88 Papyrus Paper

"Why haven't you all been rescued yet? Weren't there investigations carried out by the palace and the paladins?", Atrius asked as he notice the poor condition of the priests. "Why.. uh..My apology, I am Atrius of Greco", he introduced himself politely after dropping a loadful of his thoughts. "And now of Brandenburg", he said. Despite the doubts he have in mind of acknowledging his honorary title of knighthood, he thought that this kingdom needs more trustworthy knights to abolish malicious and deceitful threats to Nether.

"We are afraid. We do not know who to trust.", a pale young priest weakly uttered as he hold onto his right arm with bloody fabrics tied around.

"Bertram? Bertram!", Umbriel couldn't believe his eyes as he see an old friend who was his fellow pupil during his learning years as a scholar. He wiped his tears with the sleeve of his brown cassock as he rush to Bertram. "What happened to you?", Umbriel worriedly asked as he notice how cool his skin and how pale Bertram has become.

"I barely made out alive, but I'm clinging to life. I was caught in fire when I was trying to save some of the priests," Bertram said as he cough a little. Umbriel couldn't bear the sight of unimaginable pain from the terrible burns on Bertram's flesh from his shoulder down to his elbow. "Nice to see you again, my friend", Bertram faintly smiled.

"If not for Bertram, we wouldn't be alive. Heh", Onias said as he brush his long curly hair back as he sat down. He lit his wooden pipe and puffed with a sigh. "After the fire, there were a lot of knights in armors who checked in. One of ours got out and tried to ask for help but, he ended up headless. That knight was wearing an imperial emblem", Onias explained as he nod at Atrius.

"If only Aldo… chose to stay here with us, he wouldn't be dead now", Bertram said weakly. "May his soul find peace", he added. 

"What happened here in Holy Land?", Umbriel asked. The priests looked at each other with a sour taste of the horrifying past in their upturned mouths. Side by side on their seats, they trembled as they kept mum on the terror they all witnessed. 

"Why don't we continue the conversation upstairs? We hunted meat. Maybe we can talk over a nice meal", Atrius offered. The priests looked like they've been through a lot, and hunger must have gone over them. 

"No no, no, that is not a good idea", Elijah shook his head in refusal. "How do we know if they can be trusted? We don't even know what awaits us outside the tunnels", he added as he clasp his hands together.

"You can trust us. We are not particularly in a good situation right now but, I assure you all, we are good people. And based on what happened in Brandenburg early today, we're not sure who to trust in the imperial palace as well. But... you can sureles trust us!", Umbriel said as he encouraged the priests to join them.

"No!", Elijah said firmly. "We have sacrificed a lot to stay alive! We can't just ignore all the dangers just because you're here. We cannot be saved by people who have problems of their own. It will complicate things more", he scoffed in heightening anxiety.

"Well, why not?", Dorson wondered. "I'm famished, dirty, and thirsty for clean water. And I would love a change of clothes too. If it weren't for the incense, we could die of our filthy smell", he said as we try to wet his dry lips. They pass water in the corner of the room, and drop a deuce in hole they dug on the floor. The priests managed to gather a few bread and water, but their supplies have started to run out because of too much hunger.

"And maybe, Bertram can get his wound treated", Elon said as he worry about the condition of his fellow priest. He could only pray that Bertram would survive the nights and days.

"Or, we can stay here and stay alive", Elijah said bitterly. "If they want to help, why don't they give us food, water, medicines… and all sorts of things that we would need to survive? Why don't Sir Atrius find out what happened here in the Imperial Palace himself", Elijah continued to convinced everyone to stay. 

"You know we can't stay here forever", Dorson said as he stare fixedly on Elijah. "Someone needs to know the real story of what have happened here. We cannot just hide and do no thing", he said.

"I don't mind staying here for the rest of my life", Elijah said as he slump on his seat.

"Looks like I would stay here forever too", Bertram coughed as he gasped weakly. His every breath has been tough but a mere blessing of life. The high priests continued to argue between staying or going. For Atrius, it was a difficult conversation to hear. The fear that have dug deep in their minds are hard to uproot. He just patiently waited until the priests have come up to a decision.

