Umbren hid in some alley he had slipped into. After he had arrived there, he realized just how fast his heart was beating. That really was a close one. A second later and it would have all been over.

He looked at the talisman in his hands. What was a talisman of Tenebrage doing in a place like this? He had never expected to find it in the village, much less the room he was hiding in. Though maybe Jarvus and Alyze secretly worshiped that god. It certainly would explain why they had helped him.

Now wasn't the time to be worrying about that. He was out in the open, vulnerable. If any luxcians took a second look at him they would see him for what he was. If they didn't notice his eyes, or dark hair, they would definitely notice his pale skin.

Umbren thought frantically about what he should do. The cloak he wore was twice his size, and he had nearly fallen off the roof of the house because of it. There was also the rain.

It had started to pour shortly after he found himself in the alley. It couldn't have happened at a worse time.

So there he was sitting in an alleyway soaked, cursing his misfortune that seemed to plague him.

"Hello brother."

It was a chorus of voices. It almost scared Umbren because he thought they were talking to him, but he looked down the alleyway entrance to the source.

What he saw confused him. It was a group of robed individuals clothed in an assortment of different colors. Their cloaks covered everything From head to toe, even their faces. They appeared to be talking to a guard.

The guard himself wore silver armor and a cap. Across his chest was a golden emblem of a hand holding out the sun.

"Hello, holy ones. May I be of some assistance."

A feminine voice rose from the crowd, Umbren thought it may be the one leading them, but he wasn't sure, "We just seek shelter from this deluge brother."

"There's an inn down the road not far from here. I am also not wrong to presume that you didn't walk here on foot. I can point you to an inn if you like"

The leader of the robed group, waved her hand, "No, one of our sisters went to seek them out, and I have no doubt in my mind that she has found them by now."

The guard nodded, "Do you perhaps need me to escort you."

The robed woman shook her head, "There is no need." She paused and held two fingers up to the guard's forehead, "May repent for your sins, and walk in the lord's light without guilt."

The guard responded in a way that seemed as if he had said it many times before, "May you one day be able to cast off those garments that conceal your flesh."

"As long as we are sinners we are not worthy to be in the lord's presence."

With that the group strode by the guard, many nodding to him as they went.

The guard called out to them once more as they walked away, "I hope Galaris is to your liking."

The woman called back, "I hope so brother...I hope so."

The guard smiled, but out of the corner of his eye he saw something in the alley, "Hey you, what are you doing there."

Umbren spoke up, "Just resting."

The guard raised his eyebrow, "In an alleyway. In the rain at that."

He walked closer to Umbren, "You don't look familiar to me..."

Umbren looked up at him.

During the guards conversation with the robed figures, inspiration struck Umbren. A way to get out of his current situation. All he had to do was dress up like one of those people. Whatever they were. Umbren had presumed they were some type of priests.

The only problem he had was covering up his face. He quickly solved that by cutting off the excess cloth that went past his legs and wrapped it around his face.

When the guard called out to him, his heart felt like it was going to pop out of his chest.

The guard stopped in his tracks, "I'm sorry for my disrespect, brother."

Umbren put his hand up, "It is no problem at all."

He leaned forward to inspect Umbren more closely. Umbren thought that the guard was starting to see through his disguise. He could almost imagine the guard's spear going through his chest.

"I'm sorry brother, but are you with the other Isiks that I spoke to earlier? I don't see an insignia on you..."

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm alone."

Umbren felt like every single one of his words held weight, and any one of them could make the guard see through his disguise.

The guard scratched his head, "But for you to arrive without us knowing...do you perhaps have a mount?."

"No, I arrived on foot."

Umbren found it hard to talk through the fabric covering his face. He couldn’t imagine how those priests dealt with the inconvenience. He only hoped that the guard didn’t notice his struggle.

"Well in that case is there anything that I can do for you?"

Umbren felt the talisman in his right hand and a question popped into his mind.

"Can you tell me about the blacksmith of his town."

The guard put a finger to his face, "He's a nice honorable man, with a daughter who... well..,"

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"Well?"

The guard appeared to become uncomfortable, "There were certain things that I've heard that she's done that...well anyway now she's a model citizen. Nothing but nice things everyone has to say about her now. Though there are some that still...especially with that history...that..."

Umbren leaned in.

The guard paused and shook his head, "I'm sorry holy one but it's just not my place to say. Besides, there are those who will ruin me if I do."

Umbren sat back and nodded his head, "So be it."

He stood up brushing himself off and went to exit the alley, but mid-way he felt obliged to say something. What had those other robed people said? Something about sin…

"Repent for your sin brother."

Umbren felt satisfied with that, and walked out of the alley without listening to what the man had to say.

Umbren's interest in his hosts was peeking. Not only because of the mysterious talisman, but also his desire to find why they were helping him. He knew why Jarvus was helping him, all he wanted was to look at his weapons, but Alyze…

Why was she helping him? He didn't feel like he was in danger from her or Jarvus anymore, but he still felt it odd that she was helping him. He recalled the fire in her eyes whenever he mentioned something unknown to her, but that alone wouldn't inspire her to take a stranger in, Especially before he told her anything.

Based on what he heard from the guard, there was something he didn't know. Some history that might unlock the reason why she was helping him.

Umbren clenched the talisman, not only did it peak his interest, but it also comforted him, as a reminder of home.

All he had to do was find someone who would be willing to tell him. The guard had said something about someone ruining him, so that might be the case with all guards. Though the fact in itself that someone wanted the history to be kept secret that bad, was interesting enough.

