Once Kana and Irielle had left the square, the air seemed to settle into a strange stillness.
The faint smell of scorched stone and burnt incense lingered, clinging to the fractured pillars and the cracked tiles.
High Priestess Jenna stood in the center of it all, her white robes still smudged with ash and traces of the earlier fight.
She exhaled softly before turning to Evaya.
"Evaya, see to it that this place is cleaned up. We cannot leave it in this state."
Evaya gave a firm nod and moved to direct the remaining temple attendants.
The sound of shifting debris and soft footfalls filled the area as they began clearing the fallen stones, sweeping away splintered wood, and covering the bodies that had yet to be removed.
It was during this quiet work that the heavy, steady steps of new arrivals echoed across the courtyard.
A small party approached—armored, disciplined, and led by an older woman with sharp eyes and silver threading through her dark hair.
