Thankfully we did not need Shani this time. She was still busy finding Loriel. Or protecting her. Or… Maybe I should not think too much about that. Anyway, this time we would not open a new connection to the plane of air. We would simply connect our future maids to the existing bond network.
I decided to hold the ceremony outside under the storm. Partly because it was fitting and partly because I did not want to mess with bonds inside a temple. There was always the chance of an attack but this time the ritual was less complex and an interruption would not be disastrous.
We assembled outside the temple in a patch of dirt. I carved the runes into the soil. The rain from my storm left them untouched. I was not entirely sure why, but it was helpful. Lily, Lucy and myself were in the centre. This time Lily would hold the swords to knight them. We used the blood of everyone involved to write an oath of fealty onto the blades.
Josef watched from the temple entrance. He was standing under some leaves to stop the rain and held a notebook. He looked rather excited. Eshantri stood close to him looking nervous. She might try to use our distraction to flee. We told Elandru to keep an eye on her but I was unsure how powerful the priest was.
“Lily, you are going to lead the ceremony.” I announced. While I was confident in my magic I had no idea what to say. Shani made it sound rather dramatic. Was that what people expected? I decided it was easier to delegate the task.
“Yes my lady.” Lily said. She looked rather happy with the responsibility.
The weather seemed to respond to the ceremony as well. My aura reacted to my emotions. And to my subconscious thoughts. Creating the latest ritual had me examine our bonds, and souls, some more. I had formed quite a few theories about myself by now. In this world there was a limit on how powerful a mortal could become. Like the level cap back in the game. But because I cheated I had two classes. So my body contained more power than my race should be able to acquire.
Which brings me to the soul. In this world it is like a magical version of DNA. It defines your limits. It defines your powers and your natural physical form. If someone turns a human's body into a pig, the soul remembers that it is human. It still remembers the exact body. I arrived in this world as a night elf. With more power than such a soul should be able to handle. So it evolved. When I created a warlock and gave Lucy a part of myself it contained more power than normal. Lucy should have been a low level warlock, in game terms. Instead she not only reached her limit, she surpassed it.
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Lucy was turning into a kitsune, I was pretty sure about that now. Just as I became an archfey. My aura was a product of my soul transcending mortality. I was no god, nor was I unkillable. But I was pretty sure that my natural lifespan was infinite now. My aura was a natural part of me. Like an additional limb. I had a feeling there were still a lot of things I could do with it that I had not figured out yet.
But right now my aura was happy to provide an appropriate atmosphere. Thunder wind and rain set a dramatic scene.
Iris and Minerva were kneeling. Lily stood in front of them holding two swords. One to knight each woman.
“We have assembled here today to accept two new maid knights into our order. This is not a step one should take lightly. You are expected to serve them, fight for them and bleed for them. You will accept them as your sovereigns, you will accept me as their captain. Is that clear?” Lily asked.
“Yes.” Both women replied.
Lily raised the swords towards the sky, lighting hit both of them. It coursed through the blades making them glow.
“DO NOT FEAR THE STORM! IF YOUR HEART IS TRUE IT WILL NOT HARM YOU!”
Lily placed the swords on their shoulders. They did not flinch.
“DO YOU SWEAR TO SERVE FAITHFULLY?”
“YES!”
The blades dissolved into smoke that entered the women. I did not see any physical changes but I could feel the bond forming. It was new and weak but hopefully it would grow stronger in time.
“DAMN, I am too late!” Shani suddenly appeared, levitating a sphere of blood.
“Welcome back Shani. Why do you carry blood? And what happened to Loriel?” I asked.
“She decided to leave together with the dwarves. They are on their way back to the Dominion. Loriel said she would like you to meet them there to discuss the future.”
“I see. What about the blood?”
“I felt the ritual. I wanted to welcome the new knights…”
“You wanted to dump blood on them?”
“Blood makes every ceremony better!” Shani insisted.
“I think we don’t need it.”
“A shame. Well, at least I got to collect it! There are so many things to kill around. Demons, soldiers, it's a party!”
“Are any of them coming here?” Lucy asked.
“Not anymore!”
I eyed the blood again. “You know, when the garrison was attacked they tried to create a portal through mass sacrifice. What are the odds that the cult is using all those deaths for something?”