The old priest had known Tedric's constitution would not be enough to stave off the torrent of magical energies that would flood the man's body and prepared to catch Tedric's body as he tumbled over. Even without the armor, the elder wouldn't be able to support the knight's weight with his withering muscles. Still, he could slow the decent enough to keep Tedric from sustaining any physical injuries before stepping out of the way to allow the mage to complete the ritual.<br/><br/>When Alaria's hands touched Tedric's skin it was already too warm and his cheeks had flushed a bright cherry red; as if he were running a dangerously high fever. As if he’d come down with a sudden fever. There had been little he could have done to prepare for the ritual and such a thing was against the tradition in the first place. A Warrior was to accept the full burden of their counterpart’s power as their own. Should his body deteriorate or his partner fail to stabilize the tsunami of pure mana, they both would die. Admittedly, such a thing was considered rather rare by all accounts; if one in ten could be called<i>rare</i>anyway. Thankfully for Tedric, however, his parents had been quite thorough in their search for his partner.<br/><br/>Though unconscious, Tedric could sense the presence of another mind or being drawing closer to his own sense of self in a revelation that he would have failed to put into words that might convey the sensation. In a dreamlike state, Tedric could see himself through another's eyes and feel the conflicting emotions swirling around within Alaria's soul; too many memories, thoughts, and desires washing across his incorporeal self too quickly to pluck any single thread to analyze and study. Like rapids in a river, he was swept away with the current to be forever lost were it not for the threads Alaria weaved between themselves that acted as an anchor by which Tedric's mind could hold against the flood.<br/><br/>Some moments after the blinding flash of energy that snuffed the candles did Tedric's eyes flutter open once more. Unfocused, at first, he rolled his head to the side and tried to speak only to have a half garbled groan escape his still flushed lips. His vision focused a moment later and he found himself looking directly up into Alaria's considerable bust. Swallowing, Tedric averted his gaze and cleared his throat. "I see I am still very much alive." He managed to speak through his mouth was the driest he could ever remember. "I am still alive, right?" He asked aloud to no one in particular.<br/><br/>Through one of the side doors, two other priests wearing matching silver and white robes entered holding lanterns. Silently, but with purpose, they approached the dais and bent down to help Tedric to his feet. Younger than the old priest they practically lifted him, armor and all, with hardly a grunt or complaint. "The Joining is complete." The old priest announced with a voice that betrayed his own wide happy grin. "Now, my children. It is time I leave you, for the work of God is never finsihed." To which he gave a gentle bow and turned on his heel to leave, the other two robed men following him closly from behind.