Yuta's heart pounded as the weight of Angus's revelation sank in. Without thinking, he leapt out of hiding, placing himself between Angus and Aria.

"Angus, you can't do this!" Yuta shouted.

Aria's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "Yuta, what are you doing here?"

"Don't worry, Aria. I won't let anything happen to you," Yuta said, raising his fist toward Angus in a show of defiance.

"Angus," the High Priestess said, rolling her eyes as she uttered his name. "This better not be one of your childish schemes just to see me."

Angus gave the High Priestess a mocking bow. "I would not dare interrupt your sacred servitude to the God of boredom and uptightness unless it was important," he said with a smirk. "I believe the safety of one of your missionaries qualifies."

The High Priestess's expression shifted from irritation to suspicion. She stepped forward, her robes rustling softly as she moved. "What do you mean by 'safety'?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

Angus straightened, his playful demeanor giving way to a more serious expression. "The darkness that brought her here," he said, "has followed her."

Aria's face flashed with terror, her eyes darting between Angus and the High Priestess. “No,” she said, her voice trembling. The dim light of the chamber made her look even more fragile, her fear palpable.

The High Priestess immediately moved to comfort Aria, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It’s alright, child," she said softly, her voice soothing like a warm blanket. "We will protect you."

Turning her gaze to Angus, the High Priestess's tone hardened, her eyes narrowing. "How do you know this?"

Angus pointed to Yuta. "It's because of him," he said firmly, his eyes never leaving the High Priestess's.

“What do you mean, me?” Yuta exclaimed, confusion and anger mixing on his face.

“I told you, I keep an eye on those to whom I give a token,” Angus replied.

Instinctively, Yuta put his hand in his pocket and grabbed the coin. It felt cool and heavy in his palm, a reminder of the strange journey that had brought him here.

“I sensed the fear you had about your sister,” Angus continued. “And the darkness behind that fear was quite powerful.”

Confusion was etched on Yuta’s face. “But how could you...?” he began, his voice trailing off.

“Trust him, Yuta,” the High Priestess interjected, turning to look at Angus with resignation and respect. “He has his ways.” Her eyes softened slightly as she regarded Angus.

“Let’s just say I picked up the darkness's trail, and it led me here,” said Angus.

“The man who hired us, is he part of this?” Yuta asked. He looked around the dim chamber, the shadows seeming to close in around them.

Angus nodded at Yuta. “Yes, he is.”

“What does this man want?” asked the High Priestess. Her grip on Aria’s shoulder tightened slightly, a silent promise of protection.

“I was hoping Aria would tell me,” said Angus, looking directly at Aria. His eyes bore into hers, seeking the truth. Aria's eyes filled with tears, her fear now mingling with a determination to uncover the truth.

Aria's voice trembled as she spoke. "What do you want to know?" she asked hesitantly.

Angus's gaze softened slightly. "What happened after you left with the travelers?" he asked.

Aria looked at the High Priestess, seeking her guidance. The High Priestess gave her a reassuring nod, her eyes filled with warmth and encouragement. "It's alright, Aria," she said softly. "Tell them everything."

Aria took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began to speak. "After I left the village with the travelers, everything seemed fine at first. They were kind, and we traveled to magnificent cities and through beautiful forests and majestic mountains." Her voice grew softer as she recalled the journey, her eyes distant. "But then, one night, everything changed."

The chamber was silent except for the crackling of the torches. Yuta listened intently, his face etched with concern.

"We were camped near a river," Aria continued, her voice quivering. "That night, I woke up to strange whispers and saw dark figures moving in the shadows. They were... unnatural, like something out of a nightmare. The travelers who had been so kind turned on me. They tied me up and chanted in a language I didn't understand."

Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled the terror of that night. "I don't know what they wanted or what they were trying to do, but I felt a cold, dark presence surrounding me. It was like the darkness itself was alive, reaching out to consume me."

Aria's voice quivered as she continued her tale, the memory of those harrowing nights still vivid in her mind. "This went on for days," she said, her eyes wide with remembered fear. "Every night, the dark figures in the shadows grew bolder. At first, they were mere shapes, but slowly they began to take form."

Yuta’s attention was unwavering as Aria spoke. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the walls, amplifying the tension in the chamber.

"These figures," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper, "they had faces. Horrible, twisted faces. They would whisper things, terrible things, in that strange language. And the travelers... they seemed to be under some sort of spell, as if they were being controlled by these dark entities."

 Aria took a shaky breath, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "One night, the chanting grew louder, more frantic. The darkness closed in around me, suffocating. I thought I was going to die." Her voice broke, and she took a moment to compose herself. "But then, something strange happened. A blinding light erupted from within me, pushing the darkness back. The figures screamed and vanished, and the travelers fell to the ground, unconscious."

Yuta's eyes widened in astonishment. "A light? From within you?" he asked.

Aria nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't understand it either. It was like a part of me I didn't know existed. After that, I ran. I ran as fast as I could and didn't stop until I reached home."

Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she continued. "It wasn't until I came to the temple that I understood where the light came from," she said, her voice gaining strength. "The High Priestess and the other missionaries taught me that the light was a gift from Soter, a manifestation of his divine protection."

"Soter's light is a rare and powerful gift," The High Priestess said softly. "It appears in those chosen to battle the forces of darkness."

"It's that light they want from you, Aria," Angus said. “Whoever hired us, they knew about your gift and wanted to capture you to harness or destroy it."

Yuta clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger and protectiveness. "We can't let them take her," he said fiercely. "We'll fight them with everything we have."

“That will require more cunning than fists my dear apprentice.” Angus said, “But I do have a plan.”

Angus took a step closer, his eyes locking with Aria’s. “Aria, you’re going to have to face the darkness again.”

Later that night, under a moonless sky, Angus and Yuta waited at the designated meeting point. The eerie stillness of the night was only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

Yuta's heart broke as he glanced at his sister. Aria stood between them, her mouth gagged, and her hands bound. Angus's dagger was pointed at her back, a necessary ruse to ensure they played their roles convincingly. Yuta hated seeing Aria like this, but he knew it was the only way to draw out their enemies.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. The man who had hired them stepped into the clearing, flanked by several hooded figures. His eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he approached.

"Ah, Angus," the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "I see you've brought the girl. Very good."

Angus gave a mocking bow, his grip on the dagger steady. "As promised.”

Aria's eyes were wide with fear, but there was a spark of defiance in them. Yuta felt a surge of pride for his sister, even as his anger simmered beneath the surface.

"Not so fast," Yuta shouted. "We need assurance that you won't harm her."

The man's expression twisted with irritation. "You need to control your apprentice, Angus."

"And you need to realize that you've walked into a trap," Angus said, with a smile.

The High Priestess appeared on one side of the man, her presence immediately commanding attention. On the other side, Mother Superior emerged, her stark white habit standing out against the darkness, her face a mask of serene determination.

The man’s sinister smile faltered for a brief moment as he glanced at the formidable women flanking him. His confidence wavered, but he quickly composed himself. "Impressive," he sneered, trying to regain control of the situation. "But do you really think you can outsmart me with mere theatrics?"

The High Priestess raised a hand, and a palpable energy pulsed through the clearing, causing the hooded figures to step back uneasily. "We are not here for theatrics, harborage of evil," she said, her voice echoing with an ethereal resonance.

Mother Superior nodded, her gaze piercing through the man. "Repent of the darkness or be consumed by the light."

“Disciples of Soter can be so dramatic.” Angus quipped.

Before anyone could react, the High Priestess chanted an incantation, and a shimmering light began to glow from her hands. Simultaneously, the medallion around Mother Superior's neck began to glow with a brilliant, ethereal light, amplifying the power that surged through the clearing.

Angus tightened his grip on the dagger, his eyes meeting Yuta's with a silent understanding. They needed to act swiftly. "Yuta, now!" he shouted.

Yuta he stepped forward, pulling out his coin and holding it high in the air. At the same moment, Angus slashed the bindings on Aria's wrists, freeing her hands. Aria tore the gag from her mouth, her light burning brighter than ever.

Yuta's heart pounded as he held the coin high, its ancient markings glowing in response to the medallion and the High Priestess's incantation. The energy in the clearing intensified, creating a barrier of light around them. Aria, free from her bonds, stood tall, her own inner light shining fiercely.

The man snarled, his eyes narrowing with malice. "You think this light will save you?" he spat, stepping back as the shimmering energy grew stronger. The hooded figures around him shifted nervously, their confidence wavering.

Aria took a step forward, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "I am not afraid of the darkness anymore," she declared, her light growing brighter with each word.

The man sneered, his eyes flickering with a sinister light as he saw Aria's resolve. "Such bravado, child," he hissed. "But your light is nothing compared to the power I wield." Dark tendrils of shadow began to seep from his fingertips, writhing like serpents as they reached toward Aria.

Aria, her own light merging with the divine energy of the High Priestess and Mother Superior, took another step forward. "Enough," she said, her voice ringing with authority. "I will not let you harm anyone else."

As the tendrils of darkness touch Aria, a violent clash of energy erupts, sending shockwaves through the clearing. The man staggered back, his expression shifting from anger to surprise. "Impossible," he muttered, his confidence faltering.

The High Priestess's voice rose above the tumult. "Now, Aria!" she commanded, her eyes glowing with power. "Use your light!"

Aria closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth and strength within her. A radiant glow enveloped her, expanding outward. The combined light surged forward, pushing the darkness back with a force that sent the man and his followers reeling.

Yuta, still holding the coin, felt a surge of energy course through him. He stepped beside Aria, adding his will to the light.

The man's hooded followers began to falter, their forms dissolving into the shadows from which they had emerged. The man himself struggled to maintain his footing, his eyes wild with desperation. "This isn't over," he growled, his voice barely audible over the roar of the light.

"Oh, but it is," Angus said coldly, his dagger gleaming in the light.

With a final, furious scream, the man was consumed by the radiant energy, his form dissolving into nothingness. The clearing fell silent, the oppressive darkness lifted.