Reval had been tasked with marking down a chronicle of sorts, of how long the Bride had been here in the cult, and how well their efforts to summoning the One had been going. He was..unsure of this. Every time he'd voiced concern about the necessity of this 'plan', he was immediately reassured that it was the only way.

Partaking in this felt...wrong. Like a bad dream.

Shaking his head and flexing his hand, he began writing down documentation. Today was supposed to be the sixth attempt at summoning, and he'd had a sinking feeling in his gut since he woke up this morning.

And the dreams.

The dreams had been plaguing him in the week leading up to today.

He'd been flying, soaring high above the sands. Every time he looked down in the dream, he could see a set of claws. Was that him? Or was he merely fantasizing about life outside of the cult? Reval couldn't even remember the day he joined. Everything was..blurry in that memory.

Someone clearing their throat snapped him from his thoughts.

"Reval, are you ready to head to the chambers?" Elder Curth had come into the archives, now standing and crossing his arms. "Do you have doubts again, Brother?"

Brother.

The word made his skin crawl, because he knew no familial bond would ever stand behind it.

Reval cleared his throat. "Of course not, Elder." He bent slightly forward in a bow, the best he could offer with a book in front of him. Every time he was around Curth, his arms burned. As though searing metal chains had been placed on them. He never knew why. "Is the summoning chamber ready?"

Curth nodded, gesturing to the door. "We are merely waiting for the chronicler. We will need someone to record the event, after all. Azron has specifically requested that you stand at his side."

There was a silence between them, as Reval closed his book and began walking out of the room.

Upon arrival in the chambers, he noticed Felis already standing in the circle, ready to bring the One from the 'other side' as Azron had often called it. Even Bahsis the tailor was here, making last minute adjustments to the Bride's ceremonial robes.

She had such a content smile plastered on her face, humming to herself and trying to stay still for Bahsis.

Reval knew it was all the work they'd put into her over the last six months that caused the smiles. It made him uneasy, and the feeling only intensified the closer he got to the circle. Setting his book down on the podium, he opened it to a fresh page. He nearly tore the page when a hand patted him on the back.

"Today will be wondrous, don't you think so?"

Azron. He knew that voice anywhere. It was like a shot of pain everytime the bastard spoke. He wish he knew why Curth and Azron caused him so much pain.

"I suppose so, Master. Are you certain we're ready? We've been 'prepared' before, and it didn't go well. Last month we lost two members from the dark ooze and-"

Azron scoffed and rolled his eyes. "They served their purpose, just as you will." He turned to look at the Bride, watching Ronok combing her hair. "Must we have such frivolity? She only has one purpose."

"Leave him be, perhaps the Summoned will appreciate the work Ronok put into the Bride's hair." Reval snorted, scribbling the date and time down on the clean page. "I think it looks nice."

Azron groaned in annoyance and left to take his place at the head on the circle.

Felis left the circle for a brief moment, coming over to Reval and gently placing his hand on his shoulder.

Looking up from his writing, he saw the softened look on his face. He was worried.

"Why are you worried about me?" Reval looked confused. Felis had become rather...soft and kind toward him these past few months. Was he finally being friendly? Or was it something else? Reval chuckled to himself. Probably was just being a good friend.

Felis gently rubbed his shoulder and gestured to the summoning circle, then back to Reval.

"Of course I'm worried this will end in disaster again, we lost Colis and Hort last month and-"

He looked around briefly and then hugged Reval, resting his head on his shoulder. Felis gave him a soft squeeze and seemed to be shaking slightly.

Reval gently patted his friend's back, trying to calm him. They were all scared. Some had begun to question the validity of Azron's plan. "Hey, hey it's alright-"

Felis buried his head in Reval's neck and mumbled something that Reval couldn't quite understand. Letting out a shaky breath, he pulled away and wiped his eyes under his hood. He looked at Reval and opened his mouth to speak-but hesitated, only to close it again. Felis sighed. He didn't speak often, and now he'd been too much of a coward to speak the truth. Just in case this didn't work again. Instead, he patted Reval's shoulder. "I hope to come out of this unscathed with you, Reval."

