Chapter 77: Spirit Forest

Without the ceremony, this place would be gone anyway.

"Draft out letters to the candidates you have in mind as your successors. We will leave the sacred texts in the Hall of Priests explaining the ceremony rituals and chants. And with it letters with the priesthood seals appointing them as the new Hall of Priests. We leave in an hour, get it done by then and meet me at the riverbank."

***

One Hour Later.

The First Priests gathered at the riverbank with the High Priest. The High Priest kneeled near the riverbank and offered prayers to the spirits as he asked for a passage. He was well aware of the sacredness of the Spirit Forest, he will have to be granted permission to enter or else all the spirits and beasts in there would view them as intruders and attack. Right now, they had no time to spare fighting beasts or binding spirits.

As the High Priest finished his prayers, two trees on the other side started to grow taller as they binded together. Soon the joined tree trunks bent forward to form a bridge above the river. The priests offered grattitude to the spirits of the forest as they walked over it.

The Spirit Forest was the most dangerous place for unwelcomed guests, but for the High Priest it was a sacred place that should remain undisturbed. Some spirits here were as long as thousands of years old and their strength was at par with the gods. They could become highly aggressive if anyone disturbed their slumber. Other than that were some century old spirits that gathered here with time. Each year the stone cleansed the place of evil spirits leaving only good or the neutral ones behind. Since the Spirit Forest was quite rich in energy many spirits gathered here to cultivate. Many mythical beasts resided in this forest and none of them were fans of human intrusion. There were countless Gandharvas, Yakshas, Shunis* and many more. The legend has it that even an Ahi* sleeps in the depths of these mountains.

The priests carefully made their way through the dark forest as they followed closely behind the High Priest. They didn't want to unintentionally disturb a spirit or run into a beast. It would be tragic if they couldn't even reach their destination to call for the Great Guardians. Since they weren't powerful enough to cover a large area, it would require close proximity with the enemy for the summoning to work.

Priest Dharma caught upto the High Priest at the front.

"My apologies, Your Eminence, for I have failed you." Priest Vishva raised his hand to stop him right there but he was determined. "Please, let me. I must say this now before it's too late. It was my fault that he escaped. Let me be upfront during the summoning. It is the only way I can die in peace. I beg you." he suddenly knelt down and touched Priest Vishva's feet. Priest Vishva could understand that the guilt Priest Dharma felt was eating him away. But he hesitated to let him be the first sacrifice. Since there were nine of them, there was a chance that the last ones could survive. He couldn't bear to take that chance away from his brothers. Before he could say anything Priest Shravan came forward as well.

"What rubbish! Priest Dharma is the oldest and wisest among us. He must stay behind to teach the next generation." He bowed with his hands clasped together, "High Priest, please let me."

At this another one came forward, "Aren't you getting ahead of yourself by claiming to be young! You're just an old bag of bones. High Priest will definitely make me go first as I'm the youngest."

"Wasn't it just last week when you mixed up the names of your own disciples, old man?" said Priest Devansh with a laugh. His words made the previous priest go red in rage.

"Who are you calling old? I'm as young as one can be!"

All the First Priests ignored the High Priest and started to call each other old just to offer themselves to be first in the summoning. Even though it seemed like they were bickering but the way they were ready to go first just to give one of their brothers a chance was enough to melt a million hearts. Priest Vishva felt a wave of warmth take over him and his eyes teared up.

"Enough!" he yelled and the heated arguments dropped within a second.

"I'm the High Priest and I shall be the first. No more arguments regarding that." he said and turned to continue their journey without looking back. He wiped his tears with his sleeves that were threatening to fall any moment. He didn't want the First Priests to see him in this vulnerable state. Since he had already decided to go down, he wanted to do so with pride.

A loud screech echoed in the forest and startled everyone. As the sound of loud rumblings seemed to be coming towards them, the First Priests instinctively surrounded the High Priest as they started to run away from it.

***

*Mythical creatures from Hindu Mythology.

Gandharvas are half humans and half horses with wings. They are quite similar to centaurs only they can fly.

Yakshas are powerful nature spirits or beings that sometimes guard valuable treasures and live in tree trunks or roots. They are depicted as both benevolent at some places and also as monsters that devour travellers.

Shunis are kind of dog monsters that are very fierce and aggressive. Though there are some people who worship them and see them as well intended guardians.

An Ahi is a huge serpent like monster that is large enough to devour all the water bodies of the entire earth. It can also take away fertility from people. And it sleeps in the mountains.