Eliminate all the variable

Kaelith's eyes gleamed with malevolence as she spoke again. "The ritual of summoning a great demon is not to be taken lightly. Any variable that could disrupt the balance must be eliminated. And that includes him."

The hooded figures murmured in agreement, their voices like a dark chant. "Yes, yes, eliminate the variable. Kill him."

Nuri's heart skipped a beat as he realized his fate was all but sealed. And then, in a absurd moment of terror, he felt a hiccup rise up in his chest.

"Hic!" he exclaimed, the sound echoing through the chamber like a silly protest against the darkness that surrounded him.

The hooded figures paused, their eyes fixed on him with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. Lyraeus's gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable.

"Hic!" Nuri exclaimed again, his body trembling with fear and his dignity slipping away with each passing moment.

Kaelith's eyes rolled in exasperation. "Kill him, already. Before he brings any more chaos to our ritual."

The hooded figures moved closer, their hands reaching out like dark tentacles. Nuri's heart raced as he realized his time was running out. And then, in a desperate bid to distract them, he let out another hiccup.

"Hic!" he exclaimed, the sound echoing through the chamber like a last protest against the darkness that was about to consume him.

"Remember, all of you," Lyraeus growled, his eyes sweeping the room. "We are playing with forces beyond our control. If we are not careful, we will unleash a power that cannot be contained. And we will all suffer the consequences."

Nuri's hiccup was caught in his throat as Lyraeus's words hung in the air. He suppressed it with a mighty effort, his eyes fixed on the General with a mixture of fear and awe.

"Let us proceed with caution," Lyraeus continued. "We will uncover the secrets of this mortal, and we will use them to our advantage. But let us not forget the dangers that we face. Let us not forget the price of failure."

The hooded figures nodded in unison, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and fear. Nuri's heart raced as he realized the gravity of his situation. He was trapped in a web of dark magic and ancient powers, with no escape in sight. And Lyraeus's warning had only made things worse. The General's words had awakened a new fear in him, a fear of the unknown consequences that lurked in the shadows.

Nuri's eyes darted to his wrists and ankles, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw the glowing chains that bound him. He hadn't noticed them before, but now they seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.