THE RISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SINNERS
#37# SECRET RITUALS
5 Days have passed since Leo began the quest for Licia's daughter but the results are still nil. Even Yurei's own troops had not been able to find the location of the princess's existence.
It's just that today's search has been narrowed after Yurei forces outside the capital reported that there was no princess in their territory.
Forests, swamps, hills, entire villages and small towns in the capital were already Leo and the 6th division of Yurei traced. Since morning Leo spread all the members of the 6th Division to all corners of the capital region and asked them to regroup to a small hill northeast of the capital.
Right at midnight, one by one the members of the 6th Division arrived. Unfortunately for the entire day they all also did not find any sign of Licia's whereabouts. While Leo got a letter from the king that there was interference of prince Theo in the case of the disappearance of Licia. The king asked Leo as soon as possible to find his grandson.
" Old...! " from a distance Kiran shouted while running up the hill.
Leo stood up and kept a letter from the king. " What's up Kiran? "
" I found this sir! " Kiran stopped right in front of Leo and thrust out a golden hairpin with a diamond ornament.
Leo immediately found out that the flops belonged to Licia because she often saw Licia wearing the luxury hairpin while in Valdia plus the flops were said to be made specifically only for a Licia.
" Where did you find him? " ask Leo and take the hairpin.
" I found it not far from the border with Fotia's arch in the northeast, "
Leo sighed for a moment then kept the hairpin. " Division 10 is at the border. Kiran call the 10th division at the Fotia border. And the others came with me looking for the whereabouts of the princess at the place where Kiran found the thing earlier! "
Leo and the 6th division Yurei moved down the hill. While Kiran left first with her non-elemental magic wings to the border of Fotia.
...***...
When Leo and the others arrive, they rediscover some of Licia's cosmetics. They walked further east through the dense forest that covered the border between the capital and Fotia's north-east.
In the dark forest, Leo overheard like the faint voice of a person talking. He walked up to the sound and saw a yellow light like a torchlight not far from where he was standing.
Leo ordered all his troops to use night vision magic. They walked close to the light from all directions. And yes, the light was indeed from the torch and the one who carried it was 2 white-spirited soldiers and the symbol of the holy kingdom of Deusia.
A moment of anxiety emerged from Leo's mind. Yeah, he thought only of one Licia after seeing those two soldiers. The more he waited for the two soldiers, the more chaotic the blond young man's mind was.
Leo suddenly attacked the 2 soldiers and managed to paralyze him. 2 soldiers were held captive and taken away from the place earlier.
Leo interrogated them in various ways and even planned to torture them both if they tried to keep their mouths shut.
" Well it's good that you tell the truth now, " Leo said to 2 Deusia soldiers tied up on a big tree.
The 2 warriors glanced at each other. In their hearts it was like discussing whether to say it or just shut up.
Leo then made a sharp blade of ice. The blade he attached to one of the necks of the Deusia warriors. " This time I won't be gentle. What if we make a deal? If you open your mouth, you can meet your wife and children again. But if you keep your mouth shut, don't blame me if you meet the god of death, "
The 2 warriors glanced at each other a moment later one of them nodded his head. " Well, we will say yes, but please protect us from the holy kingdom of Deusia. If we get caught leaking information, they don't hesitate to kill us and our families, "
" Just calm down. After you provide the information, I will immediately release you. So tell me, what are you guys doing in a dark forest like this? "
" Our master is having a ritual, "
" rituals? What kind of rituals are performed in this dense forest? "
" In the east not far from where we are, there is an ancient altar believed to belong to the goddess Grecia. There is a ritual that we ourselves do not know what the ritual is. What is clear is that the ritual involves the prince and princess Gerelia, "
Sontak Leo was speechless by the soldier's confession. He did not expect Licia to be involved in this kind of secret ritual plus the contents of the letter from the king were true that Prince Theo was involved. " Do you know what the ritual is like? "
" There have been only small feasts for a few days now, and the rituals will only begin when the lunar eclipse occurs" replied the Deusian soldier.
" Oh yeah, something weird too. When we delivered food to the tent belonging to princess Gerelia, I accidentally saw the princess sitting blankly as if she had been exposed to body control magic, "the soldier continued.
" ha? Body controller? Isn't that holy magic that only holy priests control? " ask Leo dumbfounded.
" I'm sorry I haven't told you. Our lord on the altar is the holy priest Jeremus. I hear he's the one who's going to lead the ritual net, "
" What...?! " shock Leo. He had not expected the holy priest to be involved in this secret ritual.
