In the shrine at the innermost edge of the small town in the Domain of Darkness.
The skeletons piled against the wall formed a slope. Their structure was peculiar: multiple skulls were crammed together, their neck bones short and thick, while the ribs below were thin but densely packed, three layers in all, fused together. Their limbs were shaped more like those of beasts that ran on four legs.
What deserved attention was that all these skeletons bore cracks or signs of comminuted fractures. They had certainly once possessed flesh, but it had been stripped away. The organs inside their ribs had already turned black and shriveled.
As if sensing Su Xiao's arrival, the lightbearer seated before the altar at the back stopped praying.
Perhaps aware of how imposing his appearance was—and how poorly it matched people's first impression of a lightbearer—he had a small mustache on his chin and wore glasses hung with decorative chains.
Unfortunately, compared with the clerical robes stretched taut over his pectorals and biceps, those disguising accessories looked especially helpless.
"New resident, welcome to Dawn Town. Darkness will always pass, and dawn will eventually come."
The lightbearer smiled amiably, but at that moment, a faint burnt fragrance drifted out from the small wooden door at the back.
"My name is Anderson. I'm the lightbearer of Dawn Town. These are a candlestick and a tallow candle. Take them. If you run into any trouble in town, you can come find me."
Lightbearer Anderson handed over an old copper candlestick and a candle that was white streaked with black.
"Have you chosen your residence..."
Anderson's words were cut short when the wooden door leading to the back room began banging. Something inside was lightly bumping against it.
"It's my pet. It may be hungry. Wait a moment