Inside the golden-lit church, the candlelight flickered brightly and the sound of prayer echoed loud and clear.
Bathed in its warm glow, the gathered congregation wore solemn expressions.
Today was the Day of Worship—also known as the Day of Descent or the Day of Salvation—a sacred day observed by all sects of the Pan-Glory faith.
Even in a remote place like Ark Town, the Holy Candle Day Church was required to hold service under the guidance of its stationed priest.
Standing before the altar, Mog donned his formal priestly robe, holding the Grace of Radiance in his hands.
He recited solemnly, “We shall remember the ones who gathered kindling, for it is their fire that burns hot, and their light that shines bright…”
The congregation below followed in chorus: “We shall remember those who walked through the flames, for through their sacrifice, our sins may be forgiven…”
Once the service concluded, Priest Mog distributed bread, dried meat, and wine to each believer.
Most who came to worship were familiar faces—people he could call by name, many of whom had benefited from his aid in the past.
“Priest Mog, truly, thank you. My son recovered the moment he used the holy water.”
“All is by the grace of Radiance.”
As dusk approached and the last believer departed, Mog’s devout expression faded into cold indifference. He glanced behind him—Li Wen, cloaked and silent, had appeared without a sound.
“We can begin the ritual now,” she said.
The ritual for promoting a witch’s acolyte was known as the “Rite of Dawn and Dusk’s Birth.”
【Rite of Dawn and Dusk’s Birth (Dusk)】
【Knowledge – Ritual – Advancement (Phase One)】
【Requirements: The Final Codex, twelve offerings to the Pillar God】
【Dawn and Dusk were born from the first birthing of the Old Days. Since then, Radiance has known no rest.】
【The ritual must be conducted at the hour before dawn. By offering twelve sacrifices to the Pillar God, one may be promoted to the rank of Witch’s Acolyte.】
【Step 1: Prepare an empty church—any denomination will do—as long as it lies under dusk’s shadow. The interior must be spacious. Along the four cardinal directions, place the following Four Sacred Items clockwise: an inverted golden basin, a silver goblet filled with fruit wine, an intact bronze mirror, and a dried sprig of mistletoe.】
【Step 2: Mix laurel leaves, mercury, dark pine resin, and blood sulfur in a 2:5:2:1 ratio to create Soul-Cleansing Elixir. Using this elixir, draw the main ritual array [Birth Rite of Dawn and Dusk], centered around the point of intersection between the Four Sacred Items.】
【Step 3: Thirteen meters from the central ritual array, evenly draw twelve subsidiary arrays [Dirge of Lamentation], using the Soul-Cleansing Elixir.】
【Step 4: Beneath each subsidiary array, bury a piece of clear amber weighing thirteen grams or more. Place one of the twelve offerings to the Pillar God atop each one.】
【Step 5: Place The Final Codex at the center of the main array. Then, in a clockwise order, shatter the bronze mirror, drain the silver goblet, set the golden basin upright, and burn the mistletoe.】
【Step 6: Chant the Eternal Hymn of the Ancient Dusk and The First Admonition of Grellion. With this, the ritual shall commence.】
To avoid anyone interfering with the ritual, Li Wen waited until all the worshippers had left before beginning the array.
She worked quickly, racing to complete the drawings before nightfall.
The Soul-Cleansing Elixir had been prepared the previous evening.
Most of the materials were sourced from the Candle Day Church itself, and the missing components were supplied from old Sam’s store of reagents.
Mog stared at the unfamiliar ritual patterns on the ground in silence.
By the time Li Wen made the final stroke, the elixir had been used up perfectly.
She tossed aside the oak branch she’d used as a brush and said calmly, “Now all that’s left are the offerings.”
The main array—the Birth Rite of Dawn and Dusk—was now drawn within the church, and the Four Sacred Items had been placed accordingly.
Outside, the twelve auxiliary arrays were also complete, each with a large enough piece of amber buried beneath it.
Preparations were finished.
All that remained was for the Grand Rite Order to deliver the offerings so the final step could proceed.
“Let us hope all goes according to the mentor’s will.”
Beneath the shadow of dusk, Mog cast Li Wen a long, searching glance.
While waiting, Li Wen returned to the nuns’ dormitory.
Young Sister Luna brought her the leftover bread, dried meat, and juice from the worship service.
But… juice?
“Miss Meifert probably isn’t old enough to be drinking wine yet…”
Li Wen didn’t bother correcting the mistaken name. Instead, she noticed the girl looked like she wanted to speak but hesitated.
“If there’s something on your mind, say it. I won’t tell Mog.”
She chewed on the jerky.
It had been prepared days in advance and didn’t taste great to begin with.
And considering this so-called “holy communion” was symbolic of the saint’s flesh and blood in legend, the meat in her mouth turned even more flavorless.
“It’s not about Priest Mog!” the girl said quickly, her cheeks flushing red.
“It’s just that… this afternoon, I saw it. You were preparing some kind of ritual, weren’t you?”
What did a nun need to care about that for?
“Yes, you’re right.”
Li Wen didn’t intend to hide it.
After all, Sister Luna had been watching from a distance while she drew the arrays.
“It’s a very important ritual.”
The unspoken message: Don’t interfere.
“That’s amazing. I wonder when I’ll be able to help Priest Mog too.”
The girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Li Wen, however, couldn’t help thinking darkly: the only time that would happen is if the little nun was used as a sacrifice in one of Mog’s sinister ceremonies.
“By the way, I never asked—why did you become a nun?”
Li Wen didn’t actually want to know.
But her previous thoughts had been so bleak, even she felt guilty.
She needed to change the subject fast.
Clergy in the Candle Day Church were required to remain celibate for life.
Ordinary families rarely wanted their children to become clergy.
Even though the church offered generous benefits and a high standard of living, many still believed that poverty was preferable to leaving no descendants behind.
Sister Luna’s expression dimmed.
“I joined the church two years ago. At the time… a pack of beasts attacked our village from the forest. Many died… including my parents. Priest Mog saved me.”
“He was just like a hero from the scriptures—single-handedly driving the beasts away and bringing me back to the church.”
“That’s really lucky of you.”
Anyone who knew Li Wen would’ve instantly caught the sarcasm laced in her words.
But the young nun only heard sincerity.
“Mm! Even though Mom and Dad are gone, I know their souls are praying for me from the Radiant Hall above.”
With that, she closed her eyes and offered a long, heartfelt prayer.
Meanwhile, Li Wen heard something stir outside.
She rose and left the dormitory.
At the entrance stood Mog, his voice low and cold: “They’ve come. The offerings are in the church.”
Li Wen nodded.
“Then let’s begin the ritual.”
Tftc!