“This is it.” Durazo says as he and the four accompanying him stand in front of a cathedral. Lisa looks terribly uncomfortable, not being used to the decidedly warmer weather of Spain. “Antonio… You let me down so many times, for once, please do not.”
The ex-priest opens the massive door to the building. The interior is decorated with fancy pillars, stained glass and golden statues. At the other end of the cathedral, there is a pipe organ. Two staircases lead to an upper floor. No one seems to be inside.
“Won’t we get into trouble for leaving work for who knows how long?” Lisa asks Adelar.
“It’s my company.” He responds with a slight frown. “And I value my employee and friend more than I value Miss Gertrude complaining about the neighbour’s kid doing his homework too loud. I took on every job to make the front busy, once this is over, that’s going to change.”
“Fine by me.” Lisa shrugs, although somewhat glad to hear such news. “Let’s go check upstairs, Yaro.”
Lisa and Yaroslav rush ahead to look around the sacred building, heading to the first floor.
“How can you be so sure that this is the right person?” Adelar asks Durazo as he admires the building.
“What we’re sure of is that she’s in Spain. This could help us narrow it down.” He says as he looks around. After a short while, he shakes his head.
“What is it, Father?” Thalia asks. She, too, looks rather uncomfortable in the cathedral. Maybe because of her darkness?
“The donation box is almost full. If Antonio was here, that wouldn’t be the case.” He says with a sigh.
“Nothing up here, Father.” Says Yaroslav, standing next to Lisa at the guard rail on the first floor.
“You never fail to disappoint me, Antonio…” Durazo says to himself. “Given how he’s not at his mansion either-”
Just then, the door to what must be the sacristy opens and out comes an ibex wearing a cassock. He seems quite surprised by the gathering in the cathedral until he sees the ex-priest.
“Durazo!” Is the only word the rest of the group understand as the ibex and Durazo converse in Spanish.
Lisa and Yaroslav come down to the ground floor, the former of which fanning herself. From Durazo’s tone of voice, the ibex doesn’t have the best of news for them. He bows slightly to the ibex and turns towards the group as the priest goes back to the sacristy.
“We can leave.” He says in a dejected tone.
“What did he say?” Asks the bear, looking concerned.
“He first asked if I’m here because I wanted to come back. Of course, no.” He leads them to the entrance, then outside the cathedral. “Antonio was apparently taken away by two men the other day for a “business venture”.” He says as he closes the door.
“Did he say where to?” Asks the eagle.
“No. In other words, Solomon might as well be anywhere in Spain.” He leans against the wall of the cathedral. Lisa takes out her pipe to have a puff.
“Ain’t that splendid.” She remarks, looking quite sad as she sniffs the air. “I can say for certain, she wasn’t in here, ever.”
“Don’t suppose you can track her scent?” Thalia suggests.
“Not if she’s more than about a kilometre away, which she definitely is.” Lisa responds as she takes a puff. “Can’t track her across the bloody country, as much as I would like to.”
“Then we’ll find somewhere you can.” Adelar chimes in, which elicits rather unamused looks from the others.
“Adelar...” Durazo begins to say, taking a step towards him. “Do you have any idea how big this country is? She could be anywhere.”
“We have to try something.” He retorts. “She’s counting on us.”
Solomon takes a moment to really understand what just happened. This fox just took several bullets and not only stood up right after, but cut two people in half as well. “He must be True Light, that’s the only way he could have survived!” With that knowledge, she really doesn’t think she can fight him.
And now, he will regard her as a part of his cult? It sure beats the alternative, but Solomon isn’t exactly excited about it either.
“Come with me.” Luxor says in a tone which can be best described as pretentiously venerable. “Hopefully, there will not be any interruptions this time.” He puts a hand on her shoulder, she is once again enveloped in light for just a second this time. He then holds out his hand. Solomon looks up and into his shining, white eyes, fearful.
“Where are you taking me?” She asks softly.
“Initiation.” Says the fox. “With my fire worshipper having gone missing, I am in need of a replacement.”
Solomon wonders why he doesn’t just take Sheila, if he needs a Blazing One. She then remembers that Sheila likely isn’t the best candidate for that for various reasons, like the fact that she would likely refuse to cooperate. She on the other hand… She is much more afraid, even with such a destructive power in her hands. Luxor doesn’t seem afraid of her at all. Whatever this initiation might be, she really doesn’t like it, even though it seems like her best chance to survive this.
Solomon grabs onto his hand and lets him lead her, which Haemon doesn’t seem to approve of, but doesn’t say anything about it. On the way, she sees cult members pass them by, giving the fox a slight nod or a full bow. They hardly take notice of her.
“If I may be permitted to ask, are you… True Light?” She inquires on the way, trying to sound as humble as she can.
