Paperwork... a sinful task, delegated by sinful individuals. Such a fate when one serves the sinful guard of this sinful country. Oh how beautiful would it be for flames to overtake and engulf these heretical lands... and... these thoughts... these feelings... The girl let out a sigh. There was power inside of her... there was a feeling ambition... a mini battle inside of her cold body... Something that made her feel as conflicted as her thoughts. Who was she... why did she exist... why did she have the overwhelming desire to free these people... These cold people... Why did she desire to be warm.

With the last paper signed... Tempris stepped out side and sat on a bench. She wore her blue habit which covered her hair, a blue dress but no shoes. She could only feel the coldness in the ground and feared missing out on the possibility of warmth. After all... there had to be some love in this world... right... Illumin?  @Kon

A harsh truth of what had transpired over the last couple of months was truly beginning to hit Kon about the reality of what the Rune Knights truly were, even after all of their reformations they were still merely tools for the Magic Council to influence the world around them. A sense of disillusionment that had been long lasting from when he originally held a position within their ranks almost a decade earlier. He had hoped that with his interventions that this plague of corruption would be stifled, diminished or put a stop to entirely through his own policies, however they had proved to do the opposite with even the grand title of General being merely transferable from one person to another. It really made him question why he remained there especially after he had given them so much, there was much to ponder upon what he was to do, especially with Miharu and Hirota now equally shifting his thoughts on remaining within the rigid and structured regime.

And yet despite all of that he was now in Oak about to meet Tempris, another member of the Rune Knights whom he held in good stead, a curious devotee to the Illumin faith that bordered on the fanatic. More than once, he had questioned their judgement, religion was one thing, blind loyalty was another especially given what worshippers of Illumin were infamous for. He couldn't definitively be sure that Tempris had done similar acts but more than once he could have sworn there was the distinct smell of burning flesh coming from Tempris, but perhaps that was nothing more than his imagination. Approaching a church in which Tempris always seemed to linger around, Kon could almost immediately spot the tiny figure before greeting them with a curt smile. "It's been awhile Tempris, whats brought you to Oak?, I had always written off this part of the country."

Tempris eyes faced forward into the scene, refusing to shift from whatever spec of life they grasped onto. There he was... The man of iron... one who relinquish thy flesh to become something... else. It was sinful... no... it was pure? This abomination continued to thread small debates in her mind, in her heart, in her blade. It was a horror and a beauty. Yet... who was she to judge.

Her heart did not beat. She felt nothing but coldness. This body... was worst than his and not even her gift would fix it. "Colonel..." Her head did not move. "Fate has brought me here..." She raised her head. "If we refuse to walk among dirt... who shall see it. Who will clean it. How can we know if we are clean."

Her head shifted back down to a large tree. "I think... I should be where I am needed... I think that's were I will find his warmth. Maybe... that's were I can find fire." Her mind was cloudy. There wasn't much to pull from as her own known life was so short. "Oak... is suffering." A tear fell from her eye. "Its so cold. Its so lonely, unloved... Its nice that you decided to give it company."

She patted the spot next to her. "Please sit next to me... Kon... Share with me what a mind trapped in metal latches too... Tell me... if you have ails or... if theirs.... suffering."

Ever the cryptic, Tempris' answers to Kon's questions left him more confused than ever. She was notorious for her zealotry to the Illumin faith, but at the same time, Oak was the least likely place he would have assumed her to have gone, especially with the mysterious absence of the Fiorian Divine. A title that which the perpetual teen would undoubtedly covet for their own means. One thing that perhaps stood out most from their reply was the indirect acknowledgement of his demotion that left a small pain in his artificial heart greeting him as Colonel rather than his previous more prestigious title of General.

Just one more step towards his diminished loyalty to the Rune Knights. Had the Magic Council deliberately demoted Kon to remove him from the organization entirely it was hard to say, but their members certainly left that impression. Hoping to confide with a fellow Rune Knight, he rested his metal frame upon the chair causing it to bow and almost cry from his obscene weight. Sighing through his voicebox, Kon revealed his open laundry without filter or discretion. "I must admit, Tempris I am uncomfortable with the direction that the Rune Knights are going in, even the acknowledgement of my demotion as you illustrated earlier is giving me cause for disillusionment within the ranks." Removing his hood to reveal a far more battle-scarred portrait, He continued. "I've fought long and hard both locally and afar for well over a decade and any recognition that was earned, I felt had been removed in a instant."

"Demotion, lost of vision, lack of thanks." Tempris said coldly, "Attention will never come to those who seek it in suffering. The lost have grown to like their torture... their lack of freedom... their sin. Why seek approval from them... Why..." Tempris stopped.

Her eyes open, "The knights are not the goal for people like us... They are but a tool to enact... how would you say... Justice..." The girl grinned flair her own magic through her body. "I been removed from the knights 3 times... Yet... here I am. They don't know what they want. They don't feel the cold winds. They lost their way to warm... And so I sit here. Filing pointless paperwork... standing between heretical bickering.... Holding my tongue admist the heresy which plagues us..."

Tempris stands up. letting her cold feet touch the cold ground. "Kon... You are not... human? Why play by the rules of mortals beneath you... Your goals aren't as grand as mine... yet... their goals... Sin... horrible... Silly... pointless machine man... But they are yours... Have you given up."

She walks in front of him. "Shame... heh..." She then poked him in the head. "I forget the heretical workings of your body... Do you still drink tea?"

