Sorry if this chapter or any future ones start getting a little slow. I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to establish a sort of timeline for the entire story. I think I have a general idea of how this story will go and end, but not sure how long it will be. I was also adding details to my characters. In general, if they have a full name, they're probably somewhat important. Enjoy!

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Two days later, the caravan arrived at the gates of the Renaissance Kingdom. Everyone gave their gratitude to Itsuki once again and left. Since it was still early morning, Hina was still asleep, so Itsuki gave her a piggyback ride. Veri perched herself onto Itsuki’s shoulder, and Bruno began to guide the way to his wife’s inn. Along the way, he became a tour guide for Itsuki.

Bruno: The Renaissance Kingdom prides itself on its simplicity and devoutness to the gods. Our temple is the best of the 4 kingdoms, and every pilgrimage will begin here.”

Itsuki whispered to Veri: “Kinda reminds of Besaid island then.”

Veri softly responded: “Oh! You mean that island with the super huge gangster bird!”

Itsuki: “Oi Oi you can’t call it a gangster bird just cause it had a huge piercing…”

Bruno: “Ahem. That chapel like building you see to the north is the Temple of Artemis. 40 years ago, the building was actually known as the Temple of Twins. However, since Apollo has disappeared for so long, many have opted to call it the Temple of Artemis. In Symphonia’s history, Apollo was the sun while Artemis was the moon. They led the gods, but Apollo was the better known one. For some reason, no image of Artemis exists so there are only paintings of what she could look like.”

Itsuki: “Sorry, sorry. Hmm, I wonder why no one has ever seen Artemis though. Hey Veri, did you ever see Artemis?”

Veri uncharacteristically kept her quiet, trying to stifle an extreme urge to burst out laughing. Her actions puzzled Itsuki, but the pixie herself was quite odd anyway.

Hina: “ehehe…chocolate cake…”

Bruno: “Haha, she’s talking in her sleep about cake. Now, the special thing about the Renaissance kingdom is that there is no king. The administrator is actually the Head Priestess of the temple. She believes that our kingdom needs only the gods and peace. With her fervent desire for peace, no one in the city makes trouble. In a sense, she’s our idol, though not in a blasphemous way. She’s training an apprentice who is just as much of an idol as her.”

Itsuki: “That’s actually really amazing. The sounds of this kingdom are really beautiful, and the atmosphere also has a sense of serenity. I can’t wait to walk around and see what else this place has to offer! By any chance, would I see her when we head to the temple? I’d really love to meet the person who helped make a place like this.”

Bruno: “Maybe if we’re lucky. She’s usually very busy. Anyway, the main places you should check out other than the temple would be…Claus’s music shop which sells musical instruments and the farmer’s market which has some really fresh ingredients. Ah! Here we are. My home and inn. Welcome to the Grest’s Rest. My wife, Sarah, named it. I was really embarrassed about it at first, but I got used to it after she whacked me a few times.”

Veri: “*pfft* Hahahahaha, that naming sense is superb! I think your wife and I will get along just fine.”

Itsuki sighed shaking his head: “Veri…I think you just enjoy the fact that she sounds like a hit first ask later kind of person. Hina, it’s time to wake up.”

Hina slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them. Letting out a huge yawn, she saw the sign of her home and snapped wide awake with excitement. As she began to wiggle around, Itsuki let her down only to have her dash inside the inn.

Hina: “We’re home we’re home! Mommy, grandma where are youuuuu!”

Bruno: “She was really homesick wasn’t she? Well time to take my scolding like a man hahaha.”

Itsuki and Bruno followed Hina into the store only to have a hand slap Bruno across the face. Hina was crying in the arms of a young woman, while an older yet still beautiful woman prepared her hand for another slap.

Sarah: “How could you be so careless?!! What merchant doesn’t check his goods until he’s miles away from town? Oh if there’s a scratch on my little baby, you are going to be in the dog house mister! If you hadn’t sent us a letter saying Hina was with you, I swear I would’ve bought every damn mercenary in this place to go find her.”

