In the early spring of Cecil Year 5, as the Frost Sky Constellation departed from its highest point in the night sky and the Fire Stream Constellation gradually rose above the horizon, the bitter winter that had gripped the Northern Kingdoms finally began to fade. An atmosphere of eager anticipation for warmer days and blooming flowers slowly gathered across cities and countryside alike—the Festival of Revival was approaching, and for most nations on this continent, it would be the most important holiday of the year.
For the citizens of Cecil City, however, this year's Festival of Revival held an especially significant meaning.
This was the first Festival of Revival since the victory in the Great Battle of Tarash, the first major holiday the Alliance had welcomed since celebrating Victory Day, and the day His Majesty Gawain Cecil concluded his tour and returned to his loyal imperial capital. To celebrate this particularly special day, the imperial family and the Divine Authority Council had even jointly authorized a grand religious ceremony: the Rite of Abundance Blessing and Sacrifice, to be held in Cecil City's largest Pioneer Plaza.
Since the Divine Authority Council had vigorously reformed religious sects throughout the nation and church authority had been comprehensively weakened, priests and believers of every faith had not held a sacrificial ceremony on this scale for a very long time.
In preparation for this day, half the city had been decorated with lights and banners. Pioneer Plaza had been under preparation for days and was now thoroughly arranged as a sacred ritual site in accordance with the doctrines of the Three Gods of Abundance. Various herbs and minerals symbolizing the three sisters—Gaia, Mother Earth; Goddess of Harvest Eve; and Goddess of Spring Flora—were scattered throughout the plaza. Streetlamps were tied with dried wheat ears and