"I as well, my friend." He could've sworn he saw Felis cringe when he said that. Strange.

Loud clapping got everyone's attention.

Azron cleared his throat. "Preparations are done, and it is finally time. Felis, please escort the Bride to the center and then take your place." He gestured to those standing in the circle, then to himself. "Today we attempt once more to summon the One, so that he and the bride may bring forth the Infant. The process of summoning may be painful, but I have faith in you all."

Quiet murmuring spread around the circle, only to stop once Felis was back in his spot and Azron cleared his throat. "Chant, chant so that he may hear us."

Did they even know who 'he' was? Of course not. Reval had many a retort for Azron, but he held his tongue and went back to writing.

As the chanting began, one of the other members stepped into the circle and began cutting the palms of all the people in the circle, including the Bride. Each turned their hands over and let it drop onto the engraving on the floor.

The chanting got louder.

The floor began to glow.

Smoke rose from the markings on the floor and flooded the room, causing Reval to cover his mouth with his sleeve and cough.

One by one, the dark ooze began to take hold of the chanters, pouring from eyes and mouths. Some began to shake, others collapsed. Despite this, they continued to chant.

The room fell silent when a snarl echoed from the smoke. Had they done it?

The Bride let out a shriek, and then a giggle.

When the smoke cleared, there he stood. Only at half power, but still almost as tall as the ceiling.

Good, Azron thought to himself. Half power was all they needed.

The oni lifted the Bride's chin, purring as though he were pleased. Then, he stopped and glanced at his surroundings. A wild look of hunger was in his eyes.

Azron knew that look. He must feed. "Take what you wish, Summoned One. We are but your humble worshipers."

He scoffed at Azron and went back to looking around. Picking up his bride in one hand, the oni snatched Felis up in the other.

Felis seemed to have no emotion on his face, in a trance from the chanting.

Reval looked up from his writing only for horror to fill his expression, watching Felis being bitten in half by the large beast. Something burned in his chest. Fear? An urge to defend? He couldn't tell. "Wait!"

The beast stopped and swallowed the remnants of the top half of Felis's body in his mouth, dropping the bottom half to the floor with a sickening thud. Carrying his bride over to Reval, he leaned down and got inches from his face. He let out a snarl, as though questioning what his problem was.

The sell of raw meat and blood nearly made Reval retch, but he stood still and gripped his quill tightly. He couldn't move, fear cementing him in place. "N-Nothing." His voice cracked when he saw the remnants of Felis's robes in the oni's sharp teeth.

Something hurt in his chest.

As though he'd been stabbed.

The oni snorted and walked away from Reval, eyeing the group of four men that Azron had selected to escort the Bride and the One to the chambers that had been made up for his arrival. He let out a growl, bellowing at them as though commanding they start walking.

Soon, they left.

Azron clapped with glee and looked over the remaining cult members coming out of the trance. "We have finally achieved success! The prophecy will finally come true!" He seemed so excited, running over to Reval. "Come, I have a new task for you. We must ready the nursery."

Reval took a breath to attempt to stabilize himself. "Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?"

"Silence! Now come with me, you've been given another job."

As they left the room, Reval spied the lower half of Felis's body on the floor. Covering his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his cloak as though it may help block the scent, he knelt down to pick up the folded parchment he saw in the blood splattered pocket. He would read it later.

"Reval, are you coming with me or not?" Azron huffed and crossed his arms, standing at the door and waiting.

Running to catch up with him, Reval panted once he got to Azron. "O-Of course, Master. What is this secondary job you have bestowed upon me?"

Turning a corner as they walked down the hallways, he had a grin on his face. "Why, caring for the Infant when it arrives, of course."