By the time Shade returned home from Black Raven Library, it was already half past ten in the morning. After confirming the effects of his brand-new thaumaturgy, he did not cook at home. Instead, he left with Little Mia, who had taken an interest in the cards, and took a carriage to Dawn Church.
Even while looking for a carriage at Saint Derain Square, he could already sense the festive atmosphere from the young priests in clerical robes handing out promotional materials. By the time they neared Dawn Square, the cheerful atmosphere created by the religious festival had grown even stronger.
After what had happened two Thursdays ago, City Hall also intended to help the city recover from its pain through large-scale civic events. Thus, it provided substantial support for the Saint Prayer Festival in the summer of Year 1853.
With Dawn Church at its center, all the nearby streets were draped with banners and ribbons. Shade did not know whether City Hall had paid in Gold Pounds or Dawn Church had provided the money, but every shopfront on the streets directly connected to Dawn Square displayed the holy emblem of Mister Dawn.
Doves flew beneath the misty sky as crowds gathered around the church and the surrounding streets. The lively festival attracted even more small vendors, who set up stalls along the roadside, while City Hall turned a blind eye.
The carriage could not enter the celebration grounds at all and could only drop Shade off at an intersection near the edge of the square.
There were people everywhere, and hawkers could be heard all around the square. The bustling atmosphere frightened the cat in Shade's arms, making it curl up tightly against his chest. Shade knew Mia was timid, but he had not expected her to be this