After a long day of taxing work and sitting, which invariably leads to lower back pain, it was finally time to head back home and rest. Before leaving, he took care of some final tasks, such as sending completed assignments through email and jotting down notes for pending tasks to tackle the next day. With these routine tasks completed, he mentally concluded that the day's work was finished. Gathering his belongings, he made his way back to the office entrance to clock out, exchanging casual greetings with coworkers he encountered along the way.

Although his official office hours had come to an end, Viga recognized that his day was far from over. While some individuals relished the opportunity to engage in personal activities during post-office hours, finding joy in pursuits that brought them pleasure and relaxation, Viga's schedule was marked by a different commitment. Like others in his position, who juggled part-time jobs to supplement their income, Viga's evening agenda included another responsibility—one that offered spiritual rather than monetary rewards. Despite the impending obligation later that night, he welcomed the prospect of a few hours of respite, opting to streamline his evening routine by ordering takeout food for dinner rather than preparing a meal from scratch.

As Viga was on his way home, he navigated through the events of the day, he couldn't shake off the feeling of profound coincidence surrounding the alignment of his dream and memories with his duty later at the local ecclesia. Given his skeptical nature and the wealth of experiences he'd accumulated since his youth, Viga wasn't one to easily attribute occurrences to mere coincidence. Yet, this day felt surreal, prompting a nagging sense of foreboding at the back of his mind. It was as if the universe was orchestrating events beyond his comprehension, leading him into an unknown territory of uncertainty.

Despite his reservations, Viga found himself grappling with the impending responsibilities awaiting him at the local ecclesia later that night. While he approached his duties with a sense of commitment and duty, there lingered an underlying apprehension about what the day had in store for him. The amalgamation of past memories, and present circumstances, painted a complex tapestry of uncertainty, leaving Viga feeling uneasily unsettled.

Navigating the journey back home after a grueling day's work proved to be a challenge in itself. Unlike the morning commute, where Viga could afford the luxury of setting out early to avoid the rush, the evening rush hour presented a different set of obstacles. Faced with the prospect of navigating through crowded metro stations and packed trains, Viga braced himself for a mentally draining journey home.

The hustle and bustle of the rush hour, coupled with the suffocating blend of human odors, intensified the mental fatigue Viga experienced. Each step through the crowded metro felt like wading through a sea of exhaustion, as he battled against the tide of commuters eager to reach their own destinations. Despite the physical weariness from a day's work, it was the mental toll of navigating through the chaos of rush hour that weighed heavily on Viga's mind.

After enduring the struggles of rush hour, Viga finally arrived at the front door of his apartment. With a sigh of relief, he unlocked the door and swiftly made his way inside, locking it behind him. Immediately, he headed to his shared room partition, eager to unwind after a long day. Upon entering, he noticed that his roommate was still absent. This wasn't entirely unexpected, as his roommate often arrived earlier than him unless he had other plans, possibly a rendezvous with a romantic interest.

Setting aside his belongings, Viga grabbed a paper bag containing his dinner, which he had purchased from a nearby store on his way home. Inside was a simple yet satisfying meal of chicken and rice, a budget-friendly option that would provide the sustenance he needed. Carrying the paper bag, he made his way to the kitchen, where he intended to enjoy his meal and recharge before tackling any remaining tasks or obligations for the evening.

After finishing his dinner, Viga returned to his room partition to gather the items he would require for his duty later on. Once his preparations were complete, it was time for him to give his body some much-needed rest. Opting for a brief nap, he set an alarm on his mobile phone to wake him in an hour and a half. Climbing up to the loft where his bed was situated, he lay down and attempted to drift off to sleep.

Despite his best efforts, sleep eluded Viga as the events of the day continued to replay in his mind, refusing to fade away. Frustrated and restless, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake off the troubling thoughts that plagued him. With each passing moment, the weight of the day's events seemed to grow heavier, casting a shadow over his attempts to find peace.

After struggling for what felt like an eternity to find rest, Viga finally conceded defeat. Realizing that sleep was out of reach, he made a decision to change his surroundings in hopes of finding some solace. With a sense of determination, he gathered his belongings and prepared to leave for the local ecclesia earlier than planned. Perhaps the distraction of his duties and the new environment would offer some relief from the relentless thoughts that tormented him.

As he made his way to the local ecclesia, Viga was mindful of the protocol for those with responsibilities to fulfill. Understanding the importance of punctuality, especially for guardians like himself, he ensured that he arrived well ahead of schedule in normal times. But today, he would come much earlier than usual. It only took him a fifteen-minute bus ride to arrive at his destination. Despite his early arrival, he was ready to fulfill his duties and immerse himself in the tasks at hand, hopeful that they would provide a temporary respite from the turmoil within.

Upon arriving at the specified house, he courteously taps on the front gate and patiently awaits a response. The setup is subtle; to an outsider, the house appears inhabited, maintaining an air of normality while covertly functioning as a gathering place for ecclesia members. In this region where other faith institutions face hostility and lack official recognition, the local ecclesia operates discreetly, understanding the importance of maintaining a low profile. Unable to construct their own dedicated place of worship in the country, they opt to rent houses to serve as venues for their gospel teachings. This approach not only provides a location for their activities but also acts as a cover to conceal the true nature of their gatherings from prying eyes.

After a brief moment, a man emerged from the house to open the gates, checking who was outside before welcoming Viga's early arrival with little surprise. While such occurrences aren't common, they're not entirely unheard of, as many duty-bound individuals for the worship service sometimes come straight from work or have tasks to attend to outside their regular duties, prompting them to arrive ahead of schedule. With a warm greeting, Viga enters and heads to his designated post within the premises. Dedicated to his role as a guardian, he approaches his responsibilities earnestly, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the ecclesia, especially during significant events such as tonight's gospel teachings.

