* * *
The journey back to Kaindel wasn’t very long.
When I left, it had felt like a vast distance.
But now, with my errands complete, the path back felt unexpectedly short.
The weather was cooler, leaning more toward autumn than summer, and the crisp air lifted my mood.
The leaves, now tinged with reds and yellows, danced in the breeze.
Soon, they’d dry out and fall. Time had already moved forward once again.
“Do whatever your heart tells you to do. You don’t have to forgive him if you don’t want to. You can end the relationship here if that’s what you need. You have every right to make that choice. But if you find yourself wanting to try again, that’s okay too. You can give him a chance.”
I rode along, the steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves echoing beneath me, while Letea’s words replayed in my mind.
Her face appeared in my thoughts.
We hadn’t even known each other for a full day, yet she had a strange, comforting presence.
That was probably why I’d spilled all the tangled emotions I’d been holding inside without even realizing it.
There was a kindness in her that felt almost overwhelming.
“And if things get tough again, you’re always welcome to come back here. I’ll be here to listen.”
I scoffed softly.
Why would she offer that to someone like me?
The thought made me laugh under my breath.
Even when I thought of Lutere, the place I called home, or when I remembered Elise, who had raised me like a parent, I never felt what I’d felt with Letea.
The feeling that I had somewhere to go back to.
It was unfamiliar yet oddly reassuring—something I had never experienced before.
Perhaps that was why I finally knew how I wanted to face Kaindel.
The weight that had been pressing down on my shoulders seemed to lift.
“Easy now. Let’s stop here.”
I slowed the horse as we neared the temple.
Stroking its mane, I guided it to a halt, then dismounted.
After tying the reins to a nearby post, I turned toward the temple.
The open gates revealed people bustling about.
Some were commoners, others nobles, and a few were temple priests.
Everyone was busy with their own purpose.
My eyes drifted toward the pristine white wall, now clean of the slur that had once been scrawled there: [Filthy].
I didn’t know whether the rain had washed it away or if someone had used holy magic to erase it.
Either way, I was relieved.
A building this beautiful didn’t deserve such a scar.
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
My heart pounded, loud and fast, like a drum in my ears.
I’d been calm on the way here, but standing in front of the temple made me tremble slightly.
I steadied myself and stepped forward.
The interior of the temple was exactly as I remembered it.
Of course, not even two weeks had passed since I’d left.
It was silly to expect any noticeable changes.
“Did you finish your transcription?”
“Yeah, right. Look at this. Completely blank.”
“What are you gonna do? You better hurry.”
“Why don’t you help me?”
“Are you crazy? If we get caught helping each other, we’ll both be punished.”
“Some friend you are.”
I watched the trainee priests passing by.
They looked quite young, their faces brimming with innocence, and none of them seemed to notice me.
Each held a transcription book in their arms—something I was familiar with.
Checking the time, I realized it was time for the afternoon prayer.
They were probably headed to the prayer room.
For some reason, the scene stirred a sense of longing within me.
I followed them with my eyes until they disappeared down the hall, then snapped myself back to reality.
I still had things to do at the temple—no time to stand around like this.
The whole reason I came here before returning to Kaindel was to meet with the Pope.
…Was the change in hair color really that significant?
My reflection in the window showed the hair that had reverted to its natural color after being dyed black.
It was funny how a simple change in hair color made me unrecognizable.
Perhaps it was also because of the mask, though I had shown my bare face plenty of times while living in the temple.
Well, considering everything that happened, maybe it was better this way.
Lost in thought, I soon found myself standing before the Pope’s chamber.
I paused, straightened my appearance, and raised my hand.
Knock, knock.
The faint sound of my knock echoed through the empty corridor.
It was so soft I wondered if it was audible from inside.
“Come in.”
The door opened naturally as the Pope’s voice called out.
His pronunciation was slightly muffled, as though he was absorbed in something else.
I swallowed dryly and stepped into the room.
Nothing had changed since my last visit.
The Pope sat at his desk, sifting through documents.
Next to him stood a towering stack of papers, piled so high it seemed to threaten the ceiling.
It was probably the approaching Day of the Goddess keeping him so busy.
And, of course, Kerelona’s wedding preparations.
I coughed lightly to announce my presence.
The Pope, frowning at the interruption, lifted his head.
The irritation on his face quickly gave way to recognition.
His gaze lingered on my ash-gray hair and eyes before a faint smile formed.
“It’s been a while, Isaac.”
Was it because he was more accustomed to my black hair?
The Pope’s eyes glimmered with curiosity as he studied me.
After a moment, the silence in the room dissolved.
“It has been a while. Have you been well?”
His casual, familiar tone put me at ease.
I found an empty seat and sat down; standing wouldn’t have been practical if the conversation stretched on.
“I’ve been well enough. But more importantly, how have you been, Your Holiness? I hear you’ve had a lot going on.”
“Ah.”
So he heard about that incident.
Well, considering it happened within the temple, it would’ve been impossible to hide from him.
I nodded without hesitation.
“It was a shock at first, but I’ve recovered.”
“That’s a relief.”
The Pope smiled, running a hand through his hair.
The dark circles beneath his eyes hinted at exhaustion.
Had he been losing sleep these past few days?
He pushed the documents aside, signaling that I had his full attention.
“So… I hear you’re quitting your duties as a priest.”
“…What?”
The abrupt shift in topic caught me off guard.
I couldn’t immediately grasp what he was getting at.
He shrugged and clarified.
“I heard you left all your temple belongings behind. I assumed that meant you were leaving. Was I wrong?”
“…No, you’re right. I plan to leave.”
So that’s what he meant.
Realizing this a moment too late, I bit the inside of my cheek in embarrassment.
“Honestly, the only reason I became a priest in the first place was to avoid Kaindel. Not exactly the most noble motivation.”
“And? What of it?”
“It’s… not very devout.”
“Most of the people working here aren’t exactly paragons of devotion either. Take Owen, for example. If I hadn’t brought him here, he’d probably still be wandering the streets.”
The Pope clicked his tongue, shaking his head playfully.
It was the first time I’d seen this more relaxed, candid side of him.
Until now, I’d always found him unnervingly inscrutable.
“My point is this.”
He retrieved a nameplate from the desk and slid it toward me.
It was the one I’d carried as a temple priest.
“Keep it. And if you ever find yourself needing to run again, come back here, Isaac.”
* * *
