Because of You

Chapter 13 - Fortunately Unfortunate

Damian closed his eyes tightly as he entered the bright circle his mother produced in thin air.

Soon, she let go of him, but he lost his balance and fell forward, expecting hard ground.
But really, the surface was soft? And cold? Wait it was snow!

"Where have you brought me?" He asked his mother.

"This, my son, is the Nanda Parvat," she explained, "The home to the Guardians of the Miraculous. This is the hidden trail to the Temple of the Guardians."

"Wait isn't it Nanga Parvat?" Damian asked.

"Nanga Parvat has a parallel range, whose existence is hidden from the outside world. Now would you follow me?" She asked annoyed.

The pair scaled the icy slope of the mountain to see an ancient golden structure.
Intricately carved on the walls were beautiful foliage and human figures.

From the walls of the Temple, Damian could sense the style as a mix of Chinese, Indian and Persian design.

He followed his mother into the temple.
His mother confidently walked in as if she owned the place.

As she walked in, several of the monks nodded in greeting, to which she nodded backed or waved.

Damian was surprised to say the least. When did the Guardians and the League get along?

"Since when are the Guardians so tolerant to the Leaguers?" he asked.

"Two years ago, actually," she answered, "We had a Pact made which kept both groups at peace. Technically it was your grandfather who was against this alliance, but once the League became my responsibility, the Peace Agreement was the first thing I drafted."

He nodded in acknowledgement and then walked ahead down the path that didn't seem to end.

"Are we there yet?" Damian asked.

"Almost there," she spoke and then took a turn into a room that looked grand.

Inside was a traditional open ceiling-ed room with calming cream walls.
In the center was a fountain flowing delicately over a strangely shaped rock.

The windows were adorned with bamboo straw blinds, one of which was open, allowing the sunlight to seep through.

All in all the room was capable of putting Damian at peace.

"Master Jian," Thalia bowed and Damian followed suit.

A bald man clad in a saffron robe, rose to their height. He was short but looked incredibly wise.

"Namaste," he greeted with joined hands, "What bring you assassins to our humble abode?" He asked, smiling.

"This is my son," she introduced Damian, "He wants to know something about... a Ladybug," she asked looking at Damian for confirmation.

There was a second of silence before the monk extended his hand, "Come young apprentice, you must come alone for this."

Damian followed the monk to another room which appeared to be a library of sorts.

Scrolls were everywhere, neatly stacked on shelves and spread on the table.

"Please be seated," he instructed and Damian settled himself on the cushion on one side of the low table.

"You wanted to know about Ladybug. I presume you meant the hero of Paris?" He asked.

"Yes," Damian agreed.

"What do you want to know?" He asked.

Taking a deep breath, Damian explained, "I hail from the city of Gotham. Recently, Gotham has been facing a new threat, a murderer to be exact. She has been committing killings by summoning weapons in the same way Ladybug used to. We need information on her whereabouts."