Waking up to see the black dress I wore yesterday spread before my eyes, ready for me to wear again, I remember the entire ordeal about why we came here in the first place. Cerolus had already left by the time I woke up and I figure I need to get prepared for the upcoming ceremony, whatever it may entail. Surely, he would’ve said something if I had a part in it, so I assume I’m here as a mere spectator.
At least let me look pretty then.
“Tiana, how long do we have until the Ritual?” I call from my room, hoping that she is nearby to answer my questions.
“You have time to have breakfast, Mistress. Kozzok is supposed to come and get you later.”
“Alright then, breakfast, clothes, the Ritual, and please let’s leave this place. No offense, but I’m not sure I’m welcome here anymore.”
“As you wish, Mistress.” Tiana comes in the room, the familiar hair brush in her hand.
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So, this is the inside of the Fire Church. It’s… fiery, I guess. The walls seem to be made of black rock with various red streaks alongside it, with the pillars reaching for the ashen ceiling above us. The centerpiece of the structure is clearly the huge altar, made of what seems to be black and red stone, carved into a shape of a blazing fire, red gems radiating from the inside of the sculpture. Similar gems irradiate the church itself, providing light when there are no windows to be seen.
Although the inside of the Church is massive, there aren’t many people here, only a few dozen Demons apart from the members of the royal family I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. I try to look into the small crowd and spot one person I’m more… acquainted than the rest.
And there he is. Red skin and shimmering blue eyes. Well, eye, since the other one is wrapped in cloth, along with the larger part of his face. Cerolus was serious when he said it’s being taken care of. Sarron’s eye briefly meets my own, and he quickly shuffles around in an effort to avoid me, while I do the same. It is uncomfortable being in the same room as he is, and I don’t know what part of my mind even tried searching for him here.
I try to steady my composure as I feel Kozzok’s presence behind me. At the wedding, he was completely hidden in the darkness, where here it is the complete opposite. It’s uncanny to see him not surrounded by mist or shadow, it almost feels unnatural.
The crowd around me quiets down as Demons step up to the altar. I can unmistakably spot Cerolus’ black horns as he takes stand in the center of the altar before a large basin. Unlike the form fitting clothes and coat I got used to seeing him in, the cloak he is wearing now almost completely hides him to the outside world. His face is but a shadow under the hood of the red cloak.
The large crown is a clear giveaway of the identity of the person holding a small bundle in its arms as it approaches Cerolus’ side. The entire crowd silently watches as Cerolus takes hold of the small baby and the Maorok steps away from the altar, only to be replaced by two hooded Demons carrying large chalices.
The baby in Cerolus’ hands makes an adorable sound, to which Cerolus responds with a small chuckle of his own, before sighing back into a steady silent demeanor. He then starts chanting, the words incomprehensible even to my necklace.
As the chanting grows louder and more elaborate, the two hooded Demons pour the contents of their chalice upon the bundle, liquid the recognizable colour of blood seeping from the showered clothes, as the baby now starts crying. Nevertheless, the chanting continues, the baby’s cry merging with the incoherent words to make a cacophony of noise flood the Church.
Suddenly, a burst of fire surrounds Cerolus’ cloak, the blue flame grasping towards the baby, as small lines of light seep from Cerolus’ arms and converge upon the bloodied bundle. The lines dance around the baby, shifting and swaying as if the wind or the fire moves them, before covering the bundle in a small cocoon of light. The blue flames then engulf the cocoon, the baby’s outcries silenced, as the chanting slowly dies out, leaving the entire room listening to the sound of smoldering flames.
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I performed every part of the Ritual as I remembered it. I removed every bit of mana from the child, engulfed it in my own, let the blood seep through the yet to be formed magical channels. Everything is going according to plan.
What the plan doesn’t involve is finding me standing on an open field of fire and brimstone, the child spread on the small altar before me, akin to the one we built in the Church.
I ignore the burning flames around me and walk towards the altar, my feet pushing nothing but thin air, but yet still allowing me to move forward. The child lays still, lines of light dancing around it, passing into and out of his body as if it weren’t there. I reach for the child and caress it slowly, as if that would make this situation any more comforting.
