Aruun nods, a familiar prickling sensation of nerves gathering in the pit of his stomach.
'I know what you mean... Are we just being played with?'

'That's how it seems, but I refuse to believe that. We might be being lead, but we're following willingly. We could stop this charade anytime...'
[It couldn't be.. I'm.. just a playing piece in a wicked game once again...? No.. don't think that.. don't believe it... think of something else.. like tea.. mmm, tea... Besides, I can leave whenever I want. If that's how it looks like it'll turn out, I'll leave. Just walk away. Pretend it hasn't happened. Yeah, that's what I'll do.]

Aruun studies Kuja's expression carefully for a moment, trying to figure out what he's thinking. Dubbing him as unfathomable and giving up, he turns back to his drink.
'Maybe it was just an unfortunate choice of words. The first letter did say we would find something we want.'

'I hope so on both accounts. I still want to know who sent those blasted letters. Urema ought to be able to find out, him being psychic and all or whatever he is. Can't those people see visions from letters or something like that?'
[Not that I like the guy, but he has to be useful for something]

[Find something I want... Find an end to being a puppet of the Gods? Find out who I am? Find peace? I doubt it]

Urema looks slightly annoyed.
'I've attempted to learn more about the letters using my powers, but whenever I try, something stops me. Whoever sent the letters doesn't want to be found.'

'Really... are you sure about that and it wasn't just you weren't trying hard enough?'

Urema looks a little upset.
'Maybe you're right. But I fear if I overuse my powers I could lose control of them. Please don't force me to...'

Aruun looks concerned.
'Leave him alone, Kuja. If he doesn't want to use his powers, don't force him. I'm sure we'll find more about this guy when the time comes. But for now, we need to figure out our next move.'

'Okay, okay. Keep your antennae on. I was only teasing, yeesh. That's Kuja for 'I'm being as friendly as I want to be.' '
'Next move- right, well, what did the letter say? Something about 'blessed ground' wasn't it?'

'That's right...the place blessed by the Gods.'
He thinks for a moment, his antennae twitching slightly.
'I think I saw a temple on the outskirts of town when I was coming in. Maybe that's the place?'

'I wouldn't be surprised. What kind of temple was it?'

Matsuki is sat down in a corner by himself not making any attempt to join in as he usually would. He simply sits and watches the rest.
[Awww...what's wong baby? having second thoughts?]
'Shut up you.'
[Or what, you'll kill me? Ah hahahah, I'd like to see you try.]
'I could easily kill myself to get rid of you.'
[Then why don't you, afraid to die? Or is it because your not sure if you would be rid of me even in death?]
Matsuki sits silently again, simply watching.

Aruun, not aware of Matsuki's presence, continues talking to Kuja.
'I'm not sure. By the design, I'd guess that it's a Temple of Amyrian, Goddess of Earth and Nature. I think it's just a place where the locals go to pray.'

'Well, whatever it looks like and whoever its to, we should probably go and see if it's our temple, right?'

I mumbles to himself.
[Earth and nature, that would be.. Terra and Galia. This dimension really is backwards.]
'A wise course of action. I shall also ask the God's if there is any other holy place nearby.'

'Ask the Gods?' Kuja scoffs. 'What are you, I, a priest or messiah or something?'
[Hm, looks like the Gods have to get what they can if HE'S a holy man. Wow, I just noticed, its REALLY QUIET suddenly. But I won't mention it because if I do, HE'LL pop up and dance around. Loser.]

Aruun looks slightly amused by Kuja's comment and tries not to laugh. He fixes his expression to one of curiosity instead.
'Yes, could you explain what you mean?'

I sighs and turns to the group, its storytelling time.
'You know of the Trinity, the Gods, Angels and Daemons. The Angels and Daemons are 'at war' each wishing to spread their ideals over the universe, if one should succeed then it would be The End, the Gods seek to bring balance and maintain Equilibria. Each one of the three has a single warrior to fight for them at the Trinity Cathedral every 255 years, not to mention carrying out other tasks for them. I am the envoy of the Gods, I can ask the Gods about the holy ground and they should reply... eventually. I am no holy man though, the sword more than the prayer.'

