Sukamu froze for a moment, a sudden realization striking him like a blade across the chest. In the heat of chaos, he had abandoned his prayer—the sacred devotional he never once missed.
His lips parted slightly, and a faint shiver ran through his hands. It was not the trembling of fear, but of guilt pressing against his heart.
Vivi noticed. Her eyes, wide with worry, searched his face. She asked in a voice almost trembling, "Uncle… what happened? Did you lose something?"
For a breath, Sukamu could not answer. The firelight flickered across his weary expression as if even the flames were waiting. Finally, he shook his head, slow and heavy.
