บท 252: Ritual

A day later, the time had arrived. It was in the early hours of the morning, and the sun hadn't risen yet. Taylor, Mellissa, the king, and some other figures were standing on an elevated piece of soil. In front of them on the ground were different peculiar materials scattered around in a strange formation. At the foot of those ingredients lay several grooves that connected them to a rare, peculiar metal that sat in the middle of the makeshift array.

The king was wrapped in a sort of makeshift mechanical armor that enveloped his person. It seemed more like an iron coffin standing upright. The people present ignored the king's attire; they were all faintly aware of his health problems. In fact, it was quite a surprise to see him away from his throne for so long. His presence seemed to imbue more confidence in the hearts of the individuals around.