'So you're a fancy little messenger for the Gods, eh?'
Kuja shrugs.
'At least if you're on their side, there's less smiting, I suppose.'

Aruun looks interested in I's tale.
'An envoy of the Gods? Wow... So can you ask them, then?'

Kuja grins.
'Yes, and get them to pass a little immortality my way while you're at it, would you?'
[Because the gods know I need it…]

I glares at Kuja.
'Immortality is an ideal of Gabe. The Gods would never grant such a heinous request. I can ask the Gods if there is any other holy ground but do not expect an immediate or helpful reply.'

'What?' Kuja looks disappointed. 'It never hurts to at least ask. If you don't ask, you don't get. So, you don't expect them to help, then? Talk about having faith in your boss, eh?'

Aruun looks desperate to avoid an argument between I and Kuja.
'Heh... any help from the Gods to do with the blessed ground will be good, I.'

I nods politely at Aruun and walks up to Kuja.
'I expect them to help, just in their own way. And you do not understand the grave implications of immortality, do you?'

'Hm, obviously not. Care to enlighten me?' Kuja smiles smugly at his own joke.

I explains the implications of immortality.
'If everyone became immortal, no one would die. If no one would die the population of the Universe would increase exponentially. Not only would this greatly disturb the natural balance of life, but also the population would consume all available resources and this would cause death on a cosmic scale. With no life in the universe the universe cannot exist, it is a fundamental law of nature. Are you enlightened now?'

Aruun nods, as if agreeing with I and speaks in a quiet voice.
'Death is a terrible thing, but it would be worse if there was no death at all...'

'Have you done talking now?' Kuja looks irritated. 'Yes, okay, death is bad, life is good, balance is best. I get it now. Honestly, I, I would have thought a rabid drunk like you would have had at least some sense of humour.'

'We don't all appreciate your idea of humour, Kuja...' Urema mutters. He clearly has an interesting mixture of respect and contempt for Kuja.

Aruun smiles the tiniest bit at Kuja's comment about I being a 'rabid drunk.' He then begins emptying his pockets on to the bar top, as if looking for something. There are all manners of curious things, such as a small length of rope lights, a pack of mints, a pretty, shining stone and a crumpled photograph of what seems to be his family.

'Look, Urema, if I wanted your opinion, I'd've asked for it.'
Kuja watches Aruun with mild curiosity.
'Lost something?'
He picks the photograph up and has a look at it.

The photograph depicts a large Ylcian family, all with purple hair and green eyes apart from the mother, a blonde. The father is a tall, muscular man, ruggedly handsome, with a brutal army haircut and the mother curvy and pretty. There are 5 children. Stood by the mother is a girl in her mid to late twenties with long hair in a large plait. The next eldest is a boy around the same age as her, give or take a year, with almost waist length hair tied at the bottom with a ribbon. He is tall and handsome, though skinny. Next to him is a boy in his early twenties/late teens whom is a spitting image of the father, built like a tank but with a spiky hairdo. Finally, we see Aruun, who looks like a miniature version of the tall, handsome boy. He is stood with a girl in her early teens with her hair in plaits. Everyone looks happy. Aruun is smiling in a way that Kuja and the others have never seen him do.

Aruun doesn't seem to notice Kuja has got the photo, being too busy scouting through his pockets.
'I'm looking for a map of this area. I think I might have one somewhere...'

Kuja looks at the photograph thoughtfully, almost although examining each member of the family carefully. He seems vaguely sad as he looks at it, before putting it back where it was.
[How lucky to be able to have such a large, loving family...]
'You sure you checked all your pockets? Didn't leave it in your room?'

