After the travelers left behind Montwise, they began their journey in the direction of Clockbank. Partitio needed to speak with a man by the name of Roque there, and Temenos had to wonder if perhaps the Roque in question had anything to do with a corporation that had set up its headquarters in Clockbank. He didn't know enough about the details to say for certain though, and Temenos chose to not ask him about it either. According to Partitio, he hadn't seen Roque in many years, so he likely wouldn't know the answer to the question even if Temenos chose to pose it. 

Besides, there were far more pressing matters for Temenos to have questions about right now. The first among them was wondering why Throné wanted to go to Flamechurch. She claimed that she had heard rumors of a treasure lurking within the streets of the town, but Temenos couldn't say anything about these allegations. He certainly hadn't heard anything about a treasure of this nature, and Temenos had no reason to think there was a secret in the town that he didn't know about. Even so, the thought intrigued him. How could he sleep at night knowing there was a mystery in the city that he had grown up in that he had somehow never heard of? His pride as an investigator would simply never recover, so he was fine with letting Throné's suggestion change the travelers' course for the time being. 

Walking through the mountains was a trying task though, so by the time the group got to Montwise, most of them were lacking in the energy needed to look around the town. They needed to gather supplies for the rest of their journey to Clockbank in the morning, and they needed all the rest they could get before they returned to the road too. Temenos was more than happy to direct them all toward the inn so that he could investigate the mystery in question with Throné. He didn't need the rest of them there anyway. If this was truly a matter of a treasure lurking in the town, then they likely wouldn't be able to help him and Throné get to the bottom of it in the first place. As much as Temenos enjoyed their companies, he knew better than to think they were particularly adept at searching for something that had been hidden out of the reach of the public. 

Beyond that though, Temenos was glad that he wouldn't be traveling with such a large group. He didn't want to attract any attention, and if he moved carefully through the streets at this late hour, then he hopefully wouldn't earn the eyes of anyone he was trying to avoid. Temenos knew that he had acted somewhat controversially when he decided he needed to take bereavement leave after the death of the pontiff. Quite a few people had wondered if he would be taking up Jörg's position within the church, but Temenos had turned down all of their suggestions. Right now, his main goal was to get to the bottom of what had happened to his adoptive father, and he couldn't do that as long as there were people constantly haunting him by watching his every move. He would only have the space he needed to find the truth if he was on his own, and so, Temenos decided he would do all he could to avoid the people who could spread rumors about why he was back in town. 

That meant Temenos wouldn't be able to visit with Mindt at all over the course of his time in Flamechurch, but he admittedly thought that was for the best. Mindt was a fine woman of the cloth, but she was also prone to chatting with people just a little bit too much when she was given a reason to do so. Temenos didn't know if he would be able to trust her to keep his secrets, and so, he would have to keep them out of her reach. Right now, that meant making it in and out of Flamechurch during his brief return visit without her realizing that he was there. That was a problem Temenos simply didn't want to have to solve, and he was hoping with everything he had that no one would call him on it. 

The travelers arrived at Flamechurch late at night, and Temenos sighed when he realized just how empty the streets were. "Home sweet home," he murmured under his breath. "Though I suppose there's nothing really 'sweet' about it..." Life had moved on in Flamechurch while he was gone, and Temenos couldn't decide if he was happy to see that or not. On one hand, it meant that everyone was able to function without him around, but on the other, it felt like an insult to everything that he had been forced to leave behind to search for the truth of the pontiff's death. Change was inevitable, but right now, it sat uncomfortably in his chest like a cluster of lead that had been pressed up against his heart. 

Throné's attention, however, was on something else. She was staring up at the top of the hill at the back edge of Flamechurch where the highest spires of the cathedral peered through the mountaintops. "A cathedral..." She bowed her head in shame, seemingly unable to stand looking at it for longer than a few seconds at once even though it was the center of her fascination. 

Temenos let a small smile spread across his lips even though it didn't feel as genuine as it could have. "Well, well, Throné... Is there something you'd like to confess?"

Throné's eyes hardened and she shook her head. "Not really. I just remembered something." She took a step toward Temenos, but it did nothing to close the emotional distance that had grown between them the instant she decided she would not be meeting his gaze. "I told you before that I had heard rumors of a treasure in town. I heard the rumors of the treasure being specifically within the cathedral. There's not a thief out there who doesn't love treasure." 

