The next morning, Yuna woke up groggily, not having a good sleep.
The following journey was particularly quiet, like how it always is except for a few idle chat Grandpa Orion have with the 'grandfather', someone close to his age.
But now that 'grandfather' is unwell, even that few chatter noises were no longer there.
Yuna was used to it so she didn't feel awkward as even in her previous life, taking bus or flight, people barely engage in conversation, everyone minding their own business.
When they finally reach the large city gate of the capital city, Aria hurriedly stop Yuna asking something that concerned her throughout the journey but too timid to voice out.
Now that they are going to part, she plucks up her courage, not willing to miss this chance.
She quietly whispered "Mi…Miss Yuna, are you a messenger of light?"
Is she a messenger of Light that accept them, despicable and lowly assassin, steering them and giving them a path, faith and believe. The eagle team stood behind Aria, eyes staring intently at Yuna, they are dying to know the answer.
Only if she is a messenger will they truly believe in the 'Light' she talked about, after all, any word that was not out of a messenger mouth is nothing but a piece of word that held no value, especially when it concern religion, belief and faith.
A messenger, Holy maiden, Priestess, anything will do.
The word that came out of Yuna mouth that night have touch them deeply, plucking at their soul and stirring waves of emotion in them. They dare not believe but now, they have mustered up all their courage to confirm whether they are allowed to have faith in Light, that they are not creatures of death and darkness, that they are not so filthy but noble as well.
Yuna felt stuck up, she really want to quickly get rid of herself from this 'Assassins' and not get entangle more into their trouble. She couldn't bring herself to care about the details of why this eagle team gets so stuck up with light and she has no understanding of the implication behind being a messenger and whatnot.
Feeling rushed, she nods her head and said "May the Holy Light guide you"
It was not the first time she used the title to deceive others and Yuna was now quite adept to it. Well— deceive is a big word, it was not deceive but used as a means to placate someone, a child who has suffered.
...They…may not be children that needed coaxing, but Yuna couldn't care less even if they are adult.
If saying this can let her be free from them, she didn't mind lying. She felt jittery the whole journey, afraid that the bunch of 'assassin' would lash out and decide to get rid of them. Her greatest concern is her grandfather.
Yuna never actually fight with people, her element mastery is there but she knows too well that without proper combat training, she won't be able to channelize and use her element to defeat the enemy. They can dodge and used all kinds of martial moves to deflect her attack and Yuna has no whatsoever instinct and skills to counterattack.
Yuna frown slightly….She has to learn a way to utilize her element such that she won't need to combat. She has no proper training method, so far, her way of controlling elements and move is purely made up by herself, in a fantasy world, she also need basic understanding of the fantasy world way of using supernatural ability and not just solely rely on her previous life world understanding of supernatural ability where there is little to none supernatural power.
Loosening her brow, Yuna clear her mind, now is not the time to get sidetrack and should instead pay attention to this bunch of assassin at hand.
She can't let things go awry at the last step.
The eagle team eyes lit up on hearing Yuna answer, their dark eyes now as bright as the sun, no longer dark and gloomy. The haze in their heart being swept away.
Trembling, the man who questioned Yuna about faith plead "Can…can the Holy messenger …bless us"
They didn't dare questioned more and ask for much, just a little blessing would do, Please.
No…what?
Yuna choke.
How to bless ah…she is not a priest!
But she started this, why did she talk so much about this and that? Isn't it not because she was trying her best to speak about the assassin as positive as possible in fear that she might press their sensitive button and trigger a backlash?
They said God Of light reject them, what else can she do but lie and introduce the very abstract concept called 'Light'? the people of this world are so attached to something this light and something that light? It is so annoying.
Yuna purse her lips, her grandfather should almost finish talking to the guards and not wanting him to have further interaction with this bunch of assassin, she turn her head furtively and caught sight of the eagle flag that they used as their adventure team insignia, Yuna started to speak nonsense "Noble beings, may you soar high in the sky and spread your wings of freedom like the mighty eagle"
Cringing hard at her own word, Yuna move her gaze away preemptively and seeing that her grandfather has done speaking with the guards, she quickly ran towards him and pull his hand away, not waiting for the assassin to react at her nonsense blessing as well as not letting her grandfather saying his farewell to the assassin.
Austin and his mother following behind Yuna, the mother and son duo listen and act to every beck and call of Yuna.
