Ray looks at Justin with a look of disbelief, before turning his head towards the deacon, with a fake smile.

{The Deacon!? Are you serious right now Justin? Are you trying to get us killed, the last Deacon found me out. I have to be extremely careful when I am around them.}

“Oh hello there father, how are you doing this fine day?” Ray politely asked.

“Well I am doing fine thank you for asking, your cousin here told me what the two of you have been through, if the two ever need anything please don’t hesitate to let us know, we always are happy to help in any way we can.” The Deacon offered.

“I am sorry, but you are not normally dressed like a deacon should?” Ray was confused, the past deacon he met, always wore their church garments, never being seen in the public without them.

“Sam!” Justin said, he was worried that Ray just said something rude, but the deacon gave a short laugh.

“Oh it is quite alright, I understand, I get that question a lot actually, well I only wear my garments when I am giving a sermon, or attending a meeting, but right now, I like to wear my casual clothes, I think it helps bond better with the villagers, if they can see I act normal despite being a deacon.” Lucas explained, Ray could see he was wearing a gold necklace with the mark of Sez

Ray nodded his head, pretending to agree with what Lucas just told him, Ray took a quick look around the cemetery, the grave were mark with gray headstones, that had names, and dates engraved on them, Ray saw an elderly couple come into the cemetery, Lucas waved his hand at the couple before he return his attention towards Ray.

{Great more people I have to deal with.}

Ray looked at the black pillar that was standing near him. Looking at it over, the pillar seems to be made of stone coated in black, The stone pillar was almost the same height as the church. In front of the stone pillar was a plague, before Ray could read it, he was interrupted by Justin.

“So Sam, father Lucas was just telling me about the history of the village, how all these brave souls lost their lives protecting the village, it was because of them that the now commander of the knights Sir Miles was able to make that cowardly hybrid run away.” Justin praised.

Ray took another look at the gravestone, and counted fifthteen, he looked back at the deacon who seemed to be studying Ray, Justin broke the silence.

“Why did you guys decide to build a black pillar to symbolize the defeat of the hybrid, I have never seen one like it in my life.” Ray revealed.

“Oh well, they thought it would be a great reminder to everyone how they all banded together, and stood tall against that hybrid, from what they told me it took nearly everyone in the village to build this, ever since then, they hold the festival celebrating it near the monument, it is a treasure towards the villagers.” Lucas praised.

“It must have been a lot of work. Ray wanted to put his hand on the pillar, but felt it would be rude to do so in front of the deacon.

“So John, father Lucas it was a nice talk but we should really cut it short, we have to go back to the inn, I don’t want to be out too late you know.” Ray proclaimed.

“Very well I should get going on then, there is more work for me to do anyways, well it was nice meeting you two, like I said if the two of you ever need help please come to my office and asked, I made sure to tell the knight that are station here to always allow people to come to talk to me, well then you be well.”

Ray waited until the deacon had left before he confronted Justin, Justin kept himself busy reading the plague on the stone pillar. The deacon went to say something to the elderly couple before leaving, Ray could see in the corner of his eye that the couple were staring at them.

Ray sighed, and stood next to Justin, who was pretending to read the plague. “John.” Ray mumbled.

“What is it?” Justin muttered, Justin stood back up straight and looked at Ray, his face seemed tired already.

“Why are you here?” Ray questioned, Ray saw the couple slowly getting near them, Ray wanted to leave already, all this talking to strangers was starting to annoy him, he didn’t want to accidently lash out.

“I simply came to pay my respect, if I am going to have to get information from the deacon about Roberto, the both of us need to be on our guard, until we meet him, we can’t afford to be careless.”

“You want!-'' Ray instinct raises his voice, he covers his mouth, and looks at the couple who were now staring at him, with disappointment in their eyes, before Ray could say something Justin chipped in.

“I am deeply sorry about that, my cousin isn’t right in the head, since the accident, please don’t mind us.” Justin reassured them, he was bowing his head, while holding hands together, as if he was asking for forgiveness.

Ray followed Justin lead, Ray bowed his head, and apologized towards the couple, the couple just nodded their heads and went back to paying their respect towards the graves they were visiting, when they finally turned their backs on them, Ray looked at Justin.

“Look let us just go back towards the inn, we will talk more there.” Ray reasoned, he turned around and started walking towards the entrance of the cemetery.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“No.”

Ray faintly heard the word escape Justin lips, Ray looked at him with a confused look, Ray slowly went up to Justin. “You did more than enough for today, what are you trying to do? Push your luck?” Ray quietly stated, he could feel his anger rising.

“I still want to look around, look you can go back, but leave me alone, I'll decide on what I want to do, I’ll go back when I feel like it, and I don’t want you to accompany me, to make sure I am not doing anything wrong.” Justin spat, before Ray could say something else, Justin headed towards the direction of the couple and started a conversation.

