Clara

And so it was that after a fly worth of triple somersault, the two of them managed to hit the ground to the young woman's delight, infinitely grateful for still being in one piece!

<<So? It wasn't so bad, right?>> Amos asked, except being promptly struck by Clara's homicide sight. Evidently, she didn't like so much the landing!

<<I wish it was worth it. So, where is the weirdo one?>> Clara sked, quite annoyed and thank goodness they were just at the beginning!

<<My dears, here I am. I wasn't waiting for you so early, has the honey moon already ended?>> The woman ironized quietly sipping a strange drink definitely too "flowery", at least for Clara's tastes. Apparently, the two guys don't stand her sense of humor!

<<My God, are we very susceptible, mmh? Oh well, it means that we will cut to the chase, what do you say?>>

<<Let's say so.>> The two answered in unison.

<<And they keep saying they are not soulmates.>> She mumbled, finishing the weirdo drink.

<<Again?>>

<<Ok, come on, follow me.>>

The woman headed them to one of the many underground rooms in the temple where there were "hung" a series of paintings representing strange objects seeming sparkling stones, similar to that that Clara wore around her neck and other things as bowls, swords and so on. It almost seemed that the paintings trail was infinite, extending more and more.

<<Sorry, but did you take us here? Did you want to show us a "magic" art gallery? All right, mission complete, now we can leave.>> Clara stated, preparing to a retro front, except being quickly grabbed by the "loyal" friend.

<<Hey, aren't you thinking to sneak out, right?>> He asked, keeping her steady in a point without the minimum effort. Clara was sure that that strength gap enjoyed him more than necessary!

<<After all that happened, how can you just think of something like that? I was just asking myself for what reason we should admire a bizarre art exhibition, instead of starting this fateful research? If you still hadn't realized it, I would also have a life and I would like to come back to reality the soonest possible.>> She ended.

<<And how could I forget it since you keep remembering it more or less always?>> He replied. Between these two there is never a moment of peace.

<<Sorry, I wouldn't like to interrupt this nice interlude, but could we come back to the reason of this visit? Lillybet stepped, who wasn't no longer holding the strange drink. Probably, she will have made it disappear with who knows what spell, the girl thought, even if, at the moment, it wasn't the most important thing.

<<Oh, finally. So, do you want to tell us or do we make guesses?>> This time was Amos the one taking the floor.

<<It's extremely simple, you just have to recover the objects here represented.>> She sentenced, pointing at a "little group" of paintings. There were right the ones that Clara were looking at right just moments before. She asked herself if it had been a case or if it was something else. Fact is that that since when this absurd story began, the girl felt that something in her was changing.

<<These ones are the sacred objects of the sky and earth people, so why should we look for them since from what I know they lie in those dusty showcases of "brillanzia", under the strict control of the guardian dragons.>> Amos asked, even already imagining the answer and, judging by the expression on his face, Clara imagined that the question was more serious than expected.

<<Sorry, in what does it consists this material? The girl asked referring to "brillanzia".

Lillybet answered to this. From what Clara had understood, she didn't like not being the protagonist!

<<Brillanzia is the hardest and purest material in the world and with it we do make our weapons to fight against the evil forces.>> She explained trying not dwelling her gaze on Amos, who, in the meanwhile had thought relying on a wall. He didn't miss that look and Clara's compassionate gaze, who still wasn't right aware of the dynamics that had took to this internal rupture.

<<But if it is so strong and inviolable, why the Hell these objects have been stolen?>> She asked, both to try understanding something more, but moreover to interrupt the Cold War that those two were fighting. Maybe, she didn't know him long since, or better she didn't practically know him, but she couldn't see him as one of bad ones. It's true that she has a bad temper and that she would likely slapping him most of the time, but she could bet on his goodness, because, if had really wanted it, it wouldn't have taken more than a blink of an eye to get rid of her.

"I am sure that there's a lot more behind the few information that I managed to gather and if I want to help him, or help them, I must know something more. Moreover, I still don't know if I can trust this woman. Behind her friendly manner, something obscure and undecipherable could hide and who knows if this isn't a trap to get rid of us once come into possession of these phantomatic objects. Well, actually, I don't have many elements to trust anyone of these new acquaintances so the only thing I can do, at least for the moment, is relying on my instinct and to hope for the best, maybe my lucky star hasn't still finished all its luck in my last exam!" Clara thought, waiting for the gazes' competition to end. Amos interrupted it, "politely" as usual!

<<Oh, oh, for what I can see, the materials are not what they used to be, eh? The manpower is definitely worsened in this last century.>> He told falsely saddened.

<<Lucky for you, you were already staying in a comfortable cell at the material time, so no one can accuse you of having helped your people.>> The woman replied sarcastically.

"I wonder if these two will never agree on something." The girl thought sadly to the perspective that it would have been a constant struggle with her as a referee. She just needed a cap and a whistle!

<<Fact is that "someone" that I don't need to name managed, even if I still don't know how, to overcome the barriers and to get his hands on them. Now, they are kept in different places and, at the right moment, they will be all reunited to start a bloody and violent war which will reap more victims than we could count.>> The woman furiously explained, with a fierceness in her fighting gaze.

<<But since they already have them, what can we do to prevent this catastrophic perspective?>> Clara asked, even more confused. Amos too seemed being wondering the same thing, but he stayed silent.

<<Because they need spiritual power to activate them and the Dark Dragons lost it deciding to vote themselves to Evil, creating an empire of blood and violence. They need the power of a Golden dragon or of a priest/priestess to use them. All of us are doing our best not to lose, but, unfortunately, we are in short supply and soon or later we could be overwhelmed, for this reason is fundamental for you to have them back, both of the stolen and the lost ones.

<<The bottom line is that the world is on our backs and if we died trying, we would have sacrificed for the glory, right?>> Clara asked under Amos' dismayed gaze who, it's not very clear for what reason, had already lifted her as a potatoes' bag.

<<All right, since time runs, tell us where to start.>> He spoke, having back a series of fists by the "walking bag", who didn't seem very satisfied of the service!

<<Agreed. Follow me, I'll escort you back to the surface.>>

And so, the true research was going to begin!