First Impressions with the Children pt.3

Sung instantly stepped past Vor Sung whispered as he went by "Wrong move you first always." Sung opened the door looking very disgruntled. "You dare shut the door in my Lord's face. Have you lost your mind!" Sung said it out loud and He had a tone of being unhappy with the action and some anger. Sung did not step into the room but did step to the side for Vor if it was safe.

Acting this out was easy for Sung it was a breach of etiquette in several countries. In Japan, Sung would have to cut the man down if he had done that to his Lord there.

A change in the script, but one that Vor could roll with. His glance could now be seen as a signal for Sung. He walked towards the door, glaring down at Staniadis.

“I was taught that you humans had a particular penchant for tradition and protocol. I gave you permission to secure the alarms, not to insult me with closed doors and secrets!”

Staniadis quickly opened the door, with a look of fear on his face. Especially when he heard the words coming out of Vor's mouth. "Forgive me, Lord. The door accidentally closed behind me. I will take any punishment you deem fitting for my error." The man seemed almost as if he was waiting on something. Like it might be better to just get whatever he had coming to him out of the way.

Standing behind Vor Sung still had the same look on his face. "My Lord If you wish to not dirty your Hands in on him give me the order," suggested Sung emphasizing the word hands. Sung hoped he got what he meant as a backhand.

Here he stumbled a moment, being presented with the dreaded scenario he had asked about not even several hours ago. Metira spoke of understanding and peace for all her children, not to savagely beat each other over insulted pride. Still, they were too deep now.
Without taking his eyes from Staniadis, he waved for Sung to carry out the punishment, unable to speak lest he falter.

While Sung and Vor were discussing it, Staniadis knelt down awaiting his punishment.

Without a word or even warning no hesitation. Swiftly Sung stepped forward in one flued motion sweeping away any defence that Staniadis would put up. Sung backhanded Staniadis with enough force to make him take a falling back. Then stepped back behind Vor. Sung straightened out his jacket and shirt.

Sung knew now where he was just like Elizabeth described it. Sung that was for Elizabeth Next time it might be Staniadis's head.

The blow made Vor jump in shock. A momentary break in his character that was quickly covered by the stern glare. He felt he would need the previously offered wine after all of this.

“Having been reminded just who you are sprawled before, I suggest you disarm your alarms with most haste.”

He kept the door open with his foot now, allowing the man to do his work while under his watchful eye.

Despite being on his knees, Staniadis was still rocked back a bit, when Sung hit him. However, he didn't rubbed his cheek or jaw the way most. Instead he scrambled to his feet.

"Of course, Lord." Staniadis quickly went about disarming the alarms. "The alarms are shut off, please come in."

The room is a large opened area bare furnishings. Just an altar towards the front. A large hanging of the same circular pattern, one hung in each wall. On the floor was the same pattern and it was also carved into the front of the altar. Some books lay on the altar, but from this distance it was difficult to tell what they were. There was a statue of an Arundan carved from a shell, but it doesn't look like anything of importance outside of the Children.

Staniadis stands I front of the altar, looks directly at the statue and says. "Férno énan apó esás, énan Theó. Sas parakaló na mou epitrépsete na deíxo tous thisavroús. Férte to alithinó stin alítheia." (I bring one of you, a God. I beg you allow me to show the treasures. Bring the true to the truth.)

Then hesitantly, the man walks to the statue and pulls it to the left, the wall on the back left corner slides away, revealing a hidden room.

“Are there any alarms past this point?”

Vor moved towards the opening, making it clear he would be the first through otherwise.

Sung did not enter the room just stood in the doorway and watched the other two. Then made a mental note of how he opened the secret door.

"No," Staniadis responded. "Please go through first, Lord."

The room was like a large walk in closet. It had shelves that went from another two inches from the floor to about a foot from the ceiling. If one had to guess, the ceiling was likely about eight - nine feet up. Several of the shelf had books, all in Greek. Mostly related to the history if the Arundan, magic or Greece. One contained several copies of what seemed to be the same book entitled, "Prosefchés tis Thálassas". (Prayers of the sea) The other book there were several copies of was entitled "Νέος" (New). However, it would not be the books that were of the most interest.

There were several shelves of various religious items. Including statues, looking like the statues seen in Staniadis's office and in the altar in the temple. Off to one side, was a rack with blue robes and green religious shawls hanging up. Embroidered on them was the same circular symbol that held so much meaning to the Children.

The rest of the shelves were bare except for five, five that held the most interesting part of this area. Artifacts from the Arundan. Small statues, coral necklaces, small boxes containing sea shells. About three shelves up, among these five shelves, in an area by itself sat a small statue of a mermaid holding a torch. This statue was well known among the Arundan, as the To Meta (The After). It was supposed to show what happens when the Arundan go back into the sea and it had been missing for about 50 years. The Visage was not in the room anywhere.

Once Staniadis was sure that Sung was not going in, he followed Vor into the room.