The night is deep, darkness enveloping everything like an ocean descending silently from the sky. Flickering bonfires illuminate the Lake Capital City, resembling stars scattered across the vast sea, shedding fleeting light. And the grandest island within this dark sea is naturally the towering Great Temple and the Chief Palace hidden behind.
At the top of the Chief Palace is the ancient and timeless hall, etched with the traces of the past. Fish oil candles burn among the divine murals. The faint fragrance from the incense burner wafts in, like secret currents of the sea, or the gentle caress of jellyfish. In this quiet solace, a frail, white-haired elder finally opens his eyes with difficulty from a slumber as deep as the ocean.
"It's dark..."
The elder gazes at the dome of the sky, his eyes filled with an unbreakable chaos and murkiness. He stares for a long while, gradually reclaiming a bit of clarity, making his gaze deep once more.
"It's dark again..."