章 10: First Ritual

I began my descent along the path leading to the cave where Anarion lay resting. Over the past two months, Anarion and I had embarked on numerous flights, allowing him to stretch his wings while I honed my dragon-riding skills. As I drew near, his snores filled the air, yet I was certain Anarion was aware of my presence. Perhaps he feigned sleep, preferring not to leave the comfort of his cave or this fish-abundant island.

As I informed him, we're not leaving Skagos; we're merely relocating to the volcano. His eyes snapped open, and he began to emit joyful growls, indicating his pleasure with this decision. I simply shook my head at his antics. Afterwards, I inspected the injuries he sustained during his battle with Sheepstealer. While his underbelly injuries have healed completely, the tears in his wings have not yet closed. It seems it will take some time for them to heal unless I find a way to expedite the process. Once seated atop the saddle, we began our journey towards the volcano.

*****

Upon reaching the volcano, we began our descent. Anarion pursued the cave he had discovered, while I took the path leading into the volcano. As I delved deeper, the temperature rose, and I observed the black, shiny, jagged rock. In Valyria, dragon glass was utilized for various purposes.

After a long absence, I entered a volcanic cavern where the heat was intense yet bearable. The chamber walls were adorned with glowing magma veins, casting a gentle, fiery glow on the stone floor. The air, thick with the scent of sulfur and warmth, made the magma feel surprisingly welcoming. Having lived in the cold for two months, stepping into this cavern felt like returning home after a lengthy time away.

As time passed, I began to adapt the cavern to my needs. Once that was done, I ventured into the volcano to familiarize myself with the place I would call home for eight moons. During my exploration of the volcano, nothing caught my interest except for the lava I encountered. It was so profound that all I could perceive was the light and heat. Dragon glass was scattered everywhere, which was fortunate for me as I would need it for my rituals and various other purposes.

Without wasting time, I draw my Valyrian sword and begin to strike at the magma veins. I need magma for the first ritual I am to perform. Having collected the magma into the stone bowl I crafted, reinforced with preserving, heat-resistant, and endurance-enhancing runes forming a rune cluster, I proceed to gather the other ingredients and tools required for the ritual.

Having gathered all the necessary ingredients and tools, I began to verify each one to ensure nothing was missing. Arrayed before me were Magma Essence, a Dragon Glass Dagger, and Cinder Dust. Magma Essence is liquid magma drawn from a volcano, the Dragon Glass Dagger's hilt is entwined with vine from an island, and Cinder Dust is finely ground ash from the volcano's core. These are all the components required for the ritual.

The ritual I am about to undertake is designed to enhance the flow of magical energy within me, thus creating a more effective channel for my power and possibly unlocking latent abilities inherent in my Valyrian lineage. However, I harbor no expectations of awakening dormant powers, as this ritual is a basic one, executable with ingredients found in the wild. Despite this, with the essence of blank, my potential could become boundless, but to achieve this, I must realize my full potential, and an increased flow of magic would be of great assistance, allowing my magic to transfer seamlessly from my body to my wand.

As I sit at the center of the chamber, the magma veins cast an eerie glow around me. I remove my upper garments, exposing my skin to the cavern's heat. With Cinder Dust, I begin to draw runes and glyphs along my arms, chest, and forehead, targeting areas where magical energy naturally flows. I carefully anoint the Obsidian Dagger with Magma Essence, making the blade hum with energy. Then, I make shallow cuts along the rune lines, allowing the essence to mingle with my blood. Throughout the process, I feel no pain.

After completing the process of making cuts, I waited for the magma to seep into them. Now comes the crucial part: I must chant correctly as it will guide the flow of magic through the newly opened channels in my body. As the magma began to disappear, I started chanting in High Valyrian.

"Nēdenka zaldrīzes, drīve naejot

Ergon īlva vēzos, hāedrȳ īlon tīmptos

Eneron gevivāzmi, perzō vēdros īles

Issan jāhor, īlva perzī nyke rūs."_

("Ancient dragon, the fire lies still

Breathe through my veins, weave through my will

Silent you slumber, but in me you rise

Bound by the flame, I claim what's mine")

As the chant ended, warmth began to spread throughout my body, and the ancient magical energy emerged from the volcano, blending with mine. The runes glowed faintly, followed by pain as the potent mixed energy began to tear the channels wider, acclimating them to the new energy flow. Eventually, the energy was fully absorbed, causing the runes to emit a dim glow before they faded away.

Lying on the warm stone floor, I regained my bearings from the pain. Once recovered, I assessed the ritual's outcome. I began to feel a deeper connection with my magical essence, the energy flowing within me more efficiently and in harmony. A quiet strength emerged; a sense of latent power ready to be unleashed. While the full effects were not instantly evident, I now harbored a fragment of the volcano's ancient, dormant magic. With one more potent ritual, I could awaken its full force.

However, that must be postponed. Performing this ritual has left the volcano's potent magic in my magical channel, and initiating another ritual consecutively could have adverse effects. From Dumbledore's memories, I've witnessed the consequences of frequent rituals on one's body. I have no desire to become abominable, as each ritual draws on the surrounding magic for power. Every location has its dark past, and conducting a ritual in such a place draws upon magic tainted by that history, which in turn exacts a toll on your body and more so on your mind.

This ritual is performed by me was for research purposes because I want to see what effects Elder Futhark has on this world. Although it works perfectly on this world, but its power is not greater than Valyrian Glyphs. But I'm satisfied because it gives me more versatility than Glyphs.

*****

After resting for the night, I began to practice magic. As the magic flowed through my channels, I felt a burning sensation. It appears I need more rest and time for the channels to fully heal. However, this is not an issue, as I now wish to commence sword training. While magic is powerful, in this world, mastery of weapons commands great respect. Hence, my first wish was to possess exceptional combat skills.

It is morning time, and I was free to do as I wish. I started to exercise and running in the outer area. As I am done with exercise, I started to think about making wards as Skagosi will come here for Dragon glass is one of the things that they trade with others in time of winter. Although it is not winter, and it will take time for it to come. You know what they said, "prevention is better than cure."

Hey guys sorry for not updating daily. But I had work to do so from now update will take time, but I'll not abandon the story. As it is my first fic I intend to finish it.

Rest assured regarding updates, as I will endeavor to write as much as possible.

And if you like the chapter don't shy away from giving me power stones. I'll keep them safe for you I promise. And leave a comment about what you think of this chapter.