Yin Luna was much busier than Xia De, so Xia De did not stay in Blackstone Security Company for long and left soon.
After that, he did not go home, but took advantage of the time he had today to go out and visit Reverend Augustus at the Dawn Church. As it happened that today was Sunday, the priest took Shad to attend the service, talked about some religious topics with Bishop Owen, and let Shad have lunch at the church at noon.
After lunch, Shade had time to talk about his own affairs. First of all, he asked the priest Augustus to investigate the Wise Man of the Old God. Then he handed the notebook to the priest, which contained the formula of Miss Violet's improved "Anti-Fire Potion". Shade had changed the names of the materials in the Fifth Epoch to the Sixth Epoch names according to the content of the Witch's Resonance.
Father Augustus took a look:
"Oh? Did you copy this from an ancient book?"
"Do you know this recipe?"
“Of course, but it’s a recipe that’s out.”
Reverend Augustus said as the two chatted in the priest's room in the church and the priest returned the notebook to Shad.
“It’s been eliminated.”
Shade sighed slightly, but was also quite relieved. This meant that alchemy was constantly developing, and even the formula of the Thirteen-Ring Witch would be eliminated one day.
"Although the details are different, it is indeed that recipe. Oh, it was eliminated not because of its poor effect. In fact, this is the most effective method for preparing the anti-fire potion so far. It is even called the extremely effective anti-fire potion in some books. From the perspective of potion science alone, this recipe is almost the pinnacle of anti-fire potions."
Father Augustus said with some emotion.
"Then why was it eliminated?"
Shade asked curiously, and the priest pointed to the recipe on the notebook:
“Too expensive.”
"What?"
"It is still unclear who invented this formula, but the inventer must have been a remarkable figure in the Fifth Era. The formula makes full use of the functions of each material, the mixing method is extremely sophisticated, and the combination and reaction between different materials can be called exquisite. But the problem is that this formula is too expensive."
After a pause, he added:
“It’s just too expensive.”
Xia De showed an understanding expression, which was consistent with his impression of Miss Violet. She was the witch emperor who ruled a country. She was so knowledgeable that she would not care about the cost of materials even if she improved the formula. But he did not expect that in the sixth era, this formula was still circulating.
It was originally a formula improved to cope with the test of God under mental pressure and dangerous environment, but it is still praised by today's ring sorcerers. Although the witch emperors are arrogant and extravagant, their strength and wisdom are indeed in line with their status.
As Shad was thinking, Father Augustus suddenly frowned and sniffed at Shad.
Seeing him like this, the cat that was taking a nap in Xia De's arms squinted its eyes and sniffed.
"Shad, do you remember the familiar smell I smelled on you at the train station this Monday? I forgot to ask you yesterday at Dr. Schneider's, why is this smell even stronger than on Monday?"
After saying that, he glanced at Shade's cat:
"And your cat has that familiar smell, too."
This week, Shad took the cat on a long trip to a strange place, except for the time he and Sister Develyn went to visit the Lake of Cherubim. Combined with the fact that the last time the priest discovered the smell, it was after he saw the Lake of Cherubim but failed to climb it, so he raised his eyebrows and immediately knew what the priest Augustus smelled.
“Do you know the Lady of the Lake?”
"Shad, are you talking about the fairy tale of 'Water of Wisdom'?"
"No, no, this is not a fairy tale. This really happened to me."
Shade explained his experience in Huntington to the priest in detail, and the old priest was quite surprised:
"Now that you mention it, I seem to have some clues. Although I can't be sure, the so-called 'Lady of the Lake' is most likely an angel."
Xia De was not too surprised:
"That should be correct. The other party is not a relic, but it is definitely not a real great person. I am sure of this. If it is an angel, then it makes sense. Priest, I wonder which angel the other party is?"
Now in the Sixth Era, the angels of the righteous gods only appear on special occasions. The angels of the old gods have long gone with the gods, and the angels of the evil gods are even rarer. Therefore, Shade doesn't know much about angels.
"It should be an ancient being who survived from ancient times."
The priest thought for a while and said that he had the power of the "first angel" and the angel of death. The angel he called "the ancient one" must also be related to the ancient gods.
"It's really interesting that there are still such ancient angels in this era."
Father Augustus made up his mind and said to Shad:
"I'll help you find out who this angel is. Since she calls herself a cherub, this word must have a corresponding meaning. If you can determine her identity, you might be able to figure out her thoughts when you're being tested, which can help you solve your problems faster."
"Priest, don't you want to see that angel?"
Shade suggested that although the priests could not use the magician's escape box that only high-level sorcerers could use, as long as they looked hard, there would always be a way to make the priests appear in Huntington City.
