my beauty world

Chapter 162 The Taste of Soul and Ritual (7000 words)
Thanks to the development of the computer game industry, the druid industry has become widely known, but the ancient Celtic mythology and druid beliefs are far from the druids set in the game.

According to Veronica, the ancient Druid sect recorded in ancient Rome and church classics used human sacrifices, which is not a fiction.

In fact, in ancient religious beliefs, lighting sky lanterns can be said to be a widespread behavior.

When it comes to quantity and scale, who can compare to the Holy See?
"The ancient Druid sect never worshiped a certain god." Veronica said again: "Each branch is different, and even each sect of each branch is different."

She took a photo on the blackboard: "The ancient druid sect on Danu Island probably sacrificed a dementor as a god! Sacrifice a living person, and dedicate the human soul to the dementor! "

Ilsa asked: "What are the characteristics of dementors? How to deal with them?"

Veronica sat back on the chair: "As the name suggests, dementors feed on souls. According to ancient books, because the roots of dementors come from powerful humans who have died in pain and suffered soul tearing, combined with demons who play with souls The essence of it, it has extremely high demands on the sacrificed soul!"

She opened a book on the table: "A soul that dies peacefully does not please spirit monsters. It likes souls with strong emotions before death! Such as pain, joy, regret, despair, and reverence, etc."

Strictly speaking, Ronan is also a person who plays with souls, but souls are treated equally in his hands, so he couldn't help interjecting and asked, "Is there any difference?"

Veronica said: "For the dementors, the soul is the food, and emotions of joy, anger, sorrow and joy are the external manifestations of the fluctuations of the soul, or it can be understood in this way that strong emotions are seasonings, which can make the soul more delicious .”

Having never seen such a dementor, Ronan can only say that it makes sense.

Anyway, for him, whether he was angry or sad, they were all red soul fragments.

"I don't know how to deal with a dementor. This kind of monster hasn't appeared for too many years." Veronica thought about it and said, "Many outsiders changed after watching or participating in the sacrifice of the Danu Islanders. Be a devout believer, and dementors feed on souls, and their abilities should act on the spiritual or soul level of people."

She thought for a while, then said, "You'd better bring some holy water, it might be useful."

Ilsa said: "I will go to Westminster Abbey."

Veronica reminded: "You have to pay attention, the danger is not only from the dementors, the ancient druids were once the backbone of the Kate people against the invasion of the Roman Empire, and Merlin was also a druid!"

After a few more questions, Ronan and Ilsa left the Royal Academy.

The two did not return to the hotel for the time being, and went directly to Ilsa's safe house in the East End of London.

Entering the apartment, Ilsa took a picture of the closet, and the large open closet was automatically divided into two sides, revealing the mezzanine inside, with various weapons hanging on it, including grenades, smoke bombs and shock bombs.

"Is there any medicine?" Ronan had no shortage of guns and ammunition.

Ilsa opened the metal drawer next to it, and there were densely packed bottles and jars inside: "The hallucinogens and poisons commonly used by MI6, Americans, Germans, and Russians are available. You choose."

Ronan was not polite to her, and picked out some of them and stored them in the badge space, especially the powerful hallucinogens for forcing confessions.

Ilsa took out guns and ammunition and stuffed them into the badge space. Thinking of Ronan's usual practice, she put four automatic rifles, three submachine guns and shotguns each, two pistols, and countless ammunition.

Ronan didn't have stun bombs, so he took a few.

At the same time, he took out three RPG7s and the corresponding warheads from the ring space, and placed them in front of Ilsa: "You take them with you."

Ilsa nodded and put them all away.

These weapons, if you don't use them, you can't use them. When you really use them, they can save lives!
Ilsa loaded more grenades, smoke grenades, and stun grenades, and took two sabers.

The gentleman system and the soldier system come from the same source, and have also been modernized and improved. The use of modern weapons is the most important thing in training.

"Whatever you want, I'll go to the contact person." Ilsa turned on the computer and contacted the college student on Danu Island under a false identity.

The two parties agreed to meet tomorrow, and then she contacted Westminster Abbey through Kingsman Manor.

Unlike the Wilshire Church, which sells tourist souvenirs presided over by Thomas, Westminster Abbey is the premier religious place of the Anglican Church, also known as Westminster Abbey.

Leaving the safe house and returning to the hotel, Ronan drove past the east side of Westminster Abbey. Ilsa got off the car and entered the monastery. After about 10 minutes, she came back with a suitcase.

