Chapter 51: Down-to-Earth Ritual Magic

Chapter Fifty-One
Down-to-Earth Ritual Magic

Use magic to resolve a bill?

Is he going to directly curse the creditor to death, or forge banknotes?

I may not be able to solve the problem, but I can solve you?

…

All kinds of thoughts leapt through Klein’s mind. The way he looked at Old Neil grew a little strange.

He seriously considered the possibility of calling the police—no, of reporting him to the Nighthawk team.

Old Neil glanced at him and said irritably, “From your eyes, I see ignorance. I see stupidity. I see a thin and shameful lack of trust. Did Dunn not tell you the motto of Mystery Pryers? Do what thou wilt, but harm none!”

“Although this maxim first spread from within a hidden, evil organization, the Moses Ascetic Order, Beyonders who choose the Mystery Pryer path have all proved its correctness through their own experience. As long as one strictly observes it and remains filled with reverence, the risk of losing control will fall to a minimum. The reverse inference is equally true.”

“Your suspicion is an insult to me, and to all Mystery Pryers!”

“I am sorry,” Klein apologized without hesitation.

He had indeed forgotten that Dunn Smith had once mentioned this maxim.

Old Neil was not truly angry. In the blink of an eye, he smiled again.

“A pity. Too few Beyonders choose Seer, so there is no corresponding maxim to help you.”

But I have Emperor Roselle’s diary… Mm. Strictly observing a maxim itself carries the flavor of “acting”…

A connection suddenly formed in Klein’s mind, and he nodded as if thinking.

Old Neil said no more. He removed the vase and other objects from the heavy round table and placed them in the corner.

Immediately afterward, while taking out a crimson candle and a deep-black candle from the small silver box, he casually explained, “If ordinary people wish to attempt ritual magic, they must choose an appropriate date and an appropriate time according to astrology or relevant manuals. For example, Sunday symbolizes the Goddess, and the moon hours ruled by Her. But for us Beyonders—especially Beyonders skilled in this area—these are not necessary. Our vigorous spirituality and powerful Astral Bodies are the key factors.

“Of course, if you are not certain about the ritual magic you want to attempt, choosing a suitable date and time can effectively increase the chance of success.

“Ah, right. There is one premise you must remember and strictly obey!”

Old Neil set the two candles down, turned sideways, looked at Klein, and spoke with great seriousness.

“Low-sequence Beyonders are not yet strong enough. Almost all the ritual magic they can perform involves praying to external forces and requesting help. Therefore, you may only consider orthodox deities such as the Goddess and the Lord of Storms. Absolutely, absolutely never attempt to communicate with unknown, unpredictable existences—even if they have worshippers, even if the recorded promises sound endlessly tempting.

“Believe me. Do not think yourself lucky. Once you have tried it even once, you will inevitably slide toward the abyss. Every effort, every struggle, can only slow that descent. None can reverse it.”

“I will remember it!” Klein answered in a deep voice, though inwardly he felt somewhat guilty.

His own “luck-changing ritual” seemed to have prayed for power from some unknown, unpredictable existence…

And he had truly obtained a power that even the Hanged Man, an experienced Beyonder, found unbelievable: the power to pull them above the gray fog. Mm, the Hanged Man should indeed be an experienced Beyonder…

Fortunately, I am not mad yet, nor showing signs of losing control…

Worried about this matter, he took the initiative to change the topic.

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

“If you wish to pray to the Lord of Storms, no one will stop you. It is merely that He may not respond, or may respond with malice. That would twist the result of our ritual magic in an unpredictable direction,” Old Neil said jokingly, successfully dispelling Klein’s last traces of wishful thinking.

There was no such thing as “best.” There was only “must”!

After finishing the warning, Old Neil picked up the crimson candle.

“Candles made from moon flowers, deep crimson sandalwood, and similar materials symbolize the Goddess’s identity as the Lady of Crimson in ritual magic.”

Then he pointed at the deep-black candle.

“Candles made from night vanilla, deep-sleep flowers, and so forth symbolize the night.”

As he spoke, he placed the black candle on the upper left of the round table and the crimson candle on the upper right.

Klein immediately asked, “Why are there only two candles symbolizing the Goddess? She is also the Mother of Concealment, the Empress of Misfortune and Horror, the Mistress of Repose and Silence.”

Old Neil laughed.

“Good. That is the question I hoped you would ask.

“Before its fall, the Moses Ascetic Order had a very good relationship with the Church. Some of its ideas and achievements in ritual magic deeply influenced us.

“They believed that all things were numbers, and every number possessed spirituality. In ritual magic, zero represents the unknown and chaos, symbolizing the state before the birth of the world. One indicates beginning and represents the original Creator. Two symbolizes the world and the gods born from His body. Three represents the gods touching matter, and all things taking form. Here, two candles symbolize the Goddess, leaving the third for ourselves.

“Which two candles, which two symbols, must be chosen according to the effect the ritual magic itself hopes to achieve.”

Three gives birth to all things? All things are three?

Klein could not help remembering certain things he had encountered in his previous life.

