Lord of Mysteries

Chapter 51 Down-to-earth Ritual Magic

Can you solve your bill with magic?

Should they curse the creditor to death, or counterfeit money?

I can't solve the problem, but I can solve you?

……

Various thoughts raced through Klein's mind, and the way he looked at Old Neil became somewhat strange.

He seriously considered the possibility of calling the police, no, informing the night watch team.

Old Neil glanced at him and said irritably:

"In your eyes, I see ignorance, I see stupidity, I see a weak and shameful trust. Didn't Dunn tell you the maxim of the spy: Do whatever you want, but don't hurt!"

"Although this maxim originated from within a secret and evil organization called the 'Morse Ascetic Order,' extraordinary individuals who have chosen the path of the 'Secret Seeker' have proven its correctness through their own experiences. As long as it is strictly followed and done with reverence, the risk of losing control will be minimized, and the reverse is also true."

"Your doubt is an insult to me, and to those who seek secrets!"

"I'm sorry," Klein apologized without hesitation.

He had indeed forgotten the maxim that Dunn Smith had once quoted.

Old Neil wasn't really angry; he quickly smiled and said:

"Unfortunately, there are too few extraordinary individuals who choose the path of the 'diviner,' and no corresponding maxims to help you."

But I have the diary of Emperor Roselle… Hmm, strictly adhering to maxims has a “playing” feel to it… Klein suddenly made a connection and nodded as if he were thinking.

Old Neil didn't say anything more, and took the vases and other items from the heavy round table and put them in the corner.

Then, as he took out a reddish-brown and a dark black candle from a small silver box, he casually explained:

"If ordinary people want to try ritual magic, they must choose a suitable date and time based on astrological results or by consulting the corresponding manual, such as Sunday, which symbolizes the goddess, or the lunar time that she rules. But for us extraordinary beings, especially those who are good at this, these are not necessary. Our vibrant spirituality and our powerful astral bodies are the most crucial elements."

"Of course, if you're unsure about the ritual magic you want to try, choosing the right date and time can effectively increase your success rate."

"Oh right, there's a prerequisite that you must remember and strictly adhere to!"

Old Neil placed the two candles, turned to look at Klein, and said very seriously:

"Low-sequence beings are not powerful enough. Almost all the ritual magic they can perform involves praying for power and asking for help from the outside world. Therefore, they can only consider orthodox gods such as goddesses and storm lords. Absolutely, absolutely do not try to communicate with unknown and unpredictable beings, even if some people believe in them, even if the written promises are tempting!"

"Believe me, don't take any chances. Once you've tried it, you'll inevitably slide into the abyss. All your efforts and struggles can only slow things down, not reverse the trend."

"I will remember that!" Klein replied in a deep voice, but a sense of unease crept into his heart.

His own "luck-changing ritual" seemed to be a plea for power from some unknown and unpredictable being...

And he truly gained a power that even the "Hanged Man," a seasoned Beyonder, found unbelievable—the power to pull them into the gray fog. Hmm, he should be a seasoned Beyonder...

Thankfully, I haven't gone crazy yet, and there's no sign of me losing control...

Worried about this matter, he took the initiative to change the subject:

"So, the night watchmen would be better off asking the goddess for help?"

"If you wish to pray to the Lord of Storms, no one will stop you, but He may not respond, or He may respond with malice, which would distort the outcome of our ritual magic in an unpredictable direction." Old Neil successfully dispelled Klein's wishful thinking with a joke.

There is no such thing as "best", only "must"!

After giving his instructions, old Neil picked up the crimson candle and said:

"Candles made with moonflower, deep red sandalwood, and other ingredients symbolize the goddess's identity as the Crimson Lord in ritual magic."

He then pointed to the dark black candle and said:

Candles made from herbs such as night-blooming jasmine and deep-sleeping flower symbolize the night.

As he spoke, he placed the black one on the upper left of the round table and the red one on the upper right.

"Why are there only two candles symbolizing the goddess? She is also the mother of secrets, the queen of calamities and fears, the lord of sleep and silence."

Old Neil chuckled:

"Yes, that's the question I wanted you to ask."

"Before the fall, the Morse Penitentiary had a good relationship with the Church, and some of their ideas and achievements in ritual magic deeply influenced us."

"They believe that everything is number, and every number has a spirit. In ritual magic, 0 represents the unknown, represents chaos, and symbolizes the state before the birth of the world. 1 represents the beginning and represents the original creator. 2 symbolizes the world and gods born from His body. 3 represents the contact between the gods and matter, and the formation of all things. Here, two candles symbolize the goddess, and the third candle is reserved for ourselves."

"Which two candles and which two symbols to use depends on the desired effect of the ritual magic."

Three gives birth to all things? All things are three? Klein couldn't help but think of some things he had encountered in his previous life.

Seeing that he was listening attentively, old Neil took the third candle and said:

"This is a candle that symbolizes 'me.' It's a very ordinary candle, just with a touch of mint added. Remember, plants like roses, lemons, mint, moonflowers, night-blooming jasmine, and deep sleep flowers are all favored and loved by the goddess."

