STRINGS OF purple and red lined Elise's wrist. The loops of metal jingled down her feet, wrapping her ankles in a chilling dread. Reluctance radiated in her body but she was helpless. She had tried to summon her artifacts earlier but it was proven futile when nothing emerged.

She glanced to see the other women with her but even Amaranth had stopped struggling. If not for the blazing irises that burned like the sun, Elise would have thought Amaranth had given up.

'Ow!' The loud yelp was only mouthed in silence. Elise glared at the hooded man in front of her who forcefully tugged the chain before observing the man on the very front.

Unlike the rest of the black-clothed people who were cloaked to hide their features, the brown-haired man scrupulously revealed himself. His gentle downturned eyes could not even hide the malice the moment he entered the prison door a while ago. When those bony fingers of his touched her temple, her ability to speak was gone.

Elise had no idea how many hours or days had passed since she returned but it already felt like forever with all that was happening. Her mind had been spinning wildly for all the possible outcomes.

She had not come back to die or to be disabled. All she wanted was to be with the one she loved.

'Is this my punishment for choosing love over family?' Guilt and apprehension whirled on her head no matter how she tried to get rid of it.

Those thoughts remained and got worse with each step she took. But the moment they entered the huge steel doors, her emotions intensified at an all-time high.

A rise of regret surged to her heart but she buried it right away. This was the choice she made and she had to stand by it.

With trembling fingers and short, anxious breaths, she stepped forward. Opposite the corridors that were dingy and shrouded with hair-raising mists, the blazing embers in the center lit the whole space.

Her shaking grew worse, rattling the chain on her limbs. That terrifying feeling rose up in her chest, penetrating her mind until it became numb.

She thought it was the mere fact of being alone with a ghost that caused her to faint from panic earlier. But, no. Tens of people were around her yet her heart thumped like she ran a marathon. The clammy sheen of sweat was combined with goosebumps rising on her skin every second that passed.

"My lordship, they are here," the brown-haired man spoke.

The giant face made of flames rotated towards them, it was still as startling as the first time she saw it. Elise's breathing became rapid. She tried to control it but she was on the verge of falling into hyperventilation.

Her breath suddenly hitched when those hollow sockets of darkness seemed to focus on her. Elise could not explain what was happening. She could not understand the terror embracing her whole being.

"Take their blood." The giant thing opened its mouth. His voice reverberated as if it was summoned from the depths of hell and tuned by the devils.

"But don't take too much on that woman behind you," he continued. The low bass pitch was raspy and paired with a slow echo when he spoke.

Elise was too caught up with her trepidation that she did not realize the voice was pertaining to her.

When a glint of silver flashed in her sight, she quickly woke up from her trance. A rush of alarm came in an instant while the man's weapon drew closer.

She backed off until the coarse walls hit her spine. The man, whose face was veiled by the shadow of his hood, did not even hesitate and grabbed her hand.

All her strength seemed to dissipate ever since she entered here. It did not take much force before she was towed onto the fire pit.

Contrary to what she expected, no heat emitted from the huge flames only meters away from her. The raging reds, yellows, and oranges appeared similar to an intangible illusion.

She scanned around and the other women with her were also hauled into the fire pit. When her eyes met Amaranth's, the concealed rage was gone and was replaced with horror. When she looked to her left, Leilani reflected the same emotion.

It was as if the fear of this being was ingrained in their blood.

Only Iona portrayed composure amidst all of this, standing tall as her slanted-shaped eyes gazed at the scorching fire. But the more Elise studied her, she was proven wrong. The serene attitude did not break but Iona was staring at the giant face as if they were in a deathmatch.

"I see. You're still alive," came that frightening voice again.

Even if Iona wanted to talk, she had also become mute like her. Only the crackling embers passed for seconds till the giant face turned towards Elise again.

The face had no irises but she could swear his attention was all on her, making the hairs on her skin rise.

"Let the ritual begin," he stated.

The hooded man, who held her chain, hastily sliced the back of her hand. Elise flinched from the pain. A small gash was left by the dagger and scarlet liquid flowed. When each drop contacted the cold hard ground, it glowed in a vibrant crimson.

She furled her fingers to stop the bleeding but more blood erupted. The ravenous inferno grew larger until the dancing sparks were nothing more than a foot.

Several minutes had already passed. The veins on the palm should not be hemorrhaging this way. It should have stopped a while ago when it was such a small wound.

On her peripheral, Leilani's face changed to a ghastly white. Her lashes quivered when all color was drained on her cheeks and her lips became blue. Elise's eyes traveled to Leilani's stained hands.

It was only then that she realized the rest of the women were cut on their wrists. The deep cut on the arteries resulted in excessive bleeding. She did not even have to count to ten before Leilani collapsed.

"Heal her." It was from that voice again.

The sudden order did not only surprise Elise but the other women as well. Nevertheless, it was too early to relax when his next words followed.

"Let them bleed but don't let them die. They have the blood of the Sky. It will be useful later on."

"I understand, my lordship," the men guarding them said in unison.

Silence resumed once again. More beads of red drip from her hands. When her gaze drifted downwards, there was now flowing blood surrounding the fire pit. It formed into a pentacle and unidentified symbols were scattered inside. What surprised her more was the fact that she could understand it.

It was identical to the letters she had seen when they visited Divine Peak. However, it was still useless because the letters jumbled together, shuffling at a slow pace within the bloody ring.

A gasp sounded beside her and Amaranth's body slumped afterward. The other black-clothed people who had been watching all this time finally moved.

Opposite to their position, those people formed a half-circle around the fire pit.

"erknerrahahnganerk terhaderk wanoumrahlander, kadhadahnoumsan wanirnlerler rahirnsanerk, kadoummaderk dererksanterrahurvkadterirnoumner... erknerrahahnganerk terhaderk wanoumrahlander, kadhadahnoumsan wanirnlerler rahirnsanerk, kadoummaderk dererksanterrahurvkadterirnoumner...erknerrahahnganerk terhaderk wanoumrahlander, kadhadahnoumsan wanirnlerler rahirnsanerk, kadoummaderk dererksanterrahurvkadterirnoumner..."

The chanting filled the room with their voice rising with every word. Another several minutes had passed but her wound had no signs of closing. Elise's knees gradually become weak. Her throat dried. She could not even recall the last time a glass of water touched her lips.

A generous amount of blood had already left her body. Her whole world spun and how she wanted to vomit. Her vision became blurry and her eyelids almost drooped close.

With all the uncomfortable sensations consuming her, Elise finally surrendered. Yet, the man beside her face-planted himself to the floor instead.

Surprise cleared her head in a moment as she witnessed the row of people in front toppling one after another like dominoes falling.

The crisp sizzle of burning heat stifled the air. The giant face directed his gaze behind her. She swiveled, filled with curiosity about what happened.

When her eyes landed on the familiar face, relief washed away all her anxieties. Finally, Aricson was here.