"Leonard," Evadne said. "You promised. The Highest Priestess is waiting for you."

  I could swear she tapped the floor with her foot. It was only a guess based on the sound, because her long robe covered her feet.

  "This is great opportunity for you, Leonard." Althea added. "Not everybody gets invitation like that."

  Both of them were right.

  I turned away from Evadne and stared at the door in front.

  *Yes, I promised her I'll go to Pythia after talking to Pylades.*

  I glanced over my shoulder at Evadne behind me.

  *I don't want to feel helpless like during attack ever again.*

  "Otherworlder," Evadne spoke, cutting silence, "let's go," she reached my arm. I grabbed her hand and whispered, "Wait, give me a moment." Her look was stern, but it softened when I added, "Please, let me think."

  "Legatus is high ranking officer, and he's waiting for you," Althea insisted. "Rejecting his invitation may be seen as an insult.",

  "Silence, Althea." The words came out harsh. I lost my patience. To soften the blow, I added, "Sorry, my Guide, I need a moment."

  High Priestess placed herself between the door and me, still gently holding my arm.

  Althea obeyed. Didn't say a word.

  We stood before the door. It was a little awkward - I faced the door, Evadne the exit.

  *What I can do?*

  High Priestess waited, silent. She released my arm, clasped her hands in front. Observed.

  *Evadne, she seems to be my side now, and I don't want to change that.*

  Emotions and impatience pushed me toward the door. Evadne and my own words pulled me back toward the exit.

  The choice seemed impossible.

  Flowery scent tickled my nose when I leaned in close to Evadne. I whispered like conspirator. "If I go there, you'll brand me a liar," she whispered back, "Leonard, we..." but I tightened my grip and continued, "But if turn away, I may miss this opportunity."

  Evadne let out a sigh. "Leonard, I understand your conflict, but..." she didn't finish.

  *I refuse to choose between them.*

  Guard beside the door shifted his balance from one leg to another. His armor barely gave a sound. He activated his camouflage.

  *I want both Evadne's support and the Legatus's training.*

  I started speaking as plan materialized slowly, "You can contact Pythia, right?" She gave a weary nod. "Can I summon her here, the Highest Priestess?" I asked.

  "Leonard, that's... rude." she replied stepping back.

  "Well, probably." I leaned back, away from her. Flowery scent vanished. "Please ask her to accompany me, I apologize for this, but I request her support during the meeting. You know the stakes, she'll hopefully understand." I said firmly.

  Evadne didn't seem convinced, and I added, "I'll beat around the bush until she comes, she'll miss nothing."

  Her stare made me nervous, but I held my head high.

  Waited.

  "Fine, but you owe her one." She finally agreed. "You owe me too."

  She must have talked with her Aide telepathically or however that works, because she fell silent for a moment. Then, she replied, "The Highest Priestess has agreed."

  She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line before she added, "Reluctantly."

  I nodded.

  *Oh well, thank you for this grace, Highest Priestess Pythia.*

  "Otherworlder Leonard, Legatus is expecting me," I said to the guard.

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  *Now I just need to stall the conversation with the boss of the Holy Knights and not blow it.*

  ~ ? ? ~

  *What takes them so long?*

  My finger tapped on the desk nervously, tap tap tap. It was a large piece of furniture.

  *I swear if he makes me wait a heartbeat more, I'm going out and drag him in.*

  I knew I couldn't do that. To the one chosen by Pandora? As Legatus?

  One hand dedicated to the calming habit. The other, with elbow on the desk, supported my head. Position not fitting my status, but comfortable.

  Tap tap tap.

  *I waited after his summoning.*

  Tap tap tap.

  *I waited after his collapse during the attack.*

  Tap-tap. Tap-tap.

  *Now I wait in my own damn office, how ironic.*

  Tap-tap.

  *I'll need some "stress relief" after this.*

  Tap-tap. Tap-tap.

  "Hermes, how's my Sacred Armor, ready yet?", I asked with hope, straightening up.

  "The Priests of Steel still repair it, they do 'final adjustments', perfectionists." I could swear my Squire smirked. "They insist you use it only in case of emergency before they finish."

  Tap.

  *What a bother. It's dishonorable to ask another knight for their armor.*

  Tap.

  I could still play with Fate bare-handed, but it was not the same. It was heavy as fuck.

  Tapping stopped abruptly. Finally the guard's head poped up from behind the tilted door and before he said anything I ordered "Send him in."

  I put a gentle smile on my face, which is easy because I finally could talk with him.

  *So the High Priestess is here, hmm...*

  Door closed with silent clack.

