Chapter 676: The Altar Beneath the Seal

Tobias winced.

It was not a dramatic movement. Just a small tightening of his face, as if he already knew what was about to come his way the moment the words left his mouth.

"It... escaped me?" he said.

Ronan stared at him.

There was a pause that lasted just long enough to be dangerous.

"Are you asking me," Ronan said slowly, "or telling me?"

Tobias hesitated.

"...I’m asking?" he tried.

That was enough.

Ronan pushed back from his seat so abruptly that the legs scraped against the floor with a sharp sound. He moved like he was about to cross the distance between them in about two strides.

Tobias reacted immediately.

He shot up from his chair and bolted toward the far end of the hall, nearly stumbling over his own feet in the process. He stopped only when there was a good amount of distance between them, turning quickly with both hands raised in front of him.

"I am only a boy!" he said in a rush. "There is no need for violence!"

Lysander’s lips twitched.

He turned his face slightly away, but the faint amusement did not leave his expression.

Around the table, the others chuckled. Even Mary, who had been frowning for most of the meeting, let out a small breath that could almost have been a suppressed laugh.

Ronan stopped where he was, staring at Tobias like he was reconsidering several life decisions at once.

Then he exhaled and dragged a hand down his face.

"Sit down," he said.

Tobias did not move.

Ronan looked up again.

"Sit," he repeated, voice flatter this time. "Down. And start talking."

Tobias squinted at him from across the hall.

"...Are you going to hit me?"

"I’ll try not to," Ronan said.

There was a brief pause.

Then Tobias nodded once, as if accepting terms to a very serious agreement, and slowly made his way back to the table. He pulled his chair out carefully, sat down, and adjusted himself like someone attempting to look as unthreatening as possible.

"I should have said something earlier," he admitted.

The hall settled again, the earlier distraction fading as quickly as it had come.

Tobias rested his hands on the table, fingers lacing together briefly before he spoke again.

"The Trine of Ash and Vein," he began, "is not something most people know about. And even among those who do, the information is... incomplete."

Eldric leaned back slightly.

"We are aware of that much," he said.

Tobias nodded.

"Yes. Then you already know that it is forbidden."

No one argued that.

"You know that it requires three points," Tobias continued, glancing briefly at everyone. "Three locations. And that for it to take effect, those points must be occupied at the same time."

"And you know," Tobias went on, quieter now, "that it is not just a matter of standing there. A life must be taken at each point and at the same moment."

Mary shifted in her seat, though she said nothing.

Eldric exhaled softly.

"Yes," he said. "We know."

Tobias nodded again.

"I am sure you all know the basic things then, but what I am about to say... well, it is already too late now since it has already happened, but anyway, once the Trine of Ash and Vein has been activated, no one is to go near it."

That drew a few looks.

"Not near the locations themselves," he clarified. "Not near the points. And certainly not within the space it anchors."

Lysander frowned slightly, but he did not say anything.

"And more importantly," Tobias went on, "no one is supposed to interfere with it, but like I said..."

He swallowed nervously.

"It is a bit too late for that, given Orion has already killed what the seal was holding in place."

The silence that followed this time was heavier.

Then Ronan sighed.

"Where were you when we went into Nirvana and found Dolion and everything?" he growled lowly.

Tobias winced.

"Um..." he said nervously as he played with the earring in his right lobe. "In the black market, perhaps?"

Ronan rolled his eyes at that.

Tobias shifted slightly in his seat again.

"There is one more thing," he said.

"Spit it out," Ronan told him.

"It is not commonly known," Tobias continued. "I only got this information in the black market."

Eldric leaned forward slightly.

"Go on," he said.

Tobias nodded.

"Before the Trine of Ash and Vein can take effect," he said, "there must be a structure in place."

Madam Tyler stilled.

Tobias continued.

"An altar," he said. "Or something similar to one."

That was when Madam Tyler’s eyes widened.

The reaction was immediate.

Ronan noticed it first.

"What?" he asked, turning toward her.

Madam Tyler did not answer him right away.

Her gaze had shifted, unfocused for a brief moment as something settled into place in her mind.

"The structure," she said slowly.

Ronan frowned.

"What structure?"

She turned to him then.

"When we first discussed the Trine of Ash and Vein," she said, "you described what you saw at the eastern location."

Ronan blinked once.

"The ruins?" he asked.

She nodded.

"The circle of pillars," she continued. "The one with a stone at the center and others surrounding it."

Ronan’s expression shifted slightly.

"Yes," he said. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Madam Tyler exhaled.

"I remember now," she said.

The room quieted again.

"That structure," she continued, "is not just a ruin. It is an altar. I knew there was a reason it looked familiar."

She shook her head and sighed deeply as she spoke.

"It is a ritual structure," she said. "One tied specifically to the Trine of Ash and Vein."

A pause followed that.

Then she spoke again.

"It is called the Nir’thal Circle. It is normally built for rituals involving black magic. Sacrifices must be done there. That is why it is so different from the other altars we build when it comes to serving the goddess."

Tobias frowned faintly.

"I... did not know that part," he admitted. "I only know it is tied to the seal, but now I think it makes sense. Without the altar, the seal cannot take effect."