Chapter 14: The Trial of Rebirth (2)

  Inside the observation room above the ritual chamber, two figures stood side by side behind a one-way mirror. Romero and Father Benedict gazed down at the ritual altar being prepared below.

  Typically, the site of such a rite was a secluded sanctuary, severed from the outside world. However, the existence of this observation room was a necessity, the success rate of the Trial of Rebirth was notoriously low. Sometimes the Church had to send their personnel to observe the ritual, seeking ways to improve and enhance the potion’s formula to increase the odds of survival.

  "It's been a long time since I've seen such an elaborate ceremony."

  Father Benedict's gentle voice broke the silence between them.

  "Has the Church prepared what we requested?" Romero asked.

  "It's in Room No. 2, near the ritual area. Don't worry."

  Father Benedict assured him before sighing slightly.

  "To think the Church had to authorize the release of Artifact 044 from the arsenal... It seems the Order values Nicholas quite highly. To be honest, even I'm starting to wonder what makes him so special.”

  Artifact 044, also known as the 'Bell of Consolation,' possessed no extraordinary powers other than its ability to soothe pain and ward off the adverse effects from mental abnormalities. Despite its simple nature, it was considered a vital component in increasing the survival rate for those undergoing the Trial of Rebirth.

  The term ‘Artifact’ was used to describe mystical objects with supernatural abilities. Most were harmless, functioning without side effects. But some artifacts, such as No. 044, would begin to deteriorate with repeated use. Therefore, the Order’s request for the Church to utilize such item in Nicholas’s ritual was anything but ordinary.

  However, besides artifacts, there were other objects with similar capabilities. But unlike their benign counterparts, these possessed lethal side effects and power too severe for humans to control. They were called 'Cursed Objects.' It was said they were objects with lives and minds of their own.

  If used carelessly, one could be consumed and might even lose their own identity.

  "I don't know the details, but it seems Mr. Edwin has some plan for him."

  Romero's words made Father Benedict fall silent for a moment.

  "...If it's him, there must be a reason."

  The priest nodded in understanding. It seemed invoking Mr. Edwin's name was one way Romero used to cut off the other party.

  “It seems he is ready,”

  Father Benedict raised his hand in gesture. Suddenly, religious chants in the Ukati language echoed through the ritual chamber.

  ......

  Nicholas held the large chalice with both hands. Inside was a dark green liquid so thick and viscous it almost appeared black. This was the potion he had to drink to undergo the Trial of Rebirth. The deacon who had instructed him made it clear that he must drink every single drop, as this was the volume measured precisely to ensure the highest possible chance of success.

  Truthfully, he hadn’t expected the potion to look appealing, but he never imagined it would look this bad.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The altar beneath his feet was inscribed with strange characters, forming what looked like a magic circle. The atmosphere was silent, void of any other presence. This isolation was actually a safety protocol because if the ritual failed, the subject might transform into an Abomination. To prevent danger, apprentices had to undergo the trial in this place alone.

  The sound of chanting rose from all directions. Nicholas guessed it must be part of the ritual, yet the sound tethered him to a distant memory. It reminded him of when he used to go to temple with his family.

  …He wondered how his parents were doing now.

  Nicholas shook his head, not allowing himself to dwell on the past. Gulping hard, he stared down at the chalice and its murky contents. With a surge of resolve, he decided to gulp it down all at once.

  "Ugh!"

  Nicholas couldn't help but cry out. The nauseating feeling made him almost vomit, but he had to force it down. However, suddenly that sensation transformed into a cold, biting feeling.

  The potion flowed from his throat into his stomach, but instead of settling there like food, Nicholas felt the medicine seeping through his body. It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing every inch of his body.

  A surge of new power erupted within him—perhaps this was the Spiritual energy Mr. Edwin had spoken of. But before he could immerse himself in the sensation of this new-found power, a searing pain suddenly spread throughout every cell in his body.

  Nicholas screamed in agony. Mr. Edwin might have been right about him having a rare ability to sense spiritual energy. However, he had never trained his body to adapt to such power before. Therefore, as his body absorbed this raw spiritual power for the first time, it triggered an internal rejection.

  Chime...!

  At that very moment, the soft, deep sound of a bell rang out, helping to soothe Nicholas's pain and ease it. It seemed Artifact 044 was beginning to serve its purpose.

