Chapter 4:
(A/N:- This chapter consist information regarding ritual if you want to skip you can .But I wish you also read this!!)
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The air in the Sentinel chamber grew heavier as Lysara led Arlen and Kael to an inner sanctum deep within the fortress. This was no ordinary room—it radiated power, its walls inscribed with ancient runes that shimmered faintly like dying embers. At the center stood a massive circular altar, its surface covered in intricate patterns carved into black stone.
"This is the Sanctum of Embers," Lysara began, her tone reverent. "It is where the Blood Souls of old forged their connections to the seals. If you choose to proceed, the Rite of Binding must be performed here."
Arlen approached the altar, his footsteps echoing in the silent chamber. "What does the ritual require?" he asked.
Lysara gestured to the altar. "The Rite demands three elements: the essence of the bearer, the anchor of the seal, and the offering of memory."
Kael frowned. "Anchor of the seal?"
Lysara nodded. "The seals were created with fragments of the Dark Sovereign's power, bound into physical relics. One such relic rests here, beneath this sanctum. It must be used to forge the connection."
Arlen's gaze hardened. "And the offering of memory?"
Lysara hesitated, then looked directly at him. "The Eyes of Legends connect you to the souls of those who came before you. But to bind a seal, you must sacrifice a piece of yourself—memories of your own life. These will be consumed in the process."
Kael's voice wavered. "But won't that... change him?"
"Yes," Lysara said solemnly. "The more seals you bind, the more fragmented your identity becomes. This is why so few Blood Souls ever completed the Rite. Most were lost to the process, their minds fractured, their souls unrecognizable."
Arlen clenched his fists. He had felt the pull of the memories already—the subtle erosion of his own thoughts, replaced by the lives of others. But this... this was different. This was permanent.
"What happens if I refuse?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Lysara's expression grew grim. "Then the seals will continue to break. The Dark Sovereign will rise, and there will be nothing to stop it."
Kael grabbed his arm. "You don't have to do this. We can find another way."
Arlen looked at her, his glowing eyes softening for a moment. "There is no other way," he said quietly.
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### **The Steps of the Ritual**
Lysara began explaining the steps of the Rite as the chamber darkened, the runes on the walls flaring to life.
1. **The Essence of the Bearer**:
Arlen had to channel the power of his Eyes into the altar, a process that required immense focus. The Eyes would act as a conduit, connecting his soul to the fractured seal.
2. **The Anchor of the Seal**:
A shard of the original seal would be placed in the center of the altar. This shard would absorb the energy from Arlen's Eyes, reactivating its ancient power.
3. **The Offering of Memory**:
Finally, Arlen would have to surrender a specific memory—one that held deep personal significance. This memory would fuel the restoration of the seal, but it would be lost to him forever.
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Kael watched as Lysara prepared the altar, her hands trembling. "Does it have to be a memory that's... important?"
"Yes," Lysara said without looking up. "The seal demands something meaningful. Something tied to your identity."
Kael turned to Arlen. "What if you lose something that makes you... you?"
Arlen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward and placed his hands on the altar, feeling the cold stone beneath his fingers.
"Let's begin," he said firmly.
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### **The Ritual**
As the Rite began, the chamber filled with a low hum, the runes on the walls burning brighter. Arlen's Eyes flared as he channeled his energy into the altar, the light pouring from him in streams of fiery red. The shard of the seal, a jagged piece of obsidian, floated to the center of the altar, absorbing the power.
Kael watched in awe and horror as Arlen's body trembled under the strain. The light from his Eyes pulsed violently, and his breathing grew ragged.
Then came the final step.
"Choose your memory," Lysara instructed. Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed her sorrow.
Arlen closed his eyes, searching through his mind. Memories flashed before him—faces, places, moments that defined who he was. Finally, he found one: a fleeting image of a woman with a kind smile, her hand resting on his shoulder.
"Mother," he whispered.
The altar pulsed as the memory was drawn from him, a stream of golden light flowing from his mind into the shard. Arlen gasped, clutching his head as the memory vanished, leaving an empty void in its place.
The shard blazed with renewed energy, its cracks sealing as the power of the Rite flowed through it. The hum in the chamber reached a crescendo, then abruptly stopped.
It was done.
Arlen staggered back, his Eyes dimmed and his face pale. Kael rushed to his side. "Arlen, are you okay?"
He looked at her, his expression blank for a moment, before nodding slowly. "I... I think so."
But deep down, he felt the loss—a piece of himself gone forever.
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### **A Quiet Warning**
As they left the sanctum, Lysara placed a hand on Arlen's shoulder. "You've completed one seal, but there are more. Each time, the price will grow steeper. Be certain you can bear it."
Arlen met her gaze, his voice steady despite the weight of her words. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Kael walked beside him, silent but determined. She knew the road ahead would only grow darker, but she also knew she wouldn't let him face it alone.
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