"The temple of flames and their pope."

Ashley mumbled hearing Corey's words which was spoken in a cold tone but with an indifferent expression.

She was at first shaken by the frigid coldness in his tone, but a few seconds later, numerous thoughts passed through her mind as she thought of everything she knew about the temple of flames and their pope.

Some seconds later, she raised her head, then spoke:

"I really don't know much about the temple of flames, but what I do know is that they have merchants all over the world. No other foreign force has as many merchants like the temple of flames.

As for the pope, I don't know anything since I was not interested in him."

A hint of disappointment appeared in Corey's eyes hearing Ashley's words.

He released a soft sigh, pushing his disappointment away then he looked down, a contemplative light in his eyes.

"Assuming my family was strong or important enough, I would have said you can come to my family to keep you safe from the temple of flames."

Ashley seeing Corey contemplative state, spoke causing Corey to glance at her.

"Your family?... How powerful is your family by the way? What's your story? Your background?"

Concerning Ashley's background, he wasn't overly curious before since his mind was currently on how to leave the territory controlled by the temple of flames.

Although, been on the temple of flames' hit list was troublesome and annoying since there would be so many people that would want to kill him just to get the rewards promised by the temple, it was not something that bothered Corey so much.

No

What was really bothering Corey was the fact that he would probably never be able to advance to tier 1 if he decided not to leave the temple of flames territory.

He wasn't sure and he had not asked Ashley, but he felt that the evolution center where one is meant to advance would most likely be guarded by the temple of flames.

The merchant told him that when somebody can advance to the next tier, they would be able to see a map which would guide them towards the nearest evolution centers, so that means, the temple of flames can easily locate all the evolution centers in their territory and guard them.

Which also means, him going to any evolution center in the territory controlled by the temple of flames would be extremely stupid and dangerous.

Meanwhile Ashley, after hearing Corey's questions had an expression of slight sadness for a few seconds then she sighed softly:

"My background is not really that important anymore, but I can still tell you about it if you want to know?"

She asked and Corey nodded.

"I'd like to know."

Ashley released a soft breath and Corey's eyes moved towards her hands which she subconsciously held together.

"Well, before the apocalypse and before the foreign forces came to our planet, my dad was actually a President."

She said and Corey was slightly stunned.

He had been talking to a president's daughter?

"Well… That's a huge surprise."

Corey said but his tone did not contain much surprise, only a slight amount of surprise.

Though just as he finished his words, something struck him and he became confused.

"Wait. If you were a president's daughter, how come you're here and not in the safety of your family? How come you've been a teacher at the academy for at least five years?"

The moment Corey asked those questions, a trace of anger of sadness appeared in her eyes.

"After the foreign forces appeared, my father joined one of the foreign forces, the Radiance Clan but unfortunately somebody important from the Radiance Clan became interested in me and wanted me to join his harem.

My dad told me about his intentions and I strongly refused.

My dad was nervous after I refused so he made a plan and decided to send me out of the country while telling me that he would give a suitable excuse for my disappearance."

As Ashley spoke, Corey could hear the sadness and anger in her tone which was not surprising since before the foreign forces appeared, she was probably living and enjoying a life of comfort, but now, she was akin to a fugitive.

"Well, what happened to you is not really a surprise since you're beautiful."

Corey spoke indifferently stunning Ashley with his words.

"Uhm… Thanks?"

She said with an unsure tone since she had never been complimented in the manner in which Corey complimented her.

"What do you plan on doing then?"

Corey asked with a curious tone and Ashley replied immediately:

"I planned on getting stronger, possibly growing an army then I'll go back to my family and kill that bastard, but unfortunately… when the apocalypse happened, the radiance clan was invaded by the undead and a war is currently happening between the Radiance Clan and the Undead."

"Ohhh… Sorry."

Not knowing what to say, Corey just said sorry and the entire atmosphere became slightly awkward.

"What about you?

What do you plan on doing now?"

Ashley asked, breaking the awkward silence and Corey became silent for some seconds:

"Is it only one of the religions that can possibly protect me from the temple of flames?"

