“You look exhausted again.”

Rael had ended up taking three laps around the temple grounds the previous night before returning to her room. She couldn’t claim to have slept well afterward. 

Worried about falling asleep only to have strange dreams and wake up feeling disturbed, she had been unable to sink into deep sleep.

“I tossed and turned all night.”

“Why? Is something uncomfortable?”

“Not really… I just had some nightmares.”

“What kind of dreams were they?”

Rael wanted to answer Bastian’s question promptly, but she couldn’t remember what the dreams were about—what had frightened her, or why she had felt sad. None of it remained in her memory.

“I can’t remember. I just woke up feeling uneasy.”

“Oh dear, could it be because you’re lacking energy these days?”

“Maybe…”

Bastian guided Rael outside, supporting her with a hand on her shoulder. Finding the support unnecessary, Rael brushed his hand away, causing him to withdraw it awkwardly.

“I’m probably just anxious and scared. It’s hard to keep my wits about me when I’m being hunted from all directions.”

Despite her attempts to appear composed, Rael wasn’t completely fine inside. Hearing her words, Bastian gently stroked her head, his large hand covering her crown.

“The temple and I will protect you. Don’t worry about anything, and don’t be afraid.”

His reassuring words helped dispel some of the anxiety Rael had felt the previous night. What had she been so worried about while safely inside the temple walls?

She recalled reading somewhere that pregnancy often causes disturbed sleep and strange dreams. Her troubled mind began to settle somewhat with this realization.

Rael found herself staring blankly up at Bastian.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing. Just thinking how reliable you are.”

“Haven’t you always depended on me a lot?”

A gentle smile. A kind touch. The reassuring presence that made her wonder if this was what having an older brother or father would feel like.

“I’m fortunate that you’re my friend.”

At her words, Bastian smiled and continued stroking her head.

* * *

While Bastian attended to his duties, Rael headed to the prayer room. The space that had seemed dark and intimidating on her first night now felt cozy in the daylight.

The statue of the goddess gazed down benevolently at her devotees, and the quiet prayers of several people filled the room with warmth.

Rael found a spot and sat down. She clasped her hands together and began to pray.

In truth, she didn’t have many things to pray for. She simply offered light prayers for her own stability and the health of the child in her womb.

Though she was currently receiving food and shelter from the temple, she promised to repay this kindness someday. She considered her temple life a blessing from the goddess and vowed to return the favor through good deeds.

‘Please let me meet my child in good health.’

This remained her only wish until the end. She had decided to focus solely on praying for a safe delivery during her time at the temple, postponing thoughts about what would happen after the child’s birth until she found more peace. 

The temple felt so comfortable that she couldn’t imagine a better place to be.

When she felt her prayers were complete, Rael loosened her clasped hands and raised her head.

Glancing around, she noticed more people had arrived than when she’d started praying. She had heard the door opening and closing several times during her prayers—these must have been the newcomers.

Even for a small temple, there seemed to be a steady stream of devotees. With her prayers finished, Rael stood up from her seat and turned to leave.

As she did so, her eyes met those of a man who had entered after her.

‘Why isn’t he praying…’

While everyone else was busy praying with closed eyes and clasped hands, this man was leisurely looking around.

‘What’s going on?’

Meeting his gaze made her feel strangely uncomfortable. An unpleasant tension crept over her, like she had seen him somewhere before.

A familiar face was not a good thing in Rael’s current situation. Having maintained a closed circle of relationships, most faces she would recognize likely belonged to people from the Magic Tower—the last people she wanted to encounter.

‘Would Magic Tower people have any reason to visit a remote temple like this?’

Especially when there were plenty of fine temples in the capital.

Moreover, mages typically didn’t favor temples. The two powers had different natures, which had historically created tension between temples and the Magic Tower—tensions that had only worsened in recent years.

With the faint hope that he wasn’t from the Magic Tower, Rael moved closer to the door. Contrary to her thoughts, however, sweat was soaking through the back of her clothes.

As she drew nearer to the man, goosebumps rose on her skin.

