Unaware of Rick's thoughts, Lana arrived at one of the public temples.
It was a Roman-style temple. A few Lunacite stone steps glimmered under the sunlight, creating the illusion that the stone itself was a type of precious metal.
Walking inside, a row of towering pillars came into view. Even though it was mid-afternoon, the air inside was comfortably cool.
Few passersby pointed in Lana's direction, while some whispered.
The occurrence of a beautiful pale-skinned young lady with delicate features, swaying silver hair, and sapphire-like eyes, coupled with the black crow with shiny black feathers perched on the young lady's shoulder... was unique and attention-grabbing.
A breeze brushed past Lana, calming her tensed mind, and Mr. Crow, perched on Lana's shoulder, paused.
Previously, the slight tremble in Lana's body seemed subtle and unnoticeable, but now that she had calmed down, he appeared to notice it.
'Hm... why does her body shake sometimes? She wants to throw me off her shoulders? Or does she want to test my reaction speed? What a vicious woman.'
Lana crossed the deep passage, and, ignoring the few passersby with their unique mists, she reached in front of God Nytheris's statue.
A hooded figure with her arms stretched outwards, a few strands of light shone at the edge of her cloak, giving the illusion that the statue itself was alive.
Clasping her hand, Lana slowly knelt and muttered under her breath,
"God Nytheris, I am eternally grateful for this second chance! I will worship you going forward; please look after me."
With that, she bowed her head three times. After worshipping her, she stood up, and Mr. Crow, who had flown away the moment Lana knelt, returned to her shoulders.
Wiping off the slight dust from her cold knees, her eyes surveyed the surroundings in the hopes of finding a priest.
Soon, a nearby conversation drew her attention.
"Monk Anaro, what should I do? I don't think he has been possessed; however, sometimes he indeed acts possessed." A woman with curly black hair and pale skin, wearing a blue body-con dress and an expensive leather bag in one of her hands, stared at Monk Anaro.
The monk, dressed in an orange robe, his long, shiny white beard almost reaching his chest, showed a deep expression.
An old man nearing his mid-seventies, his tall stature was creating a faint shadow on the ground, as if reflecting the depth of darkness he had seen in his entire life.
'Wow... a typical monk straight out of some movie.' Lana wondered in her mind while her silver hair swayed due to the gentle breeze.
As if sensing her gaze, the monk looked in her direction, and in an instant, his eyes lit up as if thousands of candles were glowing in the night.
'Sh*t... my senses are telling me... someone is going to dump their work on me.'
"Miss silver hair, I request you to come near us." His voice wasn't loud or authoritative; instead, it carried gentle persuasion.
"Eh? Me?" Lana pointed at herself, and Mr. Crow frowned when Lana's body started to shake a little.
'What a timid person? Is she scared even of a monk?'
"Yes." Monk Anaro nodded, a smile stretched on his face.
Thinking about her goal, she dragged her feet like a child forced to go to school. Once near the monk, the tension in Lana's body dissipated.
"Child, correct me if I am wrong. You are a mystic cultivator, right?"
At his words, Lana could feel a pair of eyes staring at her with burning intensity. With a huge fake smile plastered on her face, she replied,
"You are correct, Monk Anaro. However, I have just started my cultivation, so I don't know how I can help you."
So... please don't think of dropping any case on me.
Monk Anaro laughed heartily; his white beard swayed, while his eyes almost narrowed into slits.
"I know. However, by tomorrow, you will be ready to take this lady's case. I know you want to stay in this temple, and I also know the turmoil and restlessness in your heart, which is corroding your soul. I approve your stay, as long as you visit this lady's house tomorrow."
'What turmoil and restlessness?' Mr. Crow rolled his eyes. 'This monk is a scammer...eh? Why is Lana's heart beating so rapidly?'
Thump. Thump.
The background seemed to have stilled into nothingness, while cold beads of sweat formed on her head, and suddenly Lana laughed.
"Monk Anaro, your jokes are truly funny! But since you can let me stay in the temple, I will visit this lady's home."
'Are you crazy? You aren't even at Black Rank! Do you want to die?' Mr. Crow shouted in his heart, his leg tightly clamped on Lana's shoulders.
After forming a bond, Lana could hear Mr. Crow's inner thoughts, and she, too, could do so. It might have become an invasion of privacy if it weren't for the control each of them had.
They can choose to hide their thoughts or say them aloud, while the other party can't put any pressure on the first party or use force to peek into theirs.