Training the Ritual

I let out a tired sigh as I left my room, taking a break for the time being from working on my puppets. After some time of deliberation, I finally had an idea of how to do this. And if it would be a success, I could confidently say I was a genius for even thinking about it, heh. But I shouldn’t get too cocky.

I had also been making improvements to Ripper. I should finish it in a couple of days. But for now, I had another matter to attend to. Mainly it was the Moon Blessing Ritual, I had to refresh my memory about how to perform it. I had sent a letter to the Librarian for the scroll of instructions. They should have had it delivered to the magic training room by now.

There were magic training rooms for the royals to use. I would have used that for my practice, but the matter of privacy was a concern. Imagine someone’s reaction if they saw me using two magic classes at once, they would freak out. And my secret would be completely out. And my plans would all come tumbling down. And then I would certainly die.

Now, we wouldn’t want that.

I arrived at a room with a pair of tall wooden doors carved with intricate shapes and curves. Quite fancy. I opened the door. The chamber was circular and wide, and the floor and walls were made of fine bricks and stones. The room was reinforced to sustain whatever powerful magic might be cast.

“Hm?” I noticed a maid inside the training chamber. In her hand was a wooden box. I knew the maid. “Clarissa?”

Clarissa curtsied. “Greetings, Your Highness. I brought the item you requested from the Librarian.” She presented the box to me.

I gently accepted it. This item was valuable to the kingdom, or to be precise, the scroll was. So I had to be careful. Well, it was in a box, but it was just my princess instinct to take care of valuable items. “Thank you. I didn’t expect you’d be the one to bring it. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

She smiled. “Yes. I have been studying in the library whenever I have the time. So the Librarian asked me to deliver the item.”

“Diligent, I’m impressed.”

She shyly giggled. “It is a privilege to have access to a sea of knowledge. A lot of people in the city would be jealous that I get to read books from the palace library itself.”

I supposed that in this kind of world, where it was a kind of medieval or whatever, knowledge was not easily accessible. The library was open to servants of the palace, where they could read to their heart’s content. But of course, not everyone was a reader. But there were a few.

I smiled. “That’s the purpose of the library, for people to read books. Were you not scared of the Librarian?”

“... W-Well, I was terrified at first. I never imagined that such a being would exist in the palace.” Well, it was only one of the many abominations. “But I’m slowly getting used to it. It wasn’t so bad once you got to talk with it, it’s very helpful.”

I nodded. “A lot of creatures here appear quite terrifying, but there is a reason they are out and about. They are sentient and serve the kingdom. So you’ll be safe with them.” They were pretty much the ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ type of thing.

However, to think that a commoner like Clarissa would still stay long in that library and interact with that eldritch horror, and even say it wasn’t too bad. She was either brave or had a little loose screw herself. One of the reasons that many people didn’t go to the library, or stay long to study, was because of the monster. Would you be comfortable if a terrifying monster were floating in the air, moving around you? Yeah…

“I understand, Princess.”

“What were you studying in the library?”

She smiled. “Many things! Science, physics, history, or just mundane things like cooking.”

“Those sound complicated.”

She enthusiastically nodded. “But they were very interesting. Some I couldn’t understand, but some they explained very well.”

I said it was complicated, but I learned about those as the princess. And that was with teachers… So I was just being humble.

“That’s good. Knowledge is an essential part of life. It is great that you seek it.” I recalled seeing a recipe book back on my visit to the library. Could it be her? “Cooking, have you been learning new recipes, perhaps?”

“Yes!”

“So how’s the result?”

“I never imagined those kinds of dishes could even exist. And the amount of ingredients I could get here, it is pure bliss. We have so many ingredients we can use for practice, so I’ve been making amazing progress.”

Was that how it was? I was not quite aware of how it worked on the servants’ part. But I suppose it was nice we let them practice as much as they wanted. Perhaps that was why the cuisines here were pretty good.

