Death's End

Chapter 13 - Outcome

Jerius and Mirayoung were punctual the next day, reaching the Administrator's Hall when the first rays of dawn struck the second courtyard where the ritualistic circle was laid. Tardiness peeved Fermand. They were not about to lose any credibility from being late for the ritual that Jerius had agreed to partake in to gain Fermand's trust.

Fermand was already up, dressed in a simple robe that facilitated motion. She stood within a smaller circle that she had set up before they came. Two Sen Guards were by her side, just outside of the circle of power.

"Get in," Fermand said, as she started a stance that would lead into the first ten steps of the Moving Meditation. "Do not fight it. Embrace it. It's a little uncomfortable, but it'll be short, I promise."

Jerius did as bade, and Fermand started chanting, while gracefully moving slowly in several forms of the Moving Meditation with her eyes closed. Her chants were not incantations used to convert arcane from within one's body to spells; her chants used magic to rouse and interact with the spirits.

Imbued with Fermand's magic, the spirits slumbering within the three stone statues came to life. Shadowy figures that flickered in the weak morning rays appeared and retreated in a display of a strange dance; a dance Jerius felt no mortal should lay their eyes on. It was both entrancing and frightening.

Mirayoung was not a tad worried that Jerius would fail the ritual. Her judgment of people was one of her strong traits, and Jerius came with the pure intent to stop Aderis. That in turn, gave him the intent to protect, hunt and defend, none of which translated to malice and harm to the Guild.

The Ritual of Intent was part revelatory magic designed to peer deep into his mind and ascertain the intent, and part defence used to ward off any antagonistic spells that might surface during the ritual.

It had been working its magic for a while, but to Jerius, the experience felt sudden as it seemed like it truly started only when foreign magic invaded his form. He felt a presence in every nook and cranny of his body, along his nerves, and in his bones, muscles and blood vessels. It was overwhelmingly unbearable. A little uncomfortable? Has she even gone through this herself?

The shadowy figures danced more vibrantly now, and in that vibrancy, there was chaos that was a sharp juxtaposition to the well-ordered courtyard they were in. Behind, Mirayoung watched with intent as concern grew in her.

All the while, Jerius kept himself from screaming. He was not going to embarrass himself by giving in to the discomfort that ran deep in his body and soul. He felt violated, but if this was necessary then so be it.

Then in a terrible voice, the spirits of the ritual called out in a thunderous voice. "Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"

"Seize him!" Fermand roared.

What? Why? Jerius's survival instincts flared at once, but it was too late. The Sen Guards stood just outside the Circle of Intent, making well-rehearsed moves to strike him with the blunt end of their spears. One hit at where his shoulder met his back and the other against his right kidney.

While the impact was not hard, the magic stored in the spear stabbed Jerius straight to the core, like a dagger through paper. It was a special technique not meant to severely injure, but to render someone unconscious. His knees buckled as gradual white marred his vision. The faint echoes of voices grew to a jarring pitch before fading into silence.

Mirayoung recognised that as a modified tactic gleaned from the warrior-monks‒scarily well trained mage-hunters‒of the Temple of Elaria. She lifted a hand but the Sen Guards had already surrounded her. If the rumours of their skills were even half-true, she would not have time to finish her spell. Besides, she was up against Fermand, another accomplished archmagus.