‘Why would someone from the Magic Tower be here?’

As his previously blurry features came into focus, her hazy memory sharpened. He was someone she had encountered several times at the Magic Tower.

Though momentarily flustered, Rael naturally covered her face with her hand as she passed by him. The man didn’t seem particularly surprised or suspicious. His expression merely suggested the same vague recognition—”Where have I seen this person before?”

‘A mage at a temple…’

Perhaps he was just visiting his hometown and stopped by the temple while he was here.

Meeting someone from the Magic Tower made her heart race with anxiety. Was he truly just visiting the temple? Or could he be looking for her? Various speculations tangled in her mind.

To avoid showing any sign of disturbance, Rael walked naturally out of the prayer room. She wanted to glance back but resisted, fearing the Magic Tower person might be watching her.

Even after walking down the corridor and putting considerable distance between herself and the prayer room, her heart continued to beat irregularly.

* * *

Contrary to her worries, the temple remained peaceful for a week. The devotee she had suspected visited for prayer two more times during that period. Since he didn’t appear to be a messenger from the Magic Tower, Rael felt considerably relieved.

“Children, would you like to come over here and draw pictures?”

In the meantime, Rael had become quite close with the temple children. Now she didn’t feel lonely even when Bastian wasn’t around.

“Yes! You’re just like a teacher, big sister! Right?”

“She’s not a teacher!”

“Who said she was a teacher? I said she’s LIKE a teacher!”

These two particularly quarrelsome children were both ten years old. They were friends, or perhaps more accurately, like family to each other.

“Stop fighting. Let’s just say I’m your teacher for the day. Hurry and bring the paints.”

At Rael’s words, the children dashed off to fetch the paints. She watched their adorable retreating figures with contentment.

They say every connection has a reason—perhaps heaven had guided her to this temple to befriend these children and care for them.

“Huff… huff! Teacher, I got here first!”

“What are you saying! You cheated!”

“Did you two really turn fetching paint into a competition?”

“Yes! I won, but he keeps arguing!”

Watching their bickering, Rael moistened her brush with water and prepared sheets of paper for the children.

“Now, time to focus on drawing!”

When Rael clapped her hands, the children, who had been squabbling like little rascals just moments before, began drawing with surprising docility.

Rael watched them with satisfaction, enjoying this pleasant time together.

Meanwhile, from one section of the building behind her, another pair of eyes observed Rael and the children.

“High Priest, shall we allocate this much for the children’s expenses this quarter?”

Morchen handed Bastian a stack of approval documents regarding expenses. These were papers concerning food, clothing, and shelter for those who had sought refuge at the temple for the next quarter.

In reality, the small temple located on the empire’s outskirts could only care for a limited number of people. Nevertheless, Bastian seemed unwilling to accept this limitation, dedicating an entire accommodation building to children and devotees with special circumstances.

“It will be tight.”

Bastian commented after carefully reading through the documents.

“It always is.”

Never having been financially comfortable, Morchen simply nodded.

“Are paints very expensive?”

“Pardon?”

Wondering why Bastian suddenly mentioned paints, Morchen followed his gaze and understood the reason for his question.

“Are you suggesting we buy new paints for the children?”

“Yes.”

“Oh! I thought you were talking about repainting a wall or something! You don’t need my permission for small expenses like that!”

Bastian laughed as he returned the approval documents to Morchen.

For some reason, Bastian found the sight of Rael sitting with the children and drawing pictures particularly pleasing. It gave him a sense of happiness, like watching a family of birds playing in a peaceful nest.

He found it especially difficult to look away from Rael’s occasional smiles as she conversed with the children. He had worried she might remain depressed, but seeing her living vigorously, perhaps thanks to the children, eased his concerns.

“They look like they’re having fun.”

Looking at the thick stack of approval documents in his hand, he almost envied them. He felt tempted to join them right away.

“I’m glad she’s adapting well.”

Usually, adults who came to the temple often failed to adjust and left, but Rael was different.

“I hope it stays this way.”

Bastian ran his hand across the window. The squeaking sound echoed cheerfully throughout the room.