Unlocking your second Orison is a simple matter of infusing the slot with sufficient Conviction, Xeph lectured, as Callan sat and forced another memory shard down his throat. When the message appeared showing him that he was once again maxed out, he swiped it away with a relieved sigh. After that, it will require faith to actually fill the slot, the same as it is to upgrade an Orison. Once that is accomplished—

“I have a question.” Callan set aside the remaining bag of crystals, his stomach queasy at the sight of them. “You said that we would need Conviction to corrupt the temple, too, right? How exactly does that work?”

Do you recall how we infused our temple with Conviction before departing? We can do the same to another god’s temple. Only in this case, doing so robs it of the conviction that it currently possesses. Simple, effective, and far more elegant than the alternative.

“Uh huh. And what is the alternative, exactly?”

Destroying everything in sight.

“Honestly, the second way sounds easier,” Callan said, standing up and stretching. His chest ached a bit from the effort, but he needed to do something to keep the rest of his muscles limber. Already being trapped in this basement was getting to him.

There are other advantages to corrupting with Conviction. For instance, we could claim the temple as our own if we had the available slot. However, in this instance, the fact that Zavastu’s temple is also the village storehouse should be reason enough. I do not think the lud would appreciate us destroying their livelihood to save them. Still, depending on the situation we find inside, it may prove necessary.

Now, it is time. Unlock your Orison.

Callan nodded, then sat down again, unsure exactly what this would entail. Pulling up his stat screen, he found the second orison slot—the word *locked* was highlighted in an angry red color—and focused his intent on it. A message appeared in his vision.

Would you like to open this slot? Cost = 5 Conviction

“Is it just me, or does everything cost way too much conviction? Temples, priests, orisons...” Shaking his head, he accepted, and the message winked away.

Please wait while slot is activated...

Orison slot now available. Would you like to assign an Orison? Cost = 1 Faith

Not like I have much choice. What else am I going to do with that faith, keep my cancer from spreading? Callan accepted this message as well. His vision ballooned with additional messages.

Alert: You may choose one of the following Orisons:

1. Wurmchain

2. Caltrops

3. Dveorgeye

Orison: Wurmchain

Creates a 6-foot chain woven from the scales of a mungandir.

Apotheosis cost = 5% per 15 minutes of use

Orison: Caltrops

Creates 5 stone caltrops that spring from the ground and cause minor damage when tread upon.

Apotheosis cost = 12%

Orison: Dveorgeye

Allows the user to detect nearby gems and other precious metals.

Apotheosis cost = 2% per 5 minutes of use

It took several moments for Callan’s eyes to sort out what he was seeing. “Which should I choose?”

That is ultimately up to you, mortal. Although it is prudent to know that whichever you choose, it is not just yourself who shall benefit. Your priests will also have access to this orison.

Callan blinked in surprise. “They don’t get to pick from their own list?”

Priests are not avatars. They have many limitations, such as only bearing three orisons at a time, and all are limited to the same selection. As we will only have this new orison and Shape Stone available for the immediate future, that will limit the range of our priests’ abilities even further.

“What about Mountainform?”

Xeph hesitated. That requires a... more specialized follower to access. I think.

Remembering how a Paladin class was included on his list of followers, Callan had a good guess what it might take for someone else to share Mountainform. However, it wasn’t of any use to his current dilemma, so he put it out of his mind.

Of the three abilities on offer, he immediately discarded Dveorgeye. While he could see how that might be useful for the followers of a mountain god, its utter lack of combat application made it worthless in the short-term.

That left him with either Wurmchain or Caltrops. He was hesitant to make a choice before knowing what sort of enemy the cultists might present.

The squeak of footsteps above announced the return of Kivi, who had left to perform whatever work Zavastu required of her—apparently Callan had been lucky to wake early in the morning, before everyone was gone for the day.

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Kivi had advised Callan to not make too much noise in her absence. While the cultists had long since ceased to search homes for anything of value, there was no sense risking drawing their attention.

A few moments later, the trap door opened, and Kivi peered inside. “I should have dinner ready in a little bit. Are you partial to spirebeans?”

“They’re one of my favorite,” Callan said without missing a beat. The girl beamed at him.

“Good, because that is all I have. I’ll return in a few minutes.”

Her head disappeared back through the trap door, which closed after her a moment later. Callan leaned back against the wall.

