The journey through the Holy Land consisted of a lot more gardening than Mathew had expected.
The Argus stood in front of the group, a golden sword in his hand, constantly cutting and hacking at whatever branches and vines were barring their path.
They were slowly carving through dense foliage, which only got denser each day. It would not be surprising If their travel time had doubled.
Mathew felt that it had to be sacrilegious to use a Blessing from the gods like a hedge-trimmer, but perhaps there were Blessings designed specifically for gardening that some god of the jungle bestowed them upon his most faithful.
"Are you going to put it on yet?" Siyah urged.
Mathew looked at the false face in his hands, pretending he had forgotten about it.
"I dunno," he said. "It's kind of creepy."
"Dread, you are kind of creepy," Beyah said.
"Shush you."
"But you are though," Siyah insisted. "That's why you have that mask, to become less creepy."
"Ok, ok, I get it. I will put it on now." He held a staring contest with it for a few more seconds, one pair of empty eye-sockets staring into another. Then he took a breath, and pressed it against his metal face.
The mask made a sizzling sound and released a stream of black vapor. He looked back at the sisters.
"Now you just look like a clown." Beyah said.
"Thanks."
"Aren't you supposed to make it… I don't know… change into a face?"
"And how am I supposed to do that?" To Mathew's surprise it was Era Belle who spoke up.
"You didn't always look like that, did you?" She said.
"No… I didn't. How did you know?"
"Your metal face is most likely a Curse, right? So you must have been human before wearing that."
"Yeah," She seemed to know a bit about Numens after all.
"Perhaps the key is remembering what it felt like to live before you donned that metal face." It was a simple idea, but it seemed worth exploring.
"I'll try that then. Thanks for the advice," She nodded, her expression passive.
Mathew looked inward, picturing himself before being transported to this world. What it was like to speak, to breathe. The feeling of wind on his skin, and the scent of lilac in the air.
He tried to recall his appearance, what he looked like in the mirror: Blue eyes, messy dark hair, thin lips, but as he was doing so a different image hijacked his thoughts:
A man with shoulder length Black hair, a strong jaw, and neatly trimmed facial hair.
Mathias Dread.
As soon as the image leaked into his mind, the False Face liquefied, turning into black ooze, and climbing all over his face as if alive.
Once it covered every inch of his metal skull it changed, taking on the color and texture of skin.
"This is great lad, you have a face now!" Pandarus remarked, looking over his shoulder.
Mathew did indeed. It wasn't his own face, it was that of the corpse he possessed, but it was a face not the less. He had real lips, skin, hair, and eyes. He pressed his fingers against his cheek and still felt the coldness of the Iron Mind beneath it.
It was still an illusion after all, even if it was one with substance.
"Does it… Look okay?" He said, the feeling of his mouth moving now strange to him.
"Oh um… I think you look… Rugged?" Siyah said, stumbling over her words.
"Yeah? I'll take that as a compliment then," He looked at the other sister, who was refusing to meet his eyes for some reason. "What do you think, Beyah?"
It sounded like she was muttering the word "no" under her breath repeatedly.
"What was that?" Mathew pressed. She looked at him for a moment, then immediately looked away.
"I think you look fine…" She said, her voice small and her cheeks reddening slightly. What was that reaction about?
"Is that the city up ahead?" Siyah asked suddenly, as if desperately trying to change the subject.
The jungle had opened up into a massive valley, and resting within it were white stone walls surrounding bright orange roofs. A large river ran through the valley, splitting in to smaller streams before pooling into a large body of water along its eastern wall.
"The Holy Dragon City." Pandarus confirmed. "Never thought I would lay eyes on it."
"And it's probably the last look you will ever get." Mathew said, earning a snort from the guide.
"I suppose this is where we part ways then."
"Worried you'll get pelted with arrows if you get any closer?"
"Ha ha." Pandarus turned to Ophelia: "How long should I wait for you in Haiyung, My Lady?"
"You will wait there until I arrive, regardless of how long it takes," She said.
"See you next year," Mathew said in a serious tone, ignoring Ophelia's disapproval.
"It has been a pleasure, my Lady," Pandurus said with a bow, and then turned to leave.
"Remember your contract," Ophelia said as he began walking away. "If you lose that lantern, or betray me, I will track you down and give you a slow, torturous death before the Covenant can."
The guide looked at her over his shoulder, then gave a quick nod. He disappeared soon after.
Ophelia followed his back with her eyes for a time, before leading the rest of the group in the opposite direction.
"I don't know why, but I think I will miss him," Said Siyah, as she stroked Hamlet's flank.
"You are really missing that ugly mug already?" Mathew said.
"It's not any uglier than..." Beyah started to say out of habit, but trailed off as she noticed Mathew looking at her.
"What were you going to say?" He challenged as he looked at her.
