Where had that wind chime sound come from?
Kraun looked toward the source of the sound. It had come from the front courtyard.
As he was wondering about it, Nick came sprinting out of the rest area, wearing Full Body Armor and carrying a shield and a Flail. "Come on, to the front gate."
With no time to speculate, Kraun followed Father toward the church entrance.
Beneath the eaves of the Watchman's Cabin by the front gate, an ancient Copper bell engraved with the Flame Cloud Pattern swung without a breeze, ringing clearly.
Kraun suddenly remembered something Father had once told him.
'This is the Demon-Startling Bell. It rings when an Evil Spirit or Monster appears nearby.'
He followed Nick through the church gates, and a profound darkness immediately engulfed his mind.
Kraun felt as though he had entered another world. Everything around him was silent, without the slightest sound, and even the golden radiance of the Holy Fire atop the Clock Tower seemed dimmer.
It felt as if hundreds of eyes were staring at him with ill intent. A chill crept up from his tailbone, traveled up his spine, and burst through the crown of his head. It was as if a lump of ice had lodged in his throat.
He scanned the square and saw many people sprawled across the ground. They were probably the townsfolk who had been doing the cleaning.
Some of them looked as if they had been drained of moisture, their skin withered and pale.
He looked up and saw flame-like patterns appear on Nick's armor. His heart sank.
Father had clearly activated some hidden ability of his armor. He hadn't done so even when facing that terrifying Monster with a wild boar's head.
Kraun turned around and saw that the gate, so close