The Dark Ichalocha Of Terres Nei

Chapter 9: Burial of Transmutational Rites.

In the aftermath of the siege, a solemn ritual unfolded to honor the fallen soldiers and citizens who had bravely faced the tumultuous events that befell the city. The deceased were meticulously prepared for their final journey through the ancient and revered Transmutation Soul Ceremony. Each lifeless form was tenderly shrouded in pristine white burial clothes, an ethereal garment symbolizing purity and transition.

As a somber assembly of grief-stricken onlookers gathered, the bodies were arranged in a poignant circular formation around the imposing Lemurian Palace Pillar, a symbolic center of both the city's strength and vulnerability. This arrangement served a purpose beyond mere esthetics; it was a deliberate representation of the elements that composed the world and its magic. The deceased were segregated into different sectors corresponding to the five fundamental elements, a poignant reflection of their unique ties to elemental forces during their mortal existence.

An additional layer of complexity unfolded as those who had wielded the intricate art of multi-elemental casting were allocated to the specific sector corresponding to the primary elemental magic they employed in life. This meticulous sorting process, conducted with the utmost reverence, spoke volumes about the intricacies of the magical tapestry woven by the denizens of this besieged realm.

Now freed from corporeal confines, the souls embark on the once transcendental journey toward the enigmatic Azaeleaus Espiritus region; now, their willing souls are used to fuel the elemental well to continue the fight against Seklas and his armies. This sacred space served as the threshold between the mortal and ethereal realms, where souls would ultimately merge with the divine light, finding eternal rest and serenity. It was a belief deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the Terres Neian people, a poignant farewell to those who had departed.

 This ceremony was never meant to exist since the Azaelean clergy's duties were to collect the souls and guide them to the Halls of Amenthus. However, a sinister twist tainted this age-old ceremony. The once-sacred duty of the death clergy, entrusted with facilitating the passage of souls, took a malevolent turn. Instead of guiding the departed towards their final destination, the clergy, corrupted by dark influences, now denied the souls their rightful transition. In a perverse twist of fate, the departed find themselves ensnared in the machinations of Seklas, a malevolent force seeking to exploit the vulnerability of the deceased.

Rather than embracing the transcendental journey and finding solace, the souls were subjected to unspeakable torment, their essence twisted and manipulated to serve Seklas' insidious whims. The once-pure souls were corrupted by the dark magic emanating from Nibiru, a force that reveled in life's perversion and the spiritual realm's desecration.

The culmination of this macabre process saw the once-pure souls transplanted into lifeless husks, transformed into unanimated hellions bereft of the warmth of life. The twisted irony of this transformation underscored the tragedy that befell those who had once fought valiantly to protect their home. Now condemned to a nightmarish existence, their best life was cruelly repurposed in the service of malevolence, a stark departure from the honorable destiny they had envisioned. The elemental well, the refugee to protect this innocent soul from the ever-lasting torture under Seklas' command.

Deep beneath the formidable Lemurian Palace, a sacred and clandestine ritual unfolded within the confines of an elemental well. This mystical conduit connected the mortal realm to the primordial forces that governed the world. Assembled in distinct sections, each dedicated to one of the elemental pillars, the underground sanctum echoed with the resonant voices of regional kannushi. These spiritual leaders guided the citizens in the performance of primordial hymns.

In the wind region, a venerable monk led the congregation in rhythmic chants, invoking the ethereal energy of the Raphaelium Divum. The melodic cadence of their voices intertwined with the unseen currents of the wind, creating a harmonious symphony that resonated through the subterranean chamber. A female kannushi, adorned in sacred attire, chanted hymns from the Urielium Serrus Terrus religion, channeling the essence of earth into the ceremony. Her voice carried the weight of tradition, a soothing balm for those who sought solace in the face of loss.

Meanwhile, another female kannushi, draped in flowing robes, elevated the ceremony with hymns from the Gabreaus Mareum region, calling upon the nurturing embrace of water. The fluidity of her chants mirrored the ebb and flow of the elemental tides, weaving a tapestry of sound that embraced the sorrowful hearts of the gathered mourners. A male kannushi, adorned with symbols of the Mikaelium Ignis region, led the attendees in fiery hymns, invoking the transformative power of fire in the eternal cycle of life and death.

In a poignant culmination, the male and female kannushi from the Azaeleaus Espiritus; still loyal to the Terres Nei; stepped forward, their presence imbued with the solemn responsibility of releasing the souls from the vessels of the deceased. Their united voices, a delicate blend of reverence and power, resonated through the underground chamber, guiding the departed souls on their journey towards the divine light.