Talking with Tempris had always seemed to come with its challenges, he had known her for what seemed like years at this point and despite their strong relationship, he didn't seem any closer to understanding just what the hell they were talking about. He could take portions of their response and break them down, but there always seemed to be at two minds at plan, equally vying for control. He, himself held multiple psyches within him, but neither Hirota nor Miharu seized control so willingly as Tempris's own fragmented mind. Nonetheless even from the words of a mad woman, he felt a sympathy unlike any other in a personal lived experience. They had equally been betrayed by the Rune Knights and yet he stayed his tongue about his plans lest Tempris sought to unbind them from reality. They were bonded by tragedy and yet remained silent only relishing in the thought of what could have been. Tempris was no criminal, at least not in the broader sense that would fit his own narrative or needs, immolation was a pleasure, even hobby of the girl, but not what he needed, guile and wit were those of an underhand and something she sorely despised nor would agree to follow Kon if she learned of who would be joining him. A devotee to the Illumin case, the distaste towards his immortal shell was likely an affront to what was once their shared god, a being whom he had long since renounced. Never really being the talker of the duo, he allowed Tempris to speak openly as he merely nodded occasionally to reinforce certain elements. Finally raising a word acknowledging Tempris's word, Kon confirmed the harsh truth of his transformation both physical and in status. "It is true that I feel that the demotion was a mistake, things are afoot, I can not involve you in the affair, but I ask that you do not speak of what I am about to tell you merely to stay away from central Fiore for the next couple of weeks. I'm fortunate enough to be able to plan for things many years into the future, it's something I'm getting used to but I just ask yu please do not make me an enemy but your actions."

When tea is brought up, one expects a hot cup of leaf juice... But apparently it meant secrets... tales... heresy... Tempris pulled her hand back. There was no smile, only a look more dead than her body. Kon was going to do something stupid and he did not want her help. In fact, he feared for her. It was a pointless expression. "Where there is suffering kon..." She said coldly.

"I will not turn my back on those lost in the blizzard of pain... shun from his warmth." She closed her eyes. Though... this was Kon. This was a power still greater than her own. And with great power... could come great opportunity. "If fate deem me to stand in the middle of Fiore, then that's where I stand."

"Less... You tempt fate. Though... I have no interest in playing games with you or the others. It... is not time."

"Still. I'm curious... What are you thinking machine man?"

Hoping to relieve tensions, Kon opened himself up to retrieving a cup merely feigning social standards, Tempris was no fool nor enjoyed being lied to even if it was through obscurification, the duo had known each other for long enough to recognise when the other was concealing the truth. He felt as though his efforts were in an attempt to relieve the burden of reality from Tempris, a way for them to maintain their innocence following the plans that have long since begun to progress beyond his control. Individuals were setting up in key locations while the words, treason and traitor became frequently spoken of in the shadows. Clutching the cup with both hands he could only look back at his own faith as Tempris spoke of Illumin, he had never been a particularly religious individual and yet he hoped to find an in-road that would relieve the questions that were building up within Tempris. "The Rune Knights and Magic Council have wronged us and many others, I am admittedly not a very holy individual, a person who does not forgive or forget quite as easily as others, you can call me bitter, resentful even, I just don't want to see you get in the way, fighting you is not what I want nor see my actions come back onto you, so I ask you again stay away from central Fiore for the next few months."

So the machine was going to enact retribution and betray the knights and the country. I was such a shame. What an interesting event that could become. She had no greater ties to the groups nor her own vows. This was just a place to further her own mission. Still... She did have a job...

Her head bobbed back and forth. "What to do... what to do..." Tempris looked around at everything. "I have no interest in your heretical endeavors. Retribution for your own minor squabbles are childish. I also have no interest in fighting you or whatever sinners you wish to bring along..."

The girl took a deep breath.

"I suppose... though... I could take the day off. Though I cant promise I wont be there. Fate has brought us together too many times. Also..."

The girl frowned... "I'm not working right now... So im not obligated to remember this... nor act."

A small smile grew upon Kon’s mechanical misshapen face as Tempris revealed that they would refrain from going near the headquarters, he was glad that the two would not need to spill each other's blood. Despite her diminutive appearance, she was a competent mage and overall proficient fighter wielding the deadly Jean D’Arcs sword something he held within his possession temporarily. While there was a definitive difference in power between the two, the zealot would have given Kon a run for his money especially if they knew of the truth of his religious beliefs. Illumin was a driving force for many of her actions burning and slaughtering under their will, hoping to gain favour with the divine and beyond. He could respect the simplicity of it, but after the Demonic Incursions and Nerva’s Inquisition Kon loathed almost any form of religion especially the Illumin faith owing to the now-defunct Holy Knights, a cruel group of Illumin worshippers who he had once served alongside. It would have been a perfect place to bolster Tempris’ own devotion to the religion but in some ways, he was thankful for its diminishment as they would have likely led down a dark path killing both heretic and heathen alike creating enemies both near and far.

Bowing his head acknowledging Tempris’s words, he reflected upon what she could do in the hopes of suggesting a distraction to soothe their conscious for the damage he was about to inflict upon both the guilty and the innocent in Era as a result of the destruction his plans would wrought. “My friend, can I suggest you visit the Statue of Saint Mary in Minstrel? A wonderful display of a true martyr of Illumin, a woman who sacrificed both her flesh and soul to the cause during the first incursions, something that you might find a parallel within your endeavours to serve your faith?” Lacking the authority to reassign them officially and respecting their relationship, Kon refrained from ordering them but rather merely reinforced the distraction by withdrawing a scroll from his cloak containing a map of noteworthy holy sites found within the Minstrel area that Tempris might enjoy visiting to covet or destroy was unclear. “Religion holds a special place in your heart, something I’ve never felt in earnest, I hope that this will serve you better then it did for me, just don’t light too many fires while you’re there.”