Get in the car, open the suitcase, and there are two bottles of holy water in it, which doesn't look much different from ordinary water.

Ilsa took out a bottle and gave it to Ronan: "Keep it away." She said roughly, "I asked the bishop, and he said that there are some things that guns can't deal with."

Ronan put the holy water alone in the corner of the ring space: "Is the holy water okay?"

Ilsa repeated the bishop's words: "The bishop told me this, I saw many times that the best way to expel the devil and prevent it from coming back is holy water. The holy name can also expel it, but it returns. The power of holy water should be It is the most applicable!"

Ronan nodded: "I hope not to use it."

To use holy water, it means that modern weapons such as firearms will not work.

On the way back to the hotel, the two went to the mall to buy a camera and luggage and other supplies.

They were impersonating two college students studying folklore.

Back at the hotel, Ronan learned more about the situation of the two through the information provided by Ilsa.

The two folklorists, one named Miranda and the other named Wayne, a postgraduate student of folk art at Cambridge University, are a couple.

The two were preparing for their dissertation. They met Payton from the Shetland Islands through an online community. They were attracted by the hometown scenery and special customs he described. They wanted to take the opportunity of summer vacation to visit Danu Island together. The so-called great sacrifice is held only once every ten years.

All the online communication records between Miranda, Wayne and Peyton have been picked up and clearly displayed on the data.

The next morning, according to the agreed time and place, the two sides formally met in the coffee shop in Trafal Square.

Also known as meeting friends.

Payton is a man with brown-red curly hair and a beard. He looks quite old, not like a college student in his early 20s, but like an uncle in his 30s.

"We are old friends, although we met for the first time." Peyton was very enthusiastic: "I saw the photos of Scottish folklore taken on your blog, which is really great."

Ronan smiled and said, "Thank you."

Peyton is very good at talking: "After seeing your photos, my artistic inspiration exploded, and the next day I went to Scotland with my classmates to sketch, and created the most outstanding works since I started painting."

Ronan answered, "I believe Danu Island will not let us down."

"Of course! I can guarantee it!" Peyton said with confidence: "My hometown, Danu Island, is a unique place. The people there are very enthusiastic and will entertain guests in a unique way on Danu Island. Well, soon there will be a great sacrifice once every ten years, and you can see a lot of original folk customs."

Ilsa looked very much looking forward to it: "This is exactly what Wayne and I need. We will be graduating next year, and we must prepare thesis materials. The research direction is the ancient folk customs of the British Isles."

Peyton gestured and said, "Then you are on the right track! This time, you will definitely gain a lot!"

Ronan kept nodding: "I can't wait to talk about it."

Peyton said: "The sacrificial ceremony will begin soon, without further ado. We will set off early tomorrow morning, take a plane to Samburg Airport on the archipelago, and then take a ferry to Danu Island. If all goes well, we will arrive tomorrow afternoon. .”

Ilsa took down the flight number Peyton said and went back to book a ticket.

Peyton added: "There are also two of my classmates who are traveling with me, and they also want to go and have a look."

Ronan said: "It's okay, more people are more lively."

This meeting with netizens didn't last too long, because we had to leave early tomorrow morning, and after chatting for less than half an hour, we all dispersed.

Peyton left the coffee shop, went to the side of the square, found a public phone, and dialed a fixed number.

There are not many people on Danu Island, it is far away from populated areas, and there is no mobile phone signal.

When he got connected, he said, "I'm Peyton. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. We've gathered all the people. Three men and one woman. I'm sure I'll be there."

On the other side was a woman with brown hair: "I'm Maya, and I'll tell Emma and Dan."

After hanging up the phone, Maya ran out of the log-colored house, walked across the flat and spacious lawn, and came to a mountain. She looked up at the high cliff at the foot of the mountain, and someone was cleaning it.

The two leaders of the Danu Island Self-Government Association, Emma and Dan, were standing at the bottom of the cliff, and they were cleaning a stone platform.

The platform formed naturally by white stone has many dark spots on it, as if some kind of paint has penetrated for a long time.

Maya came over quickly and said, "Elder, Peyton just called, and he's full of people."

Dan asked, "Three men and a woman?"

Maya copied the original words: "Three men and one woman, I will definitely be there."

Emma interjected at this time: "Other aspects are temporarily canceled, as long as there are enough people, too many at once will easily attract attention."

Dan waved his hands and said to Maya: "You go and inform other people outside."

Maya walked back, and a group of elderly couples with white hair and beard came face to face. They hurriedly stepped aside and bowed slightly to salute.

