushes while trying to find anyone they could use for the spell.
Beyond the gate were a group of drunken cloaked civilians, talking loudly. And above, guards patrolling the perimeter for anyone going near the wall.
"Hope these ones are enough." Suddenly, Calliope's hand began glowing faintly. A dark shade of blue.
The light disappeared after a few seconds, concluding the process.
Finished, the two started heading back.
"I managed to get about ten people, the spell would last for about a day before vanishing, thus once a mission is finished, we should hide somewhere before being able to use another." She explained, the information she had received from the book was already starting to get used.
Colton started to think about the mission and situation he was in. From just wandering a library finding books to making a deal with a thief in a different world and taking disguises of people.
His thoughts were interrupted by a reminder from Calliope.
"Rest, we may have to do this mission the entire day tomorrow. Understood?"
"Yes, understood."