[hider=Take Me to Church: AshxAoixMatteo]
With Matteo on the ground, Old Bear being hauled off by guards, and the crowd dispersing, Ash finally could see what had went on. It was rather easy to deduce what had happened, but why was more difficult. Matteo had been utterly demolished by the man. Aoi had been involved somehow. She had no idea who the woman with braids was, though.

When the woman with braids commented on how bad Matteo looked, Ash couldn’t help but want to see what damage had been done. She went to him and did the best she could to figure out his condition. It wasn’t bad? His nose was broken, blood was everywhere, but his breathing wasn’t terrible. Ash didn’t actually know much about medicine. Perhaps she might have, but couldn’t remember a thing about it. Though, that was the same as not knowing. His condition was, to Ash’s instincts, survivable.

[b]”Sh-should we move him?”[/b] Ash said, slightly rattled by suddenly seeing Matteo suddenly injured.

Aoi was frozen with regret and guilt as she watched Ash move towards the lifeless, yet still breathing body of Matteo. She herself followed suit seconds after with the waitress that had pulled her out of the battle circle still in tow.

Returning a glance at the waitress, Aoi asked, [b]“Is there anywhere we can take him? We need to check his injuries…”[/b]

The waitress with the braids started as she was spoke to, before quickly gathering herself. Turning towards one of the taverns, she wondered how long she'd have before her boss yelled at her for slacking off, before she said, [b]“You two can take him up north, to the church. They'd be able to heal him up for sure.”[/b]

Ash got a grip on herself. Matteo was injured and, despite having no stake in what had transpired, Ash felt morally obliged to at least help carry Matteo to the church. With her hands full of pork, she wouldn’t have been much help. After shuffling her 90 coins about, she had managed to fill her coin bag to capacity with her left and right pocket being bloated from the bronze. Her meat was hastily wrapped in the wax paper and placed into her coat pocket. She walked to his legs, shuffling her hands around his ankles to find a good place to grab. Matteo didn’t seem to be heavy. Even if she wasn’t the strongest, Ash could probably lift him with the help of Aoi.

[b]“Thanks,”[/b] Ash said to the waiter before turning to Aoi, [b]“get his arms and make sure he doesn’t choke on his own blood or tongue.”[/b]

She could have asked someone for a cart to put Matteo in. Emphasis on could. Based on all of their interactions, asking someone for a free favor wouldn’t work out. She could have rented a cart, but then again, Matteo wasn’t exactly a friend. If she could even find a hardy stick, she could try to support his neck with it. Unless Aoi dropped him and his head slammed on hard cobble, Matteo would probably be fine carried like this. Emphasis on probably. Ash wasn’t a doctor, after all.

Listening to what was asked of her and what was told to them by the waitress, Aoi complied. She slipped herself into a position that she was able to help carry the deadweight of the bloodied and beaten Matteo, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

[b]“I’m so sorry.”[/b] Aoi whispered in his ears as they began their trek to the church north of them.

It was slow going for the two, even if they opted to work together to carry their unconscious compatriot. Despite the general direction of ‘northwards’, the actual distance was rather far, and Aoi and Ash ended up navigating the quiet city for a good half an hour before they came in sight of what may be the church. A glorious temple embedded into the sheer face of a mountain, it must have been a sight to behold during the day, but at night, with the iron stench of Matteo’s blood clogging their noses, the sweat of their own body turning their clothes sticky in the heat of the summer night, it was simply soul crushing. The long flight of stairs leading up to massive doors had been a truly arduous hell to ascend, and once they finally reached the top, their knees quaked, legs and lungs weak and wobbling.

Candle light decorated the stone doors, where religious murals featuring six beings connected to a single, abstract creature was engraved. Behind them, the dim city, so dark and lightless, felt alienating and disturbing, while farther off, the two of them could see the true vastness of the wilds, of forests and mountain ranges illuminated by twin moonlight.

But that wasn’t what they were there for. No, they were here to enter the church on the mountain, seeking healing for their friend.

[b]“Ash,”[/b] Aoi said, panting as she was almost out of energy. [b]“Open the door, I’ll hold Matteo up and drag him inside.”[/b] She knew she had some juice left in her tank, so Aoi wanted to make sure she was giving her all as Matteo was beaten up because of her, which was still eating at her guilty insidies.

Ash had obliged and gently placed Matteo’s legs on the ground. She had to be extremely careful, after all. It felt as though her body was ready to collapse at any moment. To even place his legs on the ground was arduous. She felt terrible. Every breath she drew felt as though her ribs were slashing her lungs. If not powered by pork, she would have collapsed long ago. Though, it didn’t matter how she felt. What mattered right now were opening those doors.

And open those doors she did. Using both arms and all of the effort she could muster, she pushed the door open, awaiting what was inside.

