It was dark and warm.

Maria was curled up and breathing softly. She had woken up almost half an hour ago but couldn’t bring herself to climb out of bed. It was a far cry from sleeping in the stables. For once, she wasn’t sleeping on a pile of hay with nothing but a thin blanket against the cold night air. Now a Craftsman, she was permitted access to the bedrooms. The guild had soft, velvet sheets that wrapped tightly around Maria and weighed heavy on her, like a hug. It was… comfortable. She didn’t want to leave. If she could, she’d wrap herself up in them and wear them around town. Every guild had lodging for adventurers. Though small, with thin walls, there was just enough room for a bed and dresser. Maria was given a room on the third floor, which gave her a nice view of the streets below. The warm sun reflected off the glittering cobblestone streets and walkways, and the air echoed with clattering hooves and creaking wagons.

Distant church bells echoed. Maria sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stretching her arms high. A bell dinged in her ears, and a new notification appeared in her vision: a message from Chariot.

Chariot: Good morning! I shall be at the Church of the Lunar Goddess at the heart of Oxfell. Meet me when you are ready.

She pursed her lips. Guess it was time to get up.

She wore her pink tee shirt that read ‘Jane’ with a doe beside it. Though she came with ripped jeans and a gray sweatshirt, those weren’t very comfortable to sleep in. That being said, they were some of the only things she’d brought with her. They looked too out of place to wear in public, but made good sleepwear. Maria dressed in her guild robes, gathered her belongings, and headed out.

As she walked through the mess hall, someone tapped her on her shoulder. Irra stood behind her with her arms crossed.

“Oh, good morning,” Maria smiled, her gaze briefly darting to Irras chest before fixating back on her eyes.

“Morning. I heard you were promoted to Craftsmen,” She said in a monotone voice. Irra reached out and tapped the bronze badge pinned to Maria’s cloak. “Congratulations.”

“Oh, thanks! I’m catching up to you.”

“You still have a long way to go,” Irra said. “I also heard that you’ve been given a ‘special assignment’. Guildmaster Odalf even approved it last night after he spoke with Master Eardwulf.”

“Word travels fast, huh? It’s nothing really that big. We’re just looking for the man who hurt Master Eardwulf.”

“That sounds pretty important to me.”

“Well, it is important in a small way, I suppose, but it’s not a ‘special assignment’. They just want me to do it because I saw the man who did it.” That’s the story they went with. Irra couldn’t know about the map. Not yet at least. She wasn’t sure who could know, to be truthful. If people found out the map, it would only create more obstacles. Hopefully Tanalia wasn’t running her mouth about it.

Irra rolled her eyes. “Of course. Well, good luck with this special assignment. I have my own things to work on.”

“Important things?”

“You could say that.”

“Oh… good for you. Maybe when we’re both done we could talk about them sometime? Maybe alone… someplace quiet?”

Irra’s cheeks turned pink. “M-maybe sometime. Anyways, congratulations. I’ll see you around.” She hurried off.

Maria checked her out as she weaved back through the crowd in the mess hall, then left as well.

Outside, town guards–clad in rattling chainmail–marched in pairs, each with swords strapped to their hips. One of them gave Maria a friendly nod and a smile as she passed. “Morning,” he said politely.

“Morning,” Maria smiled back. With the Ringleader revealed as the mastermind of the shadow jesters, she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d continue. He had gotten what he wanted, so why persist? She hoped they wouldn’t. If they did though, she wanted to take advantage of it. Maybe find out where and how they were being summoned. It could be a clue to finding the Ringleader.

The streets by the church were wide enough for several carriages and wagons to ride side by side. It helped everything feel more open and left room for the city to plant tall hedges and shrubbery between lanes in the road. When she arrived in Oxfell, she found it rather difficult to navigate. At the center of town was the church, a structure so tall it could be seen no matter where you were. Every road branched out from it like a spider's web.

The church grounds were immaculately maintained, with lush gardens, and well-manicured bushes sculpted into the shapes of animals, mounted knights, and royal figures. It wasn’t the first time Maria had seen the church, but it was always a majestic sight. The long rectangular cathedral was an imposing grandeur of elegance. The façade was adorned with intricate stonework, with an array of arches, spires, and gargoyles. Above the solid oakwood doors was a stunning stained glass window with a rose that caught the light.

Two towers soared towards the heavens, each with its own array of details and architectural embellishments. At the very top of each tower, pointed spires pierced the sky. The roof of the cathedral was a complex work of geometry, with a mix of pitched and flat sections, all covered in ornate tiles of clay and stone.

Maria gazed at the pointed tympanum of a woman wrapped in strips of cloth just before entering. Seemed familiar. As Maria stepped into the church, it was something straight out of a fairy tale. The only places she could imagine seeing a church like this were places she couldn’t afford to visit.

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All the outside noise ceased as Maria stepped into the cathedral. The vast chamber before her was as quiet as a cemetery. She felt taking a single breath would disturb everyone inside. The sun shined through the stained glass windows that stretched along the clerestory, casting a rainbow of colors on the polished marble floors. Each of Maria's steps echoed through the aisles. The pews, arranged in neat rows, were mostly empty due to morning service being over. Those who remained sat with their heads bowed in prayer. The silence was broken only by the occasional creak of the wooden benches as someone shifted in their seat or stood to leave. The air was thick with the scent of burning candles and incense. Chariot stood at the pews with the priest, an older gentleman in flowing white robes and a pearl and gold miter. Chariot stood with her arms folded and a wide beaming smile. As the sound of Maria’s footsteps grew closer, she gave a small wave.

