Protector from Afar ✔️

Chapter 37 - Touch him and die!

Chapter 37

Touch him and die!

The boat crashed against the jetty with a dull thud and the momentum caused it to drift away again, revealing the underside of it; a green algae landscape had spread out there, the water lapped up and licked over it with a wet tongue. Sidra rammed her stick into the ground and pushed the boat back onto the jetty.

The air was dry and did my nose no favors, together with the mercilessly burning sun and the whirling sand crumbs, as the three of us walked through the harbor, it all resulted in a sensory hell. I almost missed snowy and windswept Seoul. No comparison to this; dusty streets, simple buildings - probably mud buildings, but decorated with colorful cloths - animals roaming freely and leaving their droppings - nobody seemed to mind, people just stepped over them - and busy chatter that immediately died down and was replaced by curious glances as soon as they saw the tall woman named Sidra and the two figures behind her, who were obviously struggling to keep up.

I kept my head down and hugged my coat to my chest. Again, I had to get used to the sword in full view and how it dangled there on my hip.

Sidra slowed down, I looked up and caught her eye. "Forgive me, I'm usually the one running after others," she said with a smile.

We continued on our way, now a little slower. Jeongin walked to my left. My hand searched for his, I stroked his wrist with my thumb; as if I was asking permission to hold it. Jeongin's hand jerked away and disappeared into his pocket. I blinked in surprise, but didn't try again.

"What kind of job do you have that requires running after people?" I asked Sidra, looking at her.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "It's been a while since anyone asked me that. In short, I work very closely with the local ruling couple. My area of ​​responsibility is varied and as much as I would like to go into it in more detail, unfortunately we don't have enough time for that."

We stopped in front of a house, the door was open and in front of it were scraps of fabric spread out, some pushed together and buried under piles of sand.

"Before I take a step in there, tell me where you're taking us."

"To the ruling couple. I have to introduce them to every newcomer, especially if they're not from here."

There was a heavy silence. I caught Jeongin's gaze.
Jeongin's eyes; usually long, thin and cat-like, typical in color and shape for his ethnic background. They looked at me so differently now. The chestnut brown had given way to a turquoise-green and the pupil - previously round - was now diamond-shaped.

I nodded to Sidra and then she went ahead, we followed her silently into the house. Inside it was noticeably cooler, really pleasant, and a heavy scent that reminded me of patchouli hung in the low room. A floor-to-ceiling, gold-framed mirror leaned against the wall. Sidra motioned for us to stop in front of it and when I saw myself in the reflection, I held my breath in surprise; my eyes were fire; an intense, sharp burning red and in the middle the pupil, the same shape as Jeongin's.

His silence worried me.

Sidra tapped the glass with a finger and waves rolled over it, like a stone dropped into the water. The mirror seemed alive.

"This is the quickest way to the temple," explained Sidra, standing next to the mirror. "When you step in front of the ruling couple, please put down your weapons. On the ground in front of you is enough."