"Home sweet Home. Though I suppose there's nothing "sweet" about it." Temenos said as he and Team Revival had returned to Flamechurch in the dead of night.
"Explain to me again why you wanted to come all the way back to Flamechurch just when we were hot on the trail of something?" Hilda asked.
"Oh, I just felt like I sensed some..unusual presences were to come through here." Temenos said.
"Unusual? What kind of individuals would give you that impression?" Connor asked.
As if to answer, they start to feel a few presences watching them.
Connor, deciding to play along, got to a defensive stance as he prepared for who may come at him. And low and behold, he was able to deflect several presences coming at him, before blocking the last strike, who came from someone familiar to him.
"Looks like your reflexes haven't dulled since way back then. Impressive." a familiar voice told him.
"You really gotta make things difficult all the time huh? Can't make it easy? We're on the same team now, Cheetah." Connor said, seeing Cheetah and Reformed Society in front of him, along with Thronè.
"So… this is Connor Trav Yukine." Thronè said. "You called him the World's Strongest Gunman, right?"
"Yeah. It's no wonder our mock ambush failed." Glacius said.
"You were testing me, huh?" Connor said.
"Thronè here wanted to see if you were really the real deal." Captain Cold said.
"Hmm, interesting." Temenos said.
"Is that your Cleric accompanying you?" Cheetah said.
"Yeah. This is Temenos. He's a far cry from the first cleric we teamed up with in a situation like this, but he's without a doubt devoted." Connor said. "He and us are working a case regarding a murder of his pontiff."
"We we're on our way to Crackridge to gather answers, but it seems your presences coming through Flamechurch led us back here." Temenos said.
"Well, we figured we may as well come here for a prayer of sorts." Bassam said.
"Oh, that's right. Thronè's story is all about gaining freedom." Lorenz said.
"Yes. To do so, we have to take out the leaders of the Blacksnakes, a very dangerous guild of assassins." Esmeralda said. "We were heading to Montwise and we figured we may as well make a stop here on the way."
Temenos then looked to Throne, who was looking into Flamechurch.
"Well, well, Thronè… Is there something you'd like to confess?" Temenos asked.
"...Not really. I just remembered something." Throne said. "A rumor of treasure hidden in a cathedral."
"Heh. There's not one thief out there who thinks about scoring big with a little treasure." Connor said.
"So you're familiar with thieves. That's interesting." Thronè said, holding a coin.
"Is that a coin?" Temenos asked."'Only a fool cares for charred coin.' Reach into the fire and you'll get burned."
"No good thief fears little a fire." Thronè said. "I once made a bet with my companions on whether the rumors were true or not. The treasure was called 'Alpates.'"
"Alpates… That name does sound familiar. Hmm… Well, you've certainly piqued my interest." Temenos said.
"Then what's say we investigate, Detective?" Throne asked.
"I would love to, but alas. I am a messenger of the gods, and you a thief…" Temenos said. "And that would go double for your company."
"Not the first time I'd be accused as a thief." Luke sweatdropped.
"Relax, Luke. He mostly meant us." Kareem said.
"Besides, we're not looking to steal anything. I just want to see if the rumors are true." Thronè said.
"So you say, but something tells me you have other motives." Temenos siad.
"..I don't." Thronè simply replied.
"Well, if you're being honest, I don't see any reason why we cant have a look." Connor siad. "I'm kinda interested in this Alpates thing too. So why don't we help Thronè out, Temenos? I'm sure she's not lookin' to steal anything."
"Very well. And what of you all who accompany Thronè?" Temenos asked.
"We have no objections." Cheetah said.
"Then let our search for clues begin." Temenos said.
And so the two groups began to look around town as they soon came across an elderly man in front of the church. Temenos then went to Coerce him for information, after successfully breaking through, he managed to gather info.
An elderly carpenter and a dear friend of Pontiff Jorg. The trust between the two was so great that he was even privy to church secrets. Though he feigns forgetfulness to keep himself out of trouble's way, his memory is still quite sharp.
"Ah, the inquisitor… I suppose I could tell you about it. The pontiff once swore me to secrecy, you see…" the old man said.
"...How intriguing." Temenos said.
"But we must speak elsewhere. Take me to the pontiff's chambers in the cathedral. May the Sacred Flame guide us…or something." the old man said.
"Ah, yes… Guiding is Temenos's specialty." Throne said.
"And quite an effective one too, it seems." Nesma said.
"Let's go." Connor said.
The group started to make their way to the cathedral.
"You know, Cheetah. Of all people to be paired up with, I didn't think it would be you in a million years." Connor said.
"I'm not surprised you would think that way, given the way we first met." Cheetah said.
"Yeah, back then, everyone in our alliance at the time was pretty scared of you. And for very good reason." Connor said.
"Yes. I will admit I didn't give off the best first impression. I was an enemy of yours, after all." Cheetah said.
"Not just Cheetah. Cold and I were on Grodd's side too." Poison Ivy said. "That is… Until we saw what he was really trying to do."
"Yep. After we found out, we jumped ship the first chance we got. It was pretty hard for us for a while." Captain Cold said.
"That's right. Though, there was one person that never gave up on us. Hahaha… It's kind of ironic, looking back on it now." Cheetah said.
"Heh. Got that right. For the longest time, all you can think about was trying to kill him." Connor said.
"That's right. But he certainly was persistent. I'll give him credit for that, at least." Cheetah said.
"This person you're talking about seems like a reliable confidant if you were to go from enemies to friends." Thronè said.
"Friends? Well… I suppose you could say that." Cheetah said.
"They're more like on and off rivals." Leonie said. "Cheetah and David can't resist competing to one up each other."
"Sounds like a pretty nice dynamic you have. I kind of envy that you are able to make such connections." Throne said.