Throné raised one hand and flashed a silver coin in Temenos' direction, and he could tell by the way she was carrying it that it was not something she had entered Flamechurch with. They had barely passed by anyone up to that point. How could she have slipped her hand into the pocket of someone without him noticing? Temenos would have to sharpen his senses if he wanted to keep up with her. 

"Is that a coin?" Temenos asked with an arched eyebrow. "'Only a fool cares for charred coin.' Reach into the fire, and you'll get burned."

Throné was entirely unbothered by his warning though, and she sank into an easy, relaxed posture. She shrugged and returned the coin to some pocket that was hidden away within the swirling fabric of her skirt. "No good thief fears a little fire." Temenos shook his head dismissively, having figured out ages ago that Throné was not in the business of taking his advice. If she was, then she would have been honest with Agnea back in New Delsta, but Throné had not even considered it, and Temenos was certain it would take a bit more time and persuasion to get her to believe he was trying to help her. 

Throné turned to look out over the mountains nearby, watching as the sheep atop the stones bleated along merrily. "I once made a bet with my companions on whether the rumors of the treasure were true or not," she went on. "The treasure was called 'Alpates.'"

"Alpates..." Temenos repeated, letting one hand come up to cup at his chin. "That name does sound familiar." Even as he said it though, Temenos couldn't put a finger on where exactly he could have heard it before. All the more reason for him to pursue the matter as much as he could then. "Hm... Well, you've certainly piqued my interest."

"Then what say we investigate, Detective?" Throné asked with a small smile. That was the entire reason they had come to Flamechurch, and yet, she was giving Temenos a choice. Even if he said no--which he had very little reason to do given how interested he was--she would probably do it on her own. Temenos didn't know why this mattered to her so much, but he was certainly intrigued in getting to the bottom of it. 

But Temenos wasn't going to give it to her easily. He let out a long, airy sigh just to make Throné sit in the suspense for a little bit longer. "I would love to, but alas, I am a messenger of the gods, and you a thief..."

Throné fixed him with a heavy frown and a matching stare. "I'm not looking to steal anything. I just want to see if the rumors are true."

"So you say, but something tells me you have ulterior motives," Temenos countered. Even if Throné was telling the truth about not planning on stealing any treasures they may or may not have wound up finding in Flamechurch, Temenos was certain there was an extra reason she wanted to be there looking for the mysterious Alpates. Throné hadn't asked for much of anything since the group had started traveling together. The fact that she was actively wanting to look into this now was enough of a reason for Temenos to be suspicious and intrigued. 

Throné did not help her case in the slightest when she pulled her arms close to her chest and crossed them. "I don't," she said simply, but Temenos knew better than to believe it. Throné may have been a skilled enough liar to get away with deceiving the rest of the travelers, but he would not be so easily fooled. There was something else playing at her heart's strings there in Flamechurch, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. 

But if Throné wasn't going to tell him what was going through her head right away, then Temenos would simply have to get to the heart of the matter in his own way no matter how roundabout it was. "Very well then, Throné. Let the search for clues begin."

Temenos and Throné began their investigation from there, starting to walk through the streets of Flamechurch and asking anyone who seemed potentially helpful if they knew about a treasure in the cathedral. Nobody seemed to have even the slightest inkling as to what they were referring to though. Temenos sent Throné off to ask the members of the church for information when they saw them, knowing that he would be dragged into a deeper conversation he had no hopes of avoiding if he tried to reunite with an old friend. Even this bore very little fruit though, and at this point, Temenos was starting to think the truth of the treasure was that it did not exist at all. Throné had admitted before that it was a matter of a rumor, after all, so it very possibly could have not existed in the first place. If she had misheard or misunderstood which cathedral held the treasure, then they could have been in the wrong spot. There were all sorts of ways that their investigation could have been doomed, and Temenos found himself balancing the possibilities after going through half the square with no luck. 

But the search was not fated to end then and there. An older man was standing near the small church that Temenos had put on his paper plays in so many times before he left town. The building was closed for the night, but the man was still there, looking out over the rest of the town with a small frown on his face. Temenos could have sworn he recognized the older man from many years prior, but he doubted the man would recognize him in return. The man had been involved with the church a long time ago, but much had changed since then. In other words, he was the perfect person to ask about the treasure. 

"Excuse me, sir," Temenos began as he settled into place just beside the man. "Would you happen to know anything about a treasure in the cathedral? Something by the name of Alpates?"

