The new temple? part 2

"Someone spent a pretty penny on this place. Even the carvings look professionally made" Keito could not help but marvel at the beauty of the place he had entered along with Noah.

The temple gate had no security which allowed everyone easy access.

No, that was not true. The place was only accessible for people of higher birth and nobility. Common and poor people were not allowed access nor could they see any inside. Since the couple wore fine clothes, it was easy to tell that they were of a higher upbringing than most.

"It seems so. I won't be surprised if they spend more than half of their monthly funds on this place. It's a wonder this region is still intact with such officers in place" the fox was not that surprised.

The funding provided for a region was calculated on an approximate population scale and Kyushu was a fertile place with plenty of food supply to sustain itself. As a result, the population spike seen every few years was justified.

The king did not say anything in return, his attention focused too much on the murals that lined the walls. They depicted scenes from the ancient battle and the deities.

The corridor opened into a big triple storied dome hall that had tinted glass fitted into it. Light of various colours filtered through the glass and fell into the intertwined statue of the dragon and the phoenix god.

Inlaid in their significant colours, the ten statues were a vision of grace and beauty. Their form was so detailed and awe-inspiring that they looked less like statues and more like the cremated bodies of the ancient gods.

"This is some fine work. I wonder how much labour it took to carve it out and who paid for it" the king reddened at the indirect jab at his person. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to what was going on in his nation.

"Anyway, aren't we here to find their head priest? Let's go and find him now" the king who was still red in the face led the way toward the other side which was clearly restricted in the entry.

To a normal eye, one would not be able to see the passage that led further inside but the couple had no such problem. One aided by magic and the other by his wolf's magic, they made their way behind the statue.

No one paid attention to the pair who disappeared in plain sight.

If the earlier part had been a work of art formed by the usage of light, then this one was more baroque in style with darker and heavier tones. It totally contrasted the earlier gothic light-filled style of architecture and one had to wonder if those two even were the same place.

The dark and narrow corridor led further downwards and the pair decided to chance it.

"-from the main temple you say? How sure can you be about this rumour? You know the ladies, they like to make up things as they please" they stopped right before the opening, the conversation inside reaching their ears.

It was about them, there was no doubt inside their minds at all.

"They lady said that they informed her themselves. Should I tell my people to keep an eye on them? Also, didn't the king say he would be paying a visit here? You think it is related?" the other voice, distinctively female called out.

The accent in that voice did not sound local and it reminded Keito too much of the valley delegates he dealt with.

"She's from the valley. Don't move now and I'll disguise us" Keito noded and the other lifted his hand. Small sparks shone in that small and delicate hand before the cracking noise began.

"Did you hear that?" the female called out, no doubt alert now. The footsteps came nearer, their sound clearer by the second.

Keito held his breath, afraid that they would be discovered because of a technicality but the incoming footsteps stopped before they began again but in the opposite direction. The fox just passed an annoyed look in his direction, not happy to be doubted at all.

"The king should be here tomorrow and he doesn't have a good relationship with the temple anyway. I think it is not related but we can use this to our advantage. Perhaps if we can manipulate the king into thinking that the temple is overstepping their boundaries we can sow more seeds of distrust" that would be a good plan in any other situation.

Was their relationship really that bad in the eyes of the other? Keito could not help but believe so now.

From his perspective, he had been more of a neutral type than hostile toward the temple but maybe it came off as something different to the other in such a situation.

"If you think you can then for all means try it. But don't forget the reason I married you for - this kingdom and the temple's artefacts, they will belong to the valley once this nation falls and in return, your family would retain its status. The attack from our allies would begin anytime now" that one sentence had too many implications.

Keito felt his hands form a fist in anger, his body shaking. The hand on his shoulder did nothing to curb the hot flames of anger he felt.

"Our allies in the capital are ready to help us out. I'll send them a letter when you give a go" This. This betrayal would not be tolerated any further. His body took an unconscious step to move out and confront the traitors.

"Not now. Let's go before you blow up" the king was led back outside, his face carrying the shadow of anger and doubt.

"How dare they?" Keito exploded once he had been led far away. Despite his anger, his awareness of the situation did not waver which was a huge point.

"You can't expect everyone to be loyal to someone they don't personally know. But I think we can use this to our advantage now" the fox looked unconcerned which irked the king. Did he not care about all the problems that were going on inside their nation?

Why was he like this time around? Hadn't he been all about looking after the nation the last time? Keito had heard enough lectures to even memories of some of them.

"Fine, so tell me your great plan and why we should not march inside right now," the king asked, his anger apparent. He was taking it out on the wrong person, even though he knew that much and yet it did not matter to him in the long run.

"If they believe that they can manipulate you, then allow them to think so. Play along with their scheme and find out their secrets should be our next course of action" the king allowed himself to observe this plan.

He did not like this plan but this seemed feasible. Now that he had calmed down, he knew that this plan had so many pros should he not mess up. But there were still some small problems, not to mention.

"What about you? I don't think we can stay together since you're from the temple" the king looked at the other for a solution since he could not think of one himself.

He genuinely felt judged by that stare he was likely getting from behind the mask.

"No one except you and the temple master knows my identity since I'm relatively new. I doubt these fake temple people know about me. It won't be any problem for me to come along as your personal servant. But if you don't want to then I have other alternatives too" the king did not need to think.

"Let's go with that plan, the first one" the other coughed and Keito realised just how excited he sounded and then took a deep breath to calm himself down. He was disgracing himself with such a shameless display.

"I mean, that sounds reasonable and I think it'll help us a lot if I have a trusted servant with me. If you don't have a problem then neither do I" the other seemed amused, his body language relaxed and Keito finally felt himself smile.

All of a sudden the betrayal and the lies he had faced seem much smaller than before. He felt calmer than before, the way to the past was an excellent prospect he wanted to discover.

Won't it be beautiful to go back to the past? He....wanted it so much.

"Then it's decided. Let's find accommodation for today and plan our move for tomorrow. Also, we will need more material to prove our identity and I'm sure you did not pack anything of value in this regard" and that was true.

Keito felt himself colour at those words because that was true. He had...forgotten his papers but in his defence, he was not used to carrying them anyway.

Maybe this reality or dream or magic realm was not so far off from the past anyway.