Chapter 12:

The next day, Lida led me back to my confinement. I figured she would easily spot the wool in my ears if I had it during the day, so the best course of action would be to wait until I was in the dark room, where I could use the darkness to my advantage and keep it hidden from her.

All the way to my personal prison, she kept saying how worried she’d been when she saw my bleeding nose and that I should never scare her like that again. Her comments were disgusting, given that I already knew her true nature, but they also deepened my understanding that, for the sake of their ritual, I was very valuable to these people. It meant that, in the worst-case scenario, I could threaten to injure myself - or worse - to try and get my way. As long as Lida wasn’t around to stop me, of course.

She inquired about the cause of the broken nose, vowing to personally torture the person responsible. I knew lying would be futile, but I didn’t want Sona to be punished - I needed her if I was going to escape. So, I resorted to a different strategy, continuing my submissive act from before. “I appreciate your concern, Lida.” I said as warmly as I could, even managing a smile. “Let’s talk about this later, please. I just want to rest for now.”

It was a gamble, but it seemed to pay off as she nodded, her expression showing uncharacteristic compassion. “Very well. But we still have to talk about that transparent stone of yours. It had me curious for days now.”

“Oh…yeah.” I replied, feeling a chill run down my spine. “Of course.”

As we reached the room, we saw Belferon standing by the door, as if waiting for us. I hadn’t seen him for eight straight days - since the collective prayer in the main square. It was odd, considering he had promised me we would have plenty of time to talk.

“Leave him to me.” He told Lida.

She seemed baffled by his request, as if her ego was bruised by his words and tone. “You’re forgetting yourself, Belfie.” She said, her grin widening. “Luca and I are having a little date here, and you’re interfering.”

Belferon released a disgusted sigh. “You’re as sick as ever.”

She laughed at his words. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.” He said, his voice filled with anger. “Now leave him to me. Those are Vera’s orders.”

The mention of Vera’s name made Lida’s grin fade into disappointment. “Fine…” she sighed and turned to leave, but not before sensually running her hand over my body, starting from my chest and ending at my lower abdomen. The touch made me instinctively jump, which only made her giggle. “You’re such a cutie.” She said as she began descending the stairs.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Belferon called after her.

She feigned surprise. “What?”

Belferon’s serious gaze made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for jests, and Lida laughed. “Fine.” She said, turning to me, and issuing a command. “Luca, don’t you dare lift even a finger to hurt this old sack of bones…for the next hour.”

The ethereal chain around my neck manifested, glowing pink, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hurt Belferon even if I wanted to. Which I did.

“An hour? You annoying woman!” Belferon shouted, his voice harsh, but she just laughed and ran off almost childishly.

He sighed and signaled for me to enter the room. Having no other options, I complied, stepping in first while he followed, closing the door behind us.

“I bet you wondered where I’ve been for the past week.” He said, his voice cheerful. The same tone he used when we were still on our way to Vedem.

“No. Couldn’t care less.” I replied. Lida had made it impossible for me to hurt him, but it didn’t mean I had to be nice. He was still the main reason I was in this mess.

He laughed. “Well, it’s good to see Lida hasn’t broken your spirit yet.”

I ignored him and walked around the room, scanning the dimly lit walls for anything I might have missed. The chances were slim, but it was still better than listening to Belferon.

When he failed to get a reaction from me, he continued. “I just wanted to tell you what you can expect to happen in twenty-four days. I believe it’s the least I can do for you.”

“So, you’re planning to tell me more lies? Interesting.” I said immediately.

He chuckled. “Don’t be like that. You lied to me too. Well…before Lida got your tongue loose.”

“My lies weren’t part of some scheme.” I replied, my voice laced with anger. “Unlike yours.”

“Perhaps.” He smiled. “But not everything I told you was a lie.”

I rolled my eyes in disbelief at how this man kept trying to appear more innocent than he was. “If you told me it was morning right now, I’d still go out and check for myself, even though I was just outside a minute ago.” I said, my tone firm.

