“Is something troubling you?”

Bastian, who had been sitting in a daze, snapped out of his thoughts at his fellow priest’s question.

“Ah. It’s nothing.”

It was after mealtime, and the warm autumn sunlight naturally made one drowsy. The priest simply nodded at Bastian’s response, understanding completely.

“By the way, about your friend…”

When the priest mentioned Rael, Bastian’s eyes sharpened with attention.

“It’s nothing serious, but she gets along remarkably well with the children. Her help has been a blessing during our busy preparations.”

The temple was bustling with preparations for the upcoming autumn harvest festival. The priests were already shorthanded, but with Rael entertaining the children, everyone felt a subtle sense of relief in their workload.

“Is that so?”

Rael had always been someone who could blend in anywhere. Even at the temple where she had come to stay temporarily, she found ways to make herself useful and create her own place—a talent in its own right.

“What did you say your relationship was? Relatives? Friends?”

“We’ve been friends since childhood.”

“Just friends seems… hmm.”

When the priest trailed off, Bastian tilted his head, waiting for him to continue.

“Haha, it’s just that there’s something peculiar about the atmosphere between you two.”

“In what way?”

“While you certainly care for all devotees attentively, when you’re with her, there’s something different in your eyes.”

At the priest’s words, Bastian thought for a moment before giving a small smile.

“Is it that obvious?”

“So I was right—she’s not just a friend?”

The priest clapped his hands together, delighted that his intuition had been correct.

“To her, I’m still just a friend, but thinking about it… I don’t think I was ever just a friend.”

“First love, something like that?”

“If emotions held since around ten years of age can be called love, then yes, first love.”

“No way. Isn’t that too extreme?”

“Love isn’t limited to romantic feelings. Her existence has been a collection of countless emotions for me.”

Bastian pondered what might have been the source of his initial affection for Rael. It was a question he had deeply contemplated the previous night.

At first, was she just the pitiful neighbor who had lost her parents during the war?

Rael, who lived with her grandmother in Yumiel Village, had lost much like himself, but seemed more unfortunate than him who at least still had parents. Perhaps he had befriended her out of pity.

But she had always been a radiant presence since childhood. When he felt down, she would comfort him with her bright smile. Somewhere along the way, that small child had become something more than a friend or family.

She had such a spirited personality that she would roll up her sleeves and fight on his behalf when he came home beaten by the bigger village children.

In their relationship, he always seemed to be the one receiving comfort. His initial desire to become a priest stemmed from wanting to be someone others could rely on. Though he hadn’t realized it then, Rael’s influence on that decision was undeniable.

He had wanted to become a good person, someone Rael could lean on.

But the path to priesthood proved challenging. Though they lived in the same capital, they rarely saw each other as they became busy with their own lives—he had thought this was simply part of growing up.

Looking back now, he deeply regretted not being there for Rael when she quit the academy and returned to their hometown, and not knowing what she had experienced at the Magic Tower.

Was this why he became a priest, to convey divine messages and comfort others? When all along, the person he truly wanted to embrace was someone else entirely.

This was the conclusion he had reached after long contemplation the previous night.

The affection of friendship, the love of family—he had separated and combined these feelings with his true heart. At the end of it all, there was love for Rael.

“Have you confessed to her?”

At the priest’s question, Bastian smiled awkwardly.

“You have, haven’t you? What did she say?”

The priest realized he might be overstepping but couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“Well, I didn’t throw my heart out expecting an answer.”

“How can such a thing exist in this world?”

“The word ‘sudden’ does linger in my mind, though.”

All those unspoken feelings over countless years were dismissed with the word “sudden.” That was his fault. Having buried emotions that would be difficult to convey even with endless expression, they became nothing but abrupt nonsense when finally spoken aloud.

Why hadn’t he realized that keeping feelings locked away accomplishes nothing?

Perhaps he himself lacked certainty. There had been no reason to untangle what was mixed and obscured by friendship or familial love. Now he could understand why protagonists in tragedies only recognize their true feelings when pushed to the edge of a cliff.

“Regardless, I’ll be rooting for you.”

