Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

45 – Majestic Guma Ritual (Part 1)

“The essence of Guma is to make the demons inside the possessed person surrender on their own.”

From Noble mtl dot com

My hands tremble. I am just a modest priest. I was only a sub-priest in a rural village.

“Can we… confront demons?”

“Father Lucio. That….”

Screams suddenly echo from within the tent.

It was the echo of despair boiling up from hell. It pained the ears and shook even the firmest faith.

Cold sweat flows down my temples. I wiped away the sweat that filled my forehead.

“I, I…”

I can’t do it. I’m scared. It’s terrifying. That was the emotion I felt when I first encountered a possessed person.

Fear. It wasn’t a fear from the unknown. Within the boundaries of my understanding, it was a presence that showed me infinite fear.

That’s why it’s terrifying. It’s absolutely frightening.

Priest Helena tightly grasped my shoulders. I looked into her clear eyes.

“Whether we can confront it or not isn’t what’s important.”

Clear pupils like a mirror. Reflected in those emerald-like shining eyes, I was a pitiful person trembling with fear.

“Father Lucio, it’s something we can’t avoid.”

However, the moment I heard her words.

I appeared completely different, as reflected in Priest Helena’s pupils.

* * * * *

“Sub-priest Sophia.”

Sub-priest Sophia knelt devoutly with a notebook and pen in front of her, outside the salt border.

“Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

“It’s not difficult. Just transcribe the conversation between me and the demon from beginning to end.”

Leaving Sub-priest Sophia, who nodded her head, behind, I poured holy water into the holy vessel.

The river, blessed by the sacrament, gradually filled up. After pouring a bottle into it, I neatly placed the holy water inside.

There was no time to waste. I immediately took out a cross the size of a forearm and placed it carefully on the chest of Father Peter.

“…If you seek salvation, you shall obtain it, for your faith has reached me.”

Father Peter’s body remained motionless. I covered his eyes with a cloth and pressed gently with my left hand.

“Lord, show mercy.”

Under the closed eyelids of Father Peter, I felt his eyeballs rolling. I pressed the cloth a little harder and continued my prayer.

“All powerful and everlasting Lord, the one who creates and transforms all things.”

– Caw. Caaaw. Caaaw.

I heard the sound of a crow. At least, it wasn’t a sound coming from inside the dormitory. I disregarded it lightly.

“The Lord is my shepherd, and with Him, everything in my heart, soul, and body is protected. Who shall harm me?”

Rustle–

Suddenly, a cockroach descended from the ceiling of the dormitory. I glanced momentarily at the roaches crawling down the wall.

“For I have no fear in Your presence, my eternal Savior. With my strength, my future, and with the light of peace that I have shared with my ancestors. Protect us…”

“Ugh… ugghh…”

“…from all evil. In the name of the holy and glorious grace of the Lord, drive them into the eternal flames forever.”

Father Peter’s body began to tremble little by little. As his limbs moved, the cloth that bound him tightened even more.

“Oh, the great and almighty Lord. Through the messenger of the Archangel Michael, free the brothers and sisters who have become slaves of evil.”

“Grrr…! Gro…!”

“Oh, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwell among all the saints of this land. Come to our aid.”

Thunk! Clang!

Father Peter’s trembling body, now with the force to break the bed, began to flail its limbs. I pressed the cloth covering his eyes even harder.

“Protect us from hatred and jealousy, anxiety and sorrow, adultery and obsession, as we fight against them. Lord, free us.”

“That…. uhh….”

“Grant us the peace that surpasses all understanding and free us from all evil and curses. So that we may forever enjoy Your peace.”

The prayer rushes toward its end. I gradually move toward Father Peter’s trembling body, and I draw a cross in the air.

“We earnestly beseech the Lord who exists among us to testify completely. Come, O Lord.”

Clang!

Father Peter’s convulsing body lost its strength and collapsed onto the bed. I removed the cloth covering his eyes. He was still in a state of closed eyes.

“It’s useless to hide now. Reveal yourself.”

“……”

“Good. If you wish, I can do it all day.”

I covered my eyes with my hand once again. Father Peter’s body writhed slightly.

“I beseech the Lord in heaven, help us so that the ancient lies and the wickedness of the forsaken descendants do not spread. Increase our faith in protecting us, but…”

“Ah, Antonel…”

Father Peter’s lips opened. His voice was horribly dry and severely cracked. I stopped the prayer and opened my eyes.

“Antonel, it’s me… Father Peter…”

“……”

“What’s happening… Please, release me… It’s painful…”

“Only heal the suffering of the brothers and sisters here.”

“Master Priest…! Please, release me… It’s painful…!”

“You are my life and the sacred resurrection. Let this give you confidence and enjoy joy and peace.”

“Please…!”