“What might that be?” The white fox asks with a soft chuckle, apparently not minding the way she called him.
Solomon takes a second to collect her thoughts. “Of course, how would he know about the official names…”
The bat, however, eyes her suspiciously.
“How did you become so…” She pauses, the fox anticipating how she’ll describe him. “Powerful? How can you regenerate so quickly?”
The fox looks pleased with her curiosity.
“I am a God. All light belongs to me. My purpose is to get back what is owed to me from the HEATHENS.” He noticeably growls as he says the last word, startling Solomon. “...so that I may become the God that my believers, my people deserve!”
The cat really isn’t convinced that it answered her question.
“But… How did you do that? Do you take their light?” She asks. “...O, Radiant One?” She adds, which the fox seems to approve of.
“They are unworthy of light. Only I may have it.” He notices the rather confused look on Solomon’s face. “Yes.” He adds with a proud look. “This guy… He’s far too gone. How much light has he taken? Given how he believes he’s a God… Likely a lot.”
After a while of walking, she and Luxor stop in front of a door that has been painted completely white. Upon being opened, he leads her inside. In the room, everything is white. The walls, the floor, what little furniture is in the room, everything. There is a large section dedicated entirely to store white robes and what look like rags, possibly other pieces of clothing as well.
“Before you can be properly initiated, you must appear appropriate.” Says the fox, taking a robe off of a stack. “Shed your impure garments, so that you may join us in glorious perfection.”
Solomon does not like this turn of events. Neither does Genesis from what she feels.
“Is that really… necessary?” She asks sheepishly.
“I expect my loyal flock to trust me as I trust them. I promise not to look.” He says as he hands over a robe, what she now realises is a loincloth and what still just looks like a long rag to her. Having done that, he turns away.
“Okay, he is completely insane.”
She stands there for a few long moments, just looking at him.
“Tell me when we can proceed to the initiation.” He says as if it’s the most natural thing to him that she’ll just put those on. She at the very least wants to request something other than what she was given, but thinks about how that somehow, in his twisted mind, it could be offensive. She decides against it.
The robe is a little too big for her, but it does have pockets on the outside, as well as buttons to keep the robe closed when needed. “At least they have standards.” She puts her uncharged phone into one of the pockets.
Given how Luxor only seems to permit light-coloured clothing, she’s never been so glad to be wearing white underwear in her life. She figures out that the long rag is supposed to be wrapped around her chest. The entire outfit is something no sane person should put on for daily life in her opinion. “I can accept a suit, but this…” She takes a look at her watch, figuring that from the right angle, it does sort of look white.
“...we can go ahead.” She says eventually after buttoning the robe. The fox immediately turns around, not commenting on how she looks.
“Very well.” He says with a pleasant smile, leading her outside and back into the hall they came from, where the bodies and blood have all been cleaned up, replaced by a sizable mass of people in all kinds of white clothing, but mostly robes. “There have to be more than a hundred of them here… Just like that agent said.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Radiant One!” Says a bat as she approaches. “Another bat?” She’s a skinny leaf-nosed bat, but still intimidating, like Haemon. Seems to be about his age too, around a few years older than Solomon. Her fur is reddish brown, wearing regular, white clothes similar to what Haemon was wearing. Solomon can immediately tell that she’s a Mystic One, with silver, jagged lines surrounded by grey lines with curved ends covering her arms. “We have taken care of the last intruder. She resisted to no end, but she is now in the dungeon.” She looks at Solomon and raises an eyebrow. “She must be talking about Sheila.”
“Most divine effort.” Says Luxor, pleased, then notices the way the bat eyes Solomon. “Do not mind her. She swore loyalty to me and saw the consequences of betrayal.” He puts his hands together, looking satisfied about having a possible new worshipper. “Judging by her power and obedience, she could be a worthy part of us.”
Solomon feels rather insulted by being called obedient, but she understands why it was said. “And you would not question my judgement, would you?” He says, reaching down to caress the bat’s face.
“Of course not, Your Radiance.” She responds, lowering her head.
If Solomon wanted to leave The System, then she positively wants to get out of this castle as soon as possible.
“Even that was better than this gathering of maniacs.”
Solomon looks past the bat to see Haemon chatting with… Another bat with markings? “What’s up with this place and Mystic Bats?” This one’s markings resemble the ones she saw on Stefano. “So they have an Electric One as well.”
He looks a little more muscular, his fur is a darker shade of grey, unlike the other two, his nose resembles that of a canine, wearing clothes similar to the other bats. He looks to be around Solomon’s age, a couple years older at max.
Luxor walks over to the middle of the podium and gestures to Solomon to follow, which she obliges.