He’d probably need to see if it was possible to do any scouting of the cultists that evening, when the village was quiet. In the meantime... Just off gut instinct, Callan was inclined to go with caltrops. After all, he already had a weapon with Mountainform, and being able to lay down some defenses around him sounded like a good way to round out his abilities.

But he also needed to consider the priests. Tervak had said the villagers could provide themselves some rudimentary weapons, but maybe it would be better to have something with a bit more bite to it. If this Wurmchain was an Orison, it was bound to be better than a simple wood club or spear.

By the time Kivi returned with a plate of some reddish beans, Callan still hadn’t managed to convince himself one way or the other. He would just have to wait and see if any ideas occurred while scouting.

When he suggested the idea to Kivi she seemed to find it a good one but advised that he wait at least until Tervak returned with other potential priests.

After that, they ate their food in silence. Even Xeph seemed occupied with other thoughts. Callan was just mopping up the last of his spirebeans—which were as bland and flavorless as the name implied—when a creaking from above announced visitors. He only hoped it was Tervak, with potential new followers in tow.

----------------------------------------

The lud who followed Tervak down the ladder did not exactly inspire confidence in Callan. One was a man of an age with the elder, with a similar pointed beard but one that was still peppered with spots of black. Older, but at least he appeared to still have vitality to him.

In contrast to this, the other was a woman so wizened that she had to be a decade or two older than either of the men, at least. Her skin was worn and weathered and dark as a nut.

Out of the corner of his eye Callan caught Tervak watching him. Noticing the attention, the lud gave a polite cough.

“Allow me to introduce elders Shamain and Aldis, both respected members of our community. Does Xeph-Zul-Karatl find them worthy to join his priesthood?”

Is the lud joking? The female looks like she’s a single bad cough away from the grave!

Callan couldn’t exactly disagree with that sentiment, but he tried to put it a bit more eloquently. “Elder Tervak, I’m afraid Xeph was hoping for priests that were a bit...”

“Younger?” Tervak let out a soft chuckle. “I do not wish to disappoint you, honored avatar, but even with the threat of the cult looming over us, there are not many here who share Kivi’s... fervor for freedom. Especially when the price of failure is certain death, and even success means a lifetime of service to a god which none here have heard of. Can you blame those who have already lived a rich and full life for being the only ones to step forward?”

“I suppose not,” Callan admitted.

I can, Xeph grumbled. However, the lud’s words are logical, even if I disapprove of the logic in specific.

The two elders joined Tervak at the center of the room, while Kivi also made her way down the ladder and stood off to one side. Tervak opened his mouth to speak, but the old woman beat him to the punch.

“Boy doesn’t think we have what it takes, does he? I’ll have you know I’ve been climbing that pythian tree out there since I left the cradle, and still can get to higher branches than any whippersnappers a third my age! But maybe that’s not good enough for some baby-faced exile from the north. If so, tell me now so I can get back to bed. Some of us have honest work to do in the morning.”

Callan blinked, then held out his hands in a show of surrender. “My apologies, elder. I didn’t mean to imply—”

“Hmmph. Enough with that ‘elder’ nonsense! I’m not like these two fogeys to either side of me. Don’t think I won’t hesitate to tan your backside if I think you’re up to no good! There might be a god inside of you, but that doesn’t mean you can go around insulting a woman with ridiculous titles she doesn’t want!”

“Shamain, please,” Tervak said, though the grin on his face was at odds with his words.

“Oh, stuff it, Tervak. Best the boy knows what he’s getting himself into now, so there isn’t any trouble later. Elder, indeed!”

Inside Callan’s head, Xeph let out a dry chuckle. Hmm, on second thought, I like this one. She’ll make a fine addition to our priesthood. Very well, call the elders forward. We’ll take their vows of faith and make them priests immediately after.

Callan glanced between the three waiting lud. He groaned. “I’m going to be eating a lot more rocks, aren’t I?”

They’re not rocks. Also, yes. Yes, you are.

----------------------------------------

You have been awarded 2 additional faith.

“Alright, faith confirmed. If you could please take my hand...” Callan absentmindedly swiped the message away and turned his attention back to the waiting lud, only for another to burst into his vision. This one was much longer than he was used to, and completely blocked the rest of the basement from view.

He pulled his hand back as the old woman Shamain reached for it. “Hold up, everyone. I need to... um, just hold on a moment.”

He read over the text. A broad grin began to spread across his face.

