AN: It's hard to believe I'm already 16 chapters into this saga. Turning out a lot longer than I had originally planned, but oh well :D Hope you enjoy reading~!
Chapter 16:
When Drayce and the others returned to the Crescentia with the materials they had been sent to gather they found that Shashi had slightly rearranged the sitting room, specifically the spot in front of the fireplace. It made sense in a way as they needed an open area to conduct the ritual that would help free Caelem from his burden.
"How did you all go?" Ashton asked them as they entered the sitting room.
"We managed to recover three different types of stones," Drayce answered as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small knapsack with the precious stones inside. "Zohar said that these will do. Kamali also gathered the flower needed."
Ashton nodded his head, obviously satisfied with their work. "Good, no trouble? What about the guard you wanted to speak with?"
Drayce handed the stones to Zohar who headed over to where Shashi stood in front of the fireplace. "Didn't encounter a single monster, surprisingly," he answered. "I was able to speak with Virgil pretty easily too. He admitted that he hadn't seen anything suspicious but will keep a lookout for us."
He won't mention that prickly feeling of being watched he got while in the labyrinth. Ashton was a worry-wart at the best of times. Didn't need him fussing over something Drayce couldn't even prove. Sure he was told to trust his gut but he still needed physical proof.
No matter. They were safe within the Crescentia.
"Where's Caelem?" Drayce asked instead.
"In his room with Fiorello," Ashton answered before a sympathetic look appeared on his face. "He's a little nervous as I'm sure you can understand."
Oh absolutely. If Drayce was in his shoes he'd be nervous as hell, too.
"Drayce," Shashi called out to him. "We will need to draw a chalk circle on the ground."
Drayce turned to look over at Shashi to find him standing with Zohar. They stood together in front of the cleared area, Shashi with an ancient book in his arms and Zohar with a yellowing scroll open in his hands.
"Do whatever you need to do," Drayce said in response. "I'm going to head up and check on Caelem."
"Yes, the ritual will be able to take place soon," Shashi stated as he flipped a page in his book.
"Ok, good," Drayce said before he turned to head upstairs.
The sooner they got this over with the better. He didn't know what the ritual was going to entail but he had been reassured that it wasn't going to hurt him. But it would be uncomfortable. That was due to the fact that Caelem had been carrying that spell on his back for years so was part of his soul or spirit. It wasn't going to be easy to remove it from him completely, but it really needed to be done.
He quickly ascended the stairs but didn't go directly to Caelem's room. He stopped by his own in order to drop of his armour, shield and weapon. No point barging into Caelem's room still decked out in his explorer's gear, right?
After he was done getting changed into a set of more casual clothing he immediately headed in the direction of Caelem's room. The door was partly open but Drayce knocked on it nonetheless. He was nosy as shit (as a lot of people liked to rudely remind him) but still had good manners after all. He pushed it open and stepped inside.
"Hey Caelem, how you doing?" he immediately asked.
Caelem immediately perked up from where he sat on the edge of his bed. He had a few white bandages that were visible but they were minor, simply covering small scrapes and abrasions. Fiorello was sat in a chair by his bed with a book in his hands. There were a couple of empty medicine bottles littering the bedside table.
"You're back," Caelem said as he hastily pushed himself to his feet and nervously wrung his hands in front of him. "D-did you get everything? You didn't get into any trouble did you?"
Drayce smiled reassuringly at Caelem. "Piece of cake. Didn't encounter a single monster and got everything needed."
Caelem was visibly relieved by that. But he soon tensed again and clutched his hands tightly in front of him. He must be realising that the ritual to help him was actually going ahead.
"Is...is the ritual going to happen soon?" Caelem asked nervously.
"Yeah, they're preparing as we speak," Drayce replied.
"Very good," Fiorello was the one to say as she closed his book and slid out of his seat. "It really would be best to remove this spell from Caelem as soon as possible."
Drayce heard a slight sense of concern in Fiorello's voice. He also had an obvious frown on his lips as he gazed critically at Caelem. It made Drayce realise that maybe his fears that the spell on Caelem's back was actually detrimental to his health were true.
Even so, Caelem was nervous. They were doing it for him but if he was too scared to try they could take a break or something to help ease his nerves. It really was for his benefit but that didn't take away the fact that it was nerve wracking for him.
"Are you alright with this?" Drayce asked Caelem with a hint of concern in his voice.
