Under the bleakness of the night, the Saint Ambrosius Monastery stood magnificently on the top of the hill like a giant sentry guarding the City of Redne all around it. Yet, the inside of the building looked dim and gloomy.

Still, it was the one place Maven Istravel considered home. Perhaps she came back for old times' sake. But that wasn't all, since she entered sneakily and secretly in her signature all-black suit. A pair of daggers, a bow and a quiver of arrows she wielded only added to the impression that she was up to no good.

The hooded elf looked at the length of the corridor which was only illuminated by candle light. She walked slowly and carefully in order not to draw the night watchers' attention towards her. She passed one room after another stealthily.

Maven then turned to the corridor to the right and walked very carefully. She stopped in front of a big twin door carved with beautiful patterns, illustrating the harmony between Vadis and Enia, the patrons of all positive and neutral powers in Terra Everna.

Maven grabbed the door knocker with her gloved hands, pushing the door slowly, as silently as she could. The door opened inwards. She sneaked inside, closing the door by pushing it with her back.

Actually, she was now inside the main cathedral. Rows of long benches filled the hall side-by-side, all of them could seat up to a thousand audiences. Candle lights illuminate the altar across the room.

As she was approaching, Maven looked closer on the altar table. Holy Ankh, the symbol of Vadisian Religion was carved on the backdrop wall.

Maven's eyes then fixated on the thing propped up on the altar right in front of the ankh, shaped exactly like the ankh itself, made of gold and adorned with colorful gems. It was the Saint Ambrosius' Rosary.

The elven thief looked around to make sure nobody spotted her. And then she reached out for the rosary...

"Ha-ha! Every thief must be thinking that the holy rosary is an easy target."

Maven was startled. A man's voice suddenly came, so she immediately turned around, unsheathing her daggers.

"Good reaction, but it's too late!"

All of a sudden, a tri-pronged trident with the shape of a cross has already touched Maven's neck. Again, the elf dodged instantly and turned towards the attacker.

Surprisingly, the man ambushing Maven simply walked casually. He patted his shoulder with the pole of his trident, saying, "You're pretty slippery, young lady... how admirable. too bad you're obviously a thief, so I have to arrest you. I suggest you surrender, because I don't want to stain this sacred room with blood."

Maven didn't immediately react to this threat. Instead, she observed her counterpart carefully.

The man wore a white coat with yellow trimmings on the side like a common Vadisian priest. Yet, the way his blue eyes behind his glasses gaze nonchalantly as if he was sleepy, the way he twitched his lips whenever he smirked gave the impression of someone she clearly recognize.

Unintentionally, Maven called his name, "Declan...!? You're... Declan Pervius?"

Hearing his name being called, the handsome man was baffled. He stopped smirking. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

Maven replied by uncovering her black hood.

Declan's eyes squinted a bit, then widened. He pointed at the elf. "That ear... Good lord, you're... Maven?"

"Nice to see you again, Brother Declan."

Declan began scratching his long, blond hair that was neatly tied in ponytail. "By Vadis, I can't believe I see you again, Mave! You're so... beautiful! So different from the crybaby little elf I used to know. But... why do you become a thief, Mave? Why do you want to steal the rosary?"

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"It's a long story, Dec. And you too, why are you staying in the main cathedral this late? As if you are already waiting for my arrival tonight."

"Hmm, looks like we owe each other an explanation." Declan nodded. "But we can't talk here. How about there?" He pointed at a small cabin at the left corner of the hall.

"Sounds good," Maven answered before pointing her daggers. But if you do anything rash, I won't refrain from staining this sacred place with your blood."

Declan lifted his hands up. "Whoa, please put that thing away, missy. I promise I won't do anything to hurt you."

Maven nodded. The two quickly dashed into the confession cabin. Insiede that narrow cabin, a little light from the candles in the hall sipped in. Declan sat in the preacher's booth, while Maven in the confessor's.

