Temenos Mistral
Temenos awoke as he always did, with sunlight streaming into his eyes through the crack in his curtains. In about twenty minutes or so, Mindt would be gently knocking on his door as she passed on her way to the church, in about twenty-seven, he would get out of bed, and in about fifty-three, he would present his final paper play to the children before departing on his investigation. A part of Temenos felt guilty: despite the fact that the Pontiff had died less than a full day ago, Temenos had lost little to no sleep. Then again, Temenos couldn't very well investigate properly without good sleep, could he? Safe in the knowledge, Temenos sighed lightly and rolled over in his bed before the prophesized knock arrived.
"Temenos! Make sure you don't disappoint the kids before you leave, ok? They're really looking forward to it today!"
"I wouldn't dream of it, Mindt!" Temenos groggily yelled back. The soft sound of a giggling Mindt slowly retreated from his door as Temenos sat up rubbing an eye. …Very well. First things first. He thought to himself. Stretching his arms as he stood up, Temenos walked to his cabinet and began idly searching through the various newspapers he had collected over the years. Somewhere in this pile could be a clue. Temenos kept it to remind himself of certain recent historical events, as well as notice what the paper would omit occasionally, which he knew to be the truth. For instance, he thought as he flicked through a few pages, how Roi vanished without a trace. Roi, a fellow inquisitor and Temenos' best friend, had been missing for… well, long enough for Temenos to accept the worst case scenario. Inquisitors were of course high ranking officials in the church, and would occasionally find their way into the paper. Temenos himself had once been interviewed by a plucky young reporter about his, now infamous, paper plays. He didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about. They were just stories for children, but apparently he was a visionary.
However, Roi never even got so much as a nod from the paper when his position was filled back in due to his absence about a year ago. They would report on an inquisitor's pastime he created for children, but not an inquisitor's disappearance? It was, in a word, suspicious. Temenos continued filing through his collected papers as he heard the sound of kids playing in the town plaza in the distance. Headlines began to blur, "Toto'haha: Land of Mystery Unraveled", "Scholar Sentenced to Life Imprisonment", "A Brief History of Ku", "Thieving Problem only Grows in New Delsta, Possible Riots Beginning?". Temenos' eyes were beginning to glaze despite his better efforts as he put away the stack he was working on. Nothing explicitly helpful to the case, and nothing even remotely connected besides. He hadn't been expecting much anyway. Still, he would have regretted not looking. Why keep a cabinet of old newspapers if he never bothered to use them, after all. Temenos casually hummed as he set about his small house, gathering his paper puppets and putting on his robes.
The puppets rustled in his loose pockets as he put them in slowly and individually, taking care not to crumple or rip them in any way. Seeing the Gods in such a state, tiny smiles drawn precisely and cutely, Temenos felt a smile creep onto his own lips. Why Aelfric saw fit to grant him any sort of power given the way Temenos treated him and the rest of the pantheon, he may never know. To say that he didn't have reverence would be untrue, it would be a little difficult to rise this high in the ranks of the church if one's belief was false. No, Temenos just had his own way of interacting with the Gods. Temenos simply talked to them as he would any other. They had personalities and feelings, right? Besides, they were likely getting tired of all the stuffy penance the masses showed them all the time. Once the final puppet, Vide the Wicked God, was placed gently into his robes, Temenos grabbed his staff and looked into the small mirror by his door. He moved his collar. He brushed his hair. After another moment of staring, he burst into a grin. The mundanity of the morning had practically made him forget that he would be leaving to investigate today. Tragedy aside, a new case was cause for joy. Planting a light smirk on his face, Temenos opened the door and greeted the day.
"Awww, do you really have to, Temenos?" said a particularly clingy kid as he fastened himself around Temenos' leg. Mindt was giggling in the corner as she watched Temenos try to shake him without accidentally hurting the boy. Mindt of course had two children dangling from her as well. She was always popular with them too, even more so than Temenos. Temenos chuckled softly as he placed a hand on the child's hair and mushed it about. That was enough for the kid to detach his arms and laugh as he tried to get the inquisitor to stop.