With a heavy thump, the door opened, revealing the main sanctuary of the church. Wooden pews were lined up row by row to form a crescent shaped formation around a pulpit that was far off in the back. Flames burned on black iron stands, while up above, stained glass windows stood muted against the blackness of the night. A large hexagon, reminiscent of the sun in how rays shot out of its points, stood above the pulpit, an odd white light emanating from it.

There were faint prayers that could be heard, but more prominent was the masses of people present within the church. Far from being empty, the pews were filled with ragged people sleeping on them, the derelict folk that Ash looked away from while in the western parts of the city. It was a sanctuary turned homeless shelter, and to the right side, a few wrinkled faced nuns were stirring a large cauldron, its contents slopping against the sides. Some homeless folk turned with mild interest towards the trio, but none of them approached.

No, a dark haired priest was the first to greet them instead. Dressed in black vestments, with his hair slicked back, he clutched the hexagram in his hand, before forcing a smile that did not seem all that natural.

[b]“Welcome to the House of the First Light, lost lambs. Do you seek shelter? Confession? Or…would you like to make an offering in return for a holy boon?”[/b]

[b]“Ah,”[/b] Ash had mouthed with a pause before she spoke, [b]“our… friend was hurt.”[/b] Her words were ragged and breathy. Stumbling slightly, she moved out of the way, revealing a full view of Aoi and the still-unconscious Matteo.
[/hider]
[b]
"I can see that,"[/b] the priest spoke gravely, [b]"Lay him down on one of the pews. We can discuss your donations afterwards."[/b]

The solemn man did not lend a hand to assist the two ladies in carrying Matteo over onto one of the hard, wooden pews, but he was not all that concerned by the blood and dirt they brought with them to this holy place either. Turning to one of the nuns in the sanctuary, he ordered her to fetch a towel and a bucket of water, before he rolled up his sleeves, assessing the injuries in silence. Two particularly nasty bruises, a broken nose, and many glass shards. Not the worst he had seen, not even close. The slender lad simply lacked the constitution or mental strength necessary to rouse himself from such wounds then. Unfortunate, considering what hung around his neck.

The nun came quickly, bowing her head slightly in reverence before depositing the pail of water there, a beige rag hanging off the rim. He gave her a word of thanks for her speediness, before letting out a breath. One pale hand reached out over Matteo's face, another, onto his chest.
[b]
"Alri-Qua, Keeper of Light, Bestow Unto Him Your Mercy. Heal."[/b]

Twin hexagons of radiance spilled from the priest's hands, sparkling rays washing over Matteo's face. Flesh melted back together, while bruises were utterly erased. One by one, shards of glass pitter-pattered onto the stone floor like small hailstones, pushed out of the flesh by that divine miracle, until all that remained of Matteo's beating was the twisted frame of his glasses and the dried blood that still caked his face. For that, the priest turned to the bucket, wringing the damp rag before wiping away the dark red flakes.

Soon enough, Matteo roused, to the concerned looks of his companions.

[@Denny][@Burger][@Buzzkill]
[hr]
[hider=The One Left Behind: Muu + Hannah in the shadows]
[b]”C-Coin?” [/b]Muu asked rather herself than the fisherman before checking each and every pocket. There was nothing. [b]”I-I got nothing!”[/b] The girl exclaimed with slight horror as she finally looked up, into his face.

Her troubled visage quickly turning one of guilt. He did have a wound, after all. [b]”I-”[/b] She kept stammering awkwardly, before looking down again, slowly tucking with her hands on her sweater. [b]“I’m sorry...”[/b] Gosh, she sure apologized a lot. 

[b]“No coin? Geez, mate, did those fellows get stingier or sumthin?”[/b] He scratched his beard once more, before ultimately shrugging, apparently unbothered by the wound. [b]“Well, just how it is, I guess. See ‘em lights up north? Not dem stars, but dem building-looking things.”[/b]

A fat finger pointed out, towards the buildings north of the seaside city.

[b]“Reckon they give free shelter and porridge to the homeless there. Wouldn’t think its the best place fer a girl like you, but eh, dun need coin fer that.”[/b]

Muu nodded thankfully and gave the fisher a bow. [b]”Thank you very much. I’ll make sure to check it out.”[/b] ‘Homeless’, huh? Was Muu supposed to have a home? With quick, but unconfident, steps, Muu bee-lined for the row of lighted up houses.

Bidding farewell to the fisherman, the trepid girl scampered through quiet streets, towards a part of town that looked much better off than the squalor she had witnessed before. Here, larger estates stood, painted beautiful colors while filled with great glass windows that’d afford a view of either sea or city. High walls and gates surrounded each of the posh buildings, while guards on night patrol regularly strode through the streets. A few of them gave Muu a suspicious glare, but more often than not, they simply ignored her. In one building, someone was playing a piano, the elegant notes wafting through the warm midsummer night. Another building had a strange crest painted on the heavy wooden gates, imposing and ostentatious. A third had a private stable attached, all manner of beasts breathing within.