  *At least I've got ahead of Pythia. I miss simpler battles.*

  "Welcome High Priestess," I bowed to her, "Otherworlder," and bumped my fist to the chest, then pointed to the chairs at my large desk. They returned polite greetings, as expected from Evadne, but I heard Otherworlder's more... lively.

  I moved my hand over the desk. Less than a heartbeat of vibration across the surface and the sculpted content vanished. Details about the security breach and map of our continent collapsed and smoothed, leaving only beige, flat surface.

  I sat back at my chair, which was just slightly bigger and comfier than the rest around my desk. The name was misleading, because it was practically a table that could fit a dozen of people, ideal for war room.

  The Otherworlder spoke first.

  "L-legatus Argus," he stuttered, but I deferred my judgement,

  "I woke up recently from the attack," he said placing himself in the chair across the table. Beside High Priestess Evadne.

  *Yes, I can see that, go on.*

  My shallow nod encouraged him to continue. Gust of wind slammed the window behind me.

  "I remember during the attack a knight saved my life,"

  *Yes I know, I was there.*

  The man stopped, for a moment, as if he forgot what he had to say.

  I just nodded, not making it any easier for him. He started this without beating around the bush, and I intended to let him finish.

  "H-he had a massive hammer."

  *Yes, it's mine, Fate.*

  That weapon was resting in the armory, under Priest Marcus's care.

  "I didn't have a chance to thank him."

  *Him? I'm right here.* I leaned back, crossing arms.

  "I was wondering if you could relay my thanks."

  *He has no idea. But can I blame him? I guess nobody told him, this world must be a mystery to him.*

  Evadne was sitting seemingly studying the banners on the wall behind me.

  "Consider it done." I said. He impatiently forged ahead, not letting me to continue.

  "About the attack." His leg began nervously tapping on the floor, barely making a sound.

  Tap tap tap.

  My eyes landed on his leg, then back on his face. He missed it, he was focused on the view behind the window. Against my own will, I joined his tapping effort, silently under the desk.

  "I spoke with the knights in the mess hall." Tap tap tap.

  He paused and I too, instinctively stopped my finger. "They mentioned a strange dagger, Legatus."

  I stood up and went closer to the window, turning back to them to hide my grin.

  *So that's what this is about. He was gathering intel, and now he came to me. Sly little... cat, was that how Centurion Pylades described him?*

  "Yes?" I probed him.

  The view from these windows was my favorite. The Temple's immediate surroundings were laid out cleanly. The workshops, market, inner wall, housing, the outer wall, the river, the farmlands stretching until the forest in the horizon. No sight of war, if you didn't look closely.

  But if you did, you could spot dark robes of the inquisitors here and there, snooping around. You could see guards on alert, on the wall, near the gate, patrolling the streets. And the elite of the elites supporting them after recent attack - Holy Knights on stand-by. And you could only guess there were more hiding in the shadows, or in plain sight.

  "They said Optio died from the dagger," the Otherworlder finally says.

  *Logical assumption, but your intel is flawed, Otherworlder.*

  My joints popped when I squeezed my fingers together.

  *The report pictured a more tragic scene.*

  "You've laid hands on confidential information," I say as I glance over my shoulder at Evadne. She slightly nodded, confirming Temple's approval. "The truth is more complicated. The dagger just weakened the armor, hobgoblins did the rest."

  *A Holy Knight who's Sacred Armor failed. The hit is not lethal, what a ridiculous idea. Sacred Armor is almost impenetrable, truly a divine gift from Pandora.*

  Door creaked slowly, I turned on my heel. My cape waved behind me.

  The guard came in "Highest Priestess is...", he probably was going to announce her. Pythia stepped in before he could. He awkwardly finished, "...here."

  She gracefully passed by the retreating guard and marched toward me.

  She looked at the Otherworlder, then at me, directly in the eyes.

  Her red jewelry reflected the sun falling in through the wide windows. She didn't say a word, holding my gaze.

  I glanced at the Otherworlder. He let out a silent sigh. He was avoiding my gaze, fixed on the beige surface of the desk.

  He seemed different. Like the long held tension released.

  *Is he relieved? To see Pythia? But he came only with Evadne and... kept me occupied until Pythia came.*

  Muscles around my eyes tensed, drawing my eyebrows together.

  *Did he orchestrate this?*

  Straps of my chest plate creaked when they strained under my deep breath.

  *If so, then how bold. I like bold.*

  My office wasn't as elegant as Pythia's, but surely more spacious. It had to make room for my desk, after all. Pythia seemed ready and prepared as always. High Priestess and Otherworlder stole glances at us, pretending to admire ascetic interior.

  *So this is where the confrontation finally happens. Good, it's my ground.*