Aria with much effort calms her beating heart and her blood that was thumping with exhilaration. She forlornly watched at the retreating back of Yuna until her silhouette completely disappear. She turns her head and said, voice laced with strength "Issue a signal, our brother and sisters are no longer without faith"
She stood straight, standing proud and free.
She will gather her fellow assassins and tell them that what they work for and what they do is not despicable but that they are the noble being who work in the darkness to serve the light.
The light of freedom and justice.
As to whether doubting Yuna identity because of coming from a backward place, Messenger takes on different form and no one dare to spread false faith and impersonate a messenger, even if a person desired to meet them and pray fervently, they never able to meet in their lifetime.
To be able to meet a messenger is their lifetime luck and the holy light benevolence.
…..Indeed, Yuna does not know anything about how the faith and God work in another world.
....
Heaving a sigh of relief, Yuna quietly whisper to Austin "Thank goodness nothing goes wrong"
Austin didn't answer, he seems to mull things over and whisper, though not even finishing the word "Messa…."
He heard every conversation that goes between Yuna and the assassin. He has always paid special attention when they pull Yuna away at the sideline, ready to act anytime if he noticed even a hint of malicious intent.
Yuna having a good ear asked, puzzled "What?"
Coming out of his trance, Austin just shakes his head and said "Nothing, I'm glad things don't turn out troublesome as well"
His hand twitch, moving and holding Yuna hand as if holding something precious.
He does not need to seek confirmation, whether she is a messenger of light or not, Yuna to him is his light. Austin has more profound understanding of faith and God as he has come across the so called 'God' and the cultist in his previous life.
Yuna try to pull her hand away but it was in vain, her strength almost negligible, she could not help but grumble "The road is not pack with pedestrian, we won't lost each other"
The merchant guild work as efficient as ever, they manage to find a suitable house, two storey where the first floor can be used as a shop and the upper floor as a living space. Although expensive, Yuna combine money with Austin, gritting her teeth and bought it.
After having a stable house, it was only a matter of time before they earn money again, albeit small, there won't be major places where they need to spend money aside from the house so Yuna though reluctant choose a suitable, well-functioned house, they are going to live in the house for a long time so it has to be suitable and comfortable.
Since it is going to be a shop as well, it has to be if not at the centre of the city, at least close to the pedestrians.
As Yuna was mopping the floor, Aunt Mela came forward saying softly "Miss Yuna, let me do it, why don't you rest first?"
Yuna purse her lips.
Although she has not interacts much with Austin mother, she felt very awkward around her. Mainly, because she treat her with too much caution, as if she is a pampered miss and Aunt Mela her underlings.
Yuna has come in direct contact with Austin mother during the travel and she can count the number of times she spoke to her in hand. It was that awkward having a conversation with her.
"No need" Yuna response, a bit harshly then she intended.
Aunt Mela face look apologetic "Sorry" apologizing although there is nothing to apologize for.
Taking the chance that her grandfather and Austin are out buying furniture, Yuna said, deciding to talk things through with her "Aunt Mela, don't act like this, no one is above the other. I help you because Austin is like a brother to me and my grandfather also seem to consider you as family, he is very big hearted. You acting like this is making things difficult for Austin"
Yuna, in this kind of normal emotional things is very perceptive, although hating to admit but her empathetic quality is quite high. It was just that most times, she didn't care even if she understand.
If it was in her previous life, Yuna don't think that she will have the courage to have a conversation rationally and try to talk things out with Aunt Mela, fantasy world really do gave her a lot of courage, doing things and acting on things she never dare to act upon.
Aunt Mela stood still, not knowing what to say.
"At least, for your son, have some backbone. Don't make things awkward" Yuna add, it has been a long time since she has done this kind of social interaction so she is a bit rusty with her word. It was always her grandfather that do the socializing and Yuna is all for it, not intending to sharpen her social skills. She has enough of it.
After what seem like forever, Aunt Mela seem to thought things through, her expression shifting slightly, she said "…I seem to have make things difficult for little Aussy again" Smiling a bit and taking a breath as if motivating herself she continue "I will handle the upper floor, you can take charge of the lower floor?"
She divides the workload, like how an adult should act to a younger generation.
Her tone no longer sounding so estranged as if Yuna is the superior, she still need to learn but there is improvement!
"Yes" Yuna agreed.
Smiling gently, Aunt Mela went upstairs and before she disappears behind the stair wall she pause a bit and said "Thank you, Yuna" before resuming her pace.