[I wonder if my family was like that. No, Equinox is my family.]
'First off I have a sense of humour but I prefer not to mix business with pleasure. And secondly a drunk is someone who cannot control himself after he drinks. I can.'
I pulls out a throwing knife and spins it between his fingers. He throws it and catches it in the same hand before throwing it at Kuja. The knife skims the top of Kuja's head and embeds itself in the wall. I grins.

Kuja looks shocked then angry.
'If that cut any of my hair, damn it I, you won't know what hit you...'

I smirks.
'I will know what hit me, and you will know what cut your head off'

'Please don't start arguing again, you two.'
Aruun reaches into his inside pocket and pulls out a roll of parchment.
'Aha! Found it!'
He quickly shoves all the other junk back inside his robes, then starts pouring over the map.

'Hm, yes yes, okay. No arguing. Right.' Kuja replies.

Aruun runs his finger along a route on the map.
'I was right. It is a Temple of Amyrian. It's not far from here.'
He turns to the others.
'Shall we go check it out?'

'Sure, seems like it could be the place.' Kuja nods. 'You lot coming too?'

I retrieves the throwing knife.
'It seems like the second best course of action.'

'Let's go, then.'
The gang leave the inn and head along the worn road, following Aruun's directions. The weather is still gloomy, with steely clouds looming heavily above them. The odd rumble of thunder booms every so often, like a great beast roaring. They soon reach the temple. It is an impressive building with great marble walls engraved with prayers. Delicate statues of Amyrian the Goddess are stood either side of the entrance. In all of its awe, some of the beauty of the temple is being stolen by the fact that it is in flames.
Aruun looks shocked.
'The temple... it's on fire!'

I draws his sword.
'Well done kid, now what are we going to do about it, anybody know any water Magick?'
[And then we wait for the fire breathing, this looks like dragon based damage so I'd guess: fire breathing Dragon. And then kill it]

'Looks like its lucky I'm here, then.'
Kuja raises his hands above him.
'Cascade Tunnel!'
He casts a tunnel-shaped water projectile spell at the temple to quench the flames.
[A Dragon, eh? I kind of like Dragons. Better than small animals any day.]

Aruun raises his staff and points it towards the temple.
'Aquimari!'
The tip glows blue, opens up and begins pumping water like a fire hose, helping Kuja tackle the blaze.
'This doesn't look good... Who would attack such a holy place?'

As if to answer Aruun's question, a fire Dragon with brilliant orange scales marches out of the temple.
'WELCOME TRAVELLERS,' it booms, 'MY MASTER WILL BE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE FOUND THIS PLACE. I AM HERE TO TEST YOUR MENTAL AGILITY.'
The Dragon begins pacing, as it recounts some kind of riddle.
'A fragile armour protects my halls
Inside a marble fountain falls
Hidden among the purity
A golden apple you will see
With silver weapons, one can behold
That thieves break in to steal the gold.'
The Dragon stares at the gang with huge, gleaming eyes.
'WHAT AM I?'

[A fire Dragon.]
I chuckles softly to himself.

'A riddle, eh? Shouldn't be too hard. Just don't listen to that guy over there, if he tries to answer it, okay?'
Kuja points over at Matsuki to the Dragon.
[A riddle... hmm... could the answer be the Dragon himself? That wouldn't surprise me, that's the kind of vain, arrogant thing these people always pull.]

Aruun thinks hard about the riddle, his antennae twitching in concentration.
'I like riddles... hm... but this one is tricky. Let's see, you can never take them at face value. It sounds like it's describing a building full of gold, but that's too obvious. I'm thinking it's more likely an object.'
He paces back and forth, as if movement helps his thought process.
'There's lots of colours mentioned... white, gold, silver. It has a fragile armour. Something fragile with white and gold inside, that people break into with something silver. Hmm...'

Kuja stands and thinks for a while. If he had a beard, he would stroke it, but he strokes his clean-shaven chin anyway.
'Is it teeth? They're sometimes white or yellow and fragile. Teeth are cliché in riddles anyway, so I doubt it. A jewellery box? That has gold and silver in it, but they're not fragile. Hmm... Oh, it is a planet? That has gold and silver ore in it, but has nothing to do with anything else in the riddle. Okay, scratch those. I think I have it.'
He thinks for a while longer, contemplating his answer carefully, as if unwilling to risk being torched by the Dragon for a failure.
'Is it.. an egg?'

