The cathedral was packed with people by the time i got in. All the side entrances were locked and barred from the inside (must have known i would come) so the only way in was through the front gates. Stepping in i really wished I'd scour the place beforehand when it was empty. White walls with golden arches holding up the ceiling, scenes of lush green forests and starry nights painted all over, i even recognized my forest village in one of them, the dark red carpets on the white marble floors, all of these gave me a strange feeling of calmness.
And then I saw it. The chandelier. Coming up from the entrance you wouldn't expect it to be so big, nor did my stay on the dome prepare me for this since I mostly looked outside and at the altar. As i took my first steps on the carpet, advancing through the croud of worshippers who stepped to the side i began to see the lower part of it. A golden nib surrounded by delicate golden vines that went upwards, branching into an intricate design that spread outward, like actual vines floating and hanging onto air as they ascend to heavens. Unlike most chandeliers the viny growths started from the central rod and kept going up, almost reaching the ceiling, where they started to thin to let room for the lights to hit on the miriard of different coloreds glass shards and mirrors, forming an illusion of the heavens during nighttime.
I stopped right at the edge of the circle of lights reflected on the floor. The carpet ended to left room for the lights to shine and show those rippling clowd like shapes on the floor. If it wasn't for the rumors i would have walked thought them, just to see if the clouds move.
Entranced as I was by the beauty of the cathedral i could still hear the humming of the crowd around me, all singing in unison words I could not understand. Their voices dull and no more than a whisper at first accompanied my steps towards the center of the church, the chandelier's shadow. The chorus rise in volume and reached higher notes as the worshippers seem to get more and more entranced by the song. Right as i stopped to look at the heavenly clouds the ecoes were hitting the walls, revebrating inside the whole cathedral as if the people were using their very souls to sing. It was almost like a trance.
Right as they were about to reach the highest note and the peak of the hymn they stopped, letting my ears ring as they had to adjust to the sudden silence.
The man at the altar opened his arms and spread them, looking right at me. It made me feel uncomfortable, like he was looking through me, studying me, and i was nothing more than a means to an end.
"You decided to come, good. Welcome to our church and humble gathering!"
In the dead silence of the church his voice was amplified by every single wall and it made it sound like a bell tower. It wasn't as deep as i expected. The voice just like the man had nothing special in it, yet somehow it managed to get your attention and draw you to it. I think it was a natural talent he developed to suit his needs and didn't use all the time.
I've been in weird situations and in front of authority figures before, so i didn't let him intimidate me.
"So it was you who send the note. I assume you are aware of what my services imply."
A thin smile appeared on his face, he didn't appear in a mood for conversation.
"Do not take me for a fool! I know who I contacted. One of my men left you the note, that you accepted since you're already here. I heard about your kind. I heard about you being hunted. That's why I was unsure you were going to come.
Rest assured we mean you no harm. Do as you're asked and you shall receive your pay and piece of mind.
As for your reasons to answer my call... there could be many, but i do not care.
I felt you might miss the thrill of the hunt however, I hoped you would.
You crave excitement and I need you to steal something for me."
"What are the risks involved?"
"Oh there are many. I wouldn't take someone like you for a coward."
"I'm not. I'm just pragmatic."
He lifted his arm signing me to be silent and he continued.
"You don't really have a choice in the matter anyway. But i will tell you all the details, i want you to succeed for both our benefit after all."
He gestured for me to follow and for the chorus to start singing again, then went to a small chamber on the right side of the altar.
