A few hours passed, and the sun would soon begin to set. Though usually, demonic rituals were most powerful in the dead of the night, it was different for Eiro's.
Being the Demon Lord of Virtue and Sin, the way his demonic nature was embodied was quite different to other Lords. Instead of in complete darkness, rituals for Eiro were most efficient in either twilight or dusk, at the tis where the darkness t the light.
Specifically, the mont where the first ray of light hit the ground in the morning, or the last ray of light left the ground at night, were the two monts that Eiro felt his powers as a demon lord grow the most. And then, during the night, his powers in the domain of sin grew stronger, and during the day, his powers in the domain of virtue grew stronger instead. Of course, this only related to the powers and abilities that he gained as part of his new role as Demon Lord – his regular powers, if he didn't apply that extra layer, were practically unaffected.
Then again, that might also only be the case because Eiro had a unique degree of control over all of his abilities. Other demon lords might not be able to break that connection quite as easily. That being the case, due to this fact that was unknown until Eiro had told everyone in charge of the ritual, things had to be moved forward quite a bit.
But with the demon's assistance here and there, it was possible to make everything work pretty well. Though, another issue ca up with that. Due to Eiro's presence, more monsters in town had co here to take part in the ritual. Part of it was probably because they hadn't really been aware of it until now, but to so degree, they were most likely worried about not presenting anything to Eiro now that he was actually here to witness it all.
So, at the sa ti, it all just beca a pretty massive festival. People and monsters were talking, eating the food and drinking the alcohol that wasn't ant for sacrifice, and the children were all playing together. It was really a quite beautiful sight, and one that Eiro had been hoping for, for quite a while.
Eiro's own children were enjoying their ti here as well. They were joining in and having fun, no matter if they were human or monster – they all were on equal footing here.
"It's seriously... incredible," Ariella pointed out, walking up next to the demon. He glanced over at her, smiling.
"Isn't it? Watching monts like this, it seems like my dreams may actually be achievable soday," he replied, slightly stretching out his left arm. He didn't want to bother or distract anyone, so he was in his most inconspicuous form, with his arms and tails combined, and his wings tucked in. Ariella wrapped her own arms around Eiro's, and leaned her head onto his shoulder.
"When you first told about it, I thought you were an absolutely insane maniac, you know?"
"I know. You didn't say it out loud, but you might as well have," the two laughed together, and Ariella squeezed the demon's hand tightly.
"You're sitll an insane maniac, but now I know you're the kind that's insane not just because you have a dream that could never co true, but because you had such a dream and are going to make it co true anyway."
Eiro slowly nodded his head, "I will do everything in my power to do just that, yes."
For a few more monts, the two just stood there, watching the scene in front of them. And then, when the sky was an ocean of blue and red and purple, it was ti. Gobu stepped forward in front of the ritualistic altar. His voice, supported by magic, carried throughout the whole, massive group that had gathered here.
"Everyone, co together. It is ti to begin," he said, and silence imdiately spread.
A few individuals stepped to the front of the group. It was all of the representatives of this town. Even the representative of the fishfolk was brought here from the nearby lake, being kept inside of a large, magical bubble of water that was controlled by an amphibian mage. The variety of species that were actually part of the fishfolk was quite massive, but due to their special needs and nature, and living away from the others, as well as the small number of individuals in each species, they were all counted together under a singular umbrella.
All the other species and their representatives were gathered here as well. Goblins, orcs, kobolds, trolls, harpies, even the representatives of the blood wolves and wyverns, who were practically just slightly more intelligent mbers of their respective species, were here and ready to sacrifice sothing to Eiro.
And of course, the one who had co up with this idea in the first place, was here as well. Marius, the representatives of the humans, was front and centre, second only in focus to Gobu. That was, with the exception of one man. Eiro himself.
Once they were all there, right in front of the altar, it was the demon's own turn. He gave a quick kiss to Ariella and then walked up into the centre of the area that was surrounded by the representatives.
As he walked, he stretched out his wings, and his arms unfolded. His tail untwirled as his mouth split in two. With nurous, overlaying voices, he spoke to Marius and Gobu.
"Thank you for preparing this all for ," he said, smiling lightly. Eiro could tell that Marius, specifically, shuddered quite a bit. Eiro's overlapping voices weren't exactly an easy thing to listen to, so it made sense. The only reason Gobu could handle it without even flinching was because he was far more used to Eiro's, often quite ridiculous and ever-changing, nature.
"Of course, my lord," Gobu nodded his head, stepping aside. Though it wasn't initially ant for this, the best place for Eiro to take a seat was the stone altar in the centre of the demonology circle.
He sat down in lotus pose, with his arms hanging off his side. The sun was setting behind him from where he was seated, as the last light of the day reflected off his crystal horns.
Once he was in position, Eiro nodded, and Gobu continued. From there, things proceeded quite simply. The ritual had to start, after all.
Gobu began to chant, leading the ritual. The other representatives chanted in support, and only if one of them was currently presenting and describing what exactly they were offering for their species was that individual able to stop their chant.
Items crafted by the fledgling craftsn. Treated hides, leathers, bones, and at from livestock or monsters that had been hunted nearby. Ores and gemstones mined from the mountains. Crops or flowers that had been planted. Potions and dicines that had been created here in town. Foods, platters and platters of it, practically mountains. There were nurous things that were offered out of everyone's true gratitude. They weren't forced. They wanted nothing in return.
That will itself gave even more strength to the sacrificial ritual.
And soon, it was ti for the last offerings. A group of children of the town ca forward. They were carrying scraps of paper, dolls, and toys. Crudely made, and not very pretty to look at. They were things that the children themselves had made.
They placed them down in front of Eiro, and just like everything else that had been offered to him, they fell apart into a glistening golden dust.
And with that, the ritual was close to its end.
Gobu stepped forward in front of Eiro, and once again began to speak, "Oh great Demon Lord of Virtue and Sin, we have presented you these sacrifices of our own effort and ti, of our love and attachnt. We, who have been given so much by your power, ask for naught in turn but your blessing."
Eiro looked down at the hobgoblin, and smiled. He could feel himself overflowing. It was a pretty weird sensation. It wasn't a power like mana or life force. It wasn't anything as tangible as that. It was more like a deep intensity that was filling his mind, like his very existence was being underlined or scread out into the world.
It was like the fact that Eiro was a real, living, breathing individual was finally just proven for the first ti.
The grass growing throughout his demonic domain was growing more lush, the small saplings began to grow into massive trees. Rivers began to sprout, and terrain popped up where there wasn't any before. A gentle breeze flowed through a certain part of hell.
Eiro grabbed that power. That proof of his existence. That very sensation of life itself. And he let it spread throughout this land. Through the town, and into all the people and monsters before him.
"I bestow upon you my blessing. The health and abudance to exist in togetherness, and the power and greed to protect each other against all odds. Those are the blessing you are to receive from , amongst many others. I thank you, from the bottom of my soul."
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