It&#39;s the same damn things you&#39;re so quick to believe

I--I don't think so. Th-They're just... windows. I-I don't think there's a-anything here.

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All right, then we'll move on.

[Riku shrugs, his cheer unhindered by the lack of anything to find in this room. He starts for the door again, then looks back to Xanth.]

Unless you have anything else you wanna check out before we do?

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N-No.

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[All right, that's fine with him. Riku follows after Xanth, shutting the door behind them again as they exit into the hallway.]

Next one down?

[He's already headed for the door in question. Sound good to you, Xanth?]

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Y--Yeah.

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[Yeah, glad to have it now, huh?

As Riku reaches the next door down, he feels that little bit of apprehension building again. This was a great idea; he hasn't had an adventure in what feels like ages.]

All right, here we go. Door number two--!

[What lies beyond it? Let's find out!]

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[Behind door number two is a baptismal pool, inlaid in the concrete instead of raised above in a tub. The water is clean and still as glass inside the pristine white basin. One one side of the pool there is a set of descending steps so one can enter safely, and the tile is marble-patterned and spans the entire length and width of the room.

On the fire side of the room there is a stack of towels on a chair, as well as a clothes rack with soft, white terrycloth robes hanging up like a row of ghosts. There doesn't seem to be a single soul in the room, but there are more red glass-stained windows.]

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Huh.

[This is weird. Xanth is already checking out the pool, so Riku makes his way to the fire side of the room, running a hand over the robes and the towels. They don't interest him that much, though, so he comes back toward the pool, looking towards the stained glass windows.]

More of those windows.

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W-Weird. Can-- can you see a-anything through th-them?

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[There is a disembodied voice that floats in from the hallway; it sounds calm, serene, but a bit out of it. The voice is obviously male.]

Hello there, my children. Could I help you with something?

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[WHOA VOICE FROM THE HALL. Riku is a little bit surprised, but he isn't too bothered by it. After all, there's a chance that someone else had the same idea as he did and is exploring the temple too, right?

Or maybe someone actually -lives- in this place.

Riku glances at Xanth, quirking an eyebrow, then glances back to the door.]

Who's there?

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[The sound of the voice moves into the room; maybe there's also a sound of shuffling feet, but still there isn't any physical evidence of a person.]

Be at peace. I'm the priest of the Red Church.

Are you looking for something?

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[The fact that the voice is now -in the room with him- and he still can't see anything? Now, -that's- a bit offsetting. But Riku's still determined to play it off, especially considering there doesn't seem to be anything threatening as of yet.]

The Red Church? Is that what this place is called?

[They'd entered through a -temple-, though.]

We were just looking around. After all, nobody's ever come here before, right?

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[There's the soft scrape of shoes on the tile near the pool, and the water ripples from the edge.]

Yes, the Red Church. Perhaps you'll find what you've been looking for, within these walls.

[The voice is detached, very serene but not quite together.]

Though I'd advise you to be careful. There are things behind these doors you wouldn't want running loose.

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[A church and a temple are dissimilar -enough-, though.

Riku notes the ripples in the pool, watching them to see if the voice's source is actually stepping into the water or merely touching it.]

Like what? We haven't seen anything so far.

[He raises both eyebrows meaningfully towards the ripples in the pool; yeah, you might be here, mysterious voice, but he can't -see- you.]

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Wh-why-- wh-- why c-can't we s--see you?

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Because you aren't using your eyes.

[Whether or not he intended to, the voice ignores Riku's question. The shuffling sounds move over toward the door.]

If you have any sins to which you would like to admit, please visit me in the confessional. I can heal wounds of the heart, but that pool can heal wounds of the body.

I hope you boys make it safely back to your rooms.

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[-Really?- Riku can't help but glance at the pool as the voice describes its properties; it can heal wounds? -Awesome-. That's a great find.

See, Xanth, this was -totally- worth it! That smirk has been restored full-force.]

We'll be fine.

[He pauses. And then...]

Thanks. For the advice.

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...y-yeah. Th--thanks.

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You are quite welcome.

[The door creaks slightly, as if pushed by a breeze, and for all intents and purposes the priest appears to have left.]

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