Leon had decided to spend the night at the white hounds base. Since he was doing that Charlotte suggested doing the mysticism lessons today and Leon agreed. Their first lesson would be about rituals.
Leon was sitting before Charlotte with a table in between.
"Guess its about time i'll start teaching you! I'll be teaching you about ritualistic magic. Since you are still a low level beyonder most ritualistic magic you can use is seeking help from external powers. You see, some pathways specialize in ritualistic magic while others don't, and if you don't specialise in it then you will have to do alot more work to set up said rituals. Hunters for example lack spirituality so-"
Leon cut in and asked: "what's spirituality?"
Charlotte stared at him for a good 10 seconds, the corners of her lips twitched as she held back a laugh.
"Spirituality is essential for rituals, spells and so on."
It was a short answer, but good enough for someone like leon.
So it's basically mana huh? I didn't read or watch too much stuff in my previous life. But i know what mana is.
Leon began reminiscing about the stories he read, for some reason it was as though a core memory was missing. He constantly felt that everything around him was familiar in some way, but when he tried thinking about it, it was like his Brain just gave up.
"When setting up an alter you will many things like the corresponding materials, items and herbs. The most important of all are the candles. But you can't always just light up the candles... sometimes you might need to extend your spirituality and rub it against the wick in order to light it up."
Charlotte pulled out three candles and some materials like lead, metal, basil, celery salt, a burning extract and a few more things. She also took out a bronze dagger and pushed everything towards Leon.
"First you must enter cogitation. The herbs and burning of extracts will help you adjust your spirituality and entered cogitation. Close your eyes and think of something common. Place your focus on it. Focus and repetition"
Charlotte spoke firmly while staring at Leon. Her finger were intertwined and on the table.
Leon quickly closed his eyes and let his mind wander. The first thing that came to mind was all the torn and patched up clothing the tramps and workers wore.
"Now imagine something that doesn't exist"
When Leon heard Charlotte say that he began imagining a plane. The table trembled a bit and Leon's head began hurting.
I thought I need to imagine something that doesn't exist?
He then began imagining a tank but when that didn't work he imagined a giant space ship. Finally he managed to enter cogitation and many colors filled his view. He looked at Charlotte who was primarily covered in dark and purple colors.
"What you are seeing is spirit vision, some beyonders can activate it with ease. But for beyonders like us we have to learn such things. Some can see more and others see less."
Charlotte was a carefree person, but when things got serious she would always concentrate. Leon has also noted that she hasn't been drinking as much as she used to.
"Red means passion and excitement while green means calm and peace."
Leon thought about it for a bit and then ended up bringing up Charlotte's colors.
"What do the dark and purple colors represent"
Charlotte suddenly turned gloomy but answered with hesitation. She knew what Leon was talking about and she wasn't willing to lie to him.
"Dark colors can represent worry, sorrow along other negative things. While purple mean spirituality dominance"
She didn't tell him what purple really meant and left him confused.
"Now lets get back to the ritualistic magic. Now that you have entered cogitation lets focus on drawing a wall of spirituality. Focus your mind and draw a wall"
Focus...
As he did he slowly began drawing a wall of spirituality. And with relative ease he constructed a wall of spirituality inside Charlotte's office.
"Now let us identify the god or hidden entity you are praying to. For example, i would pray to the evernight goddess. Like I said, when preparing a ritual you must gather the corresponding ingredients for the deity you will pray to. You choose the god of steam and machinery correct?"
Leon nodded and allowed Charlotte to continue.
"Light the three candles from left to right. Start from the god and then you. Oh, but first read this. You must also draw the symbol of the god of steam and machinery
Charlotte handed leon a paper that had words written on it in ancient hermes. This was the honorific name for the god of steam and machinery. Leon grabbed another piece of paper and drew the symbol of the deity.
Soon the ritual began. He lit the wicks by rubbing his spirituality against them. He began incantation.
"Embodiment of Essence. Guardian of Craftsmen Brilliance of Technology. I pray for your loving grace... I pray for 1 gold pound"
Suddenly the room went quiet and Charlotte froze. This is the last thing she expected Leon to wish for even though she knew him for a while. Leon was involved with the white hounds for four years now. After the incantation Leon burned the piece of paper with the symbol of the god of steam and machinery above the candle until it turned to ashes. Then he dripped a drop of essential oil on the candles from right to left. He thanked the god of steam and machinery by drawing a triangular symbol before shouting.
"By steam!"
And with that the ritual had ended. Leon spent about 30 minutes learning hermes and ancient hermes with Charlotte before leaving. When he left he went back to the East borough underground market in order to look for Eli cooper. He had questions for him after all.
Leon walked around the tunnels that were lit by candles and lamps until he reached the place where Eli cooper was last seen using divination. This time no one was there. He approached the woman selling different daggers next to where eli did his divination.
"When does Eli cooper come here?"
The woman shrugged and sighed.
"He's usually here on Monday's and Sunday's, why do you ask?"
Leon nodded and looked at the place where Eli cooper did his divination.
"I just want to use his services."
Leon wasn't lying, he actually wanted to get divination from Eli. He knew Eli's pathway had something to do with divination after all. As he walked towards the exit he was suddenly approached by a cloaked figure. He couldn't tell if it was a man or woman, but this person's face was rotting!
They had a twisted smile on their face that was covered in pus.
Cough cough!
The person coughed off to side where a man sold herbs.
"Hey watch it!" The man selling herbs shouted.
"Kind sir..." the cloaked figure began speaking.
"Have you heard of the apocalypse? Soon... the world will be ending. We will all die! But our god... he will save us... he will terminate everything! But we, his believers will be saved... we will be given eternal life!"
This person coughed once more. Leon could tell this person was very sick. Maybe even carrying a pathogen.
"No thanks you, im actually a believer of the god of steam and machinery" Leon drew the triangular symbol and tried walking past the cloaked figure. The cloaked figure reached out in an attempt to grab Leon's arm and stop him but leon used his agility to dodge. He was really scared of catching something.
What a weirdo... what did I expect? Im not trying to get involved in any cults any time soon.
Leon knew not to get himself involved in any dangerous cults in this new world.