Chapter 51: Down-to-Earth Ritual Magic

Chapter 51: Down-to-Earth Ritual Magic

Solve bills with magic?

Was he supposed to curse the creditor to death, or forge banknotes?

*I can't solve the problem, but I can solve you?*

...

Various thoughts leaped through Klein's mind, and the way he looked at Old Neil became somewhat strange.

He seriously considered calling the police—no, the possibility of reporting it to the Nighthawks squad.

Old Neil shot him a glance and said irritably

"In your eyes, I see ignorance, I see stupidity, and I see a weak and shameful trust. Did Dunn not tell you the motto of the Seer? Do as you wish, but do no harm!"

"Although this motto originally emerged from within a secretive and evil organization called the 'Moses Hermetic Order,' Beyonders who choose the 'Seer' pathway have proven its correctness through their own experience. As long as you strictly abide by it and act with awe, the risk of losing control will be minimized. The inverse inference holds true as well."

"Your suspicion is an insult to me, and to the Seers!"

"I'm sorry," Klein apologized without hesitation.

He had indeed forgotten the motto that Dunn Smith had once mentioned.

Old Neil wasn't truly angry; he soon smiled and said

"It's a pity that too few Beyonders choose the 'Divination' pathway, so there are no corresponding mottos to help you."

*But I have Emperor Roselle's diary... Hmm, strictly abiding by a motto itself has the flavor of 'acting'...* Klein's thoughts drifted, and he nodded as if in deep contemplation.

Old Neil said no more. He took the vase and other items from the heavy round table and placed them in a corner.

Immediately after, while taking out a crimson and a deep black candle from a small silver box, he explained casually

"If an ordinary person wants to attempt ritual magic, they must select a suitable date and time based on astrological results or by consulting corresponding manuals—for example, Sunday, which symbolizes the Goddess, or the Moon, which is ruled by Her. But for us Beyonders, especially those skilled in this field, these are not necessary. Our abundant spirituality and our powerful astral bodies are the most critical elements."

"Of course, if you are unsure about the ritual magic you wish to attempt, choosing a suitable date and time can effectively increase the success rate."

"Ah, right, there is one prerequisite that you must keep in mind and strictly obey!"

Old Neil placed the two candles down, turned his body toward Klein, and said very seriously

"Low-sequence Beyonders are not powerful enough in themselves. Almost all ritual magic performed is a plea for power or help from the external world. Therefore, you can only consider orthodox deities like the Goddess or the Lord of Storms. Absolutely, absolutely do not attempt to communicate with unknown and unpredictable existences, even if people worship them, and even if the recorded promises are full of temptation!"

"Believe me, do not harbor any wishful thinking. Once you try it just once, you will inevitably slide into the abyss. All efforts and all struggles can only delay the speed; they cannot reverse the trend."

"I will keep it in mind!" Klein answered in a low voice, though his heart felt a surge of trepidation.

His "Luck-Changing Ritual" seemed to be a plea for power from some unknown and unpredictable existence...

And he had truly obtained power that even a veteran Beyonder like "The Hanged Man" would find unbelievable—the power to pull them above the gray fog. *Well, he should be a veteran Beyonder...*

*Fortunately, I haven't gone mad yet, and there are no signs of losing control...*

Worried about this, he proactively changed the subject

"So, it is best for the Nighthawks to request help from the Goddess?"

"If you want to pray to the Lord of Storms, no one will stop you, but He might not respond, or He might respond with malice, which would cause the results of our ritual magic to twist in unpredictable directions." Old Neil successfully dispelled Klein's wishful thinking with a joke.

There was no such thing as "best," only "must"!

Having finished his instructions, Old Neil picked up the crimson candle and said

"Candles made from Moonflowers, deep red sandalwood, etc., symbolize the Goddess's identity as the Crimson Lord in ritual magic."

He then pointed to the deep black candle

"Candles made from Nightshade, Deep Sleep flowers, etc., symbolize the Night."

As he spoke, he placed the black one at the upper left of the round table and the red one at the upper right.

"Why are there only two candles symbolizing the Goddess, when She is also the Mother of Mystery, the Queen of Calamity and Fear, and the Lord of Rest and Silence?"

Old Neil chuckled

"Not bad, that is the question I hoped you would ask."

"Before their fall, the relationship between the Moses Hermetic Order and the Church was very good. Some of their concepts and achievements in ritual magic deeply influenced us."

"They believed that all things are numbers, and every number possesses spirituality. In ritual magic, 0 represents the unknown and chaos, symbolizing the state before the birth of the world; 1 represents the beginning, representing the original Creator; 2 symbolizes the world and the various gods born from His body; 3 represents the contact between gods and matter, where all things take shape. Here, we use two candles to symbolize the Goddess, leaving the third for ourselves."

"Which two candles to use and which two symbols to employ depends on the effect the ritual magic intends to achieve."

*Three creates all things? All things are three?* Klein couldn't help but think of things he had encountered in his previous life.

Seeing that he was listening intently, Old Neil took the third candle and said

"This is the candle symbolizing 'Me.' It is a very ordinary candle, just with a bit of mint added. Remember, plants like roses, lemons, mint, moonflowers, nightshade, and deep sleep flowers are all favored and blessed by the Goddess."

