The entranceway was mostly bare aside from the usual painted and copied images of both the Queen and the Goddess Aliza displayed. There was a plain wooden floor worn and used with doors branching off in each directions.

The ceiling was high and illuminated by alchemical lights but there were also windows high enough off that although letting light in they were inaccessible.

Inside the large stone building had been a number of similarly dressed servants largely rushing around. Ren had stood idle as Cris watched their actions as they appeared from one doorway and swiftly made their way into another carrying nondescript leather satchels.

As soon as they had entered the construct simply stopped moving. He didn’t breath or even slow down, he simply stopped as though he was a statue. Cris observed that the weapons that the construct had been holding were no longer in its hand and the appearance had also changed.

Previously, it had been noticeably garbed in armour, this time it was covered by a long golden robe with various intricate patterns of dragons intertwined. The sleeves were baggy and the outfit was closer to a dress than the robes that he had seen priests wear and wore himself for a time.

There were markings on it, Cris was reasonably educated and although his position had been as a minor noble Alessandro had paid for tutors to bring his level of understanding about the world to a decent standard.

That had been how he had passed the entrance tests for the Academy of Light, along with his natural affinity and negative disposition towards corruption magic.

[Young Master. When we are a guest in a foreign land inside a person of sufficient high standard is it not best to show our mutual respect and understanding? We should wait a moment in case a servant arrives to show us. Or I am able to direct you personally, as I have said, I have mapped the main accessible public areas of this building.] said the construct Ren.

Cris had decided to keep his weapons prepared, just in case there were any more tricks. He placed his hand on the leather bracer to reassure himself. Despite being in a position of relative safety, the last night and morning had given him a reason to be cautious.

His mind and soul remained blurry and he was mostly exhausted. He knew that his combat training wasn’t as good as a seasoned warrior priest but it simply felt better this way.

Wait. I left them. Alessandro. The bolt in his arm. I never treated him. Or assisted him. I left him without thinking.

Pausing in his footsteps Cris recalled the cries of pain from the guards who had been left on the cobblestones in the courtyard. The injury of his Head Servant who had once been an assassin.

He was an ex-trainee priest in truth but duty died hard and the Goddess Aliza tasked all to help those in need within the Kingdom. His own magic was sufficient for detection and boosting those corrupted but even a little healing was possible.

His body and soul ached but he would make an effort to help to help them.

‘Ren. Those guards outside. Were they treated?’ asked Cris.

The guards outside the building had had either been wounded or poisoned by Alessandro. The one with the crossbows in the tower gate entrance into the compound were another matter. The same for the two young ones who took the horses away.

He could not care for everyone but the training from the Academy remained deep in him, despite his status as a failed student.

The construct would have come across as a statue which had been clothed for all it’s animation as it had ushered Cris into the entranceway of the building.

They appeared as though dressed as clerks or record keepers and Cris was able to notice the detail that none of them were heavily armed nor armoured except for a standard small dagger marked with the same sigil from the coach.

A hood covered their faces and the clothing was baggy enough that Cris was unable to tell if they were male of female from outside appearance alone. He supposed that the most important person besides from the Queen and King Consort would prefer to have her followers work incognito.

Most in the city carried a weapon but it was usually regulated by the Queen’s Guard. A dagger was expected for most those as a form of self-defence, as long as it was kept to a certain length and plainly visible in open sight.

Possession of concealed weapons often held a larger penalty. Only the nobility and registered armed guards of merchants and other providers in the city were able to be openly armed with a single weapon at most along with the mandatory small dagger.

That had been the main reason the Church of Purity encouraged its trainees and priests, aside from warrior monks to carry daggers made of white metal.

Regardless of his own thoughts they rushed around carrying folders or boxes from room to room.

Preparation. But what is it for? Warfare?

No. The King has his regular sorties already. For the mission she suggested.

I’ll find out soon enough.

Several of the figures paused when he continued to observe them as though waiting for silent instructions but Cris made a point of ignoring them. At the least he remained minor nobility and even an ex-student of the academy would demand a basic level of respect.

‘Carry on with your work. Your Mistress remains outside and has said that we are guests to be welcomed in her domain. I repeat, carry on with your work. I have no questions nor needs at this time.’ said Cris when a larger robed one stopped in its footsteps and hunched over paused without moving forward.

Cris pondered what would happen if he decided to interrupt one of them and demand to know what their work entailed.

He had been instructed by the woman that she would give him an opportunity to save the kingdom, a mission of such importance that without it the entirely of the realm would be destroyed.

Cris had been expecting answers, not more questions which he hadn’t been asking for.

