A Feeling from the Past

As Gais pushed a wooden crate through the chapel doors, he came face-to-face with Little George's anxious gaze.

"You?"

Little George looked surprised to see who had arrived.

"An actual bishop of the Hidden Cult? Could he be someone the Lord sent to take my place? I suppose so. He's clearly more experienced than me and better suited to be the Lord's spokesperson..."

Little George lowered his head, a faint blush rising on his cheeks. He seemed to be struggling with something.

Gais looked at him and raised an eyebrow. This young man had to be Little George.

The first time Gais had seen him, the boy had seemed familiar. They must have met somewhere before.

A gentle nudge from Little George's voice brought Gais's hazy memories into focus. He seemed to recall seeing a young man like this among the workers who had gathered last night.

"According to the great Lord, he's a Beyonder. But when the Night Watchmen came yesterday, he didn't let anything show. Instead, he cooperated without complaint."

"So he came to the Hidden Cult yesterday to investigate the honorific name of the great Lord of All Spirits, the one I used to deceive people?"

The more Gais thought about it, the more likely it seemed. His eyes took on a grave look.

He couldn't believe he hadn't seen through the scheming hidden in that young man's clear gaze.

Then Gais remembered that the Lord could hear his thoughts, and hurriedly added in his heart:

"Praise the great and benevolent Lord of All Spirits. Thank you for forgiving your loyal servant, Gais."

Ivan concealed his presence and floated in the air, thoroughly enjoying the thoughts that kept surfacing in both men's minds.

The two or three dozen believers below stared blankly at the pair on the platform, unsure what was going on.

Only then did Ivan realize that the air had fallen silent. He hurriedly spoke up to break the awkward pause for Gais:

"This is one of my followers, Little George. Don't let his age fool you—he's already a Beyonder."

Then he sent a message to Little George:

"This is my missionary, Gais. Don't worry. From now on, he'll devote himself to supporting the Holy Spirit Society."

Hearing the Lord's revelation warmed Little George's heart.

Gais broke the silence. "Mr. George, hello. I'm Gais, the great Lord of All Spirits' most loyal missionary."

He bowed slightly and held out his hand to Little George.

"Mr. George? You mean me..."

Little George was momentarily taken aback by the form of address. Seeing Gais's outstretched hand, he hurried forward and shook it.

"H-hello, Mr. Gais. You can just call me Little George..."

Gais smiled and nodded.

"Putting on such an innocent, youthful act. What excellent protection. The great Lord's followers truly are extraordinary."

"Following the Lord's revelation, I've brought the materials needed for Holy Communion. I'll leave the ceremony in your hands."

Gais set the crate down and slowly moved to the side of the platform.

Only then did Little George remember that the two or three dozen people below were waiting for him to lead the Baptism Ceremony.

He fumbled through the crate and finally took out several silver vessels that looked to be in good condition, along with a jar of salt water.

Little George placed them on the table at the front of the platform. He steadied himself, his expression turning solemn.

He poured the salt water into one of the vessels and picked it up. His voice grew composed as his gaze swept across every believer present.

"Brothers and sisters of the Holy Spirit Society."

"Tonight, we have gathered in this chapel not by chance, but by the guidance of the great Lord of All Spirits and the revelation of the Holy Spirit bestowed by Him!"

"It was your longing for true greatness that freed you from the falsehoods of the Church of Divine Grace and brought you here, beneath the glory of the Lord of All Spirits!"

Little George paused, seemingly moved by his own words. His tone grew even more reverent:

"Tonight, you will become the first believers of the Holy Spirit Society!"

"Your names will be inscribed in the holy book of the Holy Spirit Society, forever marking the beginning of our faith."

"The Lord of All Spirits will remember your devotion today, and it will become the strength that protects you in the days to come!"

"Those who have come here today will become the first believers of the Holy Spirit Society, and your faith will be recorded in the holy book!"

"Please come forward one by one. When this salt water, blessed by the Lord of All Spirits, touches your foreheads, it will mark your complete separation from falsehood and your eternal bond with the faith of the Lord of All Spirits."

"From now on, as Holy Spirit Believers, you will spread the teachings of the Lord of All Spirits and protect one another's faith—in Trino City, in this world filled with suffering!"

The believers below were deeply moved. Stirred by Little George's compelling speech, they eagerly surged toward the platform.

Watching Little George deliver his speech with such confidence and seeing the believers below so fired up, Ivan nodded to himself.

He had come up with these words that morning after "watching" a ceremony held by the Church of Divine Grace. He'd adapted them and taught them to Little George at the Poorhouse.

The name for the believers, "Holy Spirit Believers," and the Holy Spirit Society's teaching of "protecting one another" had both been his own inventions.

He just hadn't expected Little George to deliver the speech so perfectly. He'd been prepared to have that old fraud Gais step in if Little George couldn't manage it.

After listening to the speech, Gais couldn't help nodding as well.

"This Little George—no, Bishop George—is truly a loyal follower of the Lord. His interpretation of the Lord's teachings is so moving."

"Looks like I'll have to make the most of my own strengths and do my best to bring in more believers. Otherwise, how will the Lord's grace continue to favor me..."

Seeing the believers' reactions below, Little George was excited too.

Phew... I actually managed to say all that. Thank goodness. I hope I haven't let the Lord down.

He held out his hand, and at his signal the restless crowd below formed an orderly line.

Little George closed his eyes and felt his Spirituality, guiding it toward the salt water in the vessel.

He tried to recall the prayer the Lord had told him to memorize.

"In the name of the Lord of All Spirits, you devout believers, favored by the spirits!"

"Today, we are summoned by the guidance of the spirits and protected by their grace!"

"The salt water in this cup is the sacred blessing the Lord has revealed to redeem the world, a holy rain that washes away the filth of the soul!"

"The Holy Spirit of the Lord bears witness to our steadfast faith amid the suffering of the mortal world, and to our yearning for light amid the fog of confusion."

"Through the spirits, He bestows revelation and imprints a sacred mark upon our souls!"

When the prayer ended, the water seemed to be drawn up by an invisible straw. It rose from the dish into the air, then curved gently and touched the forehead of the first believer in line, Old Harvey.

Whether it was his imagination or something else, Old Harvey felt as though his soul had been cleansed. The weariness he'd accumulated vanished, and even his thoughts grew clearer.

"It really feels just like it used to..."

Tears ran down Old Harvey's deeply furrowed face. It seemed he was remembering something from long ago.

"Praise the great Lord of All Spirits!"

Watching Old Harvey, Ivan felt more and more that there was something he needed to ask the old man.

That feeling from before...

What happened to the church that existed before the Church of Divine Grace?

"Little George, keep Old Harvey here after the ceremony."