Temple of the Promised - Courtyard, Next Morning
The preparation had taken longer than expected—not because of physical requirements but because saying farewell to place that had become home required acknowledging that they might never return. The monastery had sheltered them, trained them, provided refuge when enemies pursued and healing when injuries should have been fatal. Leaving felt like severing connection to only stability any of them had known in recent memory.
John stood in the courtyard where he'd first arrived months ago—exhausted, wounded, carrying Kiran's unconscious form and wondering whether the monks would offer sanctuary or turn them away as too dangerous to harbor. The memories felt distant despite relatively short time passage, belonging to person he'd been before understanding the scope of what he'd become entangled with.