Ray moved his hand in frustration, before giving up, he took another look at the stone pillar, and read the plaque that was engraved on it.

[For The Brave Knights Who Gave Their Lives.

This great pillar stands tall to remind us of the great tragedy that befell Temes, but the brave knights who never falter, and proudly gave their lives to protect us, Because of them Temes still stand strong like this pillar. May their souls rest in peace.]

{What a joke, if they ever find out what the church really does behind closed doors, I wonder how they will react, or what they would do with this joke of a pillar… Justin is really talking to that couple, I’m tired, screw it I am just going to bed.}

Ray tried to get the attention of Justin, but he was busy talking towards the couple. Ray left, he took one last look at the cemetery before leaving.

{A festival to celebrate the defeat of a hybrid, it seems you were right Vincent, can’t help but wonder how the people are going to celebrate when they defeat me?}

Ray headed back towards the inn, thankfully Mike wasn’t there to have a conversation with him, Ray went to his room, and laid on his bed, his tiredness getting the better of him, and instantly going to sleep.

June 24, 1410

Ray woke up, he stretched, and saw Justin was next to him, he was still sleeping. Ray quietly got up from his bed, and headed for the shower room, after taking a shower and cleaning Ray went back to the room, and saw Justin sitting on the bed.

“Welcome back, are you ready to talk about what happened yesterday?” Ray asked, expecting this to evolve into an argument.

“What is there to talk about, you know where I have been all day.” Justin spat, he got up from his bed and started stretching.

“You know what I am talking about, you go for a few hours, and are already friendly towards the knight. Did you know that the knight who was standing guard Fiona, was rude to me at first, but when I mentioned I was your cousin, she changed her attitude.” Ray added.

“What is the big deal, we can’t all be like you wanting to be left alone, looking at the stars, some of us want to live a life, not always being by ourselves.” Justin stood, as he raised his voice.

“...I.” Ray calmed himself before continuing. “ Well that is better than trying to pretend to be a friend of our sworn enemies.”

“Your enemies!” Justin spat back.

“...”

“...”

Ray looked at Justin who was now avoiding his gaze, Ray couldn’t believe the words that just came out of Justin's mouth. “We are hybrids, the knight no matter who they are, are our enemies, you need to understand that Justin.”

“I understand enough, I am sorry but we can’t all be killing machines like you, some of us truly regret becoming this.” Justin motioned his body using it as an example.

“We all have to do things we didn’t want too Justin, I know there is something in the future I will had too eventually face that I do not look forward to it,”

“Oh yeah like what?” Justin crossed his hand and avoided Ray's gaze.

Ray wanted to tell Justin more about him, but he held himself back, he wanted to do this mission with the both of them in the same mindset, if they keep going like this it will only cause trouble towards the mission.

“I can’t tell you, it is something really personal for me.” Ray confessed.

“Yeah, I bet.” Justin was unconvinced, Justin went back to his nightstand, and angrily grabbed some clothes, he headed to the shower room, slamming the door in the process.

Ray sat back down on his bed in defeat, trying to find the right way for Justin to see things his way.

{I wonder if the other two hybrids he works with, had the same trouble as I am, considering what I know, did the both of them do the most work during their last mission, I wonder can I even count on Justin to do his part?}

Ray got up and went towards the window, drawing the curtain, the sunlight piercing him right as he did, Ray covered his eyes, until he adjusted and looked at the town. The same village, he looked at the pathway and saw a knight doing his patrol.

{Man they sure are treated differently here, than at Alton. The villagers trust them, have faith in them compared to Alton, they sure have it lucky here, I wonder what Vincent is doing, and Viola. Hopefully she is doing ok.}

Ray sat back down when heard Justin getting done with his shower, he went over what he wanted to say, Justin open the door, and walk direcltly to his bed ignoring Ray gaze, he started putting on more clothes.

“...Justin.”

“What.”

Ray sighed, he decided to let it go for today, they still had time to talk, the last thing he wanted was the both of them hating each other more than they already have.

“Do you plan on going to the church again?”

“Yes, is there a problem with that?” Justin said, his voice seemed steady but ready to blow in any minute.

“No, if you think that is necessary for you to do, I won’t stop you, I am just going to ask that you please be careful.” Ray begged, hoping Justin would take it easy, he didn’t want him going out already stressed.

“...I’ll be fine, stop worrying about me, I am not an idiot, now I’ll be heading out, I don't know what time I am coming back, and please don’t go looking for me, if something were to happen to me you would know.” Justin looks at Ray while talking to him.

“Well that is all I can hope for, I plan on going back towards the library, also before you go, have you met a knight called Victor Zure?”

Justin looks at Ray with a confused look on his face.

“Ray… Are you talking about the co-captain of the knights?”