After waiting outside the prayer hall for nearly ten minutes, Klein and the other believers who were participating in the Moon Mass entered under the guidance of the priest.
In the dark and quiet atmosphere, they were greeted by a neat and ethereal chanting:
"The crimson full moon rises, casting its light on the land,
"Everyone sinks into a sweet dream, dreaming of themselves,
"Dreaming of parents, wives, and children, this is forever …" (Note 1)
As the holy and rhythmic voice echoed, the believers in the prayer hall couldn't help but calm down. It was as though they had forgotten the troubles of life and were no longer worried about the various problems of the real World.
Under the guidance of a few priests, they found their seats. In front of the altar, Bishop Elektra, who was in charge of the Mass, held the Revelation of Evernight and began to preach a simple sermon.
When this segment came to an end, the priests picked up water and bread and distributed it to Klein and company. This was the blessing of the Evernight, food shared by the living and the dead.
Klein, who had yet to enjoy his dinner, naturally didn't waste the bread and the cup of water. Then, he saw the candles on the altar light up. Against the backdrop of the darkness, they were like stars in the night sky, emitting a reassuring light and heat.
At this moment, Bishop Elektra led the priests and everyone in the choir to recite in unison:
"We will look up at the night sky,
"Tenderly say 'Her' name: 'Evernight Goddess!'
"Apart from 'Evernight Goddess,' there are no other words,
"May the Goddess, in between the angels' singing,
"Pluck them along with the sweet silence,
"And hold them in 'Her' gentle right hand.
"'Goddess!' If 'She' hears it, 'She' will definitely agree,
"She will definitely reveal a pure smile to the dead,
"'Come, rest, and sleep, my children!'" (Note 2)
The empty voice bore into the ears of every believer with a sense of holiness, as though it resonated with all the spirits present. As a Sequence 5 Beyonder, Klein felt as though his Soul Body was being cleansed at that moment as his spirituality naturally and comfortably flowed out.
Following that, a silent darkness appeared in front of him, a darkness without any sound.
In the darkness, corpses lay there one after another. Their faces were pale but serene, as if they hadn't died and were only sleeping.
Klein calmly walked through the darkness with a calm mind. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and looked diagonally ahead.
A few people were sleeping at the place where the Moon Flower was quietly blooming.
They were Dunn Smith, who wasn't wearing his hat and trench coat, Old Neil, who was still wearing his classic black robe, and the short Kenley, who was working hard to save money.
Their eyes were closed in a relaxed manner, and there seemed to be a faint smile on their lips. Around them were tombstones after tombstones, and each one had the same words written on it:
"Guardian."
Klein closed his eyes as the holy and ethereal voice rang in his ears.
"Cross your hands,
"Put it on your chest.
"And say the wordless prayer,
"And cry from your heart,
"The only home is peace!" (Note 3)
Klein lowered his head and closed his eyes. He raised his hands and crossed them in front of his chest. Then, he silently repeated himself:
"The only home is peace!"
"The only home is peace!"
…
He repeated it again and again until the prayer hall became extremely quiet. Only then did Klein open his eyes and rub the corners of his eyes.
He slowly exhaled and looked to his left and right. With the light from the candlesticks, he discovered that most of the believers were crying without realizing it. Even his valet, Richardson, had lost his composure and allowed his tears to flow down without him wiping them away.
The Moon Mass is closer to a ritual, a ritual with Beyonder powers. Its effect should be to resonate with everyone's soul, allowing different people to see the deceased they were close to in the darkness. They can release their grief and obtain peace … Yes, this isn't a mutation that only targets Beyonders, so I can be at ease … To ordinary people, this is just a momentary hallucination and an outlet for their emotions. They will only believe that the Goddess is great, and they won't suspect any supernatural powers … Sequence 5 of the Evernight pathway seems to have greatly improved their control over spirits … Klein retracted his gaze and made a judgment.
Right on the heels of that, he recalled the darkness and the deceased lying in the Moon Flower.
Closing his eyes, Klein allowed his thoughts to wander.
That dark plain with Moon Flower, Night Vanilla, and Slumber Flower is a manifestation of the Goddess's divine kingdom?
Then, what does the source of danger at night in the ruins of the battle of the gods correspond to?
Klein gradually outlined the cold night scene he saw on the easternmost side of the Sonia Sea, as well as the fog that enveloped the surface of the sea.
In the mist, there was a pitch-black, ancient church with a steepled roof. Crows were circling above it, as if they were offering sacrifices and mourning. Around the church, there were ordinary houses, simple wooden houses, grayish-white mills, and vague figures of people.
Logically speaking, this foggy scene that's closely related to night and dreams should've been formed by the remnant aura of the Goddess or Annihilation Demonic Wolf, Flegrea. However, it's completely different from the corresponding divine kingdom … Hmm, mortals can't pry into deities. Perhaps that dark plain with flowers and grass isn't a projection of the divine kingdom, but a byproduct of a ritual … Seeing that the Moon Mass was coming to an end, Klein reached into his inner pocket and took out his wallet.