Bruno gasped: “Ow! Oh, not the dog house honey…it’s so tight in there…please forgive me dear. When I realized she was there, I worked harder than before. The job usually takes a month, but I finished the deliveries and returned in 2 and a half weeks to bring Hina back home faster…”

Martha: “Forgive Dad, Mother. Hina seems to be in great shape, though a scolding is in order for her. Before that, shouldn’t we hear how the trip went? I’ll go brew some tea.”

Martha left to the kitchen to brew some tea, while Hina ran to hug her grandmother that she hadn’t seen for a few weeks.

Hina: “Grandmaaaa. I missed you soooo much!”

Sarah: “Oh me too my little angel. Oh! I sincerely apologize. I was so preoccupied with my granddaughter that I didn’t notice you. My name is Sarah Grest. Who might you be?”

Hina: “That’s big brother Itsuki!”

Itsuki: “As she said, my name is Itsuki Hideyoshi. I came to meet Bruno and Hina while traveling to this kingdom. We’ve become really good friends.”

Veri: “And I’m Veri! It’s a pleasure.”

Sarah: “My my, a pixie. She’s a cute one too. Please take a seat as my daughter prepares the tea. I have a feeling an interesting story is about to be told.”

Martha brought tea out for everyone, and she took a seat with Hina on her lap. After everyone properly introduced themselves, everyone say down to listen to the story. Veri decided to sit on top of Itsuki’s head, much to his chagrin. Bruno began to tell Sarah and Martha about what had occurred. Of course, it shocked them tremendously.

Sarah: “An Alpha Wolf only two days away?!!! Oh goddess the times are getting scarier.”

Martha: “Dad, perhaps you should stay at home for a while. The number of monsters is only going up. And Hina, you aren’t allowed to leave the house for a week for running out like that.”

Hina: “Ok Mommy…”

Bruno: “I know, but you should have seen Itsuki! He beat the Alpha Wolf like nothing. Keep this quiet, but he’s a bonafide conductor!”

Sarah: “WHAT!”

Bruno: “Quiet Honey!”

Sarah: “Sorry, but are you serious? If so, he’d be the first one since the Lost Sound…”

Bruno: “Indeed. Change is coming, and I think this young man will be the eye of the storm.”

Sarah: “Thank you, Itsuki. I can see that if it wasn’t for you, my husband and granddaughter might not be here. Also, seeing a conductor in the flesh sure gets me excited. I really do wonder what your destiny is.”

Martha: “I too wish to thank you for saving my father and daughter.”

Hina: “Grandma! Mommy! Can big brother Itsuki stay at the inn? Pretty pleaseee?”

Sarah: “Of course. There’s an open room on the second floor, room 215. No charge, and stay as long as you like. It’s the least I can do.”

Itsuki: “Thank you. I’ll be in your care.”

Veri: “We’ll be in your care you mean.”

Bruno: “Haha! That settles it. Ok, while you prepare the room, I’ll take him to the temple. The goddess might be able to tell him what his destiny is. Perhaps the Head Priestess can give some advice as well if we can meet her.”

Sarah: “Alright. Maybe I shouldn’t put you in the dog house after all eh Bruno? Helping out the first conductor in decades has to be quite an honor. Fufufu perhaps I’ll have him perform a song for us tonight. He might play really well with the new girl we got two weeks ago. Her name is Eulina Moretz. She’s a traveling bard, but her voice is absolutely heavenly. I’ll introduce you later when you come back from the temple.”

Hina: “Hina wants to go to the temple with big brother Itsuki!”

Martha: “No. Hina, you are going to be getting a bath. You’ll see him when he returns.”

Hina: “Boooooooooo.”

Itsuki: “It’s ok, Hina. I’ll see if I can get your grandpa to bring back a gift from the marketplace, so be a good girl and wait ok?"

Hina: “Ok! Yay!!”

Bruno: “Sigh…it’s always me isn’t it. Oh well, let’s head out Itsuki and Veri.”

