Just as the two of them had expected, the sound of foreign steps rang out in the middle of the night. Mu So who had been half-asleep and half-awake for most of the night immediately sat up and grabbed the dagger from below the pillow, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

The steps continued down the corridor and a door opened. There was a pause, and the steps sounded again, followed by the sound of another door's handle being pushed down. Over and over again, this repeated.

in the room on the other side of the corridor, Nilgu also got up and quietly took the bundle he had gotten from the kitchen before. Pulling back the bag that had originally been used for flour, he stared at the somewhat dull edge of the knife. This was all that he could have offered that traveler as a weapon. Thankfully, he hadn’t needed it. Now though … he was stuck with a makeshift weapon in a temple that condemned killing. What was he supposed to do now?

He sighed and put the weapon down again, sitting at the edge of his bed. What was supposed to happen, would happen. He would just entrust his life to Jel.

The steps closed in on their rooms and Mu So tensed, ready to jump whoever had dared to break in. Whether it was a robber or a priest of that other god, he didn’t mind giving them a taste of their own medicine.

The steps stopped at the height of his door but the one that was opened was that on the other side. There was a pause and a low laugh rang out.

"Oh, is this fate?" There was another pause while the man sized Nilgu up. "Do you want to speak a last prayer?" His voice sounded almost gentle as if he really was concerned that Nilgu might be unhappy if he died without that opportunity.

Nilgu looked up at the man whose face was hidden behind a vizor but he didn’t speak up. In any case, he had already made his peace. It didn’t matter whether he was killed or lived. Maybe not having to see the temple fall completely was also a type of mercy. He could pretend that after this, the temple would miraculously recover from the brink of extinction and rise to its peak once more. It would be a pity that he couldn't see it happen but at the very least, there would be hope.

The man gave a long-drawn hum when he didn’t get an answer. "If you don't want to, you don't have to. Although I can't deny that I am a little disappointed. Is your faith really this weak? Why join the temple then?" A hint of genuine anger could be detected from his voice and he finally stepped over the doorstep and pulled out his weapon.

On the other side of the corridor, Mu So tightened his grip on his own dagger and cursed under his breath. He had prepared his own room so it was best suited for receiving this unwelcome best but he hadn't thought of doing anything for the room of the priest. Who could have known that this guy would get the wrong one?

He sighed but then soundlessly opened the door. In any case, for giving him shelter, food, and a warning so he could save his little life, this priest also deserved some help. He sneaked over to the other room and peeked around the door that had been left open.

The priest was still sitting at the edge of the bed, his head held high, and not even a sliver of fear in his eyes as he faced down a man in armor. It was as if the sword that was being held to his throat did not exist at all. Mu So’s brows shot up.

This was what faith could make a person become. He wasn’t one of those priests that would just prattle on about their belief. No, this person had pure faith in his god and even if he needed to die for that conviction, he would do so. It was stupid. But also a bit admirable. Even though he had refused that last prayer, nobody could say that he did not take his belief seriously.

Mu So shook his head. No matter what, he shouldn’t have to die for this. He rushed out, wrapping one arm around the neck of the man while striking at his chest with the dagger. The man staggered and the two of them fell to the ground. Mu So gritted his teeth when the man’s whole weight crashed down on him and he threw an angry glare at the priest.

"Will you fucking help me?!"

Nilgu just stared at him. "The priests of Jel are forbidden from killing."

Mu So stared at him speechlessly while the man on top of him laughed out loud.

"Did you hear that? They’re forbidden from killing." It sounded a lot like he had just heard a good joke.

Mu So cursed. "What’s so fucking funny? Did you forget I still have a fucking weapon next to your heart?"

The man just lazily turned his head. "Did you forget I am wearing a fucking armor?" He laughed again, smashed his elbow into Mu So’s stomach, and got up when the traveler doubled over in pain. Getting back to his feet, he looked from Mu So to the priest and then laughed again. "Ah, well, I am feeling generous today. Just leave this temple already. Otherwise, how many more lives need to be lost? You also know that the temple of Jel and the temple of Bul can’t exist together in the same place. Why insist on it when you’re on the losing end?" He looked at the priest, seemingly waiting for him to give in.