Yes, Muu saw the lights. A lot of lights, only problem was that the brunette didn't know which house exactly. The ocean seemed a lot nicer. None of the places that picked her curiosity seemed like a 'place for the homeless' in the first place. Nobody would waste their time playing music for those, would they? What about the [s]horses[/s] beasts? Something told her horses were for rich people which meant that, in the end, the crest was left over. For a moment Muu thought that maybe this crest was a sign for a homeless... association! or something. Certainly.

With small steps the girl reached out to the wooden door and knocked three times.

After a long time, with crickets filling up the silence, the twin doors opened up, the coat-of-arms splitting into two halves to reveal a muscular man with a shaven face and long, blond hair. Easily standing one and a half feet taller than Muu, he blinked at the sight of the small girl, before saying gently, [b]“Hey there, little miss. Would you happen to be lost?”[/b]

Muu instinctively took a step back. That person sure was huge! But... seemed nice? Hitting the nail on the head with his question, the girl gave a weak nod. 

[b]“Well, then, guess we’ll have to get you un-lost, right?”[/b] He winked, before placing a hand against his own chest. [b]“My name’s Gavriel. What’s yours?”[/b]

She nodded again. [b]"Y-Yeah...unlost."[/b] The girl murmured in a silent voice before looking up, this time a lot clearer. The man was rather nice to her so she'd better not screw this up! Hopefully he didn't already think too badly of her. [b]"I am Muu... I think. Is this... the homeless shelter?" [/b]

Gavriel blinked at this. Once. Twice. Then he burst into hearty laughter, peals of hilarity rebounding through the empty streets before one of the lights in the estate lit up and an angry voice told him to shut the fuck up. Restraining himself, the blond man took a deep breath, before shaking his head, smiling still. [b]“No, young miss, this isn’t the Church of the First Light. This is the Order of the Silver Light. I’m not totally sure who told you of this place, but I guess they must have been drunk or half-blind, to give you directions here instead of there.”[/b]

As the giant started to laugh and put more and more attention on himself Muu wished she could dissapear. Become smaller and smaller. Her worst nightmare came true as somewhere else, someone else, yelled in an angry voice for Gavriel to be silent. So emberassing! 

As Gavriel finally fell silent again, Muu was already looking downwards again. [b]"Half blind..."[/b] She repeated. This wasn't so untrue, was it? [b]"Church of First Light...? Order of Silver Light?"[/b] She also repeated his words, now feeling even more lost than before.

[b]“Hey, chin up,”[/b] he said, noticing her downturned expression, [b]“Most regular folk don’t know of us Silver Light folks, so don’t be disappointed that you don’t know either. We’re the Moons to the Church’s Sun, ye?”[/b]

[b]"Sun and Moon..."[/b] Muu kept saying in in a SUPER FUCKING LOUD voice before becoming a bit louder, wondering. [b]"I... I don't like the sun very much." [/b]A simple statement. More to herself than to Gavriel.

[b]“But it’s because of the Sun that the world lives, no?”[/b]

Oh, did he hear her? What she said was [s]kinda edgy[/s] weird, wasn't it? But... [b]"Eh..."[/b] Muu started to fidget around on the corners of her clothes. He wasn't wrong, but Muu never meant it like that. [b]"..."[/b] The brunette tried to find the right words, but most that went through her mind was cut off by a feeling of anxiety about what he was now thinking about her. 

Standing there in silence, it was ultimately her stomach that said something. Something along the lines of 'Groowwwll'.

[b]“Ah,”[/b] Gavriel said, carefully keeping his face straight, [b]“Have you not eaten dinner yet?”[/b]

Now, Muu wished more than ever for the ground to just swallow her up. This was embarrassing. Totally embarrassing! Wanting to die from shame, with a slightly reddish tone in her face, Muu simply nodded. She wasn't really sure when the last time was she had eaten anything anyway, having woken up in that catacombs and all.
[/hider]

[b]"Well, I'd certainly be remiss to send a young lady off on her journey on an empty stomach," [/b]the majestically handsome blond spoke, [b]"Come. Our order is not one that offers free room and board for strangers, but I can at least scrounge up something on the fly to quell the beast within your bosom."[/b]

Dark blue eyes flickered off further down the street, before the barrel-chested man raised his voice.

[b]"Perhaps you'd like to join us too, young miss? The night's dangerous even in Andeave, and I'm certain enough that the two of you are fate-bound, from circumstance, if not from attire."[/b]

[@Skyswimsky][@Changejar]