Watching Asia disappear down the side street, a cold knot of certainty tightened in my stomach. Sending her to that church alone felt like leading a lamb to the slaughter. My initial plan had been to observe, to stay in the shadows until the last possible moment. But that was the plan of a strategist, not a human being. Seeing her vulnerability up close, the sheer, naive trust in her eyes, changed the calculus.
*This is a mistake. I can't just let her walk in there blind.*
The decision was made in an instant. I quickened my pace, catching up to her just as she was struggling to heft her small travel bag over a cracked section of pavement.
"Wait," I called out, switching back to English.
She turned, surprise and a flicker of recognition lighting up her features. "Oh! It's you again. The kind person."
"That bag looks heavy," I said, gesturing to her luggage. "The church is still a bit of a walk. Let me help you."
Her blush was immediate and bright. "Oh, no! I couldn't possibly trouble you further—"
"It's no trouble," I interrupted gently, already reaching for the bag's handle. Our fingers brushed briefly, and a faint, warm tingle—the echo of her holy power against my demonic nature—passed between us. She didn't seem to notice, but it was a stark reminder of the chasm between us. I took the bag; it was indeed heavier than it looked.
"Thank you," she murmured, her gratitude palpable. "You are too kind."
We walked in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the distant city noise and our footsteps on the pavement. I could feel the oppressive energy of the abandoned church growing closer, a dark stain on the horizon of my senses. My newly purchased Combat Intuition was a live wire, the ambient malice of the place making the back of my neck prickle. Raynare was there. Waiting.
Then, a small, traitorous sound broke the quiet.
*Grrrrrrrrrumble.*
It came from Asia's stomach. She froze mid-step, her entire face flushing a deep, mortified crimson. She clutched her abdomen as if she could silence it by force. "I-I'm so sorry!" she stammered, looking ready to cry from embarrassment. "I... I haven't eaten since yesterday. The travel, and... I'm so sorry."
This was it. An opening. A chance to delay the inevitable, to feed her and gather more information.
"Don't be sorry," I said, my tone matter-of-fact. "You can't go to your new home on an empty stomach. Come on. There's a decent ramen shop nearby. My treat."
Her eyes went wide. "But... the church... I mustn't impose..."
"The church has been empty for years. It will still be there in thirty minutes," I stated, layering my voice with a calm finality that brooked no argument. "You need to eat."
The conflict between her hunger, her manners, and her mission warred on her face for a moment before hunger and kindness won out. She gave a small, hesitant nod. "Thank you. You are... a true blessing."
The ramen shop was a small, homely place tucked away from the main street. Over steaming bowls of rich, pork broth and noodles, she began to open up. She spoke of her journey from Italy, her exile from the church for the "sin" of healing a injured kitten with her sacred gear, her voice trembling with a sadness that made my chest ache. She was so utterly alone, cast out for a act of pure compassion.
"I was told there were sisters here who would understand," she said softly, stirring her noodles. "Sister Raynare... she found me online. She said I would have a place here."
The name was like a splash of ice water. I kept my expression neutral, a feat that required every ounce of my control. "I see," I said, my voice even. "I hope they are everything you're looking for."
Inside, my mind was racing. Raynare had already established contact, weaving her web. The trap was fully set.
After she finished every last drop of broth, expressing her gratitude profusely, we resumed our walk. The closer we got to the church, the darker the atmosphere felt. The air grew still and cold. The playful hum of my Combat Intuition sharpened into a silent, screaming alarm.
We stopped before the old, dilapidated building. Vines choked the stone walls, and one of the stained-glass windows was cracked.
"This is it," Asia whispered, a mix of hope and trepidation in her voice. She took her bag from me. "Thank you... for everything. For the directions, for carrying my bag, for the food. May God bless you."
"Be careful in there, Asia," I said, putting as much weight into the words as I dared. Our eyes met, and for a second, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her green gaze. Then, she smiled bravely, turned, and pushed open the heavy wooden door, disappearing into the gloom.
I didn't leave. I melted into the shadows of a building across the street, my enhanced senses locked onto the church. I could feel two presences inside now. Asia's, a flickering candle flame of light and hope.
And the other... a coiled, cruel darkness, sharp and hungry.
The wait was over. The confrontation was imminent. My body was tense, every muscle ready, my mind clear and focused. I had given her a moment of peace, a full stomach, and a memory of kindness.
Now, I had to be ready to give her a future.