Free Web NovelChapter 820: Chapter 93: The Sensual Baptism and Celebration, Arrival of Many Allied Forces
As Su Li returned to Heisen Castle to make his preparations, the selections held in the various villages and Knight Orders throughout Hesse Territory were already basically complete.
By now the atmosphere across the entire Territory had reached a fevered climax. The arenas in every village had completed their trials, and then, under the joint guidance of the village chiefs, Priests, and Knight Lords, bronze braziers were set up as decorations throughout the villages.
The newly cast bronze vessels gleamed with the iconic radiance of the Sun Goddess Violet. It was said these were called the "Neva Cauldron," a type of container forged in commemoration of Violet’s ascent to godhood, its surface reliefs depicting the legend of Violet piercing the Great Demon of Slaughter with her Long Lance.
Without a doubt, this was a textbook case of doctrinal export. In the central and northern regions of the Empire, people believed that only the Divine Emperor Redema had ascended from mortal to god.
After this Radiant Competition Festival of the Sun Goddess, the doctrines of the Mirmidya Church would spread even further.
On the eve of the grand celebration, the Vane Cauldrons flared to life in blazing flames across the whole breadth of the Territory, driving away the Darkness. The dense Divine Grace had already begun to descend, and the erosion of Chaos was reduced to its lowest ebb.
The people of this world have good reason for their "superstition." To resist the corrosion of Chaos and preserve the purity of humankind, one must fanatically devote oneself to a single Divine Spirit. Only with absolute piety in thought can one use one faith, one Divine Power, to stand against the corruption of another Chaos Evil God. Thus, the more ignorant and superstitious a person is, the harder it is for them to be enticed by the Chaos Evil Gods.
The faithful of Hesse Territory were without question deeply devout to the Sun Goddess, and on this special holy day, their worship and faith reached a pinnacle. Therefore, any Transcendent or Priest with even a slight Perception Ability could feel the resplendent Divine Grace the Sun Goddess poured down upon the entire Territory.
That ever-present Wind of Chaos which eroded humankind was noticeably eased, and every soul bathed in Divine Grace could feel an unprecedented lightness and joy.
Though the Sun Goddess was not as lavish as the Dawn Goddess Reya, she was still a comparatively generous Divine Spirit. This time she scattered her Grace broadly, allowing everyone in the Territory—from Knights and Priests, down to gangsters and ruffians—to feel the might of her blessing.
Yet the glory that made the Territory blaze and glitter was not the gift of the Sun Goddess alone. As the golden sun of the Summer Solstice rose, the holy radiance of Tal as well shone down upon the earth.
Since last year, the Territory and its Priests had already foreseen that this year would be a relatively peaceful summer, and events had unfolded exactly as everyone had expected.
When the first ray of Dawn brushed bright across the horizon, the rising sun, like a golden brush, slowly washed the distant mountains and seas of cloud in a fervent glow. The azure sky was limpid and clear, as if rinsed in pure water. Far-off clouds, like heaps of cotton carved by the wind, layered and intertwined, soft as velvet, roaming like flocks of sheep. Caressed by the warm breeze, they shifted their shapes from moment to moment, sketching out a lively contour for this pastoral Territory and its boundless clear firmament. Heaven and earth together unfurled a dreamlike painting, beauty enough to intoxicate the soul.
And this day was indeed a blessed one. With the first ray of the morning sun, men and women throughout the Territory began to gather by ponds and rivers to commence the baptism of summer.
The celebration of the Sun Goddess would begin a bit later, not opening until near noon, so it did not delay the people of the Territory from first joyfully partaking in the Summer Solstice baptism.
Under the blessing of the Divine Power of both Divine Spirits, all Monsters and evils shrank back in fear into their lairs. Vampires, Undead, and Demons alike retreated, on this day, into the dark shadows between yin and yang.
Meanwhile, the folk of the Territory were suffused with festive joy. Wealthier city dwellers even changed into newly bought holiday finery, waving sun emblems crafted from colored paper and ribbons.
The handmaidens of Tal distributed prepared Protective Talismans by the water sources. Most were still simple Talismans made of feathers and stones, which, under the blessing of the strong Summer Solstice sunlight, possessed the faintest power of repulsion and Purification.
Pause
This year, however, the Tal Church had also grown. The Territory now had six handmaidens of Tal, and more than three hundred believers in the Church, so they had gained a certain strength. Among the many Talismans, they slipped in a batch of stronger ones, including [Purification Talisman], [Wild Talisman], [Vigorous Talisman], and the like. Unlike ordinary Talismans whose effects lasted only for a single cycle, these could even remain effective forever.
This caused a sensation among the people of the Territory. Large crowds gathered at every Talisman distribution point; even outsiders were drawn in to join this Territory’s festival, sending the fame of the Tal Church soaring. Many commoners who had previously known nothing of Tal’s doctrine now learned a great deal of its teachings.
This move by Lunadeshan could be prettily termed "handing out benefits," but in truth it was gambling through and through, exploiting the Empire’s citizens’ passion for wagering—letting them draw lots, and thereby distributing the Territory’s welfare.
Still, this matter did no real harm, and in any case the people of the Territory weren’t made to pay. Preaching by such means—once the benefits pause, their faith instantly drops to zero.
What truly made the Tal Church sweep across the Territory and win the people’s fervent devotion was still that traditional wild style of theirs and their baptismal rites.
Because there would be the grand festival of the Sun Goddess at noon today, the Knights—who usually received their baptisms at midday—also came early in the morning to take part in the rite.
