I walk with the thief to a well dressed merchant boy. Most of the conversation goes over my head as taxes and tariffs are not common knowledge to me. The thief sounds like he is doing better, having been changed into a simple green shirt and brown pants. My thoughts led back to how he looked when tied up when I drew a blank. I realize that I don’t actually remember much about how he looked earlier, but decided to ignore the thought as unimportant.

Realizing I am staring at his face, Logan looks back at me. “I hope you are having only chivalrous thoughts while looking at me so strongly. I hope you aren’t trying to imply anything.”

“You have a very… nondescript face. I apologize. I don’t know how to put this into words, but have you ever dressed as a woman before? It might be necessary.”

Logan looked at me as if I told him to impale himself on a sword. “What? Why!”

“The people in the shrine room spoke as if I was joining with you and the prince. That leaves the saintess and one other person. If the saintess is the only girl, that leaves many times for others to try to assassinate her. I would prefer someone to guard her while she bathed and slept for the night.”

Logan looked down at my comment. The merchant took this time to see themself off silently. “ I see, that makes sense.” He glances up at the empty spot where his former conversation partner stood. “Let’s meet the saintess quickly and give her a heads up on the current team dynamic. Also, I need to thank her.”

He stuck a thumb out in the direction of her and her entourage of priestly guards, armed with cloth clothing and hands that never saw a day of combat.

A chuckle escapes my lips. “Sure, just look out for when the priests get scared and cry for help.”

We weave through the crown to the other side of the room. Three of the priests look at us approaching and get in front of the saintess. Before we even get close I can see them shaking.

“Stop. Don’t get any closer. I’m warning you! The saintess is not to be approached.”

Logan turns to me with a sarcastic grin. “Funny, how do you think they plan on having her protected by her team when she cannot be approached.”

The priest opens his mouth again when the saintess speaks up. “I am fully willing to talk to them.”

“NO! You cannot let yourself get closer to them. You’ll become impure.”

I was wondering what they meant by impure, and the look of confusion on the saintess’s face made it clear she thought the same thing.

“I will talk to them from where I am standing then.” She gives a very bright smile to us, her white hair framing her face perfectly. “I am Alice Presley. I am the saintess of the party they are forming. I thank you, Louis, for preventing me from needing to see, you’re going by Logan I believe, a needless execution. I must say, it is quite vexing that I do not get to decide who is a part of my party.”

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I hesitated to speak, as I did not know what party she was talking about.

“I thank you in turn for saving my life. You may gain insight into the team’s members from Louis, as he eavesdropped on a conversation.”

I turn to him, reaching out to try to clamp his mouth shut. Unfortunately, he dodged out of the way with practiced ease.

“My lady, I did not eavesdrop on anyone. They held the conversation in front of me at the shrine. The group seems to be me, the thief, the prince, an undecided water based person, and you, my lady.”

The saintess put her hands on her hip. “The four major elements make sense. In that case, we are likely getting the monk, sailor, or prisoner. The other one that the royal executioners guild brought. I’m fairly amazed that they formed a guild around that, I wonder what sort of benefits it gives.”

“As a member of the thieves guild, I can tell you that having an official guild for something helps make a path dedicated to those actions. The executioners likely can kill even the hardest of people with ease as long as the right conditions are met. I doubt they would tell any of us what those conditions are. I do have to wonder about that thief they brought.”

I feel confused at her mentioning the four elements, as I didn’t think I gave any indication that was what they based it off of. Worse still was her knowing the potential paths for those gathered here.

“If it would not be rude to ask, what is your title as a saintess, my lady? The previous was known as the saintess of foresight. What is your title?”

One of the priests covers her mouth instantly. He glares at us but says nothing.

Logan mumbles to himself “And I thought I would be the suspicious one”.

“Attention!” Prince Michael walks out of the shrine room with every other representative. “We have reached a conclusion on the members of the party. The primary members will be: the pure martyr Alice Presley of the church; the prodigal flame mage Frederick Heddwyn Brent Fraland of the royal family, the earthen spellsword Louis Baux of the knight's order, the one of fluid movements Faith of the northern temple, and the child loved by the winds Logan of the thieves guild. Please make your way to the prince to accept your honorable task.”

The three of us made our way past the others to where the other two just arrived. The prince’s blond hair and purple clothes contrasted greatly with Faith. She was short, wore a very pale blue robe, and had dark brown hair wrapped in a bun behind her. The prince was partway through introducing himself before waiting for the rest of us to arrive.

“Will be leading this team to victory with my practiced skills and leadership abilities. We won’t need to vote, I am the best candidate.”

Faith looked at him with the eyes one would give a snake. “Let’s stick with tradition. I wasn’t raised to break traditions that have a purpose.”

“Let’s vote then. I nominate myself. ”The prince wore the smug smile I have come to expect on him now.” He paused for a half second. While the saintess raised her hand he suddenly exclaimed “No other nominations so I am the leader”.

“I nominate the saintess actually.” I turned to the prince with a frown.

“You should have spoken sooner, I am the leader because we cannot afford a leader that would hesitate for even a second.”

The thief spoke up. “I second the nomination for the saintess, as I owe her my life”.

“I nominate the saintess as well, as being hasty would lead to us dying while the mages have time to run away. That makes three of us.”

The prince turned a vibrant shade of red as flames licked his hands. “I refuse to accept this! It is my birthright to be a leader!”

The saintess finally spoke up. “Oh, we are off to a great start.” Her sarcasm only made the prince scream.