A kind soul

Neph and Nim looked outside together. Beyond them lay a broad open space, which Neph knew was Central Square. Whenever there was important news, Nim would stand on the raised platform at its center to announce it. Moon City's ceremonies were held there as well.

The view from here really was excellent, and Neph was very pleased. Two days later, she stood here once again.

High Priest Nim was already on the platform in Central Square. A layer of pristine frost flowers spread beneath his feet, and beside him stood an Ice Coffin about half a person's height. Neph estimated it was roughly one meter high, three meters long, and one meter wide.

People stood at regular intervals around the square, forming a circle, each holding a lantern.

Moon City's lanterns were different from those of the outside world. They were wrapped in animal hide, with frames built from animal bones. When Neph first saw them, her only thought was that these lanterns surely did not suit the Southern Continent's aesthetic. They ought to have used human bones instead.

People were gradually gathering in the square. Neph glanced at Nim on the platform and muttered softly:

"The attendees aren't here yet, but the leader running the meeting has already arrived. Now that's a rare sight..."

She looked back at the clock that had come from Amon. After erasing the traces belonging to him, Neph was no longer quite so afraid of it. She studied it: there were still over ten minutes until the next hour. Her conversation with Nim came back to her.

"I'm a little curious," she had asked, looking at Nim. "How did you notify everyone else? I didn't notice anything at all."

"Do you remember the people quarantined beneath the Black Tower?" Nim had replied with a smile. "I removed the corruption from most of them. Once their conditions stabilized, they returned home and took the news with them."

It was not a particularly surprising method. Neph pulled herself out of her memories, sat in a nearby chair, and took out a book to read.

There are still over ten minutes left. Can't waste them.

"Tick."

The instant the clock chimed the hour, Neph was about to put down her book when her body, mind, and spirit entered a wondrous state. Sensing what was coming, she closed her eyes. An illusory sound of shattering rang in her ears, as though something was dissolving and merging with her own spirit.

Neph knew this meant her potion had been fully digested. She smiled, set down her book, and rose to walk to the window. The ceremony in the square had begun as well.

Neph was unsure how Nim was amplifying his voice, but she could hear his speech clearly even from here. It was rather different from the speeches by leaders she remembered, because Nim's feelings were exceptionally sincere:

"...Our thousand years of perseverance have finally received an answer. The Lord has sent His envoy to our side. She is the Lord's Subordinate Deity, known as the God of Winter...

"...The Lord has been watching over us all along...

"...Bid farewell to the past and welcome a new Sun...

"...Write down the misfortunes of your past, place them in the Ice Coffin, and bury them along with that past..."

After his heartfelt speech, the atmosphere grew solemn. Four people stepped forward and removed the lid of the Ice Coffin. Then the residents of Moon City began approaching it.

They seemed to follow a particular order. Sometimes one person went up, sometimes two or three, and sometimes four or five. Each held a sheet of paper.

Everyone placed their paper inside the Ice Coffin. Neph watched for quite some time before confirming that they were probably approaching by household.

Neph began counting almost without thinking. Moon City did not have many people. Even after everyone had gone up, there were fewer than three thousand-not even enough for the ritual of a Spectator Demigod.

...Oh, no, they have plenty of Beyonders. Quality makes up for quantity, so they should still have enough.

The Ice Coffin was closed again. Then, as though they had rehearsed it, the crowd raised their right hands in unison, clenched them into fists, and held them before their foreheads. Neph heard their uneven voices:

"Great God of Winter,

"You are the keeper of all memories, the witness to all things;

"You are the sovereign of ice and snow;

"You are the end of all that fades..."

This was precisely the honorific name Neph had given them. The Blank Canvas stirred, and a chill spread through the room. Neph resisted the urge to let go of the Blank Canvas and continued watching.

They recited the honorific name three times in total, then fell silent again. Someone brought up a bucket, which Neph recognized as A Bucket of White Paint, the very one she had given Nim. After a moment's thought, she realized this might count as the "miracle" that should have appeared.

...Is it because I'm not capable of displaying a "miracle" yet? Huh, come to think of it, where did their ice and frost flowers come from... did they make them by hand?

Neph shook her head. Nim took A Bucket of White Paint and began speaking again:

"This is a gift from the God of Winter. She named it 'A Bucket of White Paint.' A Bucket of White Paint can remove corruption, whether from people, objects, or even the food we eat.

"We have already tested it beneath the Black Tower. Apart from those whose symptoms are particularly severe, all the residents quarantined there have now returned to their families..."

The residents of Moon City clearly already knew about this. Although there was a stir, it was not particularly loud, and Nim continued his speech:

"...Perhaps one day, no more children will be born deformed...

"Of course, it is more likely that we will never have the chance to see that day. The God of Winter has promised me that, in two years, someone will bring a miracle to this land and grant us true salvation..."

As his last words fell, endless cheers erupted. People jumped and bounced, and Neph could not tell who started it, but their jumbled voices gradually came together into a unified cry:

"Praise the God of Winter!

"Praise the God of Winter!

"Praise the God of Winter!"

The cheers rose louder and louder, ringing without end. Watching this scene, Neph murmured thoughtfully to herself:

"Perhaps I won't need to digest the Winter Envoy potion anymore. Spreading the word to this extent is definitely enough.

"Dirge Poet is more troublesome... Hmm, I wonder whether Moon City's past funerals count as funerals? That's a bit of a stretch, really... or perhaps the True Creator's status is enough?

"Well, the status of a true god ought to be enough no matter what. After all, I'm only digesting a Sequence 8 potion...

"In that case, I'll soon be able to advance to Sequence 6. By then, the Blank Canvas should undergo some changes...

"In the optimistic scenario, I can use that to ask the True Creator for help and reach the other end of the Forsaken Land of the Gods. In the less optimistic scenario..."

Neph paused, raised a hand to press between her brows, and sounded troubled as she said, "...How am I supposed to get there?"

A soft chuckle came from behind her.

Neph heard a voice whose every syllable carried an explosive crack:

"How about I help you?"