Above ground, in the hallowed quarters of the Illuminarium Academy, Maleek and Palo observed the ritual from a distance. Maleek, curious about Palo's peculiar arrangement of candles and incense in a star pentagram, questioned its significance. Palo, deeply engrossed in the preparation for his role in the death rites, explained, "I am preparing to offer chants as part of the death rites of the fallen. Today, we give death rites to those who have fallen in battle. We call it the Rites of Transmutation of the Soul."

Intrigued, Maleek sought further understanding, asking about the enchanting music that reached their ears. Palo responded, "This music is the peaceful manifestation of the primordial hymns dedicated to the elemental pillars. Each chant carries the essence of the elements, a poignant tribute to the departed. It is a celebration of life and a solemn farewell, a harmonious blend that transcends the boundaries between the mortal and spiritual realms."

As the ceremony unfolded in the subterranean depths, the haunting melodies of the elemental hymns reverberated, creating an ethereal atmosphere that bridged the gap between the tangible and the divine. The Rites of Transmutation of the Soul became a ritualistic homage to the fallen and a testament to the enduring connection between the living and the elemental forces that shaped their world.

In the heart of the capital city, segmented into five distinct sectors, each presided over by an elemental kannushi, mournful chants reverberated through the air. The somber atmosphere clung to the city as the residents gathered to honor those who had completed their lifecycle, a mass funeral that spanned the expansive realms. Amidst the crowd, a conversation unfolded between two individuals reflecting on the nature of death.

One of them, expressing disdain for funerals, remarked, "It's a mass funeral! Man, I hate funerals." The other, seemingly more contemplative, responded, "Death is not to be feared. For us, it is a release from their corporeal vessel."

The conversation took a profound turn as the second individual delved into their world's historical and cosmic perspective of death. They spoke of The Great Conscious Intelligence, an illuminated being with all-knowing knowledge and the envy of Ilaldaoboth and his archons. According to their belief, the dark entities attacked The Great Divine Intelligence, separating countless light particles. Once part of the divine consciousness, these particles were trapped in mortal vessels by malevolent forces.

Continuing the narrative, the speaker explains the awakening of the Terres Neians, the ancestors known as Vidridians, who fiercely fought alongside The Great Divine Intelligence against the Nibiru forces. Together, they banish these dark entities to a hellish realm named Nibiruheim.

The listener, finding the story deep and intriguing, inquired about the lifespan of a Terres Neian in mortal flesh. The response revealed that, although the Ancients could live for millions of years, Ilaldaoboth had limited their lifespan to thousands of years. The interlocutor, astonishingly aged at 75,580 years, prompted a reaction from the other individual, who humorously remarked, "Damn! In my world, you would be worm food! I guess your world’s population is overcrowded. Yet, since death is an honor, why don’t you kill yourselves?"

The Terres Neians clarified their commitment to protecting less-gifted realms where inhabitants had lost knowledge of their cosmic history. They explained that they served as a protective gate between realms, ensuring the preservation of cosmic knowledge. The conversation then delved into the death process for the Terres Neians, involving a journey to the Azaeleaus region where the Azaeleaus clergy performed transmutation rites. However, a dark twist emerged as the speaker revealed that the death clergy, under the command of Seklas, prevented access to the Azaeleaus region by sealing the death gate.

The listener, intrigued by the mention of a death gate, seeks further information, only to be cut short by the reminder that respect was due to the dead. The King and Queen were about to conclude funeral prayers, emphasizing the solemnity of the occasion and the importance of paying homage to those who had completed their earthly journey.

High above in the regal chambers of the Lemurian Palace, King Sulumarium and Queen Quemaria stood as benevolent rulers, overlooking the jubilant citizens who gathered to celebrate the passing of their peers. The atmosphere was reverent, for in the realm of Terres Nei, natural death was not feared but embraced as an honor. The departed, having traversed the Azaeleaus region's death gate, were destined for a profound journey leading their souls back to the cosmic realm.

King Sulumarium, resonant and commanding, addressed the gathered citizens, acknowledging the cyclical nature of life and death in Terres Nei. "As we are born, the Terres Neian sun shines on us, fueling us with the warmth of knowledge, magic, and all the intuition to evolve through spirituality. Today, it is a great honor to witness the great transcendence of the soul." He spoke of the cosmic light imprisoned within mortal flesh, a profound sacrifice made by Terres Neians to nurture their spirits and souls. This knowledge, acquired during their earthly sojourn, served as a key to escaping the confines of material imperfections.

The king continued, emphasizing the purpose of this transition into a higher form of existence. The knowledge carried by the departing souls was described as a weapon against a formidable adversary seeking to enslave them, a battle fought in realms beyond the mortal plane. In this celestial struggle, the Terres Neians found purpose in their transcendence, their souls ascending to become one with the Great Divine Consciousness.

