The Purification ritual is based on a real thing the Greeks and Romans did called Lustratio...

This chapter is really short but I wanted to show off this cool ritual...

And I am having surgery the Eight of February and will have ten days off after that so expect lots of updates!

Charles wasn't sure why it bothered him so much, but he was worried for the Mortal boy. He felt for him, the kid had no real friends besides Alabaster and he defected leaving him all alone. Now he was going on what could be a suicide quest to appease the dead spirits powering him, all so he could be useful in the coming war. It was awful is what it was, and he hated that another kid was being forced into such a situation.

So, naturally, he offered his dad a sacrifice after dinner. 'Hey, Dad, can you watch over Aaron? I know he's basically a stranger but he is working hard to not be in our way, to help us in the war Zeus refuses to acknowledge is coming. I don't know a lot about Necromancy, but just the thought of it fills me with chills, so can you help him out so he isn't over whelmed by it? I would really appreciate it.'

Oddly proud of himself, he pulled away from the fire and went back to his table to finish his meal, hoping that for once his father actually listened to a request and did something for once...

:::

After offering a sacrifice of food to Hades and the Spirits he technically served, causing a weird surge of warm energy to pass through him into what he assumed was the Spirits themselves, Aaron left the Pavilion to go and purify himself. The Moon wasn't high in the sky, but it was there and ready for him to cast the spell. Agnes, in preparation, had spent the last few hours discussing the magic with him so he could get it right. He was pretty sure that he would be able to manage it, or so he hoped... it didn't seem to complicated. Magic may not be intuitive to him, due to his lack of divine blood, but it wasn't always super hard. He hoped this would be along the same line.

He moved to the Big House, to his room where his brazier was. The ritual was best performed in the moonlight, but since he had a window it would do just fine.

"Okay, time to start." He grabbed a vase bowl filled with water, which he had collected earlier for the ritual. "So this is called Lustration?"

Anges potent magic filled him along side her voice, making him shiver. "Yes, it is actually where the idea of baptism comes from. It is also called Lustratio. It is the Greek equivalent of Smudging the Native American's did... well some of them anyway, too many tribes to generalize."

"How do you know about them, you've been dead for thousands of years?"

"My powers allowed me many years of clarity off and on, besides you are not the first person to call upon our powers. I was attached to a Creole Witch three hundred years ago, she was of both Native and Greek Bloodlines and practiced the magic of both sides. I know a little of the Native magics, but I won't be teaching you for a while as to not confuse you. Now, this ritual is usually met with a sacrifice and a magic circle, that isn't needed for now. You already offered us a sacrifice at Dinner, so that will count. For a bigger purity I would offer a larger sacrifice from many people, a precision and prayer, alongside a magic circle. For now you just need to channel the power of the Earth and splash the Water over yourself while letting the moonlight cast itself over you. While you are splashing, you must offer a prayer to us and sort of yourself, reminding yourself of why you are purifying yourself and what you are casting aside. Oh and you might want to take your shirt off."

And so he did, casting it aside to his bed, and only briefly smirking and admiring the new muscle showing past what used to be mostly fat. "Simple enough... alright, here we go." Taking a deep breathe, he drew on the power of the Earth, feeling it fill his every cell with power. He felt stronger, wiser, freer with the breathe of Gaia in his body. His every sense was illuminated, his mind open, his soul exposed and unattached to his led like vessel. When he was as charged as he could physically handle, he reached into the water.

Instantly he saw his power flood the water, making it shimmer like heat was washing through it. Without open reservation, he splashed the water onto his face, with his eyes closed, feeling a gentle power wash through him as the magic of the purification ritual took effect. He felt lighter and warmer, as if a cold led had settled into his veins without him knowing it. With each splash he felt it move away as the powers merged together.

"I do this to keep my sanity, I do this to keep my soul. I do this to keep my freedom. I do this to be successful. I offer to myself, by myself, in the presence of the moon... and cast aside that which taints me. Let it flow away, washed aside by the waters and this prayer."

He focused on his breathing and felt, literally felt, the taint move out of his body, carried on waves of power. Then he felt tired, a wave of exhaustion not caused by his use of magic. "Why am I so tired?" He yawned, stumbling back from the force. "

Agnes laughed. "This ritual casts aside not only taints but bad spirits, when you call to the Dead for aide, you open yourself to any Ghosts that might want to attach to you including personal demons... so, by casting aside such parasitic forces, you become more whole... it is good, no? It was usually used on infants, ships and murders, but most wouldn't have the magical sensitivity to explain how it feels... you might want to get some sleep now, rest up your body after you finish the ritual and get ready for tomorrow ... you never know what is to come."

Yawning some more, he nodded. " Not a bad idea... so let's finish..."

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was fun to write, I really loved this chapter.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.