Congratulations! Due to crossing the required threshold of 10 followers, your God Bond has increased to Talc — II.

+1 to all stats

Apotheosis cost of all bounties now decreased by 10%

Conviction rate has increased.

Mountainform’s coverage has also slightly increased.

Next God Bond threshold: 20 followers.

With everything else going on, Callan had completely forgotten that he was near the threshold. Now that he saw everything it entailed, he regretted not increasing it before then. Even if Xeph was disappointed with his new priests, the increase in power they brought were certainly worthwhile.

Fortunately, even Xeph appeared elevated by this. He let out a contented sigh, which for him reminded Callan of a geyser letting off a blast of steam. Ah, yessssss. I can feel the pathways between us opening further. Not much, but at this stage even a little improvement is noticeable. Can you feel it, human? Can you feel it as I spread out further inside of you?

“Dammit, Xeph, phrasing!” Done reading the message, Callan swiped it away. He returned his presence to the three lud still waiting to be made into priests, all of whom were watching him curiously. Shamain held out her hand again. There was a dangerous twinkle in her eyes.

“And here I thought maybe you just didn’t want to touch this old woman’s claws.” She let out a mischievous cackle and jerked her head toward where Kivi was hovering in the corner. “Bet you didn’t hesitate to take hers in your own though, did ya?”

“I—ah, that’s not—” Callan fumbled over his words, caught off-guard by the sudden change in subject. Shamain cackled again.

“Oh, looks like my arrow found its mark! Bet you’ve been thinking about taking more than just her hand, haven’t you? Two of you alone in a big old house like this. I remember what it was like when I was young. My father had to beat the boys away with a stick. Not that it stopped them. Just made it all the more fun when they finally found their way into my room!”

At this, Kivi burst from her corner, face flushed with embarrassment.

“Shamain! Do not forget that this is an avatar you are speaking to! He would never deign to have such base thoughts!”

I mean, I wouldn’t go that far, Callan thought, chagrined. From the look Shamain gave him, she could tell what he was thinking.

“He’s still a boy, isn’t he? Still got blood pumping through his veins? I can guarantee that same blood is also pumping to his—”

Tervak gave a polite cough. “Perhaps we should get on with the proceedings? I would hate for our absence to be noticed.”

“Bah, very well.” Shamain snatched up Callan’s hand and glowered at him. “Let’s get this over with, boy.”

“Uh, right.”

Once Shamain was confirmed as a priest, Callan set to downing a quint of the memory shards, after which he confirmed Tervak. Another handful of shards later, and the last elder, Aldis, was also confirmed. Callan collapsed onto his mat, breathing hard. Even though he’d just been standing there, it felt like he’d run a mile. Maybe five.

Kivi leaned over him. “Honored Avatar, did you still wish to conduct scouting activities?”

“That’s... probably... better... tomorrow...” he panted out. The lud girl nodded, then retreated after the elders. Despite feeling like there was an iron bar over his chest, Callan forced himself to sit up. “Also, you don’t... have to keep calling me avatar... Callan is fine.”

The girl paused at the base of the ladder as Tervak clambered up it in a matter of seconds. Say what you want about the elder’s age, none of them appeared weak. “Perhaps. But you are an avatar, and such a position is owed a certain amount of respect.”

“Uh, sure, I guess that makes sense. Also, about what Shamain said earlier—”

The smile slipped from Kivi’s face. “Do not let her teasing bother you. I know you would never stoop to debasing yourself with one such as I.”

Callan frowned. “That wasn’t what I meant at all.”

Overhead, someone spoke to Kivi, though the exact words were lost to Callan. The girl’s cheeks turned pink, and there came the sound of Shamain’s laughter. “I should go. We will speak more tomorrow.”

She scurried up the ladder. A moment later Tervak’s head reappeared. “We’ll talk in the morning when you’re recovered. For now, get some rest. I have a feeling we’ll need all we can get.”

With that, the trapdoor snapped shut.

Callan collapsed back on the mattress again, allowing himself to relax at last.

Well, Xeph said, his voice almost a purr. This has been rather eventful. A new threshold reached, four priests in our service, and an orison slot opened, all in the span of a single day. Mortal, have you decided which orison to choose?

“Not yet, Xeph. Tomorrow.” Callan’s eyes fluttered, as sleep weighed down on him. “I promise I’ll figure it out... tomorrow.”