The Ritual of Public Ashes
The Holtfaction Saga – Chapter: The Ritual of Public Ashes The secret societies had long mastered the art of alchemy, not just with metals, but with lives. To them, transformation was not about gold — it was about burning a soul to ash in front of the masses, then watching to see what would rise from the embers. Their chosen vessel was Evan. They staged his trial not only in the courtroom, but in the newspapers, binding his name to ink and shame. The article itself was no mere report — it was a script, a ritual performed in the open. Every sentence was an invocation, every accusation a sigil carved into the collective memory of a city. Judge, jury, journalist — all were actors. The “wife” became an archetype, the altar in his home a prop displayed for the public to gasp at. The pentagram, the Bible, the flag — these were not revelations but staged relics meant to paint him as a villain. The court, a temple. The reporter, a priest of humiliation. And the people, an unknowing congrega...