7-2 The temple of Ruva

The streets were once again bustling with noise as usual. Just a week ago, more than half of the districts in the city were in turmoil, as a result of all that transpired on William Marsh’s estate. The truth was hidden from the masses, but the truth could not be concealed entirely. Demons were involved. That much was known. It was barely a portion of the truth, but it was enough to cause unrest among the people. Fortunately, the Ruvans made a show of their efforts. They managed to quell the unrest. Days later, the city returned to the peace it once knew. All was as usual on the surface. But of course, that was only on the surface.

“Hey, have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“Billy Marsh was not alone. He had help.”

“Of course, he had help. No man can do all those things without goons.”

“No, no, no. I’m not talking about henchmen. I’m talking about those noble folks.”

“Bah. What else is new? I would be more surprised that the nobles weren’t involved.”

“Haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what? Just spit it out, damn it!”

“His Highness, Prince Leorick was part of it. It is why he’s no longer the crowned prince.”

“Bollocks. Where do you even hear that?”

“It’s what everyone’s saying.”

“And? Where did everyone even hear this from?”

“The gossip in the palace, of course. The servants.”

“I doubt it. If that was true, there wouldn't be any gossip. Those Greymoons would not just sit idly by.”

“You think too highly of them, Ronnie. The Greymoons are just a bunch of leechers, second sons and the sort. They’re not as impressive as the stories made them out to be.”

“How would you know that?”

“I have seen them in action. It was a very disappointing sight.”

“Oh, you. As if you are so fortunate.”

Such were the gossip and rumours that had been circulating in the city ever since the official public condemnation by the Royal Court of William Marsh and all those who were involved with him. Every morning, whenever Erin would stroll into the market, these were all that she would hear. The people’s guesses were closer to the truth than they were aware of.

“Is it always this… crowded?” asked Aera, who was walking behind Erin with a bouquet of flowers held closely to her chest.

“It is,” Erin answered. “Just make sure you don’t give the pickpockets any opportunities.”

“I don’t have any pockets on me.”

Erin glanced behind. Aera was wearing a clerical robe as always. She could never get Aera to wear anything else. Anything other than a clerical robe was considered too ostentatious for Aera. This perception was moulded by her father, who saw her with eyes that were unbefitting for a father towards his daughter. The clerical robe was the one garment that did not fit her father’s preference. Erin didn’t pursue the matter any further after she knew the reason.

Aera flinched as an argument erupted beside her. She clung tightly to Erin as the argument evolved into a brawl.

“You fought demons and acolytes, Aera. Does this kind of thing still bother you?”

“Demons and acolytes are evil. These people are not. I can’t hit them just because they were… inconveniencing me.”

“You fear what you can’t hit. Maybe you think too little of yourself, Aera.”

“I know where I stand, Erin. I am nothing without Wrath.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is, Erin. I was of no use when Aedan was—”

“Hey. Enough about that. That’s the past. You want to be of more use in the future, blaming yourself for the past isn’t the way. Understand?”

Aera nodded.

Erin hid her doubt from Aera. She knew confidence was not something that could be easily constructed in oneself, especially for someone with a history like Aera’s.

As they continued to stroll along the market, more arguments and fights erupted here and there.

“Is there always this much fighting and arguing?” Aera inquired.

“...I’m not certain.”

“People are angry.”

“People always are.”

“Would there be more trouble?”

“Hmm? Why would you think that?”

“Everyone believes Leorick is involved. The crown prince. Well, former. Won’t the people be upset? If the son of the village chief did something like this, the entire village would rise up in arms.”

“This is a city. Opinions would be more… diverse. And a village chief does not have an army under his command; a king does. A revolt or uprising won’t be easy, and the people understand that too.”

“So… we can rest easy?”

“For now.”

“I see…” Though Aera expressed her understanding, her eyes were still wary of the people around them. The contents of the conversations were clearly a huge source of disquiet to her.

“Look. If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to follow me.”

“No, I’m alright. I have to do this.”

“No, you don’t have to, Aera.”

“I want to, Erin. Let me. Everyone has done it, except me. Moreover, she’s your friend… and I’m supposed to be your sister. I have to do this, and also… that.”

Erin sighed with a wry smile. “If you say so. Just… don’t force yourself too much, alright?”

Aera nodded.

They continued to wade through the bustling crowd. Many of the vendors and merchants tried to garner their attention insistently, but they paid none of them any heed. They weren’t here for the morning market. They were only passing through. There were other paths with much less crowd, but those were too… blatant. The crowd helped them to be discreet. Where they were going, it wasn’t some place they would want to be seen heading into. As usual, Erin was in disguise. Also, as usual, her disguise could only do so much to hide her beauty. She had to further hide her face with a veil.

They turned into a narrow alley in between two stalls. An old lady was watching the stalls, but she made no effort to attract anyone to pursue her wares. When Erin and Aera passed through her stall, the old lady simply gave them a warm smile and watched them pass her by. Once the two entered the alley, the old lady moved her seat to the entrance of the alley as if to bar anyone else from entering.

