The Ritual
"You are… so adorable!" Arielle said while pinching Suri's thin cheeks.
The entourage that would perform the ritual finally arrived at the place that had been prepared. Arielle and Suri were expected to stay inside the carriage because it was cold. Meanwhile, the knights were preparing everything needed.
Ronan and Rowan paid a short visit to the carriage, asking Arielle to warm them up a bit so they wouldn't get cold. The priests outside were helping the knights by distributing warm-emitting mana crystals for each knight to hold.
Arielle took both Ronan's and Rowan's hands together.
"The ritual will begin in two hours. It's ten o'clock now. Everything is ready. We can get ready a few minutes before that," said Ronan as he was about to leave the carriage and join the knights to ensure that there was no threat of wild animals around.
Rowan lay back on the soft seat of the carriage, taking a break after a day of riding without rest.