Seeing that he was listening attentively, Old Neil picked up the third candle.

“This is the candle symbolizing ‘me.’ It is an ordinary candle, only with a little mint added. Remember: roses, lemons, mint, moon flowers, night vanilla, deep-sleep flowers, and plants of that sort are all beloved and favored by the Goddess.

“In another sense, the three candles also symbolize each person’s flesh, spirituality, and divinity.”

After explaining, Old Neil placed the third candle at the center of the round table.

Next, he took out the prepared “full moon essence oil,” a cauldron engraved with the Sacred Emblem of Darkness, a silver knife with elaborate patterns, a cup of clean water, and a small dish of coarse salt.

“For Beyonders not skilled in ritual magic, this stage would also require auxiliary items such as bells, crystal balls, silver cups, and incense. But Mystery Pryers and Seers do not need them. These tools are enough.”

Old Neil placed the imitation parchment drawn with the bill beside the cauldron at the lower part of the table, then pressed one corner down with a special feather pen.

Turning slightly toward Klein, he said, “Ritual magic requires a clean spiritual environment where no one can disturb you. We must create that environment ourselves. The method is to first enter meditation and accumulate mental focus. Then, by relying on auxiliary objects, we guide our own power outward and construct it around us. For instance, the Holy Night Powder I used at Ray Bieber’s home, or the ritual silver dagger I am about to use.

“Throughout the process, we must choose symbolic signs and corresponding incantations according to the result we want. Incantations are best written in Hermes. Ancient Hermes originated from nature, much like ancient dragon language and ancient elven language. Its effects are very direct, lacking necessary concealment and protection, and can easily lead the user into danger. That is why it was improved. Even so, it is indeed more effective.

“All right. I am going to concentrate on the ritual magic. I will not continue explaining. Watch and listen carefully. Note down your questions and ask me once everything is finished.”

“All right.”

Klein took two steps back and watched Old Neil with full attention.

Old Neil’s eyes swiftly deepened, and invisible wind began circling around him.

After a moment of silence, he used the friction between spirit and matter to light the three candles in order: from left to right, from top to bottom.

Then he picked up the silver knife, inserted it into the coarse salt, and began reciting an 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 Lady of Crimson,

“You are sanctified!”

After those short, powerful ancient words, Old Neil drew out the silver knife and inserted it into the cup of clean water. Then he lifted it and pointed it toward the space outside the round table.

He aimed the tip of the knife at the outer ring and began walking around the round table. With every step he took, Klein could feel an invisible power surging from the silver knife. It was filled with spirituality, connecting with the air and forming a sealed wall.

After one full circle, the place of the altar was isolated from the surroundings.

Old Neil returned to stand before the table, set down the silver knife, picked up the bottle of full moon essence oil, and dripped three drops each onto the black, crimson, and ordinary candles.

Hiss!

Thin mist spread outward. Everything seemed to grow mysterious.

Old Neil set the glass bottle down, silently gazed at the imitation parchment for two minutes, then took up the feather pen and drew a symbol of control upon the “bill”: a square enclosing all the contents, signifying that he himself controlled the debt.

Next, he drew a cross over it, indicating elimination.

At this point, he held the imitation parchment in one hand, lifted the other to tap the space between his brows, and activated spirit vision.

Once again, an invisible yet vigorous power bloomed. Old Neil chanted in a low voice:

“I pray for the power of the night;

“I pray for the power of crimson;

“I pray for the Goddess’s favor;

“I pray for the funds that will pay this bill.

“Night vanilla, herb belonging to the red moon, please pass your strength into my incantation!

“Moon flower, herb belonging to the red moon, please pass your strength into my incantation!

“…”

Klein stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded. His mind filled with thoughts colliding against one another:

This kind of incantation works too?

Although it is written and spoken in Hermes…

Isn’t this far too direct, too plain, too grounded?

Will the Goddess become angry and double the bill?

Just then, the candle flames abruptly brightened.

Old Neil finished reciting, closed his eyes for two minutes, then picked up the full moon essence oil and dripped one more drop onto each of the three candles.

Immediately afterward, he took hold of the imitation parchment and brought it near the candle symbolizing “me.” Once it caught fire, he immediately tossed it into the cauldron.

Old Neil closed his eyes once more, as though feeling the bill burn.

After a while, his eyes opened. He looked toward the cauldron engraved with the black sacred emblem and saw that the imitation parchment had burned completely, leaving only ash.

“Praise the Goddess!”

Old Neil tapped his chest four times, drawing the crimson moon. Then he extinguished the candles in the reverse order of the beginning.

Once all this was done, he picked up the silver knife and pierced the invisible wall around them.

After a sudden wind swept through the room, Old Neil visibly relaxed.

“Done.”

“That is it?” Klein asked in astonishment. “The bill is resolved? How?”

“I do not know. In short, it will be resolved, in a reasonable way.”

Old Neil spread his hands and smiled.

This…

Klein did not know what expression or words to use in response.

Isn’t this a bit unreliable?

Note:
The ritual magic in this chapter is adapted from Wiccan magic texts.