(A/N: This short interlude is comprised of extracts taken from my fanfiction "Janga's Final Bounty", which, in my own Klonoa fan lore, takes place between chapters 4 and 5 of Returning to Priestesshood (largely due to them being written around the same time). Due to this link between the two stories, I have decided to select these two sections from chapters 3 and 4 of J.F.B., slightly edited to help it fit better in this story. Think of it as a bonus to those who want more of the High Priestess and Leorina (plus, it'll provide some extra context towards some details in chapter 5 of this story.

If you would like to read Janga's Final Bounty in its entirety, you can do so here: /works/47238130/chapters/125925748)

Meanwhile, in another story…

"Never thought I'd ever see you look in the general direction of a book, much less read one, Guntz!"

"Enough with the sarcasm, Leorina, just help us out, alright?"

Klonoa and Guntz had arrived at La-Lakoosha's library, and as much as Guntz was complaining, Guntz was glad to have run into a familiar face, that being the former sky pirate Leorina. Although having said that, more and more people were calling her Leo again these days.

Leorina had recently taken on her once-rejected role as priestess-in-training, and was moving up in the Claire Moa Temple fast, no less because of the support the High Priestess had been providing her. She was even dressed in her old brown priestess uniform to signify this new change.

Today, she was volunteering in the library, within which were extensive archives on the history of Lunatea dating back eons. If a book existed in this world, they probably had a copy somewhere, which was perfect for Klonoa and Guntz's needs. They had received an anonymous tip that information on something called the "Aeternus" might reside within a book entitled 'History of Claire', which was almost certainly within the walls of this library.

"Hmm, well, it is certainly an obscure tome, this 'History of Claire'." Leorina said as she scratched her chin, dressed up in her priestess uniform. "I'll have to go downstairs and look through the archives to find it."

"Sure, fine, we'll wait here." Guntz snapped in a huff at the delays as Leorina headed off with a slight smirk.

Some things never change.

It took a little while, during which Klonoa and Guntz were left mulling around in the lobby, but eventually she returned to the waiting pair with a massive doorstopper of a book. Setting it down on the table they were sitting at, Klonoa and Guntz looked at the damaged and worn cover, featuring a golden rendering of the deity Claire herself and the title 'History of Claire'. Opening it up, the pair began to sift through it, looking for a reference to the artifact they were after. Leorina, feeling a bit bored from all the book filing she had done that day, decided to join in.

After some time, Klonoa cried out "Look, there it is!" as he pointed to a passage entitled 'Claire's Aeternus' and the three crowded round to get a good look. The passage read the following:

"Of all the artifacts said to be connected to the goddess Claire, few are as legendary and coveted as the Aeternus. Said to be a medallion of great craftsmanship, it's said that Claire created it as a trophy to her chosen champion, a being of unmatched power to all but her. Supposedly, only those wielding power comparable to her own would be capable of activating it and making use of its great rewards.

With enough energy fed into it from the wearer, the Aeternus could activate and bestow them both eternal life and unlimited power, allowing them to remain at their post by Claire's side as her greatest warrior until time was no more, a living symbol of her might.

However, it seemed that wearing the Aeternus made Claire's chosen champion mad with power, and after a time they attempted to use it to usurp her role as the deity that looked over all she had created. Betrayed, she cast them down in a great battle and hid the Aeternus away in their tomb, deactivated so that it could not be used to threaten her or her lands. It is said it remains there to this day, and when fed enough energy to match her traitorous champion, it could be used to grant immortality and infinite power once again."

"How interesting." Klonoa said as he finished reading the passage. "So, this Aeternus is basically a key to ultimate power of some kind?"

"Must be." Guntz replied. "And I'd bet from that letter that someone is after it."

Leorina, however, was deep in thought, and seemed rather worried about something. Guntz was quick to notice.

"Bee in your bonnet, Leorina?"

Quickly scanning round to make sure no one was listening, Leorina waved them closer and started whispering to them quietly. "It is a concerning coincidence that you were pointed to the Aeternus now. Just in the last couple of weeks an archaeological dig was conducted at an ancient burial site near La-Lakoosha. It found an old tomb that hadn't been disturbed in eons, and among the artifacts inside was a medallion that matched this description."

