Yuta's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the man who had given him the coin. His mind raced with questions, and tentatively, he asked, "What are you doing here?"
The man's smile widened, mischief dancing in his eyes as he took a seat across from Yuta. "Ah, now that's a question with many answers," he replied enigmatically. "But for now, let's just say that I had to be somewhere, and why not here?"
"Oh, come now. I believe in coincidences as much as the next guy," Yuta said, "but first the high priestess, and now you."
The man raised an eyebrow. "What does a high priestess have to do with this?" the man inquired.
"She was the woman who came to my village with you," Yuta replied, his tone firm.
The man leaned back slightly, his expression one of feigned ignorance. "Do I look like the sort that travels with a high priestess?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Please," Yuta pleaded, his patience wearing thin. "I've had my fill of cryptic conversations with the nun."
The man chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hanging out with high priestesses and nuns," he mused. "Some might mistake you for the missionary, not your sister."
Yuta's frustration peaked, his tone sharpening with demand. "How do you know about me, let alone my sister?" he questioned, a note of suspicion creeping into his voice.
"I keep a close eye on those to whom I grant my tokens," the man replied nonchalantly.
Yuta's gaze drifted down to the coin in his hand, its surface gleaming in the warm light of the inn. "I know you're seeking answers about your sister," the man stated. "And I'm the one who can provide them."
Yuta's brows furrowed in confusion. "How?" he pressed, his voice tinged with skepticism.
The man leaned forward, his demeanor shifting to one of solemnity. "Come with me," he said simply, his gaze unwavering.
Yuta hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. Trusting a stranger, especially one as mysterious as this man, went against his better judgment.
"If my partner comes back and I'm not here, they'll have my hide," Yuta warned, his voice laced with apprehension.
The man's smile remained unperturbed. "I can handle that," he assured Yuta. The man rose from his seat and made his way over to the innkeeper, a small bag of coins clutched in his hand.
Yuta watched as the man leaned in close to the innkeeper, whispering something in her ear. A subtle nod from the innkeeper signaled her compliance, and she accepted the bag of coins with a knowing smile.
Returning to Yuta's side, the man's expression was inscrutable as ever. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing towards the door with a faint tilt of his head.
Yuta hesitated for a moment longer, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders. But the allure of uncovering the truth about his sister proved too strong to resist.
With a determined nod, Yuta followed the man out, leaving behind the safety of the inn and stepping into the unknown.
As they walked, Yuta couldn't shake the gnawing sense of uncertainty that lingered within him. "Why are you helping me?" Yuta finally asked, as he glanced sideways at the man walking beside him.
"You helped me find the Hermit's cave," The man replied. "Consider this my way of returning the favor."
Yuta's curiosity burned brighter as they walked. "What happened when you got to the cave?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
The man glanced at Yuta. "Ah, that's a tale too long for this walk," the man replied with a mysterious smile.
Yuta sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of frustration at the man's evasive response. Despite his growing impatience, he knew better than to push for answers that weren't ready to be revealed.
"Have you gone back to the cave?" the man asked.
Yuta shook his head firmly, the memory of his previous encounter with the hermit's beast still fresh in his mind. "No," he replied. "I haven't dared to venture back there since that day."
The man nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "You should go back to the cave," he suggested. "The hermit has left, and it's unlikely that he'll return."
"But why?" Yuta questioned. "What could I possibly find there now that the hermit is gone?"
The man responded with a reassuring smile. "You will never know unless you go there," he replied cryptically.
Yuta and the man walked to the shadier side of town, the streets narrowing and the buildings casting long shadows. Eventually, they arrived at a seedy tavern with a worn sign swinging lazily in the breeze.
The man pushed open the door, the creaking hinges announcing their entrance. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of ale and the murmur of conversation. They found a dimly lit corner and took a seat at a rickety table, blending into the background of rough-looking patrons.
Yuta glanced around, feeling out of place in the dingy atmosphere. "What are we doing here?" he asked.
Just as Yuta asked, three suspicious-looking characters approached their table. Their footsteps heavy and their gazes sharp, they eyed the man sitting across from Yuta with suspicion.
One of them, a burly man with a scar running across his cheek, spoke up first. "Are you the rogue we're supposed to meet?" he asked, his voice gruff and low.
The man nodded calmly. "That's right," he replied. "Angus Fireborn at your service."
“You rogues and that name.” The burly man grunted in response, exchanging glances with his companions before gesturing for the man to follow them. "Come with us," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Yuta felt a surge of apprehension as Angus rose from his seat and followed the trio out of the tavern. He glanced sideways at Angus, uncertainty written across his face.
"What's going on?" Yuta whispered, Angus offered him a reassuring smile. "Everything's under control," he replied. "Just trust me."
As they walked, the burly man leading the way glanced back at Yuta with a sneer. "Who's the runt?" he grunted, his tone dripping with disdain.
