They passed through Saradas city, heading further north. A chill in the air this morning, all around the leaves had changed from green to bright reds, orange and yellow. The autumn here was longer than back home, by almost a month. Back home again, to curl up in my chair that wraps around in its softness. Mother comes to visit and we chat all day. Parcival and Han would they come to visit... not if this God breaks free and burns down the world. Even with the warm sun brightening all, Merryn shivered.

She stepped into a tiny rundown armor shop and bought a new runed leather armor set with a hooded cape, the oval runes criss crossed in a faint dull metallic across the back side, they were usually of some kind of protection magic, occasionally offensive but these were of a different sort than elsewhere. I need a scroll of common words, shopping blindly is a risk, there should be a shop somewhere. She tugged and pulled on the ties adjusting them. Where's that map again? In a moment she had it out from the hip pouch.

Luna-jer was so far North from where dad lived, even farther away from mother. The trees gave way to a broad grassy plain. Soon the city showed. A broad, stone wall, crossed the main road, and before it a huge wooden pillar gate, the top curved and crossed the supports.

Dotted with many small buildings with high tile-covered roofs. Farther off one with several balconies towered above the others, its levels, curved to a point like it would fly away, the golden sides glinted and winked. Maybe five stories high? By the main gates, a wooden cage-like barrier blocked the entrance, in front two guards stood in layered red and black armor. One guard was shorter.

Parcival stopped. "Let me talk to the guards, stay here."

The guards moved in front of the entrance, their beautiful overlapping layered armor seemed to be made of leather, metal, and an unknown shiny fabric woven between both.

Some sticker seeds were stuck to her sleeve, and she pulled them out. Fall was coming, and the prickly seeds were everywhere.

Parcival argued with the guards, pointing inside along with shaking his fist. "—enough is enough, it's up to the elders to decide, move!"

They scowled and muttered, "Yes, sir." Shifting their feet a bit they flicked a quick look at her.

She eased over a little closer, and Han followed.

One came forward a little huh, her eyes were oval like Parcival's and had a slightly warmer olive skin tone.

"They still need to leave their weapons. Sir!" Her hand reached out.

Parcival nodded, then came over. "Don't worry, they'll give them back."

She wrinkled her nose. "How am I—"

He cut her off. "The law is absolute, you'll get them back."

She gave it to her who then turned and placed it in a chest behind her, before standing in place again.

"Come on." He waved.

The male guards' expressions waxed between heated and pinched. "Look at the legs on that long ear. Bah, looks more like a troll with those ears!" The other shifted her feet and looked away.

Unnamed didn't wake but a trickle of his aura came to the surface. Facing him, she raised her head and let loose a low, slow gravelly growl.

He flinched.

Just—what the hell was that? Pulling the hood past her face, she tucked her ears in. Sweat trickled and itched its way down dripping off her chin. It shouldn't be this hot today even with the hood up. Good, I hope they cook a bit.

A muscle in Parcival's eyebrow twitched. "Know your place, how dare you dishonor my guest! Do you want to be demoted? Or should I behead you instead?" Parcival frowned while fiddling with the pinned cloud and drum metal emblem.

The male guard dropped to his hands and knees with his head touching the ground. "I'm very sorry!" He repeated this with each bow.

Parcival laid a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. "Things are different here for you. Please, for now, follow me quietly. I'll explain later." His eyes pleaded with her.

Uncanny——haven't even moved over yet. She jerked away, pressed a fist to her mouth, and sighed. "I will swallow this outrage for now."

She squared her shoulders, and stormed past.

"I have friends here, we'll be safe. Now to find Hesdo."

The people coming and going often wore a simple long T-shaped robe of some sort with a wrap around the waist and simple straw sandals. She whispered, "are those ropes or a dress?"

Without stopping, he muttered, "That's a kimono, no more questions, hurry." He stiffed and stood tall while leading them throughout the noisy city, and made a point to stay away from the main streets. Something was up, he never acted like this.

She whispered to herself, "ko-mow-toe?"

He wouldn't even slow down enough to give time to buy anything, much less grab a bite. Han's swished his tail harder as they passed by several more food booths, stalls, and stands. Should say something am going to get dizzy soon. A faint scent of mouth watering deep-fried food floated past, bringing awake a long ignored hollow stomach. She placed her hand on her stomach. All we do is run, or fight would be nice if this place had something quick to eat.

Han went to the wheeled stall a held out an opal quarter. the vender's eyes lit up flashing white then back to norm. Foosh—his hands flew around the cooking flat top, tossed ingredients onto it mixed, seasoned and prepared it before Han could even take a step closer. Shaking his head the vender instead grabbed a bowl and gently ladled a simmering dish into it. A young child cooed at the show, her father in tow other folk soon crowded near. A nondescript woman squealed then backed away, Han scuttled free of the crowd cradling a bowl of the chunky soup like dish. Are those eggs? She leaned over.

