Ritual

The old Naga took around twenty minutes to finish his story. Unfortunately, Hera wasn't able to understand anything he said. Her mind focused on the sound of his voice and how the movements he made to represent the various aspects of the tale being told. Even noticing how a few of his scales glimmered to help. Still, it was nice seeing the children enthralled by his story. Unlike human kids who always were moving around and playing, the Naga kept their torso still, but their tails didn't stop for a second. Always grabbing one another and poking at random things even when they were supposed to be quiet.

When the story was over, Tara spoke up, "Ok this was perfect. I can understand the kinds of things your body focuses on more easily. Let's go to the next part."

"Oh? Was that enough?" Hera tilted her head. She didn't think she did much during this test.

"Yep. I noticed how not only you can't see some of their writing but also missed some of the sounds he made. Their communication also includes smells, that's why the children kept sticking their tongue out. But it wasn't like the old Naga was actually making the smell with his body. He was using a spell for it. It's not completely necessary, but it is something they can do."

"Really?" Hera frowned, "Why don't we do that. I mean, we can also remember things with smells."

"Yeah, but this is something only story tellers would do. Naga story tellers," Tara shook her head, "I don't know if other species can also do that. But it's not something everyone would be able to do from the start. Oh! Some scouts also learn this since the smell could help people knowing about dangers in an area."

"I see… It kind of sucks that I couldn't understand what they are saying."

"Maybe I can bring you here later. I'm not entirely sure what is going to happen after you ascend," Tara shrugged and opened the portal for them to walk out.

There were several other tests after this one. First, a test whee they only had to be exposed to the elements for a few minutes. Things like rain, snow, scorching sun, and such. Then, another physical test, but one in a gym where they tested different machines to see how each group of muscle worked better. This also included a test where they just worked out until they couldn't anymore. After it, came a test where they just had to walk around in what looked like a club. Loud music was playing at a volume that hurt Hera's ears and the constant flashing lights made her feel dizzy, but she was able to stumble out on her own. Tara, on the other hand, had to teleport herself since the intense flashing lights and music caused her body to have a seizure.

"Are you ok?" Hera asked as she helped the ancestor get back to her feet.

"Yeah… I just underestimated clubs. I guess I'm not really a party girl. Sorry."

  "Don't worry. And to be fair, this wasn't a club. Even the most outrageous of parties wouldn't have lights this intense. I mean, for the last half a minute I couldn't even see where I was going. I think you really overdid this one."

"Yeah," Tara rubbed her eyes.

"Ok, just two more. First, reflexes. We are going to be attacked by a bunch of things. Just dodge. And don't worry about getting hit, nothing will be dangerous."

Hera nodded, "Do you want to take a break?"

"No, no. I'm good. Do you mind if your court stays here for the next one? From what I understand, they will protect you no matter what, and this test is about reflexes. Having them interfere might mess up the readings."

Hera turned to Daskka and the others, "Stay here. Ok? Don't worry. I'll be ok."

  They went inside the next portal. A place where they were constantly attacked by various types of attacks. It started with some rubber balls, but eventually it got to the point of being attacked by clubs, hammers and even swords. Hera was able to dodge them at first, but later the attacks became faster and with slower intervals. To make matters worse, she didn't have her weapons and Tara said she couldn't use them. Each cut and bruise was healed after a few moments, but there was still enough time for the Empress to feel the pain they caused. 10 minutes after starting, Tara cut the lights of the place, forcing Hera to dodge while unable to see the incoming attacks. Another 10 minutes later, she also removed all the sound from the place. Half an hour after they began, the ancestor finally took them out of the space.

Hera was groaning, rubbing her arms and stomach, "You could've warned me."

"Yeah… but I had a feeling your court wouldn't let this happen."

"You are right we wouldn't!" Livy got up and walked closer to Tara, "We felt that she was getting hurt."

The ancestor quickly shuffled around and hid behind Hera, "She wasn't getting hurt. Well, she was, but we needed some information about how her body and mine dealt with taking damage!"

"I thought this was about reflexes!" Nimbus got up too and rushed over.

"That's fine. I got healed right away," Hera turned to Tara, "But you could've warned me."

"We needed a hit where you weren't bracing yourself. If I said you just had to get hit you wouldn't be as relaxed."

"I don't think I was relaxed one way or another, but fine," Hera sighed, "What's the next one?"

"We only have one more. This we don't even need to leave here. Is about mana. I'll want to see how you interact with mana, and I'll do the same."

"Oh, that's easy. By the way. I had a weird idea. How much control will we have over the body?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like… If I want certain parts of the body to be in a certain way. Would that be possible?"

Tara frowned, "Maybe. What do you have in mind."

Hera smiled, "So, you know spell circles, and runes, right?"

"Yeah."

"What if we made things in a way that my body had spell circles and runes embedded into it's anatomy. Like using the veins to draw the circle and the runes in my body."

"Wow," Nimbus and Tara gasped at the same time.