The last, which was also the first, time I had been here I was alone. Well, I was the lone mortal in the scene anyway.
The flames around me start dancing to an unknown wind that passes through, the fire converging upon a single point above me, well beyond my reach. The point of fire burst into a small ball, and the entire space around me fills up with a single voice.
“So, we meet again, child.” The roaring voice fills my very being as my body almost instinctively bows on one knee.
“Great Kreshor, this humble mortal is honored to meet you, even more so to see you twice in his short and meaningless life.”
“You need not be so fearful as you were the first time we met. I think both of us were different people back then. Oh it was a different time, meeting one of my offspring asking for power and glory to bring vengeance upon those who have wronged him.”
“A foolish endeavor of those who do not see the bigger picture before them not after it is too late.”
“So you do understand after all. I thought you wouldn’t.”
“And yet you still lent me your power.”
“I gave you nothing of sorts. You anger did everything for you. I was just there to hear you out. Sometimes we need a person to hear us in times of need. That was a time of need for you.”
“So, why come now? Have I done something wrong?”
“No. You came last time because you wanted something. Now I come to you because I want something in return. Why did you choose to marry a Human? I see you forgave them, that much is clear, your rage is gone, but why go so far?”
“I saw people who I cannot possibly comprehend, doing things that may not be that far from what you’ve done, accomplishing so much with so little time given to them. So, why not try something like that? Why not take a chance that was given to me?”
“So, have you regretted the choice you made?”
I think back on the previous months. The preparations, the learning, meeting the Human who seemed so hateful and fearful of us. Watching her slowly come out of that hatred. Seeing the look in her eyes when I showed her what she could do, the gaze when she first saw her hidden potential, the happiness in her eyes. I made a Human happy, after making so many suffer. Did it make things equal, of course not, but did it matter? Making one Human happy, no, making THAT Human happy at that point made the entire World stop and nothing else but her mattered.
“No.”
“Alright then. Let’s wrap this Ritual up, you might feel a bit weak, after all I took quite a bit of your power to do this. Shame, that some people reject the gifts given to them.”
“You’re not angry that they take it so lightly? That they throw away what you do for them?”
“Not really, no. I gave the option, they decided to refuse, I can somewhat understand that. Given the tiny scope of what they see, it is sometimes easy to try and take the easier route.”
“So why do you keep giving it if they’re going to refuse it?”
“Because every once in a while, I get to see someone like you. And it makes it worth it.
Now off you go, it is done.”
I turn to see doors behind me, then take the baby into my hands. Walking towards the door, I stop before the last step.
“Will I get to remember any of this?”
“What would be the point of this if you don’t remember it?”
“But what do I do now? How do I continue with my life?”
“Why do you think I’d tell you? Just go and see for yourself. Make choices, make mistakes, grow. Live. That’s the entirety of it. Nothing more and nothing less.”
I take the final step, the world of fire being replaced by a flash of light.
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The conflagration ceases, and the cocoon of light dissipates, the baby starting to cry again. The audience starts cheering in relief, as the Maorok approaches Cerolus and takes the baby in his hands. Cerolus then slowly catches his breath and walks towards me, removing the hood of his cloak.
Tears can be seen marking a path across his cheeks, as he silently walks past me, grasping my hand to take me with him.
“Where are we going?” I ask him, even though I probably know the answer.
“Home.”
We pass a familiar female Demon on our way out of the Church.
“Not even going to say goodbye, dad?”
Helen and Cerolus hug, and he takes something out from under his cloak. A small necklace with a red crystal inside it shines from his grasp. “Here, I should’ve given you this a long time ago. Welcome to the Lilin Council, Helen Kreshorok.”
“You know I’m leaving Dralarag soon.”
“And when you come back, we will be waiting.”
They hug again, then Cerolus walks out of the Church, me trying to follow him long steps.
“Kozzok, we’re going home.”
“Actually, Master, I don’t think we will.” Both Cerolus and I turn around, to see Kozzok’s figure going into his own shadow, as if his entire body is melting into the ground. “I think it’s time.”