Warm afternoon sunlight shone over the small garden beside the Cecil Palace wing. Filtering through the branches of the roadside trees, it scattered dappled patches of light across the path. Fresh shoots swayed in the breeze at the treetops, and two or three spring sparrows took flight lightly from a tender branch, streaking across the high, cloudless blue sky in the blink of an eye.
Gawain, who had been strolling through the garden, came to a stop. He looked up in the direction the birds had flown, then suddenly said softly to the air beside him, "The weather warmed up earlier than usual this year."
"Maybe the Goddess of Spring has been in a good mood lately, so spring's power got just a tiny bit stronger?" Amber's voice came from the air the next second. Her figure gradually emerged beside Gawain, a brilliant smile on her face. "Seriously, can't you pretend not to notice me just once? It's a huge blow to get casually exposed the moment I sneak over..."
"Talk to me once you have the Night Lady's skills," Gawain said, casually ruffling the Shadow Assault Goose's head. As he continued walking, he asked, "You brought news from the Divine Authority Council? How are things going?"
Amber hurried along on her short little legs to keep pace with Gawain and launched into a rapid explanation. "Don't worry, it's all been arranged. The Council sent people today to deliver notices to every orthodox church in the city, and every church leader said they'd actively cooperate with this month's festival activities. There's no need to worry about preparations either—the Council started making arrangements for the plans for the entire coming year half a month ago. As long as the major denominations cooperate actively, everything will proceed according to schedule."
She paused,