"The three candles also symbolize each person's physical, spiritual, and divine aspects."

After describing it, Old Neil placed the third one in the center of the round table.

He then took out the "Full Moon Essential Oil" he had prepared, a large cauldron engraved with a dark holy symbol, a silver knife with ornate patterns, a cup of water, and a dish of coarse salt.

"For extraordinary individuals who are not skilled in ritual magic, bells, crystal balls, silver cups, incense, and other items are needed at this time, but sleuths and diviners do not need them; these items are sufficient."

Old Neil placed the parchment with the bill drawn on it next to the large cauldron directly below, and pressed down one corner with a special quill pen.

He turned to Klein and said:

"Ritual magic requires a clean, undisturbed spiritual environment, which we must create ourselves. The method is to first enter into meditation to accumulate spiritual energy, and then use auxiliary items to guide our power out and build it around us, such as the 'Holy Night Powder' that I used at Riel Bieber's house, and the ritual silver dagger that I am about to use."

"Throughout the process, we must determine the symbolic symbols and corresponding incantations based on the desired outcome. The incantations are best written in Hermes, because ancient Hermes originated from nature and is similar to ancient dragon language and ancient elven language. Its effects are very direct, but it lacks the necessary concealment and protection, which can easily put the user in danger. This is why it was improved. However, it is indeed more effective."

"Alright, I need to focus on the ritual magic now. I won't explain it to you anymore. Pay attention and listen carefully, and write down any questions you have. Ask me again when everything is over."

"Okay." Klein took two steps back and looked intently at old Neil.

Old Neil's eyes suddenly darkened, and an invisible wind began to swirl around him.

He remained silent for a moment, then lit the three candles one by one by rubbing his mind and matter together, from left to right and from top to bottom.

Then he picked up the silver knife, plunged it into the coarse salt, and recited the incantation written in Hermes:

"I sanctify you, pure silver blade!"

"I cleanse and purify you, so that you may serve me in the ritual!"

……

"In the name of the Goddess of the Night, the Crimson Lord,"

"You've been sanctified!"

After a series of short, powerful, ancient words, old Neil drew a silver knife, plunged it into the glass of water, and then raised it, pointing it out into the space beyond the round table.

He aimed the tip of his knife at the outer edge, then began to walk around the round table. With each step, Klein could feel an invisible force emanating from the silver knife, full of spirituality, connecting with the air to form a sealed wall.

After circling around, the altar was isolated from its surroundings.

Old Neil stood in front of the round table, put down the silver knife, picked up the bottle of "Full Moon Oil," and dripped three drops onto the black, dark red, and ordinary candles respectively.

Noisy!

A thin mist hung in the air, making everything seem mysterious.

Old Neil put down the glass bottle, looked at the parchment-like paper, remained silent for two minutes, then picked up a quill pen and drew a symbol of control on the "bill"—a square that framed all the contents, indicating that he had control over the debt.

Then he drew an "X" to indicate elimination.

Upon arriving here, he took the imitation parchment in one hand and tapped his brow with the other, activating his spiritual vision.

An invisible yet vibrant power emanated from him, and old Neil chanted softly:

"I pray to the power of the night;"

"I pray for the power of Crimson;"

"I pray for the goddess's favor;"

"Please send me the money to pay this bill."

"Night-blooming jasmine, herb of the Crimson Moon, please transfer your power to my incantation!"

"Moonflower, herb of the red moon, please transfer your power to my incantation!"

……

Klein listened in utter disbelief, his mind racing with a jumble of thoughts:

Such a spell will work?

Although it was written and read in Hermes...

Isn't this a bit too direct, too simple, and too down-to-earth?

Will the goddess get angry and double the bill?

Suddenly, the candlelight became brighter!

After Old Neil finished reciting, he closed his eyes for two minutes, picked up the "Full Moon Essential Oil," and dripped a drop onto each of the three candles.

Immediately afterwards, he grabbed the parchment-like paper, brought it close to the candle that symbolized "me," and once it was lit, he immediately threw it into the cauldron.

Old Neil closed his eyes again, seemingly feeling the bill burning.

After a while, he opened his eyes and looked at the large cauldron with the black holy symbol. He saw that the parchment had been completely burned and only ashes remained.

"Praise be to the goddess!" Old Neil tapped his chest four times, drawing a crimson moon, and then extinguished the candles in the reverse order of the beginning.

After doing all this, he took a silver knife and pierced through the invisible walls around him.

After a sudden gust of wind, old Neil visibly breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"alright."

"That's it?" Klein asked in surprise. "The bill's settled? How was it settled?"

"I don't know either, but it will be resolved in a reasonable way," Old Neil said with a shrug.

This... Klein didn't know what expression or words to use to respond.

Isn't this a bit unreliable?

Note 1: The magic in this chapter is adapted from the Wicka Magic Book.

(End of this chapter)