In the dimly lit secret room on the first floor of The Society for Natural Philosophy, Abel had finally begin to study one of the three pillars of the occult—the esoteric ritual arts.
The atmosphere inside the room was calm and peaceful, and the light from the wall-mounted lamps cast a mystical glow in the surroundings.
The smoke from Madam Whitmore's pipe lingered in the air for a few moments before dissipating into nothingness.
"First, you must understand that the three pillars of the occult—alchemy, astrology, and the ritual arts—are deeply interconnected," she began.
Abel sat with his back straight, listening intently to each and every word.
"Astrology is the study of cosmic forces and the influence of celestial bodies on earthly affairs. Alchemy is the transformation of substances from one form to another.
"Lastly, ritual arts are the structured practices that harness cosmic and alchemical forces to enact change."
