Whoosh…
The door slid behind them as the wary Astra, satisfied Aurora, nonchalant Sonar, and the sleeping Johnathan entered the married couple's bedroom that was upstairs.
It was dark, with the only illumination being the violet moonlight peeking out through the window. Indeed, Astra's pale blue ball of light also provided illumination, but it wasn't visible to anyone but her.
Now, using the powers of an Ember of Dreams, Sonar had already placed Johnathan in a deep sleep. Sonar then gently placed Johnathan on his hovering bed, which was next to a desk that held a framed photo of his wife and son.
Aurora didn't waste any time. She grabbed the ritual ingredients that were placed in her jacket pocket and rested it on the cold ground, near the door.
The first ingredient was enclosed inside an apparent ancient, bronze jar.
The second ingredient was enclosed inside a transparent, nebulous case. Inside of the case were blades of violet grass that looked as if energy was pulsing through them.
Then, Aurora took out the next object from her pocket. It was the Tier 5 Ethereal Artifact, Dream Visitor. She too had placed it on the ground.
Astra stared at the items for a few seconds, thinking, "Should I tell them that this case is connected to a potentially very dangerous organization? How would they react?"
"No, they already know that this is connected to something shady. After all, it's the only logical explanation for the events that has transpired so far. Yet, they still went through with using the ritual."
"And, given the fact that this report had already been reviewed by Captain Smith and even Dreamweavers, I can reason that this case isn't anything too dangerous for those two to handle. As for me…it's different."
"And because of this, the only thing that makes this case have more than it lets off is due to my involvement. If it is special due to my involvement, then me not involving myself would make it a rather normal case."
"So, what should I do? Should I tell them that it is from the Parallax of the Rising Stars?"
Astra stuck on this thought for what seemed like an eternity for her.
"No. I shouldn't. After all, they already have a somewhat wary view of me due to my abnormality and the fact that I just became a Celestial. If I say that the organization behind this case was connected to me in any way, it'll hinder their focus. And by doing so, it'd interfere with the results of the ritual at best, and at the worst, completely drop the case."
"Which isn't so bad at first glance. But the Dreamlanders is a cautionary organization. Because of this, it'll only hinder my progress if they knew I had a connection to the Parallax in some way, like them coming after me. I probably wouldn't even be able to carry out my plan regarding them. Actually, at that point, my movements and the amount of missions I can do will probably limit me for a while while they investigate. My 'Protector' status would almost be irrelevant here."
"So, not telling them is low risk, while telling them is high risk and low reward."
"In fact, me telling them might be within the intentions of the Parallax, who could've arranged this 'coincidence' all along. But, I also know that making any sort of ethereal connection is what the Parallax wants."
"All of this confirms what I already suspected—that this entire case is a trap."
"I only have one option here. I shouldn't make any ethereal involvement."
Astra sighed as she almost disassociated from her environment, still digesting the fact that this situation likely involved the Parallax of the Rising Stars.
Though, she was brought back to reality as Aurora asked her a question after a few seconds of silence.
"Dreamer Sera, do you understand what had happened?"
Astra composed herself and answered, "Roughly."
"Johnathan had gone outside, so it's likely that he experienced some sort of corruption. As for how, and who, the most probable scenario that explains both questions was that the corruption was caused by the people who were in charge of the event. Or, at the very least, were accomplices."
"There's no friendly explanation as to why they would hold a sightseeing event outside of the city. They probably wanted to hold a ritual to a mysterious God and involve other people in that worship, corrupting them in the process."
"And, since it's a corruption caused by Rogue Celestials most likely, a purification ritual is needed." Astra explained calmly.
Aurora smiled as she nodded. "That's correct. You're learning very quickly."
"By the way," Sonar felt the need to interject as he crossed his arms to lean on the wall. "Once we're done with this, we'll report this case to the Dominion to investigate those who held that sightseeing event."
"I see…" Astra said with a soft voice.
"I guess after we're done with this report the Dominion can investigate that organization. It's a good thing that I won't be making any ethereal connections in any manner."
"Though, before that investigation happens, I still have to go along with my plan to visit them…" Astra calmed herself down even further.
"Also," Aurora said as she opened up the bronze jar. Faint white dust floated from it, almost forming a cloud. "Do you know how rituals work? Or did Vice-Captain Nyxen not teach you yet?"
Astra didn't respond initially. She only gazed at Aurora getting on her knees, licking her finger tips and placing it in the bronze jar.
This was because she thought, "Why is she on the floor like that…is it really necessary to create the ritual in such a position?"
After not receiving a response, Aurora looked up at Astra with silver-tipped fingers.
"Dreamer Sera?"
"Sorry." Astra apologized. "No, not yet."
In truth, Astra had already deduced the components of a ritual from Kayla's description. Of course, she didn't want to expose that knowledge to the Embers.
Nonetheless, Aurora wasn't surprised at Astra's apparent ignorance. She looked back down and began drawing a symbol with her silver tipped fingers that were coated with the white dust.
"Okay. So there are obviously different types of rituals, like Advancement rituals, Enhancement rituals and so on. Each one has their own structure, but all of them are quite similar with minor differences."
"For this," Aurora said as she used her next finger to dip inside of the jar, later continuing her drawing. "What we have is a purification ritual. It has four main components."
"The first component is the items. For this ritual, since my source of power will be from the Demigoddess, I am currently using Moonlight Dust and Nightlight Grass. I'm sure you know which is which."