"I'm afraid I do." he said, sad, yet with a determined undertone so the boy wouldn't worry. "After all, it's my job to figure out what really happened last night."
"...Last night was scary." the boy said sadly, his cheerful attitude slowly fading as he grabbed an arm and looked away. "Why would someone do something like that, Temenos? Did the Pontiff do something bad?"
A possibility, to be sure. Temenos thought. "Of course not. That's why we need to make sure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice." Temenos said, maintaining an overall positive tone. Another child cheered.
"Yeah! Go get the bad guys Temenos!"
"We'll make sure Mindt doesn't get in trouble while you're gone!"
Mindt laughed as she kneeled to the kids level. "Oh? Are you guys going to protect me?" She mused. Temenos warmed a bit at the sight. He always had a soft spot for Mindt. She was one of the only clerics who would meet him at his level, play along with his humor, and if he were to be honest… well, the only one that really seemed to tolerate him at all. Temenos understood that he had a tendency to get under people's skin. It was a trait he couldn't help. While he may have had a bad habit of prying too deeply into people, it was simply the price of getting the truth, and Temenos would pay it gladly. As Temenos watched the sight, he slowly came to a realization.
…Her hair clip isn't on today. He thought. How curious, she always wore that particular bauble. Perhaps she was in a rush this morning. Perhaps she was letting one of the kids borrow it, though he didn't see it on any of them. Perhaps she simply wanted to change things up. Perhaps she killed the Pontiff. Temenos turned his head to stifle a laugh at the thought. Nonsense. There is no correlation between them. Don't get too excited about the case just yet, Temenos. He thought to himself as he coughed for the kids attention again. They quieted and turned to him as he squatted to meet them.
"I'm sure you will all be very good while I'm gone? And, perhaps if you're feeling kind, you won't run poor Mindt into the ground…?" He said happily, holding out his arms. The kids ran up and hugged him, chattering over each other as they tried to say their goodbyes. After what felt like an eternity, one of the kids said that the postman was arriving at the village gates and in a matter of moments, the kids were out of the church. Apparently, Temenos recalled, they had a new toy or something arriving today. As he looked wistfully at the open doors, Mindt placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Well, you said you wanted to leave after your play. Do you have everything you need?" Mindt said dotingly.
Temenos sighed lightly as he turned to her. She was a bit shorter than him, with a radiant smile. How easy it was for her to trust. It almost made Temenos want to cry. Almost.
"Yes I believe I do." He finally said, turning back towards the door. Against the wall was the pack he had placed there the night before, filled with extra robes, a staff and some food for the road.
"Are you sure? It's going to take a long time to get to the Western Continent, you know. The boat alone is about a week's time."
"Yes, I'm aware. Don't fuss so, it wouldn't do to be unfocused when you're going to be putting on my plays in my absence."
"W-What? I don't recall agreeing to that!"
"Someone must. They are masterworks, after all."
"W-Well… if you have scripts…"
"On my desk in my office at the cathedral."
"O-Ok! I'll try!"
If nothing else, her enthusiasm is endearing. Temenos thought.
"...I see you're not wearing your hair clip today." He casually mentioned as he bent over to lift up his pack.
"You saw that, huh? Gee Temenos, nothing gets by you does it?" Mindt said sheepishly as her cheeks turned a light pink and she looked away. "It's not very nice to look at someone that intently, you know."
"So I've been told and will be told again, I'm sure." Temenos said happily. "Just an observation, that's all."
"R-Right. Well, if you must know, I lost it yesterday during all of the commotion. Everybody was running back and forth and… well, I don't need to tell you do I? That's why you're going on your journey."
"...Quite." Temenos said, maintaining a neutral face as something pricked the back of his mind. For the briefest of moments, it felt like Mindt had just lied to him. Then, as he continued to process it, his rational side took over. My my, you really are excited to get into the meat of this case, aren't you? Temenos chastised himself. Can't jump at EVERY shadow, can you? "Well," he said, "I hope you find it soon. It seemed important to you."
"Thanks Temenos." Mindt said happily, a bright grin plastered on her face. "Don't forget to write, ok?"
"Oh, I will." Temenos teased. "But I expect you won't."
