Chapter 255 Chapter 255:The Secret Order of Scarlet Snow
All the members prepared for the ritual to enter. This ritual was like a password and one needed to proceed with every step correctly to be able to enter the mysterious place.
First, one needs to create a circle on the ground using snowflakes or chalk-like whitish powder. Then place the badge of the organization at the centre.
Then, one needs to light a candle and place it near the badge. After that one needs to place a sprig of pine or cedar covering the candle and as it starts burning, they have to chant the invocation while ringing the bell three times.
The members in their place sat cross-legged and started chanting for the blessing of the Winter Witch.
In the quiet hush of winter's embrace,
Where snow-kissed landscapes hold their grace, I call upon the season's deep insight,
Guide me through transitions, dark and light.
Winter, is the bringer of stillness and calm,
Grant me wisdom, your soothing balm.
In the barren trees and icy air,
Reveal the path, show me what's fair.
Amidst the frost and the silent cold,
Let clarity and vision gently unfold.
As nature rests in its wintry repose,
Grant me guidance that only winter knows.
By the cycle of seasons, ancient and true,
I seek your counsel, I call upon you.
Embrace me with your transformative art,
Grant me introspection, a fresh start.
Witch of Winter, from your icy throne,
Bless my journey, make your presence known.
In this sacred space, I humbly plea,
Please accept the humble one into your embrace.
A bright light erupted from flames gnawing the pine that engulfed them.
When the fire disappeared, the members found their surroundings were changed into a place hovering with fog and white clouds.
Several towering marvellous pillars rose with a crystal clear ceiling with a vast encapsulated dome above them, beyond which countless pairs of stars twinkled over the blue oceanic sky.
The entire edifice looked magnificent and lofty, like a legendary palace, a meeting place for leaders of the world.
Directly under the starry sky, a dazzlingly golden table appeared with five chairs on either side.
At the end of the table, a man sat with his face covered with a mask beside him, a woman and man stood guard with a solemn expression.
The five individuals who entered here were startled for a moment. Not because they were new to this place but rather because the place had changed along with the leader.
Previously, the place was a Winterland with a frozen waterfall and the meeting was led by the Leader called Snow Witch.
Val, who was new to the place, looked at the other members.
An old man with a white mask that had the name Hunter.
A woman with white crystalline hair dressed in a bluish gown with the name Observer.
A pinkish-haired woman in a fiery red dress with the name Preacher.
And a man with snake-like eyes behind a dark mask. The moment his eyes fell on the guy, he blurted out softly.
'Twin Snake.'
A twin snake with the code name Basilksk stared at the new member with a bewildered expression.
"You are a new member of The Informer?" Basilisk, who also used the identity of Twin Snake, was startled to see that foxy mask.
'He was of the same organization.'
'Holy shit! Doesn't that mean, I threatened my teammate?'
'Fuck if she learned about this, she will kill me.'
Unlike Val and Twin Snake who were having a mental breakdown seeing one another, others solely absorbed the Leader Seat.
Lucas stared at the group of five and particularly at two men who seemed to have a staring competition.
COUGH!'
Lucas took a deep breath and smiled.
"Greetings to you all."
Everyone took their seat with a nod except The Preacher who stared at Lucas furiously
"It's weird to see a new face out of nowhere."The Hunter spoke with a smile
"I know it's surprising and might also be unsettling seeing someone else occupying the leadership seat but no need to fret. I am here on the leader's orders. You can think of me as the Vice-Leader of the Leader Snow Witch for now or as temporary Leader as you wish."Lucas explained in a soft voice returning the smile.
Ami and Herman, who stood behind Lucas, almost jumped in disbelief hearing Lucas proclaiming himself as the temporary leader and Vice-Leader.
Ami turned her eyes and as they met with Herman, she could almost hear his screams in her head.
'What the fuck did he say? And when did all this happen and why was I not informed.'
Ami glared at him asking him to shut up.
"Oh, is that so?''