Caelem looked over at him and it was easy to see the tension in his shoulders. He stared at Drayce for a moment before he looked away to the floor. His ears folded back slightly in apprehension.
Drayce walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It'll be ok. I'll be honest in saying I don't know what will happen during this ritual, but I promise to do whatever is necessary to help you and protect you. You truly are safe here."
Slowly Caelem turned his face towards him. There was a hint of disbelief in his gaze, but it wasn't that he doubted his words. Drayce didn't get that kind of feeling from him. It was more towards not truly understanding his compassion towards him.
However slowly a look of determination appeared in Caelem's eyes and he nodded his head. "Yes, I understand. I'm…ready to do this."
Drayce squeezed his shoulder. "Then let's do this. Get this out of the way so that you can get back to living the life you want."
Caelem nodded his head again, his determination growing. "Yes."
Caelem had made up his mind. It was time.
With Caelem and Fiorello in tow, Drayce led them down the stairs and into the sitting room. It seemed that they were getting closer to completing the preparations necessary for the ritual. A large magic circle was drawn upon the hard wood floor. Lettering and symbols Drayce didn't truly understand was etched inside and outside the circle. Shashi was anointing some kind of oil to a piece of parchment while Zohar crouched within the circle and was finishing off the writings.
Drayce didn't need to turn to look at Caelem to feel that his nervousness had returned. But he obviously didn't flee, so that was a good sign.
Shashi looked up from what he was doing to glance over at them when he heard them enter. "It looks intimidating, but we assure you it's not as bad as it looks," he immediately comforted.
Zohar looked over at them also as he stood up tall. "Preparations are complete," he said as his eyes shifted toward Caelem. "All that is left to be done is for you to give your consent."
Caelem drew in a deep breath as he squared his shoulders. "I'm ready. I want to be free of this burden."
"Good," Zohar said, sounding pleased as he stepped away from the circle. "Then allow us to take care of the rest. Come, stand in the circle."
There was nothing more that Drayce could offer Caelem so all he could do was step back as Caelem stepped forward. It was all up to Zohar and Shashi now. He had trust and faith in the two. It was going to be all right.
"The spell is upon your back, correct?" Shashi asked as he handed a piece of ribbon to Caelem. "We will need to have access to your back. Please tie your hair."
Caelem retrieved the ribbon from Shashi and dutifully raked his hands through his hair in order to pull it back into a high ponytail. He tried the ribbon around his hair a couple of times before tightly tying it off.
"We will need to see your back, too," Shashi continued.
Caelem reached down to the hem of his shirt but he notably paused. He was understandably nervous about removing his shirt and exposing his back.
"Just enough for us to see your back," Shashi said in an understanding way. "Feel free to hold your shirt against your shirt for added security. Turn to face the fireplace if you want something else to look at."
That seemed to satisfy Caelem enough. He turned his back to everyone to face the fireplace as instructed. He then slowly reached around to lift up the back of his shirt. He pulled it up over his head, but he kept his arms in his sleeves and he clutched the piece of clothing against his chest like a safety blanket.
Caelem's back was lean and subtly muscular. Drayce wasn't sure why he was expecting to see some sort of scars, but was pleased nonetheless to see that the skin seemed free of any markings. There wasn't anything of note to look at actually, but that was because the spell itself was supposedly invisible until it came into contact with some kind of gemstone.
As Zohar and Shashi moved to stand on opposite sides of the magic circle, Drayce felt a hand land on his shoulder. He turned to see that Ashton was beside him with a slightly concerned look on his face.
"Maybe you should step out for this," Ashton unexpectedly suggested.
Drayce blinked in confusion. "No, I want to be here for Caelem."
"It won't be easy to watch," Ashton added.
Drayce was about to ask him what he meant as he had been reassured that it wouldn't hurt Caelem. Make him uncomfortable, but not actually hurt him. That was what Shashi and Zohar both promised him. But a sudden and bright flash of light caused him to immediately turn his attention back to the ritual.
The chalk etchings on the floor were glowing with a bright white light as Shashi and Zohar both began to talk in a tongue that Drayce did not understand fully, but recognised that it was that of ancient Celestian. The words and symbols within the circle shimmered one by one as the very air of the room seemed to tremble.