"Don't worry, Throne. Once you are free from the that collar, you'll be able to make lasting connections like that too." Rayleigh said.
"Though admittedly, it was hard to get all of you to trust us. Not that we blamed you." Cheetah said.
"But hey, first impressions aren't everything, right?" Poison Ivy asked.
"Color Gods know that's true or you wouldn't be on call for really tough scraps." Connor said. "Heh. Just look at us, two minor groups bonding like this."
"I would not say you are completly minor now, Connor, seeing as how you're starting to make a name for yourself." Cheetah said. "Promoting your own Hero-For-Hire Buisiness is no small feat of itself."
"Yup. It's not easy, but after what happened earlier in the months and me realizing a lotta things, I'm ready for it. Especially with the people I got with me." Connor siad.
"By that, you mean all of us including Denji?" Hilda asked.
"Especially Denji. Hes important to the office too." Connor siad.
"Cmon man, you know what my job is around the office." Denji said.
"And yet, here you are with us." Lorenz said.
"Don't tell me you enjoy doing this, Denji." Raphael said.
"Can't say I do." Denji admitted. "Anyway, we gonna confirm the rumors about this cathedral treasure or what?"
"So impatient…" Lorenz said.
The group headed inside the Flamechurch Cathedral to speak privately with the former carpenter, going into a certain room.
"Will this area suffice, good sir?" Temenos asked.
"Yes, thank you. This may look like an ordinary bookshelf, but…" the carpenter said, pulling a book to reveal a secret passage. "The mischievous gods couldn't help themselves."
"A secret tunnel!" Ignatz said.
"Well, my, my, my…" Temenos hummed.
"Now then, my job here is done. Do with this knowledge what you will. And may the Sacred Flame light your path…or something." the carpenter said before taking his leave.
"What a strange old man…" Thronè said. "Let's go, everyone."
"Yes. I am curious to see it for myself." Esmeralda said.
The group then took the sacred passage via the bookcase and headed up some stairs. At the end of the path, they soon saw another room where a girl stood inside it.
"Who goes there…?" the girl asked, noticing them.
"Sorry to barge in, we don't mean any harm." Connor said. "We're with someone from the church, if that helps." he said, motioning to Temenos.
"My friend speaks truthfully. I am an agent of the pontiff… or so you could say." Temenos said.
"Oh, a friend of His Holiness… My sincerest apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alpates." the girl said.
"So the treasure Alpates wasn't a something, but a someone?" Lysithea asked.
"My clan has taken the Alpates name for generations. The pontiff has safeguarded us here for years. No one comes but to bring us food." Alpates explained.
"You've been here your whole life?" Thronè asked. "...Like a caged bird."
"Well, that's certainly no way to live." Esmeralda said.
"I suppose you could say that." Alpates said. "Speaking of his Holiness, I haven't seen him lately. Is he well."
"Oooh… guess news doesn't really travel to secluded spots." Connor said. "Sorry to have to tell you this… but Pontiff Jörg was murdered a coulple days ago. His killer was caught, but not all the pieces have been put in place yet. Temenos, my crew and I are trying to solve the mystery, see if it's really a simple murder."
"Ah… I see…" Alpates said to Connor's explanation, staring at the group.
"...What are you looking at? Are we such an unusual sight?" Thronè asked.
"I can see a flame burning within you…" Alpates said.
"A…flame?" Temenos asked.
"Yes… It burns within all of you. It seems the time has come for me to fulfill my mission. There is something I must leave with you. Please, take this." Alpates said as she handed Temenos a piece of a mirror.
"This is…quite a cloudy mirror. Or at least a piece of one." Temenos said.
"Is this meant to be treasure, it looks more like tra-" Thronè started before Lorenz cut her off.
"Now now, weren't you the one who said you didn't have any ulterior motives in this?" Lorenz asked as Throne was silent.
"I must return to my clan to fulfill my mission." Alpates said.
"...Your mission? Just where are you going?" Throne asked as Alpates began to leave before tripping as Throne flashstepped and caught her. "Careful. You can barely stand. Perhaps you should rest before going on your way."
"..Thank you. Yes, your heart is warm indeed. Let us meet again someday." Alpates said before continuing on.
"I still can't belive it. All that for a broken Mirror?" Denji asked.
"Yeah, it was quite a disappointing lead." Aoesia said.
"But it wasn't without merit. We still got something out of it." Cheetah said.
"Yeah, the identity of Alpates. Who that girl was, I dunno, but she had to be important. Right, Temenos?" Connor asked.
"The Pontiff kept her a secret, even from me. She must ve very important…" Temenos said. "Should we have stopped her? I wonder what her mission was…"
"It doesn't matter. It looks like there was no treasure in the end. The rumor was false." Thronè said as she thought back to talking about Alpates with Pirro, Scarraci and Donnie, and even making a bet with them to find out if it existed. "(Looks like I lost the bet.) Let's go, Cheetah. There's nothing for us here."
"A shame, but it can't be helped." Cheetah said.
"Yes. Father is close by. We can't rest on our laurels now." Kareem said.
"Sure you dont need any help taking this guy down?" Connor asked.
"You have your own mission to complete. And besides, we're the ones who dragged you back here." Thronè said. "But there's something about you that's interesting, Connor. Maybe we'll meet again."
With that, Thronè's group departed once more, headed for Montwise.
"Goodness…its truly not easy working with thieves." Temenos said.
"Don't I know it." Connor said. "Cmon, let's get back westwards. We got our own job to do."
"Still though, I don't think it was best to let Alpates go alone." Lysithea said.
Reformed Society and Team Revival went their separate ways for now, their quest to find treasure hitting a dead end… or did it? Little did both groups and their accompaniment know at the time, that one piece of mirror would be more important than they thought.