Jaws nearly hit the floor from all the way up in the conference hall’s rafters as those lurking watched their fellow Fiend, The Beacon, take the stage. Phon wasn’t surprised of course, clearly having found that information out mere seconds after they’d arrived, but she hadn’t shared it with the group, likely just to see their reaction when her holiness revealed herself.
Yet it all suddenly made perfect sense when thought about for even a second. Someone as devout to Fiends as The Beacon, who especially believed that the Drazahs in particular were blessed by Cosmos himself during the Cosmic Boon, would be a natural fit for the Fiend-crazed cult. She was a wandering missionary and monster hunter by trade, however, so it begged the question of how they’d gotten her to settle down and align herself to a single flock.
And she’d always seemed the type who was happy to spout her teachings, but would be uncomfortable being the center of attention. Even now her steps were hesitant, as if she was distraught by the sheer volume of attendees ready to hang on every word. But she kept on walking right up to the microphone. And perhaps she didn’t need to say much at all, since it only took the woman raising her arms for the entire venue to nearly crumble from the amount of applause.
“Welcome, welcome, fellow servants of Cosmos and followers of Fiends!” The Benevolent Beacon addressed her congregation. “I hope you are well on this auspicious day, another day in paradise, basking in the warm light from the heavens.”
“Today my words will center around currency. Remember how annoying it used to be? Having to carry it around everywhere with you, burdening your pockets—so easily lost and stolen. And it was useless anywhere but your own home. If you traveled to a new country or even different villages, it was worthless in its current form.”
“You had to exchange it for the local denomination, losing some of it in the process to the governments and other agencies, just so that you could spend what already belonged to you. Then came another blessing from the Children of Cosmos, the Drazahs, the Fiends For Hire.”
“They unified all money across the world, and made it so simple to use, so easy to keep. No longer is your money taken by corrupt officials just so that you can spend it. And what small fee there is goes only to the best cause. We are truly blessed.”
“Now it’s easier than ever to keep hold of your money. But just because it won’t slip from your hands, it doesn’t mean that you should hoard it forever. You yourself should be your own top priority, and any that rely on you. Make sure that you are taken care of, meeting your needs, and that you’re happy.”
“Then, when your own soul is full, take what’s left and spread the joy. From my personal experience, helping others is well worth the cost. Give what you can, but don’t spread yourself thin. This is what makes a healthy community that allows us all to flourish.”
“I hope you think hard on these words. Let them echo in your mind as you go about the rest of your day. When you spend your money later, ask yourself, will whatever you’re buying make you happy? Could it be better spent somewhere else? You should not feel bad about spending it, as it is what you’ve earned, but how Fiendish is that purchase? Would Cosmos smile upon your transaction?”
“And as always, before I leave, I shall cleanse you of your sins!” Bright blinding light filled the room, to the point that even those well above it had to shield their eyes from the heavenly glow. It flashed, ridding the room of every impurity that could be found. And by the time that everyone could see again, The Beacon had vanished from the stage.
The biggest applause of the day erupted, lasting the entire time it took for the event organizer to take the stage once more. After he calmed the crowd, he wrapped things up. “Thank you all for coming today. We may have another gathering tonight, but it’s still up in the air as we continue to negotiate the issues at hand with the resort’s staff.”
“Hopefully we'll have a clear answer for you soon, so keep an eye on our page. Now go back out to the world and have a great time. But remember, when you see the opportunity in front of you, don’t overthink it, don’t hesitate, and…” There was a brief pause but then almost the entire audience chanted together. “Act like a Fiend!”
The organizer gave one more final goodbye. And as the room started to clear, those up in their uncomfortable aerial seats discussed what to do next. “Obviously confronting The Beacon is the top of our priority list,” Drim started. “Hopefully she can enlighten us a bit more on everything that’s going on. After that—”
“Hang on a second there, Drim,” Phon interrupted. “Before we make a firm plan, I’d say it’s imperative that everyone here is aware of some interesting oddities of this situation. Because, oh boy, did this get more entertaining. May I direct everyone’s attention down to the crowd. It might be hard to see them at first, but I’ll try to guide you.”
“Almost near the back, about a dozen rows forward, look right near the dead center. I believe you’ll find some familiar faces.”
“Man, it’s too crowded to tell who anyone is,” Kada grumbled as she repeatedly tried to count from the back row, but then she did a double take, and her eyes widened. “Hang on a second… Is that my dad?! Zjik’s he doing here?! And with him is… mom?! Are they together?! What the mawhging zjiking mawhging Cosdamn ass buckets?!”