“Oh, I’ll show you obedience… Eventually. Somehow.”
“My most loyal, beloved worshippers!” Luxor begins, causing the hall to fall silent. “It is with great pleasure that I announce that a former UNBELIEVER has been converted!” He announces as he turns to take Solomon’s hand and raise it, showing off her marking. “Behold! Power! While nothing compared to your God, I have taken an interest in it and its wielder!” He turns her slightly so that she’s facing him. Solomon glances to her left, where the three bats are lined up, as well as a figure she hasn’t seen before and can’t quite make out with just her peripheral.
“Her name: Roxanne Solomon!” Luxor goes on. “And she is now a part of our society of light and purity!”
The mass erupts into cheering and applauding. Solomon can’t help feeling somewhat grateful for being called by her name.
“Today is but a small victory against an insolent group of BLASPHEMERS, but a victory of purity nonetheless!” He continues, the cultists respond with more applause. “And now, who might undertake the task of showing this lost, benighted soul the truths of life? Who thinks him or herself worthy of such a burden?”
For all his shortcomings, which Solomon thinks there are many, the white fox can certainly make a speech. She picks up on the slightest hint of a Spanish accent in his language, which he appears to try to hide.
“I will!” Says one of the cultists almost immediately, much to Luxor’s pleasure. He walks up to the podium, and Solomon’s heart sinks upon seeing who it is. Grayson, the goat she last saw get taken by Haemon. But something is different… The markings on his hands are no longer there.
“Oh no…” Solomon tries to look as if she doesn’t recognise him.
“You may be new to our Paradise, but you are so eager to spread our way already!” Says Luxor, followed by a cheer.
“Of course, Radiant One.” Grayson says in a lowly tone. “I shall educate the newcomer to the best of my ability.”
The fox looks exceedingly happy with how things are turning out.
“Show her her new home, her new life!” Luxor turns towards the mass. “Show her what it means to be Lightborn!”
“Yes, Radiant One.” The goat says and bows.
“I am counting on you!” The fox says magnanimously. “And thus, this meeting is now concluded.” He announces in a softer tone. “You may go and enjoy the life of light until the next time I call on you!” His voice rises as he adds, walking down from the podium where those closest to him embrace him one by one, him standing much taller than all of them.
Solomon can now take a look at the last figure. Not a single square centimetre is showing from the person. They are wearing thick, Winter clothes, including a darker beige coat with its hood on. The inside of the hood looks fuzzy and white. The cat feels entirely too warm just looking at them, given the soft warmth the lanterns give off. A piece of grey cloth is wrapped around the person’s head, covering the face. They have a pair of welding goggles to cover the eyes. They also wear thick, black gloves, black trousers and beige boots. In addition, they have a knife in a leather holster on each side of their body. One question remains on Solomon’s mind as she looks at the person: why?
She feels a sense of concern from Genesis.
“Come, let me show you around.” Grayson says in a tone which she finds much more agreeable.
Solomon nods and follows after him. He seems to know exactly where he’s going in the castle, she already feels lost after turning a few corners. And even then… Everything looks so clean. She will have to ask about that for certain. She feels her foot kick into something as she turns right once. “That corner is deceptively close…”
She is eventually taken to a familiar wooden door.
“In here.” Says the goat as he opens it and heads inside, followed by Solomon. He looks around before closing the door.
“What the hell are you doing here?!” He asks softly, worried, catching Solomon by surprise.
“I could ask you the same!” She retorts, having many questions she wants answered as soon as possible. She glances at his hands again. “Your light…”
The goat sighs in response.
“That was the first thing he did when I got here. I won’t get into the details, but it is possible to remove the magic from…”
“With splicing.” Solomon cuts him off. “I saw the symbols. How does he know about it?” Grayson looks at her in disbelief.
“How do you know about splicing?” He questions her and shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. The fact that you’re here… That’s bad. Really bad.” He peeks through the door, making sure there’s no one else nearby or coming to the dungeon. “Listen, we probably don’t have much time. As far as they know, I’m showing you around the castle. If they learn that I’m not…”
Solomon nods, although she would prefer having more time to have her questions properly answered. Grayson takes one more peek and turns to face Solomon, grabbing her by the shoulders.
“Luxor’s dangerous. Extremely so. He may look like a nutcase, but I think there has to be a method to his madness.” His eyes grow wide as he explains to the cat. “Number one rule: DO NOT criticise or question him EVER.”
Solomon feels a chill go down her spine, longing for a normal life more and more each day.
“His ego is terribly fragile, but he’s terribly gullible as well. Just act like the lowliest servant you possibly can and you won’t get in trouble. Got all that?”
Solomon nods with a fearful look, feeling great contempt from Genesis already.
