### Chapter 4: The Church of Light (8)
The prison guards, despite their usual confinement within the cells, had social networks sprawling like a spiderweb throughout the Imperial Capital.
When the Messenger and his entourage left the prison, news of the God of Light’s arrival spread like wildfire, infecting everyone within moments.
“Ah, now I see! How silly of us!
The other day, all seven grand churches in the Imperial Capital were blanketed in holy light amidst the snowstorm. It was the sign of the God of Light’s imminent arrival!
How foolish we were not to sense the profound meaning behind the divine light and to waste our time with worries!
If only we had understood the truth, we would have surely stayed up all night reciting doctrines and singing hymns in preparation!”
A red-robed archbishop lamented his own late realization.
“Your Grace, the Messenger of Light has entered the Imperial Palace. Why don’t we seek an audience with the esteemed Messenger and pray for blessings from the God of Light?”
“Exactly, Your Grace! We can’t let the other churches get ahead of us!”
“Your Grace, don’t hesitate any longer! While we are all family in the Church of Light, there are still close and distant relations. If the Messenger remembers the other churches, we might get left out!”
The congregation chimed in, resulting in the archbishop looking increasingly impatient.
“Fine! It’s our duty as faithful followers to meet the Messenger sooner and hear the word of the God of Light.”
However, as soon as these followers stepped outside the church, they found that the followers from other churches had already flooded the streets, leaving them in the dust.
“Wow, these rascals are faster than us!”
“Quick, quick! Let’s catch up! If they get ahead, we’ll be out of luck!”
In mere moments, the news of the God of Light’s arrival spread like the wind as the followers rushed from every corner of the capital toward the Imperial Palace.
Amidst this throng, high above in a tall building’s tower, stood a shadow clad in a sleek, cool long dress, coldly observing them.
Her golden hair danced in the wind, and the view of her chest, as white as glistening snow, was quite the distraction.
As she watched the crowd trampling the streets into black muck, she finally turned away, disappearing into the howling northern wind.
She was none other than Janet, the Dean of the Harpist Academy.
She had appeared and vanished quietly, primarily to assess how effectively she could rally the followers of Light onto the streets.
Undoubtedly, the results satisfied her immensely.
Surely, the Messenger would commend her efficient work…
As long as what she did could save the Empire from crisis, she was determined to bend over backward to make it happen.
After graduating from the academy, harpists were no longer bound by its authority and could control their own fate.
However, if they ever hoped to play their harps again, they needed to keep in touch with the academy.
A harp born from one’s spirit, if left untouched, would wilt away with time.
To restore that harp to its former glory, one would need the academy’s assistance.
Plus, the nobility married harpists not just for status, but also to train the next generation of harpists.
So, these married harpists would always do the academy a favor, and unless it was something particularly burdensome, they would heed the dean’s requests.
For instance, this time, at the behest of the Messenger, they had to gather all the followers of Light outside the church and block the Imperial Palace gates.
The key speakers in this endeavor mostly hailed from the noble circles, their words weighed heavily due to their status. Even the red-robed archbishops had to think twice before dismissing their advice.
So far, things looked promising.
The married harpists were playing a significant role in this situation.
A few words from them were hardly demanding; it was an opportunity for the academy to write a note in their favor, so why not do a little more?
Almost all the followers of Light stormed out of churches, jamming the streets surrounding the Imperial Palace.
They shouted for the God of Light, waving their arms in hopes of getting a personal audience with the Messenger.
Meanwhile, onlookers gathered around the palace in layers, like layers of an onion.
“Did the Church of Light churn out a Messenger too?”
“I don’t believe it. Just jumping on the bandwagon!”
“Ha! Is it a good day or something? First the Goddess of Destiny, then the Messenger of Harmony, and now the Messenger of Light? Are the followers competing for attention? Does the God need to descend personally?”
“Shh… Don’t say that! Can’t you see the followers of Light look like they might eat you alive?”
Curiosity seekers wanted a glimpse of the Messenger of Light.
For the past few days, rumors that the capital faced apocalyptic doom hadn’t ceased, and so far, only the Church of Light claimed they could save the followers.
Many hesitated to join the Church of Light; who knew if it was true or not? At least for now, it provided them with some comfort.
……
In the grand hall of the Imperial Palace.
Bel watched as the solemn-faced Morris, shimmering with a hint of golden light, approached him.
This man, who was nominally the Pope of the Church of Light yet the Emperor in name, had no choice but to rise and greet the Messenger on equal footing in front of the onlookers.
Before Morris arrived, Soros, who had returned earlier, briefed Bel on all that had transpired in the prison.
“A miracle! It must be a miracle!”
That typically composed guard’s voice swelled with excitement as he recalled the golden feathers falling, making Bel want to drag him down several times.
“For the God of Light! Who would have thought Count Morris would be blessed by the divine and become the Messenger? This undeniably enhances the Empire’s prestige!
All of us devotees of the Church of Light will feel the grace of the divine because of your arrival!”
Bel regarded the Messenger.
Morris maintained a poker face but soon seemed to realize he was addressing the Emperor and the Pope of the Church, finally cracking a smile.
“I am truly honored to meet Your Majesty. The prosperity of the Church of Light in the Empire greatly depends on your unwavering support. On behalf of the God of Light, I extend my heartfelt gratitude.”
“Your Grace, you’re too kind!” Bel beamed.
The historic meeting between the Messenger and the Emperor had nearly everyone in the palace buzzing with anticipation.
They had been loyal followers since the Church of Light’s inception, and now they couldn’t believe they would witness the Messenger in person! This would certainly be a highlight in their religious journey, a memory they would cherish forever.
“Your Grace, this way please.”
Bel gestured toward the reception room at the back of the hall.
Morris gladly complied.
Though there was a touch of anxiety in his heart, the encouragement from Lord Lin eased his fears.