"You, can go buy your own." Han settled down on the grass and pinched each treat between his long claws.

The scent was insane, it richness filled her mouth without even a bite. Goddess! So rude, but he's right maybe there's some left...

Parcival scowled. "Excuse me, we're in a hurry here this isn't the time for this."

Her right eyelid drooped, another headache pushed from behind and filled her temple. "If I don't eat something soon, I'm going to turn around and leave. Both of you can go on your way." Enough of this, if I can't even eat, I'm going to hurt someone real soon. "Would you like this returned?" She held out her fist out, upturned.

A brow shot up, and he blinked. "This is?"

"It's your nose, it was in my business." She marched over to the stall broke off a quarter of opal, pointed at the stemming soup— insanity making goodie while a soft smile unfolded on her mouth. She sat by Han and bit into a golden rectangle on smooth stick. A flavor nova! Between mouthfuls, "I thank you for helping me and leading the way. But. If I don't eat now, I'm going to start punching. People. Things. I don't care."

Han shoved one of the golden and smooth rectangles on his mouth, puffing his cheeks out. "Food." He swallowed. "Five mins, or I set a curse on all of you." He wiped his mouth. "I don't just heal."

Parcival leaned against a small tree with his hand on his forehead.

After eating they worked their way through the city, weaving behind merchant stalls and people's huts. A couple of small plain enclosed carriages pulled by two men who carried it on their shoulders, each had a man inside. So many colorful fabrics and glittery objects pulled her eye and begged to be touched. She almost bumped into a woman before catching back up to him.

A tiny building loomed with a hanging sign it read: Jeweler: Rare Magatama & Netsuke

A stocky middle-aged man came from the inside kind but shy, he bowed. "Please come in."

A small purring white cat came out of the shop and wound itself around her legs, meowing. She petted it then picked it up, its ears flattened back and it bit her hand then jumped away yowling.

"I'm terribly sorry, its always been temperamental with strangers you never know what way it's going to act with people." He bowed then shuffled back inside.

Parcival nodded slightly. "Not today."

They passed by several nimble children playing a game with a metal ball. Next to an overgrown plot open between the lavish temple, a statue of Olenus overshadowed the drab guard's housing next to it. As pleasing as it was to see Olen here it didn't much make up for the lack of well-tended temples, if this could be called one dirt caked the windows, and vines were wrapped around the walls up to the rooftops, the roof badly needed repair. The only thing that stood out was the little courtyard behind it that was well-kept and in the middle stood a marble statue of the Goddess.

Parcival stopped. "Beekaa lives there, though people don't donate as much as they did before, it's a shame really."

Four children brushed past as they ran off to the plot, and they split into two groups. A little boy wearing a loincloth pushed a floating red orb to the middle of the plot.

"What are they playing?"

"Orb ringer, they are practicing for next year's championship."

Then the children on the opposite side came running at the ball trying to catch it as it floated just out of reach.

"You can watch it later, keep going."

He continued further into the city past its middle, and he arrived at a smaller, but no less important temple, or assuming it was as it was far larger and more detailed than the other ones in the city. This one was better, it was quieter here. Its wooden pillars gently curved heavenwards completing an arch and carvings of the moon, son, and waves etched into the silken finish. Quite majestic. A sudden image of hope flooded her mind the giant trees of fine, the light dancing between the branches. Now isn't the time for that. Where was this priest?

"Do you know of any priestesses who are free today?" He waved at a priest who was bandaging an older woman's arm.

"Let me look in the registry for any, just a moment." He finished wrapping the arm and patted the woman's hand.

"Thank you, sir." She bowed and left.

The priest went into a small room to the right, his white robes swishing around his feet. Not much later he returned.

"Yes, go find Opial, she is about four houses south of here." He stood and went back inside the temple.

It took a bit of dodging and time to get through the throes of people to find it. The fourth house was a nondescript stone house, wedged between the larger ones. It had an awl thin yard, and the area gave off warm energy. A freckled young woman sat in a wicker chair beside the house with her head tilted back. She wore a practical brown robe.

She cracked an eye open. "Go away, I'm busy."

A little rude.

"I was told that Opial lived here," said Parcival.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Must have been working hard.

"Speaking."

"That was easy." His expression became taut and tried too hard to stay straight.

She held back a chuckle.

"How good are you with..."

"It's all right." She beckoned to Opial. "Are you able to remove infections or curses?" This is stupid, it's not going to work.

Opial closed the distance. "Show me."

"It's not that kind—I don't think," she said. Don't know if trusting her is the best idea. Merryn took a moment before stepping closer.

Opial looked her up and down then shook her head. "All I sense is a strange suppression of energy and—" She stopped, eyes growing wide, her body stiffed some and she circled around Merryn poking and touching her.

"Stop it already."

"Something that shouldn't be!" She ran her hands over Merryn's arms and then her back, her hands warmed almost hot. Opial muttered something, soft and gentle. She reached from behind and a hand over the pendant.