I nods his head to Kuja's suggestion.
'Fragile shell, golden yoke and a silver knife, that works. By the Gods I hate riddles.'
[Whoever sent those letter must really hate me. Annoying companions, riddles and all set in a backwater dump.]

Kuja grins, with heavy overtones of smug and arrogance.
'My, but I'm clever. And beautiful. And a talented mage. Pity we can't have it all, but hey, some of us are just lucky.'

The fire Dragon's snout breaks into a huge smile, pointed fangs gleaming.
'CORRECT.' It stands aside. 'YOU MAY ENTER.'

Aruun looks relieved that this monster didn't ask them to fight it.
'Excuse me, Mr. Dragon, but did you set fire to the temple? Why?'

The Dragon continues smirking.
'MY MASTER HAS NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A FAN OF RELIGION. PLEASE, GO INSIDE.'

So to not incur the fiery wrath of the Dragon, Aruun runs inside quickly.

Kuja shrugs.
'Who can honestly say they like religion these days, eh?'
He follows Aruun into the temple.

'It is not a question of whether you like it or not, it must be done.' I replies snappily.

Urema waits behind a second before following the others inside, whispering to himself.
'I don't think I'm annoying...'

The inside of the temple seems to be inspiration for the Dragon's riddle. All around them are whites, golds and silvers. The walls are constructed from creamy marble and decorated with ornate ornaments, fashioned from the precious metals. However, the pure colours are tainted every so often by charred black patches burnt by the Dragon's fiery breath. The entrance hall leads into a long corridor, which they begin walking down.
Aruun looks to the others.
'I wonder what we'll find here?'

'I hope there's a bathroom. I feel really sick.'
Kuja looks at the rest of them.
'Probably just sick of the rest of you, heh! Okay, okay, I'm kidding.'

I walks warily through the temple, he looks all around and his sword twitches.

Aruun looks over to Kuja, slightly concerned.
'You're not feeling well? Are you ok?'

'I'll be fine. Don't worry. It's probably the awful colour scheme of this place getting to me.'
[I hope that's all it is, heh...]
Kuja carries on walking with the others, looking increasingly pale. After a while, he pauses to lean against the wall and is violently sick. He collapses onto the floor, just missing the vomit, which has blood in it, unpleasantly enough.

I sees Kuja faint and rushes over to him, he rolls him onto the recovery position.
'What the Infernal? Aruun, healing Magick, now. You two keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and does anyone know what's wrong with him?'
[Is this another test?]

Kuja attempts to make a snide comment that if he knew what was wrong, he'd tell them, but it merely manifests itself as mumbling groans of pain and discomfort.
[Urgh.. ow.. it hurts...]

Aruun runs to Kuja's side, looking very worried. He raises his staff and chants a spell.
'Rejuvenating aura, bathe my ally with your purifying light and mend what is broken... Healing Light!'
A stream of tiny, white lights weave their way over Kuja, attempting to fix whatever is wrong with him. Aruun kneels by him.
'Kuja, are you ill?'

'Ungh.. I.. I don't know. I was fine before I came in here... M.. maybe I should go back outside...?'
[Stupid temple.]

'Hmm as our leading expert on religion, I'd say Kuja is reacting to the temples aura. He was, as he said, fine outside, we should take him back outside, and question him.'
I's expression changes from worry to anger.

'That sounds like a good theory, I. Let's do that.'
Aruun picks up Kuja, as he isn't very heavy. Ignoring any protests, he carries him quickly out the temple. He gently puts Kuja down on the grass outside.
'How are you feeling now, Kuja? Why did the temple's aura make you sick?'

Kuja lays and stares at the sky for a few moments.
'I feel better now I'm outside again. I wish I knew why going in there made me feel so ill. It's always been the same with temples and churches. Must just have an aversion to religion, heh.'
He stands up again, albeit slowly, obviously feeling better.

