The City of Silver, at the base of the Round Tower.
The spacious chamber was filled with racks cast from black iron, on which sat many strangely shaped objects: some were enormous gelatinous bubbles suffused with blood-red hues, some were golden spheres threaded with red, and others resembled translucent, curved, bloody intestines...
However peculiar their appearances, every one of these objects possessed intense spirituality. Along with that spirituality came an ineradicable madness and degeneration contained within them.
Without a doubt, these were the contaminated Beyonder characteristics the City of Silver had collected over all these years!
Pure, intense light circled through the storeroom.
The flowing light was imbued with glory and sanctity. With overwhelming force, it suppressed and sealed the Beyonder characteristics on the racks, preventing them from coming to life or merging with the objects around them.
At that moment, Colin and Lovia stood before these racks.
"What do you need prepared?"
Colin asked, his eyes deep and unreadable, "Essential oils, herbs, spiritually rich monster blood... or the flesh and souls of living human sacrifices?"
Just like the things evil gods were said to favor in the records...
Lovia recognized the probing intent behind his words and gave him a calm look.
"Just three candles will do," she said mildly.
For the City of Silver, which needed constant illumination yet lacked technology, candles were naturally among the most common items. Colin casually took two candles made from animal fat off the wall beside the storeroom and set them before Lovia.
Then he drew the two swords from his back.
Clang!
The blades scraped together with a crisp ring.
Holding the straight swords, Colin closed his eyes and murmured.
As he prayed, the flowing light in the chamber began to gather, covering the two straight swords. Soon, more and more