The pair of black clad fighter-thieves began to exit the temple in considerably less time than it had taken Duo to enter on his own. Shadow had only to wave her hand, and the troublesome traps disarmed themselves before the pair, only to reset the moment they had passed.

"How'd ya do that?" Duo asked his dark haired companion, watching with interest as a particularly intricate trap deactivated before his eyes.

"Goddess skills."

"Magic?"

"You've got it!"

"Heh. That's what I figured."

Just as they were getting close to the exit, Shadow and Duo were stopped by a group of black robed figures. The group fell to their knees before Shadow the moment they saw her.

"Lady!"

"Oh, great… This is exactly what I'd hoped to avoid." Shadow muttered under her breath. Then, with a tiny smile gracing her lips, she said to the people at her feet, "You address me, I believe?"

"Yes, lady!" came the chorus.

A female voice rose over the others. "You have taken physical shape and head out into the city. You have business in our world, then?"

"I do."

"And the young man next to you is…"

"Duo Maxwell, at your service. I run, I hide, but I never lie. Pleased to meet you all!" Duo replied, grinning widely. Shadow's smile widened a bit, and she glanced fondly at her cheeky follower.

"He's a devoted follower. Perhaps you've noticed? He's brought me an offering at least once a month since he was but a child, and more often as of late. He gives the rest of what he steals to the Maxwell Orphanage, which is where he was raised, and where he got his last name. And, of course, I'm fond of his name: Duo. As a twin, I like that."

The woman who had first raised her voice now raised her head slightly. She glanced first and briefly at Duo, her eyes lighting up, then to Shadow. Her gaze lingered on the face of the goddess for several long moments, then trailed slowly downward. A faint blush was apparent on her face for the moment Duo could see it, then she bowed down completely again.

"Forgive me for my trespasses…" the priestess thought to herself. Shadow heard the silent words, and stepped forward to place her hand on the young woman's shoulder.

"Your name and rank, priestess mine?" the goddess asked.

"Scarlet Blaire, Night rank. I'll be Midnight once I complete my Summoning."

"Scarlet, stay with me. The rest of you, go out and bring back any offerings that have been left with you which you think may prove useful over the course of my journey."

The rest of the black robed figures slowly backed away, rising as they went. Eager to obey the commands of their goddess, they hurried down the hallway and into the man rooms along its length.

"You may stand, Scarlet. I'll admit that I'm not much of one for being so 'proper' unless its absolutely necessary, and that isn't the case right now."

Scarlet nodded and stood. "My thanks, lady."

Shadow shrugged and smiled. "Now, as for your summoning… I think I'm going to bend the rules a little. Come, give me your hand."

"Lady?" came the hesitant reply.

"Don't worry. I'm simply going to speed up the summoning process a little. You can skip all the ceremony to get my attention, seeing as I'm already here. And the call to your future familiar will go out much faster with my help."

"Ah. I think I understand somewhat." Scarlet said softly, not sounding very sure of herself.

"Well then, are you ready to begin?"

Scarlet nodded and offered her hand to the goddess. "I am."

"I think I'll go look around the storage and treasury rooms if you don't mind, Shadow. Just in case they miss anything good." Duo said, cracking his knuckles and stretching.

"Be my guest. Have fun, Duo." Shadow grinned.

The braided young man nodded and returned the grin. "Don't worry, I will!" He darted down the hall, looking as eager as a child given access to a room of new toys and sweetmeats.