That night, warm steam continuously rose from the gaps in the aqueduct extending from the base of the stone tower behind the shrine, spreading a hazy mist in the night.
Toka and dozens of Trolls stood silently within it, queuing to receive warm holy water and cleanse their bodies.
The channel water was clear, reflecting a faint light under the illumination of the eternal flame core at the top of the tower.
After cleansing, the priests gathered around with bottles and jars, beginning to draw battle lines (patterns) on their bodies.
The method for making the pigments was learned by Siye and the others from the old witch doctors.
However, they added several new procedures to the original basis, extensively using red, gold, and black colors, and also blessed the pigments themselves with divine magic.
Therefore, when these new battle patterns were completed on Toka and the others, they faintly emitted a subtle glow.
They could roughly provide some basic attribute boosts, or, in DnD terms, grant a +2 bonus in checks.
Overall, it was a buff that was better than nothing.
Once everyone was ready, a deep drumbeat suddenly sounded, breaking the tranquility enveloped by the mist.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Immediately after, a sharp, piercing long note from a bone flute tore through the night sky.
The drumbeat grew denser, intertwining with the bone flute, congealing into a heavy, solemn rhythm.
The crowd began to move according to the plan. Toka instinctively gripped the divine emblem on his chest, then followed.
They silently formed a queue, walking steadily along the direction the aqueduct extended, stepping to the drumbeat, towards the square north of the shrine.
In the square, ordinary Troll commoners had long been waiting; they crowded on both sides, leaving a passage for the ritual procession.
The statue, originally placed inside the shrine, had now been moved to the center of the square.
Because after the shrine's renovation is completed, a new statue will be carved from better materials, the old statue will be repurposed and permanently stationed here from now on.
Around the statue, five bonfires were arranged in a pentagram shape.
Priestess Siye stood alone directly in front of the statue.
She wore a black clerical robe, adorned with traditional Ice Troll priestly ornaments, and a dramatic cloak woven from Proto-Dragon scales draped behind her, with the shoulder area specifically shaped into a dragon's head.
Siye also held a long staff crafted from a Proto-Dragon's spine, with a white-gold gem inlaid at its tip.
Once the ritual procession had all entered the inner circle of the square, Siye stepped forward, pointing the tip of her bone staff directly at the night sky, uttering a short incantation:
"Ignis!"
Five sparkling golden sparks shot out from the staff tip, instantly disappearing into the dry kindling of the five bonfires.
Whoosh—
A fierce flame suddenly shot skyward!
The flames burned remarkably steadily and quietly, with the core of the flame a nearly blinding white-hot, emitting an astonishing heatwave that distorted the surrounding air.
Siye turned to face the solemn crowd in the square.
She raised both arms high, proclaiming in fluent Zandali accent:
"Flame of Protection!"
"Eternal Light!"
"Law of Balance!"
"Wrath of Flame!"
"Fire of Wisdom!"
Each short phrase representing a divine domain was called out, and the flames of the corresponding bonfire would burst forth, suddenly rising several meters high.
The believers in the square responded with low, synchronized echoes in the pauses between each proclamation.
These sounds converged into a solemn resonance, causing the ground beneath their feet to tremble slightly.
Then, Siye turned to the two braziers in front of the statue, lighting the flames symbolizing "Dragon" and "Shadow" in the same manner.
The chanting ceased, and a brief silence fell over the scene.
Next, Siye calmly took seven gems from a tray held high by an attendant.
She arranged these gems, which also symbolized the Dragon God's seven major domains, in front of the statue's base, then knelt on one knee.
All the Trolls present followed suit, kneeling in unison.
They spoke in unison, hundreds of voices merging into one at this moment, devoutly chanting the most familiar prayer:
"Oh, Flame Keeper, Emberglow Dragon."
"Like a flame unextinguished, like a shadow ever present."
The Trolls lowered their heads, and the prayer echoed in the night sky, its lingering sound long.
After another moment of silence, Siye was the first to rise.
She lightly tapped the ground with her staff, producing a crisp sound, unveiling the next movement of the ceremony.
This time, beyond the drums and flutes, a classic Troll-style chorus intertwined: "Ha-hey—. Hey-ha-hey—"
Against this backdrop, the believers neatly re-stood.
Siye's gaze swept over the core members in the inner circle, her voice clear and bright: "Present your offerings to our God!"
Gollon was the first to offer his tribute.
He grinned, the battle patterns on his face appearing even more ferocious in the firelight.
He unslung the double-handed great axe from his back, its edge already chipped, and strode purposefully to the holy flame symbolizing "War."
Without hesitation, Gollon hurled his battle axe into the blazing flames!
The holy fire, like scorching lava, instantly engulfed the battle axe, melting it into a pure stream of war divine power, transforming into a pillar of crimson light that shot straight into the sky!
He stepped back, his right fist heavily pounding his chest, letting out a deep war roar.
Next to offer tribute was Gulen.
His eyes were complex, yet his movements were meticulous.
He took out a smoothly polished black stone tablet from his embrace—on it was engraved the catalog of all the knowledge Ital'ruk had currently collected.
He walked to the holy flame representing "Knowledge," and with controlled and precise movements, slowly placed the stone tablet into it.
Similarly, the stone tablet transformed into blue knowledge divine power in the holy fire, rising as a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
However, its scale was clearly much smaller than the one from the domain of war.
Gulen let out an almost imperceptible sigh before bowing slightly to conclude his offering.
The third offerer was Skala, the leader of Ital'ruk.
His expression was solemn, and he walked with steady steps towards the holy flame symbolizing "Order."
He did not bring out a weapon or an elaborate symbol, but merely took off the signet ring on his right hand—this was a new token carved a month after taking charge of Ital'ruk, used for dispatching resources and arbitrating disputes.
The face of the ring was engraved with an abstract depiction of the Dragon God's profile, illustrating Skala's first encounter with the Dragon God.
He decisively tossed the signet ring into the fire—after all, the newly carved one was already prepared.
Immediately following, a third orange-yellow pillar of light soared into the sky, its scale medium, between war and knowledge.
The last two offerers were two Paladins of different oaths.
First to step forward was a solidly built male Troll, whose oath was the Oath of the Crown.
He walked to the bonfire representing "Protection," offering an iron shield that had participated in the Battle of Gray Tooth Valley, already damaged and stained with enemy blood. The pillar of divine power formed by protection was black, consistent with the color of the Dragon God's scales, and its scale was similar to the pillar of the war domain.
Finally, there was a female Paladin of the Oath of the Ancients.
She respectfully offered a lantern to the holy fire symbolizing "Light."
A white pillar of divine power then shot into the sky, joining the ranks of the previous four pillars of light!
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"