“Morning,” Maria said, immediately shriveling up and blushing as her voice echoed far louder than she had expected it to. “Sorry.”

“Do not feel the need to hush your voices,” the priest said. “Lest your words will never reach the goddess.”

“Sorry, I just don’t want to disturb anyone else,” Maria said, this time in a lower tone.

“Good morning,” Chariot smiled. “Sleep well, I take it?”

“Yeah, sorry I’m late.”

“You needn’t worry. A good, long rest was in order.”

“It is a shame you couldn’t attend the service,” the priest said.

“Sorry, I actually haven’t been to any of the services here before. I’m Maria.” She held her hand out.

The priest looked at it for a moment, before extending his arm and clasping Maria’s hand. His skin was wrinkled, and hugging his thin bones. “You may call me Father Varrond. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you. I have to say, this is a nice church. It’s so beautiful, I’ve never been in anything like it.”

“Thank you, my dear. It’s a church fit for the Lunar Goddess herself.”

“I’ve heard of the lunar goddess, but I don’t actually know that much about her. I’m not from around here. I actually sailed here from very, very far away.” Maria chuckled nervously. “All I know is the story about how the demon king–”

“Please, do not speak so loudly of such events,” the priest said quietly.

“Oh, sorry. I heard the story. That’s all I know though.”

“The lunar goddess has been revered for millennia by those who seek wisdom and guidance in the night. She is the embodiment of the feminine divine, a force of nature that governs the tides, the seasons, and the ebb and flow of life itself.” The priest leaned forward, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. “But more than that, she is the protector of the world. When the darkness threatens to overwhelm us, she is the light that guides us through. When our hearts are heavy, she is the gentle hand that lifts us. And when we are lost, she is the compass that guides us. Her children paint the night sky–”

“I think I get it,” Maria said, cutting the priest off. “Sorry, I'm just not that religious of a person.”

“Ah, I see. some aren't, and that's alright. There are benefits to worshiping one of the gods though.”

“One of?”

“The lunar goddess isn't the only god. There are others, but she, in my eyes, has helped me in ways no other could. She guided me through the most difficult times of my life.”

“She's done the same with me," Chariot said. "My mother believed in her, and she helped me see the lunar goddess’ light. Maybe one day I could show you.”

“Maybe... one day,” Maria said awkwardly. “For now, we need work.”

“That’s actually what I was going to discuss with you.” Chariot smiled. “Father Varrond has a proposition for us.”

“Oh?” Maria looked back at the priest.

“That I do. Are you familiar with the village of Eimdon?”

“I can’t say I am. I’m not too familiar with your region.”

“It’s another village not too far from here. I received a message that they’re in need of medicine. A fever swept the town, but nothing too serious. We have the medicine prepared, but our delivery boy is unfortunately sick.”

Maria snickered. “Isn’t that ironic?”

Varrond laughed. “Yes, yes it is. Gave him quite a laugh about it. It is unfortunate timing though. If only he had the same sickness as the village. But alas, we have no one to deliver the medicine. I was going to post up a contract in the Adventurer's Guild, but Chariot here said her party would be able to assist.”

Maria smiled a bit. Her first assignment! Granted it sort of fell onto her lap, but she wasn’t going to complain. A delivery mission didn’t seem that hard.

“Of course we can,” Maria said.

“Wonderful, thank you so much, my dear. Allow me to go grab the medicine for you. Once you deliver it, come back, and I can pay you for your work.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The priest gave a polite bow and left to grab the medicine.

Maria took a deep breath and smiled at Chariot. “He seems nice.”

“He is a kind man.”

“Do you live around here? He seemed to know you rather well.”

“No, I’m not from anywhere around here, actually. I’m staying at one of the inns while doing small work for people. I just attend the service every Sunday, and we have been able to become well acquainted with one another.”

“Didn’t take you for a religious person.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know, I just… didn’t.”

Chariot smirked. “A warrior must have faith in something. With the grace of the Lunar Goddess on my side, it fills me with strength, vigor, and the determination to do what's right.” She pulled out a crescent necklace from under her shirt.

“That's a nice way of seeing it.”

“It’s also good to have some relationship with the priests, after all. Churches are where adventurers come to reallocate their skill points.”

“Reallocate?”

“Sometimes you might pick a skill or spell to put your skill points into, or you might realize later you don’t like what you chose or find you didn’t get as much use out of it as you had thought you would. For a small fee you can choose to come to a church and rearrange your skill points.”

“Hm, good to know.”

“It’s a special ability many priests learn to help people. That way you don’t have to worry so much about picking skills and spells. You can always experiment and change things later should you desire.”

“Oh, speaking of changing, before we head out I need new gear.”

Chariot looked Maria over again. “I agree. The gear the guilds hand out to new adventurers is weak at best. They have just enough protection to ensure the apprentice is alright during training.”

“Right. I’m not going to last that long out there with just these rags.”

Varrond returned with a small crate. Vials filled with a slightly tinted green color seemed to almost glow from the inside. Maria grabbed the box, and it appeared in her inventory. “There you are. Deliver these to the church in Eimdon, and they’ll pass out the medicine from there.” He then handed Maria a split of parchment. “Take this as well. Have them sign it to confirm they received the delivery.”

“Alright, we will!” Maria said.

“I wish you, ladies, the best of luck,” Varrond said.

“Thank you. We’ll deliver the medicine, don’t you worry! It shouldn’t be too hard.”