CHAPTER 171: Kael's Eclipse Magic Is Attached to the Moon Through a Ceremony
CHAPTER 171: Kael's Eclipse Magic Is Attached to the Moon Through a Ceremony
The scene below was illuminated by the moon's silvery crescent, which hung high in the sky. There was enchantment, excitement, and dread in the air, making it a night unlike any other. The quiet buzz of murmuring filled the clearing as a throng gathered, their gazes focused on the massive stone altar in the middle of the room, illuminated by the moonlight.
Standing at the brink, Selene's heart raced in sync with the moon's. The next ritual would tie Kael's potent Eclipse magic to the very elements of the sky, tying him to the moon, its power, and the world's destiny. It was a risky undertaking that none of them could quite understand, but it was necessary.
Kael was already standing close to the altar with a straight back and a determined stance. Dark energy, the strong Eclipse magic coursing through his veins, shimmered in the air around him. In a last act of unification, the magic which had always been erratic and erratic at times would now be bound to the moon, to the heavenly wellspring of all life. It would give him a whole new degree of authority if it succeeded. The repercussions would be disastrous if it failed.
Selene walked slowly and deliberately toward him as the gravity of what was about to happen set in. Her focused stare, which had accompanied them through fight after battle and challenge after challenge, never left his face. They would be put to the ultimate test of destiny, power, and faith tonight.
"Are you prepared?" Despite being quiet, Selene's words could be heard clearly in the calm night air. Even though she could hear the wavering undertone in her own voice, Kael's countenance remained constant.
His voice was calm and deep as he said, "I've been prepared for this my entire life." Normally so full of fire, his eyes were suddenly a whirl of opposing feelings fear, determination, and something more. Something Selene was unable to pinpoint.
Selene felt her heart tighten. This last stage in their trip would tie him up in ways she couldn't have imagined since he had always handled his problems alone. However, that was their only choice. They had no defense against the encroaching darkness that threatened to swallow up all they had battled for if Kael's Eclipse magic wasn't used.
Above them, the moon seemed to pulsate in response to Kael's presence. The skies themselves seemed to be watching, anticipating the start of the ceremony. destiny and the feeling of inevitable destiny permeated the night's charm.
Rowan took a step forward, his expression solemn. Since Kael had consented to the binding, he had been mute throughout most of the preparations. He had a straightforward function in the ceremony: to keep Kael grounded in reality so that the magic wouldn't overwhelm him. Even he, while strong and determined, was unsure.
"Are you certain about this?" With his eyes focused on Kael, Rowan questioned in a hushed voice.
There was a brief moment of mutual understanding and unsaid words as Kael looked into his brother's eyes.
"I'm at a loss," Kael said. "There is no other option."
Rowan gave one more nod, then moved aside to make room for Selene to join Kael. Feeling the warmth of his flesh and the power that reverberated just beyond the surface, she put a hand on his arm. She had previously seen him use this power and felt its pulse in the atmosphere, but never in this manner or with such decisiveness.
With an ancient artifact in her hands, the ancient priestess, a woman cloaked in dark blue robes, advanced. A whirling silver liquid moonlight, seized from the very source of their power filled a crystal bottle. In a custom that had not been carried out for generations, this was the substance that would connect Kael's power to the moon.
"Kael, are you ready?" The priestess spoke in a kind, respectful tone.
Even if Kael's eyes clouded, he remained resolute. "Yes, I am."
The ceremony started once the priestess gave a nod. She set the vial in the middle of the altar, where a big sign in the form of a crescent was carved into the stone. The priestess started chanting in an old language, words that Selene had never heard before, but the meaning was obvious, and the sign lit dimly, its edges glistening with moonlight.
As the enchantment intensified, the temperature dropped and the wind increased. The weight of the magic pushing down on Selene's chest was palpable in the pit of her stomach. She took a step forward Kael, putting her fingers softly on his, looking for solace, a connection, or anything to help her feel grounded.
As the magic started to take effect, Kael's eyes were closed and his face was a mask of concentration. She saw the energy around him, a silver-and-black aura that appeared to beat in time with his heartbeat. Above them, the moon brightened, its light becoming stronger as if in response to the ceremony.
The air surrounding them was shaken by a low hum that vibrated through the earth. The priestess chanted more urgently, her voice becoming louder and quicker. The bottle in the middle of the altar started to shine brighter, its silver liquid glimmering as if it were drawing on the moon's own soul.
Then, almost suddenly, Kael exploded with energy. Selene was flung back, her eyesight briefly blurred, as a dazzling flash of black and silver filled the air. The sound of the wind howling was so loud that it overpowered all other sounds.
Selene stared in confusion as the light dimmed, her pulse racing. Something had altered, but Kael was still upright. The air crackled with the force of the moon itself, and an ethereal, shimmering energy enveloped his body.
Selene felt her breath catch in her throat as he slowly opened his eyes. She had become used to seeing the deep, flaming red in his eyes, but now they were silver and glowed in the moonlight.
With his voice shaking under the weight of the power he now had, Kael said, "It's done." "But there's a problem."
Selene felt a knot in her gut. She sensed that something had changed in the air, and it wasn't right. The way Kael's power surged, as if it were resisting him, told her everything she needed to know: it was too much, too wild.
The earth beneath them shook once again before she could inquire what he meant. There was a deep rumbling from the mountains to the north, and the air became heavy with the smell of ozone. A beat skipped in Selene's heart.
Her voice was tense as she said, "What's happening?"
As the energy around Kael started to whirl out of control, his face contorted in agony. With clenched teeth, he said, "It's the binding." "I'm being pulled by it."
Abruptly, the moon above burst into a dazzling burst, more brilliant than before. Kael's corpse was torn from the earth before Selene could respond because the strength was too much to handle.
"No!" The magic twisted, drawing him into the air as Selene screamed and reached for him. His eyes were wide with fear as his body arched upward.
"Selene!" Through the thunder of the magic, she could hear Kael's voice, which was no more than a whisper. "It's excessive!"
Kael let forth a last, agonizing wail and disappeared into the light.
The world became quiet.