It was as if flames were burning somewhere unseen.
Throughout the Eastern Diocese, the undercurrents once hidden from sight seemed to be gradually boiling over, bubbling away. Faint, fragmented sounds rang beside everyone's ears—hard to notice at first, then gradually impossible to ignore.
The gossip circulating through the cathedrals, the secretive and secluded Mutual Aid Society, those companions who had once been unremarkable or even teetered on the edge of danger yet suddenly rose above everyone else with extraordinary faith, the mysterious smiles on the Priests' faces, the covert dealings in streets and alleys, even the legendary goods in the Black market that had prices but no stock...
The inexplicable words spilled while drunk, the smug smiles and mockery, even the private hints and sharing among friends and relatives.
At first, they were only rumors, but the rumors seemed to be growing clearer and clearer.
Until, by chance or through deliberate pursuit, they swept away the last wisp of mist and finally touched that miraculous power spreading ever farther.
"Have you heard? Good stuff."
"Holy Seals. Aren't Holy Seals everywhere? Want some? I'll give you two strips... They're different? Why..."
"I heard the High Priest say these are
good things newly developed in Sky City. As long as you wear one, you can..."
"Is this that Holy Seal?"
"Yours isn't right. I heard that young believer with unwavering faith suddenly spent several years with pitifully weak faith, and even had both his eyes gouged out... Right, and guess what? A wisp of the Holy Spirit's will was actually dwelling in the Holy Seal he wore. After accepting his offerings for years, it woke up. Otherwise, how could he have suddenly returned to the Holy Hymn choir overnight?"
"Bullshit! This is a crooked path! I—I'll never use it!"
"That's it? It