The old priest kept quiet for a while, just watching Mu So mend the window. Maybe it was that he hadn’t had anyone but Nilgu to talk for a long time but finally, he heaved a long sigh. "That boy had decided to become a priest when he was very young. Each day, he would come running over here, helping the priests, always talking about how he wanted to become one of them.

"We just laughed at that time, feeling that he would likely change his mind when he realized what it would entail to actually become a priest of the temple instead of just running over here when there was time. Back then, he and Vars already knew each other. Ah, Vars is that man who broke in."

Mu So nodded. He had already known so this didn’t come as any kind of surprise. Although … he hadn’t expected that the story between those two went this far back.

"Those two, they were inseparable. Vars didn’t have much interest in the temple whether it was this one or that one on the other side of the square. But he was happy to let Nilgu be and even followed him every now and then, helping out with some of the tasks he took over. I guess he just wanted him to be happy."

"Then how did he …" Mu So furrowed his brows. From the little that Vars had mentioned when he met Nilgu, he could imagine that there was a little more to this story.

"Well, that’s a story from several years later. In fact, it was the day Nilgu became a priest."

Mu So pressed his lips together. This sounded even worse.

"It is a ceremony that outsiders aren’t allowed at so Vars couldn’t be there with him. He had spoken with me the day before though and I guess he went out to get a little something to celebrate with him later. From what I know, while he was out, he was attacked. And when he was at that moment between life and death, it was one of the men of the temple of Bul who saved him. But in return, that man asked him to join the temple."

"And he just did? Couldn’t he have said no and asked to repay them in another way?"

The old priest looked at him and shook his head. Who knew where this traveler came from that he didn’t even understand this. "The temple of Bul doesn’t work that way. What their god wants, he will get. They don’t negotiate. At that time, Vars had two choices: Join their temple and live or give back the life that had just been saved."

"And he chose to live."

The old priest nodded. "He did. And I don’t blame him. Nilgu doesn’t either. Who wouldn’t want to live? Who wouldn’t want to cling to this world for even a moment longer? No matter how bad things stand, living is still something that we humans desire."

Mu So nodded but he couldn’t help but think back to that scene of Vars’s blade against Mu So’s throat. The priest surely hadn’t looked as if he was clinging to life. He had looked completely resolved to bid his time on earth farewell.

"Now, when Vars returned, the two of them had joined opposing sides. It naturally caused a dent in their relationship. Even though we would have accepted him to come over and see Nilgu, the temple of Bul would never allow it. And with time, the relationship between the temples worsened even further. They started killing our priests.

"From what I know, Vars never took part in this but now, there are only Nilgu and me here. They will expect him to take care of one of us and they would surely prefer if it was Nilgu to cut his last sentiments. It is how their temple operates. When the last attachments you have are gone, what keeps you from devoting yourself to Bul?

"And maybe enduring all that pain before makes them more willing to inflict it on others as well. Bul is not a benevolent god. He enjoys chaos and slaughter. Under his rule, there is only the rule of the strongest with Bul himself at the top.

"Naturally, we don’t want to see that but we are powerless. I couldn’t save the other priests and now, it seems I can’t even save Nilgu." He shook his head and once again sighed deeply. "I wish there was a way to have at least him survive. I don’t care about my own, old life. It’s been long enough. But Nilgu is young and promising. He shouldn’t have to end like this."

Mu So lowered his hands and turned around to the old priest. "Well, what if there is a way to get that outcome?" He didn’t have a plan yet but he was sure that there had to be an option.

The old priest raised his brows. "Oh, you want to help? That is too kind of you but you shouldn’t underestimate them. Jel doesn’t like fighting so our priests just pray and try to help better the lives of the people. Bul’s followers, on the other hand …" He sighed again. "Vars himself was a strong boy back then. I don’t even want to know how strong he has become by now. Most likely, even if you tried your hardest, you wouldn’t be able to leave him with a scratch."

