"Is he the one?"
"Yes. We wait until he leaves. Then we go in."
The hooded figures waited in silence, watching a mage enter his home. The mage was tipsy, stumbling a bit, fumbling with his keys.
"Why don't we just go now? This guy is drunk. We could easily take him out and -"
"Hush, idiot! Here is why."
A knight strolled by, clad in full armour. His metallic heavy footsteps resounded in the stone pavement. He watched in amusement as the mage cursed, and finally entered his home.
"What is the commander of the Order of Holy Light doing here?! With this drunk?"
"Quiet!"
The mage got out of the building, clad in a cloak and mask. He turned to lock the door, and followed the knight without a word. Curiously, his footsteps were completely quiet, but the knight's loud armour ringing could have covered it. As they strode past the alley that the three figures waited, they heard them talking in casual tone.
"...and just so you know, Pallanto, this is the last time this month. I have the training of the new recruits to attend to."
"Yes, Frederic, I know. But I need to procure those things, and it will be cheaper if I buy them from the source."
"So what is it this time? I really hope I don't have to witness something like the last fiasco."
"All in due time. I just need a few..." the voices trailed off as the unlikely pair walked away.
"Let's go. The patrol will be stalled for fifteen, maybe twenty minutes."
The three men walked out of the alley and to the locked door.
"Is that the guy?"
"Don't look at him! Yes, it's him!"
"He doesn't look that scary..."
"You forgot what he did?"
A man clad in red wizard robes strode through the streets of Lescatie. Two dullahan by his side were escorting him, clearly nervous and throwing side glances at the people passing by. For some reason, everyone gave that man a wide berth, whispering among themselves and quickening their pace. The man, a young mage with short brown hair, shining violet eyes and short beard, didn't seem to mind or notice. With a brisk pace pace, he reached the city's library.
Inside the building, small girls shuffled around, carrying books and scrolls. Some of them were sitting on the lap of men at couches, reading books with them as they were entwined in a loving embrace. The mage paidd them no heed, making his way for the staircase to the second floor, although the mere presence of him and his escorts drew much silent attention. His footsteps were silent, as he walked on the thick carpet and the stone stairs. Upon reaching the second floor, he saw the reason of his visit, tapping her left hoof and wagging her tail impatiently.
"You are late."
"This was supposed to be my day off. What is so important that I had to come? I promised Veronica a picnic at the park, and she is quite agitated."
"You should know. It was YOU after all who mediated this agreement."
"Not him again." the mage groaned. "Can't he tell you what he wants? I don't have a discreet presence in the city, to be running errands for him."
"That, I already know. I went for the stuff he wanted myself. You owe me for this, Alatar. I have better things to do."
"Gee, Mimil, thanks, but I am not responsible for this. Where is he?"
"The usual room. Lady Lucella keeps him company."
"I must hurry then. She is awfully willing to keep him company, these days."
Smiling at the baphomet's scowl, he went pass her, stopping at an enchanted wooden door. He knocked on it twice, and opened it.
There were two people in the room, sitting awfully close on a velvet couch: a cloaked man with covered face, and a baphomet, inching slowly towards the man with a seductive yet innocent smile. The man seemed aware of it, and none too happy. He literally jumped to his feet when he saw the door open, much to the dissatisfaction of his company.
"Alatar, old pal. How nice to see you again!" the man almost ran to Alatar, hugging him in a tight embrace. "Please get her off me. Please oh please." he whispered in his ear. Alatar smiled awkwardly to the baphomet. "If you can excuse us, Lucella."
Lucella stood up, looking none too willing. She exited the room, with a last seductive glance and wag of her tail. "See you later then, Pallanto." she spoke in a sweet girlish voice, before closing the door. Pallanto drew a breath of relief.
"Thanks for the rescue, pal. You are a lifesaver." He plopped into the couch with a sigh. "I swear, this woman will be the end of me."
"Well, being a lolicon is an acquired taste. Ask the headmaster if you need tips."
"Whaaa? Gross! Dude!" the man said in mock disgust. "I told her I am not interested, she just said that everyone says that at first. Whatever."
"I suppose you called for me for something more than grumbling about your budding love life?"
"Why, isn't saving my human ass reason enough?"
"Look, I got summoned at my day off. I promised my wife I would be back in two hours time, and believe me, if I am late, a baphomet sticking to you is mere joke compared to Veronica when she is pissed off. So, you have about… half an hour to finish the social call." Alatar sat on the couch, turning his violet eyes to Pallanto. "Why don't you take these off?"
"Look, little goaty there released quite a lot of mana here, all right? You might not notice it anymore, but-"
"I do notice it. But I don't think it is something a barrier couldn't handle."
"I am not taking chances. You can imagine what will happen if I turn incubus. Frederic would chase me to the ends of the world to kill me."
"Yea, yea, you told me last time too. Two weeks ago. So, what is it? I can suspect it is something big, and involving me, or monsters, in a way, and it has come to your attention quite recently. So spill it out already." Alatar said impatiently.
"Nothing sure. Just rumours… but still, disturbing rumours." Pallanto's tone darkened. "There are people in the Order states that are not happy with the treaty, Alatar."
"Order people?"
"Not just them. States people. The threat of monsters was an efficient and convincing excuse for heavy taxation and oppression. There are fanatics in the Order that called the treaty a sacrilege and call for war, and some monarchs and lords seem to back them up, but behind the scenes. I suspect they will try to provoke an attack, or attack themselves, to restore the previous status quo. Probably the latter."
"Why you think so?"
"An attack without its culprits caught, will give them an opportunity. If the attack goes without response, they will claim divine favour and monster weakness. If the monster states respond, they will claim provocateur acts and breach of the treaty. Which they will. My suspicion is that they will strike here, to make it as big a showcase as possible."
"Any suspects? Leads?"
"Frederic is running an undercover investigation, along with some trusted members. I run my own investigation too. So far, we've come up with nothing but those rumours. So I can only assume that those people are hiding well, or..."
"There is a mole in the Order of Shadows."
"Yes. I don't know where to focus our investigation. Frederic believes that the fanatical faction is consisted of knights and priests, and backed by the rulers as a convenient pawn."
Alatar pondered a bit on the troubling news. "I'll convey this to Druella. If anything changes, contact me as soon as magically possible. If they strike, it will be hours, or at the most, days, after they are exposed."
"Will do, buddy. Now, can you escort me out of the city? I get the feeling that Lucella will ambush me and pounce at the very first opportunity."
The priest was kneeling before a makeshift altar, praying in silence. The door opened, and a man entered without a noise.
"Greetings, Father."
"Greetings, child. Was your mission successful?"
The man came forward, the candles by the altar casting a dim light on his black cloak. The priest stood up and turned to face him. The man took off his mask and flashed a grin.
"Of course."
He extended his hand, revealing the silver cross in gold godrays that was sewn inside his cloak, and the red robes in gold trimming he wore underneath it. When he opened his fist, the bright light of the demon gems he held made the priest blink, before smiling.
"Excellent."
A/N: Prologue to a new series is out. Read the previous series, The Man Who Walked Alone, if you haven't already; much backstory is not explained explicitly here. Criticism and comments welcome.