The Soulwine Ritual
"Ok, first of all, it's not actually made of liquidity souls. It's just wine, a special wine but it's wine. Where in the nine circles of hell did you get that idea anyway?" The priest rests a hand against his head. "The crazy ideas you outsiders have. Come on, I've got to get this out there. It's almost time for the ceremony."
"What happens during this ceremony anyway?" I ask, following him closely. He shifts his grip on the bottle, sighing again.
"What's got you so curious?"
I give him a look. "Because I'm married to a Death mage."
He nods. "This ceremony is important. All our students go through this. It allows them to be temporally freed of their bodies and enter the spirit would for the final portion of their training. It signifies that they're ready to take on the world, a rite of passage, their entrance into adulthood."
"What happens during this final training thing?"
"It's different for everyone and deeply personal. We might discuss it with students who are greatly struggling to overcome obstacles in training." He looks at the bottle of wine then turns to me again, locking eyes. "Look, this is a coming-of-age ceremony. The students who complete this ceremony, this mission, they're considered full Priests and Priestess after this. It's... it's difficult, what this one drink puts you though. But we have too. It's our final step, the last door we must pass thought to become fully trained Death mages, to become adults."
"It's that last trial by fire, proof that you're ready to face the world." The priest smiles, looking at me.
"You get it." He looks ahead. "You won't be allowed in. You're not one of us."
"That's fine." I stop walking, watching the priest as he continues on his way. I see my husband standing in the center of the room just beyond the doorway. I let out a breath. "Good luck love. I'll be waiting."
History
The tradition has existed almost as long as the Priesthood of Arbizal have. It's changed little over time, mostly adapting to the arrival of Death mages from other races, such as the Eledhrim and Dwarves, who have a higher tolerance to the drink and need to consume more in order to reach the desired effects. It is a tradition that has persisted for over five hundred thousand years mostly the same, it is greatly important.
Execution
It is relatively simple in execution. The student is poured a glass of Soulwine, which they then drink. Their teacher watches over their body while they go into the spirit world to face their final challenge before their training is completed. Once the student wakes, it's considered that their training is complete.
Participants
The student and teacher, a handful of the masters from the school that the student is attending and possibly the students of the other masters. A handful of guards as well, as things can get a bit dangerous with the student's soul in the afterlife temporally.
Observance
It is observed just at the end of the students training. Their master must make the decision that they are ready, which can be a little difficult. The ceremony always takes place at night.
The wine smells rancid and tastes just a nasty. It's not really supposed to be pleasant, as it is meant to facilitate a final stage in Death mages training. Just getting past the nasty taste is a challenge in of itself.
Some joke that the taste is meant to be nasty because it signifies that the student is becoming a priest or priestess, leaving behind their childhood and entering adulthood, taking on the responsibilities that fall within.
Related Ethnicities
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