Chapter 168 - 04: Funeral (Second Update)
Under the guidance of Anthony III, Gray stepped into the Azlan Mountain Cathedral.
The whole world seemed to turn grey, all the exquisite and magnificent hidden in the shadows. Only in the center, where a beam of sunlight shone, lay Pope Augustus III’s open casket quietly.
The surroundings were full of people, yet all were silent, each submerged in the shadows of the light.
Nineteen statues of various forms stood against the cathedral’s four walls, the sunlight from the dome quietly illuminating their faces.
Gray stepped forward, one step at a time.
The figures blocking Gray’s way stepped aside, bowing, and saluted.
Gray stopped in front of the casket, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. *He prayed silently for Pope Augustus III in his heart.*
Everything was quiet, no one spoke.
When the prayer was over, Gray was led aside to stand with the others.
"Saint, according to the regulations, the Pope’s body will be buried the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, it will remain here for mourners to view. During this period, all cardinals and Holy Knights must take turns guarding the body. Of course, the saint also needs to guard the body. Before this, you were absent, and that was unavoidable. Now that you are here, you will be here with a few other cardinals this afternoon. Others will take over for you tonight. Also, you need to be here tomorrow afternoon as well," the cleric in charge of the funeral arrangements said to Gray.
"What exactly do I need to do when guarding the body?" Gray asked.