"My child, come, cut a lock of your hair and cast it into the sacred fire before you. From this moment on, under the witness of the chief divine, you shall burn away your past transgressions and offer your wholehearted devotion to embrace the light of the chief divine!"
The middle-aged priest's voice was magnetic and gentle, seducing the heart with his words.
Natali's spirit was uplifted. Under the watchful eyes of the Temple Guards, he took the Obsidian's short dagger without hesitation, cut off a lock of his hair, and then threw it into the fire basin.
Watching his black hair burn and smelling the scent of charring, the young Samurai felt a sudden release on his shoulders. The darkness in his heart was slowly consumed by the sacred ritual, and the light in his chest began to bloom with the warmth of the flames.
"I...devote...faith, I...sinless...light..."
Natali murmured repeatedly, his eyes shining with fervor and a smile gracing his lips.