"I won't! After all, I'll just be so bored without my favorite inquisitor around!" Mindt teased back. The two laughed and exchanged a hug. "...Be safe, Temenos." Mindt said.
"I will, I promise. Now, I've dawdled long enough. I shall be off." Temenos untangled himself from the embrace and held the bulb of his staff to his forehead in a mock salute. Mindt giggled and waved him off, turning back towards the church interior and walking away. As Temenos stepped out into Flamechurch, the small mountain village he called home, his sense of mystery fully took over. Excitement quickly filled his brain as he nearly skipped down the uneven stone steps towards the village entrance. Finally, he had work. No more idleness, no more waiting for the day something happened worthy of his attention in this tiny little town and no more making paper puppets to entertain people who were still learning their numbers. Temenos' eyes caught an almost sinister glint as he grinned to himself. He was going to find out what happened to the Pontiff. He was going to find out what happened to Roi and that cursed bow he found. He was going to find out all of the secrets the church wished so desperately to hide, and he was going to drag them kicking and screaming into Aelfric's light. He was not a babysitter for children and new clerics, he was an inquisitor, and he was on a mission.
A short ways outside of the village gates, still in his own mind, Temenos was brought to a standstill by a man on the road.
"Temenos Mistral, I take it." the man said gruffly.
"Why yes, that is my name! How ever did you know?" Temenos said calmly as his grip tightened ever so slightly on his staff.
"All I need. Can't have the Pontiff's own royal hound sticking his nose into things can we?" The man said, quickly pulling a set of knives from his belt. If Temenos was excited before, now he was ecstatic. A real assassination attempt! For me! he shouted in his mind as the man advanced. How wonderful! That means I must really be doing the right thing by leaving. Otherwise they could have just killed me last night. Furthermore, this implies that there is a group effort responsible for- oh, my, he's upon me isn't he? Temenos thought as he sidestepped and tripped the arrogant oaf, eliciting a groan as the man's chin hit stone and he scrambled for the knife he dropped. Now where was I? Oh, yes, a group must be responsible. After all, I've never seen this man before in my life, and he clearly works for someone. Perhaps the knights? Their appearance last night was rather sudden, as though they knew what was to happen to the Pontiff. I suppose it could still be an individual and a hired assassin, but judging by the fact I just tripped him with ease I don't think this man kills for money. No no, far more likely he kills for a cause. I should- oh, yes, battle. Temenos' thought as he quickly waved his staff, sending an arrow of light through the man's shoulder and knocking him back onto the ground he had just risen from. I should probably make sure he stays alive. Perhaps if I can really get a good look at him he can tell me what I wish to know. Temenos nodded to himself in conclusion and raised his staff again. Though, I really detest battle. Maybe I can…? Temenos glanced around as the man slowly began to rise in pain, having lost the use of his left arm and growling like a common beast.
"I'm going to kill you!" The man shouted angrily, pointing his knife at Temenos.
"Yes I gathered that, thank you." Temenos said distractedly as he continued to view the surroundings. There, on the pathway a little down the mountain! From this distance Temenos could see a towering man with an impressive physique walking up the stone steps towards the town. He would be perfect. Temenos glanced at his assailant, who was panting in pain and stared daggers back, before dashing towards the man heading up the path.
"H-Hey, get back here!" The assassin said, limply running after the cleric.
"Excuse me!" Temenos shouted at the approaching man. The man glanced up from his feet and his eyes narrowed behind glasses that seemed too small for his face. A mane of blonde hair and a thick beard coated most of the man's features, but as he approached Temenos could make out a fire in his eyes, and harsh, taught cheeks from rough conditions. "I'm being assailed by a ruffian! Could you help me? Fighting is not what I do." Temenos chuckled. The man looked past the cleric at the assassin and processed the situation before turning back towards him.
"...You're already winning, aren't you?" He finally said. "...Leave me alone."
"Oh my, aren't you cold?" Temenos clicked his tongue in mock disappointment. "Keep that up and that thousand yard stare will only get longer, you know."
"You do not seem very concerned about being attacked." The man quietly replied, casually ignoring the snarky cleric's remark.
"Read me, have you? How fascinating. Perhaps we are alike, you and I?"
