The candle between them had burned down to a stub.

Taehyung knelt on the woven mat, her hands folded in her lap, the white linen of her initiation robe pooling around her thighs. The temple was empty save for the two of them—the great bronze bell had tolled its final note an hour ago, and the other monks had retreated to their cells for evening meditation. Outside, the rain had begun its soft percussion against the clay roof tiles. Inside, the air was thick with sandalwood smoke and something else. Something she couldn't name but could feel pressing against her sternum.