He was blinded. There seemed to be a silk bandage around his eyes that blinded him, causing him to fall into a sinful world. If he had realised this earlier, the fall into sin could have been avoided. The black-clad man knelt, folding his hands in front of him in a gesture that had become all too familiar in recent years. Yoo Joonghyuk prayed that his sins would be forgiven. All his sinful thoughts were not comforted, instead they only came back with more power.

To put the god's chosen king on the throne higher than the creator himself. The very thought of it was unforgivable, wild and ringing in his ears. The candles fluttered in the breeze as the man prayed.

"Merciful God, grant your servant forgiveness and release from mind-destroying thoughts," his voice boomed in the silent temple, rippling through the walls, dissolving into silence.

Joonghyuk raised his eyes to the image of the god who was looking into his soul. The man knew he had committed a betrayal of his ideals and faith. He seemed to let go of those destructive, obscene thoughts of the priest.

But it was as if the devil was laughing at his attempts to return to the Almighty. The heavy doors of the church opened, letting in a man in snow-white robes, hidden beneath a fur cloak. He knew who it was without turning round. The king of their prosperous kingdom, who had come for a blessing for the coming battle. What if Kim Dokja died?

The man rises from his knees to meet the king's unreadable gaze.

"Have you come for a blessing?" His voice shatters the silence