Chapter 373.2
Three days elapsed before Pides once again descended into the underground prayer room, the descent occurring just before the sun painted the sky with its first light. In tow, he carried a small shovel and a peculiar tent, his preparations meticulous and purposeful.
Anticipating Anika’s arrival, Pides had toiled diligently in advance. In a quiet corner of the room’s floor, he had excavated a pit, its depth substantial enough for a person to be partially concealed. Once settled within, he intended to envelop himself with the tent – a cunning creation that, at first glance, resembled a rock, its wrinkled form and color providing a seamless camouflage.
While the disguise might prove feeble under the scrutiny of a thorough investigation, Pides was confident in its efficacy. Anika, making solitary visits to the prayer room in the dim light, wouldn’t delve into every nook and cranny. She was unlikely to wander far from the woven mat, offering a safe margin for his covert arrangement.
Yet, an undercurrent of unease gnawed at him during the entire process. All the Anikas are confined within the Holy City Palace, and the Holy City is under lockdown. What on earth is happening?
His unwavering focus on exploring the interior of the Holy City Palace had resulted in a delayed reception of external news. It seemed Sang-je’s intentions were far from benevolent.
Pides found himself grappling with a sense of foolishness as the blind faith he once held in Sang-je unraveled, the note left by his friend tearing away the veil of unwavering loyalty.
Having completed his preparations, he waited in the underground prayer room, attuned to the subtle sounds around him. The creaking of the pulley reached his ears, prompting him to swiftly lie down on the floor and shroud himself beneath the tent.
The descent of the wooden barrel was a slow affair, each passing moment extending into an eternity. Pides, his breath suppressed, listened intently to the footsteps that accompanied the arrival.
“Great Mahar, who governs the order of the world. I pray to your omnipotence.”