People around, including Dan and Emma, ​​all saluted them.

…………

Just as the sun was due east, the small airliner landed at Fort Sum Airport.

Ronan and Ilsa got off the plane first, went to pick up the checked luggage, dragged the suitcase, and left the small terminal. The black brother Dunn, who had been airsick all the way, suddenly regained his vitality.

"Do you have many beautiful girls?" Dunn, like Payton, is from the Royal Academy of Arts. He speaks and acts in the usual style of blacks, speaking very fast, dancing with hands and feet: "Payton, I have always wanted to find a pure red-haired girl." A Celtic descendant as a girlfriend! Of course, I don’t mind having a few more!”

He parted the dreadlocks to the back of his head: "Based on my terms, it shouldn't be a problem to attract the girl from your side, right?"

Peyton said: "This kind of thing depends on your preference. I can tell you one thing. According to traditional customs, before the sacrifice begins, there will be activities for young people to choose their partners! At that time, all unmarried men and women will live together in a big house. In the house..."

The black man jumped up happily: "It's cool! Peyton, is it not suitable for you to try, can you change it?"

Bart, another student from the Royal College of Art, said: "Be careful of being forced by them to stay and never come back."

Payton also said: "This is a very sacred thing, don't blame me for not telling you, Dunn, when you make a choice, you can't go back on it!"

Compared with Peyton's two classmates, Ronan and Ilsa have always been quiet and rarely participate in their topics.

Ronan was dragging the suitcase, and Ilsa was carrying a large travel bag. She put her left hand in her trouser pocket, and her right hand held Ronan's arm. Like all lovers, they occasionally whispered a few words.

Peyton found a commercial vehicle and took a group of people to the distant pier.

The car started, passed through half of the city, and came to the pier.

There are many islands in the Shetland Islands, and on some sparsely populated islands, the transportation is very inconvenient, and there are even no public ferries.

This is the case with Danu Island.

As soon as I got out of the car, two middle-aged men came over to say hello: "Payton, you're back!"

Peyton gave them a hug, and then introduced the four Ronan one by one, saying: "These are my friends, and they are very interested in our traditions and folklore."

The older man smiled enthusiastically: "Welcome!"

The boat to Danu Island belongs to the self-government association on the island, and it is not usually opened, and it is only responsible for picking up people from Danu Island.

The boat was not big, with only five rows of seats. Ilsa carried her bag and came to the last row.

Ronan followed behind.

The black Dunn glanced at Ilsa, subconsciously wanting to come here, but Ronan blocked the passage leading to the last row and said, "This place is full."

"There are four seats in the back, you can't..." Dunn babbled.

Ronan looked at him, and Dunn's neck suddenly felt cold, and he shrank back and sat on the seat in front.

The man sat down, his mouth still broken: "What's so great..."

Ronan was sitting in the last row, and Ilsa shook her head at him, leaning into her ear and saying, "Dementors are important."

Dementors are directly related to the promotion of the two.

Peyton came over with the life jacket, distributed it to everyone one by one, and apologized to Ronan and Ilsa in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Dunn is not malicious, he is more outgoing and likes to make friends. "

Ronan said casually, "It's okay."

If you really want to be as knowledgeable as this black man, he would have kicked the black man into the sea long ago.

The boat started and headed northwest.

After walking for two hours, an island appeared in front of it, a large island surrounded by small rocky islands, and the boat sailed along the channel to the pier of the large island.

From a distance, most parts of the big island are relatively flat, but to the west, there is a mountain with snow on the top.

Ronan vaguely saw people on the mountain, as if many people were cleaning the platform-like cliffs at the foot of the mountain.

"Guys!" Peyton stood up and said loudly, "Danu Island is here! Danu Island welcomes you!"

Ronan took out the camera from his bag and asked, "Can I take pictures?"

Peyton nodded: "Yes! You can take pictures in public places on the island!"

In the middle of summer, the latitude here is very high, only six to seven hundred kilometers away from the Arctic Circle. The lush vegetation and flowers on the island are dotted with beautiful natural scenery.

The scenery is beautiful, the temperature is suitable, and the dementors and religious factors are thrown away, Danu Island is very suitable for vacation.

The boat was leaning against the pier, and a man in a white robe came over, caught the cable thrown by Peyton, and tied it to the wooden stake.

Ronan went to the pier with the others, and a carriage was parked at the end of the pier trestle.

The man in the white robe said: "We respect nature. There are no cars on the island."

Payton said: "The island is the purest pastoral life."