Nilgu furrowed his brows. "This is not about losing or winning. This is about our faith. The temple has been here for hundreds of years. How could I just leave?"

The man shook his head. "Just go to the capital or something. Isn’t there a bigger temple of Jel? Whether it’s here or there, what’s the difference? Isn’t it better to keep your life?" His voice lowered, almost sounding as if he wanted to cajole him.

Nilgu stayed silent, clearly not willing to agree no matter what this man said.

Mu So stared at the guy in the armor instead. He just couldn’t wrap his head around this. Why would this guy suddenly let them off? There had to be some sinister plot behind this! Since he wanted to get rid of the enemy temple, he might just want to get all of them in one fell swoop. Maybe there were some more priests here and he wanted them to rush out and lead him over.

Thinking of that, Mu So lunged forward and hugged the guy’s leg. "I’ll hold him down. You just flee!"

Nilgu and the guy in the armor both stared at him before exchanging a glance.

"I gather he isn’t a priest?"

"No. I picked him up on the streets today."

"Oh." The armored man poked Mu So’s head with the blunt end of the sword, clearly wanting him to let go. "It’s alright to play dead weight to this temple but not to play a dead weight on a person. Aren’t you afraid I’ll poke out your eyes?"

Mu So froze but still stubbornly held onto him. So what? Clearly, that priest hadn’t been afraid either. As a man that had suffered countless hardships on his travels, he refused to be outdone by a guy in a robe.

The man in the armor raised his brows and then tried to shake him off. When it wouldn’t work, he sighed. "Do I need to slap you unconscious? Anyway, just get out of here."

Nilgu finally got up and walked over, pulling Mu So off the man. "You should go now. It’s not good to stay in the temple."

The man in the armor nodded along as if this was the most sensible thing he had heard all day. "That’s what I’ve been saying. You’d better leave sooner rather than later. The next time, it might not be me. Who are you going to cry to then when you lose your life? It’s not worth it, Nilgu."

The priest turned to look at him, keeping quiet for a moment. "Then, are you going to leave the temple of Bul?"

Mu So looked from one person to the other, feeling like he was missing out on something. Why were these two talking so amicably? Weren’t they from opposing temples and trying to kill each other? No, wait. One of them was trying to kill the other while the other one was waiting to be killed.

The man in the armor kept quiet for a moment and lowered his gaze to the ground as if actually considering the question. Finally, he raised his head again and looked into the priest’s eyes. "I can’t. This pitiful life of mine was saved by them. Now, I can’t just turn my back on them."

Nilgu nodded, not having expected anything else. "You can’t leave them just as I can’t leave this place. Stop suggesting it already."

The man in the armor sighed. "I will give you another day to think it through. Tomorrow night, I will return. By then, I really won’t have another chance. So consider this carefully. I can’t force you to leave the temple. I can only encourage you to do so."

Nilgu nodded faintly but didn’t say anything.

The man took one last look at him, his gaze actually lingering for an uncomfortable amount of time. Only when Mu So was already wondering if he should try to attack him once again now that he was inattentive did he finally move. He didn’t spare a single glance for the traveler on the ground and just turned on his heels, striding out of the small room with fast steps that soon faded in the distance.

Mu So stared at the empty doorway for a long time before he recovered. Turning around to the priest, he raised his brows. "What was that? Actually, how did he know your name? Just who is this guy?" Something about this whole encounter seemed weird. If those temples were mortal enemies, then why did that man not kill the priest? If they really hated each other, why have this kind of amicable conversation? It just made no sense.

Nilgu hadn’t wanted to bother about him any longer but finally fell into a daze when he was asked that question. Who he was? That question should be simple to answer but at the same time, it had become incredibly complicated. "His name is Vars." As for anything else, he did not dare to say.