The room fell silent, the eight boys and the staff members froze as they stared at the phenomenon that was blocking their only escape- except they'll climb out the window that was two storeys high. What could go wrong with that?
The signs of old age were evident on her body but it was clear as day that she was possessed but would the possessed carry on the procession. She's an Entity for crying out loud, she's worshipped.
Rites are to be carried out by the worshippers not the worshipped!
Possessed Nadia stared at the occupants of the room, keeping that uncomfortable stance before fixating on the boy behind Allan, Yaagnar.
"Who is the reason of my summon?" Possessed Nadia said in a sweet feminine voice as she straightened her back making bone crackling sounds as she threw her hands about.
Her voice and her new posture was mesmerizing. Such youth coming from an old body, that means the myths of possession is true. It would be wise to answer her question before one would experience the damage that could be done with Old Nadia's hands.
One of the staff members bowed and showed a scar on his right hand that was placed on his heart and answered. "Your daughter, Nadia was initiating the child in the circle."
The possessed body turned towards Allan who stood not bothered in a bit by her presence. "That's not enough reason to invoke me." She snarled keeping eye contact with the boy.
"He is uncompliant." The staff explained.
"It is by free will! Am I to force my worship down his throat? It is servitude, we are long past the days of slavery." The Possessed Nadia said with annoyance in her voice. "Was I invoked to force a boy to be my follower? What have you naughty kids being up to these days?"
"The boy dishonored your name, pledging his allegiance to Zylaris after being taught the ways of Maelstrom. He owes a debt, a debt of the life that Maelstrom, your honour has provided him, if he refuses to serve his debt, he just pay it one was or another." Ethel explained with her scarred hand over her heart proving her allegiance.
'This is definitely above my paycheck.' Ethel grumbled internally. 'Aftervthis, I am certainly eligible for a raise!'
The Possessed body turned towards Allan taking careful and delicate steps. "And a life I shall take, at least, you have not forgotten your manners. Now let's see what you are made up of."
She just waved her her hands around but nothing really happened or at least it looked like nothing happened. But Allan's knees started to buckle as life was literally being sucked out of him.
Her mouth was wide open savouring every taste of it, "When was the last time a meal was this tasty?" She questioned aloud as her senses her overcame by the satisfaction and divine taste of this delicacy.
He fell on his knees not being able to muster energy to stand any longer and the boys just watched. They wanted to help but they were scared to go through whatever Allan was going through right now. His body was lifeless but he looked stoic as ever at this rate he would be a mummified corpse by the end of the minute.
Yaagnya stepped into the circle and pounced on Nadia pushing her to the floor. He threw hands however he could trying to buy enough time for Allan to crawl out of the circle. But it was not enough as the Possessed body took him by the neck, held him above her neck squeezing tight and she sucked the life out of him.
He muttered with his last breath, "Mother..." with his hand over his heart, he took had been scarred in preparation to leave the orphanage today.
Upon hearing his words, her grip turned weak and scrambled out of her reach as she held her heart due to the huge pain that took over her body.
Why would a mother hurt her child? How can a mother not know her child? What type of mother is she?
Her mind got clouded as guilt took over her making her fall on her knees and sob. But it did not last as she looked at Allan again.
"He is my friend , I offer myself as atonement for his defiance." Yaagnar said with a shaky voice, this is the Entity he had being bonded with it would be foolishness to anger it but would he watch it devour his friend and brother?
"It is not enough." She stated as she looked at Yaagnar with annoyance.
"I would give you more than that." Yaagnar explained.
"Why would I bargain with you when I can take what I want?" She asked with an angry sigh.
"Because you don't have much time left on this plane. What you stand to lose is more than what you stand to gain that is why you are extracting so fast and not caring if the damage you are doing to the body you are currently possessing." Yaagnar explained as he took backwards steps.
"You know a few rules, I guess." Maelstrom said and the room fell dark as despair filled the air, dread laced in between. "You should know what happens to a promise breaker."
With that, the presence disappeared like a flash, the weight that was on the occupants in the room gone. They stared at each other as they tried to understand what happened.
They heard footsteps heading towards the room from the empty corridors. It was the Necroforce recruiters.
Fun Fact:
Maelstrom is a type of entity and is worshipped. She is being known as the mother of the astray. Given the fact that Yaagnya was being initiated (which he did voluntarily) he steps in to stop her from taking Allan as she can only take a soul because of the state of the vessel she is occupying ( Madam Nadia)and the time constraints.
Giving himself as the sacrifice to buy enough time before she left was the smartest thing he could think of to deescalate the situation. You would say, he has already being initiated but nothing's better than rededication.
If you don't understand, it would be explained in more details during the academy arc.