"...Then you know I wish to be left alone." The man reiterated.
"But you won't let me die, will you?" Temenos said certainly. The man's eyes narrowed. Temenos turned around to see the hobbling assassin… Well, the random thug was more accurate, but far less exciting. Anyway, he was slowly making his way towards the cleric, clearly beaten with blood running down the length of his arm and drooling out of his mouth. In a few seconds, Temenos posited, he would catch up and take a wild swing, ending the inquisitor's journey mere yards from home, if he let him. Temenos turned back to the hulking man before him and calmly put away his staff.
"...What is this?" The man said, squinting in confusion. "He's attacking you. Fight back."
"No, no need for that. As I said, you won't let me die. I can tell." Temenos said clearly, stretching his hands behind the back of his head and keeping his back toward his assailant.
"..."
"..."
"...Fine." the man finally sighed. Temenos grinned as he looked back toward his attacker.
"Now, if you don't mind, I wou-" Temenos was cut off by a sudden chill down his spine as an icicle flew past his ear and impaled itself into the would-be murderer's neck. As the man weakly clutched at it and fell to the ground, quickly perishing, Temenos slowly finished his sentence as he turned back to his savior. "...would like him alive, I was trying to say."
The hulking man, it turned out, was not a physical fighter despite his bulky build. An old wooden stick was gripped in a massive hand and letting off a cool mist at the tip. Temenos felt a sweat drop roll down his face as he observed that the scowl on the man's face was not only quite pissed, but one that he only just recognized. One that he had seen this morning, in fact.
"...Then you should have done it on your own. You're clearly capable." the man said coldly, bringing his staff back into the fold of his massive coat.
"...You…" Temenos struggled for words. What an incredible development… he thought. A new excitement took over, and quickly found itself sprouting inside Temenos' brain.
"I'm leaving." The man said, walking past the lanky cleric. "If you don't like fighting, don't travel." he offered as he passed.
"You're Osvald V. Vanstein." The cleric called after him. The man immediately turned and shot a fireball directly towards Temenos' head but the cleric had anticipated this and shielded himself with a barrier. As the smoke cleared in front of his face Temenos held up his hands in surrender. "I really wasn't lying earlier, I detest fighting. Besides, I would never turn in someone I owe a debt to!" Temenos lied. It was half true. Temenos absolutely would turn in someone he found worthy of it, but having read and re-read the transcripts of the Vanstein trial, Temenos' inquisitive mind couldn't help but poke holes in many parts of the case. As Temenos weakly smiled at the man's face, he knew. Vanstein would be an excellent brain teaser for the road ahead, and muscle beside. He could do worse for a travel companion.
"...How do you know who I am? Did Harvey send you?"
"I don't know who that is." Temenos said genuinely. A vague recollection of one of the witnesses from the trial poked the back of his mind but didn't surface. "Listen, I think we could help each other out. You see I find myself on a quest most dire, the Ponti-"
"...Not interested." Osvald said, slowly putting away his staff. "You didn't see me."
"Oh, but, I can see you right now!" Temenos teased, giggling into the sleeve of his robe. Osvald glared harshly at the man.
"..."
"As I said, I believe you and I can start a beautiful partnership. You see, I have a very keen nose, as I'm told, and I'm setting out on a journey to solve a most perplexing puzzle. Having a scholar of your stature, as well as a fighter of your strength would be a great boon. Besides, anyone who could escape Frigit Isle and live is someone who's brain I'd like to pick. That is where they sent you, isn't it? How ever did you get out?"
"...I am not your plaything, cleric."
"Ah, of course not, but we would need to fill the silence somehow when we camp out under the stars as traveling companions, would we not?"
"We will do no such thing."
"No? Even if I can dig up information for you?"
Osvald pinched the bridge of his nose, and Temenos knew the man was growing tired of the conversation, but he almost had him. Just a bit more…
"...What kind?"
Temenos shrugged. "Any kind. What are you looking for?"
"...Not what, who. Harvey."