Father Augustus shook his head slightly:
"She must have had some unusual means to survive until now. It is even possible that she is just a manifestation of some power and definitely not her true self. We all have our own responsibilities and goals. I'd better not go to see her. Besides, I'm just a mortal who inherited some of the angel's power. We are different."
Priest Augustus was worried about the appearance of the ancient angels. In his opinion, the appearance of any ancient being meant that something big was about to happen. But he did not stop Shade from continuing to contact the "Lady of the Lake". As long as the angels of the ancient gods did not go crazy due to losing control, most of them would not have direct malice towards humans.
"This is for you."
The priest extended his hand to Shade. In his old palm lay a familiar burnt feather:
"Next time you see that lady, give her this feather. As a fellow angel, she will slightly reduce the difficulty of your trial."
“Is this cheating?”
Even so, Shade still took the feather and used it to scratch the cat that was taking a nap on the table. Mia squirmed and turned her body to lie down in another direction, ignoring Shade completely.
"How is that cheating? You just give the feather to the lady and it's her business what she wants to do."
The priest said, waving his hand.
Sunday was the church's Sunday, and Shade spent the entire afternoon in the church. After all, he was still a core believer of the Dawn Church in the parish. Although Father Augustus was called away at 3 pm for some reason, Shade still listened to the old priest's sermon in the church with the cat in his arms, and volunteered to distribute relief food to the vagrants and homeless at the church gate in the evening.
This made Xia De, who almost received relief food in the summer, feel deeply moved.
The so-called relief food is black bread and seasonal dried vegetables packed in paper bags, which can be eaten raw or soaked in hot water. The paper bags used to hold food in the church are also good things for the poor. When Shad was helping to distribute food, he heard the old monk in charge of transporting goods say that these paper bags can be cut and used as filters for hand-rolled cigarettes, or they can be kept as excellent fire sources for starting fires.
Of course, a stranger would not ask silly questions like "Why smoke when you have trouble even eating?" But he knew that with the arrival of winter, the church would increase the frequency of releasing relief food. The first snow had already arrived, and according to past experience, the city would be covered in snow in two weeks at most. The weather this year was not extreme at the moment, but even so, many people would definitely not survive this winter.
A stranger standing in the light of civilization can certainly see those who stand in the shadow of civilization. The age of steam is rolling in like a wave, and no matter which side it is, it is part of the era. I have heard of the saying "the best and the worst times" in my hometown, but for Shad standing on the land, all he can do now is to reach out and help those he meets.
Shade did not have dinner in the church. After saying goodbye to Father Augustus, he returned to St. Teresa's Square. In the evening, he received an invitation from Resia to attend the reading salon held by Resia on Wednesday night. The venue was at the Prophet's Association. Although the Prophet's Association generally did not conduct business at night, it could provide services as a club.
As for Leicia's direct invitation to Shade, it was at the request of Princess Margaret, so the invitation was not abrupt. Shade took the invitation letter and thought about the tasks surrounding Princess Margaret, and then thought about whether there was really someone who wanted to harm the princess.
"Although the people from the Truth Society look vicious, Miss Pavone has already said that she only wants to ask Princess Margaret some questions and does not want to hurt her. They are also afraid of the Inquisition of the Church. Therefore, the only people who may pose a threat to Margaret of Anjou are ordinary people."
Princess Margaret's schedule in Tobesk is quite complicated recently. The princess did not come to Tobesk for travel. The security pressure at MI6 is very high. Although Shad is not involved in direct security work, he also knows that the work of his colleagues is not easy.
Shad, who received the task assigned by the king himself, was actually the most relaxed one among them.
Just like that, it was another Monday, the 25th day of the Frost Descent Month. After waking up early in the morning, Xia De got out of bed excitedly and reached out to touch the wall. As expected, he felt the temperature of the wall.
Although this heating method is inconspicuous in the outsiders' hometown, it is still surprising for outsiders to experience steam pipe heating in this era.
Before breakfast, Shad followed the notice issued by the St. Teresa Square district and checked from the basement to the attic, accompanied by Xiaomia who was sound asleep, to confirm that there was no water leakage in his home since the steam heating started this winter.
After confirming that the heating had started, Shade was even in a good mood and hugged the cat, letting the cat's little paws touch the warm part of the wall.
Mia was also very surprised that the wall was hot. This cat was born in the spring of 1853 and probably had never seen city heating. It stretched out its claws and kept scratching the wall, as if it wanted to know what was inside the wall. That look made Shade feel even better.
But his mood was about to sour.