The mixture was almost nearing completion, I retrieved a section of the flesh vine and squeezed out a crimson liquid into the pot. Using my finger I stirred it until it liquidated a bit more. Then I grabbed some of the fledgling's rib bones and placed them into the pot along with my hand. I applied a slight pressure and willed them to change. They slowly started to shrink until they were barely a quarter of their original size. I pulled my hand out and opened it to inspect my work, four small black blades sat on my hand each with different characteristics. I had specifically designed them to help with carving the totem.

I turned my attention to the tortured tree beside me, faces covered the bark all in different states of agony. I reached out and snapped off a piece of it. I took my knife and shaved the piece down into four pieces of wood. Next, I grabbed one of the small blades and began carving them into handles. After they were completed I set the blades in place. My totem was going to be made out of a devouring tree, a tree that contained animal bones, this tree will focus the surrounding energy and contain it in its bark.

I grabbed my new tools and began to work, there were thirty different symbols needed to complete it. Each symbol didn’t really have to be anything, in particular, I just needed to make sure a certain intent was put behind it. Under practiced movements, a deer, bear, and eagle started to form. With steady hands I began the second to last step, carving out the eyes. With careful strokes, I meticulously carved them out one by one.

After that was finished I prepared the final step, the war paint. I gathered a few different herbs and placed them into three piles that each respectively would make one of three colors, red, gold, and green. I carefully picked up the red pile and placed it in a wooden bowl. I placed my hand over it and willed the moisture out, once that was finished I took a stone pestle and grounded them up into a fine powder. I reached out and grabbed a handful of the black viscous liquid in front of me and placed it into the bowl.

I quickly began rapidly stirring the mixture while infusing mana into it, after a few minutes it was completed. A bowl of blood-red paint sat in front of me. Grabbing the brush I made from deer hair I began to spread the red liquid onto the bear. With smooth strokes, I heavily placed it around the eye cavities and nose. Once that was done I moved on to the other paints. After the same process they were done, I placed the gold on the eagle and the green on the deer.

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With the totem finished I needed to make the ceremonial clothing. I usually would have waited to gather more trophies but the pseudo deer will do. I took out its hide and began to magically process it. I carefully spread strands of mana into it. With precision I slowly started interlacing them, creating a sort of weave. Next, I grabbed a glob of black liquid and spread it evenly on the underside which turned the fur on top into a darker shade of brown.

I turned my attention to the cloaks and started to connect them, but I soon realized a problem, it would be too short. I wanted something that would cover my entire body, including my feet, when I stood at my full height. Plus a patchwork of a cloak is slightly disrespectful in my opinion. So I decided to break them into threads and create my own from scratch. With a bit of effort, I had a pile of black thread in front of me. Since I already had them broken down I decided to strengthen them.

I hadn’t planned on doing this so I didn’t have the usual materials but I could still create something. I would have used the black strengthening mixture but it's too volatile and would destroy the string. Then again I could still use it if there was something that only temporarily strengthened them, and I just so happened to have the needed flesh vine and six-leaved twilight flower. The ingredients will also add a slight menacing red hue. I grabbed the twilight flower and began to grind it without extracting the moisture. Soon I had a small amount of a silvery liquid, I grabbed a piece of the vine and squeezed out the red liquid into it.

Once the piece was completely drained I peeled off the outer skin and placed it into a separate bowl in preparation to grind it down. Once it was a fine powder I added it to the silvery red liquid, turning it a deep red. With a wave of my hand, the liquid rose from the bowl and with a beckon, the threads rose like entranced serpents. They slowly slithered through the hovering liquid turning them a deep crimson. With my direction they turned and entered the strengthening mixture, a potent steam rose out with a hiss. The steam leaked out steadily until it suddenly stopped, the threads were done.