Backlund, in a solarium of a terrace house.
Melissa walked in with a girl who was clearly less than ten years old.
"Aunt Melissa, why here?" the little girl asked, puzzled. "All the stories I heard had mysterious rituals held in the basement."
With her hair tied up, the bespectacled Melissa smiled and said, "Those are unconventional mysticism rituals."
She pointed at the altar that had been set up and the unlit candles and said, "You may begin."
"Really?" The little girl tilted her head to look at the bright sunshine outside the window. "Do we need to draw the curtains?"
"There's no need. It's pretty good this way." After Melissa answered, she smiled at the little girl while she awkwardly mimicked her usual method of holding rituals in a clumsy and unfamiliar manner.
During this process, she would instruct her from time to time and even personally help her to complete the pre-ritual preparations.
"Alright, repeat after me." Melissa took a deep breath as her expression gradually turned staid.
"Yes, yes." The little girl tried her best to appear stern.
Melissa looked at the candle flames on the altar for a few seconds before slowly reciting in ancient Hermes, "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era..."
"Da Pool that dun pelong to diz ela..." The little girl had never learned ancient Hermes before. Although she tried her best to imitate her aunt, she still didn't know what she was saying.
"The mysterious ruler above the gray fog..." Melissa continued reciting.
"Da Mesterwes luler apove the gway pog..." the little girl recited in all seriousness.
"The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck..." After Melissa finished reciting, the candle at the end didn't wait for the little girl to imitate her. It immediately burgeoned to the size of a human head.
In the large flame, a slippery tentacle with a somewhat sinister pattern extended out in an indiscernible manner. It was extremely slow.
The little girl was stunned. She retreated and hid behind her aunt.
Melissa pursed her lips and said with a gentle smile, "Don't be afraid, go greet him."
The little girl timidly poked her head out from behind her aunt and saw the terrifying, slimy tentacle gently swaying in the brilliant sunlight that shone through the windows. It seemed to be attempting to swat away the dust or was waving at her.
"Go, don't be afraid," Melissa repeated.
The little girl finally mustered her courage and stood in front of the altar.
She recited the incantations she had just invented before revealing a sincere smile and raised her palm.
The slippery tentacle whose patterns had disappeared paused for a few seconds. It seemed hesitant and somewhat out of practice.
Then, it raised its head and curled up slightly, lowering itself inch by inch.
Amidst the sunlight, it high-fived that tiny palm.