Bart, who said very little, said: "This is very good! There is no pollution, far away from the hustle and bustle, and the heart can calm down."

The luggage was loaded on the carriage, and the coachman, who was also wearing a white robe, drove the carriage to the center of the island.

Ronan and these people need to walk there.

Far from the coast, there are cultivated farmland and flower gardens on both sides of the road. Occasionally, when I meet residents on the island, they all greet each other warmly, with cheerful and crisp laughter.

There is a small lake in the east, and there is a stream coming from the other side of the mountain. The surface of the lake is clear and bright, like a mirror.

Ilsa couldn't help but said, "It's so beautiful here!"

Ronan gradually got used to doing things in line with the personality of the vest. After consulting Peyton, he picked up the camera to take pictures from time to time.

"Hey! Hey! Dude!" The black Dunn recovered from seasickness, shaking his dreadlocks, and jumped in front of the camera lens: "Take a picture of me! With the snow-capped mountains as the background!"

Ronan put away the camera: "Unfortunately, there is no film."

Dunn widened his eyes, wanting to say something.

Ronan didn't bother to talk to him, so he took a few steps and caught up with Ilsa: "When we have money in the future, let's find a good place and buy a small island."

Ilsa just laughed.

Their identities and what they have done are destined to not be able to stay in one place for long.

Later, Bart reminded Dunn: "Be careful, they are lovers, how could you do such a thing!"

Dun En muttered: "Don't you think she is very beautiful? There is also a kind, how should I put it, a very special temperament."

Bart took the initiative to stay away, and really didn't want to be with this person.

After walking for more than an hour, a large flat lawn appeared in front of him, which was as big as two football fields.

On the lawn, wooden houses were built. The houses were not painted and were pure log color.

Many people in white robes were busy, and young girls wore flower crowns and brought pots of flowers to decorate the lawn.

Young and strong men are building the venue, using logs to make simple seats.

In the large open kitchen, older women are busy having dinner.

In the center of the lawn, a wooden frame was erected. At first glance, it looked like a cross, but on the cross arms on both sides of the wooden frame, there were two huge wooden rings hanging on each side.

Next to the wooden frame, lay some dummies made of sticks.

The largest one is four or five meters high.

There are a few older men in white robes who are doing grooming.

Starting from going to the island, everything you see makes people feel like a paradise.

Ronan turned on his spirit vision and found nothing unusual.

At the end of the road, Peyton made a gesture of invitation: "Everyone, the sacrificial venue is here."

Ronan and Ilsa are people who study folklore, so the latter asked, "Is there anything I should pay attention to?"

The middle-aged man in the white robe took over the conversation: "We have relatively few young people. We will erect the willow branch man over there in a while. Can I ask for your help?"

Ronan replied: "Of course!" He said at the right time: "I'm studying folklore and preparing for next year's thesis. May I ask, is this the Willowman in the tradition of the Druids?"

The middle-aged man in the white robe said with a smile: "Yes! We have an ancient and simple Druid belief, and willow branches are an important part of sacrificial activities."

"Thank you for clarifying." Ronan spoke very politely.

Not far away, the black man Dunn looked at the erected wooden shelf and whispered to Bart: "Look, there are two balls hanging on the cross arms on both sides of the shelf. What do they look like?"

Bart knew that he had no good words, so he didn't answer them at all.

Dunn shook his dreadlocks and pointed at his crotch: "Does it look like this?"

Bart didn't seem to hear, and hurried forward, walking with Ronan and Ilsa.

The middle-aged man in white robe glanced at the black man, pretending not to hear.

Walk up the flat lawn, walk around the flower bushes, and come to a huge white house like a warehouse.

There stood two middle-aged men in white robes, a man and a woman.

Peyton introduced: "This is Emma and Danu, the elders of the Danu Island Self-Government Association."

Then Ronan and others were introduced.

Dan smiled and said, "Welcome to Danu Island!"

Emma said: "We are about to hold a great sacrifice once every ten years. At this time, all the distinguished guests will come!" She waved behind her, and several girls came over with an oak box. She opened the box and took out the golden oak badge inside , pinned on everyone's necklines with their own hands: "A little gift from me."

When he came over just now, Ronan saw that everyone was wearing a white robe with a golden oak badge pinned to it.

Ronan and Ilsa thank you.

Then, under the leadership of Peyton, they entered the big house behind the two elders together.

The luggage has been delivered and is placed in the house.

There are many wooden beds in the house, and there are high wooden boards between the beds.