They came out on the other side of the alley, and a long fence greeted them. On the other side of the fence was a small yet dense woods. They approached the fence and they simply walked through it. The fence rippled as they did so. The fence was no illusion, but it wasn’t corporeal either. It was a spell, designed to only let certain people through. This was the work of a certain Dark Elf.

Within the woods, it was as dark as dusk, despite not a cloud in sight. Shadows reigned in the area. One would take great care in where they stepped, or so the woods would let one believe. As long as one was allowed into the woods by the fence, there was no danger of any kind awaiting them. Erin and Aera did not tread too deep into the woods. They stopped when a tombstone came into sight.

“Katya,” Aera muttered. “That was her name, right?”

Erin nodded.

Meekly, Aera left Erin’s side and approached the tombstone, Katya’s grave. “...Hello, Katya,” she said. She knelt before the tombstone and placed the flower right in front of it. “I do not know you, Katya, but you have been by Erin’s side long before I have. And you were a good friend of Erin’s. For that, I am grateful. Without you, Erin wouldn’t have appeared in my life. If she didn’t appear in my life, I shudder to imagine the fate I would have been granted. I’m not good with words. But… I hope you find peace at the end of your journey. Rest now, Katya. Your burdens are not mine and Erin’s to carry.” Aera finished with a short prayer and rose to her feet.

“This was sweet of you, Aera.”

“It was not. This is just my own selfish belief, Erin. You told me plenty about the man you once were, Erin. Without her, without Katya, would you still have walked the same path? If you didn’t walk the same path, would your path still have crossed mine?”

“You know I don’t have an answer to that, Aera.”

“The answer is whatever you believe, Erin. And I believe that without her, we would never have met. And I would have—”

“Quite the pessimistic friend you have, Erynthea.”

Aera jumped and turned around with her fists clenched, ready to swing. “Who are you?” she snarled at the Dark Elf who had seemingly come out of nowhere.

The Dark Elf stared at Aera with a slightly bewildered expression, and then she turned her gaze to Erin. “You didn’t tell her about me?”

“Didn’t think your introduction was necessary, and I didn’t take you for the kind to leave the safety of your domain just to have some casual conversation.”

“I don’t consider this a casual conversation, Erin. I’m very interested in meeting a friend of yours.”

“Why are you so interested?”

“A friend of yours must be a person of great interest, and I have been alone for a long time. My curiosity is brimming for a lot of things. If I could leave this place, I would have sated my curiosity.”

“E-Erin, who is this?” Aera asked.

“The Elf who ruled the Grove here.”

“An Elf? She’s not an Umbrum?”

“Dark Elves exist, dear girl.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.” Aera shrank back.

Sylvie tittered. “Quite the shy girl, you are. What’s your name?”

“I’m—”

“Don’t.”

“What’s this? Distrust? Why, this is a surprise. Have I done something to earn your distrust, Erin?”

“You didn’t. It’s not about distrust. It’s about your… circumstances.”

“And what circumstances may you be referring to?”

“You’re in hiding. That much is obvious. And whatever the reason it is, I don’t want my friends to be involved.”

Sylvie smiled wryly. “I understand. Well, if that’s your concern, then it’s best that you don’t stay here for too long. If people saw, there would be questions,” and she melted into the shadows as if she was never there.

“She reminds me of Iris. Are you sure she’s not an umbrum?”

Erin chuckled. “I am very sure.”

****

“Please, have a seat here. Lady Azaela will be with you in a short while,” said a gentle-looking priest as he gestured for Erin and Aera to sit before hurriedly walking off.

“So, this is the Temple of Ruva,” Aera muttered as she took in her surroundings. After visiting Katya’s grave, they went to the next item on their itinerary. “It’s quite garish. I don’t like it here.”

“Me neither,” Erin concurred. Unlike the small temple she had visited in Green Scar, this temple stood out like a sore thumb in the heart of the silver district, the district where all the faith sanctuaries in the city were situated. The entire district would have been completely monochromatic if it wasn’t for the temple of Ruva, the biggest sanctuary in the district and the only one with more than four colours on the entire structure.

They were currently sitting on a bench in a long and vast hallway. Clerics and priests walked back and forth, passing them by, each giving them a glance. Erin had shed her disguise when she entered the compound. Even on holy grounds, her beauty was still turning heads.

“How long will we be waiting?” Aera inquired with a worried look.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s just… people are staring. I don’t like it.”

“Just treat them like air.”

“It’s not that easy.”

Then, Erin heard footsteps. These ones stood out as they belonged to someone who was in a hurry. The footsteps got louder. Someone was coming towards them. Azaela was not one to lose her elegance and composure. There was only one other person Erin could think of who would be in a hurry to meet her.

“Milady, please don’t run in the hallway!” some shouted from around the corner. Then, someone appeared from around the corner like a stroke of wind.

“Lady Erynthea!” cried Zoe, the saintess of Ruva.