Chapter 128 - 129
All of the men bowed out of both awe and appreciation, for the quality of life within the palace dropped significantly whenever the enchantments of the estate lost their power. Such a thing had been fairly common during the forty years that the previous Archbishop had lived here, regardless of what Brennan had said, though Maels planned to make such things an object of memory now that he had taken charge. This way, Brennan couldn’t send subtle insults in his direction as he had earlier on.
Maels ended the conversation with a bittersweet smile, looking down at the boy with a regretful sigh. "Then I shall begin." He drew an oval over the body’s chest, slowly as he imbued some inner energy into his finger. "Hear me, Lucian, Father of All. I, your humble, loving servant ask that you lend us your guidance as we seek salvation for this lonely soul. For the sake of atoning for the Original Sin of his ancestors, this child has made the ultimate sacrifice so that he may hear your loving Voice in the Higher Heavens, and that he may live forever after in your sacred company."
As his energy began to circulate throughout the boy’s body, the diagram on the floor suddenly lit up with a beautiful, merciful light that looked as if it had been a gift from the sun itself. Coinciding with this reaction was a similar burst of light that rose up from the chest of the corpse, this one of a lesser vibrancy than that which surrounded it.
The servants mirrored Maels as he drew an oval over his own chest, the ceremony coming to an end after he recited a final string of short prayers. With this, the boy’s soul would be considered for absolution once it moved on to the afterlife, something that wasn’t believed possible for the souls of Inverted peoples unless they were blessed by an agent of Lucian immediately following their passing regardless of any attempts to repent throughout their lifetimes.
The servants removed the body from the slab’s surface and made to leave the room, but Maels stopped them with an extended hand.
"Where will you bury him?"
The men exchanged looks of confusion, the beady-eyed, sallow-faced servant taking initiative to answer once again. "We were going to dispose of him in the same manner as usual. That is, we usually just leave their bodies in the woods to the south of the estate. There are plenty of critters in those parts that will make quick work of him."
Maels shook his head. "If I recall, there’s a small grove in those woods that’s quite well known in these parts. From now on, any Kets that give their lives for our sakes are to be buried there in traditional fashion."
"Forgive me, Your Grace. But a traditional burial, for a Ket?"