Jack Miller opened the ancient door slowly. And the darkness from within the room found its light again.
The room seemed to be filled with a strange energy that gave Zach chills as the air in the room shot out and hit his skin.
In the room four people can be seen quite clearly. They sat on the floor facing each other with each at the other end of the room.
In the middle of it, right in front of Zach and Jack Miller, there was a red curtain showing the silhouette of an old man sitting cross-legged behind the curtain. It's the effect of the candle or lantern behind it.
In addition, the room was only lit with a single small candle which made the atmosphere eerie.
As Zach turned his head to see what kind of people were in the room. He was made goosebumps once again when he met the eyes of the man with jet black hair and blue eyes that seemed to have no shine anymore. He's like a living corpse. Jack Miller introduced him as Vanders Boreas.
Directly facing the strange man was a woman in her early forties, with her hair tied up in such a way that it looked like a large pillow on her head. looks black hair that is almost white, that's the age factor, She was also introduced by Jack Miller, Milly Boreas.
Zach looked back at the corner of the room beside the gray-haired woman, and saw a beautiful woman with a simple facial makeup that soothed the eyes. She had long black hair that fell to the floor when she sat. His black eyes and smiling expression brought warmth to Zach who had just been struck by a strange chill. She looked like a woman in her early thirties, of course that was just Zach's guess, given the pretty makeup. It could have been above his estimate, She is Jack Miller's wife, Olivia Miller.
In front of Her, a younger girl sat and looked curiously at Zach. It made Zach unable to look her straight in the eye. She had a similar appearance to the woman in front of her. Long hair though only to the waist, eyes black with curiosity. Unlike the others, the young girl was wearing white clothes that almost covered her entire body except for her head and palms.
Amidst the brief silence, the old man's voice came from behind the curtains again, "Jack, it took you a week to bring him here..." The man's voice sounded clearer with a deeper element.
Zach frowned slightly, hearing the old man's words Zach couldn't help showing a confused expression.
Zach couldn't help but turn to look at Jack Miller.
Jack Miller removed his round hat and said quietly to Zach "Considering you don't remember when the shadow creature possessed you, I forgot to tell you that a week has passed since your first time in the dungeon" It was a whisper so the others didn't hear. what Jack Miller said to Zach.
Zach couldn't keep his expression and reflexively said "One week?" His voice echoed in the room.
Zach did get memory shards when he was a Shadow, but he never thought he'd be a Shadow for that long.
One thing that comes to Zach's mind now is the condition of his family. He wanted to ask this but stopped when the deep voice of the old man behind the curtain came back.
"Did you bring your sealing medium?"
Zach twitched slightly. This is something that could give Zach the creeps. What the old man said went straight to him. Even from behind the curtain, Zach felt a stare from the old man behind the curtain.
After that, Zach gradually glanced at the thick book-sized wooden chest in his right hand. An inverted triangle symbol with three circles and unequal lines came into Zach's vision.
"If you bring it, then the ritual can be held right now" Said the old man in a deep voice.
Jack Miller widened his eyes as he stared at the right corner of the room. It was a young woman in white closed clothes.
Then directed his gaze back to the red curtain ahead. "Now?"
"Yes, the more time wasted, the greater the danger that would come."
That's a natural thing considering no one knows when and where Zach will be possessed by a shadow creature.
Therefore, Jack Miller began to understand. He stared at the young woman in the corner of the room and said in a gentle tone, "Ilya, how do-" before Jack Miller had even finished speaking, the young woman cut in firmly and with conviction. "Father, I am ready anytime. This is my duty as the daughter of the Boreas clan"
Hearing that Jack Miller sighed inwardly.
Zach who still couldn't accept that time had passed longer than he thought didn't even listen. In his brain right now is how his family is now.
"Emma must be really worried..." Zach muttered for a moment before suddenly slapping himself on the cheek.
"This is my decision, I just need to escape the shadow creatures in my body, after that I can meet them again" Zach thought of a possibility but immediately receded because he knew it was a difficult possibility.
Zach didn't realize the moment until a soft female voice was heard. "Mr Clourfuss, Please cooperate"
Zach stabilized his vision and saw the young woman who previously sat in the corner of the room now standing in front of him.
"The ritual will be performed in the Ritual Hall." The old man's voice came again.
Zach, who didn't follow the conversation, was certainly confused. But soon he knew that the ritual would be performed right now.
The man with a glazed look that resembled a living corpse stood up and approached Zach. "You have to make preparations first." His voice was a bit hoarse, as if something was stuck in his throat.
Without waiting any longer, Zach was led to a different room before changing into clothes that were quite strange in that era.
It was a white shirt with wide sleeves, as well as white pants that only reached the calves. On his forehead is a cloth in the shape of an inverted triangle shaped like a bandanna.
It shows a different figure of Zach. Even though his gray eyes still showed his trademark confusion, his withered hair and appearance now seemed different from Zach who usually wore formal clothes.
It didn't take long for Zach to be led back to the Ritual Hall room.
It was a room with a sinister feel. the room is not very big, and in the center there is a triangular altar which stands out because of the unique symbols on it.
Zach sat on the altar in the middle of the dark room.
After a long silence, the door opened again and revealed a woman dressed in white. It covered most of her body except for her face.
Black hair that fell to her waist and a posture that matched her appearance. Her eyes were black and full of tenderness, though there was a barely perceptible hesitation.
The young woman carried a small candle which dimmed the room.
After entering, the woman sat beside Zach quietly.
At the same time, an old man entered the room. He was wearing a cloth that covered his face. On the cloth there is a symbol of one eye with three eyelashes indicating many mysteries.
The man with glazed eyes like an undead, Vanders as well as the elegant woman, Olivia walked out of the room at the same time.
That leaves Zach, the young woman beside him and the man wearing the face covering.
"Let's start the ritual" The deep voice was instantly recognized by Zach.
The old man wearing the mask was the same old man behind the curtains just a moment ago.