Mu So smiled wryly. He was already sure about that. After all, even when he had only tried to hold him back, he hadn’t managed to do much. If not for the fact that Vars actually didn’t want to kill Nilgu …

Mu So narrowed his eyes, feeling that he had caught onto something there. He didn’t know for sure about Nilgu but Vars definitely still had feelings for him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have walked away that day. So, as long as the person they had to deal with was Vars, they would be able to somehow get through this.

He turned back to the old priest, his gaze a little hopeful. "You’ve told me a lot but still not why Nilgu refuses to leave." This was the crux of the matter. As long as he could figure this out, they could come up with a plan. He was sure that Vars would help so the only problem was really this stubborn priest.

The old priest sighed once more. "Well, isn’t it obvious? He feels that we will have lost if he does. Not only we as the temple of Jel but also he as a person. Because it was this fight between the temples that separated them and if he left now, it would have all been for naught. Also, I think he wants to see Vars make his decision. He wants to see if — at the last moment — this man that he loves is able to kill him for real."

Mu So rubbed his chin. It seemed that this wasn’t hopeless then. He could see that decision. If Vars agreed, then they could find a way to have both of them survive. The problem was only that the temple of Bul for sure wasn’t just active in this city of Lald. No, even if they ran away together, they would still be hunted down as revenge. So if they wanted to do this, they needed to make sure that the temple of Bul didn’t suspect a thing.

Mu So lowered his hand, his expression grave. "Old priest, you said you’d give up this temple if it could save Nilgu’s life. Did you really mean that?"

The old priest immediately nodded, his gaze a bit hopeful. "Did you think of something we could do?"

Mu So nodded but his expression was a little embarrassed. "Yes, just … I’m afraid you’ll really have to bid this temple of yours goodbye. It’s the only failsafe way I can think of."

The old priest’s expression was a little pained. He looked over at the statue of Jel and finally sighed. "Well, I love this temple with all my heart but nothing is more important than a human life. Since this is the only way, then let us follow through with what you came up with. In any case, I myself could never think of a way. As long as Nilgu will be safe, I don’t think Jel would mind either."

He really didn’t want to lose the temple but at this point, he couldn’t help but feel that it wouldn’t make a difference. The temple of Bul wanted them dead. Tonight, Nilgu would likely be killed if they didn’t do anything. Tomorrow, it might be him. With that, the temple would be left empty and he didn’t trust the temple of Bul not to demolish it. Or maybe rather than that, they would desecrate it by turning it into one of their own temples. That was a much worse outcome. No, in this situation, it would be best to at least let Nilgu live. Even if the temple ceased to exist, at least a single priest could survive.

Seeing that the old priest was willing to prepare, Mu So nodded and then pondered on how to go about this. His plan was … a bit difficult to pull off. Not only did it need both Nilgu and Vars to cooperate, but they would also need some props. Considering that there were some time constraints, he’d better get to preparing those.

Taking a mental note of everything that was needed, he looked up at the old priest again that was waiting with a worried gaze. "I need a few things. Could you help me get them?"

"Sure! Just tell me what it is. The temple doesn’t have much but I’ll see what I can do."

"Well, first of all, I need a priest’s robe, a set of men’s clothes, a torch … or actually, make that a few of them, and …" He fell silent and gave the old priest a worried look. "Uh, some kind of wagon. Preferably with something that can be used to cover the top." If he could, he really would have liked to take a few days to prepared but Vars had said that he would return tonight so he could only take a risk.

The old priest continuously nodded his head. "I’ll go and arranged it immediately. The robes and clothes, what size should they be?"

Mu So’s expression turned blank. What size? Well … "I’m not quite sure yet. If you can, get a couple of them. Around the size that Nilgu and his fiance would wear, I guess."

"Oh." The old priest nodded, still not sure just what kind of plan this was supposed to be. He didn’t dare ask though. Since this traveler hadn’t explained, he probably wasn’t supposed to know yet. Who knew if that was already part of the plan?