The distant Holy City, Saint Clement Cathedral.
In an unknown secret room beneath this magnificent building, symbolizing the spiritual center of the Empire, Pope Lake Gregory is seated upright on a stone chair, eyes closed and hands clasped, engaging in his daily ritual of prayer.
Unlike ordinary believers, Gregory IX's prayers are not only a confession to God but also a ritual to communicate with Saint Sis.
By connecting with the "Spirit Vein" beneath the Holy City, he can sense the faith contours of the entire Empire, discerning where faith is growing, where it is waning, and where the forces of Chaos are burgeoning...
Of course, this ritual is not always effective, as people's faith often fluctuates with changes in living standards.
Moreover, nowadays people frequently say "Saint Sis above" without much thought, so even Saint Sis himself might feel overwhelmed by the sea of noise.
Even Gods can be confused, let alone mortals.
