The Strings Behind Shadows

A lone bell chimed.

Its sharp sound rippled across the air, piercing the whispers and silencing all of them at once. The soft echoes of the chime whispered within the walls.

Aesther glanced back as the bell chimed for the second time.

There was a doorway surrounded by darkness, that captured the bright lights outside. Her gaze lingered on the people. All of them had frozen in their place, their expressions deathly blank.

When the third bell chimed, all of them looked at her.

Aesther returned her gaze. The dim light from the outside soon faded away as she and Ezrahl melted into the shadows of the temple. But in the depths of her heart, dread stirred like a promise.

The images of those dark blank eyes persisted in her mind.

Along with a trail of blood staining the ground outside.

"They were alive," Ezrahl murmured in a low voice, "But not for long."

"Do you have any idea what's happening here?" Aesther grimaced, a bitter uneasiness spread in her heart as she tried to make sense of their situation.

But she could not do that when her mind kept reminding her that the kitsune were primarily spirits of desire, and both Ahzure and Noah might be facing the worst of it.

None of them carried the blood of the dragon.

More importantly, they won't be able to freely use their magic. The forests were a sensitive boundary.

"The temple is sacred, warding off all the nether mana. There are no kitsune spirits nearby." Ezrahl responded quietly.

Aesther recalled the eerie chime and wondered out loud.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I used the Sight on one of the people outside," he said.

Ezrahl did not elaborate. He always only spoke when he was required to.

She was silent for a while. The dull sound of their steps disturbed the quiet darkness.

"Okay…" Aesther wondered how long they have been walking, "Was that all you learned from that person?"

They entered the temple based on just one thing.

Most of the people outside carried the merchant sigil of Crimson Town. If they were brought to a secluded temple like this, it was possible that Noah also arrived here.

Since Ahzure probably went after Noah to save him, he might have arrived there too.

But that was just an assumption.

"He did not know much," Ezrahl replied, "Nothing about Ahzure. Maybe he never came here."

It was quiet again.

After a while, he added, "Try not to worry."

Aesther tightly pressed her lips together, forcing her mind to not think about that small embarrassing moment once again.

The least Ezrahl could do was at least pretend it didn't happen!

'You can be so annoying!'

She cursed in her mind, but out loud, Aesther's voice was soft and amused.

"You are truly remarkable, Ezrahl," she lightly chuckled, "It takes people ages to master the Sight, but you're already so adept in it."

Aesther had been beside him, and he broke into the mind of someone so easily and quickly that she could not even notice.

It was indeed impressive.

But mostly frightening.

"No," Ezrahl paused, listening to something as he absentmindedly responded, "They were barely alive so it was easy. I am far from mastering the Sight."

She watched him, as the crimson in his eyes faded. A moment later, Aesther frowned.

'Barely alive?'

"What the hell were they doing then?"

"Something," Ezrahl blinked his eyes, there was a distant look in them, "or someone is keeping them here."

"Why…?"

If the spirits were not around the temple, then who could be keeping the people of the town trapped there?

"We will have to see."

He replied, gesturing towards the path in front of them. They had little time, and it was a must that they are swift, and secretive in their plan.

In the best-case scenario, the temple will carry their answers.

Noah would be saved, and Ahzure would be found.

All of them can return to Crimson Town before anyone even finds them missing. The situation appeared too messy for them to meddle in.

Their team lacked the authority and permissions.

Once they are back in town, they can simply report what happened to Lady Eleanora. Aesther knew she will deal with the matter as soon as possible.

The narrow path ended soon enough, opening up to a large hall. It was a typical temple interior, carrying giant curtains and an altar in the middle. The old foggy windows welcomed the dim silver light of the moon.

However, being a temple associated with death and graves, there were a few dusty coffins neatly stacked in the corner too.

They were exactly what Aesther was looking for.

"They are coming," she quickly whispered, grabbing Ezrahl's cloak.

He did not resist as she almost dragged him across the hall. The distant footfall was coming closer now, as did a faint glow of light.

But they had no time to look back.

The closest coffin was vertically resting against the giant window. As it would be too much of a hassle to take shelter in the stacked coffin, Aesther opened the standing one.

"Oh perfect," she exclaimed in relief, "We can both fit in here!"

It would just be like stepping inside a closet.

Ezrahl's gaze hardened as he silently glared at the coffin.

"What's wrong with you?"

Aesther was dumbfounded by his strange reaction. What was there to think about when they were under such tense circumstances?

The giant gates of the temple begin to open with a loud creak.

Ezrahl turned his back to the coffin. His eyes were filled with complicated emotions as he looked at her.

"We need to leave this place."

"..."

Aesther blinked in puzzlement and let go of his cloak. But there was no time to think too much, the gates were now completely open and her heart lurched with panic at the first bright ray of light.

She shoved him inside the coffin using all her strength and followed in haste. There was a flicker of gold as her mana shut the coffin shut in one swift gesture.

But the impact was too sudden.

Too strong.

The heavy coffin collapsed with a loud thud and a rumbling crunch. The dark old wood was crushed in several places, breaking apart in splinters even though most of the coffin remained whole.

'Woah…' Aesther wondered as she stared at Ezrahl's startled expressions, 'Am I getting finally strong?'

But she decided to think about that later and asked in a low voice, "Why did you want to leave, by the way?"

Ezrahl's lips settled into a deep frown as he ignored her question and decided to remain silent.

He looked outside the coffin through a small crack in the wood.

Aesther followed his gaze.

It was hard to see anything properly, but from where they are, they could see the altar. The temple hall was slowly being filled with the people in their youth.

All of them wore equally euphoric smiles.

One by one, they all knelt in front of the altar.