Muta knew when to admit he was wrong—and he sort of was. The three-day celebration he expected became a fortnight-long feast. Attendance, not counting servants and entertainers, never exceeded twelve, with nearly everyone except the Doge and Muta himself coming and going at varying times.
Urs-Yu, initially the group's most sullen, after two days of celebrations, left for a day, and upon his return became the soul of the party, constantly drinking, singing, and dancing. Out of his incomprehensible word salad, Muta caught only a few words like "daughter" and "exercise". Though he didn't understand why it brought him such happiness, the fact that Urs-Yu's mood led to the party's extension pleased Muta.
The entertainers varied from musicians to actors, though Muta wasn't really happy with the thin, silky veil placed between the table and the stage. Xin-Ubert insisted that mere jesters were not worthy of gazing upon him, making Muta go along with it, although reluctantly.
Unlike the food and entertainment, which were abundant, the conversation felt nonexistent, as Muta was unsure what to really talk to any of them about. Still, he appreciated Xin-Ubert's ability to keep the conversation alive enough for him to at least listen to or chime in at times. Unfortunately, everyone else tensed up once his voice arose, so Muta decided to keep quiet, unless he really felt compelled to speak up.
'Your Highness.' Xin-Ubert said, and Muta nodded, since The Doge refused to continue until he was acknowledged, 'I, as your host, really feel like we should be slowly bringing this party to an end.'
'Why?'
'I feel like I've doubled my weight over the week, and I fear for my clothes that they might burst if I eat and sit any longer,' he said with a smile and struck his belly.
Oh yeah, Muta thought, that also happened to Nut, didn't it? She ate and sat for weeks, and then, when grandpa found out, he had her starved and trained.
'We are not of Gluttony...' Muta muttered to himself.
'Excuse me?' Xin-Ubert said, his face tenser than before.
'Forgive me, I just remembered what my grandpa said when one of my sisters grew wider. I feel terrible for placing you in such a predicament, but if it's all the same to you, I would still like to see this play to the end.' Muta said, and Xin-Ubert gave a nod, calling a servant over to order the final dessert.
Though the plot was something Muta had long forgotten when it came to this play, he couldn't help but enjoy himself due to how comedically affluent it was.
Suddenly, the door used by the servants crashed open, snapping Muta out of his laughter. Turning, he saw a group of men dressed in black clothes, with sparsely placed gleaming metal plates that were supposedly their armor. Another thing that they all shared was the symbol. They had a red cross drawn that reminded Muta of a hilted sword.
The one at the front glared at the table, but once his eyes met with Muta's, a few short moments after, his expression changed into one of surprise. The rest also tensed up when their gazes landed on Muta.
Turning back to Xin-Ubert, the man seemed several shades paler, and then, as if he was becoming one of Pride's descendants, parts of his skin turned purple. Seeing that he was clearly ill, Muta placed his hand on his shoulder to check on him, only for Xin-Ubert to freeze and tremble from his touch.
The lead intruder once more changed his expression into that of a pleasant, comforting smile, 'Xin! My friend! How dare you? Throwing a feast without inviting me is truly insulting.' With a quick motion, he reached for something behind his neck, and with a simple click, the plates connected with a white string fell to the ground. Others quickly caught it before it made a clang and scooped up the remainder of the plate.
With a wave, he dismissed the rest, left the room, although with visible reluctance.
'Hah, Bettino.' Xin-Ubert began to breathe again, though with great difficulty, 'I really have to apologize, but I figured you were busy. Still, you should have been the guest of honor, considering your successful exorcism of Urs-Yu's daughter.'
The man called Bettino didn't respond and continued to walk forward, his smile not wavering, 'And I see we have a guest, no? Would you mind if I sat down and got to know him, considering others have had the time?' He ignored Xin and directed his question at Muta.
Muta, for one, was interested in this new arrival, who seemed more willing to converse than others and didn't seem as tense when he addressed him. So he allowed it, and Bettino bullied his way to the seat on Muta's left.
'Father Bettino, I just don't know how to thank you. Hey, get some...' Urs-Yu shouted, still inebriated, but Bettino silenced him with a hand, never averting his gaze from Muta.'Your daughter's health, your praise, and donations to the Savior's Sanctum are more than enough.' He said while turning his head without breaking eye contact with Muta.
'Allow me to introduce myself, I am Father Bettino, the Head Purifier of the city of Sa-Ven-Ia, though I wasn't born here.'
'Muta, a fifth-generation descendant of great Pride.' Muta said.
'Oh my, it is an honor to meet an heir to the Crown Mountain.' Bettino said with an awe on his face, 'If it doesn't offend your highness, to indulge me in asking what someone of your stature would be doing in a droll city such as this?
'Unless The Great Monarch had changed his mind, I would think that this city doesn't fall under the Pride Protectorate's… protection?'
'True, that is exactly why I am here.' Muta said, 'Well, that and my brother Seth left me here.'
'Seth?' Bettino said with a raised eyebrow, 'The Storm?'
'The one.'
'Oh!' Bettino slapped himself on the forehead, 'Of course! Forgive me, for my knowledge of the Pride dynasty is disrespectfully lacking. I forgot that there are never two of the same name.'
'Yeah, apparently if there ever were two, they would fight to the death to ensure there was only one, though I must say I never witnessed such a fight myself.' Muta said as he took a bite of the cake. The taste was passable, so he didn't mind.
'It sure would be a pity to watch a family member die over something so insignificant.' Bettino said as he also took a slice of his own.
'Insignificant? I like my name. It is mine and no one else's.' Muta said, baffled, 'Imagine if there were two of me and my name got called out, and someone else also responded. It would be so confusing.'
