42 The Ritual of Candles

In the two days preceding the scheduled meeting at the Arc Tower, the Stedores granted Brutos Griffith access to their basement laboratory. They thought that at least if Rhael's mischievous brother was busy at something, he would not do anything to Sera that would jeopardize all that they've worked for. Agaven damaged arm from the previous battle was almost healed, but he needed to rest in order for him to take part in what was to come. Rhael did not want to let her brother out of her sight, but she had matters to attend to.

"The Clandestine Order needs you now more than ever.", their leader had called upon her. "It was your idea, now you have to help in making it work."

Rhael thought about the time they joined this secret organization. She and Agaven learned the Clandestine Order was born from the people who disagreed with the current state of the Arcane Watch. Their vision was to see it reborn; to allow magicians to grow into who they really are, not limited by nonsense rules and regulations. For all she knew, they were just out to grab power for themselves. Not that it mattered anyway. Rhael Stedore joined the Clandestine Order for only one reason; and that is to save her Lerica.

Shaking away the thoughts, Rhael found herself already in the dark alley. Her visage of depression and worry for her daughter's survival shifted into the cold and unemotional beauty she was. There was no turning back now.

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Aurice, exhausted but satisfied, walks a small distance back to admire her work. The guardian she made for Sera; a soldier, stood looking valiant despite it being made from shattered pieces.

'Just a little bit more...', Aurice mumbled as she slowly drifted into sleep, her mind still wanting to work but her body already giving out. She finally decided to let her body have the rest. 'Besides...', she thought as she mapped out her plan, '...I guess I can rely on Sera to do the next steps...'

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Sera woke up early the next day. The Stedores haven't done anything to her yet, nor did she see any sign of the mean Brutos guy. Breathing in deeply, she recalled the conversation she had with Aurice in her dream:

"It's very simple, Sera.", Aurice said. "Just walk up to the soldier, arrange the candles I've collected like so...", she pointed at the symbols and drawings she scribbled, "... and recite the words I told you earlier. You remember it, don't you?"

Sera was having trouble memorizing it, but she didn't want to bother Aurice anymore. She just smiled and nodded.

Sera slowly approached the corner where the soldier was crafted and disabled the stealth shield. She gasped a little at the sight of her would-be-guardian. It was small but it was valiant. It was not human but she felt it carrying her deep feelings.

"Thank you, miss Aurice.", she whispered.

Steadying herself from her nervousness, she found the candles Aurice had placed at the foot of the soldier. A small candle had already burned out but beside it were eight differently colored candles personally enchanted by Aurice herself. She took all of it and carefully arranged them according to Aurice's instructions.

Sera placed down the raven's candle (black) near the melted candle. Aurice told her to recite a chant at the same time as lighting each of the candles.

"En tenebris Umbra... Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax.", the words felt unnatural to her untrained tongue, but she knew she uttered them correctly.

She placed the second one, the ivory candle (white), just a distance from the first, and recited the words again.

"En alba Exspiravit...Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax.", Sera felt a chill as she said the words.

She looked around, almost creeped out, but she steeled herself and continued with the ritual. The flaxen candle (yellow), Sera placed near the previous candle but a little more to the front of the soldier.

"En meridiem Aurum, Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax."

The crimson candle (red) was positioned at the front of the soldier, just beside the flaxen candle.

"En iratus Ignis, Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax." Sera now felt the room grow warm, but the chill still lingered. She began to wonder if her chants had something to do with what's happening. But she was already down to two candles. She couldn't stop now.

Sera carefully placed the azure candle (blue) beside the crimson candle, almost at an opposite position of the ivory candle.

"En caeruleum Arcana, Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax."

Sera held the last candle, nature's candle (green), longer than the others. She clutched it in her hand and closed her eyes as she breathed deeply. Finally, she placed it at near the other foot of the soldier completing the semi-circle of candles around the guardian.

"En mater Viridi, Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax."

The candles each glowed a different light, illuminating the soldier from all angles. Sera sat in front of it and continued her chant, pouring all of her mind and heart into each syllable.

"Ego tibi vitam det, detrahet me veniet pax."

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Two days had passed in a flash, and the day of the second gathering of the Arcane Watch had finally arrived. Agaven just finished his recovery and is at full strength, but Rhael seemed very agitated.

"Rhael... it's time to go."

"Where is that bastard? Why hasn't he showed up yet.", Rhael grumbled as they walked towards their car. "I swear, if that trash of a brother even lays one finger on Sera, I will personally be there to rip his head off."

"Let it go for now, Rhael.", Agaven tried to calm her down. "There are more important matters to deal with now."

The Stedores not wanting to delay anymore got in their car and hastily sped off to the Arc Tower.