Raiyan woke up a bit late the next morning. Of course, he was tired and all. He stretched and looked out the window. It was bustling. Busy streets. Nothing like last night.
The sun cast golden rays across Xorkhor's stone-paved roads. Merchants shouted their wares, children ran past, and the occasional glimmer of armor from patrolling guards added a sense of order amidst the chaos.
He went downstairs and could see the church members and devotees coming and leaving, some of them casting curious glances at Raiyan, who looked away.
He glanced at the incoming crowd and saw Lera among them, waving. Raiyan smiled, seeing someone familiar.
Edward came to visit Raiyan. Apparently, Lord Fulgur was back, and he had asked for Raiyan. Raiyan stiffened while eating his breakfast of bread, some meat, and tea.
Edward was leaning against the wall, taking out a matchbox.
Lera looked confused. "I-I thought we were meeting at the Church?"
"No. It's better if we don't catch eyes. There are people here, Lera. You must have noticed at night too — the glances we were feeling. Spies," Edward said calmly while taking a puff of what looked like a cigar to Raiyan.
Huh? Spies? Yesterday? We were being watched? Why?
"Uhmm... We were being watched? By whom?" Raiyan asked, nervously smiling. It was clear to him who the target was. Possibly himself. Trouble followed him here too.
Edward sighed. "Beats me. However, it's clear they aren't very friendly to us. We must get moving — and in secret."
"Let me come with you guys," Lera asked Edward.
"No."
"Why not?" Lera protested.
"I want you to stay here. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity at the Church," Edward said with an edge of concern in his tone.
Lera didn't protest further and reluctantly agreed. But she did look upset. Nonetheless, Edward told Raiyan to wait for him in his room.
He came back a little while later with some new clothes. It was a simple light blue tunic and a black tailored coat.
"Get changed and then call me," Edward said, leaving.
"Wait! I don't have money on me right now," Raiyan told him, a bit frantic.
Edward looked back, his eyebrows narrowing slightly. "I don't need your money."
"But still—"
"If your pride doesn't allow it, then pay me back later. Don't bother speaking of such trivial matters. We have bigger things to focus on." And with that, he left.
Huh, what an annoying, nice person.
He changed and looked at himself in the mirror, adjusting his appearance. "Would've been even better if there was a hat..."
He called Edward.
"Should we get going, Mr. Edward? Wait.. where are we going in the first place?" Raiyan asked politely.
"There's a palace some distance from here. The Governor's home. He's a local lord and friend of Lord Fulgur. Lord Fulgur is staying there. We'll be heading there," Edward explained.
This guy... Lord Fulgur... finally. I can get answers. And maybe find out what to do next in this world. After all.. I don't want to die.
"Alright, let's get going," Raiyan said as he moved towards the door.
Edward remained in his spot. "Nah, we're not going from there. We're moving there from this room," Edward spoke calmly, looking around.
"Pardon?" Raiyan blinked rapidly.
"Just shut up and watch. Also, bring that lamp with you."
Edward stepped forward and moved toward the framed painting, as Raiyan stared at him in a daze. Raiyan picked up the lamp.
"What's up with that painting anyway? It looks funny," Raiyan remarked.
Edward clasped his hands, closed his eyes. He started speaking an unfamiliar language. There was no system this time, to help him this time with the weird languages.
Ó Abre Porta di Al Misterios, Nous Quaerimus Tú Sotha ki Kami poteris være Zochten.
All of a sudden, their surroundings changed in a blink of an eye. A pitch-black pathway — with only a route forward. There was no such thing as behind, only more darkness.
The air was cold, stale. Each step echoed softly on ancient stone. The walls seemed to close in, carved with faded symbols that flickered faintly under the lamp's glow.
Raiyan trembled a little. "U-uhmm, what just happened... and where are we?" he asked, confused.
Edward spoke. "It's a secret tunnel that we're going to use to get to the western district. We would have been followed if we left through the Church's main exit... and we don't want that."
Edward took the oil lamp from his trembling hands and lit it with a match, handing it back to him. Raiyan immediately noticed a sign now visible thanks to the lamp. It read in a strange language that Raiyan couldn't understand.
Edward then moved forward. "Follow me and don't be a scaredy-cat. What if Constance saw you?"
"HUH?!" Raiyan blushed furiously as Edward, for once, chuckled.
"W-What made you assume I l-like her?" Raiyan blurted.
Edward, moving forward, cast a side glance back. "You don't?"
"I mean—"
Edward suddenly stopped. The tunnel led to a chamber. It was unsurprisingly empty—only some rocks and squealing rats. The chamber had three passageways ahead. In simple words, at specific points the tunnel divided into three more branches leading to different routes.
Edward said calmly, "Don't worry. I've been here once before. We take the far-left tunnel."
"Ah... right. That's comforting to hear," Raiyan said through a relieved smile.
However, things were not so comforting to bear when Raiyan noticed the increasing number of branches and the look of concern on Edward's face.
At one point, Edward stopped for too long, a little sweat on his brow. Raiyan glared at him in rising worry.
Oi Oi Oi, wait a damn minute. Are you serious? Oh no, hell no.
Forcing a smile, Raiyan spoke, "Mr. Edward, could it be that—"
"No," he said firmly.
"I'm well aware of the route. It's just... I uh, haven't been here in a while, so even the right route seems unfamiliar," he said in a tone laced with delusion.
"Oh fuck, we are definitely lost," Raiyan thought.
After deep contemplation and overthinking which probably had no impact on his final choice — Edward decided to move to the far-right passageway.
"Let's go," he muttered, as Raiyan hesitantly followed him. This time, it didn't lead to a tunnel but rather a large chamber, which was filled with mysterious light coming from nowhere. They realized they were atop a rock. They looked down. The light was falling on a puddle of water, which was sparkling unnaturally.
The air felt heavy, almost electric, as if unseen eyes were watching from the dark crevices of the chamber's walls.
"We should get down. I can jump," Edward said. He was no longer calm, even his tone hinted at nervousness, though he didn't show it.
Raiyan, staring at the surroundings and the supposed exit at the far end of the chamber, said, "Y-yeah, me too... it's not that far off but—"
Edward raised an eyebrow. "But?"
Raiyan took a deep breath, looked towards Edward in a serious tone, and suddenly said in a frenzy, "OH COME ON, this is so obviously the wrong passageway. We should head back and choose another."
"We can't."
"Why not?"
Edward explained, "At the beginning of the tunnel, you must have seen a sign. It was written in the Rio script of the Empire. It read: 'The only path for you is forward.' This means we will have consequences if we try to move back"
Consequences?
He continued, "All passageways eventually lead to our required destination. However..."
"H-however?" Raiyan said in a daze.
"...Some chambers are more difficult to leave than others. Be careful... Raiyan. I have a feeling we are not alone." Edward said, his eyes locked onto the surroundings.
Raiyan's eyes widened as he slowly looked around the chamber, which now suddenly felt like it wouldn't let them go so easily.