Holding his wallet, he got up and entered the aisle. He walked all the way to the altar, and under Bishop Elektra's benevolent and compassionate expression, he walked diagonally to the donation box.
After tapping his chest four times in a clockwise fashion to draw the crimson moon, Klein threw all the large bills in.
A total of 300 pounds!
At that moment, Klein wasn't as pained and reluctant as before. He was extremely calm because he recalled the ritual Old Neil used to repay his debt.
That time, under the Goddess's blessings, they had picked up a wallet with more than 300 pounds in cash.
He took a step back and drew the crimson moon again, giving up his position to the donor behind him.
At that moment, Bishop Elektra took the initiative to come over. As he drew the crimson moons clockwise, he said,
"May the Goddess bless you."
"May the Goddess know that what I want the most right now is to listen to your teachings," Klein replied with a smile.
Bishop Elektra glanced at the side exit of the prayer hall.
"If you don't mind waiting for a quarter of an hour, I can preach to you in the library."
"That's exactly what I want." Klein smiled warmly.
Bishop Elektra immediately got a priest to lead Dawn Dantès and his servants out of the prayer hall through a side passageway, circling to the library not far from the spiral staircase.
There were huge bookshelves here, filled with all sorts of books related to the Church of the Evernight Goddess. There were also tables and chairs on both sides for the priests and bishops to study and preach to their believers.
Twelve minutes later, Bishop Elektra entered the library with a smile that calmed one's heart. He saw the white-sideburned and elegant Dawn Dantès standing in front of a row of bookshelves, engrossed in reading a book. He looked very scholarly.
"What are you reading?" he asked with a smile.
Klein closed the book and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"'Revelation of Evernight.'
"To be frank, although I'm a devout believer of the Goddess, I've been busy with my life over the past few years. I've never calmed down to read this holy bible seriously."
As he spoke, he didn't show any abnormalities on the surface, but he was feeling a little uneasy. He was afraid that the Goddess would directly send a bolt of lightning to reward her devout believer, Dawn Dantès.
Yes, lightning isn't in the Goddess's domain … Klein consoled himself.
Bishop Elektra smiled and took the Revelation of Evernight.
"It's not too late to begin now."
He then invited Dawn Dantès to sit down at a table and systematically explained the composition of the Revelation of Evernight and the key holy words within.
Richardson took his employer's hat and cane and sat a little further away. As he waited in silence, he diverted his attention to listen to the bishop's preaching.
Time ticked by as Klein, who appeared serious, suddenly had his spiritual perception triggered as the scene outside naturally surfaced in his mind.
This was his intuition, one that originated from a Clown. It was an intuition that had been enhanced by the gray fog!
Outside the door, an elder in a clergyman's black robe passed by and walked towards the spiral staircase nearby.
His white hair was rather lush, but he hadn't combed it, making it look rather messy. His face was thin, as though his skin was wrapped around his bones. He had a rather cold bearing, and his skin was abnormally pale. His eyes were a rare pure black.
The figure quickly disappeared from the door, and not far away, there was the sound of footsteps that gradually became louder.
An Insider! But it's not the one I met in the prayer hall … Hmm, he's on duty today? Klein looked intently at Bishop Elektra, appearing as though he was pondering over the contents of the Holy Bible.
He wasn't surprised that an Insider would appear inside the cathedral at this time and pass by the library. This was because the seal behind Chanis Gate would reach its peak at night, making it unsuitable for living creatures. Therefore, Keepers would enter at sunrise and leave at sunset. And now, it was completely dark.
Remember what day it is today and what day it is … Later, gradually add the corresponding information and figure out the Keepers' rotation. Only then can I act as a suitable target at the right time … Klein reined in his thoughts and listened carefully. Half an hour later, he got up and bade farewell.
He smiled at Bishop Elektra.
"I wonder if I'll have the honor of listening to your preaching in the future?"
"No problem." Faced with a tycoon who had just donated three hundred pounds, Bishop Elektra couldn't reject him. He even nodded happily and said, "As long as you come to the cathedral, as long as I have the time."
Klein didn't harp on the details to prevent himself from arousing suspicion. After thanking him sincerely, he left Saint Samuel Cathedral with his valet, Richardson.
It wasn't even eight when he returned home, just in time for dinner and leisurely spend the rest of the day.
…
Late at night, in the master bedroom.
The sleeping Klein suddenly opened his eyes.
His spiritual intuition told him that someone had infiltrated his house!
Note 1: Adapted from Tennyson, Lotus Eater.
Note 2: Adapted from Iba Browning, The Crying of Children.
Note 3: Adapted from Thomas Hood, The Bridge of Sighs and Tennyson, Lotus Eater.
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