Chapter 177: Chapter 177: SPIRITUALIST CEREMONY PREPARATIONS

"Mammy!" Briar called out cheerfully to the woman, who stood just a distance away with a cane in her hand, a smile on her face.

The woman’s wrinkles hidden by the markings deepened, as she looked at Briar and responded, "Child, you are finally here!"

Briar stuck her tongue playfully at Mammy Adonai and responded as she approached her, "it’s good seeing you, Mammy! I have missed you so much!" her voice a coquettish.

Benjamin, watching the exchange, was in a state of shock, in disbelief at what he was seeing.

How come his sister was being too .... He couldn’t even describe what he was seeing. It was just strange, and yet the two didn’t seem to mind at all.

He could only walk forward to greet Mammy Adonai. After all, she would be taking care of his sister in the days to come.

"I missed you as well," Mammy Adonai said smilingly, as she patted Briar’s shoulder.

Briar, like a child, grinned happily at Mammy Adonai before remembering that she had come with her brother.

"Mammy, I brought my brother with me this time, but he would be staying at our home until everything it is done."

Mammy Adonai looked at the young man she had never interacted much with but still liked since he helped her spiritual daughter years ago. If he didn’t help, then Briar wouldn’t be here right now and that would have been a great loss.

"Child!" she called out to Benjamin, and he bowed his head respectfully, greeting, "Hello, Mammy Adonai!"

"I am faring well and yourself? Are your legs feeling well?"

"Yes, they are. Thank you for asking."

"Not a problem. I will give you some herbs for you to use. You will be as strong as a horse once you are done taking the prescription."

Benjamin’s eyes light up when he heard that. He thanked her profusely before going back to the car to take out Briar’s suitcase and the food that Briar bought for Mammy Adonai.

Two girls who lived with Mammy Adonai came out and started taking these things inside the house while Briar chatted with her brother.

"Brother, you take the car with you at home and take care of it. There is no need for me to keep it here when I will be busy."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Um. It’s just a care. Let it be used!"

"If that’s what you want, then I will take it with me."

"Sure. I will see you on Saturday," she said beamingly as she waved at him.

Benjamin hopelessly looked at his sister, who seemed too eager to start with the preparations and felt his temples throbbing.

"Um. I wish you well!"

"Don’t worry, the ancestors will be with me. Nothing will happen."

After going back and forth, Benjamin left the yard driving the car and Briar watched the car leaving until the tail lights couldn’t be seen anymore.

She took a deep breath as she turned around and came face to face with Mammy Adonai, who was waiting for her and smiled relievedly.

"I guess that it’s time!"

Mammy Adonai nodded without saying a word and motioned for her to go over.

Briar was very obedient and trotted over. Shortly, she was going into the house with Mammy Adonai chattering like a parrot that was on stimulants.

The house was filled with laughter as Mammy Adonai was amazed by the silly and mischievous deeds Briar was busy committing in the short few months that they hadn’t seen each other.

****

That night, Briar ate dinner with Mammy Adonai, and the two girls were nowhere to be seen. Since she had shared everything that she had done and what Mammy Adonai should know, she was more at ease.

"After this meal, you shall go through your first ritual bathing and cleansing. Once that is done, you shall enter isolation and seclusion. Since you already received recognition from the ancestors, we will be skipping most of the stages. However, we can’t skip the four nights and three days seclusion rule.

During these days until graduation, I shall be sharing with you everything that I know and the ancestors will also be helping through dreams. In these coming days, you should be able to know how to interpret dreams, understand medicine, performing sacrifices, dealing with evil forces and many other things.

The days are particularly short, but as someone who has been under my tutelage for years, I have faith in you. You shall be ready by Saturday."

Briar nodded as she listened to Mammy Adonai explaining the process. The preparations needed to be done before graduation and her spiritualist ceremony officially takes place.

It was because of this long process that she had to come early. If only she had done the initiation stage previously, she would be graduating only. Unfortunately, she didn’t, but thankfully, she got most of the work done for her by being approved by the ancestors who came to her during the time when she was unconscious after hitting the fountain several months ago.

While growing up, Mammy Adonai taught her a lot of medicine, so she was quite proficient in that matter. It was because of that, she managed to leave the village with Selena over a decade ago.

Selena’s issue needed someone with knowledge in that area and to help her leave the village, Mammy Adonai advocated for her. And the end result was her leaving with Selena.

Selena, who didn’t want anyone to know the real purpose of why she brought her to the city. In the end, she was designated as a nanny, just to give her something to do, and yet her main job back then was to brew medicine in the right proportions for Selena.

Without her, that woman would have died miserably. Unfortunately, she still died without repenting and wasn’t even grateful for anything.

Anyway, it no longer matters. Selena’s need brought her to where she was now. So, she forgave her for her transgressions.

After all, she was a bigger person.

With so much confidence brewing in her, Briar looked forward to the following days with anticipation written all over her face.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read