A movement behind him and a painted stone hand placed upon his shoulder in reassurance reminded him that he wasn’t alone in this mission.

[Leave them to their work. I have seen their kind before. They are as insects responding to the orders of a larger insect. We have the same in our own Celestial Empire.] said Ren.

At least one of the new people he had met had been friendly, the construct hadn’t asked him for anything in return and even forcefully punished the man with the title called Disease Master for hurting him however temporarily.

‘Ren. Does this mean that Maxton Ge is here as well? I’ve have had an...interesting talk on the way here and to be clear I need to wash up, rest and eat and finally relieve myself.

Taking a breath of air would be a precious treasure at this point. Wait. Do you even breath? Sorry, I never asked but since last night it’s been a confusing turn of eve-’. Said Cris before he was interrupted as the construct moved faster than he could track with his own magical senses or eyes and appeared in front of him with arms open.

Before he was able to respond Ren spread out the golden dragon adorned robe and enclosed Cris in a hug pulling him in tight.

The lightness of the motion was a contrast with the fact that the construct was entirely built of stone. Whomever had built the figure, designed and painted it and then imbued it with life must have been an extremely powerful sorceress or perhaps even a god.

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Cris was stressed he knew this. Both physically and emotionally he’d been through more than enough. His head servant turning out to be an aged assassin of some renown had been enough but so had everything else.

If he wasn’t so tired he would had swore that he had been subject to a fever dream born of magical feedback and bad wine.

He returned the hug in kind to Ren to find that the softness of the golden robe extracted an old memory deep within him, the sensation of being hugged was a long forgotten one.

Not since his mother had left him when he had been young, not when she had decided to remarry to one of the nobles of the capital city.

He squeezed his eyes tight and let his body relax as the hug continued from Ren.

Given sympathy from a being who isn’t even alive and apparently doesn’t have a name.

Surely a sign from the Goddess Aliza as a reward for my ordeals of faith.

When they were familiar enough then Cris would ask of the origins of the construct which had both assisted and protected him but remained a mystery. Better for him to accept an ally who asked for nothing in return.

‘Enough. Thank you Ren. I needed that in more ways that I can describe. You can let go of me now. My thanks.’ said Cris as he released his arms and the robed construct did the same.

The robed construct bowed and gestured towards the entranceway into the building.

[Preparation for combat is a good habit but exhausting. I would suggest that you follow me Young Master Cristiano. This place has...hidden dangers for the unwary. I would not want you to enter one even by mistake. The Lady who owns this place owns her secrets well. As for Maxton Ge, he simply forgot his place. Forgive his...mistake. He will not touch you again without your express permission.]

Cris bowed in return.

‘Thank you Ren. I ask your own forgiveness in turn, but for one who isn’t human you have understanding more than any made of flesh and bone like myself. Given your intricate clothing, you are clearly a noble of some standing in your own Celestial Empire as you called it. A bodyguard as well as a diplomat.’ said Cris.

Ren gestured to the robed figures as they entered and exited through the open doorways. To his eyes some of them carried plain satchels while others were empty handed. All of them were clearly armed with a dagger clipped onto the waist of their own robes.

[Ignore them, they are sufficiently occupied with the task that their Mistress has given them that they will leave us well enough alone. Scribes in your tongue. The scribes are occupied. They will not fight us, not with me by your side. I repeat, this is a place of relative safety given the present state of your small kingdom.] said the construct Ren as he ushered Cris one of the open doorways seemingly at random with not a moment’s hesitation.

The sleeves of his golden robe were tucked together as he walked directly in front of Cris, continuing to ignore the robed scribes as they went around their business. Despite the appearance of his companion and his own lack of bathing and worn clothing none of them stopped to question where they went to.

There were closed doors as they passed through several hallways where Cris heard conversations or doors that simply opened as a robed scribe left and closed too fast for him to notice the interior.

Alchemical lights illuminated the hallways but there were no windows and the number of turns confused Cris as to his actual destination. Likely, he could have asked one of the robed figures but he had been asked not to disturb them and his own pride stopped him wanting to ask.

Best to follow. Then we’ll see where we end up. I'm too tired.

The construct Ren began to increase pace and forced Cris to do as he followed it up a stairway and took too many turns for him to remember before it stopped in front of a door from which a fragrant smell and steam came from.

There was a faint breeze coming from within the room, given the lack of windows and fresh air inside the building Cris welcomed it.

When the construct stopped so did Cris as it turned its head side to side checking both sides of the empty corridor before it shook its head and pushed the partially open door open.

[For your personal use only Young Master Cristiano. There are fresh clothes of a variety of styles, all in your size, boots and undergarments for you to change. Please dispose of your own clothing. I have been told that there are also priests garments for you wear if you would prefer. One moment please.] said Ren as it stood still without moving.

