The night deepened, a crescent moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the rolling estates below.
At the top of the tower, the glass windows of the secret chamber reflected the cold, desolate moonlight. Faintly, through the heavy, dense black mosquito net, a human silhouette could be seen lying on the bed.
Light snores emanated from the silk bedding. This peaceful and resonant sound hadn't been heard in this room for several months.
The snorer's relaxed state was perhaps thanks to the intricate geometric pattern drawn on the ground around the wooden bed—
The pattern was octagonal overall, composed of several circles and diagonal lines. A slowly burning, orange-yellow candle was placed in each of its eight corners, around which were drawn strange characters this world had never seen.
