Prisoner of the Sun Temple
Jin-cheol opened his closed eyes and gazed out the window. The streets of Siol, sparkling under last night's dark sky, were sinking into silence. The ink-black heavens slowly took on the hues of a parched dawn, and with the city lights extinguished, Siol grew darker than the dead of night. That pre-dawn stillness and chilly gray seemed to haze even the boarding house window.
"...The night's so damn long it's dragged in the dawn."
Jin-cheol let out a dry chuckle and turned his head. There was Udim, lying on the bed. His chest rose and fell steadily with each breath. From what Jin-cheol could tell, the external bleeding had stopped, but consciousness hadn't returned yet.
After watching Udim for a moment, Jin-cheol moved to fetch some water. The instant his hand closed on the doorknob, Udim's lips parted in a faint whisper.
"...Jin-cheol."
Jin-cheol rushed back to his side. He watched those sunken eyes slowly flutter open.
"You awake?"
Udim's dazed pupils fixed on Jin-cheol.
"...Teacher Parm. Dangerous."
"You almost fucking died yourself—doesn't that register? Start from the top: what's the situation?"
Udim blinked vacantly at Jin-cheol's words. Consciousness was returning, and his mind seemed to be clearing. Jin-cheol waited patiently, and soon Udim's mouth opened.
"...Got back to the lodging. Message came. Move up tomorrow morning's meeting to now."
"Who from? That historian Bildo Bell?"
"Right. His servant showed up. Said move it up, meet tonight."
Tonight—which meant last night now. While Jin-cheol had been scrapping in back alleys and main drags, Teacher Parm and Udim had been busy too.
"So you went?"
"Did. Teacher Parm said refusing the invite meant no future meetings. Rich, famous scholars are mostly eccentric..."
Udim's gloomy face twisted faintly, as if reliving last night.
"Followed the servant to meet the scholar... something off. Mansion too quiet... no signs of life. Took the lead halfway in. Entered the meeting room—smelled blood. Baika corpse there."
"That the Bildo guy?"
Udim blinked up at the ceiling.
"Don't know. Never seen the scholar's face. But Teacher Parm recognized him, panicked... probably was. Anyway, teacher and I tried to bolt from the scene... then the vanished servant blocked the path. Esai behind him. Said they came on a tip... Polite at first to teacher and me, but body found—attitude flipped."
"Noble house Esai?"
"Seemed like. No... different. Not like the Antela Esai from the ship. Clothes, demeanor... off... strange Esai..."
Jin-cheol scratched his eyebrow with his thumb. Top theory: that shadowy group wiping human traces caught wind of Parm's digging and hit first. But Bildo? Why kill him? Same side, no?
Udim pressed on.
"Esai found the body, demanded we come along... Teacher Parm asked where. Sun Temple, they said. Teacher whispered to me: run. Non-Esai enters Sun Temple only as prisoner..."
"Servant most suspicious, right? But they grabbed you and teacher first?"
"Servant caught first..."
"...?"
The hell? Nabbed together? Usually the slippery bastard slips away in shit like this.
"Esai and him same side? Show for form's sake?"
"Servant tried fleeing—legs hacked off. Strange Esai polite start, then whip from waist... turned inhuman cold. No smoke bomb from Teacher Parm, I'd be dead."
"...You saw Teacher Parm alive, hauled off?"
He nodded.
"Flew on hover planks. Loaded legless servant and teacher, shot toward Sun Temple. Confirmed that, came to you..."
"You dumbass, dying? Hit a doc, not drag your ass to me. Without Parm's gadget, I'd have watched you bleed out helpless."
Udim's eyes swung back to Jin-cheol.
"In Siol, only you I'd trust to save teacher, Jin-cheol. Had to pass the word even if I died. I'm free out here; he's locked as prisoner. Needs help. That's what friends do—I learned that."
Those sunken eyes bored into Jin-cheol. The buzzcut gorilla who'd slice thigh meat for a starving buddy. Not just talk, apparently.
Jin-cheol held the deep gaze, then cracked a small smile.
"...Yeah. Good call. Let's bust teacher out."
Jin-cheol held out his palm. Udim gripped it firmly and hauled his upper body up.
Jin-cheol blinked in surprise—he hadn't planned to help him stand.
"What the— you good?"
"Dizzy, but fine. Can't lie here blind on teacher's situation."
Jin-cheol snorted a laugh, shaking his head gently. Tell the other tough-guy Olrogs to shut up and stay down. Who's the real Olrog here? This guy's it.
Eyeing Udim rise from the bed, Jin-cheol fetched a loose hood from the wardrobe and tossed it over.
"Cover up at least. No clue the heat out there. Esai warriors might be swarming for you."
"Ah, got it."
