章 142: The Ceremony

A crowd of robbed minions wearing dragon-shaped masks stood in the large, dark cave chamber. The only light source was the bright glowing stone around the dragon and the dragon himself. Thick clouds of smoke drifted from his behemoth-like body, entering the vents in the cave ceiling.

The lines of the masked figures stood unmoving, sweat running down their bodies from the hot air in the cave. In the front stood a few players in brass masks, followed by lines of iron, stone and finally, wooden masked players.

The dragon was lying on a stone podium, his large body sprawled on golden coins glowing from the heat. Next to him was a short figure covered in a robe with a hood over her head. Her long blonde hair flowed from under her hood, reaching her waist. A slightly glowing glass bottle filled to the brim with glowing red liquid in her hand.

In front of the stone podium stood a stone bowl carved into a plain black pedestal. On top of it was placed a tall crystalline chalice.