Most of the divine being in this universe has their ritual. to summon or communicate with their believer or give them blessings. The ritual is usually split into 2 parts, the setup and the invocation.
According to what John remembers, it could be anything from a tissue arranged in a specific manner to blood drawn into the signal. The main point about ritual is that it should be distinct from another god and not easily created so that someone can call you at 3 a.m.
And the invocation to connect the believer with the divine being. The first verse would be about their being as a whole, the second is about their domain and the third is about the believer's request.
He could give Theia of a real divine being ritual. But she would definitely find out if it was a normal divine being or a heretic divine being. He couldn't do that
If he just made up a random god, the invocation wouldn't work.
Maybe he didn't need all of this. He doubts Theia knows enough about the divine. He only needs to stall for long enough for the rescue to arrive.
All he needs to do is wait for someone to show up. The best-case scenario is the maid finding him first then the priest coming after. The worst case is when the priest finds him first. The most likely outcome is the former since they didn't have a divination priest to track them down.
"You could rest"
John said without much care. he finds a chair nearby and sits down with his eyes closed. He used this time time relax and organize his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Theia found this situation quite uncomfortable.
This location is only intended to serve as an escape route, and it will be quickly abandoned. But her master told her to wait here. She was about to question his decision when she was interrupted.
The master must have something in mind. She couldn't possibly guess the intention of a great mystic mater.
They both wait in silence, the atmosphere is quite relaxing after going through the night. Before long a guest arrives.
Through the window, a shadow figure entered the room. Quickly look around and position a knife in front of Theia's neck. Theia and the maid both look at John with confusion.
She was about to sever the girl's neck when John raised his hand to stop her. The blade stops just short of cutting into Theia. The girl lets out a cold sweat that runs down her face. If her body was in better shape, she could have summoned something, but after using it twice in a row, she is completely exhausted.
The price was too much.
"Master, what's the meaning of this?"
The maid quickly assessed the situation and found that they were in quite a peculiar one. Her master has been kidnapped by a heretic but instead of running the heretic stays in place. More strange is the fact that the heretic didn't even attempt to play hostage situation and her master even stopped her from killing the heretic.
"The girl is not a heretic"
The maid quickly presses her hand on Theia's shoulder, her left hand still maintaining the blade on Theia's neck. The cold seeped through the broken body and detected the presence of a circle. However, it was clear that it was not a circle.
"Master, she's a star" The maid's eyes grew colder "We have to kill her"
Theia felt even more threatened, her hand fidgeting and considering using her power. Even if the backlash would cause her to be near death it's better than having a sure death here. John continues to defend her with useless reasons.
"She hasn't done anything major yet"
"You know that a star needs human parts to form right?"
John understands, but killing her right now would ruin the story. Moreover, Theia does not appear to be someone who kills people at least doesn't on her own. Not that it matters right now, because a star still represents a deceased human in some way.
"Did you kill anyone?"
"No, I haven't killed anyone! M... someone gives it to me" She answered with a shaky voice.
"Who is it?"
The maid asks. Theia panics and looks at John. She felt like she just got pinch between a rock and a hard place. John stares her down with a complicated look. From her reaction, he could guess that he, or the past him had given a human part to her.
This makes his theory about the main heretic trying to possess him hold more water. But it doesn't help the situation right now.
"...."
Ultimately she couldn't answer
"Hilda do me a favor and help her out," John said "I will explain this when we are done"
He pulls out his last card. Trust. Gamble on the maid to help him unconditionally. It's a 50/50 gamble on his part. Judging from Hilda's character this could go both ways.
Hilda looks at John with doubtful eyes. Reeva had just been suspected of being a heretic and a short while later helped a heretic. He acts and sounds like a heretic right now.
"You better have a good reason for this, master"
Ultimately she decides to trust her guts, and in turn, trust her master. If Reeva was the guy before she got knocked out Hilda would just kill both her master and Theia right here but the changed man must have something.
"See you at Midnight Inn, by the way, thank you, I hope your arm heals fast."
The maid looks like she's seen a ghost. he quickly does her job.
"Wait...."
Before Theia could say anything, the maid used the hilt of her daggers and knocked Theia out. He then carried the girl with her arm and left the building. John heaved a sigh of relief. The first burden was done.
Now the hardest part of this plan is to set the story straight.
Fooling a divination priest.