CHAPTER 49: CH 49: THE TEMPLE VISIT - PART 2

As soon as Kana left the room—voice shaky, body tense—silence fell like a curtain around the room.

Evaya didn’t need to look to know that two pairs of eyes were already boring into her.

She slowly turned.

Lysera stood tall, her hands folded neatly in front of her, but her expression was anything but calm. Irielle, in contrast, looked moments away from baring her fangs.

The intensity of their stares sent a message clearer than words ever could:

’Don’t look at her that way. Don’t speak to her more than you must. Don’t forget whose house you just walked into.’

Evaya offered a measured sigh and raised her hands slightly, as though in surrender. "

I’m not your enemy. I’m not here to start a fight or take her away forever. I’m only here to do my job."

She said, voice steady despite the crackling hostility in the room.

Irielle stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly.

"Your job involves touching what’s mine? Because I saw you looking."

She said, voice sweet as poison.

"I wasn’t—"

Evaya started, but Lysera raised a hand.

"That’s enough, Irielle."

Irielle froze, eyes narrowing, but didn’t argue.

Lysera turned to the guest with cold precision.

"Sit. You’re not leaving until we’ve talked."

She walked to the kitchen without waiting for a response, and Evaya felt the subtle shift of pressure around her.

She recognized it immediately—not magic, but the unmistakable weight of command. Lysera had always been quiet, but that quiet carried force.

Evaya sat.

A moment later, Lysera returned with three cups and a ceramic teapot. Steam curled from its spout as she poured, the soft trickling sound the only noise in the room. She set a cup in front of Evaya.

"I’m not here to interrogate you. But I need to understand something."

Lysera said at last, settling into the chair across from her.

Evaya didn’t touch her tea.

Lysera’s eyes narrowed.

"Why Kana? Why now? What does the High Priestess want with her?"

Evaya scoffed.

"You think she tells someone like me?"

"She sent you here. That’s not nothing."

"She sends people everywhere. I was just the closest one available. Jenna doesn’t share plans. Not with anyone. And if you think otherwise, then I’m sorry to say—you’re naïve."

Irielle scoffed.

"How convenient. You’re all just blindly following her like sheep, then?"

Evaya’s expression didn’t shift, but the air around her felt a little colder.

"High Priestess Jenna isn’t a fool. She might act unhinged, but everything she does has meaning. Even her chaos is calculated. No one—no one—gets close enough to second-guess her."

"That’s the problem."

Lysera said quietly.

Evaya blinked.

Lysera met her eyes, calm and terrifying all at once.

"Kana is walking into a place ruled by someone unpredictable and far more powerful than her. If something goes wrong, who will protect her? You?"

"I’ll do what I can."

"That’s not enough."

There was a pause. Then Irielle slammed her hand against the table. The cups rattled.

"You can’t promise she’ll be safe. You can’t even tell us what’s happening. So why should we let her go with you?!"

At that moment, the soft padding of feet echoed down the hallway.

Kana emerged, dressed in the ceremonial robes Evaya had brought.

A high collar covered most of her neck, though the faint edges of wrapped bandages peeked just above the fabric.

Her hair had been hastily tied, and her eyes—though clearer—still shimmered with a fragile vulnerability that made Evaya pause.

All three women turned toward her.

Kana didn’t seem to notice the lingering tension in the air. Or if she did, she chose not to address it. She offered them a small, hesitant smile.

"I’m ready."

She said, voice soft.

Irielle stepped forward on instinct, reaching out as if to pull her back. But she stopped herself. Her fingers hovered in the air for a moment before curling into a fist and falling to her side.

Evaya saw it all. The subtle tug-of-war playing out in gestures and silences.

"This is your last chance to say something."

Lysera said, not taking her eyes off Kana.

"I know. But... I agreed to this. And I want to see it through."

Kana replied, lowering her gaze.

A flicker of pain passed over Lysera’s face, gone in a blink.

Irielle scowled and looked away.

Sensing her moment, Evaya straightened and stepped toward the door.

"We should go. The morning ceremony won’t wait for us."

She opened the door, waiting.

Kana turned toward Lysera and Irielle again.

"I’ll be back in a week. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone."

She said.

It was a joke—half-hearted and fragile—but it worked.

Lysera cracked the barest smile. Irielle huffed through her nose, still tense.

"Fine. But if you come back smelling like them again, I’m setting the temple on fire."

Irielle muttered.

Kana laughed nervously.

Without another word, she stepped outside.

Evaya gave the others a final glance.

"I’ll keep her out of trouble. You have my word."

She said.

"See that you do."

Lysera replied, voice like a blade.

Evaya didn’t respond. She simply followed Kana and shut the door behind her.

______

As Kana and Evaya stepped out into the morning light, the door shutting behind them with a soft thud, Kana glanced sideways.

Evaya’s steps were quick, almost hurried—but her face, even under the shade of her long bangs, looked pale. Too pale.

There was a stiffness to her movements, and her breaths came just a little too fast.

Kana frowned.

"Evaya... are you okay?"

"I’m fine."

Evaya said without looking at her, walking faster.

"You don’t look fine. You’re kind of pale—wait, do you have a fev—?"

Kana quickened her pace to match and leaned closer, her hand reaching out to check her forehead.

Evaya suddenly smacked Kana’s hand away.

The sharp sound startled them both.

Kana froze mid-step, blinking at her. Evaya had stopped too, her hand still raised in the air as if she hadn’t meant to move it so harshly.

A heavy silence settled.

Evaya finally exhaled and lowered her arm.

"...Sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you. I was just... caught up in the moment."

She muttered, voice strained.

Kana rubbed her wrist, more surprised than hurt. "You sure you’re okay?"

"I said I’m fine. I mean it. Don’t worry about me. I just... I was thinking about something, and I got distracted. That’s all."

Then, realizing how sharp that sounded, Evaya looked away and added more softly,

She started walking again, this time more slowly.

Kana followed, though her eyes lingered on the side of Evaya’s face, now flushed in a way that wasn’t from fever.

Even so, Kana couldn’t shake the worry tugging at her chest. Something had rattled Evaya. Something more than just Irielle and Lysera’s hostility.

But as she glanced at the older woman’s guarded expression, she knew pressing the issue wouldn’t get her anywhere.

"...Alright. But if you feel sick, please tell me. I will find a way to help you out."

Kana said finally, forcing a small smile.

Evaya huffed, a faint laugh escaping her lips.

"I’ll think about it."

Still, even as they kept walking side by side, Kana’s eyes drifted back to her—watchful, worried.