  With the help of the Bell of Consolation, Nicholas's consciousness gradually regained its clarity, a sign that the ritual was finally stabilizing. If this continued, the ceremony might just reach a successful conclusion...

  Then, Nicholas heard a chilling laughter, whispered directly into his ear, even though there was no one around him!

  He was certain that the mocking laughter was not human. The sound grew steadily louder, spiraling into frenzied madness. Suddenly, Nicholas lost all control over his own body. His vision blurred, and his mind began to drift like a log floating aimlessly in the ocean.

  He recognized this sensation; it was exactly like that day in the dark alley of the old world, the day he was sent to this world. But this time, it was here to claim his life!

  There was something foreign inside the potion! As the laughter intensified, that parasitic entity began to seize control of his body, driving him toward insanity.

  "I... can't... take it... anymore."

  His consciousness began to fade... he was losing control!

  "Am I... going to... die?"

  Fragments of his life flashed before his eyes. In that fleeting moment, amidst the fading consciousness, he felt the gray mirror vibrating violently against his chest.

  Then, he remembered. There was still one thing he could do as a Judicial Representative.

  "I am... the Arbiter of the blazing primordial ages..." Nicholas uttered from his parched throat.

  "The one who wields the scales of merit and sin... across the Three Realms...”

  “The sovereign who reigns above... the Crimson Throne... of the Eternal Abyss..."

  With every ounce of strength remaining in his soul, Nicholas recited the Judge's incantation.

  "...Hearken to the Judgement as witnessed by the Eyes of the Abyssal Void."

  The moment the words left his lips, the frenzied laughter transformed into the painful shriek of a beast. A surge of power erupted from the grey mirror into his body. The foreign entity, which had been devouring him, lashed out with its last desperate strength to fight back. However, it was restrained by the new power surging through Nicholas's veins.

  At that very moment, within the ceremony hall filled with praying worshippers, The statue of the God of Death and Rebirth, whose face had been shrouded by a mysterious power, suddenly snapped its eyes open, revealed the endless darkness within. That gaze fixed upon the direction where the Trial of Rebirth took place.

  Nicholas's eyes widened. his pupils stained with the color of blood. The agonizing screams that had echoed in his mind began to fade, as the malevolence attempting to devour his soul was slowly purged.

  Finally, the inner turmoil calmed down. As Nicholas’s vision regained its focus, the world he saw had already changed. He could now feel the raw energy drifting through atmosphere.

  Previously, although he could see spirits, their essence had remained intangible. But now, he finally understood Mr. Edwin’s words: a Spirit Medium distinguishes the nature of a soul by its color.

  The temperature in his body cooled down. He could feel his physical form had reached another state and his strength had increased. This might be the byproduct of transcending the limitations of humanity.

  ...There was no doubt that Nicholas had now become an Extraordinary.

  ......

  “It seems he has succeeded,” Father Benedict exclaimed with joy.

  "This is truly worth celebrating. I can hardly recall the last time this ritual was completed successfully.”

  Father Benedict made a sign of worship, pressing his hand against his chest in a silent prayer of gratitude for the gods’ blessing. Meanwhile, Romero stood with arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the young man below.

  Something was wrong. Romero had felt a disturbance during the ritual, a flicker of abnormality—yet he couldn't quite pinpoint exactly where the issue lay.

  In truth, there was a reason he had taken interest in today’s ritual. Although the success rate of the Trial of Rebirth had been notoriously low since ancient times, Romero had discovered a disturbing pattern: the rate of success for Spirit Mediums in York was significantly lower than in any other branch of the Order.

  Nicholas’s case was, in fact, the only success they had seen in years. Most Spirit Mediums currently stationed here were either veterans or those transferred from other branches.

  'Something is happening in this city,' Romero pondered.

  If his intuition was correct, there was an 'Entity' lurking in the shadows—one capable of interfering with the Order’s rituals, even those conducted by the Church, one of the most powerful organizations on the continent.

  Whatever that 'Entity' was planning... if he—no, if the Order failed to investigate and stop it in time…

  Perhaps this marked the beginning of the end for the city of York. Or perhaps, it was just the first to fall in a cataclysm that would swallow the entire world.

  20.10.550

  Nicholas Parlay

  Spirit medium