"Thank you all for coming."
The black-robed acolyte clasped his hands devoutly. The enormous crowd gathered before him made him feel nervous and uneasy.
"I understand that every one of you took great risks to come here. Even I did not expect this."
They were all crammed into a dim, abandoned warehouse. The stench of engine oil filled the air, and the low-hanging pipes made it difficult to raise one's head. These believers had gathered from every corner of Tyre, waiting to hear the saint's words, mistakenly believing that she had awakened.
Among the crowd were plainly dressed farmers, neatly attired municipal workers, medical staff, and members of the upper class. There were even security soldiers. (Humans in Tyre were not permitted to have an army, only limited armed security forces.)
Armed people guarded the entrances to the warehouse, their actions clearly showing the danger everyone here faced.
Such a large gathering was extremely risky, far too easy to notice. The organizer knew he had to disperse the event before they were discovered, while also being careful not to provoke a riot.
"You have always relied on operating in small groups to avoid detection, but so many people cannot remain unnoticed forever."
The black-robed acolyte paused before continuing.
"Without question, you have all heard strange or wonderful rumors recently. I hope you can forgive me for drawing you into danger."
Rumors of war had long spread throughout the city.
People whispered over oil-stained decks. Newspaper reporters spread all sorts of news like cancer, and even the lowest laborers in the city had heard something.
Likewise, wild and exaggerated rumors emerged one after another. All kinds of stories circulated about the saint and the miraculous power she possessed. People described how the dead had been revived, and how the Eternal Father