He laughed. “Where was this sense of humor on the road?”

I ignored him again. Whatever he was planning to tell me, whether it was a lie or the truth, didn’t matter. I was going to get out of here anyway - preferably well before the date of their ritual.

“Are you not interested in hearing me out?” he asked.

“No.” I replied nonchalantly. “I don’t care.”

He laughed again. “May Vitara bless your soul.”

“Vitara, the goddess of life? Or Vitara, the goddess of whatever you sick people have twisted her into?” I asked, my voice turning angry again. It was hard to keep my cool around him.

I was never a religious person, but Vitara’s image had always been positive in my mind. She was the goddess of life, the one who breathed life into every living thing on earth. Other gods were sometimes portrayed as having their own agendas and goals, but Vitara was always described as benevolent. Her only purpose in creating life was supposedly to ensure there would be someone to enjoy the rest of creation. Yet now, after what I witnessed in Vedem, her image was likely forever tarnished in my eyes.

He looked surprised. “What do you mean? The goddess of life, of course. Everyone in Vedem knows and worships her as such.”

“Celebrating life while sacrificing innocent people that you lure here? Don’t you see the problem with your logic?” I asked, running my hand along the wooden wall beside me, checking for any irregularities I might have missed and could use for my next escape attempt.

Belferon smiled. “Oh, so you already learned about the sacrifice. That’s great! I was afraid I’d have to be the bearer of those news.”

“Great.” I said, keeping my voice calm. “Now that we’ve got this sorted out, you can leave. Don’t forget to lock the door on your way out. Or don’t. I don’t care either way.”

He laughed hysterically, staying behind me, and I could feel his gaze on the back of my head. “You’re still looking for a way to escape, right?” he asked, waiting for a response. When he didn’t get one, he continued. “Good. All this hoping will make your meat a bit more tender.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I instinctively turned to face him, a questioning look in my eyes.

He laughed at my expression. “Oh, so I finally got your attention, have I?”

“What did you just say?” I asked hesitantly, my skin crawling.

He chuckled before suddenly turning serious. “It’s important to me that you understand why all of this is happening, Luca.”

“No. I don’t care.” I dismissed his words. “Explain what you meant before. Meat?”

“Listen to what I have to say, and you’ll understand everything eventually. How does that sound?” He offered.

Intrigued and worried by his words, I reluctantly nodded for him to continue.

He began. “First off, let me start by saying that I’m really not from this village. I truly am just a frequent visitor.”

“What does that change?” I asked, my tone impatient.

He shrugged. “Just wanted you to know that not everything I said was a lie. Another truth, for example, is that I am indeed two hundred and five years old.”

I already heard this lie, so I wasn’t impressed. “Right. And let me guess, you survived for so long by believing in Vitara, right?” I asked mockingly.

He laughed. “That’s right! But I wasn’t always like that. I was once a godless individual just like you. That was when I came to this village for the first time. Exactly one hundred and fifty-five years ago - minus eight days.”

“I doubt you were anything like me.” I said, disgusted by his attempt to compare us.

“Oh, but I was.” He replied, his grin never leaving his face. “I traveled with my younger brother. We always wanted to see the world together. And we did. After many years and experiences on the road, we eventually ended up here. Believe it or not, I was even held in this very same room, much like you are now.”

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I raised an eyebrow at his words. I had no reason to believe any of it.

He continued, gesturing toward the oil lamp above us. “Of course, it’s gone through some renovations over the years - like this lamp, for example. It was put here around eighty years ago. It was pitch black when I was held here. Imagine that!”

“Am I supposed to feel bad for you or something? Cut the crap already!” I spat. “If you’re going to continue lying, at least try to make it sound more believable."

He laughed. “But I’m not lying at all. I was held in this room, while my brother was kept downstairs. Vera was still figuring out which one of us would be sacrificed to Vitara.”