On Peyton's suggestion, Ronan and Ilsa chose a larger compartment with a double bed inside, which can sleep two people.

After entering the compartment to pack things, Ilsa took Ronan's hand and quickly drew a line on it: "Is there anything unusual?"

Ronan took a closer look at the oak tree badge, made sure there was no problem, and replied in the same way: "Not yet."

Peyton's voice came from outside at this time: "It's time to erect willow branches, everyone go help!"

Ronan nodded at Ilsa, and the two of them went out of the cubicle together, joined the others, and left the big house to the middle of the lawn.

Dozens of people gathered here, more than a dozen young and strong men were standing by the rope that tied the willow man, and the leader was a strong Nordic man with a height of two meters.

There are also young girls in white clothes, standing outside to cheer.

According to their tradition, this work can only be done by men.

Dunn saw a large cage covered with green cloth nearby, so he wanted to go and have a look.

A pretty red-haired girl stopped him and said, "Be careful, there's a bear in there!"

Inside the cage, there is a brown bear!
Several ladders were set up on the back of the wooden frame, and someone was standing below, ready to fix the willow man.

The strong Nordic man shouted: "Ready!"

Ronan followed the others and grabbed the rope.

The strong Nordic man shouted again: "Listen to my orders! One, two, three! Pull!"

Everyone worked together, and the nearly five-meter-tall willow branch figure was quite heavy.

Of course, Ronan would not use his full strength, and kept controlling the strength of a normal person.

"Aha--"

Everyone shouted, pulling the willow man to stand up!
Then, under the command of the strong Nordic man, he turned and adjusted his position so that the back of the willow man leaned against the wooden shelf!
Immediately, craftsmen climbed up the ladder, and skilled willow branches were tied to the wooden frame,

This hard work is considered complete, the Nordic strong man turned around, stretched out his hand to greet Ronan and others, just like everyone on the island, with a warm and hearty smile: "Friends from outside, hello, my name is Fandral, thank you You guys help."

Ronan shook hands with him: "Wayne."

Fandral greeted the others, picked up a huge wooden hammer from the side of the cage, and led the young people to continue to work. They were going to tie the small willow figures around the ring at the center of the wooden frame!
Ilsa came over at this time and said softly, "There is a brown bear in the cage."

Ronan thought of the information he found on the Internet, and asked, "It is said that after a certain level of Druid practice, people can become bears or cheetahs, and summon wild animals to fight?"

Ilsa knows more than Ronan: "There is such a rumor that Merlin once summoned beasts to defend against enemies!"

A loud bang came, interrupting the conversation between the two.

Ronan searched for the sound, and saw Fandral talk about the wooden sledgehammer, smashing the wooden stake into more than half of the lawn with one blow!

Ilsa said: "It's a lot of strength."

In just a short while, Fandral smashed into more than [-] wooden stakes in the lawn without any signs of fatigue, and he didn't even take a breath.

Peyton took them around, except for a few places of worship and ladies' residences, allowing Ronan and Ilsa to take pictures.

It was getting darker, and the bell for dinner rang.

Not far from the Willow Man, several rows of long log dining tables were placed in front of the temporary wooden seats, and people from all over came here one after another.

Ronan and the others are outsiders, sitting at the end of the edge table.

The scent of flowers was overflowing nearby, and Ilsa looked in a blink of an eye, and there were large clusters of flowers growing on the lawn not far behind her.

She moved a little towards Ronan, and said in a low voice, "I remember when the willow tree was erected, there were no flowers here."

Ronan took a quick glance and was sure: "Yes! There were no flowers here before!"

Meals were delivered one after another, and they were all very simple vegetarian food. Every time the food was placed in front of Ilsa, Ronan would pick it up and move it. He had the vigilance of drug killers and predators, enough to make sure that there was no problem with the food. .

All the staff arrived at this time, except for the four outsiders, the rest, including children, were all dressed in white robes.

Most of them have reddish brown hair.

At the very center of the first long dining table sat a couple with white beards and hair, who seemed to have a higher status than Emma and Dan.

Emma and Dan held up the wooden cups holding the cider and stood up.

The rest stood up one after another.

Ronan and Ilsa also stood up.

Dan said loudly: "Thank you James and Catherine for leading our ten-year festival!"

Emma repeated it again.

Everyone raised the wooden cups with one hand, turned to the old couple with white beard and hair, and pressed the other hand on the oak badge on the neckline, as if to express their respect.

Ronan and Ilsa glanced at each other, smelling some kind of ritual.

(End of this chapter)