There was another small flash, basically just a blip compared to the flashbang they’d gotten from The Beacon, but it still drew everyone’s attention. It had come from Phon’s phone, taking a picture of the utter bewilderment strewn across Kada’s face. “Beautiful,” the woman was proud of her photography. “And now for the next subject,” her phone moved over to Xard’s face, and everyone else’s eyes with it, just as surprised and confused as to why his visage was in a similar state as their blue-haired friend.
“Next to Kada’s… Why are my parents here too?!” He shouted so loud that the group worried someone down below may have heard them, but the commotion of the exiting crowd appeared to have them covered.
Jaid spoke next. “Well, I don’t know your parental situations too deeply, so I’m guessing this is completely abnormal behavior for them.”
“Puh huh!” Kada could only shake her face and make a gibberish noise as a response.
“Well, that does complicate things quite a bit,” Drim acknowledged. “Alright, you two go find your parents and sort things out. Phon and I will hunt down The Beacon, and then likely meet with the organizer to try and solve things ourselves. Jaid, what would you like to do? You’re welcome to come with us, though these two might need some friendly support to help get them through any familial crisis. Families tend to act more polite when there’s a guest around, from what I’ve read in books at least.”
“Uhh,” the knight tried to think of the best outcome then realized she was giving it too much thought. “Well since I can quite literally be in two places at once, why don’t I do both?” A clone spawned on the rafters next to her, ready to go where needed.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“We’ll split up now then,” the king made the call. “Since it’s a complicated situation to deal with on both ends, take your time, and focus on what you need to do. But if anyone needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out. Phon, if you would.” The two groups vanished from the rafters, headed for entirely different spots around the resort.
◆◆◆
“Quite the lavish setup you have here,” Phon took the lead when they teleported into The Beacon’s dressing room.
The woman in question was in the process of removing her veil at the vanity. But as soon as she realized that she had company, she scrambled to put it back on. Her hands flailed pathetically as she attempted to get it straight, seeming like it’d take a while.
So The Vixen got impatient and began prancing around the room. “Prayer mats, incense, holy scriptures, everything a devout believer in Cosmos would need to go about their humble day. But the rest of this, it’s a bit decadent and overly opulent for a modest missionary such as yourself, wouldn’t you say?”
“Mm, exquisite,” Phon took a bite from a morsel on the sprawling and decadent platter that had been provided. “They definitely did hire some good chefs here, that I can’t deny. But is it worth selling your soul for? I doubt it. All that talk of money today, is that what drew you into this crowd? Stealing tithes and calling it religion?”
“Oh but knowing you, I bet this is what made you sellout,” she pranced over to the bathing station and ran her fingers along the shining edge. “A gilded tub, perfect for washing away your sins and scruples. Was the promise of this bath what convinced you to discard all your morals and become a cult leader?”
The accused woman seemed to be at a loss for words, hanging her head in shame once her headdress was adorned properly once more. She turned around, ready to face her prosecution. But even though her face was blocked, those present could easily sense the shift in her attitude.
“The Fiends For Hire?! Praise Cosmos!” Her knees hit the floor, and she crawled across the room. She reached out to Drim but then hesitated. “No, I am not worthy!” so the woman changed course and lunged at Jaid, clasping the woman’s hands with her own. “Please, you have to help me escape from here!”
“Uhh, wha?” The Paladin was taken aback by the sudden request. After a second of being dazed and confused, making sure she’d heard the woman right, Jaid’s switch flipped over to that of being a diligent and dutiful knight. “Have they hurt you? Are they holding you captive?”
“Err, yes, and no, it is complicated,” The Beacon struggled to find the words. “I am not physically restrained, no, but it is hard to leave. And I have been here for too long now. I must return to my mission. Cosmos frowns at me with more disdain every day I idle in this place.”
“Well this isn’t what we expected,” Drim wasn’t sure how to take it. “How about you start at the beginning and tell us how you wound up entangled with the Fiendnatics.”
“It is a simple and short story,” the maybe-captive finally picked herself up from the floor and returned to her chair. “Some of these Fiendnatics found me out in the field as I was purifying some infected produce. They asked me to come speak at their convention, just a few simple words and they would pay me well.”