I looked at him, my gaze questioning. “So now Vera was also there? Is she two hundred years old as well?”

“Why of course! Even older than that!” he revealed. “She was running this village long before I arrived.”

I was trying to wrap my head around where this story was going, and whether I even believed any of it. Noticing my confused expression, he apologized. “My bad. I think I should’ve started explaining a bit differently.” He said, his tone seemingly apologetic. “It’s just that you’re the first one I’ve ever decided to tell the truth to.”

The first one? I had assumed there were others he’d lured here before me, but the confirmation was still unsettling.

“This village.” He continued. “I’ll spare you the history, but there’s a custom here focused on gaining the blessing of the great Vitara.”

“And what is that?” I asked.

“The blessing of eternal life, of course.” His answer made me question his sanity. No way was I being held here, planned to be sacrificed, for something as crazy as that. There was no such thing as eternal life. The only ones who were eternal were the gods.

“I know how it sounds.” He said, raising his hands in a conceding manner. “But I guarantee you it’s the truth. Haven’t you noticed that there are no old villagers here?”

His words made me recall all the faces I’d seen since I set foot in Vedem. The oldest person, aside from Belferon, was Vera, and even she was probably in her forties at worst. Still, that didn’t mean the villagers were eternally young. There could be plenty of other explanations that didn’t involve divine intervention.

“See? I think you’re starting to get it.” he smiled. “I myself have gone through two cycles already.”

“The only thing I’m getting is tired of your rambling.” I said before asking. “Two cycles of what?”

“Of rebirth, of course!” He called out, his voice joyous. “You remember on what day you arrived here, right? Vera mentioned it during the prayer.”

“Vitara’s birthday.” I replied, recalling her words from that evening.

“That’s right!” he exclaimed. “Each year, thirty-three days after Vitara’s birthday, the villagers of Vedem hold a sacrificial ritual. Their gain – youth and divine blessings. Their sacrifice – whoever was guided here on her birthday. Or in short, people like you.”

I still wasn’t sure how much of what he said was true, but I couldn’t see what he would gain by lying right now. I was already a prisoner here; the story behind it wasn’t important. Unless, of course, the reason for these lies was to inflict more strain and terror over my mental state…

“What about the other prisoners?” I asked, trying to shift the focus away from Ren, fearing they might suddenly realize they could use her for the ritual as well. “The bandits arrived here the same day as I did.”

“The bandits are sub-human. They only care about themselves, the whole bunch of them. Hardly a worthy sacrifice for Vitara.” He dismissed the idea. “And the rest of the prisoners held here arrived before the goddess’ birthday, so they’re irrelevant to the discussion. But don’t worry - they’ll still be useful.” He laughed. “You, on the other hand? A great choice. Young, bright, and with such a strong will to live. All the while your friend in the infirmary provides extra motivation for you to cling to life.”

His mention of Ren heightened my worries, and it must have shown on my face because he quickly continued. “Your friend, Ren - she’s safe for now. Vera will keep her alive for the time being, so you’ll remain hopeful and keep trying to escape. It’s part of the ritual as well, you know. You have to keep the crown sacrifice yearning for life and escape until the very last moment. Once the ritual is over, they’ll kill her and bury her somewhere in the woods. No point in serving her - her meat is tainted from mana overdose.”

It was his second mention of meat, and the realization was slowly hitting me, but I was still in disbelief. “Meat?”

His smile sent a chill down my spine. “Yes. The ritual is not just a simple sacrifice, you see. Vitara will claim your life, and then we’ll feast on your flesh. The villagers will keep their youthful appearances, while I’ll finally be able to regain my youth and live through another cycle.”

His revelation hit me like a punch to the gut, a sickening realization that churned in my stomach. They weren’t just planning to sacrifice me - they intended to consume me. Disgust and horror twisted in my chest as my mind struggled to comprehend his words. Horrific images flashed in my mind – the villagers feasting on my remains, their faces contorted with the joy of madness. How could this village even exist? And so close to the capital? How could it be that no one had ever discovered what was really happening here?

