This would be troublesome for all if they found out the truth. Those pesky agents of the church could potentially ruin everything. Aurelien knew Tyki to be a thorough person, never failing to eliminate a potential problem or hindrance, yet there they stood at the front gate. The agents of the Church. The group make up seemed to have changed. It seemed there were more agents to replace fallen ones.

But there was no need to overreact. Aurelian had been with the Illuminati for some time. He knew overreacting was suspicious, and suspicions lead to unenlightened judgments. Last thing he wanted was to create a reason for those pesky agents to be suspicious. What did they want anyway?

Aurelien glanced at the entryway before turning towards the gate and approaching the visitors with a calm, professional demeanor. "What seems to be the problem here?"

"These people seek an audience with the governor," the guard explained, frowning.

"Governor Labelle isn't taking any guests at this moment," Aurelien informed the guests. "He is away for a private ceremony for his cousin. Please return later."

"Perhaps you can assist us instead, Mr. Aurelien," Dagrun spoke up, pushing her way to the front of the gathering. "We're simply seeking information."

Aurelien tilted his head slightly, appearing to be somewhat cordial while underneath wishing to simply push them out the gate and lock it behind them. "I've been informed of your previous conversation, and the information since your last discussion with the governor hasn't changed. No one has seen this supposed demon dog you seek."

"That simply ended as a wild goose chase," Dagrun waved her hand dismissively. It ended as she had expected. Whether or not a demon dog really had existed and was eliminated as the governor claimed could neither be confirmed nor denied. What they did know was it was no longer there and no longer a threat to the relic. "It is the relic which interests us."

"That false thing?" Aurelien scowled sharply, his cordial demeanor shifting to bitterness suddenly. "It's what caused this sorrow and mourning in the first place."

Vanna and Korbinian nearly jumped at the sudden assertion, but quieted as Tiedoll placed a reassuring hand on their shoulders.

"Exactly why we wish to discuss the events," Dagrun continued forcefully. "It is possible there was demonic interference which caused this tragedy." She was making things up as she went. She had no reason to tell him the truth. She only intended to extract the information and leave. She preferred to do such alone, but with the Order, everything was done in groups. It was safer that way, considering the fight they had recently with a so-called Noah.

Aurelien scowled some more, furrowing his eyebrows before closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose between his index finger and his thumb. While he put on a show, hoping they would believe his pain in the situation, he truly was just annoyed with them. "We don't need this ordeal to be any more difficult than it already is. Please leave."

"Please forgive her forwardness," Tiedoll stepped in, placing a hand on Dagrun's shoulder. He hoped to offer a more personalized, comforting approach. They had two contrasting approaches to this situation. "Perhaps we could start over, perhaps over a cup of tea. We wish not to intrude for long."

"You've already overstayed your welcome," Aurelien countered quickly. He tried to be forceful with his words. He couldn't command magic like the upper ranks of the Illuminati. If these agents were strong enough to tear Tyki's vest, then he would be no match for them in a fight. Words had to do. "Please leave."

Tyki watched the scene unfold, holding the curtains open with one hand. He stood back from the window far enough that his form should be relatively indiscernible from the outside. Unlike his predecessor, Tyki's black and white forms looked relatively similar. Confronting in his white form the Exorcists he'd already fought in his black form would be too risky, especially with that Bookman among them. He hadn't considered he'd have to face off against a Bookman. She had those same watchful eyes Lavi did, yet unlike his, hers were incredibly cold.

"A troublesome situation indeed," Tyki frowned, releasing the curtains and pulling his hand back to his body to fold his arms. "Yet Aurelien can handle himself."

"That old man looks familiar," Cyrille noted with a frown, peering out at the situation from between the curtains.

"He is a general," Tyki replied. He kept his nerves calm but there was still a biting tone to his words. "A very strong and potentially dangerous man by the name of Tiedoll. Fighting him right now would be unwise."

Adelaide bit her lower lip. "Do you think he'll attack Aurelien?"

Tyki shook his head. "I don't believe so. We'll have to keep an eye on them, figure out what it is they want." He had an idea. During his battle with the Exorcists, the Bookman realized Tyki was protecting the carriage. Surely putting two and two together wasn't difficult for her, and she probably realized there was some connection between Saint-Maur and the intervention. He simply hoped that the Exorcists wouldn't return so quickly.

But Exorcists truly were like roaches. Squash a few and more just come back. A shame that king cockroach was the one to return with the little ones. That man simply would not die. Five years since that battle, he no doubt had only gotten stronger. Tyki didn't want to face him, but he could distract him, at the very least.

Tyki turned to prepare a distraction when something instead distracted him. Lavi heard it too, already peering out the window through the curtains. A large angry-looking crowd had gathered just outside the walls. What else could go wrong today? Preparing for the worst, Tyki motioned for the others to follow him out the side door. He, Cyrille, Lavi, and Adelaide pinned themselves against the brick wall surrounding the outer garden. They were rather close to the front gate but out of visual range, tucked behind a rather large rose bush.

Cyrille bit his lower lip. He could feel his blood boil. He was so close to the Exorcists once more, and they were once again trying to shake up his beloved Paris. He couldn't tell what the crowd was saying. They were all shouting at the same time and still at a bit of a distance. The wall obscured any sort of distinct voices. It was making him more and more frustrated with the situation. He only wanted to protect Paris and his Noah family. Would it all fall apart so easily?

"I can't tell what they're saying," Adelaide whispered with a frown.

"I can," Lavi admitted. His training as a Bookman allowed him to quickly separate voices in noisy situations. He could hear each one of them, their separate words and shouts and pleas as if they spoke one by one and not over one another. He hadn't expected their words at first, but he listened to more of the crowd and realized their true intentions. "They want the church agents outta town," he explained. "'You caused the governor's niece's death,' claims one. Another says, 'Get out before you kill more people with your false lies.'"

Cyrille sniffled, attempting to keep his dramatics in check as they spied on the encounter. "My people~ They care so deeply~."

"Tiedoll's attemptin' t' plead with the crowd," Lavi continued, still listening in on the noise. "Ain't workin' though. Crowd's still demandin' they leave. They're convinced havin' the church agents 'round will cause more deaths."

"Superstitious creatures," Tyki mused. This turn of events was rather unexpected but highly welcomed. These superstitious, rather religious Parisians were handling the pesky Exorcists. The Illuminati nor the Noah had to be involved this time. The people of the city were well wrapped around the former's little finger.

Cyrille heaved a sigh of relief, pushing his back against the wall and sliding down it into a sitting position. He flourished his hand, drawing circles with his fingers a few times, before placing it on his forehead. "Oh my beloved Parisians have pulled through for us once again~!" He knew they couldn't turn against him. At least he hoped. He wouldn't know what to do without his beloved home. While Tyki was often intent on using them in the Illuminati's plans, Cyrille was intent on preserving Paris and its people as it should be: enlightened and free of church rule.

…

Author's notes

Hello! Please forgive the long delay! I seemed to just wreck myself recently, but I'm working to get back on track with everything! I cranked out a good number of chapters, so hopefully there will be semi-regular updates!

And now the current story!

The aftermath of the Saint-Maur confrontation. It seems the Exorcists are as busy as the Illuminati are. Lenalee's team pretty much came to the same conclusion that something was amiss. But with Lenalee down, they had to borrow another general, and of course it had to be Tiedoll.

I had considered having Krory there, but I figured he'd probably stay with Lenalee. Korbinian is stubborn so he'd volunteer to go in his place. And Dagrun was relatively unharmed from the fight.

And so we have a team of Exorcists at the governor's door.