The Forbidden Rite

The flickering torches cast elongated shadows on the cold stone walls of the chamber.

The air hung heavy with anticipation, thick as the black velvet curtains that shrouded the room. King Ziek, his eyes narrowed, surveyed the scene—the seven magicians, their faces obscured by hooded cloaks, seated in a perfect star formation.

Their eyes glinted with secrets, and their gnarled hands clutched ancient grimoires. "Are the preparations complete?" King Ziek's voice echoed, a low rumble that seemed to emanate from the very depths of the earth. "Yes, my lord," replied the senior mage, his voice raspy and laden with age.

His black cloak trailed behind him as he stepped forward, leaning on a gnarled staff. "All is ready." The maids, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet, ushered in the queens. Queen Mia, regal and composed, and Queen Roxy, her eyes darting nervously, followed their lead.

The room swallowed them whole, its darkness swallowing their silhouettes. "Queens," the old mage intoned, "lay down at the center of the star." The queens obeyed, their gowns pooling around them like spilled ink.

The star-shaped diagram etched into the floor seemed to pulse with hidden energy.

The room held its breath. "Bring forth the offerings," the old mage commanded his subordinate, who emerged from the shadows, also clad in a black cloak.

The commoners—twenty souls plucked from the streets, their eyes wide with terror—were led in. Their mouths gagged, their hands bound, they stumbled forward.

The knight, his armor clanking, raised his sword. The room quivered with suppressed cries. "O, demonic being," the old mage's voice rose, echoing off the walls, "I, the supreme mage of the Jolt Kingdom, offer you these lives. Accept them and grant us the child who will succeed King Ziek."

"Kill them," the king's voice cut through the tension like a blade. The sword descended, severing heads from bodies. Blood sprayed, and the room erupted in screams.

The queens turned away, their faces drained of color. The old mage collected the heads, arranging them in a grisly circle around the star. "Great being of the netherworld," he murmured, "accept these offerings." A burst blinding light shot forth from the star.

With it's passing a translucent being- asoul materialized—a shimmering wisp of otherworldly essence.

It hovered, undecided, then— "Finally," the old mage intoned, his voice a brittle whisper, "the soul from the other world shall enter the chosen vessel."

The room crackled with energy. The magicians chanted, their voices merging into an otherworldly hum.

Queen Mia lay at the center of the star-shaped diagram, her chest moved up and down softly- her breath shallow.

The soul, a shimmering wisp, spiraled around her, seeking entry. "Huh?" The king's brow furrowed. "Something is amiss."

The soul hesitated, tracing circles around Queen Mia. Then, inexplicably, it veered toward the window—a portal to the unknown—and vanished.

"What just happened?" King Ziek rose, his katana unsheathed. The old mage's heart raced. "Fear not, my king," he said, masking his own dread. "The vessel—the queen—rejected the soul. so it went somehwhere else to find a host which is less worthy!"

"So the ritual failed?" The king's grip on the katana's hilt tightened

"No, no," the old mage stammered. "We have two more chances. The cosmic threads are capricious, the old mage said shakingly.

But he thought himself. If I confess that the soul rejected the vessel, this fool of a king will surely have my head," he mused, his heart pounding against his ribs. "A lie will serve better here."

suddenly from the light another soul appeared who also went outside the window!

The old mage was sweating profusely as he thought about the useless queens in front of him. "What kind of stupid queens are these? Except for their bodies, they are just useless pigs," he muttered to himself.

"Why couldn't this moron find a good woman in the entire country?" "Hey, old man, it seems your days are numbered," the king threatened. "It's your last chance. If you fail to give me the child, I will increase the number of sacrifices here."

"I need to think of something," the mage thought. "Otherwise, if I leave it to these bitches, this will be my last day on this planet."

"Listen, as soon as the soul emerges, put the barrier inside this room," the mage commanded his subordinate.

"Yes, sir." 

"Come now, foolish spirit, enter the vessel," the mage whispered with fervour as the next soul emerged, swirling with reluctant energy.

"Now! Seal the room!" he barked.

At his command, the background hums of chants grew louder.

And transparent barrier with swimming golden runics arose enveloped the room.

The soul, trapped by the invisible barrier, whirled in confusion.

"Choose, spirit! Choose or perish!" the mage roared.

The soul, desperate, dove into Queen Mia's womb with that a hush fell over the chamber as the spectral winds died down.

"Rejoice, King Ziek! In twelve months, a champion shall spring forth from your queen," the mage proclaimed, masking his relief with grandeur.

"So, it is Queen Mia who carries the future," King Ziek mused darkly. "And Queen Roxy, you have failed me. You are unworthy of your crown."

"My king, I beg for your forgiveness. Spare me from this cruel fate," Roxy pleaded desperately.

King Ziek unsheathed his katana, ready to strike, but was halted by the intervention of the old mage.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, but cutting her down would set a terrible example for the onlookers," the old mage suggested.

"Then what am I to do?" the king inquired. "My king, you should publicly announce that Miss Roxy was planning a coup against the kingdom, and you discovered her treachery. As punishment, she will serve as a maid to the royal family, serving the nation," the old mage proposed.

"A maid? No, Your Majesty, please show mercy! I beg of you!" Roxy screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Hmm, you are not deserving of being my wife. You shall serve as a maid. I, King Ziek, hereby strip you of your queen title and condemn you to a life of servitude," King Ziek declared angrily.

"No, no, please!" Roxy clung desperately to the king's leg. "If you dare to defy any order, you will be killed and publicly hanged, Roxy. A woman as incompetent as you is unfit to be the queen of this kingdom," the king warned.

"Hey, old man, what happened to this one?" the king pointed towards Queen Mia. "She is merely unconscious due to the ritual," the old mage explained.

"Take her to her dorm room," the king commanded the maids. "Yes, Your Majesty!" the maids replied, lifting the queen and carrying her away.

"And take Roxy with you. Teach her all the duties of a servant. Her new role will be to serve Queen Mia from tomorrow until the day she gives birth.

Now, take her," the king ordered. "Yes, my lord," the maid complied, dragging Roxy along as she silently accepted her fate.

"Are you certain that this child will be strong enough for my kingdom?" the king asked angrily, addressing the old mage.

"Fear not, my lord. The souls have been transferred from another world, ensuring their power," the old mage reassured as his lips stretched into a sinister grin.

"Hmm, you have done well. What is it that you desire?" the king inquired.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, the old conjurer quipped, "If the king's feeling magnanimous, there's a fair maiden I'm keen to wed but she's playing hard to get, suggesting a royal decree might sway her folks."

The king, with an eyebrow raised at the absurdity, declared with a snort, "Love knows no age, it seems! Very well, soldiers, march to her parents and demand they yield their daughter to this lovesick relic. And if they resist, remind them of my 'persuasive' power." As the king strode out, the mage's laughter, sinister as a shadow in the moonlight, filled the room.

"Ah, my dear, the countdown to our unholy union begins!"

[The Author has something to say:]

New story alert!

This story will be about three different souls who reincarnated from Earth who knows what could happen?

Let's see how they make use of their knowledge in different situations to bring Catastrophe to the world..

Are you in.

Please support with power stones!

In case you missed it from the synopsis this story is co-authored by @mewchan19