The old man shook his head, but Temenos knew that was not the end of the story. "A treasure in the cathedral? Never heard of anything like that..." The man's shoulders had gone stiff, and he was suddenly far more interested in the mountains below than Temenos' eyes. He knew something. Temenos was willing to bet on it. 

And if the man intended on being evasive, then Temenos would simply have to push the truth out of him on his own. "I believe you do know something," Temenos told him, his eyes narrowing. "You got awfully anxious when I asked about Alpates. You know at least a little something about it... Or if nothing else, you have an idea of where it could be hiding." Temenos' gaze dropped to the man's hands. They were worn from years of work even if he had not been active in his duties in a long time. "You used to be a laborer of some kind, yes? I am willing to assume that you worked on the cathedral in the past. Many people in Flamechurch have at some point or another."

The old man shook his head once again, but it was far more forceful this time. His voice came out heavier too, and Temenos knew that was all he needed to hear to seal the deal. "I don't know what you're--" 

"I remember you from many years ago. You used to work with the pontiff before he passed," Temenos continued. "I do not know the extent of your relationship, but I can assure you that your secrets are in good hands. My name is Temenos, and I am the inquisitor. The pontiff trusted me with quite a bit... And I'm sure that you realize that means you can trust me as well."

The man stared at Temenos for a long moment, and recognition dawned in his eyes. "You certainly look different from how I remember you appearing years ago," he commented, and Temenos gripped tightly at his staff to make sure the man did not continue too far beyond that. The man caught a glimpse of Temenos' silent plea, and in an instant, the mask of a forgetful old man melted away just as Temenos had known it would. "I used to be very close with the pontiff. I helped him with the cathedral's renovations a few times as a carpenter. He told me quite a few interesting things over the years... Though it is safer to keep it to myself these days. You never know who could be listening to you."

Temenos nodded. There was one sentiment he could say he understood. He had been forced to choose his words carefully many times over the years whether it be because of the Sacred Guard or anyone else who insisted on sticking their nose into his personal affairs. In fact, Temenos was going to have to be cautious about what he said during this visit in Flamechurch, and he hoped the elderly carpenter was willing to help him keep the truth of his return a secret. 

"Now that I know you are the inquisitor though... I suppose I could tell you about it," the man continued. "The pontiff once swore me to secrecy, you see..."

"How intriguing," Temenos hummed, touching at his chin with one hand. The pontiff was keeping a handful of secrets from him before his passing, it seemed. Temenos had always done his best to get to the bottom of any mysteries that crossed his path, and this fascinated him in a way that very little else did. Temenos couldn't decide if it was for the best or the worst though. On one hand, he was glad to be able to chase after some mystery the pontiff had left behind for him in death. On the other, Temenos grieved for the fact that he had not been told while Jörg was still alive. He was chasing after the phantom that his father had left behind, and he would be for the rest of his days whether he liked it or not. 

"But we must speak elsewhere," the carpenter said, his voice sharp. He was clearly aware of the risks that came with talking out in the open, and that was further proof to Temenos that what he was hiding was dangerous and dark. And here Temenos had been under the impression that finding the treasure would be a somewhat simple task with very little baggage attached. How wrong he had been. "Take me to the pontiff's chambers in the cathedral. May the Sacred Flame guide us... Or something." Temenos bit back a laugh; if nothing else, he could say that this was a man after his own heart. 

"Ah, yes... Guiding is Temenos' specialty," Throné said, but it was difficult to say for certain how much of the statement was genuine and how much of it was meant to be snarky. Temenos' lack of faith in the institution of the church was well-known by now, and Throné was more than happy to poke a bit of fun at him for it whenever she had the chance. 

Still, if this was what it was going to take to get to the bottom of this mystery, then Temenos had no reason to protest. He gestured for the carpenter to follow him. "Come, my wayward lamb."

The carpenter nodded, and he straightened out his posture immediately. He played his role well, but there was no reason to act for a moment longer now. "Take me to the pontiff's chambers. We can talk there."

Temenos was more than happy to follow the reiteration of the command, and he started to guide both the carpenter and Throné up the path that would take them to the cathedral. The road was winding yet simple, and Temenos had walked it many times before. He was pleasantly surprised to find that a few candles had been put along the path leading to the cathedral and the other half of town. Temenos knew that many people had talked about putting up a few candles there for years to make sure any travelers were not attacked by monsters. No one had ever committed to it though, or at least, they hadn't done so until after Temenos left town. He could understand why they had decided to do it now; if the pontiff had truly been killed by a monster, then no one wanted to take the chance of being attacked by one as well, and this was the best way to offset that risk. 

