And, the routine continued, with me being directed from room to room. I sweated more in these heated rooms than during a training session. Every impurity was leaving my body. In between each room, the attendant gave me lemon water to drink.
The last room was different than the others. It was covered with frost and the floor was icy against my feet. I shivered. After experiencing the extreme heat in the other rooms, the cold was jarring. It did help clear my head slightly.
I was brought to a stone bench, where I sat down to wait for Isa. She floated to the bench with a loopy expression on her face.
The attendants handed us more lemon water. Once we finished them, we were led to a small room with two sheet-draped, padded tables. I laid down on the one, face down, as directed. I don’t think there is much I wouldn’t do at this point. I was beyond thoughts – just a mushy ball of nothing.
The attendant rubbed oils into my skin from head to toe, working out any remaining tightness in my body. Then, she used some sort of scrub and rubbed my skin until it was red. It was a good kind of hurt though. Once that was done, she poured water over me, washing off the scrub.
I was led to another room. There were two beds and the room was dark except for candles on a table in between the beds. We were tucked into the beds. A scented towel was put over our eyes and a clay mask was put on our faces before the attendants left us.
When I awoke, the candles had burnt down to stubs. I felt just as relaxed as before and well-rested. They could make a killing if they let non-followers into here. This was an amazing process.
We were led out of the Purity Chamber. Isa stopped and the attendants guided me down the rose littered carpet. Soft music played and the plants swayed as I passed them. Will-ó-wisps bobbed up and down in the air, riding the gentle breeze.
I went back into the Institute. The halls were filled with silent followers that threw petals on me as I passed. The hallway led to a door that looked no different than the others in the Institute. The exception that it was guarded by bone men. They bowed to me and opened the door. As soon as I was through the door, it closed behind me.
There was an altar in the room and incense bowers hung suspended from the ceiling. There was so much incense burning that it made the entire room smokey like fog. I coughed, but it only put more smoke into my lungs until I felt like I was drowning. As I struggled to breathe and collapsed. I was scooped up by someone, who carried me easily to the altar.
Altars were never somewhere I wanted to be near. Magic was done on them and it was usually strong magic. They were a conduit to other realms that were dangerous and could connect the magic practitioner with demons or restless spirits form the beyond. Someone was chanting and Jarl stood over me. I couldn’t move and it took all of my attention to breathe.
Hands yanked my legs and arms, stretching them out. A golden goblet was placed under each wrist and ankle. The flash of a knife in the light and pain followed. I couldn’t cry out and I couldn’t fight. They cut my other wrist and then my ankles. My blood filled the goblets and then I did pass out.
When I came to, I was laying on my bed in my room. I wore pajamas and Muffin cuddled next to me. I bolted up and exposed my wrists. They were clear of any marks. I checked my ankles, but couldn’t find anything on them either. Had that really happened? Did I dream it? I felt normal. If my blood had been drained, I’d feel like crap and be as weak as a kitten. What is happening to me here?
I walked with Isa to the dining hall for breakfast.
“Did we do the Ceremony of Unity?”
“The what?”
“The Ceremony of Unity. We went into the Purity Chamber and I had some sort of ceremony. I can’t remember the ceremony though.”
Isa looked at me strangely. “I’m not sure what you are talking about. We attended a sermon and had a movie night with popcorn and snacks. You liked the movie. It was an action flick and said that the fighting was surprisingly realistic.”
“Are you saying we didn’t do the Purity Ritual or go to the rock rooms in the Purity Chamber?”
“We don’t even have a Purity Chamber. The Purity Ritual is done in the meditation room. And, it’s not something seekers are allowed to do. It’s for those more advanced in their practice and understanding of The True One. How did you even hear about this?”
I was right about what happened and she didn’t remember, but she didn’t seem to be lying. Why didn’t she remember? I certainly never saw a movie. How did I have no marks and feel no affects from blood loss? Was the incense getting to me more than I thought? Was it muddling my mind?
“I heard someone talk about it. Maybe I dreamed about it. My mind wanders more here.”
“That’s intentional. This is a place where you are allowed to open up to the greatness of The True One and let yourself experience his grace. Just, don’t mention the ceremony to anyone else.”
“I won’t.”
“I have some news for you. I got you some time with Emma Lynn.”
“That is good news. When do we see her?”
“After breakfast.”
This meeting would finally give me