"This is important so that your prayer can connect to the person or existence you're praying to. It's also so that it can correctly point to the receiver, which would make it more effective. And lastly, an item can increase the effectiveness depending on the type of ritual."
"For this ritual, Moonlight Dust correctly points the symbol to the Demigoddess, and Nightlight Grass represents the purity of the night, which not only increases the chance of a proper connection with Her, but it also greatly increases the effectiveness of the purification."
Aurora got up as she finished drawing the symbol on the ground. It was a symbol of a crescent moon.
Placing the bronze jar on the ground, she later opened up the transparent and nebulous case, saying, "The next component is the symbol. For this ritual, I have to use the symbol of the moon that is present in the night sky. Symbols are important because it makes it more likely for the ritual to receive a response."
Filling the drawing of the outlined crescent moon with the grass, she continued, "After this is the prayer. This is self-evident. All of your previous steps are so that you can correctly point towards and connect with your existence of choice. A prayer establishes that connection."
Then she dropped the last piece of grass in the symbol, being careful and methodical. "Then, when you're done, you impart Ethereon onto the symbol. This represents the activation. Think of it like a switch, or a button you press."
She placed the case on the ground. Rubbing her hands together she finalized, "Also, there is another component, though it is optional, which is: using the appropriate language. For example, using Dreamurian for a ritual involving the Demigoddess of Dreams."
"This can help the ritual's effectiveness. This is only optional for purification rituals. It is not optional for some other types, such as Enhancement or certain Summoning rituals."
Astra absorbed the information instantly, staring at the finished product.
It was a silver-outlined crescent moon with violet grass inside of it. Before anything even happened, it looked ethereal and otherworldly, as faint energy lines flowed through and out of it.
Sonar, who was listening the entire time, got up from the wall and approached the symbol.
"Are all of us going to pray together?" Astra curiously asked.
"Yes." Aurora replied. "The more, the better."
Sonar smiled as he closed his eyes and placed his arms on his chest. Aurora did the same, but Astra didn't.
Her hands were still at her side.
Before Aurora closed her eyes, she noticed Astra not assuming her praying position.
"What's wrong?" She asked, her eyes curious.
Sonar opened his eyes, wondering what the commotion was about.
Manipulating her voice so that it appeared softer, Astra spoke, "I'm not sure if I should pray in this ritual."
"I still don't know how my abnormality is going to react. Especially after what happened with my Awakened ritual," Astra correctly guessed the name of the ritual in her head.
She glanced at Sonar, who looked a little dumbfounded. After realizing what she meant, Sonar nodded in an almost exaggerated manner.
"I'd say that's a valid concern." Sonar affirmed Astra's doubts as he recalled the almost terrified look on James' face.
Aurora pondered for a second. Finally, she sighed.
"Okay, I'd say it's better to be safe, rather than sorry."
"Interesting play on the saying there…this world only gets more fascinating…"Astra said to herself, trying to lighten her mood.
Indeed, Astra didn't voice this concern only because of her abnormality.
Instead, she was being cautious, not wanting to make any sort of ethereal connection regarding this case. Even if it was a simple purification ritual, and not just heading into the dream.
In the event that making any ethereal connection with the man is the trap, then it's best to be cautious.
Aurora and Sonar stood on opposite sides of the symbol as they placed their hands on their chest. They closed their eyes and began softly chanting in unison.
Their voices were ethereal—borderline angelic:
"The Queen of the Abstract,"
"The Illusory Sovereign,"
"The Demigoddess of Dreams and Subconsciousness."
"We pray to you and we ask for your guidance, your power, your strength."
"We ask for you to purify this soul, Johnathan Wright, and whatever is corrupting his body and his dreams, which is your domain."
In that instant, the two Embers were coated with an imaginary purple aura. It squirmed and coalesced, like two water droplets joining together. Once this was finished, it spilled itself onto the symbol.
Like a sponge, the drawing on the floor 'absorbed' the illusory purple aura.
Immediately, the outline of the crescent moon glowed a bright white light. It almost illuminated the entire room, as if the lights were turned on.
The room shook softly, causing faint tremors.
Then, the blades of grass were pulsing rhythmically in accordance to the whirring of energy that pulsed inside of them.
An illusory wind blew through the room, despite the transparent windows being closed. It fluttered the clothing and hair of the Dreamlanders, the sheets on the bed, the clothes in the closet, and lifted up the violet grass from the ground.
As if led by magic, all of the leaves darted towards Johnathan like a homing missile.
However, while they were heading towards him, they all burst into transparent, grey bubbles.
Now, the mass of leaves looked like a translucent, semi-corporeal grey cloud. They rushed towards Johnathan at an even greater speed.
Once it made contact with him, it surrounded him like a blanket. It then gradually began to lower itself onto his body, fading away with every second.
And, with every second, Johnathan's eyes looked lighter and lighter.
Astra's mouth widened out of shock, and somewhat out of joy. This was her first time seeing a successful ritual!
Just as Sonar's and Aurora's eyes were about to open, Astra felt something strange.
She was feeling extremely uneasy. Even her pale blue ball of light was shaking lightly.
In that instant, she felt a pair of eyes—no, countless pairs of eyes looking at her!
It seemed distant; like it was an infinite distance away.
It felt abstract and illusory, like the very concept of 'mysteries' and 'watching' was looking down on her!
"What's wrong Dreamer Sera?" Noticing the sudden change in Astra's emotional state, Aurora worriedly asked.