At the same time, outside of Lotus City, the sun hung high in the sky.
Many people wanting to enter the city stood confused at what should have been the city gate entrance.
They couldn't see that above Lotus City, a layer of an undispersable gloom was shrouding it, nor that the sunlight could not penetrate that gloom.
However, they could sense something was wrong with the entire Lotus City.
With the sun this high, the city gate entrance, which usually bustled with people, was not only shut but completely devoid of any human presence.
It was as if the city had been a ghost town from the start.
"What's going on here? Why aren't they letting us enter today, and why isn't anyone opening the gate?"
"I have to go to work today. If the shopkeeper can't see me, he'd be furious!"
"Oh my fish, they're all going to die here..."
…
Many people were cursing angrily at the city gate.
Some, a bit smarter, sensed something was wrong and felt it was dangerous to stay too long.
