The Price of Knowledge

They moved through the crowd, finally arriving at the front rows to better observe the holy rite of initiation. In the stone-covered square stood a wooden stage, roughly the height of a table. People were excitedly chatting, talking about the holiday, discussing the arrangements for the festival this evening, and wondering how many new pupils will join them as a full-fledged devotees. Then suddenly a man in a wide and high hat appeared, and everyone fell silent. The man wore an intricate multilayered robe and a black mask with golden smile drawn in place of his mouth. As he walked on the stage, black and white layers with gold embroidery covered each other, making it hard to discern his movements. Pairs of priests and priestesses in their monotone black and white robes were following in his wake. In their hands they carried golden and silver-looking orbs, polished to mirror finish.

"You might not recognise him, but it is the Bishop of Ravenloft you saw yesterday." Said Father Gregor. "In public you can only see him in his ceremonial attire. If you want to study how they condense the Mana Pool in other people, it is the best time to prepare for action."

"It is a fine day for such a significant holiday!" Cheerfully said the Bishop, his powerful voice spreading across the crowd, a wave of excited murmurs agreeing with him. "Today, in a birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Aria Ashbourne! Let us thank the Twins for the long live of the Queen!" Another wave eagerly praised the skies. "Now, as the tradition goes, I invite a new wave of young devotees onto the stage. While everyone is gathering, I together with priests of the Ravenloft prepare for the rite."

People were already prepared for that, and every twelve-year-old was already at the foot of the podium, nervously clinging to their parent. They were helped up by the deacons, shuffling around and bringing the items for the rite. In the middle stood a podium for the Bishop, on which laid a book with golden frame, and a small plate with two dips for black and white paint. Bishop began reciting the holy passage related to the gift of magic and the gift of kindness, while Priests were arranging the ritual. Deacons set up stands across the stage in a symmetrical pattern, similar to a star, and priests put their metal orbs on top, sometimes correcting the position and height of the shiny spheres.

Overall, around two dozens of teenagers gathered on the stage. Deacons prepared black and white tiaras with golden marbles embedded on top. As all boys and girls wore their respectively coloured jewelleries, they were led inside the inner circle, orbs surrounding them like a wall. As priests formed a circle around the ritual and everyone was ready, deacons walked down the stage and looked up along with the townsfolk.

"Seems like everyone is ready! Let us start. Ahem." Bishop prepared, and started reciting the rite incantation, almost singing at times, as priests were solemnly standing around him and repeat some words, following his rhythm. "As the divine power of mana courses through our veins, the Mythos and Mythra guide us..."

Sirius felt the pull. His trauma has completely healed, and now he could appreciate the powerful wave of mana, that people around him released into the environment. The air seemed to shimmer a bit, as priests lifted their hands into the air, taking some of the energy around them and pass it into the orbs. Now Sirius understood the hidden meaning of those spheres, as priests pushed more and more energy into golden spheres on the rim of the ritual. To an ordinary person they looked like praising the gods, as they repeatedly lifted their arms up, and pulled them down, but Sirius knew they pulled the energy towards them. As the crowd released more and more mana, and orbs began dimly shining, the preparations came to the end.

"... Praised be the Divine Twins!" Concluded the Bishop. After that he calmly instructed the children around him. "I will invite you one by one into the center, and ask you your name to announce to the people, fine?" As he received the round of nods, he continued. "I will ask you to take a deep breath and touch your forehead and waist, so please don't be afraid when I do so. You will feel a lightheaded and a bit of burning in your chest, it is normal, but please don't breathe out, or we must start again." Determined looking teens nodded in response. "Who wants to be first?" He cheerfully asked, trying to calm down nervous kids.

It seemed, a girl to the left of him was the bravest among them, as she took a small step forward.

"What is your name, my dear?" Asked the Bishop, inviting her into the center.

"Laura, Your Holiness... Laura Wholestead."

"It is fine, Laura, I appreciate your bravery. Please stay here."

Bishop put his right thumb on her forehead, right between her brows, and carefully placed his other hand on her diaphragm. After that, priests began reciting the passage, but Sirius paid no attention to them. As they did so, mana in the orbs began stirring and moving, splashing around and making metal vibrate. At priests' will the mana began radiating inside the circle, reaching the second and third ring of silver spheres, as they carefully directed it. Sirius finally understood why he found it familiar. The golden rim gathered energy, silver spheres were focus points, colliding mana in correct proportions and purifying it, making it more dense and cohesive. As the steady streams reached the inner golden circle, the mana was smooth and pleasant, free of rash and unpredictable nature. All that was one crude and large circle diagram, directed by a dozen of people around, using orbs of pure gold and silver to concentrate the energy and bring it inside the inner ring, where the Bishop took it in his grasp. As he brought it near the girl, the air sparkled from the dense energy. Then he calmly said.

"Take a deep breath and don't release until I say so. It shouldn't be long."

The girl inhaled the shimmering air and almost coughed, but managed to hold it in. Her body was filled with mana to the brim, and it began searching for a place to escape, but Bishop's hand on her abdomen pulled it in a small ball. Sirius felt a small wave spreading in the environment, as mana collapsed under the pressure.

"From now on Laura Wholestead shall be called Pupil Laura." Loudly announced the bishop, removing his hands. As he used his two fingers to paint two vertical stripes on her forehead, he added. "You can breathe out."