Bettino smiled, 'I suppose that is a luxury only you can afford. My father gave me his name.'
'Your father gave you his name?' Muta asked, 'How nice of him, but what is he then called?'
Bettino held back a laugh, 'He is also named Bettino. Bettino the Elder. I am Bettino the Younger.'
'So when one's name gets called, both of you answer?' Muta asked, growing more perplexed by the second.
Bettino shook his head along with his shoulders, 'Something like that. More often, we use nicknames amongst the family, rather than full names. We call him Betold, and I am called Betoy.'
Muta's face grew sour; he couldn't understand such a savage practice of desecrating one's name in such a manner, but it didn't matter. That was the loam-liver practice, not of a refined being such as him.
'So, you have decided to see the outside world then?' Bettino asked, 'Dipping your pinky toe outside of the Protectorate's border?'
What it meant to dip one's pinky toe, Muta didn't know, but he did understand the other part, 'Well, I guess I was made to. Actually, I was exiled from the Crown Mountain and its vassals, meaning I am not allowed back there.'
The moment those words left his mouth, Bettino choked, and others either spat out their drinks or stared at him with wide eyes.
'What?' Bettino and even Xin-Ubert shouted in unison. One in surprise, the other in disbelief. Bettino turned sharply once he got his breath under control. He stared at Muta in silence.
'Yes, I am currently banished.'
'That is not what I meant. Why would they do such a thing?'
'Well, grandfather said that as I am, I am unworthy to be a member of the family, so I am to go out into the world and stay there until I figure out how to change.'
Bettino bore deep into his eyes as he seemed to be thinking about something, 'Pardon me for asking, but if you were to get hurt, would the Crown Mountain retaliate?'
'I don't think so.' Muta admitted. He truly couldn't comprehend what exile entailed in that particular situation. The expression on Bettino's face didn't change.
After a few more longer silent moments, his lips curled upward, 'I see. Well, I am not sure what your future plans entail, but if you ask me, you are more than welcome to remain here until your wishes change.'
'Thank you.' Muta nodded as Bettino stood up.
'I bid you all a goodnight,' he said and left the room.
Not long after Xin-Ubert excused himself and rushed out of the room as well, leaving Muta with no one interesting to talk to, so he called out to the actors who were standing still to continue.
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Xin-Ubert ran like a possessed, even though he was inactive for days and ate just as heavily, making his chest hurt. He was not as young as he once was. Still, he managed to catch up with Bettino, who was talking with other Purifiers.
'Bettino!' he shouted, turning everyone's attention to him. Bettino, unreadable as always, once again dismissed his subordinates and approached him, 'Listen, I...'
'Dear me, brother...' he said with a sigh, 'I truly do not envy you, but I do pity you a bit. To sit on so many chairs truly takes a large butt.'
'I was unable to move much this fortnight.' Xin said, flustered, but quickly shook off the feeling of familiarity between them. Even though he was like a brother, this situation could spiral out of control. There were always two Bettino's, a priest and a friend. Now he could only converse with him like a representative of the Sanctuary, 'Listen, Seth contacted me and made me take him in. I never knew about this banishment, I thought he would be around...'
'Calm down.' Bettino said as he leaned against the stone wall, 'Sigi-Yu was in terrible condition. I was honestly afraid that she was too weak to survive...'
'Of course, that is wonderful news.' Xin-Ubert cut him off, 'But she is now safe, but that is not the topic I wanted to discuss right now. How did you find out about Muta?'
'I was getting to that.' Bettino said while massaging his brows, 'Exorcism is not only about the Purifier, but it also requires the host to put up a fight. She was too young to properly fight, and she was struck by something fierce. A powerful spirit that clearly loved to prey on the weak.
'You know I am a sore loser, and to be honest, her mother is so frail and gentle, I feared the thought of having to break it to her.
'Then five days ago, something interesting happened. She and basically most of our possessed began to recover, or rather the spirits that possessed them grew restless and some even begged to be let out.' Bettino turned his eyes, matching Xin's, 'We Purifiers have this term called "Spirit-Soap", kind of like how when a drop of soap falls into dirty water and pushes the dirt away. We have researched this phenomenon, where lesser spirits flee in terror of greater ones.'
Xin at first was confused, but he was beginning to see where Bettino was leading with it, 'So you are saying that the reason Sigi-Yu was saved was because of Muta's presence? But he is a half- demon.'
'True, but he is of Pride, making him scarier by default. It doesn't matter whether holy or sinful, the weak spirits fear the stronger ones, and according to my little senser who felt him from day one, it's like a Patriarch/Matriarch had come to visit.'
'P-P...' Xin couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was too much for him to comprehend.
'I must admit, the boy is strange, and I can't say if he is confident or stupid. I would keep an eye on him, but I will advocate for his temporary stay.'
'What?' The surprises facing Xin-Ubert just kept piling on. For a holy man like Bettino to advocate for a demon was baffling. And yet, after considering what kind of man he was, it made some sense, even if a little.
'Don't worry about us. I will absolve you of all responsibility for one, two, this city's policy is friendship with everyone that offers it, and third, thanks to Muta, I've been able to get some sleep.' Bettino said, still visibly fatigued.
The number of hauntings and possessions had been on a gradual rise, and now that Xin thought about it, if Muta truly was such a fearsome presence that allowed for his people to catch a breather, then it might as well be his duty to keep him here for the time being.
'Are we in agreement then?' Xin asked, extending his hand.
'I only promise that I won't back down on this in front of the See.' Bettino said and shook his hand.