"Actually, there's nothing wrong with letting Priest Augustus see you here. We can say—"
"If you're unwilling to help, then please keep your mouth shut, Detective."
Dorothy probably did not want to leave a bad impression in the mind of the oldest elder in their group.
Compared to Randall River Valley, where it was snowing again and the entire city was blanketed in silver, Tobesk had only seen two light snowfalls during the Star Sparse Moon, so the streets had long since been cleared. But the rooftops around Saint Derain Square were still silver white, with unbroken icicles hanging beneath the eaves. Though there were trash bins at the edge of the square, there was no sign of wild cats or wild dogs. Snow had piled up beneath the lampposts, while a snowman made by who knew whom stood in the middle of the square, beside the frozen fountain of a girl holding up a water bottle.
The feeling of winter had yet to fade from the Northern Pearl.
Shade stood at the window of the 2nd Floor living room, gazing absently at the nighttime view of the square in winter. At that moment, a carriage quietly entered the square and stopped downstairs from Shade's home.
Shade knew that the priest had arrived, so he hurried downstairs to greet him.
"Good evening, Priest. What I want to discuss with you really cannot be said at the church, which is why I invited you here so late. Please, come in."
He opened the door to let Priest Augustus inside. Though he had gone out, the priest was still wearing his usual clerical robe, only a thick winter version, with a very heavy knee-length padded coat over it:
"This winter feels colder than all the winters before it."
The priest stepped inside.