Of course, the rest of the people in Flamechurch did not know that Jörg's death had not merely been a matter of a beast breaking into the cathedral. It was much more complicated than that, but Temenos was choosing to keep that secret close to his chest. The time would come for him to reveal it one day, but that time had not arrived yet, and so, he would let the truth hide until it was ready to emerge. 

The candles did their job well, and Temenos, Throné, and the carpenter ran into no trouble on their journey up to the cathedral. There were a few people milling about at this time of night, and Temenos was relieved to see that he would not have to break into the cathedral using a side entrance tonight. The stained glass window at the top of the cathedral was still in pieces, but the building had been otherwise cleared for public access once it was found that there was no lingering damage from the major storm a few weeks prior. Temenos gladly walked through the open doors, doing his best to avoid anyone who looked like they may have potentially recognized him and then alerted the Sacred Guard to his presence. 

Once inside the cathedral, Temenos did not linger for longer than was necessary. He immediately took the right turn that would lead to the pontiff's chambers, and the other two in his traveling party followed him wordlessly. Temenos was glad Throné was so focused on the treasure that she didn't want to explore the cathedral. If she had wanted to do that, then Temenos would have had to leave her to it so that none of the members of the Sacred Guard realized he was back in Flamechurch. If that happened, then Temenos would have to step back and let Throné take responsibility for any theft that she committed on her own. He wouldn't be there to talk her out of it, after all, and he supposed that whatever happened would simply. happen... Not that he imagined Throné would end up being caught regardless of what she tried to do. 

The pontiff's chambers were empty when Temenos arrived, and he pushed the door open slowly. He couldn't say he was shocked to see that no one was there. Most people had chosen to avoid anything that could have brought them ill fortune on the heels of the pontiff's death, and that included staying away from his chambers lest they secretly be haunted by his spirit. It made the search for the truth all the more convenient for Temenos, so even though he did not believe in the ghosts of legend that others feared so deeply, he was fine to let that excuse keep any onlookers away. 

Temenos pulled the doors shut once Throné and the carpenter had both walked inside, making sure no one would be able to disturb them. "Will this area suffice, good sir?" he asked, watching as the carpenter wandered deeper into the room. 

The old man had not only been looking for privacy though, and his gaze was locked solely on a bookshelf at the opposite end of the room. "Yes, thank you." He brushed his fingers over the wood of the shelf, and Temenos couldn't help but think about how confident the man was if he was willing to get so close to items owned by the recently deceased. "This may look like an ordinary bookshelf, but..." The carpenter curled his fingers around the edge of it and began to slide the shelf sideways, swinging it open like a door. "The mischievous gods couldn't help themselves." On the other side was a small passage with a ladder that led up to a higher floor of the cathedral. Temenos had never seen a matching ladder on an upper level of the building. In other words, this must have been the path to the treasure that Throné had been searching for. 

Temenos wandered over to the doorway with a smile on his face. "Well, my, my, my..." Of all the things that Temenos may have expected to find at the end of this journey, a passageway leading to a secret area of the cathedral certainly was not one of them. Once again, that peculiar blend of emotion--intrigue and betrayal--swirled around in his chest, and Temenos forced it back down where it had come from. It would not help him here, and if he acknowledged that, perhaps it would be enough to keep him from spiraling out of his own control. 

"Now then, my job here is done. Do with this information what you will," the carpenter said simply. The look on his face told Temenos that he had been waiting a very long time to reveal this secret, and now, he was happy to leave it in the hands of those who would carry on the torch long after he passed on to join the pontiff. "And may the Sacred Flame light your path... Or something." With that, the man started toward the door, pulling it shut in his wake to ensure Temenos and Throné had the privacy they needed. 

Throné stared after the man with a confused frown on her face, but it was clear that she was relieved in her own way for his kindness. "What a strange old man..." Throné shook the thought off just as quickly though, redirecting her focus to the ladder hiding on the other side of the bookshelf's secret passage. "Let's go, Temenos."

"A hidden passageway..." Temenos whispered, cupping at his chin in curiosity. "Perhaps His Holiness wasn't so holy after all. But to go so far just to hide a single treasure?" There was something strange afoot here. Temenos would stake everything he had ever come to know on it. The pontiff had been keeping countless secrets, and he was willing to hide them even from his own son. Temenos knew it was wrong to expect anyone--even his adoptive father--to be willing to share every little secret he had with him. Still, he couldn't help but wonder about just how much he could have missed out on because of secrets like this. Was the pontiff ever planning on telling him? Or was this a secret that had always been meant to live and die by Jörg's tongue?