"What?" Hera looked at them.

"Nothing, is just… That was very…" Tara paused, trying to find the words.

"Mad scientist," Livy finished the sentence.

"Yep. That. Mad scientist. I didn't expect you to suggest something like that."

"It feels a bit icky… that kind of human-Naga experimentation," Daskka nodded.

'Isn't that a bit like what the guild was doing with Silah?' Crimson asked.

"What! Of course not! I'm only risking my own body and this is being done with my consent. Not to mention I'm only asking about the possibility, and I am very concerned about potential side effects. This is something I would only do if it was completely safe!" Hera protested. She felt outraged by the comparision.

"Calm down. I never considered that. Do you have the spell circle in mind?" Tara tried to break up the conversation.

"Give me a minute…. Do you have a pen and paper?"

"Sure," Tara gestured her tail to a table and the writing tools flew towards the Empress. In around 20 minutes, Hera created two spell circles and 4 runes that she imagined could be made using the veins in one's body.

The runes were for protection, defense, and three versions for regeneration. One for stamina, one for mana, and one for health. The first spell circle was simple, and just made mana more efficient. While the second tried to increase the body's attributes.

"And you wanted to add all this?" Tara looked up from the drawing.

"Not all, whatever we can. I don't want to make this new Naga a civilization of mages or fighters. I was just thinking that if we were able to have natural spell circles in us, it might help."

After around 10 minutes, Tara nodded, "Look. I think I can do something like that. But you need to understand two things. First, this is how your body will be. And second, doing this this way, might force the species to make spell circles like you. That's because their mana will be, quite literally, born to act like this."

"Could that be dangerous?"

"If it is, the system won't let me finish the body. Also, remember about mutations. If I do this, then some new Naga, in the future, might have a mutation that can remove this. Or change it into something else."

"If I do this, could children in the future be sick or something?"

"Sick, no, but they might have something different. You said you don't want to have this species being full of mages or fighters, but a mutation might appear that forces one person into a certain path. Or at least, makes it likely they would take that path."

Hera paused again to think, "But they won't have to. Like, even if someone gets a fire spell circle, they can still choose to go for ice spells, right? This won't be as if I'm controlling them and forcing them to do something. They will have free will. Also, the spell circle would only be active when given mana."

"Yeah. Of course. You won't be removing the free will, but people might pressure them one way or another."

"Then I think it's worth it. I want them to be able to protect themselves."

"Hera, you also need to be careful," Lurize spoke, "If you are trying to make them stronger than the others. This new species might one day believe they are superior."

"I know. But it's also something that the system will be looking at. If it sees it as a good idea to make people stronger, it can nudge other species into the same direction," Hera turned to Tara, "Right?"

"I mean… In theory. I can't say I know what the system can and can't do."

"So let's do it. In the end, I just want to be stronger so I can protect my friends. And to kill whoever is responsible for what was happening in that prison," Hera admitted.

"Mum… Do you realize this is the first time you ever talked about killing a person?" Daskka got closer.

"And we know you meant it," Livy kept her distance, unsure if she should step in.

"I know. But can you blame me? If we let them be they will continue doing that and making who knows how many suffer like she did."

There was a moment of silence before Tara spoke, "I'll make those changes. Can we check the mana now?"

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Don't be. It's ok to be angry."

Hera nodded and got in position. When Tara was ready they started absorbing mana from the environment. The Empress got used to doing that during the Pinnacle Mountain dungeon, it was a mix of meditation with active mana recovery that felt really pleasant. After a few minutes, the ancestor saw enough and moved away not to disturb the future new Naga. She changed the entire place to be a large pool of mana mixed with the essence of both species, which was an honey like transparent liquid. A large 3 dimensional spell circle appeared in the area, but no one aside from Tara would be able to understand it. The circle itself was wrapped in a spell made to make people forget about it the moment they saw it.

When that was over, Tara walked over to the only human in the room, "Hera. Are you ready?"

Hera opened her eyes, not realizing the place had changed. Instead of that cozy house they were now in a place that looked like a bathhouse, "Sorry. I guess I was too focused. Everything is ready?"

"Yeah. And I'll ask you again. Are you sure you want to do this? You won't be able to leave the MAZE anymore."

Hera nodded, "I'm sure."

"Ok, then. Walk to the center of that pool and just lie down. It might be better if you recall your court. Oh, you'll have to be naked too. Clothes might get in the way."

Hera got up and dismissed everyone before removing her clothes and giving a kiss on Daskka's head before removing the necklace, "I'll see you soon. Ok?"

"See you later, mum," the snake wrapped her tail around Hera's neck in a hug before letting go.

The Empress walked towards the pool of essence and slowly submerged her body until she was lying down, with only her face, the tip of her breasts, and her toes out of the water. Tara started saying something that Hera couldn't understand, but the sounds were very soothing. Soon, the human in the pool closed her eyes and feel asleep, knowing that the next time she opened her eyes, she would be reborn.