“And… I gave into that temptation. Truthfully, funds for the mission have been a bit spry lately, since I always try to refuse them and donate where I can. But I may have overextended myself a bit, and prayed Cosmos would forgive me for taking a brief break. Especially in the promise that his words would reach the ears of many.”
“When I got here, it was so amazing. Everyone was so excited to see a Fiend, to see me, but I did not let it get to my head. As planned, I went onto that stage and said the words I have said many times—the scriptures and lessons that Cosmos wants me to share with the world.”
“Yet unlike anytime before, I was not met with bored or polite gazes, but genuine cheers and enthrallment. And then they came to me, praising what a good job I’d done, asking if I would do it once more. I thought what could be the harm in another sermon, so I stayed, but that one time became, two, three, ten. Before I knew it, weeks had passed.”
“I tried to leave, to explain to them that I am needed elsewhere. They did nothing to stop my departure directly, but the longer I stayed, the harder it became. Everytime I announce my leaving, they’d ask me questions, get me talking about my faith, make me feel welcome and wanted, acting as if they’d be lost without me.”
“Even when I try to sneak out, I’m always caught and bombarded with love from these Fiendnatics. I just can’t ignore someone with passion right in front of me, and before I know it, I’m back in this room every time.”
“It has gotten to the point that I have run out of things to say. I’ve gone through all the teachings more than once, preached every lesson to the best of my ability. Now I just spout whatever comes to my mind, trying to tie it back to Fiends and the worship of Cosmos. Yet they still cheer for me all the same. It makes me wonder if my words are actually being heard, or if they just love that a Fiend is saying them.”
“This has gone on for too long, and I fear that my presence is only enabling their bad ways. They stick around to hear what I will say next, but they are not words that need to be heard. It is time for me to go, to spread Cosmos to new ears. So please, help me escape.”
“Okay I get it,” Drim then summed up what they’d learned. “They invited you as a guest speaker. Then after seeing what a crowd you drummed up, they keep playing into your insecurities and treat you like a celebrity so that you won’t want to leave—whether intentional or not. I can’t say you’ve done anything wrong here, and your own kind heartedness is what’s kept you trapped.”
“I do have a question,” Jaid added. “When you were purifying earlier, were you actually cleansing their sins?”
“No, that is just falsities for show,” the woman openly admitted. “While I am performing purification, it is not of their souls. If I were to do that, while I can’t sense any egregious sinners, it would cause them great pain. While some may be willing, it is best left for a more personal and isolated situation. Else that room would be filled with screams instead of cheers.”
“What I’ve been doing is just cleaning up. I remove the dirt from their shoes, dust from their clothes, grime from their skin. While it is only on the surface, it does seem to impact them on the inside. They tell me they feel lighter, their burdens lifted, ready to go and perform good deeds. Since it makes them feel better, I see no reason not to do it.”
“Blah blah blah, making them feel tingly so that they don’t accept reality,” Phon lambasted the ideology of it. “What is important from what you’ve said is that if we do remove you then it sounds like it would hamper a lot of the reason the cult has to stay here.”
“Uhh yes, I would agree with that,” the apostle nodded. “From what I understand, having an actual Fiend to see is a lot of the reason these Fiendnatics are so zealous.”
“Okay, bye then,” Phon waved the woman farewell, and she vanished to Cosmos-knows-where.
Drim raised his eyebrow. “Where’d you send her?”
“Hmm, some random forest on the west coast,” the woman chuckled. “About as far away as she can get from here without stranding her on an island.”
“Uhh, is that a little too harsh?” Jaid spoke her mind. “I get that she wanted to leave, but you sent her there with just the clothes on her back after all.”
“Nah, it’ll be fine,” Phon dismissed the notion but not the sadistic smirk on her face. “She travels light anyways and is used to the untamed wilds. Since she’s so in love with us, she’ll almost certainly see it as a blessing from ‘Cosmos’s Chosen’ and use it as a chance to atone. I’ll put down money now that she’ll be thanking me for it later.”
“The sad thing is I think you’d win that bet,” Drim sighed. “Well, that is one important matter taken care of. Now we just need to meet with—”
“Hey there, Beacon, I’m coming in,” the familiar voice of the event organizer knocked at the door. He waited a moment and then let himself inside. “You were great today, but let’s talk about-” the man paused, his face dumbfounded. “-the Fiends For Hire?!”
It seemed seeing his idols up-close-in-person was a bit too much for the man to handle, and he fainted on the spot.