Anti-Ascension... Insights ii

Aaron and Duke stared at the Mograi in suspense, not sure of what to say. Their thoughts running wild, the ritual, did they make a mistake?

The Mograi was quite a bizarre looking creature, most of it's body parts were placed in awkward positions. It's foot, the right one faced forwards, while the left one faced backwards. It had no palms, instead there were sharp claws at the end of it's arms, and worst of all was it's wings– one of it stood at the middle of it's chest and the other at the middle of it's back.

All this time, the Mograi had been looking elsewhere, like it was taking a look at the christened path, it's head which was covered in long petals of black rose seemed to make a 280 degree turn.

The Mograi turned it's attention to Duke and Aaron, they now saw how unnatural it's face was. The nose of the Mograi was upside down, and from it's lips down to his chin were the only thing covered in flesh, the rest of it's face was a bony structure.

But the beauty the Mograi lacked in appearance, it made up for in voice. It's voice, as calm as a slow moving river. One who hadn't seen the Mograi would think good of it just by listening to it's voice. But unfortunately nothing in this world could make Duke and Aaron think good of the Mograi, even with it's pleasant voice, there was an eerie feel about the creature.

"What is my role here?" the Mograi asked.

Duke decided to answer, considering himself as the main reason for the ritual and of course he wanted to explain in the most polite way, keeping his bully characteristics aside so as not to ignite any bad temperament from the Mograi just like his father had warned.

"Am an individual marked by the midnight, my father, Gregor Oxette sent me here to this christened path to perform the ritual that brought you forth... My father said you will be able to dissolve the markings of the midnight." Duke explained.

"I see..." the Mograi said to himself. "Your father should have told you who i am, my duty is to purge away the markings of the midnight."

How awkward was it to watch the Mograi walk with those out placed pair of legs. The Mograi came closer to Duke, who by now was having second thoughts, either to shout for help or to trust in it's cool countenance.

"Seems your father knew that there's not much time left, that's why he had you perform the ritual to summon me, and after listening to you, I knew it's the perfect time to begin my main duty."

The Mograi paused and pointed it's long claws at Aaron. "His he with you?" The Mograi asked. "Because he has been listening to us all this while."

As much as Aaron hated to be excluded, this time he would have appreciated that the conversation was just between Duke and the creature.

Aaron smiled as he nodded a pretentious greeting.

"We're in this together," Duke replied.

"I see..." The Mograi smiled. "As humans, your mere eyes can't see the markings, only those as privileged as your father are able to. Earlier on, as you introduced yourself as Gregor's son i knew it was time, so i prepared over a thousand Purge Stands on this christened path, you can see for yourself."

A lot of low bright platforms lay on the christened path, when did the Mograi do all that. Aaron and Duke were literally surprised, they were so scared of the Mograi they forgot about their surroundings.

"The both of you can each stand on any of the bright platforms, since it's one at a time; it will purge one person of his markings and then it will be the turn of the next individual."

As the Mograi ushered Duke and a confused Aaron to their respective purge stands, he began explaining what the markings looked like, where it was on the human body and as well emphasizing on it's quick removal before the arrival of Death himself.

"Only privileged or special humans could see the markings as well as myself." the Mograi said as he pointed out their respective Purge Stands to them.

"Just like your friend here," he said pointing a claw to Aaron's neck. "Every human marked by the midnight would have a mark on—"

The Mograi tried to find the Black marking on Aaron's neck but couldn't, the Mograi looked quickly at Duke's neck and found his, and then he'll broke loose.

Pointing at Aaron. "You... you dare set your foot on the Purge Stand knowing fully well you didn't get marked by the midnight... Why you!!"

Aaron knew this was gonna happen, he wanted to explain to the Mograi earlier on, but he was too afraid and too confused, so he played along.

"Why would you set your foot on the Purge Stand, when you're not a carrier of the midnight marking?!" The Mograi was getting really mad.

Without a second to waste, Aaron quickly stepped out of the Purge Stand while he tried explaining his reasons. Duke on the other hand who was obviously happy about his midnight marking getting off him was completely startled by the scene playing out before him.

Duke obviously wanted to help due to the fact that he was the one who brought Aaron with him, but the Mograi's countenance and it's voice had changed and it's ears seemed not to function anymore.

"Am really sorry for hiding the truth from you, please forgive me, and go ahead and purge Duke over there. I... I'll t..a..ke my leave now " Aaron shakingly begged as he quietly jogged away.

"Humans...Such vile creatures." The Mograi cursed. "They always have to dent my hard work, I was sternly told not to allow any unmarked individual step a feet on the Purge Stand."

The Mograi was quick, it used it's awkward wings to glide towards Aaron and made a swipe at Aaron's back neck with it's sharp claws. Aaron let out a painfull scream and fell with his face touching the ground, his neck was bleeding seriously now. Aaron turned around, his eyes met with the shady bony eyes of the Mograi.

"The one who defies the Purge Stand must pay." The Mograi's voice which was as calm as a soft flowing river moments ago now changed into a voice filled with raw intent to kill.

Duke decided to rush to the aid of Aaron but was blown away by the current from the Mograi's wing.

"After ending you here, I'll wipe out your friends memory about you." The Mograi told Aaron as it's claws grew longer.

Aaron was dizzy now due to loss of blood, but he could see the Mograi trying to stab him at what seemed to be like slow motion. Although too dizzy now, his hands reacted quickly as he tried to hold off the Mograi's claws which pierced deep into his palms. This of course surprised the Mograi.

Am I going to die? he asked himself. Right now, no one knew where he was, not his brother Alan, nor his mother or father. Only the creature who was about taking his life and a helpless Duke who was literally helpless.

I was going to die, I cried in my head until a voice out of nowhere stooped me from thinking...

"ALADYNA'S INCENSE: Purple Belladonna..."

The Mograi stopped trying to kill me as some unknown flowers stalled the creature for a while. And I heard Duke saying something... Yes he said 'Father!' of course Gregor Oxette had come to our rescue.

But I was still dying slowly...

(yrammus) ...edosipE txeN