Merryn grabbed her hand. She shook her head. "Don't touch that, human." Her voice took on a dark edge.

Opial shrugged and pulled her hand free then came fully around and faced her again. "I'm amazed."

"How so?" Parcival said.

Opial paused, opened her mouth closed it, and opened it again. "I'm amazed, that she's still alive with the amount of life energy being taken right now. She leaned forward. "I can see the energy 'streaks' you call them being pulled away and then replaced rapidly."

"What kind of a parasite could do this?" He looked at her and back at Opial.

"This is no parasite, you need an exorcism immediately!" She revolved then ran into the house and came back out holding a piece of paper in one hand while holding the other out.

"Of course, thank you." Merryn fumbled with the pouch and gave her two coins.

Opial smiled. "Lead them to Beekaa." The paper glowed, then folded itself into the shape of a bird and slowly went West.

"Better follow it. Beekaa tends to take a stroll during this time of day." She went back to the wicker chair, sat back down, and hummed.

The bird was almost out of view turning down in between the houses, flying slow, following it as it swerved between people, trees and buildings until it stopped at a charming street stall, the sweet aroma hit from the small golden disk-shaped cakes? Whatever it was it was hard not to drool.

Parcival turned his head back and forth. "I'm not seeing anyone."

The bird flew around in a circle and then went through the temple's gate over to a stump behind the stall, a man sat eating.

Before she could go through the gate Parcival placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Both of you step over the threshold when at a temple, Merryn's right foot first and Han left foot." He was completely serious. So it must be a ritual or something, like not cutting off a branch from any tree touching the Goddess priestess building that touched it back home.

Going up next to him, she almost lost her balance when bowing but straightened again. She peeked. Nobody seemed to notice, good.

He turned up to look at them, a face weathered by sun and age and a plain outfit of a simple shirt and jerkins, not the usual clothing, at least that's how it was back home they wore flowing wrapped robes. "Yes?" When he wiped the filling off his lips, a short tuft of whiskers on his chin moved as he spoke. The facial hair on the men here was so ornate compared to the scraggly style worn lately by this generation of humans.

Parcival placed his hands near his forehead as he bowed slightly, everyone else copied him.

"Are you Beekaa?" Hope so, this man seemed alright.

His eyes narrowed. "Oh, so they sent more, did they?" He tossed a sweet-scented disk cake, and it bounced off her forehead.

The people here, arrg, do I look like a target dummy? "Such rudeness, and disrespect!"

"Are you a bit touched?" Seconds before lunging at the monk Parcival grabbed her wrist. "Don't."

The eccentric man jumped up, spun, and kicked Parcival in the face!

"Ughh... I didn't say anything..." Parcival held his face, staggered, and fell on his side.

"Take this!" Focused on him, she grabbed a disk cake and chucked it at his head. Bop! Bulls-Eye!

Han started a purring snort, his tail twitching with jerk-like movements.

"Don't just stand about laughing!" She grabbed another disk cake and tossed it at him, and he jumped out of the way.

"Ha," said Han.

Beekaa grabbed handfuls of the sweet-smelling disks.

Bop-splat! This one landed on her eye sweet stuff smearing down a cheek. She stuck out her tongue licking it. Custard? Hit him? Run?

He jumped forward and back again, whacking the top of everyone's head.

"Ow!" She tried catching his robes, but he was too fast.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he danced around in a circle. "You never collect this fee!"

The dancing stopped, and his face became serious again. Then gone.

Vanished. She blinked. He… vanished?

"Wait! Come back!" She eased into the stool and stared at where Beekaa had been. What just happened?

Parcival sniffed and beat a cloud of dust from his clothing. "I don't remember him being quite so... spirited."

Merryn's stomach growled, complete with an echo. Heat spread from her face to her neck. She flicked off the custard, and picked up one of the disks that hadn't fallen on the ground yet, then bit into it. "Really nice." Inside she was dancing for joy, oh my god it's so soft and sweet. It's harder lately to push the emotions back, I need to work on it again and soon.I can't lose control of my powers. It won't happen again.

Parcival went off ahead a few feet and poked his head inside a small separate archway.

She found another one that had landed on a clean patch of grass and held it out to Han without looking. The weight of the treat disappeared in a second. She smiled a little.

Parcival frowned and scrunched up his nose. "You shouldn't eat things off the ground, I've heard tiny demons will jump into the food and make you sick."

"Must you lecture?" She turned away. Another father I don't need. So annoying.

Han stood, his lips twitching. "I haven't had a beer in a month. Am sick and tired of always being on the run. Pastry warrior can wait."

Her mind went blank. She cupped her head in her hands and muttered, occasionally taking another bite. Such fluffiness just focuses on this. It was better than trying to absorb everything.

A tattered slash landed in the yard, the wind took it spinning into the air, pushed over to a hanging lantern one last puff pushed it inside burning it to ash.