Corey asked and Ashley shrugged.

"I'm not sure, but the thing is that, other non-religious forces are not so out in the open like that, so getting their locations is not going to be easy.

Only the location of the four temples are out in the open and known."

"Then which religion hates or is at odds with the temple of flames?"

Corey asked hearing Ashley's reply.

Although, joining any of the three temples would seem alright and safe, Corey did not rule out the fact that it was possible for the temple he joins to betray him, so it would be safer for him to join a temple that was at odds with the temple of flames, if there was that is.

"The temple of water is at odds with the temple of flames, but their location is… not really ideal."

Ashley said with a frown on her face.

"What's wrong with the location and where is it?"

Corey asked and Ashley appeared slightly conflicted.

"Their main temple is on an island located somewhere in the Black Sea that's near this city."

"The Black Sea?"

Corey had a slight frown on his face hearing the location of the temple of water.

The Black Sea was called the Black Sea because in ancient times, there was a major oil spillage in the once clean sea that affected the entire sea and changed the color of the sea to black.

It severely affected aquatic lives and even human lives. The sea was also termed as a restricted area by the government.

"Why would the temple of water decide to have their main temple there?

Nobody would ever go to their main temple if it's in the Black Sea?"

Corey asked in a suspicious tone and Ashley shrugged.

"I don't know but Corey, you can't go there.

I heard that the place is now extremely dangerous.

Powerful and dangerous monsters live in the sea and there's a very high possibility you won't be able to survive."

Ashley spoke in a worried tone and Corey looked at her calmly.

"Do I really have a choice?

I need to leave the territory of the temple of flames, not only because it's not safe, I need to tier up and become stronger.

Your family definitely cannot protect me from the temple of flames if they decide to go after me.

There's also a chance that the temple of darkness and the temple of earth can betray me if the temple of flames come after me.

I'm not important enough to either of the temples, so if the temple of flames decides to give more benefits, there's no way the temples would choose me over the benefits.

And if that happens, they can catch me off guard and I would definitely not be able to survive.

I'd rather take my chances with the black sea and find the main temple of water."

Corey spoke, giving his reasons for his decision and though, it sounded reasonable, Ashley was still worried.

"But what about the dangers of the sea?

You would be on the sea, where there's no land.

You wouldn't be able to fight properly if you encounter danger.

The risk to your life would be more."

Ashley said, with genuine worry and concern in her tone but Corey just shrugged calmly.

"I would rather fight monsters than humans.

Monsters are bigger and are not wise and cunning as humans.

I'd rather face them than humans who are stronger than me.

Also, if I die, I die. That's it."

Corey spoke with a nonchalant tone but Ashley still had a worried and frustrated expression.

"Don't you want your revenge?

How can you be so nonchalant about your life?

The decision you're making is stupid and dangerous.

And I don't see it as you been wise and careful."

Corey frowned heavily hearing her words and Ashley seeing that sighed softly.

"Sorry, it's just that I'm worried about what could happen to you.

I've… rarely made real friends whom I could comfortable with ever since I ran away from home."

She said and Corey was immensely confused hearing her words, but just as he opened his lips to express his confusion, Ashley did something shocking.

Her head moved forward and much to Corey's shock, her lips met his and for a few seconds, all Corey could do was stare with wide open blank eyes, unable to comprehend what was going on.

Seconds passed and Ashley lips separated from Corey's.

Corey looked at her and saw that a slight hint of red was visible on her cheeks.

"Sorry about that, I was just caught up in the moment."

She said and Corey just nodded blankly and released a soft 'Hmm, hmm.', not knowing how to respond at all.

Ashley seeing Corey's unresponsive state sighed softly then stood from the bed and walked to the door.

"I'll see you later I guess."

She said and Corey just nodded, still immensely confused about what was going on.

Ashley sighed once again in slight disappointment seeing Corey's unresponsive state and a second later, she opened the door to the room and left.

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[A/N: Important info in the author's thoughts. Check it out.]