I found the next Sanctuary in a place I did not expect. The gate was built in to one of the palace’s outer walls. I alerted the Royal Guard to the location of this gate, and informed them that I would be going in alone. They… did not take that well. It was some time before I convinced them to give me three hours before following. Night had fallen by then, and so I decided a less forward approach than usual.
After entering the gate, I dispatched the single gryphon guarding the Sanctuaries entrance and hid his body. There were many tunnels leading deeper in to the mountain, so I chose one at random and began a search. It was not long before I realised that this was by far the largest sanctuary I had yet found, the tunnels seemed to go on for miles.
To avoid wasting time, I opened my third eye. The tunnels did indeed go on for miles, but they were all empty. I could only feel one other presence in the Sanctuary, and this presence was waiting in a large hall at the end of the tunnel I had chosen. Feeling I had little choice, I continued down this tunnel until I could see the hall ahead of me. There was a single gryphon there, heavily armed. He appeared to be meditating; his eyes were shut and repeating a single short song to himself. I could not recognise the language, but it seemed to me as if this song gave him courage to face what he believed would be his death.
This confused me. A Sanctuary this large, in such an important location, completely abandoned aside from two guards? I could not see the sense in such an action. Intending on answering this small conundrum, I readied myself for combat and entered the hall.
The gryphon reacted quickly, opening his eyes and standing to face me. For a short moment, neither of us made any motion. That moment was ended all too soon when he pumped his wings and launched himself towards me without making a sound.
I found myself very nearly overwhelmed by this gryphon. He was exceptionally well trained, and many of his motions directly mimicked my own. His eyes showed only a deep seated resolve and calm acceptance. There was no fear in him. As I wished to question him on the Sanctuaries state of abandonment, I had to aim my strikes to maim instead of kill. It took time, but eventually he was too injured to continue fighting. I myself had many superficial wounds, and I barely avoided more serious injuries.
The gryphon was, initially, quite reluctant to answer my questions. By the time I persuaded him to talk openly, the time I had alone in the Sanctuary had nearly passed. In the remaining time I had, I asked him only three questions. His answers told me a great deal.
The Sanctuary had been abandoned because the Cult believed I would find it. They had moved every gryphon into the last Sanctuary except the two I had encountered. The guard at the entrance was meant only as bait, while the more skilled gryphon was hoped to kill me. This last Sanctuary was located in Canterlots servant quarter, and contained a guard of nearly one hundred gryphons. Diana, the leader of the Cult, would also be there.
My questions answered, I ended the gryphons torment and left the Sanctuary. I had hunted the Cult for almost three years, and now I was nearly finished.
Translations
Disperazione - Despair or Desperation