The temple was heavily dark and cold compare to the bright and vivid lights of the temples she seen.
"This is your place?" She could feel goosebumps on her exposed arms as the place was awfully chilly and somewhat misty.
She wonders how can a saint could live in such poor conditions, but then she saw his weird manners so the scenery was explainable. Still she senses that something was watching her, not the man but had a feeling the whole building was watching her.
"Of course but ignore what you're seeing because this temple must be kept this way, now let me lead you to your new room." She could see how eager Manigoldo is when wanting to show the maid her new place.
Four minutes pass and strange things began to push the servant on edge.
First something that fell echoed by surprise half scaring her, then she swears a voice called out from behind yet it could be her imagination.
With relief they manage to enter a rather large room with only a dusty chair, cobwebs, and a small drawer. What is good about it is the source of light from a well sized window giving a good amount of warmth from the cold.
"Where's the bed may I ask?" She wouldn't want to sleep on the cold and dirty floor. Meanwhile the Cancer saint smiles like an idiot.
"Well I have only one but if you want I don't mind sharing-"
"I change my mind I'll rather sleep with the rats or whatever you have crawling in this room!" She never thought the saint would say something like that, maybe it was a mistake to accept his offer and instead be arrested.
"I was messing around, but I do have an extra somewhere, besides we'll be heading to another room."
-Extra room-
"All of this belongs to you?" She questioned him after seeing a variety of clothes fit for both men and, strangely, women. There were also chairs and such old furnitures that seem to remain ancient.
"Most, people always throw out things they don't need and once a month I head down to the village and take them." Manigoldo randomly kicks off a seemly gold statue that may belong to a wealthy merchant.
"Even clothing belonging to women?" She eyed him with caution as most of the dresses look like the ones that belong to maids of this place.
To top it off empty bottles were stacked against a cabinet while the some remain on the floor. She's beginning to realize this man is up to no good.
Soon the saint notice her look and quickly spoke.
"Don't get the wrong idea those dresses were donated!" He didn't want to truthfully explain that the dresses were actually stolen from him in his days of training.
"I see, since I'm helping you clean I should get rid of them maybe giving out a few." Marissa pulled out four of them from a box.
"Hey I'm the one who's in charge so I suggest you set them aside for later and deal with this first." Manigoldo pulled out a huge dusty chest and proceed to open the lid, inside was full of various accessories ranging from copper to gold and judging from the high quality that only the rich would wear it seems he may have stole them.
"You want me to sell them?" The servant guessed as most of the items could be sold at a high profit.
"As if." He scoffs at her words. "Your job is to try them on and keep a few."
Now she didn't expected something like that to come out from his mouth. Why would he even let such thing? Quickly she turn her head at his direction like an owl that heard something behind its back.
"Try them on?" She was indeed surprised of his actions but was reminded that if she does kept some accessories it will be difficult to avoid him.
"Think of it as a welcoming gift between friends!" He spread both hands in a friendly manner. "Here try this necklace it's heavy but it has small diamonds."
He hands out the jewelry to the servant, she was hesitant of accepting such lovely item but her temptation took over.
"Thank you i never knew how interesting you are as a friend." Marissa strap the jewelry around her neck while Manigoldo dislike the word she used on him: friend.
He was interested in the maid that's for sure but for now he has to play along.
With the item on she look more noticeable than before.
"It feels different but I'll get use to it." She plays the diamonds embedded on the necklace.
"You look more radiant than my cloth."
She blushes from the flattery and her heart beats faster than the time at the cliff. But she thought to herself if she's even good enough for a gold saint.
I can't.
"Is there any work for me?" She ask.
"Work? Oh pardon me." He was too distracted looking at the servant but since it's still morning he could invite her to the village that resides next to Sanctuary for a little exploring. "Well tomorrow we'll be heading off to get some things I need."
"Okay but what about today? I can cook something in the meantime."
It caught his attention.
"Cook eh? A little bit of angel's food could make me happy. The kitchen is to the left." He finally left her with the items.
"But it's regular food why would he say it's from an angel?" Marissa was obviously clueless of what he meant and left everything behind to go prepare something.
To be continued