The time to return had come. The mountain range had surely been waiting, for her to continue the path to that fateful place.

The injuries Hakro had inflicted on Liv no longer limited her. She had grown stronger from them. She had to thank him when they met the next time. After all, it would be the last time they ever met.

Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn't going to be as soon as expected.

"Look, we have arrived," Inu announced, raising his square jaw with pride.

"I see, oh prideful monk," Liv said as she walked a few more steps up the mountain before it came to sight.

And quite the sight it was.

The temple had been built amid three large, high mountain peaks set close to each other. Even at a time so warm, the mountain peaks were coated in snow. It was hard to see inside the temple since it was surrounded by walls that seemed to be made of large smooth blocks of light-colored stone, but Liv could still see a few rooftops that were made of white tiles. So pristine.

Though Liv had expected as much, having heard so much of it. Well, it was all Inu could talk about the last few weeks since she let a little too much of her thoughts slip while drunk. Since then, they had just acted like it never happened, but now Inu seemed to avoid butting into Liv's life choices.

"Are you ready?" Liv asked.

Inu looked amused. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you?"

"You're teleporting us?"

"Teleporting? We're not going to teleport. Were walk—" Liv interrupted with a snort and jumped at Inu. "Liv. Liv! Stop it, stop it. We're not— Stop!"

Inu screamed like a little girl.

Maybe Liv could've gotten them all the way to the gates of the temple if she concentrated, but it was much more fun this way. The first teleportation got them halfway. And halfway between two mountains meant a very, very steep fall.

Liv looked down as Inu now held onto her for dear life and smiled at certain death. Teleportation maintained momentum among other things like bodily orientation, so she couldn't wait too long. If they started to fall at high speeds and she teleported them to the ground, they would go splat. Some matter manipulation could've saved Liv alone, but she was rather fond of Inu and didn't want him to break. Though, his momentary adaptability was incredible. He even survived that one encounter with the Shadow...

"LIV!"

Liv shook her head with a tired exhale and clasped her hands together again. Space swallowed them and then they were some way from the temple's gates.

They hadn't fallen for long at all in the air and Inu's feet took most of the fall, so Liv was good to go. She gave Inu a grin before turning and starting to make her way to the gates.

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"The blindfold," Inu called out.

Liv sighed and walked back.

"You know, you're awfully good at blindfolding little girls," Liv said as Inu put bandages around her head. She got a little smack to the back of the head for it. "Hey, what the hell? Oh, that's right, you're with that monk shit."

Inu snorted and pushed her a little after he was done. "I've told you, I'm not a monk, Liv."

"Oh, yeah, you just look, talk, eat, walk, sleep, and probably shit like one." Liv gestured wildly before being grabbed by Inu so that he could lead her. "What's your deal with this temple anyway?"

"The head priest is indebted to me."

"You think we can trust him? Is it safe here?"

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't safe. And I do trust the head priest. Do you trust me?"

There was silence. Liv didn't know if Inu was looking at her. Maybe he had his eyes forward, accepting of any answer because that was just the kind of man he was. He never demanded anything someone wouldn't give out of their own free will.

"I do," she replied quietly. Then a bit louder. "I trust you, Inu."

"That puts a smile on my face," Inu spoke what she knew to be the truth as she led her forward. Somehow, she could feel the warmth of his smile. After a while, Inu spoke again. "To elaborate, the Hexa has had no trace of you for a whole moon. They will have either given up or have changed their method of search. And as they previously tracked you like I did—through witnesses and analyzing your movement patterns through the mountains—they will be searching for your hiding spot."

"Hakro Manus spending his free time looking for a girl in caves." Liv laughed.

"They're not looking for you. They're looking for me," Inu said gravely. "They have a base. I was supposed to report there too. Now I've cut contact, so they assume I have changed sides. In other words, they think I've hidden you somewhere, and they're looking for me in places I've visited before. They seek people indebted to me who would be willing to hide even you."

"What? But then this—"

"Don't worry," Inu said lightly. "Nobody knows that I've been to this place. The matters which I dealt with here were rather discreet, so I and the head priest made a pact not to disclose my involvement. So while the Hexa searches for you everywhere village I passed through, they will neglect a place I resided in for many moons."

"Ooh, you're a genius monk now, eh?" Liv could practically feel Inu's exasperated eyes on her. "No, but that's clever of you. Then again, I could've just abandoned the mountains and went another way."

"You would be willing to do that?"

"Not really, no. The plains are more populated. I'd have to travel on foot instead of teleporting since there's nothing to cover me while I jump through the air and a lot of people to see. Then some dirty piece of shit would try putting his hands on me, I'd make him into eight even pieces, and the entire nation would be up my ass."

"I don't like it when you talk like that," Inu commented. "Such vulgarity doesn't suit you."

"That wasn't even vulgar. I forgot to tell you how the fingers go—"

"Halt!" A deep voice from up the wall interrupted.

Liv watched—or more like listened—with vexation as Inu sorted the situation.

"Oh, right, refrain from using my last name whilst we reside here," Inu told Liv as they made their way inside through the large gates.

"Your last name? Oh, it's what you're known for, right."

"Indeed. It was given to me by the King himself."

"And that happened how?"

"I've done a great deal for the people of his country. Aomon stands for 'servant of mankind'. In ancient Stratum before worship—"

"Yeah, thanks," Liv said quickly. "Could you tell me what's going on now? A description would be nice. Not seeing anything is not fun, you know."

"Ah, right." Inu cleared his throat like he was about to announce a decree. "I am leading you through the temple to the building allocated for the head priest. Around us, people go about their daily lives in peace. They do not pay much attention to us. These are men and women who have devoted themselves to serving the gods. They have built a beautiful town, composed of around 50 buildings made of pristine blocks of stone, shaved with perfection in mind. The doors are clean birch wood. The roofs are curved, white tiles. The decorative architecture in the capital pales in comparison. But don't worry. You'll get to see it. We will stay here for a while. For that while, I promise you it will be peaceful."