Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 24: Dispelling Ritual

Clashing full force with a incubus after so long is exhilarating. Just the other day I fought a incubus during my second battle on Level S, he was frankly disappointing as he put way too much into his illusions. Today however a incubus came up to me during training and asked for a match, I of course gladly accepted his offer.

As his tail slashes my side I cannot stop the yelp that comes out of my mouth. In retaliation I use a fake out uppercut to distract him before bringing my leg up to slam into his side. Satisfyingly he goes flying about five feet and gets knocked prone. As I make my way over to him he jumps up and lunges at me. He tackles me to the ground and I barely bring my arms up to block in time as he begins to lay a flurry of blows into me.

As I feel my guard weaken, and his advances not showing any signs of slowing, I say, "I submit."

Instantly he stops and gets off of on top of me. I lay there breathing heavily and see him reaching out his hand to help me up. I gratefully take his hand and stand up. With a wide smile he says, "Thank you, my names Lucent."

"And thank you as well," I respond with a nod. "I am Carino."

We talk for a little while before training ends and it is time for the evening meal to take place. As a conglomerate group we empty from the training arena and head to the meal hall. The meal hall is noisier than normal as spirits are high amongst the succubi and incubi. The humans are more somber, conversing in hushed tones.

Today they reopened the dispelling rituals.

I am not nearly as worried as I was before. Now I have a failsafe, of Kalvik blocking the dispelling, in place. I cannot help but worry about exactly what book he wants access to, but unfortunately that is a bridge I will have to cross when it comes up.

As we are leaving the meal hall Ealric, Lily, and I are pulled to the side by an older human. Silently we follow him and wait to see exactly what this is about, considering previously they claimed that we would be willingly submitting to the ritual, not forced to. Then again why would they think that someone hiding, aka Esklan, willingly be dispelled and thus revealed.

When we arrive before us there are numerous humans, by the looks of it even some from higher levels than the succubus one. Although logically it would be impossible for me, aka Esklan, to have reached that high of a level considering the timing of leaving the castle. I roll my eyes at my thoughts and take a seat between Ealric and Lily.

We are in the audience portion of an arena and the floor below us is currently empty. I see someone making their way into the arena and simultaneously a loud clang resonates. Soon the lower floor starts rising with a mind numbing screech from the stone scraping against each other. Most of us are covering our ears to lessen the jarring noise. When it finally stops a collective sigh is let out.

The woman before us sits down on a chair that was not previously there, hinting that she is some sort of mage. She mutters out and incantation and then begins to speak to us. "Esklan we know that you are here. Save us the time of dispelling every one here," she says, her voice booming over us.

"Why would she give herself away?" A girl a few rows in front of me asks, full of attitude.

"Would you like to start?" The woman in the arena asks.

I resist rolling my eyes. Not only would someone with something to hide not draw attention to themselves, but they also would not provoke someone that likely has the means by which to reveal them. The girl resists but soon enough she is before the woman and forced to her knees.  Many people look away as the woman places her hand over the girl's face and starts the ritual.

I watch in silence as more and more humans are forced before the woman. After they are dispelled they are taken away. Beside me Lily is shaking in fear. I wrap my arm around her and silently pull her into my lap. She breaks down in tears, I shush her and she keeps from making audible noises.