The pink-haired lady known as Preacher chuckled as she took a seat.
"Vice-Leader, you look so young and brave that it melts my heart. I hope you can handle such a fierce woman." She spoke seductively.
The other four who heard her raised their brows feeling that this woman was going to stir some trouble. In the earlier words she meant that you look so young so can you handle the responsibility?
The atmosphere descended into silence for a moment.
Lucas with a blank expression stared into the night sky while tapping on the table and lost in thoughts ignoring Preacher's words.
The world depicted here was a manifestation of one's inner self. In the case of Julian, it shows a beautiful world that had been laden with snow that had been waiting for spring which depicts that once she was freed of the curse, she was gonna soar to the sky.
As for Lucas, the entire space was filled with a veil of crimson fog and clouds adding a layer of mystery but beyond that veil lies a dark desolate night crystal sky that shows just how many things and secrets he had in his heart.
"Hey, do you let your thoughts run wild? Are you thinking something of th..."
"Did your parents teach you that?"
A deep, hoarse voice as if sharp nails scraping the metals echoed in the hall.
Preacher's pink eyes behind the mask widened as she heard the sharp rebuttal.
Observer raised her eyes with an amusing smile and stared at the others.
'Quite amusing.'
"What do you mean by that?" Preacher asked.
"I meant what I said. Unless you have a problem with hearing, you should have understood my words. Don't you know that you shouldn't disturb someone of a higher authority when he or she is about to speak?" Lucas spoke.
"Hmph! I know this much but I don't believe that you are the one having higher authority here. Until the leader says so, I can't accept you as a leader. Who knows if you are an imposter? What is the proof that the leader allowed you to act in her absence?" She spoke with a snort and waited for the man to speak with a teasing smile.
"From your stature, you looked like a small kid of 15 or less trying to act as superior. Sorry kid, you can fool me with that deep voice."
'Do you think you can win an argument with a reporter who can fabricate lies into truth and truth into lies? Dream on!'
The sight of the man sitting on the leader's seat sighed deeply reflected in everyone's eyes.
After a moment of silence, he spoke softly yet each word of his echoed like thunder.
"Veronica!''
The moment he spoke that name, everyone shuddered.
Everyone who joined here went through a special process and kept their identity a secret. No one knows what is the leader's true identity nor does anyone know about the person beside them.
Both Observer and Hunter smiled under her mask with a profound smile while her eyes gleamed with excitement.
'This kid is surely fierce.'
While the Informer and Basilisk stared at Lucas with a cautious expression.
As per how they entered, all they met with was the mysterious leader under certain circumstances.
Out of everyone, Val looked at everyone with an inexplicable gaze.
He entered through the token given to him by the Princess and as he was told about a white-haired woman on the leader's seat. The leader should be the Princess as per his guess but much to his surprise, there was another white-haired woman named an observer.
Though the Preacher and Leader Winter Witch's hair neither matches the characteristics of the Princess, the shape of the body of the former woman matches that of a Princess.
This makes him wonder if the woman named Observer is the Princess and the leader is the Empress who also looks similar to her.
Seeing the nobility and authoritative tone of the man, he guessed that he was either one of three Princes as the chances of the Emperor appearing here were quite slim.
'If that is the case, I dont think it's hard to uncover their identity. I hope I made the right choice by accepting to be part of it.'
"You identified the wrong guy," Veronica spoke sternly.
Lucas chuckled hearing this.
"I am joking. I am not fickle-minded like some shitty news broadcasters."
"I am no-"
"Veronica, I don't give second chances. This is my last warning, I won't look over it twice. If you want to test me or have some funny thoughts, you should drop it cause me and everyone here doesn't have as much free time as you to take in partly tricks."
"So stop behaving like a bitch here."
A dark undulated killing intent surged from Lucas making the space tremor.
The fog and clouds became blood-red. The twinkling stars flickered with a crimson austere that made it seem like blood dripping down from the sky.
And a mighty pressure enveloped Veronica, making her shiver in fright.
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