Vala was collecting herbs in her garden mid day. A group of men came through a rear garden entrance just in front of her. Five of them, and following them was Magus Kai.

"Alone already, Vala? I thought I would come talk with my niece. Where is she?" He inquired, stepping on the patch of Herbs that Vala was working on.

Vala didn't look up at Kai when she responded. "Gone home of course. Where else would she be going?" She lied.

"I had hoped, Vala, that we could remain friends. When my guards informed me you had been sneaking around with Bellator organizing to work against me, their Magus, I really hoped they were wrong.

He grabbed Vala by the arm and yanked her to her feet. His eyes were dark. Kai starts to channel heat into his hand, burning Vala's shoulder. She didn't cry out, she didn't want to give Kai that satisfaction. Kai, frustrated, released her.

Vala smiled, "I have only ever served the Gods." She told him.

"I'm sure." He said with disgust.

"Seize her!" He ordered his men with a flick of his wrist.

The men grabbed Vala, she did not try to get away, she knew it was pointless.

Dragging vala out of her garden and around her hut to the front, they forced her into a horse drawn wagon that was built as a cell. It was glowing red from a spell, surrounding it preventing anyone who entered from casting.

After being forced inside she turned to Kai, "You have no idea what you are doing Kai, Amaia is evil and will destroy us." she shook her head. "I hoped you were fated to do better"

Kai looked angry. He shook with it. He let out a low growl and rode off on his horse, kicking it in the side. "YA."

The wagon pulled forward, following Magus Kai.

Arriving at the front of Perifrey's great hall, Vala could see Kai's group of followers setting up logs in three stacks for burning. There were others placing twigs with greenery on them around the bottom in a decorative fashion. Rolls of bound herbs placed in between the twigs.

They were preparing wooden altars for sacrifice.

The horse and wagon jerked to a halt with a thud. Vala stood knowing she was getting out. A guard unlocked and swung open the gate. "Out, Seer" He ordered.

Vala started to climb down, trying her best to keep her balance. "Help me out of this damned wagon, Asbjorn, Or I promise you, I will curse you before my time is up, and you will suffer more than you ever have before, in your traitor life."

Asbjorn looked Vala in the eyes. It only took him a half a moment before he grabbed Vala, helping her down.

Vala kicked him in the shin as payment, and without another word turned away and started walking to the entrance of the hall. Four more guards surrounded her, escorting her inside.

Walking into the hall Vala was confronted by Kai.

" Oh , Vala. It does sadden me seeing you like this. " He gestured towards her with pity. " You could have been so much more." He turned and waved his hand as his guards, indicating to bring Vala closer.

The Hall of Perifrey was an open room that stretched from one side to the other, at least the length of ten horses, With a balcony on a second level that followed the walls on the outside of the room. In the middle of each side of the great room are two long fire pits, filled with black rocks, coal, and burning wood. Above each pit was a spit that was equally as long, for roasting meats during celebrations.

Tables for eating filled the room. Small ones scattered around. On the tables were candles that have been there since they were put in place. The wax so thick it melted the candles to the tables, enchanted to never burn any smaller.

There were large oil lanterns that hung from the ceiling lighting the room.

At the opposite end of the hall from the door stood a raised platform decorated with furs covering the ground, two small braziers on either side, and a throne in the middle.

It was made of metal and wood, decorated with Furs and a few horns from wild beasts. This is where the village leader would be in any other village, but this throne was for the Magus.

Kai walked through the hall towards the throne, the guards guiding Vala towards him.

As Kai sat on his throne he sighed loudly. "What shall we do about your treacherous behavior, Vala?"

Vala laughed. "We both know what you're going to do, Kai." She waved her hand towards the door behind her. "Didn't you want me to witness the preparation for my own death?"

Vala bent her head and closed her eyes. "Ota welcomes me. I trust him to keep my soul safe."

"For now." Kai added.

"Very well. Prepare her." He ordered two women who came from either side of the room and took Vala to another room.

Kai stepped out of Perifrey's hall door, Vala behind him with her hand bound with rope. He was wearing a White cloak, and a crown on his head that was made of golden twigs. The twigs webbed together, making it eternal.

The crown of the Magus.

Awakened history claims the crown was given to the first Magus by Ota himself. It has travelled through history on the heads of many great men, and women. Some great, Some dangerous.

Vala was wearing a white gown. It was plain, meant for a clean sacrifice. Her hands bound, and her hair was cut so short, in spots there was dried blood.

It was night, and the Awakened villagers who supported Kai the most were standing in groups holding torches in the yard, outside of the hall.

The villagers that were too scared to oppose Kai, cowered behind them. A few gasped at the sight of Vala. Scared whispers between them.

"Villagers of Perifrey, tonight we send a great sacrifice to our God!" he yelled out.

He motioned his men to bring Vala forward. They grabbed Vala by the arms and dragged her to the middle altar. Forcing her onto the stack, her feet getting stabbed by the twigs. When she was in place, her hands still bound, they tied her to the stack.

Vala knew she wouldn't be able to escape her fate. Her time had come to an end. Ota and the other gods were waiting for her now.

"Two more from the crowd!" He ordered his men. They did not hesitate, heading to the crowd to find two villagers to join Vala.

It was only a second later when screams from the crowd erupted. The two men were dragging out two young women. Their families were being held back by supporters as they screamed, begging the Magus not to sacrifice their young lives.

The women were forced up onto the other two altars, either side of Vala, and tied up as they cried. One of the women called out above the crowd, "Praise be to Ota! Praise the King of Gods! He sees your betrayal! He will take away what he has given you! PRAISE OTA!"

A few voices in the crowd praised Ota with the woman. Just then Kai nodded at his men. A group of three men split to each altar and raised their hands, flames exploding from their hands towards the altars, engulfing them in hot flames with a roar.

The women were screaming as the flames reached them. Trying to lift their feet away from the fire.

Vala could be heard over the other two women's screams. "DIE WELL! OTA WELCOMES US! DIE WELL!"

It didn't take long before the three women went quiet...

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