CHAPTER 56: CH 56: AM I BEING FRAMED?- PART 1

’This isn’t over. I can feel it.’

A sudden voice cut through the murmurs.

"Stop where you are!"

Kana jumped. Her stomach churned. She instinctively clutched Evaya’s sleeve tighter; panic seeped into her chest like ice water.

Evaya turned slowly, eyes narrowing as she faced the guard who’d called them back. He was unfamiliar—tall, rigid, with a cloak pinned neatly at his throat.

His gaze flicked to Kana, something colder than disapproval glittering in his eyes.

"Is this your room?"

The guard asked, voice clipped.

Evaya’s tone stayed even.

"Not mine. Hers. But you can verify—we’ve been away for at least an hour. The acolytes and recordings can confirm it. High Priestess Jenna escorted us personally. We’re not involved."

She replied, nodding toward Kana.

The guard shifted under her gaze, but the tension in the air only grew.

"We must detain her for questioning. Because of the circumstances."

He said. Kana’s breath caught.

’Circumstance?’

Her heart hammered. A tight knot coiled in her throat.

Evaya stepped forward.

"You have no grounds. You can’t detain her without evidence."

The guard’s hand moved—not frighteningly fast, but enough.

"I’m within protocol."

Kana braced herself.

The guard’s hand swung closer to her shoulder. Kana’s muscles tensed—and then she acted. Faster than she’d intended.

Her fingers clamped on his wrist, unwavering even as the pressure crept in. A quiet crack echoed in her bones.

The guard’s face went from arrogance to shock in an instant as he collapsed to his knees, wincing.

"What the—!"

Kana frowned, startled by her own strength. Her palm tingled with residual warmth. She loosened her grip as the guard gasped.

Evaya’s eyes widened, though she remained silent.

Other guards froze. One muttered concern. A senior officer—the tension visibly draining from his shoulders—pushed through the crowd.

The tense guard hissed, cradling his wrist.

"She attacked me."

Evaya raised her chin.

"He tried to manhandle her—without cause."

The senior officer stepped forward, brows furrowed.

"Enough. This disturbance ends now."

He looked from Kana to Evaya. His posture softened.

"I apologize for the behavior of one overzealous guard."

Another guard stepped beside him and gently supported the injured officer.

"He’ll face disciplinary measures. Let’s move on."

Despite the sharp tension in the air, no one rushed forward. The guard glared at Kana one last time before being led away. His eyes were full of furious regret.

Evaya turned toward Kana, concern etched in every line of her face.

"Are you all right?"

Kana drew a ragged breath. Alive. She nodded, exhaling slowly.

"I... yes. I’m good."

Evaya scanned her, checking carefully.

"That man... he wasn’t just following protocol."

Kana shook her head, jaw tight.

"No. He wanted something from me."

Evaya clasped her umbrella case and offered her arm.

"Let’s go. We’ll move through the less chaotic halls."

As they turned away, a low hum lingered behind them—the temple atmosphere shifted, but not dissipated. Anxiety trailed in their steps.

’I was nearly arrested...Or worse.’

Kana thought, chilling again.

Evaya guided her quietly down dimmer corridors, away from the guards and crowd. Lamps flickered overhead, ancient wards inscribed in silver faintly glowing on the archways.

Kana’s senses buzzed with lingering adrenaline. Her mind circled back to one thought.

’If I hadn’t managed to react...’

They reached a large oak door—plain but fortified, leading to the guest suite.

Evaya paused and offered Kana a faint nod.

"Stay close. We’ll need to notify the High Priestess."

She murmured, voice low.

Kana nodded, her pulse slow but steady now. Her gaze flicked back once, toward the hallway where the chaos had erupted—and she shivered.

A whisper of warning lingered in her mind.

As they entered the room, the door closing softly behind them, Evaya locked it with a ritual charm. Kana’s chest loosened slightly and she let out her breath.

Evaya crossed the room and closed the curtains, dimming the space. She offered Kana a seat, then stood facing her.

Once inside, Kana sank onto the bed. Her mind replayed the scene.

’A false arrest. A planted guard. A nearly forced detainment. Ruby’s warning had meant everything.’

Evaya remained silent for a moment, then spoke carefully.

"That guard... he wasn’t protecting temple property. He was making you the culprit."

Kana looked up, and the exhaustion in her eyes flickered.

"I know."

Evaya exhaled.

"We’ll let the High Priestess know. I don’t know what motivated him—if he had orders, or just the wrong idea—but he crossed a line."

Kana stared at the door, heart still heavy.

Evaya added softly:

"You did well."

Kana let out a hollow laugh.

"Did I?"

"You controlled everything. No accident tonight. No regret."

Evaya replied.

In the near-silent room, with only incense drifting through the air, Kana closed her eyes.

She felt safe.

For now.

Kana walked silently through the temple corridors, her footsteps muted against the polished stone floor.

The echoes of the earlier incident still pulsed in her ears, but it wasn’t just that. Her instincts hadn’t calmed—if anything, they’d only grown sharper. Like a taut string, stretched further with every step.

She reached her room, hand hovering near the doorknob.

But her feet didn’t move.

She stood still, eyes fixed on the door, a cold knot coiling in her gut. Something was wrong. She didn’t know what. But she felt it. Deep, primal, and echoing from somewhere she couldn’t name.

Evaya, who had been walking a few steps behind, came to a halt as well.

"Kana? What is it?"

Her voice was soft, edged with concern.

Kana hesitated, then turned slightly toward her.

"I don’t know. But something’s not right. I don’t feel safe going in there."

She murmured.

Evaya didn’t respond immediately. She studied Kana for a moment, her gaze unreadable. Then she let out a slow sigh.

"I thought you might say something like that. Your instincts aren’t something I want to second-guess, not after tonight."

She said, brushing a hand through her bangs.

Kana blinked.

"So...?"

"You’re staying in my wing. High Priestess Jenna’s there too. We’ll set up a space for you. Just for tonight. Until we’re sure everything’s fine."

Evaya added quickly, though her voice was firm.

Relief bloomed in Kana’s chest, but it was a quiet, wary kind. She gave a small nod.

"Thank you."

Evaya turned on her heel.

"Come on. The sooner you’re out of this corridor, the better."

Kana glanced at her room one last time.

The door looked unchanged. Harmless.

But her body said otherwise.

She didn’t argue.

She followed Evaya down the corridor, the heavy silence around them broken only by the distant flicker of temple torches.

And though the fear hadn’t faded, knowing she wouldn’t be alone tonight made it easier to breathe.

Just a little.

They passed another pair of guards as they turned the corner. Evaya gave them a curt nod, and they stepped aside without question.

Kana kept her head low, hood pulled up again. The further they walked, the more the pressure in her chest began to ease—though only slightly.

Evaya led her past the central hall and toward a quieter part of the temple.

"No one comes here without clearance. You’ll be safe."

She said.

Kana gave a small, grateful hum in response.

Still, her fingers curled tightly in her sleeves. Because even with protection... something still didn’t feel right.

___

Unfortunately, I’ll need to shift to doing 2 ch/ day instead of 3 before I injure my wrist. Please don’t feel worried because I will return with 3 ch/ day soon...hopefully.