Page 10 of Dark Reckoning
“Oh man, that was so fucking weird,” Adrian belted out.
“I feel violated,” I said, then turned to look at Kakashi. “What was that?”
“Your bodies were being purified,” he replied.
“Of what? Toxins?” Adrian asked.
“Not that kind of purification. Your magic is still your magic, but now your body is open to receiving and giving. That is the sensation you experienced. You may both climb out of the pool now,” he said.
I frowned. “I thought we needed to be in here an hour?”
“You were,” Kakashi said. “That minute to you was an hour for me. That is how the purification pool works. Come now.”
Wow, that was kind of cool and unnerving at the same time. Like were we in some kind of portal during that process or what? “Why was time different?” I asked in order to get some answers.
“You were in a form of stasis. Fully aware of your experience, but the magic works differently inside of the purification pool. That is all I can explain, because that is all I know,” Kakashi said.
I supposed that would have to be good enough. I climbed out first and helped Adrian out. I really couldn't complain, because that fucking water was torture and I was glad time had sped by. I wasn't looking forward to spending any more minutes in there than I had to. Next, Kakashi handed us the black robes that were made out of crushed velvet. They didn't have any sigils on them yet. I guessed that came later. We put them on and tied them up. I grabbed my clothes, and Adrian did the same, then we followed Kakashi into another room where the other mages were waiting. All were standing around a large ornate bowl that had eight crystal chalices surrounding it. Kakashi walked over to them and pointed to where Adrian and I were expected to stand.
We put our clothes on the floor, as there was no other place to put them, and then walked over to stand in the designated spots. I looked into the bowl, which had a liquid inside that glowed a bright green. Kakashi instructed us to repeat after him and we all did. As we did, we each cut ourselves with the same knife and bled into the bowl. The liquid that once glowed green began to turn red and the consistency got thicker.
“Now, we fill our chalices,” Kakashi said.
Adrian and I did like everyone else, and dipped the crystal chalices into the bowl, gathering the liquid. What was remarkable was that everyone had the same amount in their glass regardless if they took a little or a lot. I knew because I had taken a little and I still had a full chalice.
“Now, I will raise my hand and when I lower it, we must all drink at the same time. This is crucial,” Kakashi said.
Adrian and I nodded.
Kakashi raised his hand and when he lowered it, we all drank the liquid. I could taste the blood, but also the magic flowing in the blood, and my god, it was powerful! We all put the chalices back on the table and the room seemed to shimmer. Before I knew what was happening, I stumbled backward, then fell to the floor. Adrian did the same, but the other mages simply sat down and closed their eyes. I felt a burning on the right side of my neck. I covered it with my hand as I rolled over onto my back. I stared up at the ceiling that seemed to swirl like a whirlpool. My head was spinning and I felt a nauseous roll inside my stomach. I closed my eyes and everything just faded away.
***
When I came to, the other mages were all standing and looking at me. I groaned and rolled over onto all fours. I looked over to see Adrian was still out cold and I crawled over to him.
“Leave him,” Kakashi said. “Do not interfere with his process.”
I looked up at Kakashi. “Is he okay?”
He nodded. “He's fine. It's been an hour, he will rise.”
“He better,” I snapped.
“He will rise,” Kakashi repeated.
I sat back on my ass next to Adrian and waited for my baby to open those pretty green eyes of his. While I waited, I looked down at my robe to see that a gold sigil was on it, as if it were part of the fabric.
“Is this on the back too?” I asked Kakashi.
He nodded. “Yes.”
Magical robes, indeed.
After five minutes passed, Adrian began to stir and then moaned as he came to, eyes blinking.
“Hey baby, you feeling okay?” I asked him.
“Help—help me up,” he said, his voice a little groggy.