Viga meticulously inspects the entire perimeter of the house, a crucial duty assigned to guardians like him to safeguard the local ecclesia from potential threats or unwanted attention. His primary responsibility is to prevent any prying eyes from observing the activities inside, necessitating thorough checks for any vulnerabilities or points of entry along the perimeter. Additionally, he must ensure the safety of members arriving to listen to the gospel teachings. This entails preventing them from being followed by non-members or attracting undue attention when entering the ecclesia. While there are other responsibilities involved, in this country, these tasks constitute the primary focus of guardianship.

Certainly, Viga doesn't bear the weight of these normal responsibilities alone; he's accompanied by four other guardians assigned to duty tonight, with Viga serving as the team leader. However, unlike Viga, none of the other four members are pilgrims, which implies that in the event of any unexpected occurrences, Viga stands as the sole guardian capable of traversing the land of faith and safeguarding the faith's safety during this night's duty.

It's been months since their last encounter with being transported to the land of faith, and the subsequent months following that incident kept them on high alert, as traversing to the land of faith can often become a recurring event. Fortunately, nothing significant occurred during those months of heightened vigilance, leading to a relaxation in the pilgrims' schedules as they, too, needed time to rest after the tense period.

While Viga is the sole individual capable of traversing, he won't find himself completely isolated in the land of faith if he were to be transported there. Among the non-pilgrim guardians, there's a specific individual assigned to monitor duty-bound members to ensure they remain awake and alert. Because those who traverse the land of faith appear to be in a daze for a prolonged period of time in the real world.

A stringent rule against falling asleep while on duty is always in effect. This served to distinguish between pilgrims and those who had simply nodded off, as a tap on the shoulder could wake a normally sleeping person. This rule also served to maintain the secrecy of the land of faith from those who were unaware of its existence.

If someone couldn't be awakened, protocol required immediate notification of either the deacon or vice deacon of the guardian department, who would then assess whether the individual was a pilgrim. If confirmed, they would discreetly alert standby members to covertly make their way to the local ecclesia and provide reinforcement. If covert entry wasn't feasible, they were permitted to offer plausible excuses for their presence.

Providing reinforcement was straightforward: they merely needed to feign sleep near the local ecclesia to facilitate transportation to the land of faith. The most convenient method involved bringing their vehicle and parking nearby to simulate sleep. This is why it was preferable for reserve pilgrim members to proceed discreetly, as no inquiries would arise if they remained unseen.

This protocol has been in place for a considerable period, established long before Viga's initial experience of traversing to the land of faith. The necessity for such a protocol arises from the scarcity of individuals possessing the ability to traverse. With only a limited number of people capable of undertaking this task, it becomes essential to ensure that their responsibilities are not overly burdensome. Even the most robust organizations cannot sustain continuous work from the same individuals without rest. Subjecting someone to perpetual duty without respite would inevitably lead to fatigue, resentment, and decreased effectiveness.

Therefore, the establishment of protocols like standby lists ensures that the burden of responsibility is shared among capable individuals, preventing burnout and maintaining operational efficiency. This approach not only promotes the well-being of those involved but also ensures the continuity and reliability of essential functions within the organization.

On a different matter, from the perspective of ordinary duty members, those guardians who were reported to the higher authorities would be called to the minister's office after the worship service to face reprimand for their actions. However, the reality was quite different; they were simply providing their account of the events that occurred in the land of faith.

After completing his thorough inspection and preparations, Viga found himself with some spare time on his hands. With his duties attended to, he opted to take a seat and observe the other early arrivals for the day before his actual duty time arrive. Apart from the guardians and those unusual early arrivals, the other early arrivals typically included choir members, who needed to rehearse and practice their hymns and vocal exercises in anticipation of the upcoming teachings. Following them were the secretariat, responsible for taking attendance of the attending members, and those assigned to finance duties.

Each member plays a vital role in maintaining the smooth operation of the ecclesia's activities, contributing to the sense of community and devotion that binds them together.

After a period of waiting, the early attendees began to arrive, and two particular arrival caught Viga's attention: a head deacon who was typically known for being late. This surprised Viga, but what astonished him even more was the presence of his ex-girlfriend among the early arrivals. He had been unaware that she had duties scheduled for the same branch of the local ecclesia as him, as she primarily served in another branch.

Encountering his ex-girlfriend in this place was an unexpected whirlwind of emotions. It had only been a couple of months since their last encounter, a day etched in his memory as the painful conclusion of their relationship. As he stood beside the door, having recently switched to this post, as his duty as a guardian officially started, requiring him to greet those entering the premises, he was startled to see her walking through the entrance. Time seemed to stand still as he gazed upon her, lost in a sea of memories and emotions that flooded back all at once. In that moment, all he could see was her, and the world around him faded into insignificance.

Despite the passing months, she retained the captivating beauty that initially drew him in. Standing at his height with a slender frame, she possessed long, dark locks meticulously parted on one side. Her complexion remained fair and velvety, embellished by scattered freckles adding to her allure. Sporting an oval-shaped face adorned with a defined chin and prominent cheekbones, she exuded elegance. Almond-shaped, deep brown eyes accentuated by lush, voluminous lashes held a magnetic charm. A petite, straight nose and full, slightly pouty lips completed her striking features, leaving him mesmerized as ever.

“Myrlene” Viga greeted in a whisper