"Lawrence, can we opt to not stay in this town at all and sleep outside? I'd like to take my chances with wolves and the lot instead of this weird place," Craig whispered as they moved through the town, pretending to browse the wares on sale.

"Don't you even find it unusual that the marketplace is still open at this time? Shops I understand but... It's like everyone is trying to sell everything," Lawrence replied, looking around at the many mats laid on the ground, with many smiling peddlers selling things from clothes to pots and pans.

The town, even near the evening, was bustling with activity. Lawrence and Craig have both resolutely refused to enter any of the establishments, from the overly friendly store owners to the bald men and women giving the pamphlets and trying to persuade the duo to visit the Church the next day. The church was called the Church of Joy. Instead of a regular cross, it had the symbol of the eye at the top.

"No word from your niece?" Lawrence asked and Craig shook his head.

"Well, she must be somewhere around here. Listen, Craig, let's do this. We'll go to the guild and ask about them. Then, we'll get lodgings. We won't order anything to eat, we'll just eat the rations I bought," Lawrence said and Craig nodded, agreeing with the plan. It is a start.

Pushing open the door to the inn, Lawrence found that the tables that would often be occupied with adventurers were completely empty. Yet, at the counter, was a lady with emerald green eyes, fair complexion and her hair in a neat bun. She would have been gorgeous, if not for the eye symbol's tattoo on her head, as if carved by a dagger.

"One bloody nutjob after another..." Craig cursed softly as Lawrence put on his best smile.

"Excuse me, I'm here as an adventurer on personal business," Lawrence said, heading over to the counter.

The girl smiled, almost like a doll and bowed, "Welcome to the Joyful Guild! I am Neriya, the Guild's manager,"

"Would you be interested in easier quests? Or will you--"

"I'm here looking for two adventurers. Kunivia and Kessler Tumbleton," Craig said, interrupting Neriya. Neriya smiled even more so brightly as if the interruption never happened and Craig has heaped praise upon praise on her.

"Ah, the Tumbleton siblings! Thank you for making your inquiry at the Joyful Guild! I am Neriya, the Guild's manager. They are currently serving Father Laughlin in the Church of Joy!" Neriya smiled and Lawrence's jaws almost fell open if not for the fact that he had been bracing himself for some form of absurdity.

"What!?" Craig shouted, slamming his hand on the desk of the counter.

"Dear adventurer, I am Neriya, the Guild's manager. I ask that you refrain from shouting so that you will not disturb the rest of other weary adventurers," Neriya smiled, bowing. What adventurers? And did she just repeat the same thing thrice?

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Craig, let's go," Lawrence grabbed Craig's shoulder and as they stepped out the door, Lawrence noticed the expression of Neriya fading as she continued staring into space, unmoving. However, she was by no means, charmed with magical means. It would have been something that Lawrence could detect.

"Craig, I know what you're thinking but you cannot contact her anymore," Lawrence said, stopping Craig from taking out the Sending Stone.

"If they have been captured by Laughlin, who happens to be the same last name of the Butcher, then... We cannot let them know anymore," Lawrence whispered and Craig, fighting back tears of anger and confusion, swallowed his saliva and wiped his eyes, tossing the stone back into his bag.

"Let's go to an inn. Then we'll go to Church tomorrow," Lawrence said, leading the way into the Golden Eye Inn, a two storey high establishment, a combination of wood and stone holds up the building. Upon entering, the area where there should be people drinking is completely void of any merrymaking. Instead, there sits only a single woman, a lantern on the table, a frown on her face. Seated in the chair beside her was a little girl, with a long sleeved dress.

"Oh, welcome. You all should leave as early as you can!" the woman said, eyeing them while the girl stood up quickly, moving to clean one of the tables.

"Thank God, one normal person at last..." Craig mumbled, sitting down.

As the girl scampered away, Lawrence could see that the long sleeves covered signs of injuries. The woman on the other hand, had her arms covered almost completely in blisters. They did not appear to be self-inflicted.

"Why are you here? Lost a kin? That's how a lot of people started," the woman said, standing up, walking over to the bar and pouring out two mugs of ale and placing it on their table.

"Wait, why are you two normal?" Lawrence asked, and the woman laughed.

"Well, because everyone goes here goes to that damn church to pray, that's why! My name is Tiefna, and this is my daughter, Laura," Tiefna said, pointing to the little girl who fidgeted nervously and kept staring at the door, as if expecting something.

"The wounds?" Lawrence asked, holding a hand over Craig's ale as he scanned for poison.

"They tried to get us to join the Order. We refused."

"Then how are you still running this establishment?" Lawrence asked, narrowing his eyes and Tiefna sighed.

"Well, they call it the Foreign Debt. Once a week, we have to accept a flaggerant's whip and once a month, the Church people come to collect a fee for not being part of the Church. We'll fold soon enough. We can't keep it up. They'd prefer if we left town by ourselves or join up... Or maybe just kill ourselves," Tiefna said and Lawrence breathed in deeply.

So... Going to the Church screws your brain.

"Is it instantly? You know, going to the church thing," Craig asked anxiously but Tiefna shook her head.

"It depends on you. But if you buy into their nonsese of mutual prosperity, growth and whatnot bullcrap, go ahead and just get that eye tattoo somewhere on your body," Tiefna snorted.

"Have you seen two adventurers?" Lawrence asked and Tiefna raised her hand.

"No more answers, folks. New folks always mean trouble. Look at what my daughter got for those two," Tiefna said, rolling up her daughter's sleeves. Carved into the whip marks, were the words I shall not lie to the Father.

"Please, I am their uncle!" Craig cried out, standing up, his voice pleading and begging.

At this point, the church bells rang.

"Everyone is going to Church now, except us," Tiefna said, moving to extinguish all the lights in the inn.

"At this time, everyone is... Unhinged," Tiefna whispered. As Lawrence peeked from the window, he saw hordes of townsfolks moving mindlessly towards where the church is, their arms in the air, as if chanting something.

The Advocates we are,

To join our Eternal Lord we shall,

In the otherwordly plane where there is only joy,

Join us, the Order of Joy!