Guntz scanned the passage again. "So, the Aeternus might have been found?"

Leorina furiously shushed him but nodded her head subtly. "It's why we have kept its discovery a secret; we want to verify it's the real deal and keep it safe from those that may wish to cause harm to do it."

Guntz raised an eyebrow. "If it's such a big secret, then why were you told? Aren't you still just a priestess-in-training?"

The question sent Leorina into a mad blush that neither Guntz nor Klonoa were used to. "W-well, the High Priestess trusts me with things of… a secret… nature…" Clearing her throat and trying to pull herself together, she continued. "In any case, we believed that we were the only ones to know it was in our possession, but from this note it seems we have been compromised after all…"

…

Later…

"Do you suppose this plan is misguided?" The High Priestess asked Leorina as they walked through the temple together. The supposedly reformed evildoer Janga had implored to her that they had to take measures to keep the Aeternus out of the grip of the mad scientist Garlen. A plan had been made to secretly move it out of the kingdom to the safety of the Empire of Jillius, but the High Priestess was still quite dubious about everything.

"The way I see it, there are plenty of things that could go wrong" Leorina replied "But truthfully, I cannot think of any better way forward. Our best bet is to try and keep it out of his hands for as long as possible."

"Agreed."

The two of them passed numerous priestesses working on jobs throughout the temple, keeping things running smoothly. Such was the way the Claire Moa Temple had lingered for many generations, and if they played their cards right in this affair, it would go on for many more. As they walked, a golden-haired priestess named Juli glared at them disapprovingly, but they paid her no mind.

"If it would be alright," The High Priestess said after a short silence. "I would like you to accompany me on this journey."

Leorina looked over in surprise. "You sure? I mean, I'm still a priestess in training, and there are plenty of higher-ranking women here who would be happy to…"

The High Priestess raised a hand to quiet her with a patient smile. "They can easily keep the temple safe while I am gone. Besides, I trust that you can be a great help to me if we need it."

Leorina nodded, appreciating the gesture, before a thought came to her head. "What if we took Lolo with us as well?"

The High Priestess raised an eyebrow. "Lolo? Why her?"

"Well, she's Klonoa's friend, so they've been on a few outings together in the past, and she has shown herself to be a brave and resourceful girl." Leorina explained. "Plus, she's been going on for a while about how she wants to prove herself and really show how much she has to offer as a priestess."

The High Priestess considered this, then nodded. "Very well. Once we have finished some business, then you can let her know that she can join us."

Leorina raised an eyebrow. "Business? What business are you referring to?"

As she said this, they arrived at The High Priestess' private quarters, and the High Priestess herself stopped in the doorway and faced Leorina with a slightly coy smile.

"Well, we haven't seen each other too much lately, you've been so busy with your duties." She said, her voice dropping slightly as a flirty undertone undertook her. "I thought before we set off, we could catch up a little in private."

"O…Ōmiko!" Leorina gasped, blushing red as she blurted out the High Priestess' birth name, which not many in the temple knew, let alone felt brave enough to refer to her as. "Are… are you sure there's time? I mean, we don't know how long we have before…"

"Oh, do not worry, I already have some orderlies making the necessary preparations, we'll be ready when they are. Now please come in, I have been missing you…"

"O…Om… Ōmiko…" Leorina mumbled quietly, her blush getting even worse as the High Priestess pulled her into an embrace and led her into her room, closing and locking the door behind her.

A while later, Lolo was in the temple gardens pruning a few of the flowers, which had become something of a hobby of hers as of recent. As she was crouched down over a particularly beautiful specimen, a set of footsteps came up behind her and Leorina's voice rang out.

"Hey Lolo, how would you like to accompany me and the High Priestess on an important mission?"

Lolo jumped a little at the unexpected voice, but when she registered the offer being put forward, she jumped up in excitement. "Oh, of course, I would love to!"

Then, as she turned to face Leorina, she frowned in confusion. Leorina looked oddly unkempt, her uniform scuffled, and she had a dazed expression on her face which was covered in telltale traces of what looked like… kiss-marks?

"Um... Leo? What have you been up to?"

Leorina responded in a bit of a dreamy tone: "Oh, nothing…"

…

And so, the intersecting thread disconnects from this tale and continues on its own, into another story...