Matsuki, having not followed the others into the temple, is sitting above the doors as the others walk back out again and looks down upon them.
[Wonder what's happened.]
'Why? Thought you cared for no one.'
[I don't, just curious.]
'Hmph, I'll find out.'

Matsuki jumps down from above the doors and lands just beside Kuja.
'HEYA! What's happened? Hey you don't look so great, temple reject you? Never mind, I can look after you, oooooh! WE CAN HAVE A TEA PARTY!'
Matsuki pulls out a pot of tea from, well, nowhere.
'You like tea right? I'm sure you do, it's all you ever seem to drink.'
He pours Kuja some tea and offers it to him.

Like a man possessed, Kuja takes the tea from Matsuki, a look of joy and utter bliss graces his face.
'Tea...'
He drinks it, gratefully, then hands Matsuki the cup.
'You know, given how much I dislike you and how little I try to hide that fact, I... probably don't really deserve to have you give me tea... so uh.. thanks.'

Whilst Matsuki and Kuja have their little 'tea party,' Aruun sits in grass, looking thoughtful. After a few moments, he goes up to Kuja.
'Um Kuja, what are those markings on your face?'

'Which?'
He points at his eyes and grins.
'These, which are made of eye shadow and mascara...?'
He points to the rest of his face.
'Or these, which I've always had.'

'Not the makeup...' Aruun replies. 'The other ones, like the upside-down trident thing on your forehead. You've always had them? Are they a racial thing, because I think I've seen them before...'

I paces back and forth tapping his sword against his leg.
'What are you Kuja? The aura of the Gods affects those who are strongly tied to the forces of light and dark.'
I points his sword at Kuja's neck.
'And make it quick, this is not something I take lightly.'

Urema steps in front of I, guarding Kuja from him.
'Don't... please don't do this, I.'

I glares at Urema, his expression is of fanaticism and rage.
'If he is not of light or dark, he will not be harmed. Do not interfere in affairs you do not understand. I have dedicated my life to vengeance and justice, do not try and stop me.'

'Jeez, you lot.'
Kuja shakes his head in despair at them.
'Racial markings? How should I know? They've always been there. And I- what does it matter? It's not like I've tried to kill you or anything. I'm just a simple and beautiful human mage. That's all there is to it.'

'Then why did you react to the temple?!'
'I, try listening to what people say. I already told you- I don't know. If I knew, I would say.'
[Some people are just impossible.]

'Maybe there are things in his past that the Gods don't think very highly of, so they don't want him in there?'
Matsuki appears to be sitting on thin air floating slightly about a meter above the ground with his legs crossed.
'Just because someone can't enter a temple doesn't mean they are evil. Maybe it really was just the colour scheme? 'Tis a tad bright and sickly, hurts my eyes... ugh....'
Matsuki suddenly shakes his head and looks at all the others then smiles widely.
'Eh hehehehe, well yeah. Uh... oooh, look at this!'
Matsuki pulls out a flame and a gas canister from, well, nowhere, and puts some of the gas in his mouth, then blows it over the flame making a massive flame moving away from his mouth.
'Tada! I like fire... eh hehehe, the temple burning was quite pretty. Too bad you put it out, but I guess we should find whatever we need in there anyways.'

Aruun does something that you would expect from Matsuki. He hauls an arcane, heavy-looking book out from inside his robes. He smiles at the others' baffled faces.
'Carrying heavy things like this keep you fit and you never know when you might need them.'
He begins leafing quickly through the book, giving Kuja the odd glance every so often.

'Matsuki, that was terrifying, mostly because I wouldn't trust you with fire. Don't do it again.'
Kuja watches Aruun with contempt.
'That's a damn big book. How the hell did you fit it in your pocket? What is it, anyway?'

'I have big pockets.' Aruun states matter-of-factly.
It's the Encyclopaedia Demonica, a catalogue of most of the Universe's Demon races. I'm just looking something up.'

