Zenkoh and Maria arrive at the shrine as it is starting to get dark. After some waiting out of sight and seeing no one go in or come out for over an hour Zenkoh decides to check if the door is locked. Upon trying to pull the door open, it refuses to budge. Zenkoh gives an annoyed grunt before getting ready to kick it down.
Maria: Stop! Zenkoh what do you think you're doing?
Zenkoh: opening the door of course.
Maria: That is going to be way too loud, you'll draw attention to us.
Zenkoh looks around before giving Maria a confused look.
Zenkoh: What are you talking about, there's no one here.
Maria: Look, just let me try to get it open.
Zenkoh backs away from the door and watches as Maria pulls a lockpick out from her sleeve. Where did she get that and how long had she had it? Zenkoh gives Maria a confused look expecting an explanation.
Maria: Oh right, I guess I didn't tell you that while I was searching the village someone had bumped into me and dropped it. When I picked it up to try to return it all I saw was a black tail disappearing around a corner in a rush.
After a few minutes of waiting, there was eventually the sound of a click, and the door swung open. Maria, feeling proud of herself, gave a small bow before putting the lockpick away.
Zenkoh: I didn't know you knew how to pick locks.
Maria simply shrugged before giving a slightly amused look.
Maria: It never came up.
Turning back to the door Zenkoh pushes it open to reveal the inside of the shrine. There were statues lining the walls, pillars all throughout, as well as what appeared to be wooden benches of some kind in the center of the building. Wondering how it was possible that Null was using this shrine as some form of operating base, Zenkoh began searching along the walls and floors for anything out of place.
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As Zenkoh was busy with her search Maria could have sworn she heard something, but she figured she must have been imagining it due to being nervous. That is until she heard it again, except closer. It sounded like distant talking, but it was slowly getting closer. Thinking quickly Maria told Zenkoh to hide, someone was coming. After only a few seconds of thought, they both hid behind statues on the north side of the shrine.
As the voice got closer it eventually stopped, then the door creaked open to reveal who the voice belonged to. From their hiding spots they couldn't quite make out who was in the doorway, until they walked into the middle of the room. It was a black kobold with red eyes, it was Irya. She looked around several times, likely making sure no one could see what she was about to do. She was talking to herself as she made her way to the north-west corner of the shrine.
Irya: I can't believe I managed to lose my damn lockpick, just another thing to go wrong today, on top of being humiliated in the arena by that damn gnoll.
