Yel didn't shout long, as in addition to being subdued, Al forced him to shut up, by breaking his shoulder in the process.
Screams disguised to muffled cries as the light on Stella's staff edged ever closer.
Yel instinctively covered his eyes, he'd rather not see the danger coming, as visions of those he cared most for: Ema, Cyn - manifested in his mind. He could not escape, this should've been curtains.
But his anticipation was off, either that, or the danger had stopped coming.
"Hm? Wait?...aren't you the one Leon..." It was the latter, as Stella quickly pulled her staff away turning off the technique in the process.
Yel's eyelids slowly open to find Stella close, too close for comfort. She was inspecting him.
"Oh my Shepherds, I almost made a terrible blunder!" Stella steps back, then beckons Al.
"Let him go Al, this one is no threat to us"
Al stared briefly at Stella, and it was only after recognizing her sincerity, did he finally let Yel go.
He immediately goes down on his knees, coughing viciously, as he tried to catch his breath.
"You're quite fortunate Yel Arki, quite fortunate indeed" Stella said with a charming smile
Then she recited a short chant, and gave her staff a small tug.
A magical light glyph forms on the floor beneath Yel's feet, emitting a warm soothing glow and in 2 seconds flat, he was completely healed.
"Uh!? I feel...better...and...energized?" Yel stared at his palm, then the shoulder, and then rubbed his throat, examining himself of any injuries, there was none.
"I'm glad to hear it" she offered her hand to help him up, but he was visibly reluctant to oblige. Stella chuckled softly.
"Your reaction is understandable. But trust me, we're not the bad guys here I assure you"
"I'd rather an explanation instead of assurances"
Yel ignored her and found his feet on his own. She guiltily retracted the hand she offered.
"I fail to see what I did wrong here that warranted such treatment. Last I checked, it's perfectly fine for party members to be informed on the job details should they ask politely" Yel said then with a frown, continued
"Unless a renown party like Grimstone Banner is in the habit of breaking the guild rules"
Al couldn't help but let out a subtle smile, impressed by Yel's composure.
"Hm, admirable courage, for a scout. However, I wouldn't gamble my life so readily mere moments after it was spared if I were you" he said.
"Spared?" Yel asked.
"Stella is merciful, but she can also be quite merciless to the ungrateful. Scout or no scout, she could easily recalibrate her strategies and this mission would go on" Al ignored the question as he concluded
"so bear this in mind; you currently hold no cards here"
Yel felt that, the warning was sincere, and with just a bit more thought he could pick up the meaning behind them clearly.
He suspected if he pushed his luck, they can easily carry on from where they left of.
"(He's right. Grimstone Banner's accolades are unquestionable, and if this Stella woman has always been their tactician, then there's no putting it past her to formulate a plan without me. I am not an invaluable asset, I ought to choose my next words carefully)"
Yel was a calculating individual, realizing he was at the disadvantage, he sought ways to abandon the conversation and vacate the area for his own safety, but Stella Interjected.
"That's quite enough Al. Regardless of our reasons, we were in the wrong here"
Stella bows slightly to apologize
"On behalf of Grimstone Banner, I apologize for the earlier incident"
Taken completely by surprise she'd go that far to apologize to him, Yel quickly moved to lift Stella up
"hey you-you don't have to..." his words trailed off as his hands were very close to making contact with her.
"Shepherds' thousand blessings upon you" Stella expresses her gratitude as she liftes her head up. Then turns around and gestures for Yel to follow her.
"Come with me, I know you have questions so let's talk on our way to Leon"
"Leon?" Yel asked, surprise how fast things were moving along.
"You wanted to know why we're here, tasked with this job, didn't you?"
Stella smiled then fixes her grip on the staff, walks to the door and nods to Al.
He nodded back and unlocks the door.
"Come, this way" Stella told Yel and made her way in.
"...my curiosity almost got the better of me earlier...but it's also taken me this far, no need to back down now" Yel thought, as he hesitantly joined her in.
Corridor to Client's room
Stella and Yel steadily made their way in.
"So...about before, you...do the light thing often? whatever that was..."
"Saintly magic. To become a Siren Priestess, you need to have mastered at least one form of it"
"I see...and are all Siren Priestess also as trigger happy with this ... deadly magic?"
Stella chuckled softly. "No they're not. Besides, it's not deadly magic"
"Didn't seem that way from my point of view" Yel said dismissively
"Saint's Cleansing is the name of this magic. By forcefully overwriting your memories with blanks using sharp blinding lights, you feel immense pain. The intention was to wipe away any conflicting thoughts you had, every single one... to ensure you remain undistracted"
Stella said, as if trying to convince Yel that what transpired was for his own good.