"Nevermind," She said, averting her gaze. He shrugged, turning his attention back to Siyah.
"We will see him again. In a only a few weeks at least if things go smoothly," Mathew said, trying to console the older sister.
"I know… He just… Reminded me a little of my father." Siyah said.
"Damon? That patchwork devil reminded you of a priest?"
"Not like that," she said as she swatted at him. "You know what I mean, right Beyah?"
Her sister nodded slowly.
"Yeah," she agreed. "He seems rough on the outside, but he's actually quite… Gentle."
"Are we talking about the same guy?" Mathew said.
"Oh shut up, I know you liked him too." Siyah said.
"Who can say?"
…..
From their initial vantage point, it had seemed like the city of Sinae was close, but distance could be deceiving, especially with a city so large.
Even after setting eyes on the Holy City, it took nearly 10 hours of continuous hiking down into the valley before the group made it to the city gates.
A few soldiers sat lazily on watch, while a man with a white cylinder hat and spectacles stood talking to a small family attempting to get passage into the city. The man held a tablet and pen in his hands, and he seemed to be marking things down.
An abacus hung from a cloth belt wrapped around his waist.
Ophelia led crew walked right up to the gate and got a few lazy stares in response. The man in spectacles was still absorbed in conversation.
So, Mathew's mistress cleared her throat as loudly as possible in order to get their attention.
"Wait your turn!" Shouted one of the soldiers. Ophelia's eye twitched.
"It is almost nightfall, and I have urgent business within the city," she said, her voice remarkably calm. The soldier rolled his eyes, and one of his fellow guards stepped in:
"You look to be from out of town. Do you have entry permits?"
"I have no need of such things. As I said before I have urgent-"
"No permits, no entry!" The first soldier shouted. "And don't make me repeat myself."
Ophelia took a deep breath, but Mathew had a feeling it was anything but a calming one. Siyah and Beyah shared a worried look as he muttered:
"This isn't going to end well…"
"My name is Ophelia, daughter of Poloniums, Heir to the house of-"
"I don't give a damn where you are from girl. The rules are the rules."
Mathew winced. Ophelia's breathing grew erratic, and he knew she was about to explode.
"I have been very polite so far…" She began, clenching her fists tightly. Mathew saw the two guards they were looking at
"Listen… Ophelia, maybe it's time to calm down…" He started to say, and then immediately felt that he made a mistake.
He could hear her grinding her teeth together as she turned to look at him with reddened eyes.
"Do not. Ever. Tell me to calm down," She hissed. Then a familiar golden sword appeared in her hand, and she pointed it at the guard. "I am a princess of Elysium, and I demand that you take me to the Dragon Priestess. Now."
The man in the cylindrical white had finally looked up at the commotion and quickly waved the family through the city gates.
"Excuse me. What is the meaning of this?" The man asked in a sing-songy voice.
"This girl just went crazy and pulled a sword on me," Complained the guard. The man looked from the guard to Ophelia, analyzing the situation.
"Go find the city guard. We may need reinforcement," he said, and the guard saluted and scampered off. He turned to stare down the girl with the blade. "Quite the first impression you are making miss, but you cannot intimidate me with a weapon."
"I am not intimidating you, I am threatening you," she said.
"The difference here being, she'll actually do it," Mathew muttered.
"I am the manager of the outer city. It is my duty to uphold the law, which you are violating. I will not give in to threats or bribes. This city does not want you. Leave." He signaled to the remaining guards, and they all drew their weapons.
"I will see the Priestess, even if I must go through you," Ophelia said.
Mathew moved over to Argus, and said in a low tone:
"You need to do something about this. If it keeps heading this direction, Ophelia probably won't even get what she wants." Argus nodded slowly in response.
"Do you need assistance, Ling Fei?" A newcomer had arrived, brought by the guard that had been sent away. His voice was gruff, like he had swallowed gravel. He had a full beard, and ceremonial armor decorated with pins.
Behind him was another 30 or so guards as reinforcement.
"Commandant," The manager, Ling Fei, said in acknowledgment.
"I have been informed of the situation," The Commandant said. "Should we take them in?"
Ling Fei nodded, then pointed a finger at Ophelia, mirroring her pointed sword.
"You all are under arrest by authority of the city. Do not resist or we will use lethal force."
Before she could respond, Argus placed a hand on Ophelia's shoulder.
"My Lady, we should play along for now," He whispered.
"What?" she said. "But they are only mortals, Argus. They pose no threat to us."
"And that is exactly why we should let it go. If we cut down the city guards now, you will never secure an audience with the Priestess."
Mathew expected his mistress to ignore Argus, but she didn't even though it was obvious she hated it.
She lowered her weapon.
"You have made a wise choice," Said the Commandant. "I now need all of you to come with me."