Soon enough, the two men that had searched the temple of Jel came over, shaking their head. "There is nothing in the temple. What about here?"

The team from the gate shook their heads as well. "Nothing here either."

"Let’s go and take a look at the other gate."

The men nodded and the group turned away, leaving in the other direction.

Mu So turned to look at Vars but he still hadn’t moved. The traveler really wanted to ask but after the attitude he had gotten before, he couldn’t help but hold back. Who knew what the reason was?

Another hour went by and finally, Vars moved. He brushed back Nilgu’s hair and looked into his face as if searching for something.

Nilgu faintly raised his brows.

"I think the priest’s robe wasn’t a good idea." Vars tugged at Nilgu’s robe with a dissatisfied look. Originally, everything had been organized by Mu So. And last night, they had been busy with getting the bodies and preparing the temple so he hadn’t thought too much. Now though, he couldn’t help but worry. The last lookout should have left by now but if the guards saw Nilgu leave like this … if somebody talked, the temple of Bul would realize what was up. That wasn’t a risk he was willing to take.

He thought for a bit and then gently turned his lover around, starting to braid his hair. Nilgu stood still, letting Vars do as he liked. Despite the years that had passed since he entered the temple, he still trusted him with his whole heart. In fact, this familiar touch really brought him back to a different time. His heart was at peace feeling Vars’ fingers gently combing through his hair.

Vars faintly tugged when he reached the end, coiling the hair around itself to make it hold fast. Then, he grabbed Nilgu’s robes and pulled them up, exposing the pants beneath. A priest’s robe was really too obvious but with a few changes here and there, it could at least be made less obvious. Pulling the fabric up by about a foot, he folded it to make it look like an additional piece of fabric was wound around his body and then took off his own belt to secure it in place around Nilgu’s waist.

The priest turned around, his gaze gentle. Even though they had embraced each other the whole morning, this felt the closest they had gotten in all this time. Maybe it was less about the contact of their bodies and just the fact that he was able to surrender himself into Vars’ hands like this. In any case, he felt as if he had gotten something back that he lost.

Vars looked him up and down and nodded but then turned to Mu So, motioning to give him the bundle he was wearing.

Mu So smiled wryly but still handed it over. In any case, it was pretty clear that Nilgu needed some kind of disguise. Whatever they could do, they should go ahead with it. As for him who had only come into the city two days ago anyway, it wouldn’t make a difference.

He handed it over and Vars helped Nilgu put it over his shoulder. He gently cupped his cheek and kissed his forehead before he motioned to the gate. "Let’s go then."

Nilgu nodded and Mu So just followed after them, lining up behind them at the gate. He couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder but he couldn’t see anything of the people of the temple of Bul. He didn’t dare to breathe a sigh of relief just yet and just turned back around, waiting for it to be their turn.

Finally, they made it to the front of the line. The guards looked them over like the people before them, questioning them while they took a closer look at the bundle Nilgu was wearing but didn’t seem to find anything suspicious. They just waved and already turned to the next person.

Vars and Nilgu walked out of the city, the priest’s head lifting faintly when they stepped past the shadow that the gate threw on the ground. Mu So was right behind them, trying to hold back a sigh of relief. He couldn’t draw any attention to them now that they had made it out. Even though the greatest danger was over, they weren’t yet out of it completely. After all, they were still clearly visible from the city. If any of the people of the temple of Bul came close to the gate, they might spot them.

Together, the group of three walked down the path in front of the gate, putting more and more distance between them and Lald. When the city seemed to have turned into an indistinct shadow in the distance, Nilgu stepped closer to Vars’ side and reached out, intertwining their fingers.

Vars glanced at him and smiled before turning back to the front. They had made it out. There might always be a hint of worry left in their hearts but as long as they continued to make their way forward, it would diminish little by little until it could be a faint doubt at the back of their minds that they would only be reminded of every now and then.

Mu So cleared his throat and reached out to take his bundle back from the priest. Putting it back onto his shoulder, he did heave that sigh of relief after all, feeling as if everything had gone back to normal.

He accelerated his steps and walked next to the pair of lovers, flashing them a smile. "Well, I guess that’s it then. You’re out, I’m out. We can just go wherever our feet carry us. I wish you luck." He nodded at them and then turned back to the front, passing them by and walking ahead.

Vars and Nilgu exchanged a glance and smiled and then just continue to walk.

After a while, Mu So couldn’t help but turn back to them. Some distance had opened up between them but they were still clearly following the same path despite the fact that he had already left the main road leading away from Lald. "Why are you still going in the same direction as me?"

Vars just chuckled. "Where else are we supposed to go? We grew up in Lald, I don’t have a weapon any longer. I’d say it’s safer to go in the same direction. Along the way, if we find a place to settle down, then we’ll leave. Until then, I’m afraid you’ll be stuck with us."

Nilgu nodded, clearly sharing his lover’s thoughts.

Mu So stared at them in exasperation but then just shook his head and turned back to the front. Whatever. As long as he wasn’t walking behind them where he had to see them displaying their affection, it wasn’t that bad to have somebody travel with him for a while.

Nilgu and Vars exchanged another glance when he didn’t refuse them and they smiled faintly. It seemed that they had made the right call.

Nilgu glanced at their hands and then slowly pulled his back, plucking a few ears of corn from the field at the side of the path. He slowly braided them together into a thin string and then grabbed Vars’ hand again, wrapping the string around his ring finger.

Vars gave a hum and followed suit, looking into his eyes while he tied the ring. "I’ll get you a real one again one day."

Nilgu shook his head though and just held his hand again, pulling him along. "I don’t need a ring. I just need you to stay at my side so that this time, we can go together to wherever faith leads us, never to be separated again."

Vars nodded. "I can promise that." He paused for a moment and the corners of his lips rose faintly. "I’ll still get you a ring or something. One that’ll hold a bit longer. I don’t quite trust your braiding skills." He glanced at their hands that were still adorned with the makeshift rings but at least his seemed to fray at the end as if Nilgu hadn’t tied it securely enough.

The priest cleared his throat and looked the other way. "If you can’t remember the sentiment without the ring, don’t bother about it. In any case, this is enough for me."

His lover just gave a hum and smiled while watching his expression. This was enough for him as well but who could fault him for dreaming of more after having to do without this person at his side for so long? Now, he wanted nothing more than to make up for the lost time so that in the future, those years in-between would seem like nothing but a distant nightmare or a test on their path to the future that had been destined for them.