The guards held them as they led them toward Miruth. Women and girls passing by along the way stared at them as they went.
Shine took in the state of the city's people with his own eyes. Everyone's clothes were torn. People were dying every day because of starvation.
Women were given lunch. Men were given dinner at night. Everyone got food only once a day.
Watching this, something stirred inside Shine.
"Their condition is terrible. This is why Jhed wants to free them. He really is a good person," Shine thought to himself.
People paused as they watched the two being led away. But no one said a word. Everyone stayed silent. All the men were out working in the gold mines. Along the road, only women and girls older than twenty could be seen. They likely hadn't bathed in days. Some of the girls were still strikingly beautiful, even with dirt and dust caked on their faces — beauty that no amount of grime could hide.
There was sorrow on every face, or maybe pity. Perhaps their faces were saying, let them go. But their mouths couldn't open.
"Why does it feel like something's about to go wrong. I shouldn't have come here at all. Everyone's staring at us. Stop looking. Stop looking at us." Jhed kept talking to himself.
He felt deep shame, and fear too. The guards had bound both his hands with rope. They were being led away as if they'd committed some grave crime.
Shine's eyes caught a guard dragging a man's body toward the graveyard.
"Poor guy... probably died from overwork," one guard near Shine said.
"No, probably from lack of food," the other guard said.
"That makes 1,038 now, counting this one. 1,037 before him," the guard said.
Shine listened to every word.
"So many people are dying. Forgive us for taking so long. Jhed and I — we're going to free you all soon." Shine made the promise silently to himself.
Strange clouds had gathered in the sky. Dark clouds swirled in slow circles above, lightning flashing within them.
"Clouds like these came during the prophecy too, didn't they." The guard walking beside Jhed said this, looking up as he walked.
The guard next to him looked up as well.
"You're right. Will there be another prophecy today?" the second guard said.
"What prophecy?" Jhed looked up at the sky too.
"No, that's just superstition. There hasn't been a prophecy in eighteen years — why would there be one now? These are just thunderclouds, nothing more," the third guard said.
"Yeah, you're right," the first guard said.
"Linea and Nain used to say something like this too. What is this prophecy?" Jhed wondered to himself.
Shine overheard the guards' conversation too. By now, they had reached the place.
"Listen, people of this city! Look up — the prophecy is coming! Which means you're about to be free. We will set you free. We'll give you back the joy on your faces." Shine shouted at the top of his lungs.
Jhed turned to look at him.
"Has Shine lost his mind?" Jhed thought.
He looked over at Shine. There was a smile on his face.