CHAPTER 54: CH 54: BE CAREFUL AROUND THESE PARTS- PART 3

Kana adjusted to her new room faster than she expected. The space was simple yet comfortable, with polished wooden floors and clean walls adorned with soft drapes.

A small table near the window carried a fresh pot of tea, and the bed was softer than anything she’d used in a long time.

But after unpacking the few belongings she had and pacing the room twice, boredom began to creep in.

Her fingers twitched with restlessness. She peeked out the window, then back at the door. The quiet was too thick, too unnatural. She needed to move.

So she decided to take a walk.

The halls of the temple were breathtaking in a quiet, sacred sort of way. Tall archways curved overhead, their white marble ribs lined with glowing etchings that pulsed like veins of starlight.

The air smelled faintly of incense, sweet and cool, and her footsteps echoed lightly across the polished stone floor.

Kana pulled her hood down as she walked. There weren’t many people around, and she figured it wouldn’t hurt to let her hair breathe.

That, she quickly realized, was a mistake.

A flash of movement caught her attention. A temple guard in red and white robes had stopped walking. He was staring directly at her.

She looked away and picked up her pace, but she could hear the click of his boots getting louder behind her.

"Hey. You seem a little lost. I could show you around if you want."

The guard called, quickening his steps.

Kana stopped.

He was already in front of her, blocking her path with an easy, too-confident smile.

"I’ve been stationed here for years. I know every secret corner of this place."

He said, gesturing down the hallway.

She forced a polite smile.

"That’s kind of you, but I’m fine. Just getting some air."

"You sure? It’s easy to get turned around. Especially for newcomers."

"I’m sure."

She stepped to the side to walk past him.

He followed.

Kana’s instincts flared, the same chill that warned her of monsters crawling across her skin. This wasn’t a helpful escort. He was trying to corner her.

"I insist. Come on, I can show you—"

The guard said.

"No."

Kana said, more firmly this time.

But he reached out toward her, fingers brushing too close to her arm.

Her hand shot up and grabbed his wrist.

A second later, he was on his knees with a muffled scream of pain.

Her grip tightened, just enough to make him feel it—just enough to let him know she could do worse. She could hear the bones grinding under her fingers.

"Stop. What the hell—!"

He hissed, trying to pull away.

She held for another moment, watching the arrogance drain from his face, then released him.

He stumbled back, holding his wrist, eyes wide with a mix of fear and outrage.

"You’ll regret that, stupid girl..."

He spat.

Kana ignored him and turned on her heel, walking back toward her room. Her heart was steady, but her hands were still tense. She didn’t like doing that—but she liked being treated like prey even less.

Behind her, the guard glared, his bruised pride burning hotter than the pain in his arm.

"You’ll see. I’ll make sure you regret it."

He muttered under his breath.

He followed at a safe distance, careful not to be noticed. As she disappeared into her room, he leaned back against the hallway wall, rubbing his wrist.

He wasn’t going to let this go. Not when he could spin it into something better.

He’d make her cause a disturbance. Something small, enough to make the temple question why she was here.

Then, when she was desperate and no one else would help her, he would swoop in like a hero. She’d be grateful. Vulnerable.

She wouldn’t be able to say no to him then.

His lips curled in satisfaction as the plan formed.

Just as he turned to leave, he collided hard with someone—someone he hadn’t seen coming at all.

"Ow—watch where you’re—"

He started, then stopped.

A girl stood in front of him, delicate and pale, her long pink hair glowing faintly in the soft light of the hallway.

Her eyes were large. Too large. Beautiful.

He forgot what he was about to say.

She tilted her head and looked at him for a long moment. Her expression was gentle, but her eyes—those eyes were sharp. Uncomfortably sharp.

"I don’t like your attitude."

She said softly.

He blinked.

"Huh?"

"It would be best if you forget what you’re doing here... and that you ever came this way."

She continued, voice calm but full of quiet weight.

His mouth opened to protest, but no sound came out. His mind blanked for a second, like something inside him short-circuited.

She walked past him.

He turned around to follow her with his gaze—only to realize she had already vanished.

What was he doing here again?

He looked around the hallway, then down at his arm. It still throbbed, but the reason felt fuzzy now.

Wasn’t he on patrol?

Muttering something under his breath, he turned and walked away, shaking his head as if waking from a dream.

______

Kana sat on the edge of her bed, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. No matter how hard she tried, the tension wouldn’t leave her shoulders.

That guard... something about him had felt off. The way he smiled, the way he followed her despite her refusals—it wasn’t just arrogance.

There had been something darker behind his eyes.

She glanced toward the door.

Evaya’s words echoed in her mind.

’Don’t open the door for anyone unknown.’

But the knot of unease in her chest wouldn’t loosen. Her thoughts spiraled.

What if the guard was still angry? What if he was already scheming something? Waiting for her to fall asleep?

She stood up and moved quietly to the door, pressing her ear against it. Silence.

Still, her hand drifted to the handle.

’Just a peek.’

Slowly, carefully, she cracked the door open—

Only to freeze.

Standing right in front of her was the same pink-haired female from the old sanctuary, her hand raised mid-air as if about to knock.

Kana’s breath caught. The girl blinked, then smiled softly.

"Oh. I was just about to knock. May I come in?"

She said.

Kana didn’t move. Something in her chest whispered that she should let this girl in. Her voice was gentle. Her presence, almost warm.

But Evaya’s warning rang louder.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

Kana asked, keeping the door mostly closed.

The girl tilted her head.

"My name is Ruby. I’m... not sure what I’m doing here, to be honest. I don’t remember much. But when I saw you earlier, something clicked. I feel like we’re connected somehow."

She said.

Kana didn’t respond.

"I’m not dangerous. I swear. But I need help. And I think you’re the only one who can help me."

Ruby added, stepping back slightly.

Kana hesitated.

A strange sense of familiarity radiated from Ruby—something deep and buried, like a memory trying to resurface. But even with that, Kana didn’t budge.

"I’ll listen, but from out here."

Kana said carefully.

Ruby looked disappointed, but she nodded.

"That’s fair. Thank you for at least hearing me out."

She said softly.