The light then seemed to take on the form of white smoke. It curled up from the floor and began to swirl around Caelem, snaking up his legs to his back. But the second the smoke touched his back, Caelem let out an unexpected yelp. Either from surprise or pain, it wasn't certain. But he soon began to tremble after that and seemed to find it difficult to stay on his feet.
Caelem's sporadic trembling quickly turned into full body shuddered as the white smoke accumulated on his back. Symbols on his skin flickered in and out of view.
W-was this supposed to happen?
Instinctively reacting to someone else's discomfort, Drayce was about to halt the ritual but was pulled back by both Ashton keeping a firm grip on his shoulder and Kamali wrapping both of his arms around his arm.
"It's almost done," Kamali said as he pressed his face against Drayce's arm.
Before Drayce could respond the white light of the magic circle abruptly faded and Caelem fell to his knees. He kept his arms folded across his chest and grasped at his shoulders as he leaned forward and rested his forehead against the floor.
The second Kamali released his hold on his arm Drayce quickly rushed forward and crouched down next to Caelem. His reached out toward him but paused as he wasn't sure where to touch him. Caelem trembled and shook in a sporadic manner as he panted.
"I…can't feel it anymore," Caelem suddenly gasped through his heavy, frantic breathing. "I didn't…realise how heavy it…was…"
Drayce released a sigh as he leaned forward on his knees to wrap an arm around Caelem's shoulders and pulled him toward him. He cradled his head against his chest as Caelem rested fully against him.
Whether the spell was successfully transferred to something else no longer mattered. Caelem was free from his burden. That was more than enough.
"Well, that certainly was quite dramatic," Fiorello unexpectedly quipped.
"Yes, rituals and magic can be quite theatrical at times," Shashi added in a nonchalant way.
Drayce rested his chin atop of Caelem's head and looked over at Shashi. "Was it successful?" he asked, knowing that Caelem would probably want to know as well. To go through all that discomfort and not have anything to show for it would be the biggest blow of all.
"Yes, it was successful," Zohar was the one to answer.
Kamali moved to crouch on the other side of Caelem and rested a hand on his back. Amazingly, Caelem didn't even flinch at the touch. He must either be exhausted or his back no longer gave him any discomfort.
"I can't sense any mana here," Kamali exclaimed.
So Caelem really was free of his burden. Thank goodness. But…
"He's exhausted," Fiorello suddenly said, as if knowing that Drayce was about to ask him how Caelem was health wise. "Help him put his shirt back on and then help him to his room."
"Right," Drayce said as he and Kamali helped to pull Caelem's shirt back over his head, the Therian offering no resistance.
Slinging one of Caelem's arms over his shoulder and with Kamali doing the same with his other arm, Drayce and Kamali slowly helped him to his feet. Caelem was shaky at the beginning, but he soon found his legs. He relied on them heavily, but he was able to support himself nonetheless.
Slowly, Drayce and Kamali helped Caelem from the room and to the stairs. It took some time for Caelem to navigate them in his exhaustion, but he managed. His room was thankfully close to the stairs. Kamali momentarily removed his hold on Caelem to open the door to his room before he hurried over to his bed and pulled back the blankets.
Drayce helped Caelem to his bed and let him drop onto it rather unceremoniously. And it appeared that he had fallen asleep instantly. That, of course, worried Drayce but reassured himself that it really was just from exhaustion. Fiorello would have been here, refusing to leave his side if it was another untoward.
"He will be able to recover quickly now," Kamali said as he draped a blanket over Caelem. "With that spell no longer tapping into his spirit, he will find that he will have more energy and strength."
So the spell truly was draining him of his energy…
"Glad that we were able to remove the thing," Drayce said.
Kamali nodded as he turned to face Drayce and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll watch over him. Why don't you head down stairs to see if brother has learnt anything?"
"Yeah, he's probably already researching it, right?" Drayce quipped in return and gained a smile from Kamali. "But I'll do that. And I'll leave Caelem in your care. I'm sure Fiorello will be up shortly as well."
With another quick smile, Drayce turned on his heel and quickly left the room. Now that the relief that Caelem was free from his burden had settled, he was curious about whether or not they were able to successful move the spell onto another platform, so to speak. If the spell was eating into Caelem's spirt, then it needed something to sustain it. Chances were it won't be able to linger very long on the parchment without constant mana injecting into it.
Would be best for everyone involved if they found the Radiant Moon so that the spell was no longer necessary and they can return it to its rightful place.