"*Gulps* So I'd be spared all details and only focus on playing sheep, is that what you mean?"
"I...wouldn't put it that way, but yes, that about sums it up"
"What a terrifying power to wield..." Yel remarked.
"A matter of perspective. Much like how a sword can be used to kill and to protect, Saints cleansing can also set turbulent minds at ease, should they be too much of a burden to carry. You'd be surprised, how many people have been saved ...by forgetting" Stella said.
"...So I was a potential threat...as my probing or curiosity could spread to the party, and everyone involved?" Yel asked
Stella nods. "That is why, sometimes I have to do a cleansing. It is a painful process yes, but it must be done, especially for classified missions where success is the only thing that matters, as you'll find out shortly"
"I see...which begs the question; why was I spared?"
"You have Leon to thank for that"
"Leon!?" Yel was surprised, for Leon was not outside when the incident occurred, so it was difficult to figure out what part he played.
"He saw...something...ummm... a potential, in you during the briefing, and our leader's instincts has not steered us wrong so far"
Stella let out a satisfied grin, preaching about the esteemed leader's reputation
"I was tasked with keeping an eye on your performance during the mission; who would've thought you'll come to us instead" she continued and carried on.
Yel however, had paused for a while to take in what he's just heard.
"(Leon saw something in me!?...that...that's hard to believe!)" the thoughts created a swell of positive energy within Yel, as he was happy Leon took notice of him; he didn't know why, and at this point in time, he didn't care.
Then he stared at Stella who was starting to pull clear ahead, not wanting to stray too far behind, he took big steps to catch up
"(Hard to believe, but that'll explain why she stopped back then... Still, I must remain cautious around them; there's no telling when that will change)" Yel said as he kept a close eye on Stella, still not entirely over the incident outside.
"(I can also use this as an opportunity to gauge her abilities...)" Yel thought to himself, then posed a question
"Out of...mere curiousity-" before he could continue he got interrupted
"Careful now! Curiousity has led to the demise of many strong adventurers. Don't ask questions, you don't want answers to" she said with a charming smile and continued facing forward.
"Incredible...she didn't give me a moment to probe, because of my opening statement. I see Grimstone Banner is impervious to indirect queries. I will have to forthcoming with them" Yel noted this development and then continued.
"Noted. I wanted to ask about you" Yel said
"What about me?" she asked
"You said to become a Siren Priestess, you ought to have mastered at least one saintly magic. How many, have you mastered?"
she smiled and places an index finger on her mouth
"That, is a secret". she dodged the question completely much to Yel's disappointment,
"I suppose it wouldn't be that simple to get information from her" Yel concluded as they carried on their way through the corridor.
A short while later, they reach a big double door at the end of the corridor, Stella halted, and shifted her staff in front of Yel, beckoning him to stop as well.
"Here we are" she turns around to face Yel.
"I will let you know now, whatever you hear beyond this door, should not escape your lips for any reason whatsover; until this mission has been cleared" she continued, and for the first time, Stella's face twisted into an intense frown, she was dead serious.
"Understand there's no turning back once you step into that room. That said, do you still intend to know what this mission is truly about?"
The warning was clear. This was suppose to be a simple escort job, but there is more to it than Yel, or his friends thought. He had 2 options:
Leave now and focus on seeing it through. For Ema, Cyn, his friends - that was all he needed to do here
But then, with Grimstone Banner here, the sensation that something big was brewing, and the temptation to learn and potentially be a part of it swarmed his mind.
"They're clearly going through a lot to keep this secret. if Leon saw fit to keep Stella's watchful gaze on me, then there's a chance I may be capable of handling whatever may come. Besides, with their party here, knowing or not knowing what is to come, makes no difference. It'll happen either way and we'll all be caught in it. So knowing about this, will put me in a better position to make impromptu decisions shoud it be required...with that, my course should be clear"
Yel, has always been a calculating person, but also very good at convincing himself
he gulps back the fear in him, and strengthens his resolve. However, before he could answer Stella's question, she spoke, already suspecting his answer.
"I see you've made your decision" she loose the frown and smiled. "Your truly have admirable courage, but it is unbecoming of a mere scout"
"I'll take that as a compliment" Yel replied.
"and, as a warning" she said, turning back to the door. "Very well, I shall get you inside"
Stella softly knocks twice on the door
"Stella here. Permission to enter?" she asked and after a brief moment of silence, they got a muffled response from behind the door, it was Leon.
"You may enter"
Stella slowly opens the door, and at that moment, it dawned on Yel, that there was no turning back