Kuja gives Aruun a look of death.
'I think I'd know if there was something demonic in me.'
[That'd be strange, but it certainly might explain what it is.]

I puts his sword up his sleeve.
'I'm watching you Kuja.'

Urema places his hands behind his back and leans against the temple wall.
'And I'm watching you, I.'

Aruun turns to a certain page and smoothes it down. On the page is a large photograph of a Demon with both skin and fur. Its fur is thick and feathery, and covers its body and legs down to just above the knee. On its back is a pair of tiny, red skeletal wings. It has very large ears. On its face and legs, it has red symbols and stripes. The symbol on its forehead matches the 3-pointed symbol that is on Kuja's. Aruun reads from the page.
'Etheraal, a powerfully Magickal Demon.'
He glances up at Kuja.
'You have to admit... the similarities are rather striking.'

I ignores Urema, he pulls out a hip flask from his sleeve and watches the group suspiciously.
[Demons, Gods I hate them, but is Kuja evil...? He was right in saying he has not done anything, he is either honest or an incredibly brave/stupid Demon. And those markings, I am branded with the signs of evil, yet I fight for balance. Hmm maybe they did the same to him as me, warped his body but his mind was clear? I'll just keep watch of him, and that Urema, he doesn't understand the full meanings of this situation. I'd disarm and enlighten him, but he's a psychic, I'll have to get Er'shi'gal to build something to counter his abilities.]

'I'm sorry, I. I don't want to cause conflict, and though I sense your fear, I ask you not to try and tamper with my powers. You see, I... I wouldn't want you... or any of you, to get hurt.'
Urema lowers his head, avoiding the looks of the others.

Kuja takes the book off Aruun, nearly taking the page out the book at the same time. He stands and stares at the page for a long time before dropping the book onto the ground. He smiles in a bitter, vicious way, but talks in a insincerely sweet way.
'Oh. So I AM Demonic. Isn't that nice?'
His twisted smile fades and he looks vaguely sad.
'You live your life under the belief that you're nothing but a plain and simple human and then some bright spark with a big book comes along and proves everything you know to be true wrong. How did this happen...? How unfair. But life isn't fair, is it?'
[Damn it! Damn it all!]

'Kuja.' I starts consolingly. 'Nothing in life is clear and simple, nothing has changed you are still yourself. I do not apologise, not expect your forgiveness for my actions, you would have done the same if you were me. Urema you can read minds then, look into mine! Go back past 6 years ago and look, please.'

'Am I the only one immune to any psychic here? Ugh, weak minded mortals…'
Matsuki eyes go pure black for a moment as he speaks then they return to there normal pale green.
'Ugh... I've got to go somewhere...'
Matsuki spreads his wings and flies up into the sky past the clouds and nearly out of the atmosphere.
[Hahahahaha, sorry about that, I'm getting bored being stuck in here, your antics are only amusing for a short time. I want a piece of the action, anyway, we both know I'm the better looking one.]
'Yeah, if you're into ruggedly handsome serial killers bent on mass destruction of life, instead of the pretty boy with the nice eyes and smile who only wants people to be happy.'
[You whine too much.]
'Shut up...'

Kuja thinks about this for a while and nods a little.
'Hm, I suppose you're right, I. At least I'm not a zombie or something, eh?' He smiles and gives Urema a look that implies he wonders if Urema is a zombie.
'Where's Matsuki going, anyway?'

Aruun picks his book up again, dusts it off and returns it to the inside pocket of his robes.
'I'm sorry if I upset you, Kuja... but I agree, I is right.'
He looks into the sky, watching Matsuki go.
'What should we do now? We need to explore the temple properly... but...'

'Don't worry about it, Aruun. It's not like you're the one who put the Demonic genes in me, is it?'
Kuja thinks for a moment.
'Why don't you three go in the temple, I'll stay out here and keep watch or make sure stupid up there doesn't get into trouble.'
He grins, his arrogance seeping back in.
'Not like I have much choice, is it?'

