I saw the moons for the first time since being plunged into this new world. Three bright white moons were overheard in the star-infested sky. Each in different areas of the sky. All in various stagings of lunar cycles. A clear view of this realm's galactic center sprawls across the Heavens in a blue, pink, and green flower. The captives I fought with during the day's events all stood in a circle around an altar. A giant stone slab surrounded by five large statues of stone women praying at the center. Lit candles lie around the stone bed and sculptures. Another encircled us while yet another encircled the robed priests. All of us are nude for each other to see, except for the slave collar we share. I took notice of the exquisite body of Ellisif, who stood opposite me. Her features were curvier than I had realized. She was fit yet feminine and graceful. I found myself unable to ignore her lovely appearance. Ellisif seemed to notice this but remained calm. Then the Countess, her daughter, and Knight Svenhilde stood far back. All three wore these almost see thru white robes that left nothing to the imagination. Despite the Countess's apparent unawareness, all of them seemed to be very aware of the seductive appearance of their bodies. Encircling us were people dressed in gray hooded robes. I counted fifty or so, chanting words I had yet to hear. Presiding over them was an elderly man. His gray hair was nearly bolding on the top of his head. The man put his hands up high.
"We shall now begin the ceremony for discerning aptitudes. You will lay one by one on the altar before you. Whether you are worthy or not will be determined by the Gods and Goddesses by revealing your hidden nature or by granting you blessings based on your worthiness. There is a possibility that this process will be painful or it may be enjoyable. As far as this is concerned, it depends on the wishes of the Gods and Goddesses. Upon being judged, a symbol of their grace will be imprinted upon your body as a permanent reminder of their blessing. It is important to understand that most will not be considered worthy. Such is the will of the Gods and Goddesses," proclaimed the priest.
He signals for the ritual to begin. Grey is the first to go to the altar. I watch in interest as he lies on the stone slab. Then, the priest started reciting from a book on the stone podium he stood behind. Grey was engulfed in a blue-colored energy that seemed to emanate from nowhere. The power dances like flames across his body. I didn't see Grey flinching in pain as the captive did when exposed to this. He seemed to be fine during the process. A few minutes later, a brighter white light peers down on his body from the sky. Then the priest spoke again.
You may step down from the altar now. The Gods and Goddesses have given their judgment upon you," the priest revealed to the group. "Now we will have the next candidate come forward!" he exclaimed.
Frida took the altar next. She had an exquisite body, just like her clanswoman had. As she passes Grey, he takes a keen look at her as she passes. There is a spark of something between the two of them. The priest reads from the thick book before him as he has done before. Once again, I find myself watching the same phenomenon play out in front of me. However, the aura that danced around her body was different from Grey. A mist of pink and purple wraps around her body like a sparkling rain. We watch it enter her body through her nose, mouth, ears, and other female parts. Frida lifts up into the air, levitating as more mist invades her body.
The entire process lasted longer than the previous one before the light from the Heavens engulfed her body. Finally, Frida floats down to the altar softly. Once done, she leaves the table unfazed by the experience. This continues with the others. Aslaug and Runa's aura was similar to Frida's, while Sven and Ballio's was intense and vivid yellow. Ellisif was the last to go before me. Our eyes lock as she walks to the altar. A sense of burning fills my stomach. A feeling I hadn't felt for a long time. Something that the long battles had chipped away at. She lies on the granite stone slab. Just as the old priest starts chanting the passage, her body erupts in a storm of pinkish, bluish, reddish, and purplish energy. The streams of light flare out and into the air. I could feel an electric tingle all over my body.
Ellisif leaves high into the air. Her screams weren't of pain but something else. The robed priest backed away while chanting. A dazzling light baths the area around her. Several minutes pass before the event ends, and Ellisif returns to the stone table. My heart drops as she doesn't move like in the previous sessions. A pair of robed priests takes her from the table to an area by the Countess. I moved to intercept, but my body would not respond. So instead, I walk to the altar on my turn. My body was acting on its own. The world went black and white around me. Yet, time did not stop. I could hear nothing or smell nothing. Every attempt to move was met with failure. On the table, I stared up into the sky, but it was different. This time something was different; the stars were closer and more brilliant than before. I heard voices coming from around me.
"Is it him, the man?" came a voice from the distance.
Another voice said, "Look at him; this man is the one."
Another voice raised its voice and asked, "Is this true? So he is the one?"
"Yes, he is the one who will bring to a close all that is about to transpire," a fourth voice whispered.
The sound of stone moving echoes from around me. Heavy, solid footsteps drew closer to the altar. Soon, the praying statues that encircled the altar peer down on me. There are now giants in size, more human still but still possessing the notion that they resemble mannequins. Their eyes glow a bright white, wearing nothing but a white cloth wrapped around parts of their body, revealing their nude bodies. The five giant women loom over me, touching my body. My mind starts to race at the strange turn of events. The more they examine my body, the more my heart rate. Suddenly they stop in unison and look away.
"There's an intruder, sisters!" one snapped.
The second statue stated, "This one is ours!".
"The interloper is approaching!" A third screamed
'Begone, usurper, you have infringed on our presence!' cried the fifth.
A presence I was all too familiar with fills the air. 'The smiling man.' I soon hear his voice from somewhere afar.
"Oh??? Don't mind me. I'm just observing a mortal that interests me," the smiling man said.
"Begone, you trend on our sacred ground!" the fourth statue snapped.
"I am only here to bestow gifts on your chosen avatar. Something to aid this man in his divine duty given to him by you," the smiling man said.
The five giant statues debate amongst themselves before responding.
"Very well, traveler. You may grant him whatever boon you see fit. But, I must warn you, do not trespass on our shrine again," the fifth statue said.
"Of course, that goes without saying," the smiling man replied.
I saw him looming over me just a moment later. This time, there was a greater sense of humanity about his appearance, but he was still off. As I looked at his face, I could not see any details. The smile that adorns his face is all that is seen. He then reaches into the area of his face where his eyes would generally be, in a state of horror and disgust. My eyes are blinded by what he is removing, something I cannot see and is overwhelming me. My sight is white-washed, and a searing, burning pain wrecks my eyes. The sheer pain is more than what I experienced during the manifestation that transported me to this world. The sound of myself screaming at the top of my lungs makes me sick to my stomach. Then, I felt soft hands touch my body, and the pain slowly drifts away. The touch of their hands is soothing and gentle. It is as if their essence has been flowing into me, and their power fills every inch of my very being with its presence. I sense who they are, what they are. In this world, they are goddesses who attend to the desire and duty of protecting the world from something that may threaten it in the future. While I could not comprehend the threat, I knew it was coming, and I knew I had to prepare myself. I believe that this was one of the reasons that I was spared Hell because of this.