“You don’t know?” Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Is it not written in the New Moon Canon?”
Impossible. Back in the day, it was clearly written that the Saintess was to be provided with special desserts.
There was no reason for that to stop once she became a goddess. Was the Archbishop really that clueless?
“The Canon...”
Modi looked dazed for a moment, then as if remembering something, he snapped his head up.
“Wait.”
He hurriedly pulled a small, pocket-sized copy of the Canon from his robes. The book was clearly well-worn; the spine was cracked, and the pages were stuffed with small slips of paper and handwritten notes.
Modi’s fingers trembled as he flipped toward the back of the book.
“In Volume Thirty-Seven, the ‘Supplement to the Rituals During the Period of the Saintess Acting on Behalf of the Moon Goddess,’ there does seem to be a passage...”
As he read on, his expression grew increasingly strange.
“For the Full Moon Rite, in addition to silver candles, pure water, moon salt, stainless cloth, and astral incense, one must also prepare... Honey Almond Cookies, candied dried fruit, crescent pastries, and milk jelly. If fresh berries are available, they are preferred.”
Modi: “...”
Miaoyue nodded vigorously.
Sophie crossed her arms and frowned. “Keep reading.”
Modi swallowed hard.
“Note One: This entry was personally added by the Thirteenth Archbishop, the Bishop Council, and the Saintess Council.”
“Note Two: The Fourteenth Ritualist Archbishop believes that ‘sweets’ may be a symbolic term for a certain type of sacrificial offering in Ancient Moon-tongue and should not be interpreted literally.”
“Note Three: The Twenty-First Canon Revision Committee believes this entry is too frivolous and detrimental to the dignity of an orthodox religion. It is recommended to remove it from the formal rituals.”
“Note Four: The Twenty-Seventh Ritualists believe that honey, almonds, dried fruit, and milk symbolize the soul, bone, flesh, and purity, respectively. Therefore, they may be replaced with higher-tier spiritual materials.”
“Note Five: The Thirty-Third Bishop Council ruled that sweets are not essential offerings, but their symbolic meaning must be preserved. If a ritual fails to receive a response, the purity of the offerings should be increased.”
“The Canon does indeed have this entry,” Modi said. “However, it hasn't been formally practiced for over two hundred years.”
Sophie: “...”
The original divine oracle: Give the Moon Goddess some sweets.
The Twenty-First generation’s interpretation: Sweets aren't dignified enough.
The Twenty-Seventh generation’s interpretation: Sweets symbolize souls and flesh.
The Thirty-Third generation’s execution: Then let’s just offer souls and flesh directly.
You people...
Offering her human flesh and souls every day instead of sweets... Honestly, you’re lucky she hasn't slapped you all into oblivion, let alone grant you blessings.
“Since the Saintess mentioned sweets, I will immediately order someone to purchase them...” Modi said quickly.
“No need.” Sophie shook her head. “In a moment, I will personally take the Goddess to walk among the common people to experience their hardships.”
“Do I have to go too?” Miaoyue asked in a small voice.
“I’m taking you to eat good food,” Sophie whispered back. “So do me a favor and make them listen to me, alright, Goddess?”
Miaoyue’s eyes lit up.
She stepped out from behind Sophie.
The black-haired, purple-eyed girl stood barefoot in the center of the blood-stained, abandoned theater. Her complex, ancient ceremonial gown trailed on the ground, the hem catching a bit of dust, yet it still couldn't mask the majestic radiance she possessed—a glow that set her apart from the mortal world.
Modi and the New Moon cultists held their breath almost simultaneously.
The Moon Goddess was about to descend a divine oracle.
Miaoyue cleared her throat twice, making sure her voice was clear and not muffled by food.
“Ahem, cough.”
She spoke with a serious expression: “My... um, my believers.”
Everyone in the theater immediately prostrated themselves.
For this generation of New Moon cultists, this was the very first oracle they had ever received.
“Saintess Sophie is my Saintess.”
“Her words are my words.”
“Her actions are my actions.”
“In the future, you must listen to her.”
Miaoyue thought for a moment and then added:
“Do not let her be lonely... you must make her happy always.”
All the New Moon cultists shouted in unison, pressing their foreheads to the ground as dictated by ritual:
“We follow Your will!”
Modi, in particular, was moved to tears, his eyes brimming with emotion.
How many years had it been since the New Moon cultists had received a divine oracle?
The seat of the Archbishop had gathered dust for years, and of the three bishops, he was the only one left.
He had thought this ancient sect, which had endured for a millennium, would end in his hands.
But now...
The New Moon Sect was flourishing!
The fact that the Moon Goddess trusted the Saintess so much was also good news.
After all, in his eyes, the Saintess belonged to the Traditionalists...
“Mhm, mhm. So, I’ve decided that starting today, our New Moon Sect will undergo a major transformation. Let’s start with the name. A new name for a new beginning. Why don't we call it the New Moon Far-Trading Chamber of Commerce?” Sophie suggested after some thought.
“Chamber... Chamber of Commerce?”
Rate on N.U.