Angus turned to the burly man with a faint smile. "He's my apprentice," Angus replied smoothly, his voice carrying a hint of warning. "And I'd appreciate it if you showed him some respect."
The burly man snarled, his expression shifting from disdain to begrudging acceptance. With a curt nod, he led the way through the winding streets.
Yuta kept close to Angus, his senses on high alert as they navigated the unfamiliar terrain. The narrow alleys and dimly lit corners seemed to close in around them.
As they rounded a corner, the burly man came to a sudden stop, holding up a hand to signal for the others to do the same. Ahead of them stood a nondescript door, its surface weathered and worn from years of neglect.
The burly man rapped sharply on the door, the sound echoing through the silent streets. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a man standing in the dim light of the entryway.
With a silent gesture, the man beckoned Angus and Yuta to enter.
Angus exchanged a brief glance with Yuta, a silent reassurance passing between them, before leading the way into the mysterious abode. Yuta followed closely behind, his heart pounding with trepidation.
As they stepped inside, the door creaked shut behind them, enveloping them in darkness.
They traversed down a hallway and then up creaking staircases, the burly man and his two companions following closely behind them.
Finally, they arrived at a small chamber bathed in flickering candlelight. The man turned to face them, his features still obscured by the shadows.
"Do you have it? “The man asked, his voice echoing softly in the confined space.
Angus nodded and reached into his cloak, pulling out a rolled-up parchment. With deliberate care, he spread it out on the table before them, revealing a detailed map of the interior of the temple.
Yuta leaned in closer, his eyes widening with wonder as he studied the intricate markings and symbols etched onto the parchment. Each corridor and chamber was meticulously drawn, with cryptic annotations written along the margins.
"I can gain entry through this hidden passage," Angus explained, pointing to a particular section of the map. "It's a route that few know about, but it will lead me and my apprentice directly to the heart of the temple."
Yuta's heart sank as the realization of Angus's intentions hit him. "Obtaining the item you seek shouldn't pose much of a challenge," Angus assured the man.
The man's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he reached into his cloak, withdrawing a small sack of gold coins. With a quick motion, he tossed it onto the table before Angus, the coins clinking softly as they spilled out onto the rough-hewn surface.
"You'll receive another bag just like this one when the job is complete," the man declared.
Angus nodded, his gaze fixed on the shimmering gold before him. "Rest assured, the item will be in your possession soon," he replied confidently.
Yuta's stomach churned with guilt as he watched the exchange unfold. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts, torn between loyalty to Angus and a gnawing sense of right and wrong.
With a final nod of approval, the man turned on his heel and strode out of the chamber, his companions following closely behind. Left alone with Angus, Yuta felt a surge of unease wash over him, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty.
Angus squeezed Yuta's shoulder reassuringly. "We have work to do," he said firmly, his voice snapping Yuta out of his reverie.
With a heavy heart and a mind filled with doubt, Yuta followed Angus into the depths of the night. As they walked through the darkened streets, Yuta's resolve hardened with each step. The weight of guilt and uncertainty hung heavy on his shoulders, but he knew deep down that he couldn't go through with Angus's plan.
"Angus," Yuta began, his voice firm and resolute, "I can't do this. I won't break into the temple."
Angus stopped in his tracks, turning to face Yuta. "Yuta, you will never be a good disciple of Soter without a little faith?" he said with a smile. “Now come along.”
With a heavy sigh, Yuta nodded reluctantly, his resolve faltering in the face of Angus's unwavering confidence. "Alright," he muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But only because I trust you."
Angus's smile widened, a glimmer of triumph dancing in his eyes as he clapped Yuta on the shoulder. "That's the spirit," he exclaimed.
As they neared the entrance to the concealed passage, Angus gave Yuta a reassuring look, and together they ventured forward.
After navigating a series of winding passages and narrow corridors, they finally arrived at a secret entrance concealed behind a tapestry. With a subtle gesture from Angus, they slipped through the hidden doorway into the chamber beyond.
The chamber was bathed in a soft glow emanating from a row of flickering torches along the walls. As Yuta's eyes adjusted to the dim light, he caught sight of a figure standing at the far end of the chamber. It was the High Priestess, engaged in a solemn blessing, her voice rising and falling in a rhythmic chant.
Beside her stood a missionary, clad in simple robes and with a look of reverence on her face. She listened intently to the High Priestess's words, her expression one of deep devotion. Yuta's breath caught in his throat as he realized the missionary was Aria.
Interrupting the solemn scene, Angus calmly stepped out of his hiding place, his presence startling both the High Priestess and Aria.
"You know I hate to interrupt a good blessing," Angus remarked with a hint of amusement.
The High Priestess's serene expression morphed into one of anger as she addressed Angus. "What in the name of Soter are you doing here?" she demanded.
Without hesitation, Angus bluntly replied, "I came to steal something."
The High Priestess's eyes narrowed, her suspicion deepening. "What do you intend to steal?" she asked.
With a sly smile, Angus pointed directly at Aria. "Her," he declared.
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