Chapter 18: Ritual
Charon’s fingers brushed against the page, tracing a lazy circle around the ritual symbols. Something inside it called out to him, urging him to reach out.
’If I sent some mana into it, I know I could enter the River Acheron.’
A chill went down his spine.
’I can’t do it. It’d be too dangerous, especially now. I need to figure out how to get the Warden to be useful, and I need a weapon. Only the gods know what kind of enemies I could find in that place.’
The logic was there, but the draw went deeper than that.
Charon wanted to do it.
He wanted to enter the River Acheron, find the Fortress of Souls, and advance his element.
He subconsciously pressed his hand against the page, inhaling deeply as he prepared to send mana into it.
’I’ll do it. I’ll go into the River Acheron and learn everything I need. I’ll grow powerful beyond belief, I’ll become a hero.’
It sounded good, really good.
Just before he sent that pulse of mana, the exterior door opened, Emerius returning with a shout.
"Hey, Charon. I’m home!"