'Ok.'
Aruun turns to Urema and I.
'Let's go.'

They go back into the temple and make their way back to where they were. Continuing further inside, they come to a great shrine. Sat before them is a large creature with the body of a lion, the wings of a white eagle and the face of a beautiful woman. It appears to be a Greek Sphinx. She watches them enter with the precision of a cat and flexes her claws.
'Some are missing from your numbers.' The Sphinx states, lashing her tail. 'Where are the others?'

Unimpressed by the Sphinx, I pulls his sword out his sleeve.
'Outside. Now are you going to riddle us, or attack us? If you attack then the three of us can beat you, and if it is a riddle then the answer is 'A man.''
I turns to Urema and Aruun.
'Sphinx riddles are generally the same.'

Meanwhile, back outside the temple, someone taps Kuja on the back. He turns round to see a young boy with long black hair and big blue eyes. He's got a sock puppet on one hand. He waves at Kuja with that hand.
'Hi there. Are you all on your own here?'

Kuja looks at the kid, at the sock puppet, back at the kid. He raises an eyebrow.
'Hi. Yes. What do you want, kid?'
[A kid with a sock puppet. Could this day get any better?]

The kid grins.
'You're all on your own, so me and my friend...' He waves the sock again '..came to keep you company.'
He looks up at the temple.
'Are your friends in there? Why didn't you go in?'

'Oh, lucky me.'
Kuja also turns to look at the temple.
'Why didn't I go in-? The colour scheme in there is gopping. It made me sick. Say, don't you have parents to go home to? Isn't it past your bedtime? Run along, kid.'

The kid smiles that infuriating grin again and moves the sock puppet's 'mouth' as if it's speaking. He talks in a squeaky voice.
'Ok, I'll see you again. Bye bye.'
Kuja must have blinked and missed the kid running off, because one moment he was there and the next he was gone.

Kuja looks around for the kid.
'What the..? Oh well, at least he's gone.'
He smiles a little to himself and sits in the grass

Back inside the temple, the Sphinx looks mildly amused.
'Normally, people only get one guess for my riddles, before I tear them to pieces for giving the wrong answer. But I suppose you can have another because you have not actually heard it yet. The answer is not 'a man,' we Sphinx have many riddles.'
She stands up from her perch and begins to pace back and forth in front of it.
'I sail the velvet horizon at night
I can master the tides with my own might
Sometimes I can be as round as a grape
But I do not own a standard fixed shape.
What am I?'

I whispers to Aruun.
'As much as I hate riddles, I'm sure the answer to this one is 'moon'. I got two letters right.' He laughs.

Aruun smiles and nods to I in agreement.
'That's what I was thinking as well.'
He turns shyly to the Sphinx.
'Um, is it the moon?'

The Sphinx's thin lips part into a small smile, but her eyes show disappointment.
'Correct. You have proved your mental prowess to be acceptable. My master will be pleased.'
The Sphinx' perch moves forwards, revealing a hidden compartment. Contained inside is a long staff decorated with a wing motif. The Sphinx gestures to it.
'This is a reward for your cooperation from my master. I believe one among you may find use for it.'

Aruun takes the staff and admires it with wide, excited eyes.
'Oh wow, this is amazing. Enchanted metal... ancient runic engravings...' He trails off into a stream of admiration of the staff.

The Sphinx smiles slightly fondly at him.
'It is well deserved. Perhaps you should go meet back with your friends, now? You should then await further contact from my master.'

Kuja lies back in the grass and looks up at the clouds.
[I wonder where that creepy kid went. I hope Matsuki stays up there. I wonder when the others are going to come back. I hope the next five minutes involves a cup of tea.]
As the Sphinx finishes talking, a shadowy figure jumps down from above and lands gracefully. As he lands, the shadows that seemingly surround him melt into the ground and take their place at his feet. He looks to have about 18 years behind him and has long blue hair, which is platted behind him. He has no visible weapons, but gives the impression that he knows how to defend himself. He stands for a short moment before speaking:
'Who are you people? I was told to come alone.'
After saying this he throws some flash powder and is gone. The staff is taken from Aruun, when the smoke clears, no-one is there.

