"How exactly are you going to explain me entering the catacombs to the Night?" Leo popped the question that came to mind as they continued through the catacombs. Eveningtide didn't reply for a long time, and so the oppressive silence continued. At a point, Leo couldn't help but whistle. Sure, as an assassin, he loved the joy and comfort that silence sometimes brought, but this time it was a bit too much to bear.
All around them was darkness, and tunnels; a few seeming foreign to Leo. "These tunnels seem a bit different. What path are we using?"
This time around Eveningtide replied with his earlier cheerful demeanor. "An ancient one we acolytes from the Moon use in order to maintain the catacombs.
"Normally, I am supposed to blindfold you," he continued, dragging Leo through a low tunnel, forcing the duo to stoop, "but I'm guessing even you will find it hard to retrace these paths that took the best of us years to master."
"Which brings me to the question."
Leo raised an eyebrow in the darkness, wondering why Eveningtide had suddenly stopped.
"Where did you get that map?"
Seeing no benefit from lying to someone who he already owed so much, Leo shrugged. "An old friend of mine gifted it to me."
"An old friend?" Through the vast darkness, Leo could have sworn an expression of worry had crept onto the seer's calm face.
"Yes," Leo replied.
"Then I will advise you to be careful." Eveningtide quickened his pace. Leo limped quickly after, struggling to keep up the pace.
Panting from the renewed exertion, the assassin was finally side by side with Eveningtide.
"Could you cut the seer crap and just give me a valid reason why I should be careful?"
"HA HA!"
Eveningtide's laughter echoed against the tunnels, further infuriating Leo.
"That's the problem with you young folks, never patient."
"Really?" Leo sneered. "Last time I checked, you had just clocked forty."
"Not exactly ancient if you ask me." He added, leaning a little on the ivory cane.
"My body might not be, but believe me when I say my mind has matured far beyond any normal mortal's comprehension." Eveningtide's chest swelled with pride.
"If you say so." Leo batted the seer's gloat away like it was some fly.
"Answer my question."
"Which one?" Eveningtide joked.
"Both, if you could be so kind." Leo replied, desperately fighting the pain compelling him to sit down and rest.
"Alright," the seer began,
"Your so-called friend must either be a thief or an elf from an ancient royal lineage for him to have access to a map leading to one of the many secret entrances spread throughout the kingdom."
"What makes you so sure that the friend in question is a male?" Leo interrupted.
"I just know." Eveningtide gave a knowing look that Leo found strangely uncomfortable.
"Anyways, I'm guessing your dear friend wasn't an elf, which means…"
"He stole it." Leo completed it, berating himself for trusting Gerald so blindly.
"Even if my friend in question stole it…" Eveningtide's face seemed to be getting tired of Leo's incessant questions.
A low cough and Leo trudged on, despite an exasperated sigh from the seer.
"Surely the protective measures put in place would have been enough to discourage most threats?"
"I believe you managed to survive them." Eveningtide pointed out.
Leo only sighed. "I'm guessing your worry is since I've disabled most of the catacomb's protection runes and guardians…"
The two could see a small sliver of light peeking from what would be their last turn in this dark place.
"Whoever it is that gave me the map could use this opportunity to have unrestricted access to the many treasures kept there."
The conclusion suddenly made a whole lot of sense.
"Precisely." Eveningtide took the turn first, waiting a few seconds as Leo came behind him.
"But not to worry, the runes behind the golems will automatically renew by tomorrow," he added.
Leo couldn't help but give a sigh of relief.
"Seriously," Eveningtide's rich laughter sounded a whole lot different without the usual echo Leo had been used to hearing,
"Were you thinking you're the first to ever breach the catacomb's defenses?"
Leo scratched his head nervously.
"Besides," the waning light of the day became even closer as Leo made out a few shapes belonging to white-clad acolytes moving around in what appeared to be a small open temple,
"I knew about your entry from the very minute you stepped foot into the tunnels."
"Wow!" The assassin was speechless, and he couldn't help but feel scared at the numerous consequences he would have faced had Eveningtide gone ahead to report his breach to the Phoenix.
"I could have been accused of treason." Leo shuddered, the gravity of everything fully sinking in.
"Welcome to Elhyr's shrine!" Eveningtide's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
Leo looked up and was instantly awestruck at the beautiful place he had just stepped into.
Overhead on the ornate glass mural adorning the roof, carvings and effigies of demons and creatures told the battle of Camhyr, kind of like the mural at the Sun's headquarters, though the ones above Leo presently had an almost lifelike quality.
Below the murals were white alabaster pillars surrounded by little pots that swirled with a strange incense that Leo found to be strangely familiar.
All around him were various acolytes of various ages, each dressed in sparkling white robes that bore little insignias that showed their rank.
"Now, let's get you dressed."
Leo's cheeks lit up with a tinge of embarrassment on realizing he was still stark naked. Thankfully, it seemed the acolytes—like their leader—couldn't care less as they continued their duties without so much as a glance.
"I'm beginning to doubt anything can surprise them," Leo shuddered. "Makes you wonder if they have already seen the probability of everything happening in their surroundings.
"Here you go." Eveningtide grinned.
"Great." Leo fought the urge to laugh.
"I know, right?" The seer didn't quite get Leo's sarcasm.
"It's not every day the Moon gets someone of your height."
Leo only nodded, collecting the pristine garment with a bow of thanks.
"We shall depart for the castle as soon as possible."
"Once again, I'm truly grateful." Leo smiled.
"Don't mention it." Eveningtide walked forward, leaving Leo to dress in whatever sense of privacy the small group of acolytes could offer.
"Nightfall has arrived, and I'm sure your people will be quite worried."
"Yes." Leo popped his head through the tunic, glad that the size difference wasn't too large—though he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of cringe as he walked around without any sort of underwear.
"Don't worry, assassin." Eveningtide held out a small golden door. "Tonight shall not be windy."
"I hope so." Leo gave a weak smile, glad that the material wasn't see-through.