Jin-cheol stepped out of the boarding house, armed as he'd prepped last night. Udim followed, head wrapped tight in cloth.
The landlady still slept.
*
Jin-cheol led Udim through Siol's back alleys, avoiding main streets. As discussed, unknown Esai identities who'd snagged teacher for Sun Temple screamed noble house. Strutting openly risky.
Siol's paths tangled like a spiderweb. Two months prowling corners, Jin-cheol didn't know every inch. Luck held—this route familiar.
"Where we headed?"
Udim spoke up softly from behind as the alley ended at a broad plaza.
Jin-cheol cut across, terse.
"Just follow."
Exiting the alley, Jin-cheol bee-lined for a squat building on one side. Low-rise compared to plaza giants, but spacious inside. The eatery where he'd first hit Siol.
Central pillar: pay, get food. Meal Wall.
Inside, Jin-cheol scanned from the entrance. Spotted his mark, strode over. Udim trailed, peeking through his scant eye-slit.
The lone diner at the table looked up, waving warmly.
"Oh, Jin-cheol! Grabbing a bite?"
Jin-cheol waved back. Antela warrior—no, now apprentice—Morel. Silver breastplate swapped for crisp uniform.
Jin-cheol slid into the opposite seat casually.
"Remember Teacher Parm?"
Morel blinked at the abrupt opener, then nodded.
"Uh? Yeah. Saved sis's life. Why? He back in Siol?"
"Yep. Arrived yesterday."
Morel lit up.
"Damn! Wasting time here while my benefactor's in town! Where? Gotta see him now. Tell sis too—she'll wanna meet."
"Came 'cause you'd know."
"...?"
Morel blinked. Spotted Udim plop down beside Jin-cheol, gawking between them.
Jin-cheol murmured low.
"Teacher's inside Sun Temple now."
Morel's face hardened. Dazed eyes sharpened to blades.
"...What?"
"Last night, nabbed by some Esai. Framed for murder."
"The fuck?"
Morel's eyes darted, baffled.
"...Framed? Explain."
Jin-cheol glanced at Udim. Udim lowered his face-cloth slightly, exposing more.
"Not sure if we trust him. Esai took teacher."
Before Jin-cheol could chime, Morel spoke quietly.
"Peran sis saved me. Teacher Parm saved her life. That ties sis's life, his, and mine equal. So even if he's truly guilty, I'll do everything to save him—with the heart that saved me. Get it, Udim?"
Udim nodded slowly after Morel's piece. Jin-cheol eyed him surprised. Remembers Udim? You're not what you seem either...
Udim's tale flowed; Morel listened gravely. Long silence, then curt.
"Wait here. Antela turf—no other house warriors. Safe. I'll scout inside."
He left without waiting.
He returned as Udim polished off seven plates of grilled meat from the Meal Wall, fetching an eighth.
"Jin-cheol."
Not alone. Peran with him, nodding greeting.
"No time for hellos despite forever. Your story checks. Teacher jailed in temple prison for murdering historian Bildo Bell. Happened at dawn; those insular types grabbed him—I only learned digging."
Jin-cheol returned the nod, skipping pleasantries.
"Can we see him?"
"No. Didn't get face-time myself."
"Who grabbed him? Rival Esai house?"
Peran shook her head.
"No clan names. Devoted solely to Sun Doctrine and temple will—renounced bloodlines. Called temple warriors, Sun Doctrine adepts."
Jin-cheol recalled Morel's old warning: blaspheme, they hassle you. Never crossed those alley lurkers.
"Tip yesterday dispatched them. Report of Sun blasphemy rite. Found Bildo's body and teacher instead—nabbed on spot."
"Historian's servant caught too. Shady fucker— what's his status?"
"Couldn't confirm. Sorry, Jin-cheol, but it's not just temple warriors."
Jin-cheol eyed her—what? Peran, face taut with fear, pressed on.
"Problem: Kasian heads this."
"...Who's that?"
How the hell should I know, lady?
Peran hesitated, words careful—dread of Kasian or his rank?
Finally, slow.
"...Kasian's fanatical Sun Doctrine zealot, pushes purging Siol of 'corrupt unbelievers' and heretics. Blames decay on non-doctrine degenerate citizens, openly. Wants Mayor Lesandorf—citizen rep—dragged down, hanged in plaza. High temple warrior rank shields him... but beef with mayor's no secret."
Religion nut now? Jin-cheol grimaced inwardly as Peran rubbed her eyes, continuing.
"Hates other races, especially Baika like Mayor Lesandorf. How's he treat teacher? Baika murder suspect?"
"...Antela pull him out?"
"Kasian won't yield. No fear of Antela rep. He'd attack our whole house for defending unbeliever. So..."
Peran met Jin-cheol's eyes.
"...We sneak teacher out ourselves. Before Kasian hangs him."