The first sight Harres saw upon arriving at the church was that of countless children running around, playing tag and laughing happily.
"Welcome to our old church," Leah said. "You can come with me so I can treat your wounds."
"It's so peaceful here," Harres remarked. "Don't the demons ever attack this place?"
Leah placed both his hands behind his back as he continued walking straight ahead. "Actually, last night a group of demons came here. But fortunately, someone managed to drive them away."
Leah turned to look at Harres. "And most likely, they ran off into the forest—right where you live, it seems."
That explained everything. At first, Harres had thought the demons appeared because of the strange phenomenon around the great statue.
"Leah, did you bring a friend here?" asked a little girl—she looked about the same age as Aleeora, perhaps nine.
Leah smiled and replied, "That's right, Fellian. And my friend here brought someone your age, too."
Fellian glanced at Aleeora, who was still asleep in Harres's arms, and smiled. "Tell me when she wakes up, okay?"
Leah chuckled. "Of course."
Fellian then ran back toward her friends and joined their play once again.
"Come," Leah said, showing the way. He opened the door, revealing rows of wooden seats facing forward.
Harres was filled with awe. The solid stone structure, the great lamp hanging above, and the wooden statue—most likely a depiction of the deity they worshiped—gave the church a sense of sacred grandeur.
"Miss Merry," Leah called out to someone at the front who seemed to be praying.
Merry, the woman Leah had addressed, turned around. Her face was stern, marked by age, as she walked toward Leah.
The elderly woman—around fifty years old—grabbed Leah's ear tightly, making him wince in pain.
"How many times have I told you not to shout in here, huh?" Merry scolded, tightening her pinch.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Leah grimaced, trying to free himself.
"I'm sorry, sir," Merry said to Harres. "Did this fool do something that forced you to come here?"
"I was the one who brought him here, ma'am," Leah replied, still wincing. "This man was just attacked by a group of demons in the forest. I'm the one who saved him."
"Is that true, sir?" Merry asked Harres.
"He's telling the truth," Harres answered.
"Thank goodness," Merry sighed in relief, patting her chest. "I was worried he'd caused more trouble again."
"More importantly, ma'am, this man is injured. We need to treat him right away," Leah added, still rubbing his reddened ear.
Merry immediately turned her attention to Harres, noticing the wound wrapped in cloth—likely treated by Leah during their journey here.
She quickly grabbed Harres's hand. "There's a trace of demonic energy in this wound," she said. Then she turned away to fetch something, returning moments later.
It was a small bottle containing a blue liquid mixed with streaks of black, and dotted with tiny white specks that made it shimmer faintly.
Merry unwrapped the cloth from Harres's arm and gently poured the liquid over the wound. Her hand moved carefully as she rubbed the mixture across the injured area.
"This potion doesn't work instantly," she said, looking up at Harres. "But it's guaranteed to heal any external or internal wound over time."
She handed him the bottle. "Take this. You can use it again if the pain in your arm returns."
Then Merry glanced at Aleeora, who was still asleep. For a brief moment, she thought she saw another presence within the child—someone else hidden deep inside her. Merry blinked rapidly, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her.
Choosing not to dwell on it, she turned and walked away.
"Leah, take our guests to the resting chamber. Make sure they feel comfortable here."
Leah straightened up at once. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Harres…" Aleeora's weak voice called out as she slowly woke. "Where are we now?" she asked, her tone still raspy.
"We're in the Yorua region, Aleeora," Harres smiled, gently brushing her hair. "We're in a church—the house where the gods are worshiped."
"A church?" Aleeora blinked in confusion, glancing around to confirm his words.
"Sir, please allow me to guide you," said Leah, stepping forward to lead them to the resting quarters.
They descended into the basement. Harres hadn't expected the church to be so vast—even possessing an underground level.
Their footsteps echoed softly as they walked down the stone staircase. When they reached the bottom, the torches lining the walls lit up automatically, casting a warm glow across the dark hall.
"This way," Leah said, moving to the left. As they walked, numerous doors lined the corridor, each marked with a number.
They stopped before one labeled Room 035.
"Alright, sir, this will be your room. Please rest here. Once you're feeling better, we can have a proper talk," Leah said, pausing briefly as his eyes flicked toward the pouch Harres was carrying—something inside it was glowing faintly.
Leah's gaze returned to Harres, and with a smile, he added, "Perhaps later we can discuss the recent reappearance of demons across several continents."
"Of course," Harres nodded softly. "Thank you for letting us stay here."
"If you need anything, I'll be in the front yard with the children. Oh, and—you can let your daughter join them if she wants," Leah said warmly, smiling at Aleeora.
"Would you like to play?" he asked, gently patting her head.
The girl didn't answer right away. She first looked at Harres, silently asking for permission.
Harres gave a small nod. Aleeora smiled, climbed down from his lap, and followed Leah. She glanced back once more, finding a gentle smile on her father's face.
Harres entered the room, closed the door, and placed his belongings on the floor beside him. He sat in a wooden chair near the bed, facing a mirror that reflected his tired expression.
He examined his arm again—the wound left by the demon's blade. He had thought it was only a shallow cut, but it was actually deeper than he realized.
Pain began to pulse again. Harres took the potion and rubbed it over the wound. The pain slowly faded, and exhaustion began to take over. He slumped weakly in the chair.
The pouch containing the crystal suddenly started glowing. Harres was too weary to reach for it. Resting one arm over his eyes, he exhaled. Drowsiness and fatigue swept through him.
"Why… do I feel so weak?" he muttered breathlessly, struggling to stay awake. "Is this… the potion's effect?"
The crystal shone even brighter. Harres tried with all his might to reach for it, but before he could, his consciousness slipped away. He collapsed in the chair as the crystal continued to glow—a signal whose meaning remained unknown.
Meanwhile, in the corridor they had just passed through, Leah and Aleeora walked side by side. Leah led her past the staircase leading up.
"Isn't that the staircase we should've taken to get back upstairs?" Aleeora asked.
Leah gave a faint smile. "I have a shortcut that's much closer. You must be too tired to climb all those stairs, aren't you?"
Aleeora nodded in agreement and kept following wherever Leah led her. But Leah's expression suddenly changed.
The warm smile he usually wore faded, replaced by a blank, unreadable look.
"I'm sorry, sir," Leah whispered under his breath. "I have to do this. Please… don't hate me."