Chapter 217 - TO THE TEMPLE

"How much I missed you snow," Veronica said loudly. "Did you miss me too?"

"…"

Arthur quietly stared at her. He was shocked.

'I was tired of my freedom. I hated being alone. Nothing on this earth could make me happy.'

'When she came into my life, I was happy. For the first time, I wanted to be at home.'

'But that's not what she wanted, did she? She wanted to be free.'

'I tied her up with me.'

'How come she is happy with all this?'

His trail of thoughts went into disarray when he saw Veronica disappear into thin air.

He immediately stood up. He sprinted where she was a few seconds ago.

He looked around but she was nowhere in near sight.

"Where did she go?"

Zinnia caught up with him. She was also surprised.

They were in a higher place, unlike Veronica who was on the lower path.

There was no way she would suddenly disappear without their notice.

Arthur looked up to check on Ironin.

Ironin was visibly surprised. He was standing in a high place and looked in front of the trail to search for Veronica.

However, he saw nothing. Not even footprints.

He looked down and shook his head.

"What in the world…" Zinnia muttered. She had never seen a normal human vanishing like that.

It was like magic.

But she knew that Veronica didn't know magic and even if she did, she couldn't use it while they were inside Utahill's boundary.

Arthur's eyes were chillingly cold.

"I let my guard down. Let's move forward and see if we can find her or not."

Zinnia gestured to Ironin to follow them from above.

Ten minutes later, they ended up at the same spot.

"I'm pretty sure we were here just a few minutes ago," Zinnia pointed out first.

She looked up and saw a confused Ironin. It was the same for him too.

"We are in a maze." Arthur suggested, "Let's leave marks this time."

"Okay."

However, even after leaving several marks, they ended up in the same place again.

Zinnia brushed the snow away from her head and shoulders.

"It's not that we are taking the wrong direction. There is only one road ahead of us. So, why are we ending up in the same place?"

Ironin came down and advised, "Let's go back to the cave and think this through. If what she said was correct, only she and the Saints could see that road."

"That's the only option we are left with," Zinnia agreed.

Arthur pondered before nodding. "Let's head back."

When the other two walked in the direction of the cave, he turned to glance at the road Veronica had left.

He was deeply worried about the unknown place she had headed alone.

Darius was lazing around when those three came back.

He sat up and asked, "Why did you come back so soon?"

"We lost her." Zinnia explained the situation.

Darius pretended to be a wise man and stated, "So, we have to wait here until she comes back."

Ironin put his hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"She knows what she is doing."

"I hope so," Arthur muttered and left.

"What's with him?" Darius inquired.

Zinnia whispered so that Arthur wouldn't hear. "The lover boy feels lonely."

--------

While Arthur was drowning in the ocean called worry, Veronica hummed a song and went in the direction of the temple.

She had a good sense of direction. So, she had no problem finding the right path to the temple.

In no time, she reached in front of the temple.

And, she was at a loss.

"Now what? How am I supposed to open the door?"

She recalled the Head Priest using his staff to open the door. He even mumbled some mantras.

"How am I supposed to know what it was? I don't even have a staff."

She paced from one side to another side.

"Maybe I should try pushing the door."

She pressed both sides of the doors with her palms and pushed with all her might.

An hour later, she was sitting on a stone in front of the temple, panting slightly.

She was exhausted.

"Should I… take a nap?"

She looked at the sky.

The sun was high above her head. Thick clouds were covering the sun.

Sometimes, the sun peeked and then hid behind the clouds. It looked like the sun was playing peek-a-boo with her.

"I'll freeze if I stay here when the sun goes down. I didn't bring wood with me and there is hardly any wood to create fire near. I must get inside before it gets chillier."

She slapped the stone wall.

"Hello? Saint Ava? Are you inside?"

No response.

"Please let me in."

No response.

"Do you want me to die?"

Veronica was getting annoyed.

"I'll bring my husband and let the whole world find out where the Rosemary Temple is, understand?"

No response.

"Argh!"

It was getting darker.

She was hungry.

Thankfully, Arthur packed her two slices of bread and some cheese.

She had a water pouch. The pouch was supposed to keep the hot water warm.

However, it was so cold out here that the water was getting colder.

She had her meal and soaked her throat with water.

After having her stomach fill, she tried to look for a way to open the door.

This time, she was desperate.

A polite request, threatening didn't work.

She had only one option left.

"Saint Ava, please let me in. You don't want your blessed child dying in front of her home, do you?"

She had to plead.

'I can't believe I have to ask for Saint Ava's permission when this is also my home. It's not personal property, woman. It's a religious place that belongs to all Saints and blessed children!'

She was pissed but she couldn't express it.

'I'm sure she can hear my voice. There is nothing that goes without her notice. Especially my movements. Wait…'

Suddenly, she had an idea.

'She always notices me right away when I use healing power. That's how she came to know about my existence in the first place. If I use my healing power right now…'

She looked around to find a sharp object.

It was clear what she was going to do.