Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 403: Occultist

Chapter 403: Occultist

"Occultist" Nadia began, her unusually seductive voice echoing in the starlit hall. "That’s the title of the 3rd Lock of the Devil Wheel."

Alex remained seated, listening silently as Nadia continued her narration.

"It’s considered a major milestone in the life of a Devil Wheel Mystic in Judah."

"Why?"

"As it marks the period in which the Mystic would be allowed to enter a coven."

"Covens?" Alex muttered. "Didn’t you say they were the equivalent of Enforcers here in Zion?"

"In a way, yes. Covens were created as a means to ensure the steady growth of Devil Wheel Mystics and to also suppress mystical anomalies that might arise within Judah."

Her words seemed to hide more than she shared but Alex didn’t deem it necessary to pry further and so nodded in response.

Seeing as he asked no further questions, Nadia calmly intoned. "Covens also serve as pseudo-religious bodies, taking orders from the national religion of Judah, the Order of Duality, which means joining a Coven automatically makes you a member of the Order."

"Though I’d be more than happy to learn more about your home country, Nadia, this is hardly the time for this. So unless you have a point to get to, I’d advise we hold off on the conversation for now." Alex remarked without mincing words.

"I understand," Nadia replied. "The reason I’m saying this is because of the trial I’m to undergo to be considered worthy of the title, Occultist."

"Tell me."

"To be considered an Occultist, I must perform a ritualistic dance to a hidden existence, earning their goodwill."

"Hmm."

"Most Devil Wheel Mystics would normally dance in the presence of Mother Superior, the spiritual leader of the Order of Duality."

"But you can’t do that since you aren’t in Judah."

"I could, forging an idol of her would surely draw her attention."

"However..."

"Drawing her attention would be the same as drawing the attention of my mother. If she knows where I am, chances are she’d come for me and I’m not ready to face her."

Alex finally began to grasp the crux of the matter. "So you are saying you require a new hidden entity to dance to?"

"Mn."

Alex pursed his lips, seemingly in deep thought as he pondered the issue with a calm mind. "The issue is amongst our current allies, none qualify as a hidden existence so it would be difficult to find someone to help."

The thought of contacting Nyx or Adam did cross his mind but both were quickly scrapped off for obvious reasons.

"Actually, I thought of something," Nadia muttered, drawing his attention over.

"Oh?... You know of a hidden existence?"

"Indeed, I’m currently seated in his presence."

Alex paused, as the reality of Nadia’s words dawned on him.

"You wish to perform it to me?"

Nadia nodded. "The essence of the ritual is to be acknowledged by a hidden existence one has faith in. That existence doesn’t actually have to be a god. Having the presence of one is more than enough."

"... I see." Alex intoned. "So what do you need me to do?"

"You accept?" Nadia inquired, surprised that he’d accepted so easily.

"It’s an opportunity to grow your strength before the operation to take the Godstone. That’s more than enough reason to be willing."

"Ah... that’s true."

For some reason, she sounded slightly disappointed, almost like she’d expected a different response.

Deciding not to dwell on that, Alex inquired yet again. "So tell me, what must I do?"

"If possible... become Lord Orion. That will be more than enough." Nadia replied.

Pursing his lips, Alex pondered her words for a moment before ultimately nodding. "Then let’s begin."

Pa

Alex’s appearance immediately changed as the top half of his face was covered by a dark veil dotted with sparkly white spots, while his body turned illusory, resembling a humanoid derivative of the cosmos.

His aura changed as well as he utilized Nyx’s authority, making himself seem greater than he appeared.

For a moment, he indeed resembled a hidden existence.

Nadia felt her heart palpitate at that moment as she instinctively lowered her head, for fear of insulting He who was before her.

"Come young one." Lord Orion said, his voice echoing as though from a great distance.

Nadia did as instructed, gracefully dropping from her chair to bow before His throne.

"I greet the Father of Constellations;

Master of Entropy;

Lord of the Shadowed Night;

Embodiment of the Unknown;

His grace, Lord Orion."

Alex was taken aback for a moment, having not expected the eulogy.

Of course, not wishing to break out of character, he responded. "What is your wish?"

"I wish to earn your grace." She softly muttered.

"And what do you offer in exchange?"

"A dance."

Leaning further on his throne, Alex remarked. "You may proceed."

"As you wish."

She raised her heart though she didn’t dare to look upon His greatness as she backed away slowly.

Once she’d decided it was far enough, she took a deep breath, holding it in for a moment before letting it out.

As the wind left her lungs, so did a spell leave her lips causing the scenery about her to change with a red haze manifesting from her body.

Suddenly, the silence in the hall was broken by the sound of unseen drums playing in rhythm, creating an intoxicating sound that was soothing to the soul.

Soon enough, the drumming was followed by invisible flutes and then out-of-sight cymbals as the instruments played in tandem to create music.

Finally, the voices of both men and women, singing in a foreign tongue could be heard as well with Alex noting the emergence of phantoms in the area about Nadia.

But that wasn’t all as moments later, a circle of yellow flames emerged around Nadia, illuminating her figure that had undergone an incredible transformation.

Her attire was replaced with one more suitable for dancing, revealing her shapely figure and toned skin.

Anklets adorned her ankles and bracelets, and her wrists with her neck were also adorned with jewelry.

However, the transformation didn’t end there as a pair of illusory arms, two of which had their palms facing upwards while the other two had their palms facing downwards emerged from her back.

Merely following motions at first, Alex soon found himself entranced by the performance that hadn’t even begun causing him to pay rapt attention.

Then it began.

The dance was as fluid as it was rigid, switching between the two states with no pauses in between.

As her hips swayed to the rhythm of the music, Alex raised a brow, as a random thought crossed his mind.

The dance lasted for 30 minutes but in that time, Alex felt as though he had watched the world get destroyed by natural forces and then be recreated again by those natural forces.

It was a surreal experience that left him pondering the intricacies of the concept of Duality and the complexities of balance.

Finally, the last step was made and as quickly as everything appeared, they disappeared with Nadia left sweating profusely while breathing heavily.

Clearly, she had put her everything into the performance.

Gulping hard, she fell to her knees and bowed her head. "Did my performance please my Lord?"

Maintaining an aloofness befitting that of a hidden existence, Alex replied. "Barely."

"..."

"However, you have done well and so for that reason, I grant you my grace. Be thankful."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Nadia replied. "Thank you, your grace."