The Ritual

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The Ritual

This memory is very vivid, but fragmentary. I will set down what I see.

       I see through Ellanna's eyes that the room is dark. I stand with my hands on my hips, feet apart, looking down at the floor to admire my work. I have the sense of accomplishment, as well as mild physical exertion. Alyra stands across from me looking fairly excited... for Alyra. :)
       On the floor, set in a circle of candles, is a pictogram: a circle drawn with chalk on the cement floor, containing lines jutting off in odd directions, odd curlicues, runes and other things that I can't clearly make out. The lines have been very precisely and carefully drawn. The sense is that Alyra helped me to draw it.
       We're only half done. There remains some right to be enacted. I look at the ceiling and murmur a hopeful prayer, and Alyra asks if I'm ready. I nod, and we begin. We walk around the circle in a clockwise fashion, slowly, speaking invocations. I remember the sense of great concentration, and the glow of the candle-light, and then, suddenly, a sinking feeling, and then there is nothing more.
       The purpose of this ritual remains a mystery to our present selves, but we tend to agree that it is responsible for the past/future ambiguity of some of our memories, though our theories as to why are different.