Chapter 78: The abandoned mother and child
The wailing cut through their silence like a jagged knife. A sound so small, yet it carried through the temple's cold stone corridors, reverberating off the towering pillars. It was a sound that didn't belong here.
Ceremus' hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. Hael, standing beside him, stiffened. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the distant crash of waves outside—constant, steady—before the cry rose again, thin and shrill, like a plea.
"That..." Hael murmured, his brows knitting together. "That's a baby."
Ceremus exhaled slowly, glancing toward the dimly lit hall ahead. "It would seem so."
Hael turned to him, searching his expression. "Should we—"
"I suppose we should investigate." Ceremus sighed, already striding forward.
Hael grabbed his hand, stepping in front of him protectively as he guided him towards the direction of the sound. The wailing stretched longer as they advanced, its echoes warping in the vast emptiness of the temple. The sound was disorienting, making it difficult to pinpoint where it was coming from. The deeper they went, the colder the air became.
They finally arrived at this mini prayer room that looked empty and desolate. However, the sound of the baby's cries was coming from the very room they were in.
Hael narrowed his eyes as he scanned the place when he caught sight of a piece of fabric peeking out from under a table. Approaching the table, his discovery surprised him.
He turned to look at Ceremus, a troubled expression on his face. "What is it?" The king asked.
"...You better come and look for yourself." He said gravely.