Emerald equipped a radiant sword more than twice his size, pushing Garnet further back and taking a defensive stance against the monsters that wanted to harm his boy.
Preparing to take the initiative before the crazed elders had time to employ their magic and other obscure tricks that would finish him in seconds he shifted his grip on the sword for a wider angle before realising his mistake, leaving an unchained Feral at his back was consigning to a fate worse than death, pulling his leg back across the tiled floor and only now noticing the silence, no hissing or growls from the plagued creature and no chains that clinked with every move.
Turning his head slowly Emerald was afraid of what he would see, stopping the noises required some very nasty types of tortures, things that left stumps and scars easily visible to a casual observer and far more so to someone familiar with the practice.
Seeing no evidence of the atrocities done did nothing to assuade his fear, usually healing would bring back the violent actions, but sometimes, when things escalated beyond a certain point the violence was kept hidden for longer, only to surface back days later, that was the cause for the third rebellion after all, with the mad prophet claiming to have found a cure only to be discovered comitting atrocities on the poor creatures under her charge.
Not finding the tells of soul hacking Emeraled tensed and turned to look at the other Kobolds "what have you done mother?" he glared at JewelSetter, "reforming the crystal cult", he scanned the others, never letting Garnet leave his sight, "and calling me here to witness your torment of my son?", he noticed Gem fidgeting in the back, "indoctrinating children in your vile ways?" hissing the last sentence at BoneSmith.
"Enough", Staffson finally interjected thumping the Shaman staff to draw attention, "we did none of that Emerald", gripping the staff with white knuckles, "we brought you here to witness a miracle", another thump with the staff, "it seems JewelSetter was right in calling you or you would never believe it", he looked at the others while leaning on the staff, "we spoke with the first Allen in the crystal"
"Blasphemy" Emerald cried, "there is nothing in the crystal" mentioning the source of all evil in their society drew Emerald's eyes to it "you speak the words of the mad prophet", tighteting his grip on the handle feeling pain in his knuckled fist.
"There is now" jumping at the voice Emerald yelped before regaining control of himself, "please calm down", the voice spoke again with an ancient inflection, "I will do you no harm", ready to bolt, Emerald needed to pass the word of these cultists reviving the evil prophet's creed, "I am sorry", at the words he fealt his body freezing, not cold, just immobile like the legendary 'hold' spell had been cast on him, rage welled in his entire body as he knew all was lost, and then grief at the thought of what they were about to do to him and his children in this shrine of bloody past that should have been torn apart after the last rebellion.
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"It seems our newest member is having difficulties joining us", the voice said filling Emerald with dread, "but we must proceed", at these words Emerald wished he had tearducts like the humans to wash the grit from his suddenly dried eyes, "I believe Jovial's shift is about to end", who is Jovial, Emerald didn't know anyone with that name but saw Garnet nod at the edge of his vision.
"Jovial" hearing the name again filled Emerald with dread, "join the others now" at which Garnet walked back to the unholy circle like he had been possessed by this Jovial spirit, or Player.
"Now" the voice sounded grim, "there were things done here I don't know about", it spoke slowly as if thinking through each word, "if any present here harmed you Garnet", that was the beginning of a wake prayer, Emerald couldn't even avert his eyes, "please forgive them for they knew nothing better", the words stung in Emerald's heart, "you will come to a new life", they were not perfectly recited but Emerald knew what was coming and his soul ached to hold his boy one last time, "Jovial please enable Independent Action", what did that even mean, Emerald's mind stuttered at the meaningless words when Garnet's cries echoed through the shrine and he swore to bear witness to his child's agonizing final moments.
Garnet pushed the others aside, obviously unharmed and ran to Emerald latching into his frozen body like a drowning man holding a plank, "let him go Allen" Garnet begged, "he wouldn't hurt me".
Emerald would know that voice into hell and back, believing it impossible to ever hear his son again he spoke with him every minute for the final stages of the plague, hoping beyond hope that something would change for his own son, but as he had told countless grieving siblings there was nothing to do except remember them at their best when the worst became true.
Falling in his son's arms like a dream come true Emerald lost his grip on the sword that was floating in the air, nothing fealt real at this moment, his whole world came crashing down, embracing the one being he could never touch again, his wife had suffered the same fate when she broke the rules for one last moment with the monster that had once been their pride and joy, and now it was true, dreading the appearance of the plague message Emerald looked up to see the others had joined in the moment.
Thinking back at his words he stuttered an inteligible apology which JewelSetter hushed and he buried himself in the moment, so many lost, could they all be saved now?
The final words from 'Allen' sank in his mind like a rock, did they remember the horrors of the cults, could they really forgive those who commited such heinous crimes against them, the horror pushed him back from the group, so many questions, how and why, but now was not the time, although the place was undoutebly suitable for miracles.