CHAPTER 66: CH 66: WELCOME BACK- PART 3

The inner chambers were quiet when Kana stepped inside, the muffled noise of the outer temple fading into nothing as the heavy door closed behind her.

The air here was warmer, softer—thick with the faint scent of incense that clung to the woven drapes.

She glanced around at the room she was sharing with Evaya for now, noting the neatly made bed opposite hers, the polished table, the clean stack of folded robes on the side.

High Priestess Jenna followed them in, her composure unchanged from earlier.

"Rest for now. Things are about to get hectic. Since the other side has already made such an open move, it’s clear they won’t be laying low any longer."

She said, her tone as steady as ever.

Kana opened her mouth to protest—there was too much left unsaid, too much she wanted to ask—but the moment her back touched the bed, the fight drained out of her.

The soft mattress seemed to swallow her whole, pulling her into a comfort she hadn’t realized she’d been craving.

...Oh.

Her body felt as if it had turned to lead, every muscle unwinding in slow surrender.

Her mind tried to complain, reminding her that she needed to get up, that there were conversations unfinished and dangers unresolved.

But her body refused to listen. It didn’t want to move. Not even a little.

In the end, her body won. She stayed down.

Evaya, however, was not so easily lulled. She crossed her arms, leaning against the wall with her sharp eyes fixed on Jenna.

"Was it really fine for us to return like this? Who knows what the High Priest will feed to the public about you to gain their support?"

Jenna turned her head, her expression calm, almost faintly amused.

"Evaya, don’t worry. No matter how much he tries to gather support, the temple is dedicated to the goddess. In the end, only her favor—granted through divine power—truly matters. Even if the High Priest rallies the people, without the goddess’s blessing and divine power, he can never truly be part of this temple. He will always lack credibility."

Evaya’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she eventually sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

"I hate to admit it... but you’re right."

Kana wanted to keep listening, wanted to stay awake long enough to follow their conversation, but her eyelids had grown impossibly heavy.

She fought it for a few more seconds before the darkness slipped over her entirely, her mind going completely blank.

—

Meanwhile, in the office of Sergeant Delran, tension hung thick in the air.

Lysera and Irielle sat side by side in front of her desk, their eyes sharp and unyielding. They didn’t need to say much for Delran to feel the force of their determination pressing against her.

The Sergeant exhaled slowly and slid a paper across the desk toward them—a draft order already prepared.

"Be careful. Do things in moderation. I will not take responsibility if things go wrong and anything happens."

She warned, her voice firm.

Lysera’s reply was immediate, her voice steady.

"You won’t have to. We’ll handle it."

Irielle nodded in agreement, a faint edge of steel in her tone.

"We’ll take care of this ourselves."

Delran studied their faces for a moment longer, her instincts prickling. There was something in their eyes—unshakable resolve, yes, but also a dangerous willingness to act without restraint.

She sighed again, unable to shake the knot forming in her gut. The recent special reports she’d been receiving about unrest in the temple only made it worse.

Whatever was going on there, it was already volatile. Sending these two in would either resolve the issue—or ignite it.

"Go. But remember what I said."

She said finally, waving them off.

The pair didn’t respond, merely rose from their seats and left with purposeful strides.

Lysera and Irielle arrived at the temple not long after, their steps echoing against the polished stone floor. Their faces were set, their expressions unwavering.

They had only one goal—protect Kana, and make sure she left this place as soon as possible.

The temple gates loomed ahead, their ornate carvings glinting faintly in the afternoon light.

Lysera slowed only briefly to glance at Irielle, a silent exchange passing between them before they stepped inside.

The courtyard was alive with movement—priests and attendants moving in hurried steps, conversations hushed but urgent.

The earlier panic had simmered into a tense hum, yet the air still felt thick with unease.

Lysera’s eyes swept the surroundings with practiced precision. Every unfamiliar face, every subtle shift in posture was noted.

"Too many people are watching each other. It’s like they’re all waiting for something to happen."

She muttered under her breath.

"That’s because they are. And if the reports we heard are right, it won’t take much to light the fire."

Irielle replied, her tone low and certain. The pair moved deeper into the temple grounds, their steps steady but deliberate.

Passing through the outer halls, Lysera caught faint whispers of the High Priestess’s earlier return—of her calm, her strength, and the strange tension between her and High Priest Rudy.

Some spoke in admiration, others in doubt.

It was enough to confirm what they had both suspected: the temple was split, its loyalties no longer unified.

They didn’t stop to mingle with the gossiping attendants or greet the curious guards. Their priority was Kana.

"She’s likely in the inner chambers. We’ll find her first, then decide our next step."

Lysera murmured.

Irielle nodded but kept her voice quieter still.

"And if the High Priest tries to interfere?"

Lysera’s eyes hardened.

"Then we remind him she’s not his to control."

They turned down the next corridor, the muffled hum of the courtyard fading behind them.

The marble floor beneath their feet was cool, the tall windows spilling pale light across their path.

Every step brought them closer to the part of the temple where the public was not allowed—where only those with the High Priestess’s permission could enter freely.

The guards stationed here shifted slightly when they saw the two women approaching, but neither Lysera nor Irielle broke stride.

The force of their presence alone was enough to part the way without a single word exchanged.

Somewhere beyond these walls, Kana was resting—perhaps unaware of the storm building just outside her door.

Lysera’s jaw tightened.

’Not for long.’

As they moved through the temple’s inner corridors, Lysera and Irielle passed the entrance to the main hall.

The soft echo of chanting filled the air, dozens of voices murmuring in unison as rows of people knelt in prayer.

At the far end, overlooking the gathering with a serene smile, stood High Priest Rudy. His white robes flowed perfectly, his posture radiating calm authority.

To most, he was the image of virtue itself—a man revered for his wisdom and piety.

But the moment Lysera’s eyes landed on him, her steps faltered.

Beside her, Irielle also slowed, the faintest frown tightening her brow. The two exchanged a brief, silent glance—one of mutual recognition.

Neither spoke, but their thoughts were the same.

Their instincts were screaming.

There was something beneath that calm exterior, something sharp and dangerous that didn’t belong in a man so beloved by the public.

Lysera’s gaze lingered a second longer, studying the unshakable smile on his face. Irielle’s hand twitched, as though fighting the urge to rest it on her weapon.

Without a word, they moved on, but the unease lingered like a shadow that refused to lift.