Eighteen bells.
This not only signified that the Temple of Wine was facing an unprecedented life-and-death crisis, but such prolonged tolling only occurred when a grand archpriest fell—a warning to all followers of the Goddess of Wine.
The three grand archpriests had perished!
As the bells summoned the congregation, countless worshipers gazed up at the enormous wolf Fenrir, occupying the sky.
Many recognized him; wasn't this the beast once sealed in the back hall? He... he had escaped!
While they didn't know when or why he was locked away, they recalled that this arcane beast had been sealed for a long time.
The three grand archpriests had always kept him under strict guard, never allowing anyone near.
No one had expected that his first act upon breaking free would be to kill the grand archpriests.