Bastian nodded at the priest’s words. Though what good would encouragement do in matters of the heart?

He decided to quietly wait, as Rael had suggested, for this sudden situation to fully sink in for her. Perhaps he was someone who excelled at waiting.

* * *

That day, Cheltain headed to the temple to visit the place that had comforted him during difficult times before leaving the village.

“Was this place always so well-maintained?”

Having previously visited with a troubled mind, he hadn’t properly observed the temple. Now, he paused his steps, suddenly struck by the beauty of the garden alongside the path leading to the prayer room.

He only now discovered how many of his favorite autumn flowers were in bloom, showing just how little peace of mind he had possessed. Thinking this might be his last visit, Cheltain decided to explore the garden more thoroughly.

The garden connected to a small hill, and after walking along the path for some time, he came upon what might be a pond or a lake. Too large for a pond yet too small for a lake, though the distinction hardly mattered.

“I almost missed seeing something so lovely.”

He approached the water’s edge. A frog was hopping on a rock protruding from the water. Suddenly wanting to catch the small, cute creature, he stretched out his hand.

“The little fellow is quite nimble.”

After several failed attempts, Cheltain leaned in deeper.

“Wh… whoa!”

At that moment, his body teetered and fell into the water with a splash.

The problem was that he couldn’t swim. Panic at falling into water made his body tense up, preventing him from floating. As water entered his nose and mouth, he thrashed desperately.

“Help… save me…!”

His body repeatedly surfaced and sank.

“Help!”

He shouted for help with all his might. But each time he opened his mouth, water rushed in with the air, making him feel he might truly drown.

“He…!”

With gurgling bubbles, his body was sinking. His consciousness grew dim.

As strength left his arms and he thought he was dying, he felt a strong force pulling at his arm.

“Ugh!”

“Grab my arm tightly!”

Though faint, an equally urgent voice reached him through the watery haze. Realizing someone was trying to save him, Cheltain desperately gripped the person’s arm.

The more strength he exerted, the heavier his body felt, but someone managed to pull him out nonetheless.

“Huff!”

Cheltain barely made it out of the water, grasping at dirt and stones. He frantically coughed up water.

“Cough, cough.”

A steady hand patting his back helped him expel the water. In his disoriented state, Cheltain’s blurry gaze fell upon his rescuer.

“Are you alright?”

The owner of the gentle voice was Rael.

“Thank you.”

Despite his confusion, he expressed his gratitude, while Rael clutched her chest in relief.

“How did you end up falling in there? And it’s not even that deep…”

The pond was shallow enough for an adult to stand in. Unaware of this, Cheltain had flailed in terror, unable to gauge the water’s depth.

“Anyway, you could have been in serious trouble. Fortunately, I happened to be passing by.”

Rael rubbed her arm where it had been scratched by Cheltain’s nails and the stones while pulling him out. Though it stung, the wounds weren’t deep.

“You’re my savior. Truly, if no one had passed by…”

Cheltain caught his breath and looked at Rael properly.

“Indeed.”

Rael smiled at him, relieved that he was alive. In that moment, Cheltain froze completely.

“Aren’t you cold? We should go to the temple and find you some dry clothes…”

Water dripped from his hair and clothes, and the autumn weather was hardly favorable for someone soaking wet.

Rael extended her hand toward him, suggesting they head to the temple, but Cheltain remained motionless.

“What’s wrong?”

Rael carefully asked, wondering if he was still in shock from his near-death experience. Perhaps he was injured somewhere.

“You…”

Cheltain finally understood why he had wanted to visit the temple today. Had his prayers to the divine been answered?

If this wasn’t divine will, then what was it? To meet the very person he needed to find so easily, right here.

“Ha. Haha.”

Cheltain laughed like a madman. No wonder that portrait had seemed so familiar when he first saw it.

‘The world works in mysterious ways.’

Whether his prayers had been answered or this woman was simply unlucky, either way, it was a stroke of heaven-sent fortune for him.

By now, a greedy gleam shone in his eyes, but Rael, busy checking if his wet body had any injuries, failed to notice that murky gaze.