Cathedral of Mercury
As one of Ragunna's iconic landmarks, the Cathedral of Mercury is a must-visit spot for every traveler.
For the faithful of Rinascita, however, this place is an inviolable sanctuary in their hearts, not to be defiled or trespassed upon in the slightest.
Precisely for this reason, the rituals observed here are especially intricate and solemn.
"Is that the legendary Cathedral of Mercury?"
On Liberty Plaza, Changli stopped to gaze into the distance.
Across a winding, flowing river, the grand cathedral stood tall within the city of Ragunna on the opposite shore, its solemn silhouette reflected in the shimmering water.
A flicker of awe passed through her eyes.
Unlike Huanglong's reserved and elegant atmosphere, Rinascita, especially Ragunna, displayed a kind of imposing grandeur and dignity that commanded respect.
Even a visitor from afar like herself, upon seeing this structure with her own eyes, could deeply feel the weight and splendor of a different culture.
"It is also a holy land in the hearts of all who revere the Sentinel," Ray explained beside her. "Every year, countless pilgrims from different city-states journey to this land, solely to offer their devout prayers here."
Changli listened quietly, nodding slightly as if understanding.
She wasn't entirely unaware of the state of faith in Rinascita.
In Huanglong, the Sentinel was revered as a guide, but it had never given rise to such a concrete and devout system of belief.
Yet here, especially in Ragunna, the people's worship of the Sentinel was so pure, even approaching a kind of zealous fervor.
She turned, her gaze falling once more on the center of the plaza, where the colossal statue of the "Equus Piscis," the "Imperator," silently and majestically overlooked the city.
A moment later, Changli gave a faint shake of her head and let out a soft sigh, tinged with something like regret, or perhaps incomprehension.
Ray noticed the subtle change in her mood but said nothing. He simply hailed a gondola and invited Changli to go and see the cathedral for themselves.
The cathedral was sacred and solemn. Lining the path on both sides stood statue-like Vigil Sentinels, Resonant Husks, used by the Order to maintain order, guardians of Ragunna's peace.
Among the crowd were a few scattered tourists, but more were devout believers of the Sentinel, hailing from various city-states.
As they reached the cathedral entrance, an acolyte holding a scripture gently stopped them. "Welcome to the Cathedral of Mercury. The hall is open all day to receive all people. We ask that you both observe the etiquette and taboos set by the Order. Please refrain from causing disturbances, fighting, or any behavior contrary to the precepts within the hall."
Just as Ray was about to speak, a clear, surprised voice sounded beside them. "Huh? Is that Mr. Ray?"
That sweet, guileless voice could only belong to Phoebe.
She trotted lightly up to them and explained to the acolyte at the door, "Brother Giordano, these two are my friends."
"Ah, friends of Sister Phoebe," Acolyte Giordano's expression softened, and he nodded. "In that case, please explain the hall's rules and precepts to them."
"Alright, leave it to me."
With a gentle smile, Phoebe led Ray and Changli into the Cathedral of Mercury.
The atmosphere inside the cathedral was even more imposing, sacred and inviolable.
Changli slowly surveyed her surroundings, her eyes inadvertently revealing admiration and approval.
At this moment, she truly seemed like a visitor from afar, deeply captivated by the distant culture.
Phoebe walked quietly beside Ray, stealing glances at Changli's profile, her heart stirring with faint ripples.
'She's so beautiful...'
'She doesn't seem... like she's from Ragunna.'
'Wait, why do I care about Mr. Ray's acquaintances?'
'No, no, Phoebe, don't let your mind wander!'
'Mr. Ray is just Mr. Ray... I mustn't overstep!'
Seeming to sense the girl's gaze, Changli turned and offered her a gentle smile. "Hello, I'm Changli, a traveler from Huanglong."
"Eh, Hua... Huanglong?" Hearing the name, Phoebe showed a hint of surprise but quickly composed herself, replying softly, "I... I'm Phoebe, an acolyte of the Order of the Deep."
"Are you surprised?" Changli asked quietly.
Phoebe shifted slightly, a touch of fluster in her explanation. "Because in Ragunna, we rarely see travelers from so far away especially inside the cathedral. Most visitors come from other city-states within Rinascita."
"But I've read a little about Huanglong in books... I hear it's vast and rich in resources, with many wonderful things. Even though it's separated from Ragunna by vast oceans, if I ever get the chance, I'd love to see it for myself someday."
Hearing this, Changli offered a gentle smile. "I understand that feeling perfectly. Before coming to Ragunna, I held the same anticipation. If you ever do get the chance to visit Huanglong in the future, Sister Phoebe, you're always welcome to look me up in Jinzhou."
"Really?" Phoebe's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded earnestly. "Mm, I absolutely will!"
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Ray beside her, a sweet smile blooming on her face. "Oh, right, Mr. Ray. About what happened at the dessert shop earlier, I really must thank you. If you hadn't helped in time, the children would have been so disappointed."
"It was nothing," Ray replied with a calm smile. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."
"How could I keep imposing?" Phoebe quickly shook her head. "I can't trouble you all the time... Since that's the case, why don't I give you both a tour of the cathedral instead?"
While speaking, she pulled out her terminal and glanced at the time.
"Ah, and today happens to be the day for the choir performance," Phoebe's eyes lit up as she enthusiastically suggested. "It's a rare opportunity. Would you and Mr. Ray like to go listen, Miss Changli?"
The young girl clasped her hands together, her face full of eager anticipation as she awaited their response.
Changli gave a slight, graceful nod. "I'd be delighted."
As for Ray, he had already promised Phoebe he would come to see the choir perform.
Since today happened to be the day, there was naturally no reason to miss it.
"Sure," Ray said.
Seeing both agree, a bright smile instantly spread across Phoebe's face. She enthusiastically added, "But there's still some time before the performance starts. How about taking this chance to try the special sacrament meal prepared by our Order?"
At the mention of "sacrament meal," the smile on Ray's face froze instantly.
Changli, however, showed a flicker of interest. "A sacrament meal? What is it like?"
"It's a complimentary dish distributed by the Order," Phoebe explained. "It's called Green Branch Laurel Salad."
"Salad? That sounds worth trying," Changli nodded.
Ray couldn't help but voice a warning. "I'd suggest... it's better not to."
"Why?" Changli looked at him, puzzled. "There's an old saying in Huanglong: 'Since we're already here.' It's just a salad, how remarkable could it be?"
Some time later...
Changli took a careful taste of the sacrament meal she'd received, thoughtfully evaluating it. "Hmm... the flavor profile is indeed quite tart and astringent, making it rather difficult to enjoy. However, if some chili peppers were added as a complementary ingredient to mask part of the sourness, I believe its overall appeal could be significantly improved. Um... why are you both looking at me like that?"
...
...
Meanwhile.
The Second Daughter of the Montelli family was busy with her work.