The two men and a pixie went straight to the Temple of Artemis only to see a crowd around the entrance. In the middle of the crowd was a girl on the short side, with purple short hair in white priestess clothes. Despite her clothes, you could easily tell she was a slender beauty with B cup breasts.

Man A: “Please marry me!”

Man B: “No you dolt. Why would she marry you if she has me?”

Constant bickering erupted in the crowd as the unfortunate girl was red in the face and looked like she had steam coming out of her head.

???: “Please um stop fighting. Fighting isn’t a good thing at all…”

Bruno: “AHEM. Excuse me love struck boys, but I need to get into the temple.”

Man C: “AHHH. Crap run! It’s Bruno the Beast! He might break you if you piss him off too much!”

Man D: “I hear only his wife can control him! Let’s get out of here!”

The crowd of men instantly dispersed in every direction. As though a huge weight was taken off her, the girl collapsed onto her knees clearly exhausted.

Bruno: “This is the apprentice I was talking to you about. Her name is Polly, though as you can see, she is terrible at dealing with men, especially the kind lusting after her. This is an emergency though. Let’s help her into the temple.”

Itsuki: “Roger that Mr. Beast!”

Bruno: “OI! I was just a foolhardy man ok? Let’s not talk about that anymore.”

Itsuki: “Haha, alright. She is really pretty though. No wonder she has so many suitors. Anyway, can you stand?”

Itsuki reached his hand out to her and pulled her up from the ground. Immediately, a warm sensation rushed through the girl, as though she was waking up from a long slumber. Her body got hot, as the blood in her veins began to pump faster than ever before. She looked at Itsuki with a confused expression, but she immediately noticed her hand touching his and pulled away.

Veri raised an eyebrow to her behavior, but she made no attempt to tell Itsuki what she felt just happened. If she was correct…no. We’ll see what Artemis has to say.

Polly: “I-I-I am really s-s-sorry about that. T-That was a rather inappropriate sight to show you. Ahem. My name is Polly Dreamstone. I have been a priestess ever since I was adopted by the Head Priestess when I was 9 years old. Could I ask why you have come to the temple today?”

Bruno: “We wish to pray to the Goddess Artemis in order to see if my friend here has a particular destiny he must follow. He’s a special one, though that’s all I can say right now. Is the Head Priestess busy at the moment?”

Polly: “Head Priestess Natalia is currently in meditation right now. I can go see if she is done. In the meantime, go ahead and pray to the statue of Artemis for a sign.”

Rather than say she walked hurriedly away, it seemed more like she was sprinting from Itsuki.

Bruno: “Over here Itsuki. The statue of the goddess is here. Let’s do as she says and pray.”

Itsuki: “So this is what Artemis supposedly looks like huh…”

The Statue of Artemis stood tall and regal. Her overflowing womanly features were accented by her gorgeous face full of honor and maturity. Truly, she was a goddess that could stand above all others.

Veri whispered to herself: “If only they knew…hehehe.”

Itsuki knelt in front of the statue and prayed deeply to know what it is that he was tasked to accomplish in this world.

Bright lights filled the room as the statue of Artemis began to glow. Itsuki could hardly open his eyes, or else he felt he would be blinded. Despite this thought, the light was warm and gentle. When he turned to Bruno to ask if he was ok, Bruno was frozen, still bowing his head in supplication. From the light stepped out a girl, no taller than 4 feet. Her childish face and non-existent proportions did not stop the aura of godliness coming from her, and music filled the room as though a gospel choir was present. Her proud face looked at Itsuki with a haughty smile, and she began to speak in the most dignified way despite her voice sounding like a tsundere character played by Rie Kugimiya.

???: “I have finally met you, Conductor of Apollo. I am Artemis, the goddess of archery and the moon.”

Wait….the great beautiful mature goddess…was a LOLI?

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Time to find out his mission! Anyone curious as to why Polly started to feel the way she did? Find out next time! Should I keep a skills and character list somewhere to make it easier?