"My deepest apologies. Transporting the beast to the circle is fraught with instability… But we've ensured no local supplies were requisitioned. There will surely be carts and horses available. At the latest, we will perform the ritual by dawn tomorrow. Please wait a little longer…"
[Ah, my beloved Nicholas. How could I not wait for you? But beware—I am a fickle goddess. You must not delay too long.]
Nicholas gazed at the blood quill with dazed eyes. The artifact floated in the air, exuding a sinister red glow. Behind it, the fleeting figure of a beautiful woman would occasionally appear and vanish.
"Yes, O Goddess of Blood… Your humble servant Nicholas begs for your grace," he murmured, his trembling voice brimming with longing.
The dimly lit ballroom where they resided, shrouded in thick darkness, resonated with the Goddess's eerie laughter—a sound like countless ghosts laughing in unison.
