As the old monk continues to walk towards them. The sky begins clearing up again as the maiden halts her attack. "But master, he is a demon, and my purpose is to". Pleaded the maiden before she cut off with a harsh and loud Be quiet from the old monk. The old monk was brittle and frail-looking but walked with a strong and demanding presence with all the monks and even the maiden respected. They stood silently as he passed by.
The old monk was of Japanese descent with a face full of wrinkles so plenty full his grey-blue eyes were barely visible. His head was bald and the only hair that was visible was a long grey beard. His role had a golden patch right above his left shoulder as he walked past the shrine maiden with an annoyed look on his face and headed over to Kiyoshi.
As he approached Kiyoshi, the shrine maiden and the monks protested, saying that Kiyoshi was a demon and needed to be killed right there and then. To which the old monk shouted at them to be too quiet and not to move. He stood in front of Kiyoshi with his left hand stretched out to help with the samurai up.
"Are you ok"? The old monk asked as he began dusting off the dirt on Kiyoshi's clothes. "I apologize. Clearly, the monks of this light temple have no manners and don't know how to treat a guest like if we are savages like the peacemakers." The old monk remarked, annoyed with the whole situation. "A guest, ", whispered the monks among themselves.
"His a guest! But he is a demon, master how can this be"? Asked the shrine maiden, demanding answers from the old monk.
"Silence Suki, not only have you attacked my guest, but you dear speak to me in such a tone after doing such." Shouted the old monk.
" My apologies, master, but why this man? I am sure you know who this man is." Remarked the shrine maiden, softening her tone of voice.
"Of course, I know who this man is. I requested him here. And I know we need him for your mission. Now enough, let's get inside the temple and get straight to business. We don't have much time to waste." Remarked the old monk.
As they hurried up the stairways the old monk turn to Kiyoshi and whispered softly" you look alot like her". with a soft smile on his face. Kiyoshi barely hearing the old monk asked" what" but the old man simply nodded and said its nothing just an old man in his thoughts that all young samurai. As they reach the front of the temple, Kiyoshi stood in awe as the temple was massive, the outside was made of white shiny marble with two huge pillars on each side of the entrance. Kiyoshi couldn't wait to see the inside of the temple as the old monk ushered him inside.
Inside felt Kiyoshi and others speechless. As it was something out of the dream. the walls of the temple were lined with pure gold. with hand crafted paintings of the goddess fertilla in various poses. the floors where of pure black and white marble the was clean Kiyoshi could see his reflection in. the ceiling was a masterclass of paintings of the various gods and goddess that the monks believe in feasting and playing in their paradise home. "What a breath-taking place this is" remarked Lilly as she watched in awe from within the depths of the sword. whilst Tyrook and Kivuli remained silent most likely still taking back by the richness of the temple.
"You have a beautiful home" Kiyoshi remarked with a bright smile on his face as he continued by saying he never saw such beauty in all his life. The old monk laughed saying he sent his whole life here he sometimes i forget myself how beautiful the temple really is thank you for that. As the two men walked and laugh the shrine maiden stood closely behind Kiyoshi waiting for him to make a mistake to take him down.
Finally they reach and large wooden doors with sliver rose petals all over it. "Suki and the young samurai please follow me, the rest of you remain outside" ordered the old monk as they entered through the door leaving the other monks outside. Inside was a pure white room with only an old wooden table and three wooden chairs a far cry from what Kiyoshi had witness earlier. "Please sit you two" ushered the old monk. Both Kiyoshi and the shrine maiden took seat opposite to each as the old monk sat to the front of the table.
"Before we get down to business, Suki you owe this man an apology for attacking him earlier" remarked the old monk. Both Kiyoshi and the shrine maiden gasped. As the shrine maiden spoke out in protest." But master you told me my duty is to protect the temple from evil and his aura is evil why am being punish for doing my duty" shouted the shrine maiden in confusion. the old monk took and deep breathed and sighed. " Suki look and the boy and look deep with his soul and tell me what you see." remarked the old monk clearly annoyed by the whole situation.
The shrine maiden took and deep breathe and closed her eyes looking deep within Kiyoshi soul for his true aura. In shock she quickly opened her eyes and said " i felt warmth but why" Because earlier you didnt look at his aura you to busy focusing on the swords aura and so caught my in the darkness of the sword that you ignored the warmth with in soul" the old monk response annoyed.
"I am sorry master and to you samurai my deepest apologized guess i still alot to learn as the shrine maiden" she response. Kiyoshi simply smiles and ensured her it was ok.
"Now that is over Kiyoshi , I am the abbot Jin kimizo, I run this temple to my left is the current shrine maiden Lady Suki, you all meet before. " the old monk stated. "Now Kiyoshi for the really reason why you are hear" remarked the abbot before taking a deep breathe and pausing. Filling the air with a ominous silence before speaking again. "We need you to help us prevent the second coming of the demonic conversion event." remarked the abbot the whole room in a dead and fearful silence.