Chapter 4: A low chance
The priestess stood at the center of the open area and mumbled. Hex couldn't understand the words she muttered.
Slowly the priestess arms started to glow. It started at one point but followed a pattern at the back of her hand. It spread further up her arms, disappearing into the wide sleeves of her robe.
Buzz!
Hex felt tremors appear underneath his feet. The floor was trembling. Long ago he had seen the ritual, but it was his first time experiencing it.
A stream of light appeared around the priestess. It flowed on the ground, lighting up the engraved pattern on the floor. The pattern was shaped like a polygon.
At the core of the polygon stood the priestess. Hex noticed that he was placed on one of the angles of the polygon. It was the same for each participant. A circle of light appeared around their feet. And all those circles were connected to the core.
After the mark lit up and the lines connected with each other, the priestess stopped her chanting. She took her staff and hit the floor at the core of the polygon.
Right at the place she hit with her staff, the floor opened. A monolith swiveled upward, stopping at the height of the priestess' abdomen.
"When I call your name, come forward and place your offering crystal at the top. No matter what happens, try not to move during the process. If the heavens are pleased, it will grant part of the crystal's energy to you as a blessing. Have faith. With heaven's will you will receive a blessing."
The priestess looked around and instructed. Her voice was soft and warm, encouraging the participants to put their faith in the heavens.
'The Heavens. What good will and faith. If that was all it took, why would barely ten percent of the society receive a blessing? It clearly depends on the amount of wealth a person has.'