Before long, Kiran and the captain of the 10th division, Raska, along with their members, came. They carried several large bags containing masks and cloak coats.
" Our master found– "report Kiran who has not finished but immediately interrupted by Leo.
" I know Kiran. We're moving now! When does a lunar eclipse happen? "
" Morrow sir! Exactly 1 hour after sunset tomorrow a total lunar eclipse occurs! " raska Sahut.
" All right, you 2 Deusia soldiers, return to the altar. Remember not to let you divulge our whereabouts. Otherwise, I also do not hesitate to kill you and your family! " leo said to the 2 Deusia soldiers while cutting the rope that tied them.
" Mister isn't it very dangerous if we release them? " ask Kiran.
" We promise you, sir! We will not divulge the existence of the master as long as the master forgives our lives! " said one of the Deusia soldiers.
" You all saw the faces of these 2 warriors! During tomorrow's attack, don't hurt or kill them! You two get down and come back! "
" We'll keep an eye on your movements there! If we see anything suspicious of you, your lives will be gone by then! " sahut Kiran continued Leo's words.
" well sir! We-we'll keep your secret all right! " the 2 soldiers immediately descended from the tree and ran back to the ritual site.
" Tonight we surround them in all directions! I want some of you to kill the soldiers on patrol and wear their uniforms to infiltrate the ritual site! "
" I'm sorry, sir, but should we kill him? Didn't you forbid us to kill ordinary soldiers on a mission after we return to Valdia? " reject Raska.
" For tonight and tomorrow, I want you to be the real Yurei army that has killed thousands of defectors in Taiyoria and the empire! Tomorrow right before the moon is completely covered, we will directly attack them! "
" Okay sir! " reply with Yurei's troops.
" Well now put on the mask and coat and find a good position for tomorrow's attack! Hold your thirst and hunger for one day at least until the mission is complete! Split up! " strictly Leo. He immediately jumped forward to another tree branch. While the Yurei army also instantly disappeared in the blink of an eye.
With the typical sneak ability of the Yurei army, Leo managed to break through the guard line. He continued to go inside and found a 4-pound ritual site at all corners with an ancient altar made of gold right in the middle of the 4 pillars.
Leo moved to a bigger tree to hide and find a good position for tomorrow's attack. While observing around, Leo hesitated a little to defeat everyone here because the number of guard soldiers was beyond his expectations. The young man thought the guard soldiers were only between 100 to 300 people but in fact more than 700 soldiers were guarding. The soldiers were not only from Deusia but also from Gerelia more precisely the followers of prince Theo.
In addition, Leo was made to wonder about the existence of several high-ranking count from Trixia in the ritual place. But immediately the question in his head was answered when he saw Orka and Count Randa were also in the ritual place.
Shortly after Orka appeared, Licia also appeared from the ancient temple which was a few meters away from the ritual place. Strangely, Lia was not as usual. It was so clear that his face was very flat and his eyes were empty. The situation confirmed the words of the 2 soldiers who were caught earlier.
Leo himself couldn't see what happened to Licia. Somehow his heart was so hard hit and sick to see the girl he hated being like a living doll.
His pity began to ruffle his heart. He did not expect a girl who sought the sincerity of affection to be made like a tool.
" Mister, some members are ready to infiltrate! " said Raska who suddenly appeared behind Leo.
" Did you kill the guards? "
" I'm sorry, sir. We just paralyzed them and locked them in a cave not far from here, "
" good... I should be the one apologizing for breaking my own rules. Tell all the members not to kill any enemy soldiers. Tomorrow, our only task is to save the princess and then you all return to where I assigned you before, "
" Good master I will tell to all the members! " Raska jumped up and disappeared. Leo then went back to observe the ritual.
A few minutes later, according to plan as many as 6 Yurei members wearing the armor of Deusia soldiers managed to infiltrate the ritual place and mingle with them.
...***...
The next day, there were still no suspicious signs at the ancient ritual site. There were only a few warriors who prepared some of the ingredients needed for the ritual such as fruits, some sticks with their shoots bearing the sun and 3 empty golden cups.
A few moments passed and important people in the ritual place began to appear. From the holy priest Jeremus, prince Theo and his advisors, Orka and count Randa, then there were also some small nobles from the northern region of Gerelia also present. In addition, there was also a man wearing a robe with the royal emblem of Orion. He carried a golden scroll and a golden stick.
