Vincent.
The heavy ceremonial bell rang thrice, its deep, reverberating tone echoing off the high stone arches of the grand hall, followed immediately by three slow, deliberate thumps of the sacred drum.
Each sound carried immense weight, signaling total completion—a formal declaration that every ancient ritual, preparation, and requirement had been met to absolute perfection.
Everything was finally in place. There were no more delays, no more obstacles; we could officially proceed with the climax of the wedding.
Without losing another second, I stepped toward the ceremonial bowl resting at the very center of the altar. I reached down, retrieved the ornate silver knife resting beside it, and pressed the sharp blade firmly into the flesh of my palm.
I dragged the steel across my skin without flinching, letting my crimson blood pool before spilling over into the bowl below.
