The Machine [Open/Accepting]

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"If you are sure. You can always lean on one of us if you need to. The Chief General is a little stronger physically than me, so he could probably support you more" Damien said as he followed the Grand Priestess.  

[lil_lollypop1]

((btw, I heard gaia is closing for maintenance in 15 minutes.))

"You're so tiny that I could probably just carry you, but I don't think that would be appropriate." Jian replied.

"I'll be fine, really." She replied. "I've had worse." She said, finishing the statement as she let them down the long corridors. She then stopped at one of the walls where there was a small button on the wall.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"Alright then" Damien said as he followed the Priestess. He watched as she came to a wall where the button was.

((It said 11pm Pacific time, so that's like 1 am for you, I believe.))  

[lil_lollypop1]

((Really? Awesome! ))

"Brace yourselves. We should be fine, but just in case..." She muttered.

"We're ready." Jian replied.

Lianne nodded and pressed the button as the wall opened up to the kitchen.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien had his gun aimed in the direction of the door, just in case there was someone unwanted on the other side. He also took a step to the side so that he wasn't directly in the line of fire.  

[lil_lollypop1]

The door opened as the chefs jumped, startled. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lianne stepped out first.

"Grand priestess?" One chef asked.
"M-madam!" Another replied. "What happened, is everything alright?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Assassins attacked us in the library." She replied. "I know the ones who did this."  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien emerged into the kitchen. "There hasn't been anyone suspicious who came in here before, has there?" he asked, putting his gun down, slightly.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Not really." The chef replied. "The only one who came by was the bishop. He wanted to tell me about my good work, and that he was looking forward to dinner." The chef replied. "It made me so happy, but after that, stupid John was being klutzy and knocked over tonight's dinner, and after I said I'd let him taste test it too..." The chef sighed. "The poor lad got burned, so I sent him to the medical clinic and had to redo dinner from scratch."

"What providence. I will make sure John gets the best treatment possible." She sighed with relief behind the sleeve still covering her face. "We should hurry." She told Jian and Damien as she limped over to the exit of the kitchen.

"Pardon? My lady, is what happened a good thing?" The chef asked, confused.

"His actions may have spared the lives of hundreds... possible thousands if this caused a war." She replied.

"I don't understand." The chef replied with alarm.

"Sleeping pills, my friend." She replied.

"Are you implying the bishop drugged the food?!" He asked.

"It is possible. My only solace is that at least they aren't killing who they don't need to..." She sighed, looking away and leaving the room to the large banquet hall where several knights were gathered around and goofing off over ale and soup.

Seeing Lianne, one of the guards spewed his beer and looked with shock. Some of the others noticed this with alarm, especially with her veil gone and Damien there. The room was filled with an awkward silence, none of the guards knowing how to react.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien saw the guards, then looked at Lianne. This probably looked very strange. "Well, you have your guards now. They seem to be fine. You'll no longer need us for protection" he said to the Grand Priestess who was still covering her face.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Thank you for protecting me, Mr. Blackrose and Mr. Kimfeng." She replied.

"Hey, it's thanks to you that we could get out of that maze." Jian replied. She gave a small nod then turned to her guards.

"What... what happened? Are you... ok?" One asked.

"What's going on here?" A guard who looked like a prince from a storybook asked, just walking into the room. "P-priestess."

"Captain Michael." She replied.

"What happened to you? Your veil... you're bleeding!" He stuttered, rushing over to her side. "You two, what did you do to her?!"

"Calm yourself." Lianne cut in. "They saved my life. I was nearly assassinated... by bishops..." She replied.

"T-that's... but..." he stuttered, stunned. Lianne looked down and closed her eyes. "Good God..." He muttered, quickly turning towards the guards. "Group 3, 6, and 8, investigate this immediately." He ordered before turning to Lianne and sweeping her off her feet. "You need medical attention, and a new veil." He said, holding her protectively.

"I'm not hurt that bad." She told him.

The captain of the guard turned to Damian and Jian with a frown, obviously not liking them or the situation. "I suppose I should say I'm sorry, and thank you." He grumbled, obviously talking out of obligation.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien didn't like Captain Michael and doubted that he ever would, and he felt that the feeling was mutual. "Apology accepted. It seems that a certain Bishop Gilles has it in for the Grand Priestess. I wasn't aware that he hated her so much. You'd think that a bishop would never even consider murder. Alas..." Damien replied.  

[lil_lollypop1]

Captain Michael narrowed his eyes. "Some people find it acceptable if they pay others instead of bloodying their own white gloves." The captain replied.

"Michael, please stop that." Lianne muttered.

"Forgive me, my lady. I'll take you to the medical ward now." Michael replied, obviously not sorry for saying it.

"But my guests..." She replied.

"Relax. Someone else can escort them... somewhere." He replied.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

Damien rolled his eyes, then looked to the Chief General. "I don't think he likes us" he said. He then looked around. "So do we just stay here?" he asked to no one in particular.  

[lil_lollypop1]

"We could go to the medical bay to see Shadow." Jian replied, though he was more of implying that as an excuse to follow after Lianne and the captain.  

[Eternal_PrinceOfFire]

"I suppose. It's probably safer there, though I don't think she likes us either" Damien said to Jian with a smirk.