Free Web NovelChapter 47: The Heart-Blood Ritual (2)
It was an incredibly embarrassing moment, and yet, for some reason, Maeve felt a little happy. After all, it meant Ikarus truly liked her.
Or maybe men in this world simply got an erection whenever they saw a naked woman.
[You can’t be jealous over nothing, Host!] Pinky suddenly scolded her.
Maeve blinked several times. ’I-I’m not jealous over nothing!’ she quickly argued in her mind.
Still, her face felt a little warm, but thankfully, she didn’t have much time to think about it because Takra spoke again.
"The ritual we’re about to perform is actually quite simple," he said. "But it is also very painful."
His expression became more serious as he looked at Maeve. "We will do everything we can to lessen the pain, but in the end, we won’t be able to make it disappear completely."
The closer they got to the ritual, the more nervous Maeve became. Without realizing it, she wrapped her arms around herself. Maybe she was looking for a little comfort, or maybe she simply didn’t want Ikarus staring at her too much while she was naked.
"Once he injects his blood into your heart, everything must be done immediately," Takra continued. "We cannot stop halfway through the ritual." His voice grew heavier. "Because if we do, you will die."
Maeve held her breath the moment she heard those last words. For now, she very much preferred not to die.
"Our bond has become stronger after we tied our souls together," Ikarus said. "That is why I believe we can complete this ritual successfully."
He looked at her and added softly, "You only need to trust me."
For some reason, those simple words eased some of the fear in Maeve’s chest.
A few moments later, she and Ikarus sat cross-legged in the center of the chamber after he carefully pushed Takra’s coffin to the side.
The air around them suddenly felt colder and Maeve guessed it was because the ghosts had gathered around them.
"Place your hands on your knees," Takra instructed. "And close your eyes."
Maeve did exactly as she was told. She straightened her back and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
"Right now, you only need to listen to my voice," Takra said. "If your body starts to hurt, you are free to scream or cry. But no matter what happens, you must not move from where you’re sitting. Do you understand?"
Maeve swallowed before nodding. "I understand."
"Good," Takra said immediately. "Then we will begin the ritual."
Maeve’s heart was beating so fast that she could hear every thump clearly in her ears.
The closer the ritual came, the more nervous she felt. Then, little by little, she felt cold hands resting against her back.
She nearly flinched because it felt as though several people were standing behind her, gently supporting her body.
"Don’t be afraid," Takra reminded her. "We’re only trying to help you."
Maeve nodded again and a few seconds later, she suddenly felt something sharp press against the skin over her chest.
It felt like being pricked by a needle. At first, it was barely noticeable, but the moment that sharp sensation pushed deeper into her body, a cold sweat immediately broke out across Maeve’s skin.
She clenched her fists tightly and bit her lower lip. The ancestors were already doing everything they could to lessen the pain, yet it was still almost unbearable.
[Ding! Ding!]
[Side Mission has been triggered!]
Oh wow... Pinky really had no sense of timing when it came to giving her new tasks.
[Side Mission: Endure the Heart-Blood Ritual.]
[Condition: Stay awake until the ritual is completed.]
[Reward: Pain Resistance +20%]
Maeve nearly cried when she received that mission.
Seriously? Why did she have to go through this unbearable pain just to increase her pain tolerance?!
It made no sense at all.
Still, she didn’t exactly have the option of passing out in the middle of the ritual. If she lost consciousness now, there was a very real chance she would never wake up again.
"Just scream as loud as you want," Ikarus said. The worry in his voice was impossible to miss. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hold her or comfort her the way he normally would because he had to focus on injecting his blood little by little. "It might help."
The moment he said that, Maeve stopped holding back and a loud scream escaped her lips. If she was going to suffer anyway, she might as well let everyone hear it.
Honestly, while enduring the pain, she couldn’t help wondering why Axan and Cerus weren’t allowed to stay inside the chamber.
Their presence alone would probably make her feel a little less miserable.
[They can’t, Host.] Pinky suddenly spoke up.
[At a critical moment like this, your body can’t be touched carelessly. Even a small mistake could cause the ritual to fail. That’s why Takra asked them to leave the chamber.]
Maeve could only let out a tired sigh after hearing Pinky’s explanation. She was also certain that either Cerus or Axan would have rushed over to her if they were still inside the chamber, and they probably would have made everything worse.
This damn ritual was truly making her miserable, but if she didn’t go through with it, she would die.
Compared to death, a few hours of pain was the better choice. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
In the end, all Maeve could do was endure the pain.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Her entire body trembled, sweat soaked her skin, and yet no matter how much it hurt, she refused to move from her spot.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms as she fought through the pain with everything she had.
"The more blood that enters your heart, the more pain you will feel," Takra said. "Prepare yourself."
Maeve almost laughed. Prepare herself? How was she supposed to prepare for something like this?
Before she could even think of an answer, another wave of pain crashed through her body. frёeωebɳovel.com
"AHH—!" Her scream echoed throughout the chamber.
