Midnight came, and Maryna was close to reaching the palace where the gem was located.
"Alright, now for a little game I like to call revenge."
Maryna climbed onto the roof of the palace and dove through one of the open windows. Luckily there were no guards. She continued through the room, and proceeded down the hall. A guard was at the other side, and easily found her.
"You there! What are you doing at this hour!"
Maryna didn't back down though. As he charged, she pulled out the sword she stole earlier. Surprised, the guard pulled out a spear. They dueled ferociously, but Maryna was just better, and the guard was impaled in the heart with her blade. She quietly whispered to herself as she dragged the body somewhere else.
"It's people like you that just make me sick..."
She continued down the hallway, and found a key on a table by a door. She heard a noise, and put it in her bag. She opened the door and quietly snuck in. Opening the door slightly, she could see a man walking by.
"Where's Zhou-Tan? Humph, sleeping as usual, I suppose."
The man walked to the other side, and went into a room. Maryna quietly left her hiding spot, and found the end of the hallway. From what she knew, the gem was stored in the room before her. The door was locked, so she pulled out the key from before, thinking it could fit. But, attached to it...
...was a letter.
"What the-"
"Hey! Intruder!"
The man from before found Maryna and before she could pull out her sword, she was surrounded by guards.
"What's this? The key to the Dragon's Gem! I don't know how you got it, but you're in a lot of trouble, miss."
"Wait, Shao. Look at that, in her other hand. Is that, the priest's sword?"
"Aha! So it is. That's 2 crimes, little girl. And what's that letter for?"
"I... don't know."
"Well, then. No matter. Spears at the ready! Execute this-"
"Shao, she hasn't stolen anything from US. We can't turn her in. The least we can do is imprison her."
Shao paused. He cursed under his breath, and grabbed Maryna.
"Come with me. You're going to see the priest. Since you stole his sword and not our gem, we cannot sentence you. But he can."
The group knocked on the front door of the priest. He came out, half asleep.
"Do you know this girl?"
"Yes, why?"
"She was caught intruding the palace with this. Your sword, I presume. It was stolen, no doubt."
"No, no it wasn't."
"What?"
"Are you deaf, Shao? I gave that sword to her, as a parting gift for staying at the temple for the night."
Maryna was confused. The priest was helping her... after she stole his prized sword.
"Fine. You are hereby released of all charges. No harm done, anyway. But, let me ask... why were you in the palace?"
"I was in the palace earlier today, and I lost my bag, and found it by the door."
"Alright. I don't want to see you messing around like that again."
The guards and Shao left. The priest and Maryna were alone in the temple.
"Why... why did you help me?"
"I thought it was the right thing to do. Help the helpless, I always say."
"Help the helpless huh? Wait a minute, this isnt some scheme to get me to convert to your religion is it?"
"Ha, no. I just want to show you that doing good things makes people';s lives better. Now, that I have done a good thing for you, do one for me."
"Okay. What?"
"Give up your life of crime. Turn your back on evil, and instead of pursuing Soul Edge, live positively. You do know that those who wield that blade are warriors of evil. People just never know that."
"So the rumors are true... wow. Okay, you got a deal. From now on, no more crimes for me."
Maryna was about to leave, until the priest stopped her.
"Your sword, miss."
The priest held out the sword. Maryna took it, and thanked him. But then, the 2 could hear Shao approaching.
"Where is that liar! She is an assassin! A harvester of souls! She killed Zhou-Tan!"
'Uh-oh. You better run out of the back door. I'll hold them off."
Maryna bolted out the door, holding the sword in one hand, and her mysterious letter in the other. The priest looked at her, and smiled.
"Farewell, Unknown Princess of the Night."