08. Ritual By Pashen

Hidden deep within the Dragon Spine Mountains of Haven, Pashen sat on her heels, every inch of her covered in strange symbols, glyphs and patterns that had taken hours of meticulous work to paint on herself with specially prepared dyes. Her long rebellious curls were pulled back into a thick braid that gleamed with an abundance of fragrant oils and her strange eyes were entirely a rich golden color that glowed warmly.

She had chosen well when deciding on where to locate her ritual room. Like a misshapen web, the six Fyres surrounded the world with a multitude of strands of varying magical strengths. Energy ley lines, each one of the Fyres representing a different power or influence, a tendril from each converged in the part of the mountain where Pashen formed her chamber. The circular room throbbed with power, enhanced further by the ritual she was performing.

The ceiling, floor and wall were painted with intricate designs, ancient symbols foreign to this world and flowing patterns that opened doorways in ones mind. It had taken her a month to ready the room after completing the formation of it. Candles of every color and hue burned and the sweet scents of sacred herbs filled the still air. The only sound came from Pashen’s voice as she sang a hauntingly beautiful song in a language long forgotten on her world.

At times, a symbol would glow brightly, detach from the wall and pulsate with power then rush towards her to collide with the rainbow infinity symbol centered on her forehead. Though not painful, the impact would arch her spine backwards until her head nearly reached the floor.

Four days she’d been at it, neither sleeping nor breaking from her song. Her Father and brother had told her that to succeed as Godslayer, she needed to free the elemental Lords and Ladies of Cedre. The means, they told her, would be found on her new world. Then she’d taken their lives.

And here in this chamber, she hoped to learn the answers her Father and Avishen had told her to seek. Perhaps it was the incredible fatigue of her body from warring on her home world of Cedre, perhaps it was due to the emotional torment she had suffered just before entering into Ritual, whatever it was, Pashen missed the flaw, a symbol that didn’t belong.

The late night of the fifth day found Pashen seated in the center of the chamber, her song had become a chant that rose and fell like waves. Most of the symbols around the chamber were gone as knowledge was given, imparted in the various sigils that found their way into her
mind. Her voice rose and a crimson form responded, detached itself from the ceiling then spun wildly before slamming into her forehead. A red light flickered in her golden eyes, the rainbow symbol on her forehead blinked out for a moment, replaced by an ancient, unholy mark before returning.

Pashen struggled to consciousness a short time later, the ritual seemingly complete and the knowledge that she must travel to the Mystical Storm at the south pole etched in her mind. Normally she would have slept for a day or longer but after the Binding Ritual that joined her to Thayne for eternity, time spent away from him was an agony. She could barely stand upright to wash the remaining dye from her skin with shaking hands, dark circles under her eyes resembled bruises but she needed her a’mael.

Pashen returned home to find her bedroom empty. She leaned heavily against the open door, her keen elven ears listened to her childrens whispered conversation while her gaze centered on the empty wine bottle on the nightstand next to the bed. Pain sliced through her and she slowly gave in to the anger that welled up within he