"On another level, the three candles also symbolize a person's flesh, spirituality, and divinity."

Having finished his description, Old Neil placed the third candle in the very center of the round table.

He then successively took out prepared "Full Moon Essential Oil," a large cauldron engraved with a dark holy symbol, a small silver knife with ornate patterns, a cup of clear water, and a dish of coarse salt.

"For Beyonders who are not skilled in ritual magic, items such as bells, crystal balls, silver cups, and incense are needed as aids. But Seers and Diviners do not need them; these implements are sufficient."

Old Neil placed the faux-parchment paper with the bill drawn on it beside the cauldron at the bottom center, weighting one corner with a special quill.

He turned to Klein and said

"Ritual magic requires a clean, undisturbed spiritual environment, and this must be created by ourselves. The method is to first enter meditation to accumulate mental strength, and then use auxiliary items to guide our power out and construct it around us. For example, the 'Holy Night Powder' I used at Riel Bieber's house, or the ritual silver dagger I am about to use."

"Throughout the entire process, we must determine the symbolic signs and corresponding incantations based on the desired outcome. It is best to use Hermes for the incantations. Because Ancient Hermes originates from nature, similar to Ancient Dragon or Ancient Elven languages, its effects are very direct, but it lacks necessary concealment and protection, making it easy for the user to fall into danger. This is why it was improved, though it is indeed more effective."

"Alright, I need to concentrate on the ritual magic now and won't explain further. Watch and listen closely, and note down any questions. You can ask me once everything is finished."

"Understood." Klein took two steps back and watched Old Neil intently.

Old Neil's eyes quickly darkened, and an invisible wind began to swirl around him.

After a moment of silence, following the order from left to right and top to bottom, he used his spirit to friction against the material, lighting the three candles one by one.

Then, he picked up the small silver knife, plunged it into the coarse salt, and recited the incantation written in Hermes

"I sanctify you, blade of pure silver!"

"I cleanse and purify you, that you may serve me in this ritual!"

...

"In the name of the Evernight Goddess, the Crimson Lord,"

"You are sanctified!"

After a series of short, powerful ancient words, Old Neil withdrew the silver knife, plunged it into the cup of clear water, lifted it, and pointed it toward the space outside the round table.

He aimed the tip of the knife at the outer perimeter, then began to walk around the table. With every step, Klein could feel an invisible force erupting from the silver knife; it was full of spirituality, connecting with the air to form a sealed wall.

After one full circle, the altar area was isolated from its surroundings.

Old Neil stood in front of the round table, set down the silver knife, picked up the bottle of "Full Moon Essential Oil," and dropped three drops each onto the black, crimson, and ordinary candles.

*Sizzle!*

A thin mist drifted, and everything seemed to become mysterious.

Old Neil set down the glass bottle, looked at the faux-parchment, and remained silent for two minutes. Then, he took the quill and drew the symbol of control on the "bill"—a square enclosing all the content, signifying that one had controlled the debt.

Next, he drew an "X," signifying elimination.

At this point, holding the faux-parchment in one hand and tapping his brow with the other, he opened his Spirit Vision.

Another surge of invisible, vigorous power erupted, and Old Neil chanted in a low voice

"I pray to the power of the Night;"

"I pray to the power of the Crimson;"

"I pray for the Goddess's grace;"

"Praying to bring me the funds to pay this bill."

"O Nightshade, herb of the Red Moon, please transmit power to my incantation!"

"O Moonflower, herb of the Red Moon, please transmit power to my incantation!"

...

Klein, listening from the side, was utterly dumbfounded, his mind racing with various thoughts

*Incantations like that work?*

*Even though they are written and recited in Hermes...*

*Isn't this a bit too direct, too plain, and too down-to-earth?*

*Will the Goddess be angered and double the bill?*

At that moment, the candlelight suddenly flared brightly!

Having finished his recitation, Old Neil closed his eyes for two minutes, picked up the "Full Moon Essential Oil," and dropped one more drop onto each of the three candles.

Immediately after, he grabbed the faux-parchment, brought it close to the candle symbolizing "Me," and as soon as it caught fire, tossed it into the cauldron.

Old Neil closed his eyes once more, seemingly sensing the burning of the bill.

After a while, he opened his eyes and looked toward the cauldron with the black holy symbol. The faux-parchment had burned completely, leaving only ashes.

"Praise the Goddess!" Old Neil tapped his chest four times, forming the shape of a crimson moon, and then extinguished the candles in the reverse order of how they were lit.

Having finished all this, he took the silver knife and punctured the invisible wall surrounding them.

After a sudden gust of wind, Old Neil visibly breathed a sigh of relief and said

"Done."

"That's it?" Klein asked in astonishment. "The bill is solved? How was it solved?"

"I don't know either. In any case, it will be resolved, in a reasonable manner," Old Neil said with a shrug and a smile.

*This...* Klein didn't know what expression or words to use to respond.

*Is this a bit unreliable?*

Note 1: The magic in this chapter is adapted from the Wiccan Book of Shadows.

(End of Chapter)