The church was nestled in a valley, ringed by mountains.


    From the dip in the hills, a cluster of red-roofed buildings with gilded domes cascaded down the slope in tiers-a breathtaking sight.


    As M made her way up the incline, she passed groups of worshippers in


    crimson robes, hurrying by with purpose. The narrownes echoed with the steady murmur of prayers drifting from each chapel she walked past, and every so often, the faint scent of incense lingered in the air.


    She nced up just in time to spot several vultures wheeling overhead, their massive wings slicing the sky as their cries rang out, sharp and wild. They soared toward one of the distant mountain peaks.


    It felt as if she were standing on the threshold between heaven and earth.


    M paused on the slope, watching the vultures until they disappeared. She lingered for a moment longer, then turned to continue climbing-when a deep, gentle voice called out from behind, resonant enough to settle the soul.


    "Miss, do you know where the vultures are flying?"


    M started in surprise.


    She turned to find, not far behind her, a priest in a crimson cassock, eyes gently closed and face turned in her direction. His expression radiated warmth and kindness.


    Unsure how to answer, M simply shook her head, but the priest showed no reaction.


    Her gaze lingered on his closed eyes, and a realization dawned. Hesitating, she offered a tentative answer.


    "To the funeral tform?"


    She''d read about the local traditions.


    The sky burials.


    At these funerals, it was the custom for the departed to be entrusted to the care of


    a mortuary priest, who would prepare the body for the waiting vultures. To


    outsiders, it might seem harsh, but to the locals, it was an act of ultimatepassion—a final good deed, the highest form of virtue.


    The soul ascended.


    The body returned to nature, feeding the birds-onest kindness to the world.


    A unique understanding of life and death.


    The priest suddenly asked, "Would you like to see it for yourself?"


    M shook her head. "No, I wouldn''t want to disturb."


    He smiled gently and shifted topics without effort. "Then tell me, on your journey


    so far, have you found the answers you were seeking?"


    M froze.


    She stared at the priest, and in that instant, the world seemed to recede until only the two of them remained beneath the endless sky.


    It was strangely profound.


    Confused, she could only answer, "I don''t know."


    "Is there an end to your journey?"


    "Yes."


    "Then keep going, child. You''ll get there."


    Somewhere deep inside, a courage she didn''t know she possessed stirred. M took a step forward, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "Father,


    will I find the answer I''m looking for at the end?"


    He smiled again. "Tell me can''t you hear it?"


    "Hear what?"


    Something inside her strained, desperate, as if on the verge of breaking free. She hurried forward, pressing him, "What am I supposed to hear?"


    Just then, a surge of worshippers in crimson robes streamed up the slope, brushing past the two of them and nearly knocking M off bnce.


    By the time she steadied herself and looked up, the priest was gone. All she could hear was the murmur of conversation from the worshippers behind her snatches of words, just enough to piece together the gist.


    It seemed that-


    A priest had passed away at the funeral tform that very day.


    A priest?


    A cold wave of dread crashed over her. She didn''t know where she found the nerve, but she hurried after the worshippers, catching one by the arm and blurting out, “Excuse me, was the priest at the funeral tform today-the one who passed away-blind?"


    The worshipper shook his head, confused.


    Relief washed over M. So it was just a coincidence. She must have been lucky


    to meet a true man of God.


    The midday sun was zing, but even as she exhaled shakily, M felt both chilled and feverish, standing there in a daze for a long moment before hurrying away.


    She didn''t go back to the church.


    She returned to the hotel not long after.


    The moment she opened the door, she spotted Archie-who''d been listless with altitude sickness that morning-now bouncing around, packing his bags with fresh energy.


    He looked up, eyes shining the moment he saw her.


    "Hey, M! I was just about to call you. I''m feeling a whole lot better-seriously, I could run a marathon right now! C''mon, let''s get going!"