There were maybe 7 to 8 men behind them. Iris had noticed their presence long ago. They hid in the darkness of the trees and walls, away from the light of the streetlamps. She got ready to shoot, but someone stepped out.

In his ornate robes and decked out in jewellery, it was obvious that he was different from the rest. His beard as long as his forearm, and face wrinkled. If he wasn’t dressed so out of place, he could have been mistaken as a grandfather or an uncle.

“I would not recommend you step one foot inside the Raschem temple,” he said.

“Don’t listen to strangers that don’t even bother to introduce themselves,” Francis whispered.

“Fine. Emperor Rayleigh, I am Adrech-bin-Voldin, head priest of the Ashraiin faith.”

“State your purpose.”

“Your Majesty, you are under arrest for violations of the 16th and 23rd commandments of our faith.”

“I’m not familiar with the stone tablets of your religion. Speak in layman terms, Adrech.”

“It's both, probably. Should I just go with Frances now, or do you think you can get us into the temple safely?” Francis asked.

“Depending on what he does. For now, just back away slowly.”

Francis stepped back, and Iris maintained her defensive position. The head priest waved his empty hands. With a slight nod, he started speaking again.

“It would leave a stain on our faith if sinners go unpunished.”

“Sounds a lot like your problem and not mine.”

“Indeed is my problem. And thus, it is also my right to get rid of that problem.”

Iris glanced at the priest. Even unarmed, he could still cast magic. And that was speaking nothing of the men that surrounded them.

“The 16th and 23rd commandments, simply speaking, are rules that every living being must follow. The first, states that any relationship between two people of the same kind is forbidden. The second dictates that we must all follow the will of society and conform. You are in violation of both of them.”

“Uh-huh. Sure, sure. And what evidence do you have to arrest me?”

“Your Majesty, it is evident that you are unaware of our customs. And besides, as a suspect, you do not have a right to ask questions like that.”

“Hm. And I suppose I will stand before a jury who will trial me for my sins?”

“A jury? No, no. None of that nonsense. I will be the one presiding over it.”

“What about evidence?”

“I suppose Your Majesty is also familiar with fabricating evidence?”

“Fuck.”

“Fran? What’s going on?”

“Can any of you contact Edmond Ren, right now.”

“The Minister of War probably has direct contact with the Holy Knight. Why?” Haein replied.

“Fine. Pass this message along. Tell him to contact the head priest immediately, and that I support their decision for a holy war.”

“You can’t be serious. There’s no holy land for you to take,” Iris could hear Hye-Sung sigh.

“She has a point. But, I agree that starting a holy war is our best option.”

“The two of you have different reasons for that,” Iris interjected. “And yet it serves you two well. Your Majesty Haein, I think Friaren will attack.”

“A holy war would actually work out quite nicely. That locks Friaren out from attacking us. And your reason...” Haein sighed. “Fran?”

“I’m being persecuted by some archaic religious bullshit. The Fourth Prince is behind it, but I’ll deal with this.”

Iris nodded in agreement, though they couldn’t see it. They were close to temple grounds, but it seemed like Francis had a different idea. For a while now, he stopped moving back. Iris stared straight at him. He briefly made eye contact.

“Why did you stop?” Iris asked.

“Do you trust me?”

“In a sense. Why?”

“I’ll let myself get arrested to delay them. In the meantime, I need you to stay with me as a witness.”

“What do you plan on doing?”

“That’s a good question. I have an idea on how to destroy both Friaren and Loyra at the same time, but it’s difficult. In the first place, I can’t be in two places at the same time.”

“What’s going on?” Hye-Sung asked.

“Ah, just thinking about stuff. I need to be in two places at once.”

“Hmmm. What are you planning?”

“I wanna crash their economy. They’re using the silver standard.”

“Now you’re sounding like a mafia leader. Destroy their income.”

“Any ideas? I can’t be in jail here and working there.”

“Hey, you’re the one that dated a mafia boss here. What would she do?”

She wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to interject. For one, that seemed highly over the top just as a preventive measure. Iris didn’t know the extent that crashing two economies would do, but it would wreak havoc. Especially amongst the poor. And secondly, using advice from a gang leader probably wasn’t the best way.

“Hmm. She’d probably say something like ‘The family will figure it out, together.’ Ah, nevermind. I realise what I need to do.”

“You have a gang?”

“No, but I have a family.”

As Francis went in depth with his plan, Iris stopped paying attention. The people standing in front of her were much more important at the moment. The head priest chuckled and moved towards him. She wasn’t quite sure what to do in the situation.

“It is good that you know your place, Your Majesty. Now, without resistance.”

“What? No, of course not.”

There was a faint click. For quite a while now, the head priest’s vein in his forehead had been bulging out. Old age did not treat him that well, apparently.

“I’ll let him rough me up a little bit. Iris, I don’t think you’ll get taken in.”

“I really do wish you’d make it easier for us.”

The men began running. But a single confident look from Francis told her to stand her ground. Her body was halfway through the motions of defensive action. The emperor got tackled down onto the ground, kicking up a minor dust storm. Adrech loomed over him. Iris couldn’t quite react in time. It seemed familiar somehow. Had she seen it in one of her previous lives?

His fingers were coated with a strange sort of magic. It wasn’t normal. He didn’t attack attack, but he definitely screwed with something. There was no hole in his head, not visible wounds. Still, Iris prepared for a fight. Adrech raised a hand.

“Young Lady, there is no need to worry. He’ll come around to us in a while.”

“What the hell did you just do?”

“Relax, will you? It’s just a spiritual and mental trick.”

“I don’t buy it.”

“You don’t need to. Just know that soon enough, he’ll be cooperative.”

“Elaborate.”

“No more arguments from him. No more annoying resistance.”