Don't Run

The Ritual

Alona was bursting with Mana as the sun was setting, long shadows cast across the crowd as they murmured to each other with excitement. the power of the moon trickled over her like a nostalgic taste you could never forget.

The Warriors widened the circle around her. Giving her a lot of space to start. Curiously they all waited to see what it would look like; the ceremony had never been performed like this before. Everyone clamoring to get a good look at her.

She waited for the sun to fall farther. That cool blue light of the dying day settling across them. Her arms opened wide, her lungs breathing in, and breathing out, her huff of air echoing to every ear in the clearing, a chill settling in around them, the murmuring fleeting, as everyone got quiet with anticipation.

A low hum began, and people looked around confused as a distant and void like tune began to echo from the empty space, permeating around them. Their heads snapping back to the Witch as a rush of purple light exploded from her chest, her head flinging back as the large solid circle formed, making the warriors flinch in alarm as it reached just before their chests.

The echoing tune grew louder as she twirled, forming smaller circles. Her hands reaching up as light flooded her veins and eyes, bursting from her fingertips to form runes and shapes that seemed alien and odd. She swung around again in a wide swoop, twirling her hands into spirals and stopping, standing still as her fingers drew sigils individually. Like an automatic sequence.

Her body flowed in a ghost like dance, listless but pointed and focused. She looked ethereal in the glowing light, her long hair swooshing after her. Her robes flowing around her. It was mesmerizing.

Suddenly she stopped moving in the center. When they looked down where the symbols had fallen to rest, a giant magic circle that intricately interlocked and moved like gears inside each other had formed. More complicated and powerful than anything they had seen drawn on paper.

Alona brought her hands up to her chest, her eyes cast down as she pulled them away slowly, drawing out thick and bright Mana from her heart, holding out her hands to watch it drip into the circle, lighting it up even brighter as it pulsed and activated. She lifted one leg first and pushed off the ground from her toes, floating up into the air gracefully, people's eyes following her in absolute astonishment.

She looked like a Goddess ascending to the heavens. Her hair flowing weightlessly around her, her hands loose by her sides. Those big eyes half shut and framed by long white lashes.

Gracefully, she lifted up to the Barrier, and as if it was sucked in by the circle, it pulled inward on itself. reaching down to meet her as she rose. Her body curled around it, starting to glow so bright that people had to shield their eyes, the massive wave of pressure and power made goosebumps form on their skin involuntarily.

Slowly, the green Barrier turned a vibrant purple, the color growing deeper and deeper, the Barrier hardening and becoming dark. It looked more solid than it ever had, it even felt suffocating. The anxiety in the air was palpable before the color faded to show the sky, only the outer ring remaining. Alona floated back down slowly as the formed Magic circle disappeared beneath her.

Her performance was more like that of another being than a Witch. The juxtaposition of her brutal battle and beautiful ritual side by side was rather poetic and revealing. She was Beautiful and she was Brutal. A Beast and A Fairy.

The crowd was chattering and dispersing, having seen what they came to see. Discussing the new age and planning on celebrating the new era. Walking out with bustle, like a crowd coming from a riveting Sunday sermon.

Rinca's footsteps ran up behind her, and she turned to catch him in a big hug. They laughed before both of them at the same time chanted.

"Nine!" He pulled away and patted her head roughly, making her close her eyes for a second. They always counted the time's they met and cherished every number. He was her oldest Brother.