I had been thinking, Clarissa seemed like a nice person. She might be good to bring along during the ritual. We also needed to bring some servants after all.

“That’s good to hear. Keep on practicing, Clarissa. Also, perhaps it’s best if you learn dishes to cook when out camping out there in the wilderness or outside the city, or when in a place where we have limited ingredients.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure if you know, but we royals go to perform the Moon Blessing Ritual annually.”

“Oh, yes! I heard about that.”

“I’m about to have mine. And you should tag along.”

Her eyes widened. “Eh? Me?”

“Yes. You will be with other servants to help us.”

“O-Of course, Princess! I’ll do my best!”

I nodded. “Excellent.” She was an interesting person, a hard worker. She reminded me of myself back on Earth.

I approached the table and placed the wooden container on it.

“What is it, Princess? If I may ask.”

I smiled at her. “It’s a secret. Apologies, but you shouldn’t see this. You may go, Clarissa.”

“Ah, um, of course. Take care, Your Highness.” She bowed her head.

I nodded. “Until next time.”

With that, she left the room and closed the door. With the room cleared, I opened the wooden box, and inside was a well-preserved scroll. It didn’t even look ‌a year old. I carefully picked up the scroll and gently opened it.

Written inside were the instructions, the prayer or words to say, and some symbols. Symbols or sigils were important when communing with the divine in this world. Just like the symbol I had to draw with blood to get a class. And this one here was for using my power and the divine to bless the land and improve the harvest.

I had quite forgotten the symbols a bit needed for the ritual, as they were not only one. And during casting, I would have to switch to each one until the last symbol. I read the entire scroll, refreshing my memory of this.

Huh, it should be simple enough.

I was particularly memorizing the symbols once again. That was where I might actually mess up. When I was done, I returned the scroll back to its box. I might need to check it again if I mess up, but I must ensure its safety lest I get an earful from my family.

After closing the box, I walked over to the center of the chamber. I took a deep breath. The thing about doing training for this ritual was not to verbally speak the incantation. No one would want to cast the real thing here where it wouldn’t be used, it would be a waste. And such rituals were sacred, it would be rude to the divine if they were actually used for training. Therefore, I had to say the words in my thoughts.

I clasped my hands together as if in prayer, and I lowered my head with closed eyes.

O divine hand shining in the night, being of the moon that lit up the darkness with its light, I call upon thee.

I parted my hands and started to slowly wave them in the air as I released my mana. Threads of red light appeared in the air, and they followed my hand. They slowly took shape into a symbol. I could feel the warmth of magic before me as my eyes were closed.

May the stars of the cosmos give their blessings upon the soil like gentle rain, crown the nurtured fields with ripened grain.

I held out my palm forward, the symbol now complete, and it disappeared into glowing dust in the air. Another set of glowing red threads appeared in the air, forming into shape.

Shining moon, I pray to you. With your holy breath, blow away the hand of death. Bless the seeds and protect the roots, raise the stalk and color the fruits.

I pushed the magical symbol forward, and it vanished into dust. Another set of threads appeared, gradually forming into another symbol.

O Great Hand of the heavens, heed my prayer. Grant your faithful a harvest so rich and wide. Let hunger’s curse be turned aside.

The symbol formed, and I pushed it forward, and it dissipated.

By your divine hand the harvest flows, and in your endless light may the bounty grow.

I spread out my hand, and a vast number of red threads appeared and spread out in the air. And the threads formed into symbols that revolved around me, including the ones I had already made, and new ones. They revolved around me like how the celestial objects revolved around their parent planets or suns.

I opened my eyes and looked up at what I had done. I must say, it was quite a spectacle. But this was just the bare bones. The real thing might be a bit harder. Well, at least I didn’t fail ‌the training. I dispelled the magic, and all symbols disappeared.

I let out a sigh.

I really didn’t have much time for this. But I should practice a couple more times. After that, I could get back to my puppets.