Father Peter’s body began to tremble as if he were mad. I looked with anxious eyes as the bedpost creaked.

Sophia, as a novice participating in the Guma ceremony for the first time, would also need special attention. Without turning my attention away from Sophia, I placed the rosary on Father Peter’s forehead and pressed it with my fingers.

“It’s useless to write vile spells. You have already been discovered, so trying to be clever will only make it more painful.”

“What are you talking about…! Aren’t you asking to release me! Why are you ignoring my words…!”

“…I beseech the Almighty Lord. Chase away the demon that feeds on the flesh and soul.”

I ignored Father Peter’s words and continued the prayer. As the prayer grew longer, Father Peter’s body began to writhe in pain.

“Why are you ignoring me…! Please, release me…!”

“Protect us from all evil they do, from jealousy and anger.”

“My words… Listen…!”

Crackle! Crackle!

The living room lights went out with sparks. In the darkness of the room, Father Peter’s whisper could be heard.

“All you insignificant creatures with ears, listen.”

It was the whisper of evil. A prophecy from the darkness.

“You mere insects should live quietly. If you have seen us, cover your eyes, if you have heard us, block your ears.”

“…Beg earnestly to Archangel Michael, who will punish all evil, and his Lord.”

“Listen to my words, sons and daughters of original sin.”

I lit the match on the prepared, consecrated candles and revealed one side of Priest Peter’s eyes. His eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, rolled towards me.

“I simply urge you to live as if you haven’t seen anything. Do you not understand my words? What you all are doing is nothing but a waste of time.”

A foul smell emanated from his mouth as he spoke. I turned my head slightly and made the sign of the cross in the air.

“We, the servants of the Lord, will not pay attention to your words.”

“Must be scared. You damn coward…!”

I removed the rosary that was pressed against Priest Peter’s forehead. While still holding the crucifix in my left hand, I drew another cross over Priest Peter’s face.

“Oh false one from the very beginning. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ask, where have you come from?”

Priest Peter’s face transformed into a contorted expression. His face, twisted in agony, revealed bleeding gums as he smiled.

“I was there when you first experienced the grace of injustice. I was there when you used a mere piece of driftwood to cross the water while looking up at the sky. When you first established a dynasty in the blessed land, I tempted their king.”

Priest Peter pulled the corners of his lips up to his ears. Ignoring his despicable smile, I once again drew the sign of the cross and asked.

“When did you come to this place?”

“Huh, hahaha—!”

Priest Peter burst into loud laughter. He laughed so hard that his bed shook, spewing blood and saliva as he spoke.

“I came to this place when your first descendant was conceived. When you started serving the false father, I betrayed the glorious light you worshiped.”

“When will you leave this body?”

Priest Peter closed his mouth. The flowing blood dripped from his lips onto the bedsheet.

“I ask again. When will you leave this body?”

“Hehe…. Why should I leave?”

His voice changed. It became slightly thinner and more cunning than before. I glanced at Sophia, my assistant, and she understood my eyes as she continued to transcribe.

“I ask for the last time. When will you leave this body?”

“This body is so comfortable…. The soul is sweet! Why should I leave this comfortable body? I will not leave!”

Communication was no longer possible. In that case, I could only take action.

I dipped my thumb into the holy water. The clear water touched my finger, and I traced a cross on Priest Peter’s forehead with my wet finger.

Crack…! Crack!

As the cross drawn with holy water settled on his forehead, Priest Peter gritted his teeth and made a sound. It was almost as if he was chewing bones.

After placing the Bible I had received from Sophia under the pillow, I covered Priest Peter’s eyes with a handkerchief.

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ask, why have you come to this place.”

“……”

“Speak. Why have you come to this place.”

“Phew!”

Father Pedro, who had been mumbling, suddenly spat something forcefully. I instinctively turned my head and avoided it.

It was a wriggling insect covered in blood, curling up. I chuckled, making the sign of the cross in the air.

“Do not test my patience. I ask. Why have you come here?”

“…We came here to extinguish the light.”

The voice changed. This time, it was a deep, low voice, with hoarseness that reminded me of a barking dog.

“We came here to extinguish the light. We will extinguish the light you worship. Darkness will come to the world! You cannot stop the 666 beasts that will come across this place!”

My ears started to ring. I furrowed my brow slightly and exerted more force on the invisible presence pressing Father Pedro’s head.

“I ask in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who is your leader?”

“We came here to extinguish the light! We came here to extinguish the light! Insects like you cannot witness the falling fortress!”

“The Lord has already tr

“Father Lucio, please save me~! I don’t want to die~!”

“…….”

“Shall I tell you one more thing? That woman, I killed her.”

*Kudungtang—!*

In an instant, everything before my eyes flashed white.

“Ch-Chief Priest!”

Without realizing it, I found myself tightly squeezing the throat of Priest Pedro with both hands.