Tens of thousands of people were gathering in Kado City’s central square.
Soldiers of the Saint Luo Empire, weapons in hand, stood guard around the perimeter of the square, maintaining order.
“To get to Kado City, I even postponed the business deal I was supposed to negotiate.”
“Who hasn’t? We all came here to see Lady Sylvia’s daughter.”
“Will Miss Sophie convey our wishes to the Divine Lord?”
The square buzzed with voices as devout believers and curious civilians engaged in fervent exchanges.
In addition to ordinary commoners, quite a few nobles had also arrived.
These dignitaries from the empire had leveraged their privileges to carve out a separate area in the square, allowing them to watch the ceremony from the spot closest to the center.
“Daughter, I recall that Miss Sophie attends the same school as you?”
Count Favi of the Favi family—Ole Favi—was asking his daughter Lucy.
They had received an invitation from the Holy Land and arrived in Kado City to attend this Saint Prayer ceremony.
“Yes, Father. Senior Sophie and I attend the same academy!”
Lucy nodded, feeling a bit proud that she could study at the same academy as Sophie.
“However, Senior Sophie enrolled at a very young age and completed her studies ahead of schedule, graduating from Avalon Academy.”
“I see. So, you haven’t had much interaction with Sophie, have you?”
“Mm, that’s a bit regrettable. After graduating, Senior Sophie has been traveling all over the country. Except for some academy anniversaries, she rarely returns. Even when she does, I don’t get a chance to talk to her.”
Lucy felt somewhat regretful.
She greatly admired Sylvia, and by extension, she naturally held some longing for Sophie.
“What a pity. Sophie is very likely to become the next saintess of the Holy Land in the future. If we could establish a connection, that would be ideal.” Ole paused. “By the way, Sylvia should have another daughter. She’s still studying at Avalon Academy, right?”
“Ah, Father, you mean… Via?”
“Yes, Via. I think that’s her name.”
“Via’s reputation isn’t very good.”
“Of course I know that. Many people think Via isn’t suitable to stay in the Holy Land. However, I’m a bit curious—how is the relationship between Sophie and Via?”
“Senior Sophie seems to… take pretty good care of her little sister.”
“That’s right then. Lucy, in the future, when you have the chance, try to get in touch with Via more and build a good relationship with her.”
“Why?”
“Since our Favi family can’t approach Sophie, we’ll start from Via. If we can become friends with Via, then after Sophie becomes the saintess, this connection will bring considerable benefits to our Favi family!”
“Father, you think so… comprehensively.”
“Of course,” Ole replied matter-of-factly.
By connecting with the Saint Luo Empire’s imperial family through Stella, and with the Holy Land through Via, the Favi family could hedge its bets on both sides.
“I understand, Father. Later, I’ll definitely persuade Via to… sleep—convince her to become good friends with me.”
Lucy was overjoyed inwardly. She had thought that if her contact with Via reached her father’s ears, she would be scolded.
But since her father supported it, what was there to hesitate about?
She had to win Via over.
“What about Princess Stella? Why isn’t she with you?” Ole looked around but didn’t see Stella nearby.
“I invited Stella to come attend together, but she said she had no interest in the Saint Prayer ceremony and stayed at the academy, not coming along,” Lucy explained.
“I see.” Ole felt a bit regretful.
“They’re here!”
In the noisy crowd, someone suddenly shouted this, and in an instant, everyone’s gazes turned in the same direction.
Clang—
The melodious bell toll rang out, passing over Kado City’s central square and lingering in everyone’s hearts.
Although the square had been bustling just a second ago, the next second, everyone fell silent, and the crowd instantly became quiet.
Nine consecutive bell tolls rang out, symbolizing the utmost reverence for the Divine Lord.
First to enter everyone’s view were the holy knights holding longswords. They formed two columns, their steps uniform and orderly, their expressions solemn, paving the way for the procession behind.
The priests, holding incense burners, walked the path of prayer, passing through the crowd, diffusing the fragrance that could cleanse the mind.
The female priests shook holy bells, following closely beside two young girls, escorting them to the altar for prayer.
Those two girls in pure white prayer robes were today’s protagonists—Via and Sophie, the two saintess candidates who inherited Sylvia’s bloodline.
As the saintess candidates passed before them, the people felt a shocking sense of sanctity that stirred their souls, as if the myriad complicated thoughts in their hearts had been purified, leaving only the tranquility of the soul.
Almost everyone involuntarily lowered their heads, like wheat waves swaying in the sunlight.
At this moment, the people held only sincere reverence for the saintess candidates.
Truly amazing.
Via sighed inwardly.
She hadn’t actually done anything; she had merely followed beside Sophie, yet she witnessed such a scene.
This sight was indeed just like what was described in the books about Sylvia during Saint Prayer Day—merely appearing was enough to silence the masses.
As expected, Sophie’s talent in this aspect was impeccable.
“The Saint Prayer begins,” the priest announced.
Via and Sophie arrived before the Saint Prayer altar. They ascended the altar’s steps one by one. Before the divine statue, there was a pair of white jade kneeling cushions. The sisters knelt down, straightened their backs, clasped their hands together, closed their eyes, and chanted the sacred prayer verses from their mouths.
The holy words chanted by Sophie were clear and ethereal with every syllable, not seeming to come from her throat but rather like singing resounding from the depths of her soul.
Sacred light descended from above the altar, enveloping both Sophie and Via.
That pillar of light fell from the end of the firmament. Within the radiance, white feathers danced alongside golden light particles like fireflies, as if connecting to the legendary paradise.
The runes around the altar lit up one by one, resonating with the saintess candidates’ prayers, spiraling upward and diffusing outward.
The divine light from the heavens further spread, until it covered the entire square, allowing everyone to bathe in the divine glow.
Whether ordinary civilians, devout believers, or the empire’s nobles, all personally experienced the miracle brought by the inheritors of the saintess bloodline.