He left the Land Bird tied to the hitching post outside the church.
He Xi saw Zoya gazing at the veiled emblem above the doorway.
Her violet eyes held a hint of reverence for the emblem, along with a sense of detachment from her surroundings.
Thinking it might have something to do with her faith, He Xi said, "You can wait for us outside."
Zoya nodded softly.
Hulk carried the unconscious Orc Zander on his back, while He Xi stepped forward and gently pushed open the dark wooden door.
As the hinges turned,
a quiet world, seemingly forgotten by time, appeared inside the church.
There were no bright, glaring lights.
Moonlight streamed through the high windows and scattered across the floor.
Flickering candlelight cast warm halos over the stone pillars and walls.
The rest of the space was immersed in a gentle darkness.
But the darkness was not frightening. Instead, it gave He Xi a sense of peace unlike anything he had ever felt.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the empty church.
Even Bruce, usually so lively, quieted his bouncy steps and followed carefully at their feet, as if afraid his paws might make too much noise.
Almost as soon as they stepped into the foyer and stopped, a figure quietly emerged from the shadows to one side.
She was a woman dressed in a gray robe, its fabric soft and unadorned.
Her wide hood concealed most of her face, revealing only the elegant, gentle line of her jaw.
Her gaze first fell on the Orc carried by Hulk and lingered for a moment, then slowly shifted to Hulk and He Xi, before finally sweeping warmly over Bruce, who was panting and looking around curiously.
"May tranquility soothe the weariness of your journey."
He Xi inclined his head in response,