[Side Character Rain Leclair’s cognizance of the Player, Alice, has been heightened]...

One look was all Rain needed to understand what the Plexus meant.

His Perception had not magically grown to a higher level, his connection to Alice as a person had just become a bit high enough to the point that the Plexus automatically made him feel what she was feeling in important moments.

The fact that it was happening to Sean too was enough proof of that. Amongst every person present, they were the only ones close to Alice.

There was one thing that bogged Rain at that realization, though, and it was if what he was feeling through Alice would be transported to J who had a connection to him.

He looked at his Companion who had since stopped following the children and was now peering at him. There was no look of anxiety on her face, rather, she was wearing her usual incredulous expression.

Rain sighed at that. If J became agitated it wouldn’t produce any pleasant outcome. Whatever Alice was feeling right now had to be kept under wraps. If it was let out, it wouldn’t be good.

With those thoughts, he approached her.

“What’s wrong?”

Alice flinched at his question, almost too aggressively. When she noticed it was him, she calmed down with an exhale, then asked, “What do you mean?”

Rain was not sure if he should tell her about the Plexus’s notification, so instead he just said, “You stopped walking. And your hand is on your hilt.”

Alice looked at her sword and closed her eyes for a moment. “I told you we shouldn’t come here,” she said with a stern expression. “They are dangerous. We have to leave.”

Rain understood her worries, after all, he’d felt what she’d felt, but still… His decision stood.

“That would be stupid of us.” Alice shot him a sharp gaze. He didn’t retreat though. His eyes were serious too so she would know he was not joking. “I mean it. I did not say this before because I was sure you would understand me, but I’ll say it now. What’s the point of leaving? I can see well enough that they are stronger than us. If they want to harm us, it doesn’t matter if we’re here or somewhere else, we’ll be harmed.”

“We will definitely be harmed if we stay here,” Alice stated.

“I get why you think that, but it doesn’t change the fact that as long as we are in Glasgow we will be harmed by them if they want to. Also, do we really have the time to start seeking out a place to stay at the moment?” Rain nudged his chin at the sky. There was obviously less than an hour left until the fog came. Alice remained silent. Rain looked at the nun and the children who had just now arrived before the figure seated on the reclining chair. “As long as we do not give them a cause to worry, they’ll think they have the upper hand, since we’re at their place, and so they’ll try to take things slowly. We just have to make them believe that until morning, and then we can leave. Although, if you have a way for us to get out of Glasgow in the next thirty minutes, then I’m all ears.”

Of course, if there was such a way they would have been in Manchester already.

This situation was not in favor of them in any way. There was nothing they could do but bend to the will of these people—at least, pretend to. That was why he was already coming up with a plan to safely get them out of here when morning came. They just had to get through the night.

Alice peered at Rain for a while before freeing her sword from her tightened grip and running her hand through her hair. “I don’t have such a way,” she said, “but surviving through the night should be feasible. And then we will leave in the morning.”

Great… Come up with your plan and I’ll come up with mine. Rain turned his gaze to where the nun and the children were and they were all looking at his crew. Telling each other of whatever plans we have would be bad, especially with that nun around.

“I’ll trust you.” Rain smiled at Alice, and she nodded.

A few seconds later they arrived at the tree Nun Cathleen and the kids were gathered around. Rain saw the figure on the reclining chair visibly now.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He was a bald middle aged man dressed in a black clergyman robe, and on the bridge of his nose rested rectangular glasses. On his lap was a Bible, while on his face, a smile.

The sort of feeling the man gave off was not particularly suppressive, so for a moment Rain almost questioned why Alice had felt the way she’d felt, but he then blamed it on his Perception. After all, if the children and Nun Cathleen were that strong, undoubtedly this man was on another level.

Nun Cathleen smiled and opened her lips while gesturing at the man, “This here is Archbishop Jude Bale.”

Sean’s arms tightened across Rain, but he acted oblivious to it and bowed. “I’m Rain Leclair. Thank you for—”

“What questions do you have to ask? Ask away.”