The door behind them creaks open, they both turn to face whoever is coming in. It’s the person with the welding goggles and winter clothes.
“I know what you’re thinking…” Grayson begins to say. “Why am I showing the newcomer the dungeons first?”
Solomon has no way to tell what the person could possibly be thinking or feeling due to all the covering on their face. They just look ahead at the two of them.
“I just wanted to make sure she knows what happens if she were to turn against us!” He explains, gesturing towards the holding cells.
The person nods and walks past them.
With a soft sigh of relief, Grayson leads Solomon out of the dungeon.
“Keep calm at all times. Don’t act suspicious. Don’t question your new God.” He whispers to her after making sure there’s no one to hear him. Solomon senses that even Genesis feels rather nervous in this place.
“Who was that?” She asks, also in a whisper.
“I have no idea. I’ve never seen their face. Or fur. Or anything.” Grayson admits. “All I know is that they oversee the dungeons.” He gestures to her to get out of the way as a small group of cultists approach them.
“Okay Solomon.” Grayson says in a forced, much more cheerful tone as they walk past them. “We should get you a map first. Follow me.”
Solomon is led through the halls of the castle, this time, much more populated. On the way there, she bangs her right foot on seemingly nothing once. She wants to look into it, but doesn’t want to stray too far from Grayson, so she follows him. “I really should watch my step…”
The very first thing she notices about the people is their behaviour. She sees so many of them cleaning, constantly. Not just the floor, but the walls, even the ceiling as well. Grayson takes notice of this.
“That’s something you’ll have to get used to. The Radiant One will not tolerate any part of the castle to be dirty.” He gives her a side eye look. “That’s kind of welcome if you ask me.”
Solomon likes the place less and less with each new thing she learns about it. Not the keeping the castle clean part, but the obsessive cleaning part.
The people don’t even take notice of them. Solomon sees one of them clean the same discolouration on a wall for an uncomfortably long time as they walk past. They stop by a coyote with a broom in his hand, sweeping a section of the floor that looks perfectly clean to Solomon.
“Hey, mind giving us a map?” Grayson asks him. The coyote stops, takes a folded piece of paper out of his pocket, and gives it to the goat. “I appreciate it.” The coyote goes back to cleaning without another word.
Solomon notices that just like the building, the people are spotless as well. Not what she would normally expect from a cult, but she finds it at least a little pleasant to be wrong on that.
Grayson unfolds the map and gives it to Solomon. She sees various words scribbled on different parts of the castle, she looks for the dungeon as a starting point. The castle layout itself is extremely confusing, including multiple hallways that don’t lead anywhere.
Only a few corridors away from the dungeon, she sees the “Hall of Light”, marked with a little drawing of a fox head, which she figures is where Luxor made his speech, as well as the “Dining Hall” a similar distance away. The bastions are labelled simply as “Lookouts”. She sees various, smaller rooms all around the castle, many of these make up the sleeping quarters on the western side of the castle. On the eastern side, also made up of smaller rooms is the “Hall of Pleasure”. Solomon senses great discomfort from Genesis, which she herself feels as well. There is a room named “Hall of Wisdom” at the northern side and two simply named “Lounge” at the southern side. The towers are labelled as “Study Rooms”. There are also smaller rooms with the labels “Bathroom” and “Washroom”. All of these are connected by long hallways and staircases.
“Right…” She says after taking a good look at the map.
“You can keep it.” The coyote says with a blank expression. Solomon folds up the map and pockets it, unable to hide that she’s interested in the “Hall of Wisdom”. If she were to find a pen and paper anywhere in this building, that’s likely where she would.
“Where do you even get your food from?” She asks, a little louder than she intended.
“We fish.” Says Grayson. “We also gather and have a little place to make bread. The shipments also help.” He adds as he leads Solomon away from the people cleaning that particular hall. That one person is still trying to remove that discolouration from the wall, which is most likely just part of the stone’s natural look. She really hopes that he’s just trying to look busy.
“What shipments?” She asks, raising an eyebrow.
Grayson clicks his tongue, putting his hands behind his back, taking long, slow steps.
“A few of the people have some outside connections, they keep us supplied with goods in exchange for healing.”
Solomon feels almost impressed. She can certainly see how Luxor lures desperate people into the cult.
“Does the “Radiant One” answer questions?” She asks as another small group walks past them.
“As long as you’re respectful.” Grayson replies with a shrug.
Solomon looks around and leans close to him.
“I’ll be at the Hall of Wisdom.” She whispers.
“Just call it a library.” Grayson adds with a smile, she nods in understanding.
“Meet me there later. I have to do something.” Right as she says that, she senses Genesis feel rather happy. “I’ll get out of here. Somehow.”