Chapter 52: Disruption
The inside of the tower was unlike anything Katrina had seen before. Faint blue light danced like the ocean’s surface over flowing seashell patterns, giving the impression that they’d stepped into another, undersea world. Opposite the entrance some form of plinth appeared to have grown from the tower’s alien geometry, presenting a shimmering crystal to the human world in its crab-like claws: a crystal that looked as if it contained the very essence of the ocean itself. Without needing to think, her camera began to click away, recording every little detail of this otherworldly place.
“You ask me, this is pretty creepy,” commented Theseus, as the rest of the group stood around in awe.
“We do not have time to admire our surroundings,” said Faye, “Lyra Byrne, I request you assistance in the disruption of this elemental node,”
Lyra shuffled forward, still exhausted from overexerting herself. “I ain’t a clue what this place is all about, but I guess if ye be thinking I can do something I’d better be trying me best,”
Katrina followed them to the crystal’s altar, which she assumed must be the ‘elemental node’, but kept a distance as they examined it. She wondered what kinds of photo the shimmering artefact would produce as she snapped away, hoping at the same time that she wasn’t being a nuisance.
“This node controls and focuses the Water element,” Faye lectured to the chamber, “In terms of the manifestation ritual, this will be responsible for transferring the demon’s mind and thoughts into its new body. Should it be disabled, the manifest form of the demon will no longer be capable of sentient thought. Should it be corrupted, the demon shall likely suffer severe amnesia. And should it be the only element remaining, the demon’s memory shall be implanted on each of the sacrifices,”
“They all sound proper bad,” offered Joel, standing nearby with a firm grip on his guitarblade, “Man, and we gotta take out more of these bad boys?”
“Recall that we are not alone in our mission,” said Faye, “This one alone should do,”
“Well, I ain’t a clue what all this ‘elemental’ business is about,” said Lyra, “I weren’t taught any of this magic circle demon summoning crap,”
“What I refer to as an ‘element’ you refer to as a ‘wavelength’,” explained Faye. Lyra’s eyes lit up with understanding, “Merely by disrupting this point we disrupt the whole ritual,”
“Sounds like a pretty vulnerable circuit,” said John, “Don’t they have countermeasures or backups?”
“It is likely they have backups should the ritual be aborted or disrupted too soon. Timing is of the essence.“
“It ain’t like the gems I store me chi in, that’s for certain,” said Lyra, “It don’t even look like a natural crystal, being all pointy and stuff…”
“That is because this is not a natural formation. It is pure manifest mana. The shaman created what you call ‘leansídhe’ to collect specific elemental energies. Once the leansídhe had consumed enough it would be reduced to this crystalline state,”
Katrina continued clicking away, wondering if maybe the leansídhe’s shadow would appear when these auragraphs were developed.
“This particular crystal would have been formed from human fear,” continued Faye, “We must now—“
“THOSE BASTARDS!” cried Joel, anger rebounding around the twisted walls of the tower. He charged forward, swung his sword back like a bat, and aimed for the altar. “You two better get the fuck outta my way!”
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