For a while, Maven was silent. Then she took a breath and explained almost the entire story to Declan. Word after word were picked carefully, because Maven didn't want to either trouble her old friend too much, or the Viperwolves to hunt her down for leaking their secrets to an outsider.

The only thing Maven didn't tell Declan at all was her journey with Reyl and her unrequited love for him.

"So, this is what Father Nigel has really planned for, so that you will use the Saint Ambrosius' Rosary to avenge your parents," Declan concluded.

Maven nodded. "That's correct. I heard that the rosary possesses a very strong magical power that can force the holder to say the truth when asked. So, I need to 'borrow' this relic to extort confession from Calhoun and Theana."

"What, just like that?"

"Of course not. I also had to make sure both of them confess their sins towards my parents and all their victims before I shed their blood with my daggers," Maven declared firmly by licking the blade of her dagger.

Instead, Declan covered his mouth. "Man, I think things won't likely go as smoothly as you brag, Mave. They will never let you escape from their hideout alive."

"Yes, I realize that. That's why I've been memorizing every nook and cranny of the Viperwolves' hideout by heart. Besides, I have already volunteered to look for the rosary to redeem my failure at the first initiation. So, the only thing left for me to complete Father Nigel's plan is that rosary."

"Wrong. Not only the rosary. You need one more thing," Declan responded.

"Hmm? What's that?"

"You need inside help like, from me." Declan pointed with his thumb at himself.

"What? We haven't seen each other for years, yet after hearing my story you just instantly offering me your help?"

"Maybe it's you who've forgotten, Mave. Father Nigel has trained both of us and we were always together like brother and sister. Surely our friendship didn't erode after that temporary farewell, did it?"

Maven shook her head. Maybe her best friend was right, but still she was not convinced. So she asked, "Then, what's your own reason to help me?"

Declan scratched his head again. "Oh, all right. I have two reasons. The first is that the rosary on the altar is a replica, not the real one."

"Eh, really?"

"True. If you're an amateur thief, you'll probably be just content by seizing it and quickly sell it, and you'll get the same amount as the polished gold on iron. On the contrary, an accomplished thief would be able to tell the value of the gems too. The fake rosary can be sold for a fortune, but the original one is priceless."

Maven tried to hide her surprise. She didn't want to reveal what kind of thief she really was.

Declan continued talking, "In your case, that replica with no magical power will only ruin your entire plan."

"Thanks for telling me about that, Dec. But where did you learn all that?"

"Well, that is my second reason. Not long after my anointment as a cleric, Father Nigel disappeared. He only requested me to learn more about the rosary just before my anointment. So, when you finally return to look for it, I have to help you find the real one. That's why I've been watching after this place every night to wait for you. By helping you, I'm fulfilling my filial promise to Father Nigel."

The elf girl was stuneed by such dedication. So indeed Declan was a part of Father Nigel's plan. Her heart quietly stirred, admiring her teacher's very thorough, detailed plan that he constructed for year just for her sake.

Such was a true fatherly love.

"Are you done thinking?" Declan interrupted.

Maven nodded slowly.

"So, do you accept my offer?"

"Of course. Father Nigel has planned this for years, so it's our duty to see it to completion. Not only that, I also don't have any choice but to keep on. Because if I fail this second chance, then I will surely die."

Declan said, "Oh dear, you seem to be stuck in a grave situation. Very well then, we will do this. But, there's one more thing that you must know."

"What is that?"

"So here's the thing. This is a secret that has been passed down for generations. We already know that this Saint Ambrosius Monastery was previously a castle. The secret is, this castle was built over a thousand-years old catacomb complex. The real Saint Ambrosius' Rosary was hidden inside those catacombs, the last place anyone would think of."

"Great. So we'll just have to go there and grab it, right?"

"Yes. But there's another thing. Those catacombs have been said to be dwelled by undead, the living corpses of pagan barbarians who died with grudges..."

Maven just stared at Declan who kept talking, this time with a frown and a drooped jaw.