Leos are increasingly curious as to what kind of ritual they will perform. The reason Leo did not directly save Licia was also to see her ritual procession as well as the purpose of the ritual to be performed by them.
From day to night there were no other activities in the place other than parties. Yes, they dance, eat, and what makes Leo surprised is the sexual feast just before the eclipse begins. They turned out to invite over a hundred paid women to party.
Leo did not think a ritual that he thought was a sacred ritual turned out to be a disgusting ritual whose dreamer was a holy priest. It's just that the holy priest did not come to enjoy the women of the call.
...***...
When the moon begins to disappear there is a strange phenomenon where a bright white light falls from the sky to the place of the ritual and disappears. I don't know what the light was but after the disappearance of the light, the holy priest rang a small bell in his hand 3 times.
...Ting... Ting... Ting... ...
Come out of the temple some people dressed in white robes carrying gold palanquins occupied by Licia. Surprisingly, Licia looked unconscious on the stretcher and wearing only thin pajamas made her underwear visible.
The men took Licia to the altar and put her to sleep on it. Then the holy priest surrounded the altar 5 times while continuing to ring his bell.
After finishing circling the altar, from inside the temple appeared prince Theo who wore a golden white robe while carrying a golden scepter and golden scroll that Leo had seen this afternoon. Behind the prince, walked also Orka who was in a state of complete nudity.
Leo's mind started everywhere and had guessed that if this ritual continued there would be something bad going on. To get ready he had 3 smoke bombs.
Orka and Prince Theo walked up to the altar. The holy priest also lined up 3 golden cups that had been provided on the edge of the altar. And so begins the ritual.
The holy priest sliced Orka's palm and then dripped his blood into the first cup. A similar thing was done to Prince Theo's palm and his blood was dropped into the second cup. Next, prince Theo handed the golden scroll to the Holy Priestess.
The priest opened and took a small bottle of red liquid from the scroll. The liquid was dropped into the third cup then he recited a strange spell from the scroll accompanied by prince Theo who continued to stomp the golden scepter.
The spell was finished being recited, the holy priest drinking the blood and liquid earlier on Licia. One by one the contents of the cup were smoothed, instantly a shockwave from Licia flung around.
The existence of a shockwave makes Leo increasingly worried about Licia. He who originally wanted to witness the continuity of the ritual was first forced to cancel the intention.
The young man immediately threw a smoke bomb right at the ritual site. The other Yurei troops also threw their smoke bombs.
...Sush...! Sush...! Boom...!...
In an instant the smoke billowed over the ritual site and it was a sign of the start of the attack. Everyone in the place of the panic ritual tried to save themselves. Especially the holy priest who runs off the roost looking for a place to hide.
While Orka tries to continue the ritual but Leo directly hits Orka's face and makes her faint.
Leo immediately carried Licia's body and took her away from the scene while throwing a red smoke bomb as a sign of retreat.
The Yurei troops who had already crippled some of the soldiers immediately retreated and dispersed in all directions for the confused enemy to chase after them.
" Sialaaaaaaa...! " squealing prince Theo swung his sword behind the thick smoke. He was still unaware that the attackers had escaped.
" This smoke cannot be removed by magic! Everyone take care of the altar! Whatever happens protect Princess Licia at the altar! " cried the holy priest from a distance.
The soldiers close to the altar instantly gathered and made a circular formation. With a visibility of only 1 meter makes them not aware that on the altar there is no one.
" Yahoo! When did the smoke disappear! Vlaaaad get rid of this smoke! " the wrath of prince Theo.
The smoke lasted for about 5 minutes and as it disappeared they were shocked to see the empty altar. Prince Theo orders all troops to pursue the perpetrators who brought Licia.
The troops on the ancient altar scattered in all directions chasing all the fleeing perpetrators.
" Sire Jeremus you must return immediately to Deusia. If your involvement is known, this could be a new threat to us! " vlad said to the holy priest who was still in hiding.
" Cih! A little more success with this ritual! Vlad I'll leave it all to you! I'll go first! " the holy priest replied as he walked away from the ancient altar with some of his guards.
" well! Be careful in your way! " sahut Vlad.
After the departure of the holy priest, Vlad along with the rest of the army and several nobles including Orka and Count Randa cleaned up all the ritual materials on the ancient altar including burying some items that had previously been used ritually. Prince Theo is chasing the perpetrators. He feared the perpetrators of leaking this ritual to the residents because it could damage his reputation.
^^^To be continuous.^^^