As Drayce began to descend the stairs he immediately noted that, like he had predicted, Fiorello was walking up. He was about to tell the botanist that Caelem was asleep when Fiorello interrupted him with an exasperated sigh.
"The idiot has left already."
Drayce paused in his steps for a moment and furrowed his brow. "What? Zohar?"
Fiorello sniffed as he folded his arms into the sleeves of his coat, looking miffed. "Indeed."
"But why?" Drayce asked but he wasn't necessarily asking that question to Fiorello as he had already moved passed him on the stairs and jogged to the front door.
He threw open the door and immediately stepped outside. "Zohar, wait!" he called out the second he spied the necromancer heading toward the front gates.
Thankfully, Zohar stopped and turned around to regard him with a curious look as Drayce jogged over to him.
"Leaving so soon?" Drayce asked.
"I have done what was needed," Zohar returned. "There is no need for me to linger any longer."
Drayce shook his head. "You can stay, you know? We don't mind."
"Perhaps," Zohar said as he turned to face him fully, the two halves of his coffin floating silently on either side of him. "But there is something I need to do."
Drayce furrowed his brow slightly before he abruptly remembered Fiorello saying something similar to him in the labyrinth. Fiorello mentioned something about Zohar needed to focus on another goal. He hadn't a clue what his current goal was or why he was so intent on it. And it wasn't his place to ask. Still…
"Is it something that you have to do alone?" he couldn't help but ask.
"I feel it is," Zohar answered simply.
"But is it really? What about Fiorello?" Drayce implored subtly.
"It's for the best." Again, Zohar's reply was swift and blunt, yet offering nothing.
Drayce folded his arms behind his back and tilted his head to the side. "Is it best for you, though?"
That seemed to catch Zohar off guard as he frowned slightly but his expression soon smoothed out into a look of stoniness. However, there was an ever so slight curving of his lips. Like a small smile.
"Hm?" Zohar uttered. "Am I causing you concern?"
Drayce shrugged lightly as he righted himself. "You helped us a lot today. It's just…sad that you won't let others return the favour, you know?"
Zohar's smile grew more noticeable and he shook his head. "You're too kind-hearted. Don't waste that on me."
"Worrying for another is never a waste," Drayce retorted before he sighed. "Listen, do visit again, ok? I'm sure Fiorello would appreciate it."
Zohar started at him for a moment, his sharp blue eyes studying him carefully. His expression was stoic, and yet Drayce couldn't help but feel that there was a sense of regret in his gaze.
"…You are an unusual one," Zohar finally murmured.
That was a lot coming from a necromancer. He wasn't entirely sure how to take it. Oh, whatever. He was going to take it as a compliment!
"Perhaps I am," Drayce said with a smile and a shrug. "Nothing wrong with that, is there?"
Zohar made a noise that was similar to a chuckle but not quite. "…Perhaps not."
Drayce knew that there was no way he could convince the necromancer to join his guild if he didn't want to. He wasn't going to force anyone to join. But that didn't mean he couldn't offer a position, right?
"If you're ever looking for a guild, Angelward would be happy to have you," Drayce said.
"…We'll see," Zohar finally relented. "Until then, goodbye for now."
"Yeah, for now," Drayce agreed for now. "See ya later."
"Indeed."
Zohar then reached out his hand toward him. Drayce figured that he wanted to shake his hand for whatever reason so reached out his own hand. But when Zohar took his hand in his, he turned it so that the back of Drayce's was facing him before he unexpectedly and very surprisingly kissed the back of his hand.
Drayce's mouth dropped open in shock as Zohar's lips lingered on the back of his hand longer than was necessary. Not that he knew how long a person's lips should linger on the back of someone's hand or well, why someone would want to kiss the back of his hand and stuff, but it felt like a long time.
And most surprisingly of all Drayce didn't immediately jerk his hand back.
Zohar finally pulled back and released his hold on Drayce's hand. Only then did he pull his hand back and unintentionally pressed it against his chest.
"Until next we meet then," Zohar said before he turned and walked away silently.
"S-sure," Drayce stuttered awkwardly as he watched until Zohar was out of sight.
When he was alone, Drayce looked down at the back of his hand and just stared at it. Nothing about it had changed at all but he still stared at it in wonder.
Well…Zohar was certainly a strange guy, wasn't he?