Chapter 720: One Who Brings Ruin
Sophia opened her eyes just as Madam Tyler's chants stopped.
The silence that followed was sudden, almost jarring. The soft hum of the old woman's voice had been a constant thread through the darkness, and without it, the shrine felt emptier somehow. The walls seemed to press closer, the flickering candles casting shadows that danced across the floor like restless spirits.
Sophia's legs were weak. They trembled beneath her, threatening to give way, and before she could steady herself, the assistant was there. The young woman moved quickly, slipping an arm around Sophia's waist and guiding her toward a wooden chair near the wall. Sophia let herself be moved, her body heavy, her mind still half-lost in the darkness she had only just escaped.
It was only when she was seated that she realized they were not alone.
Those who worked in the shrine had made their presence known at some point, and most of them had concerned expressions on their faces.