Aruun blinks and stares at his empty hands for a few minutes straight.
'My staff...'

The Sphinx tosses back her hair and a mirthless laugh escapes her lips.
'It seems the late one has finally made his appearance.'

Aruun looks absolutely crestfallen.
'It's not fair...! We go through all this trouble, past Dragons and Sphinxes and whatever-have-yous and this person turns up and steals my... uh... our reward!'

Urema looks surprised.
'Who was that?'

Aruun still looks rather upset.
'I don't know. I want to get my staff back from him and give him a telling off, but I don't know where he might have gone.'
He glances at the Sphinx.
'He got a letter too? Maybe... maybe if we go back to the inn, he might go there too?'
He turns to I and Urema.
'What do you think?'

'Mystyk I believe, a thief and assassin. He's good, just turns up and vanishes, like this.'
[No as good as me though, heh.]
I turns to a unhappy Aruun.
'How many letters were there kid?'
[Whoever sent the letters is probably playing us off against him.]

'Mystyk...'
Aruun ponders the name for a moment, but makes no comment.
'I don't know how many letters there were. I assumed that it was just me, you, Urema, Kuja and Matsuki that received one, but there must be more...'

I nods.
'Well, we won't get anywhere standing around here. I think we should get the staff back, Mystyk can't have gone far.'

Kuja is still laid in the grass, staring at the sky
[Good gods, they're taking their time.]
He hums tunelessly to himself, watching the clouds roll by.
[I hope it doesn't rain. I left bug-boy's umbrella at the inn.]

They exit the temple and meet back up with Kuja. Aruun tells them what happened with the Sphinx, the staff and Mystyk. Aruun still looks slightly upset, but he also is concerned about Kuja.
'Are you ok now, Kuja? Did staying outside the temple help make you feel better?'

Kuja gets back up and dusts himself down. He grins a bit.
'I'm fine now. I was just bored waiting for you lot.'

Aruun turns to I.
'So, you know this Mystyk person? Do you have any idea how we could find him?'

'I know of him, but he won't have gone far. The shadow slip technique generally works only for short distances, but like I said, this guy is good. If I were him I'd start on the roof and head away from town, obviously, and head in the most difficult direction in order to lose us then find somewhere to hide and check out the staff. Are there any caves, cliffs, or general obstructions around here? Urema, can you sense his thoughts at all? Aruun and Kuja, a spell to locate any humanoids nearby if you would, and Matsuki, keep quiet.'
[This should be interesting.]

Aruun looks at the map and takes out his normal, non-Sphinx-treasure staff.
'The area around here is pretty hilly... lots of mountain caves to hide in. Hmm, I could try doing a location spell, though if he's good with Magick himself, I might need some help from Kuja...'

'Location spell, eh? Well, here goes nothing.'
'Mind to mind... soul to soul... show me where I have to go... eye to eye... so I can see.. show me where I have to be. Eye of Hawk!'
A glowing circle of light appears on the ground.
'Hopefully, if we look into that circle, it should show us where Mystyk is...'
[Hopefully...]

Aruun casts the same spell in an attempt to strengthen Kuja's. He looks hopefully into the circle.

As the circle clears, it shows a cave, which is seemingly empty. It is quite dark and shadowy, not the kind of place you'd walk to alone at night... or in the day for that matter. But it is a cave nonetheless, as the circle scours the cave for life something is visible that doesn't belong in this scene. The circle hones in on this and as it becomes clearer, it is Aruun's Sphinx-given staff. There is nothing else, no wait, something else begins to come into view, it is a note, it says:
'Have your staff, it's no use to me.'
And is signed with what looks like a fang, of a sabre tooth or perhaps bigger.
The rest of the cave looks empty, and nothing out of place. Mystyk isn't there.