"Ooh, how sinister sounding. Is that all?" The hulking man nodded, apparently tired from the drawn out conversation, his body still shifted in the direction to Flamechurch and questioning why he hadn't already backed out of the conversation. Temenos had found the man's exploit. He was clearly desperate for any information on this Harvey fellow.
"Well then I think our agreement can be simple. You walk with me on the road to dissuade any further attempts on my life, I will keep my eyes and ears peeled for any information on your mystery man."
"I…" Osvald said as a tired look suppressed his face.
"If you doubt my ability to do so, well, you're a fool." Temenos said simply. "After all, I've already said so much I know about you, with nothing but a glance. As a man of knowledge, I'm sure you understand I'm the… real deal, as it were?"
Osvald slowly nodded his head and closed his eyes in thought. After what felt like an eternity, he finally opened his mouth. "...Fine."
"Excellent! I'm certain we will become fast friends. Oh, I go by Temenos, by the way. Temenos Mistral. It's really a pleasure."
Osvald nodded once and didn't accept Temenos' outstretched hand. "...Sure." Osvald said bitterly, with clearly more than a few wrenches thrown in the plans of a man Temenos could tell was extremely meticulous.
"Well, it's off to New Delsta with us. Come along, Osvald! Don't worry, I'll give you a break for a while. I can tell that talking pains you. You just walk beside me and look intimidating! I can do enough talking for us both, besides."
Osvald shook his head. "Not yet. …I assume the pilgrimage to Flamechurch is still happening these days? It should be a hub of information."
Temenos laughed and began to walk away, leaving Osvald confused. "Oh, don't worry about all that." Temenos shouted mirthfully behind him. "I can tell you anything you want to know about the last five years. That is, of course, how long you were put away, yes? Well, how long you served your sentence anyways."
"...But-" Osvald grumbled as he jogged to catch up to Temenos.
Temenos laughed. "Yes yes, the pilgrimage. Don't worry about that either. It's been canceled." Temenos grinned up happily at the scholar now at his side. "After all, the Pontiff was just murdered!" he said excitedly.
Temenos hummed to himself on a log as Osvald set up some gathered sticks and spare parchment for a fire a few paces off. The road to New Delsta had proven, in a word, quite boring. A few wild animals and monsters had barred their path, but when faced with Osvald's might they quickly were dispatched with minimal effort. Once or twice the pair had been taken by surprise, but Temenos' healing magic soothed any scrapes and bruises with ease. As sad as it was, those were the most exciting things to happen on the road today. Despite his numerous better efforts, Temenos could barely force Osvald to piece more than a few words together when prompted. The vast, vast majority of the conversation was upheld by Temenos, and Temenos alone. This wasn't an awful thing for Temenos, he always had loved the sound of his own voice of course, had even joked about doing enough talking for the both of them, but he could really have done with a bit more from the mysterious man.
There were a few things Temenos had managed to gather through observation so far, however. Firstly, Osvald was most certainly planning to kill this "Harvey" fellow. His animosity was thinly veiled, by which he really meant patently obvious to any and all regardless of how well they could read people, and Temenos had a feeling it would stay that way until the deed was done. Should he stop him? Too soon to tell, but he was certainly leaning towards it. It wouldn't be quite right to have a detective simply watch a murder and do nothing, after all. Now, that of course begged the question of why. The simplest answer, Temenos posited, was that Harvey was the one actually responsible for the death of the other Vansteins and had forced Osvald to take the fall. That would certainly make me consider dramatic action. Temenos grimly thought, a brief flash of Roi's charming smile appearing in his mind. The thought made his features drop and he sighed sadly, leaning back in his seat and stretching his back as he looked towards the sky. He stayed there in idle thought before feeling a warmth on his face and a "phwoomf" as the campfire Osvald had set up burst to life with a simple magic spell.
"Ah, fine work professor. Thank you for taking care of that, I do so dislike such work."
"...Is there anything you like doing?"
"But of course! Everyone needs something to keep them going, don't they? For me it's solving mysteries. Puzzles will do when there are no mysteries on hand. Do you have a particular favorite brain teaser, professor?"
"...No."
"Surely a man of your learning has-"
"I do not."
