Hudson waited silently while his men brought in the materials. The atmosphere grew thicker, as if an invisible force had sealed the room.
A servant entered carrying a blackened silver tray. On it lay the ritual ingredients:
A scroll made from goat skin.
A multicolored pheasant feather.
A vial containing solar toad blood.
Kael calmly examined the objects, verifying that the ingredients were real.
Hudson moistened his lips. Despite his arrogant facade, he couldn't hide the slight tremor in his hands.
The pact was not a game. It was a contract with a god!
After examining the ingredients, Kael delicately picked up the pen. Then, with the tip, he opened the vial containing the sun toad's blood, which soaked into the instrument, staining it a bright gold.
Without saying a word, he wrote on the parchment:
"I swear, before the gaze of the Ancient Sun God, that the information will be true, and that lies will be ashes in my throat."