Rain closed his eyes with a deep inhale. Alice was the one who had cut him off, so it had struck him weird considering how they had already agreed to pretend so as to survive until morning. Or was this part of her plan?

Nun Cathleen was the one who spoke, “Archbishop Jude—”

“Exactly,” Alice cut her off too. “My question was for the Archbishop, not you. Or is he mute?”

Rain noticed the slight fury that appeared on the nun’s face, which made his heartbeat hasten for a moment. It wasn’t only her too, the child, Ray, had his nose wrung up.

What in the world was she doing?

Archbishop Jude laughed at that moment. He then closed the Bible he was reading and rose to his feet. “Now. Now. Everyone relax. I understand how you feel, young lady…”

“I’m not a young lady—”

“...But let’s have this conversation inside, shall we?” He pointed to the sky. “Night is upon us.”

###

The interior of the cathedral was just as magnificent as its exterior. No. It was far better. Simply stepping onto the anachronistic stone tiled floor in the nave brought them within a breathtaking display of high, vaulted ceilings supported by rows of massive stone pillars, stunning windows with vibrant colors, and stained glass depicting biblical stories.

Rain was so absorbed in the sight that he didn’t realize his mouth was slightly open. Mei Mei was the one who had alerted him to it with a nudge, and for that he was thankful.

It seemed Sean had been lost in the display too, if not he would have been the one to have called him back.

Alice, on the other hand, did not seem awed by the cathedral’s intricacies. She had probably seen better, after all, she had not lost her memories unlike Rain. And if her prayers at meals were to be considered it was possible that she was even be religious. The latter, though, did not make her any less wary of the Archbishop and nun.

Rain kind of understood why. Besides the fact that she was an overly cautious person, anyone could have dressed up as an Archbishop and a nun to cause others to let down their guards around them. Being religious did not stop her from thinking that.

“Is this where you all stay?” Alice asked after glancing around for a bit.

“Yes,” Archbishop Jude replied.

“There are various buildings around, why limit yourself to just the cathedral?” Her eyes were filled with scrutiny. If there were awards for being the most unbelieving person, she would be the one handing them out.

The Archbishop chuckled while nudging his glasses. “Our numbers are little. Separating ourselves can prove very bad.” They had walked all the way to the sanctuary of the cathedral now, and there he sat on the stairs. He turned to Nun Cathleen. “You should take the children to the crypt. I’ll keep on discussing with our guests. Oh. Meal hasn’t been served yet, right?”

Nun Cathleen nodded. “Yes, Archbishop.”

“Alright, for tonight they’ll eat in the crypt.” The children gasped in joy and thanked the Archbishop for his seemingly kind words, and then the nun began leading them in the direction of the choir area. Alice’s eyebrows furrowed and released as she watched them. The Archbishop continued then, “Your little boy seems tired. He should go with them. Nun Cathleen is going to serve dinner any moment now—”

“No,” Alice voiced in a rather tense manner as though a sudden jolt of electricity had struck her body. It had been so loud that the children walking to the crypt stopped and turned around.

Rain sighed. “It’s fine,” he said, causing Alice to glare at him. “I’ll go with him. He should rest.”

“He’ll rest with us,” Alice argued.

“You’re in a discussion with the Archbishop. That’s not ideal.” She was silent. “I’ll be with him.” Rain noticed the Archbishop staring at J. He added, “Can she come with me?”

“I’m sorry. But that will frighten the kids. She should remain here in the nave, with the adults.”

Rain smiled. “Funny. They were all around her on the way here. I doubt they’re afraid of her.” He decided to make sure the Archbishop couldn’t refute even further. “Sean, is J dangerous?” Sean shook his head with a silent mutter of “no”. “See.”

Archbishop Jude was quiet for a second, then he exhaled. “Then that’s fine.” He turned to Nun Cathleen. “Ella’s the only one not paired, right? The boy should pair with her.”

Rain turned to the Ella girl. She was staring his way with a nigh unnoticeable distant look on her face. He smiled.

It was perfect.