Temenos was only slightly taken aback by the sudden dismissal, but he figured Osvald had well reached his quota of conversation for the day. Truly, the nice thing to do would be to bid him a good night, relax and go over the case in his mind. Yes, that would be the best course of action, in order to not cause any rift so early in the journey. Of course. Simple reasoning.
"Do you have anything, any hobby that you enjoy and keeps you moving, professor?" Temenos said, curious, unable to stop himself. Osvald stopped writing in his journal, fire reflecting off of glasses just below his eyes as a glare as cold as the icicle that had saved Temenos' life pierced through him. Temenos' face remained unchanged, though he could feel a drop of sweat down the back of his neck. My, how fearsome. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that. He mused.
"...Temenos." Osvald said bitterly. "...I appreciate your help today, informing me of current events as you have, as well as healing me when injured. As a fellow curious mind, I understand you are intrinsically drawn to knowledge, and I'm sure you've pieced together a few things about me already. Allow me to tell you what I've learned." Osvald gently placed a bookmark in his journal and closed it before rising to his full height. Temenos couldn't help but be reminded just how physically overbearing the man was, but rather than fear, Temenos was beginning to harden his own nonchalant gaze as he waited to hear what the scholar had to say.
"You do not care a whit for anyone who cannot provide you with either a puzzle, or who is a source of amusement for you. You have jumped at the chance to solve your murder not because you cared for the Pontiff, but because you were growing weary of your average, peaceful, yet boring days. Days an ordinary man would strive for and cherish to his dying breath." He began. "I am not your play-thing, I am not a puzzle for you to solve. Should I ever feel like telling you about myself, I will do so, but we have known eachother not half a day. I have remained silent because I simply do not want to talk. I would have guessed you understood that." He finally finished. Sighing, he took off his glasses and rubbed them with an old cloth. "...I apologize. I am a private man as it is, and I am… out of practice with social situations, to put it lightly. …For what it is worth, I have also assessed you as an excellent mage, and an impressive fount of information. I do think this partnership could work. I'm even willing to help you with your case, so long as you can provide me with what I need. This can be mutually beneficial but… I will not be able to condone this constant badgering. Let us… start simple." Osvald cleared his throat and sat back down, clearly frustrated at letting himself get so upset. "...How old are you?"
Temenos blinked once, as he processed what had just happened. Nothing Osvlad had said was… particularly new to him. Others had said as much in, albeit, kinder words, but this…. Temenos closed his eyes in thought. …Well, not very nice there, professor. Still, it says a lot. For a start, this man very well could have killed his family with a temper like that, but I still find that unlikely. He would have infinitely more reason to calm himself around them than a stranger like me, and if my theory about Harvey is correct then he is likely quite bitter indeed. Perhaps I have been too nagging. He is fresh out of prison, after all. There is such a thing as being too insistent in one's pursuit of information, after all. I should back off, in actuality this time. He was correct, this could be a very mutually beneficial partnership if I don't poke the bear too much. Temenos concluded before dryly clearing his throat. "I'm 30 years old. How about yourself?"
"38." Osvald said flatly. "Let us let that be enough for today."
"Yes, perhaps we should. Have a good night, professor."
"Mm." Osvald gruffed, before opening his journal and continuing to write.
Temenos quietly shed his cowl and looked back at the stars, his mood admittedly soured. Much the scholar had said was true. Yet, frankly put, what did he know? He was correct, Temenos was of course also traveling for answers about Roi as much as the Pontiff. As altruistic as solving the murder of such a vaunted church official was on paper, well…
But that was enough of that. The night was late, New Delsta only another half a day's journey away, and tensions were surely high from the day's travels. He would make a better effort in the morning to broker peace with the enormous brute. For such a bookish type, he's certainly not unfamiliar with throwing his weight around. Must have been all the prison time. Placing the cowl to his side, Temenos yawned and shifted his body to lean his head on it, balancing on the log and closing his eyes. …Do not worry Roi, Pontiff. I can play nice enough to get the help I need to avenge you. Besides, the journey will be long, and if I can convince him to stay on board, well… there's always tomorrow and the next day and the next to get my answers.
A/N: Don't really have an extensive author's notes other than the usual I'm not dead, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be from Throné's POV. Pce