"Agnegn! Agnegn!"
"God said."
"I swear by my immortality."
"Every knee shall bow before me."
"Every mouth shall confess to me."
"God's glory illuminates the mystery hidden in silence since ancient times."
"Strengthen our hearts."
"This mystery has now been revealed."
"And according to the command of immortal Agnegn."
"Through the books of the prophets, it is made known to the people of all nations, so that they may believe and obey."
"Forever and ever."
"Agnegn! Agnegn!"①
The little merfolk's clear, ethereal voices echoed through the fish-skin tent, creating a sacred atmosphere. In such an atmosphere, even someone as carefree as Senior Colmar wore a hint of solemnity.
Although Zheng Qing had not studied religion much, he encountered plenty of it in his usual studies because it involved occult knowledge. From the hymn chanted by the little merfolk, he easily deduced that the god worshipped by these wandering merfolk was called "Agnegn."
The old merfolk's next words confirmed it.
"Agnegn! Our god!"
It praised him in a deep, chanting tone. Then its voice returned to normal as it introduced him to the guests. "When we wander, he protects us from being hunted by demons, harassed by wizards, and toyed with by flood dragons... But when we stop, he dons the Dragon Skin Cloak and rests within the shrine."
"Agnegn! Our god!" the little merfolk sang in unison.
Zheng Qing could not help shuddering.
Supported by two little merfolk, the Merfolk Old Priest trembled to its feet, leaning on a Bone Staff as it walked to one side of the long table. Only then did Zheng Qing notice a stone platform over a meter high beside the table. A broad, heavy cloak covered it, and from where the guests stood, he could only see a foot or so of stone base