Throné was nowhere near as troubled, and she walked through the doorway toward the ladder. "Are you coming or not, Detective?" Her impatience was clear, and her fingers were itching for anything they could grab regardless of if she was meant to hold onto it or not. 

Temenos sighed breezily. "Goodness... It's not easy working with thieves," he complained softly and teasingly. Throné was entirely unbothered by it, and she hooked one foot on the bottom rung of the ladder before starting to climb up. Temenos waited until she was far enough above him for him to not run the risk of bumping into her boot before he trailed after her. 

At the top of the ladder, Temenos realized why he had never found a matching one on a higher floor of the cathedral. A series of steps wound back and forth, going side to side while hiding behind what others had thought to be the outermost wall of the cathedral. The passage was just thin enough for most people to not know to ask any questions about it, but now that he was there, Temenos couldn't help but kick himself for not realizing something was afoot sooner. The spacial measurements simply did not match up unless this stairway was there, and he should have seen it years ago. 

After three flights of stairs, the floor began to widen out, and Temenos continued ever upward, using his staff as leverage to ensure he kept moving. Throné didn't show any signs of being winded by the constant movement, but Temenos couldn't say for certain if she was actually entirely unbothered or if perhaps she had simply grown used to hiding it during her time with the Blacksnakes. Either way, Temenos didn't ask, not wanting to run the risk of being overheard at such a critical moment. 

There was no uppermost floor when the steps finally came to a stop. Instead, Temenos found himself faced with the winding, intersecting paths of the rafters at the peak of the cathedral's vaulted ceilings. The beams were made of steel, and some of them branched off to end without a true conclusion. However, there was one segment of the metal that was less dusty than the rest, and Temenos could see countless shoe prints embedded across the strip. It went straight across to the other end of the cathedral, leading to what seemed to be a hidden room that mirrored the series of staircases on the opposite side of the building. 

Temenos and Throné chose their steps carefully as they walked across the beams of metal, knowing that one wrong step would lead to them tripping over the edge into severe injury and notable exposure. Temenos found it admittedly nerve-wracking to be so close to losing his balance without ever intending it, and he was relieved to be back on solid ground when he reached the opposite edge. Throné had schooled her fear out of her heart years ago, and she had no such issues. If anything, she seemed to feel more alive than ever when she was putting her life on the line in the name of uncovering the world's secrets. 

The path wound around once more to lead to a second ladder, and Temenos gestured for Throné to climb up first. She did so wordlessly, not wanting to run the risk of exposing their presence to any of the people on the ground level of the building. They were likely too high up to be heard, but Temenos appreciated her caution regardless. He followed after her as soon as he was able, and he sighed once his shoes were again on stone rather than steel. 

The top of the ladder showed a small balcony that overlooked the rest of the church below, but it was too high up for anyone to be able to see it from the ground level. The stone wall framed a simple wooden door, and Temenos felt the familiar shiver that came with the truth sprint up his spine. That door had to be the final guardian between him and uncovering the treasure that Throné had heard about. It must have been real, and the fact that they had to go so far out of their way to find it was proof. It had never simply been gossip; there truly was something valuable to be found there, and they were about to reveal it to the world. 

Temenos and Throné exchanged a glance as they stepped toward the door. All that remained was to open it, and Temenos gestured forward to give Throné the honor. She curled her fingers around the knob, finding it completely unlocked. From there, she twisted it, and the thief and the cleric walked inside. 

And when they did, they found the treasure they had been searching for. 

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Crossed paths time! Woohoo!

I think this is a good crossed paths to get the ball rolling with. I would have preferred it if I could time it so that their first crossed paths happened at a point in the game where it was, well, possible, but this is just how the cookie crumbled. I'm having a lot of fun with it too, and I'm enjoying these shorter story chapters with more of a focus on character interaction. I'm sure the other crossed paths are going to be a lot of fun for me too. 

Temenos and Throné have probably my favorite crossed paths dynamic in the entire game, so I'm very happy I was able to show them off here. I adore these two, and I'm glad I could dig into them first. But we're not finished just yet. There's still a back half to this segment, and I'm looking forward to that too. 

So next time, we'll wrap up this first crossed paths section. After that, it'll be off to Partitio's chapter two! Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital