When the clergy finished their lead singing, the mass choir began chanting hymns following a dual-track arrangement of 'children's voices + adult voices'.
Listening to the ethereal singing of the choir on stage, Altair couldn't help but feel it was a pity that there were few elves in the choir of the Church of the Night.
When it came to which choir had the most prestige, it would have to be the 'Storm Old Pigeons'. The singing of elves was ethereal, melodious, and beautiful, possessing innate magic that could directly strike the spirit body and influence emotions and mind.
It was a pity; she probably wouldn't be able to hear it in the future. As she thought about it, a voice seemed to ring in Altair's ears.
"Break, break, break! On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! Break, break, break! O Sea..."
Regarding this singing, Altair could only say: His... singing is quite magical, uh... the kind of magic that affects people.
After the hymn, the priest ascended the pulpit to read from the Bible, specifically the 'Book of Wisdom' and 'Epistles of the Saints' from the 'the revelation of night'.
Once the explanation was finished, most people began to stand up one by one and step forward to drop varying amounts of gold pounds into the offering box.
When it reached the row where Altair was seated, Audrey's father, Earl Hall, stood up first to set an example for her.
Altair took fifty 10-gold pound notes from her maid Irene and followed Earl Hall's movements to complete her donation.
As time passed and the donation period neared its end, the clergy brought out the Eucharist. Everyone, regardless of status, lined up in order to receive the meal before the altar.
After receiving the Eucharist, Altair returned to her seat with it. Looking at the Eucharistic wine in her hand, she could clearly sense a faint spirituality emanating from it.
She raised the 'laced wine' to her nose and sniffed it; Altair determined that a trace of evening primrose juice had been added, which would help with sleep and soothe one's spirituality after consumption.
While drinking the wine, she thought to herself: 'This feels like a good Eucharist. It seems I'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight.'
The conclusion of the Eucharist marked the end of the mass. People in nearby seats began to greet each other and prepared to leave together.
Altair chose not to leave the prayer hall with the others, instead choosing to stay where she was.
After the crowd dispersed, an elderly man walked toward Altair from the side door of the prayer hall. He had deep-set eyes, a clean-shaven face, and wore an archbishop's robe with a black background and red patterns. Five dark sacred emblems were pinned to his chest; his aura was peaceful yet held a hidden deterrent.
Seeing the newcomer, Altair stood up immediately and tapped four times clockwise on her chest, drawing the symbol of the crimson moon as she spoke:
"Praise the Goddess. Good afternoon, Archbishop Saint Anthony."
The old man also tapped four times on his chest and replied calmly, "Praise the Goddess. Good afternoon, Countess Sheffield."
"Please follow me."
Altair nodded and glanced sideways at Irene, signaling her to wait there. She then followed Archbishop Anthony away from the hall and into the depths of Saint Samuel Cathedral.
After several twists and turns, they arrived at an unnamed but very quiet study deep within Saint Samuel Cathedral.
Archbishop Anthony gestured for Altair to take a seat wherever she liked. He then walked to the bookshelf behind the desk against the wall and pulled out a thick book.
Opening it casually, Anthony looked at Altair and asked, "Countess Sheffield, are you certain you wish to believe in the Evernight Goddess? It is not too late to regret it now. Once I register you, you will have to bear the consequences of any future conversion yourself."
Altair nodded and looked at him with a firm gaze. "I am certain, Archbishop Anthony."
Seeing her expression, Archbishop Anthony nodded silently. He sat down, turned to a blank page, and picked up a fountain pen prepared on the desk. He began to register Altair's name, family, date of faith, and other information, officially entering her into the parish's register of believers.
After writing everything down, Archbishop Anthony presented Altair with a silver star-and-moon ornament and a copy of the 'the revelation of night'.
Based on Anthony's introduction, Altair understood the function of this amulet. It had a faint effect of soothing spirituality, helping her resist minor nightmares or spiritual disturbances at night.
Then, Archbishop Anthony asked as a matter of routine, "Do you plan to leave Backlund anytime soon? How is your home security? Do you need the Church to arrange security personnel?"
Altair smiled and explained to Archbishop Anthony, "I will be returning to my ancestral lands for the winter soon. I will return to Backlund around next spring."
"As for security, you needn't worry. There are still some guards left in the family guard my father left behind, which is enough to ensure my safety."
Anthony thought for a moment, then nodded and said to Altair, "If you encounter any Beyonder matters you cannot resolve in the future, you can contact the Church directly. The Church can provide you with appropriate assistance..."
"I remember your family's ancestral land is in Morse Town, Tingen City, Ahowa County. If you go back for the winter, you can attend services at the nearby Saint Selena Cathedral in Tingen City."
"I will write a letter soon to the Bishop of Saint Selena Cathedral, asking him to provide you with whatever help he can."
After Archbishop Anthony finished speaking, Altair smiled and thanked him. "Then I am truly grateful to you."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two bid each other farewell and left the study.
Altair understood perfectly why a single polite refusal led Archbishop Anthony not to assign her security personnel.
After all, even though Backlund was a core parish of the Church of the Night in the Kingdom of Loen, the estimated number of Beyonders was only around a hundred.
These people were a limited resource. If someone were assigned to protect Altair long-term, it would mean one Beyonder would be on long-term external duty and unable to perform Church missions.
When Altair returned to the prayer hall, she led Irene toward the main doors, preparing to leave the cathedral.
Just as she stepped out of the doors, she saw Audrey's family. When they saw Altair come out, Earl Hall himself stepped forward to invite her.
"Good day, Countess Altair. I wonder if you have any free time this afternoon. My beloved daughter would like to invite you to join us for lunch."
Hearing Earl Hall's words, Altair turned slightly to look at Audrey behind him and noticed her 'aggrieved emotions'.
Turning back to Earl Hall with a smile, she said:
"In that case, I shall gladly accept. I apologize for the intrusion this afternoon, Earl Hall."
"You are too kind," Earl Hall said with a beaming smile. "Then I shall head off first. We shall see you at the manor shortly."
"See you shortly," Altair replied with a smile.