Cris waited for what he experienced as several minutes in front of the open doorway as the scent of freshly filled water filled his nostrils. There was no trace of the earlier scent which the Spy Mistress has used on him to lull him into sleep.

His body, mind and soul were fatigued enough by this point that all he needed was a chance to wash, rest and relieve himself. A little bit of privacy and the space to collect his thoughts would be even better. The door itself was entirely unadorned as were the rest in this place.

If this was actually the dwelling of a noble person there would have been paintings, artwork and other traces of taste along the walls and corridor. As far as he could tell, the main expense here had been the alchemical lights which had been attached to the ceiling in regular intervals.

The cost of those was usually more than most could afford, they were safer than candles, or oil lamps but their main purpose was the minor blessing by the Goddess Aliza herself. They would simply ward off any traces of corruption purposeful or otherwise but needed to be refilled by a priest or priestess paid per light.

More expensive than a minor noble such as myself could afford on such a scale. Unless Lady Joanne Dee Mawr receives a discount on services. Lucrative business.

His magical energy remained drained and by this point Cris no longer cared about having to check for threats to either himself or the construct. His legs were beginning to ache and he himself was beginning to feel foolish for standing in front of a guest room prepared for him which he was unable to enter.

He hoped that there were no servants inside the room to take care of his bathing needs or to assist him with dressing. In his own minor noble house had had refused it once he had grown old enough to dress himself.

Nor was he in the mood to relieve any physical tension and if he found anyone else in the room he would dismiss them immediately. To take on a role in saving the kingdom as the Spy Mistress had requested of him wasn’t going to be a straightforward affair and he had been lectured on the fate of those priests and priestesses who strayed from the path.

Relationships were actively encouraged as part of a healthy lifestyle, he had dallied a little when he had been training in the academy but emotional blackmail wasn’t acceptable.

Finally, as he felt his legs and body were going to give way beneath him and the thought of bathing in cold water crossed his mind the construct turned around to face him and bowed.

If he didn’t know better, he would have thought that the artificial being was either receiving orders or communicating. There had been no magical traces, his own weakened senses would have at least given him a vague impression of that.

[Young Master Cristiano, you will take your time to prepare your physical self and I will stand guard over this doorway. None but myself will enter and only if you directly call me for help. As comrades we need to stand together. Do you need any additional weapons or armour? Minor authorisation has been granted for provision of standard boosted equipment.]

Cris simply shook his head. Some of the words from the construct were strange to his ears, he understood them mostly but he put it down to a translation problem.

‘No. I appreciate your previous gifts and will not be greedy to ask for more when you have freely given enough. As comrades we stand together. I have my faith in my Goddess as my armour and strength. If you are to join me with Maxton Ge, those augmented and others on our quest to save the kingdom from disaster then you should save what you can until we truly need it.’ said Cris.

[You are permitted to wash, rest and pray as you need. When you are prepared, open the door and I will accompany you to the others. Please. Enter. En. Enter. Mission confirmation in progress.] said the golden robed construct as it gestured with one swept arm for him to enter the room.

As he did, the construct gently pulled it closed behind him with a solid click.

Cris checked the door as he entered to find a strong bar which he dropped in place. He entered the room to find a large glass stained window from which the fresh breeze was coming from. Closing and securing it he did a quick check of the entire room, there was a separate bathing and toilet area and a changing screen along with a plain linen cloth bed with fresh bedsheets.

A small oak wardrobe had been placed on the side of the bed and at the base of it was several pairs of boots and shoes. A jug of fresh water and a basket of fruits along with two sweet-meat breads had been placed on top of the wardrobe.

None the items of clothing nor shoes were cheaply made but neither were they of the expensive quality. Just the type that a minor noble could afford who lived on a relatively small stipend.

Someone just like Cris.

Funny joke. Very funny.

The curtains in front of the window had been pulled back and although Cris had roughly checked including under the bed in case there were any unwanted presences he still called out to make sure.

‘Anyone watching can leave. Or I’ll ask my brother-in-arms Ren to do a thorough search. Your Lady invited me here.’ said Cris as he began to remove his present dirty and sweat stained clothing. His leather brace with twin knife blades he left until last, making sure it was within immediate reach.

In this place he wouldn’t be surprised if there secret passageways embedded in the walls criss-crossing this entire building.

The Spy Mistress had her own plans but right now he was tired and needed a wash. Besides, he wasn’t joking.

He’d pray to the Goddess after he cleaned up and rested a little. Cris began to take off his soiled clothing.