Maybe if he went to the market square that Alyze had spoken about he could find someone. There had to be some kind of village gossip. The only problem was he didn't know how to get there.

Umbren looked down, and immediately became irritated. The green cloth around his face obscured his vision and made it so everything looked green, but he wouldn't dare take it off.

Umbren smiled to himself. His irritation had led him to realize just how useful the disguise was. People seemed to respect the so-called "Isiks," so no one would hesitate to answer his question. That applied to directions and everything else.

The rain seemed to have stopped, with the sun now shining on Umbren. However, the sudden downpour had left him wet and muddy. Something that was particularly uncomfortable in his current outfit.

As he started down the road, he noticed just how long his sleeves were. They went all the way down to his knees. Not only did this look awkward when he was walking, but he also feared that he would accidently show his pale hands. That might have been a normal thing for the cloaked individuals, since he couldn't think of a way that they could get any sunlight with their skin covered like that.

Umbren put his hands together as he walked. This way he could keep his hands obscured, but also keep his cloak together, so that his black clothing couldn't be seen. It would also serve as a good way to cover up his sword and knives, he suspected that a holy man wouldn't be carrying such things.The only thing he didn’t need to worry about hiding was the kukri connected to the back of his waist

Umbren walked down the road until he found a woman trimming back some rose bushes, "Excuse me sister, but I have just arrived, and am not familiar with the town yet. Can you tell me where the square is."

The woman laughed, "Luckily for you brother, Lucel is easy to get used to. As long as you keep on this road you'll reach it."

Umbren bowed, "Thank you sister."

Umbren kept on walking, but abruptly stopped, "Sister may I ask you another question."

The woman kept on trimming her bushes, "Sure it's not like I'm doing anything."

"Do you know anything about the blacksmith in town? His daughter in particular."

"Other than that she's a pain when it comes to business, not much. But she’s a bright one that’s for sure.”

Umbren thought about her words. She mentioned business, soshe must be the old woman that Alyze had mentioned. Umbren wouldn't call her old. She did have grey hairs in her blonde hair, but not many. However, she might be hundreds of years old for all he knew.

"I've heard that she has a very interesting history."

The woman stopped cutting the bushes and grimaced at Umbren, "The past is of little importance when compared to the present. Brother, I would recommend that you be a little more careful. I can figure out what you are. There's only one reason why an Isiks doesn't wear the insignia of their sect. It was smart of you, but there are some here that will see right through it. That's a little advice."

Umbren had no idea what she was talking about, but it was useless to press on as she had already gone back to trimming her bushes, "Thank you for your advice sister."

With that he walked away. On his way he met more men and women willing to give him more information compared to the lady.

A woman out on a walk:

"The blacksmith's daughter, well she used to be quite shrewd."

A man painting his house:

"Hmm. Her, well I don't know much about her, only that her mom used to be the mayor here and that she died of some sort of illness."

A woman sweeping her porch:

"That girl is the only thing keeping Jarvus straight, especially after Alicia died. It's funny when you remember she went through a phase of acting out. Well, in her own way that is."

A young man working on his roof, "Alyze, well she is very cute isn't she. Oh! Sorry brother I shouldn't say things like that in front of you, but I know that a couple of years ago she used to look at people in a way... I don't really know how to describe it, but let's just say men are slowly starting to propose to her again, very slowly."

` They all seemed to be holding something back, as if out of fear of something. After some walking, Umbren did arrive at the village square. It was filled with merchants advertising their wares and people going to and from each stand.

Luckily, the merchant's lips were a little looser. Though he did have to pay them a little, that wasn't a problem as Umbren's dirty state had inspired pity in villagers who gave him a few coins. This did cause Umbren to wonder how they would react if they knew he wasn't a holy man.

Some merchants charged a few more coins than the others. Umbren didn't know how much one "Lumiere" was worth, so he didn't know if what the merchants charged was expensive or not. They surely wouldn't charge a holy man that much, would they?

One old merchant just scoffed at his question:

"Ya I know her. She had almost every merchant in her pocket a few years back. I personally didn't experience it but she apparently blackmailed my cousin Lenny with something. Luckily the mayor finally stepped in and put an end to it."

Umbren was surprised at the merchant's story, a part of him couldn't believe it. He couldn't see the girl he knew doing anything of the sort, but if it was true it could have something to do with why she was helping Umbren. Redemption, maybe?

The next merchant he asked, was younger and more finely dressed. He even charged Umbren more:

"You didn't hear it from me, but I heard that her mother was into pretty dark things. The rumors were even exasperated by her mysterious death. I’ve also heard that the girl tried to get rid of them."

Umbren sat at a fountain in the center of the square. He clenched the talisman in his hand. What the younger merchant said could explain its presence in the house partly, but he didn't know enough to make any conclusions. Even if her mother was interested in taboo subjects, it doesn't mean Alyze was, and there was still the reason behind it, which he still didn’t know.

Alyze also seemed to have changed somehow in recent years. From what he heard she used to be harsh and ruthless. If that was the case, then what made her change? Umbren couldn't see how the Alyze he knew could ever have been like that.

Umbren sighed, regardless he still needed another way to thank her. He saw some rings in the stand in front of them. Would she like that? He really didn't know.

As he thought about this he could still hear the older woman's warning. What had she meant by that? Did she know what he really was? No that couldn't be it…

Umbren's gaze was now taken up by the overpowering presence of the man in black clothing with metal gauntlets. His eyes filled with a murderous glare.