The hawk descended and transformed into a being in a silver cloak. The being stood before a tall tower that was made of a transparent material. Within the tower, a void of pure darkness hovered in the center. From time to time, tendrils from the void reached out to grab something to pull into itself. The being walked up the steps to join the other seven individuals. These individuals wore the same silver cloak but each of them had a different marking on the back of their cloaks. They stood around an altar with the last arrival completing the circle.
“They didn’t heed your warning at all. The nonhuman coalition was decimated and one of their members has been corrupted.”
“One can always hope these mortals make the right choice from time to time. This wasn’t one of those moments.”
“Even if they left, the Purificator wouldn’t have spared them. Why waste your energy?”
“That centaur called Eupoos wasn’t an ordinary mortal. If he wasn’t so fatigued, he could have saved them and survived the ordeal. A genius like him died before he unlocked his full potential.”
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Someone’s throat clearing silenced the conversation. Then, two portals opened above the altar. One creature fell out of one portal. Its hideous features were only bested by its gut wrenching growl. If it wasn’t tied up by golden chains, the creature would have certainly latched out at those around the altar. The other portal dumped a gorgeous looking maiden onto the altar. Her clothing screamed of nobility but her eyes were filled with tears. Not only was she gagged but a black chain tied her up. Both of the new arrivals struggled against their chains.
“Goddess of Creation! Please accept these two offerings and grant blessing to your other creations.”
Suddenly, fire engulfed the two offerings until they were turned to dust. The eight individuals all stepped away from the altar, each shielding themselves from the powerful flames. When the flames vanished, an octagonal shape appeared on the altar with a series of characters at each of the vertices. The individuals all stepped closer to get a better look.
“Seems like our time is almost up. A new cycle has begun.”