Following the king's impassioned address, Queen Quemaria took the stage, her words carrying a soothing grace that resonated with the moment's significance. "In our deaths, the moon shines, as we have completed the lunar cycles, allowing our souls to rise in the great reunion of the divine source." Her eloquence drew a parallel between the lunar cycles and the completion of earthly life, symbolizing the cosmic rhythm that governed their existence.

Quemaria spoke of the eternal presence of light, a force that persisted in both the brightest days and the darkest nights. This cosmic illumination mirrored the soul's immortal nature, untouched by the temporal fluctuations of the material world. "As above in the heavens, so shall below in the depths of our anima," she declared, underscoring the interconnectedness of the celestial and spiritual realms.

The queen concluded the funeral rites with a poignant reminder of the everlasting impact of virtuous deeds, bravery, and sacrifice. "Your good deeds, bravery, and sacrifice are forever written in our hearts. As this mortal flesh dissolves, we are released from the bondage of the material realm." Her words carried a comforting assurance, assuring the citizens that the departed, in shedding their mortal form, were liberated from the constraints of the material world, free to embark on a journey that transcended the earthly realm. The funeral rites, infused with profound cosmic wisdom, left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who gathered, turning a moment of sorrow into a celebration of the enduring spirit and the cosmic dance of life and death.

"Even though you cannot ascend to the great cosmic source, we thank you for allowing your souls to empower us to protect us from the enemy. We joyously envy those who have escaped the fate of our enemy and returned to the grand cosmic whole," the king and queen cite in sync. 

The air resonated with the powerful hymns chanted by the kannushis, their voices rising in unison, echoing through the capital city. Suddenly, a transformative spectacle unfolded as if choreographed by celestial forces. The shrouded bodies of the fallen, arranged in a solemn circular pattern, erupted into radiant hues: yellow, red, aquamarine, blue, and iridium. Each color symbolized the elemental essence of the departed souls, a dazzling display that mirrored the intricate tapestry of Terres Nei.

As the ethereal colors enveloped the night, the souls detached from their lifeless vessels, rising with a luminous grace. Like radiant fireflies ascending toward the heavens, the elemental souls embark on a celestial journey toward the Lemurian Palace's well of souls. The capital city witnessed this mesmerizing ascent, a convergence of vibrant energies transcending the boundaries between the mortal and spiritual realms.

Observing this supernatural spectacle from a distance, Maleek was captivated by the spiritual ballet unfolding before his eyes. Turning to Palo, who remained deeply immersed in his chant, Maleek sought a shared acknowledgment of the awe-inspiring scene. "Hey, are you seeing this?" he exclaimed, the urgency in his voice betraying a sense of wonder. Palo, committed to his spiritual duties, remained unresponsive, his hands crossed in deep concentration. In a long monk's robe adorned with silver and gold hem lining, Palo stood as a beacon of devotion amidst the collective chorus of prayers.

Undeterred by Palo's absorbed state, Maleek, though not inherently religious, felt compelled to join the harmonious symphony of prayers as a gesture of respect for the sacred proceedings. The soul orbs, now liberated from the corporeal restraints, glided gracefully towards the Lemurian Palace's towering pillar. Each soul orb, imbued with the essence of its elemental region, contributes to the collective energy converging at the heart of the mystical structure.

They fused with the towering pillar as the soul orbs approached the crystal construct. In this intricate dance of spiritual unity, the once-dissociated souls become one with the colossal edifice, transmuted into raw energy. The Lemurian Palace's pillar, now aglow with the vibrant hues of the elemental souls, stood as a radiant testament to the transcendent nature of Terres Nei's spiritual practices.

The towering construct, infused with the essence of the departed, emanated a resplendent light that permeated the night sky. The souls, now seamlessly integrated into the crystal structure, contributed to the well of souls nestled within the depths of the pillar. This transcendent fusion of energies symbolized a renewal and a replenishment of the spiritual reservoir that sustained the cosmic balance of Terres Nei.

Maleek's prayers intermingled with the collective spiritual energy at this profound moment, creating a harmonious blend that echoed through the capital city. The Lemurian Palace's pillar, now a beacon of radiant illumination, stood as a testament to the interconnectedness of life, death, and the enduring spiritual legacy of Terres Nei. Once filled with the elemental colors of the departed souls, the night sky bore witness to a celestial dance that transcended the mortal realm, a poignant reminder of the eternal cycle of life and the unbreakable bonds between the earthly and the unknown mystical wonders.