"The full na of this cathedral is, Saint Lucia's Winter Cathedral."
Father Joseph brought Cyren to the front of the church. Ancient text was carved on the stone: "Dedicated to Saint Lucia of Light, to lead us through the harsh winter."
Churches generally followed the tradition of being dedicated to a deity, a doctrine, or a saint. For example, his cathedral was dedicated to a saint, Saint Lucia.
This was an ancient saint. Related texts were already vague on details, but because the Feast of Saint Lucia was near the winter solstice, people had given it the aning of "enduring the harsh winter, anticipating spring and light."
Cyren nodded.
Joseph continued, "It's located near the center of Spessay's zero level, that is, the surface level."
Following the direction of Joseph's pointing finger, Cyren saw the nearby building complex.
On ground paved with steel and giant timber, nurous steam pipes converged toward the city's center, or rather, they radiated outward from here.
Brass steam pipes passed through the church, through the plaza, through fortresses and residences, finally losing their form in a huge slanted hole.
At the center of Spessay City was actually a giant deep pit!
It was approximately fifty ters in diater. The outer edge was a ring of inward-sloping circular steel plates, and further out was the core ring, or rather, Spessay's first ring of buildings.
"This is the chimney." Joseph said.
He had wanted to see so shock on Cyren's face, but he failed. Cyren only said flatly, "Oh."
For soone who had crossed over, this thing wasn't rare. He could pass two power plant cooling towers on his usual commute, and though they served different purposes, they looked about the sa.
Cyren surveyed the area around the "chimney." Four main roads divided the entire zero level of Spessay into four fan-shaped sections.
To the south was Saint Lucia Cathedral, to the north was the Governor's Guardian Tower. The two faced each other from afar in confrontation.
Cyren silently withdrew his gaze.
Joseph continued his introduction, "The cathedral's surface auxiliary buildings only include the Preaching Square at the entrance, the Cetery behind it, and the clergy residential area. Spessay didn't place much emphasis on the surface level in its design."
Cyren led him and the two guards in a large circle around the church.
As he said, the front entrance was a plaza that could be used for public preaching or mass. Behind it was a large garden with a small area reserved as a cetery. Next to the garden were several small buildings.
"Your house is here, follow ." Joseph said respectfully.
Last night he had tried to get Cyren to sleep inside the house, but he had refused. At the mont of the apocalypse's arrival, being together with the believers was the greatest comfort to them.
The house was an atypical Victorian building, a variant of Queen Anne style architecture with so Romanesque borrowings. White marble ford the main body of the entire building. Outside the main door were four white marble columns. The interior was black and white, composed of marble and dark wood.
To Cyren, it was sowhat similar to the "Swan House" in Atlanta he'd seen while traveling before crossing over, but with smaller windows, fewer carvings on the exterior walls, and very thick pillar stumps, in keeping with Saint Lucia Cathedral's style.
It had two floors. The interior was covered with expensive furs. Brass steam heating pipes ran through its floors. It seed the designers hoped that even in the harshest winter, it could remain warm.
To its side were residences for so clergy. The four-story gray building not far away was a dormitory for servants.
Cyren looked at that marvelously ingenious design. His eyes revealed so delight, but he quickly worked to suppress it.
Joseph closely observed the bishop's behavior. When he saw Cyren's hand unconsciously brush over an exquisite gilded enal clock sent from a foreign country, a smile appeared on his face.
Passing through the building's atrium, beside the bedroom, Cyren saw a dedicated elevator hall, or rather, lift hall, because it was entirely composed of gears and steel structures.
To make it blend with the surrounding architectural style, the designers seed to have made considerable effort. White paint, golden sacred emblems, gears carved with decorative patterns, pipes arranged around sculptures... completely freed it from the industrial style brought by chanical structures, displaying complexity and sanctity.
Joseph bowed slightly at his side, "This is your exclusive lift. The key is your ring of authority, which can reach any level directly."
Cyren curiously walked forward and saw the ring-shaped hole on the lift.
The ring of authority for Spessay Diocese was a pure gold ring finger ring set with a huge sapphire. Besides regular facets, the gem was also carved with images of grapes, wheat, and a cross, symbolizing the Eucharist. The inner band bore the Latin motto "I keep watch beneath the cross."
The ring of authority itself was a special item. It was said that countless tiny runes were carved inside it, serving as the bishop's unique identity authentication standard.
Cyren inserted it into the hole on the lift. It made a "click" sound, then those steam pipes began to vibrate. A soft sound of gas flowing enveloped the platinum-lacquered lift, and the angel sculpture's eyes lit up.
He pressed the button marked "-1," and the lift suddenly plumted.
…
The Guardian Fortress's lift reached the middle level, and a man with dium-length hair and a full beard stepped out.
"Master Aldridge."
The man in a black turndown collar coat, white shirt, and black tie stood up from behind his desk. His slightly graying hair was ticulously combed back.
"Allow to introduce myself, Schneider, Propaganda Departnt Director, Governor's Advisor. Thank you for accepting my invitation."
He extended his hand in friendship, and Aldridge also shook hands with him.
"Tea or coffee?" he asked.
"Coffee, thank you."
"Ah, that's wonderful. How did you know I have a siphon set here?" Schneider opened the cabinet with a smile all over his face, displaying his glassware set.
It was a set of items resembling laboratory equipnt, an iron stand, two large glass vessels, an alcohol lamp, and a filter.
Brass decorated its connections. The iron stand was finely carved with the iris pattern that had once been popular in the Empire. A small brass gear structure allowed the iron stand to freely control its height.
Schneider brewed coffee like an artist. This type of siphon pot was a fashionable gadget that had only beco widespread in the past two years, making nobles feel like they were conducting a precise experint. That sensory experience of brewing coffee was incomparable.
"You're from Florence, I believe. The coffee technique there is exceptional, but now we can't contact Florence. Why don't you evaluate my skill?" Twenty minutes later, Schneider poured the steaming coffee into two cups with Eastern characteristics.
Aldridge took a slight sip.
"The aroma floats on the surface. Excessive roasting has destroyed all its substance, and you didn't do the final container cooling. Serving coffee that's too hot to guests for tasting, how impatient."
Schneider's expression froze on his face.
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