The priest blinked, clearly caught off guard by the specific request. "A shrine rod? That's not something I hear about often," he said, his voice soft. "Why are you asking about such a thing?"
Jiang glanced at Aylin before answering. "I've been told it's used to deal with spiritual entities. Something dangerous is… following us. I need to know how to confront it."
The priest's face grew serious as he studied Jiang. "You speak of things beyond most people's understanding," he said slowly. "Are you certain this isn't just superstition or fear?"
Jiang shook his head. "No, I'm sure. I've seen it. I'm being followed by something… not of this world."
Aylin remained silent beside him, her gaze fixed on the priest as she watched his reaction carefully.
The priest's brows furrowed, his expression showing concern, but also a hint of doubt. "My child, sometimes fear can cloud our understanding. If you feel something is following you, the best course is to pray. The Lord protects those who seek refuge in Him. Have you prayed for guidance? Perhaps that will ease your heart."
Jiang clenched his fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Praying isn't going to stop this thing," he muttered, his voice more forceful than intended. "She only has 67 hours left. If we don't do something, she's going to die."
The priest blinked, his calm demeanor shaken. He glanced at Aylin, whose face remained stoic but tense, and then back to Jiang. "Sixty-seven hours? What do you mean by that?" His voice carried a hint of urgency now.
Jiang hesitated, unsure how much to explain without sounding crazy, but there was no time to be subtle. "It's complicated, but she's been marked. Something's coming for her, and it won't stop until it takes her. We need something stronger than just prayer."
Aylin blinked, her confusion immediate. "What do you mean 'marked'? That's not what—"
"Shhh," Jiang interrupted, glancing at her awkwardly. "Let me handle this, okay? Just... trust me."
The priest raised an eyebrow, clearly not following the conversation. He scratched his chin, looking between the two of them before offering a gentle but skeptical suggestion. "Perhaps if the situation is that urgent, you might want to visit the police? Or, if it's medical in nature, maybe a doctor?"
Jiang's frustration bubbled to the surface. "No, that's not going to help. We're dealing with something beyond that. I don't have time to explain all the details, but she's in danger—real danger—and we need your help."
Aylin, still frowning, jumped in. "I'm not actually from this world," she said, her voice blunt but serious.
The priest's eyes widened, his expression shifting from mild concern to a more distant wariness. "Another world?" His voice trailed off as he processed her words.
Jiang winced internally, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… that's not helping."
Aylin looked at him, slightly annoyed. "Well, it's true."
The priest blinked, his hands rising slightly in a gesture of surrender. "I… see. This is certainly unusual." He took a slow breath, clearly recalculating how to proceed. "But... what exactly are you asking for?"
Jiang leaned in, his tone more urgent but trying to stay grounded. "We need more info on something called a Priest's shrine rod. It's supposed to help in situations like this. That's what we're looking for."
The priest's brow furrowed deeply, now visibly confused. "A shrine rod? We use those during mass, sure, but they're ceremonial. They don't have powers." He paused, bringing his hands together and letting out a soft sigh. "The Lord has brought me these children... I will go forth without judgment." His voice softened, almost a prayer as he gathered himself. "Come, I'll take you to someone who may understand better than I do."
The priest gestured for them to follow, clearly still puzzled but resigned to helping. Jiang shot a glance at Aylin, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, See? I wasn't wrong.
As they followed the priest down the hallway, Jiang muttered, "Maybe next time, leave the 'other world' stuff out?"
The priest gestured toward a simple waiting room, its walls lined with religious imagery, as he turned to Jiang and Aylin. "Please give it about 10 or 15 minutes. I'll call him down for you," he said, offering a brief nod before leaving the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Jiang leaned back against the chair, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, so we need to keep things… simple," he muttered, glancing at Aylin. "Maybe try not to mention you're from another world again. It freaks people out."
Aylin crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. "I didn't realize telling the truth was such a problem here."
Jiang sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's not about lying. It's about giving them enough to help us without them thinking we're crazy. We need this shrine rod, right? Let's not scare them off before they even help us."
Aylin narrowed her eyes but gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. I'll follow your lead, but if they ask more questions, I'm not going to sugarcoat it."
Jiang chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, just... less otherworldly details, okay?"
Suddenly, Aylin leaned forward, grabbing Jiang's collar and pulling him toward her. "Hey, what—"