MEANWHILE

Haelan patiently waited for Atrius and Umbriel to come back. While she kill time, she took a good look on the relics displayed in the hall. "I can't believe these once belong to my people", Haelan whispered as go over each piece fervently. From wooden spoons, ivory combs, floral hand mirrors and gold rings, to oil paintings, scriptures and gems, Haelan observed for the most dainty things that meets her eyes. What puzzled her were the different crests inside the drawers that were to many to count. "Why are you here?", she whispered.

Not one relic was moved from its place. The dusts sheathed the artifacts covering every item thickly. Looking around, a painting with a black wooden frame hanging on the far end of the hall caught Haelan's eye. It was of a girl in a black gown standing in the middle of the meadow looking to the right.

As she go across the wall display, she found more framed scriptures, and drawings on old papyrus paper. Mid-way, once again, another painting with the same viridescent background and black wooden frame drew her attention. It was a girl standing on the meadow looking to the left. It was then Haelan thought of something. She stepped back to see a wide view of both paintings. Haelan exchanged glances on both artworks figuring out if it tells her something. As she observe closely, she noticed that the shades of the painting points to a certain direction. Placing her scepter against the glass cover nearby, she traced the hues with her fingers and led her to a framed papyrus paper with circles and symbols.

Haelan took the drawing and examined the symbols drawn in red ink on a piece of an old papyrus paper. "I know this.. these are glyphs ", Haelan whispered as she remembered the soul traveler codes her father used. There were three circles intertwined with each other. Inside each circle, there were symbols. "This one is time.. but it's on reverse", Haelan said as she squint her eyes on the circle with a cross with two dots. "This one is definitely a soul traveler, but… why are there elements of water, wind and earth?", Haelan said as her eyes move on the two arrows crossed surrounded by elemental symbols of life. "Maybe it's a Celestial", she shrugged her shoulders. "And this one.. what is this?", Haelan creased her brows on a symbol she doesn't recognize. Inside the circle, there's an eye with knots all over. Right on top of the intertwined circles, there's a sign of the a crescent moon with a star. "Hmm.. interesting", she uttered.

Haelan has her head buried on the drawing when Atrius finally got out from the open passageway on the floorboards. She hanged the drawing back on the wall, took her scepter, and rushed to her comrade. "What took you so long?", she asked as she help Umbriel come up the ladder.

"We have a little bit of a surprise", Atrius said as he turned his head towards the open floorboard.

With anticipation, Haelan found herself dumbstricken as she sees five priests come out one by one. "Survivors? This is good news", Haelan said delightfully.

.

"You didn't say you have a friend waiting here", Elijah said as he catch his breath as he struggle to step out of the floorboard.

As soon as everyone have finally got out of the tunnel, Umbriel stood between the wary priests and Haelan. "High priest, everyone, this is Sir Haelan. Not just another knight but a new paladin recognized by Brandenburg", Umbriel said nervously as he sees the lines on the priests' forehead deepens.

"We are glad that your lives were spared after a horrendous attack on this place. I couldn't imagine what you all have been through", Haelan greeted with empathy.

"This knight knows how to play words.", Elijah scoffed. "Don't forget Umbriel, if we all die, your hands will be dirty of our deaths and your conscience will never be clear as the morning sky", Elijah clenched his jaw at Umbriel. No matter how hard he insisted to stay in the tunnels, the majority have decided to come out.

"Do not threaten Umbriel, Elijah. He means well", Dorson said as he heaved a long sigh on the fresh air out of the tunnel while lending a shoulder to Bertram.

"I pray that we are in the safe hands of Brandenburg's new paladin", High Priest Onias nodded at Haelan. He couldn't help but notice the scepter on Haelan's hand. "A paladin with a scepter?", he asked.

"A gift from Brandenburg", she said as she clasp on the scepter. "Are you hurt?", Haelan placed her head to the side as she look over Bertram. She was about to take a step closer with her hand extended but Elijah was too chary of her presence.

"Please don't touch us and don't go near us", Elijah said as he glare at Haelan. Haelan was taken aback as she pursed her lips at the priest's rudeness.

"I apologize for this, Sir Haelan. Please give them some time", Umbriel forced a smile apologetically.

"It's fine", Haelan said as she back up.

"I will just call on Jac and Ottis. We'll share food with all of them", Atrius told Haelan.

"Go, I've got this", Haelan said. "I'll camp outside, if you all don't mind", she uttered as the priests follow Haelan with their eyes cautiously.