“I know, I know.” Belferon suddenly said, as if trying to comfort me. “But don’t be scared. You’re going to be struck down by Vitara herself! It’s a great honor.”

“Great honor?” I asked, my temper rising. “What honor is there in dying like this? And being consumed by the likes of you afterward? You disgust me!”

He laughed. “Well, when the day comes and you see the goddess with your own eyes, you’ll understand.”

“I’m not planning on getting sacrificed, you hear me?” I said, my voice firm, my determination unwavering.

His expression turned serious. “My, my, so much fire. It’s alright. Stay hopeful for as long as you can. I’m sure Vitara will be pleased. As I said before, your hopes and dreams are part of this ritual. Just don’t be too disappointed when you fail.”

“In your dreams.” I said through gritted teeth. “I will get out of here. Both me and Ren.”

He laughed. “You know, we’re quite alike, you and me. On our way here, I couldn’t help but admire your determination. Your view of the world is so pessimistic and gloomy, yet you fight so hard to survive. How is that even possible? Many times, I’ve wondered how a person like you could even exist - to live by sheer will to survive and nothing more, to hate the world, yet still wish to live in it. To me, it was…absurd.”

“We’re nothing alike.” I dismissed his words and the comparison.

“On the contrary.” He disagreed. “You fight to live on, to see another day. And I too fight for the same reason. The only difference between us is that while you can’t stop yourself for a moment to enjoy the beauty of life, I strive to feel life and all the sensations it has to offer - to view it in all its colors, to hear it in every possible sound it can produce. We are both survivors in this world, but while your survival is bland, with no real reason behind it, mine has infinite reasons to live and keep on living.”

“My survival doesn’t require me to leave rows of dead bodies in my wake, unlike yours.” I snapped back at him.

“Oh yeah? Then maybe there’s another difference between us.” His tone turned judgmental. “Tell me, how were you planning on reaching Kase with your sick and comatose friend? Did you think your journey there would be filled with roses and butterflies? That people would just help you out of the kindness of their hearts? Take you by the hand and lead you all the way there?” His voice grew even sterner. “Did you really believe you wouldn’t have to resort to morally questionable deeds? Perhaps even kill? If so, then you should be thankful I stumbled upon you when I did. I saved you from a pointless death and disappointment later on. At least this way, your sorry existence will be used to help others survive and prosper.”

I remained silent, and he continued with the same intensity. “I thought that even though your existence is worthless, you were at least determined to go to great lengths to survive, and so you’d understand where I’m coming from. But I guess you were right - we’re nothing alike. If you’re not willing to do anything possible to survive, then you’re just a hypocrite. Convictions without actions are just empty words. Unlike you, I follow my convictions thoroughly. When old age and impending death were slowly breathing down my neck, I wasn’t ready to die. When I first got here, I wasn’t willing to be sacrificed. And even now, after two centuries of life, I refuse to die anytime soon. Judging my way of survival just shows how much you lack my resolve.”

His judgmental words, without knowing anything about me, finally got on my nerves, and I snapped. “What do you even know about me, outside the lies I have told you, and the superficial truths Lida forced me to reveal? Nothing! What do you know about survival? Real survival? The kind where each day you wake up with excruciating pains in your stomach, reminding you that you haven’t eaten in days, but you keep pressing on, searching for any way to get food. Real survival where you drink from rain puddles, hoping it won’t kill you, because there's just no other option. Real survival where every time you try to pickpocket the rich in the main square, you pray you don’t get caught because if you do, you could say goodbye to your hands - or worse, your life. Or the kind of survival where you have to steal from other homeless people, and even orphans just like you because they were more fortunate that day, even if it meant fighting them for it. Don’t talk to me about real survival, convictions, or resolve, because as far as I’m concerned, you’re just an old lunatic scared shitless of dying! Nowhere near a true survivor.”

He scanned me silently for a moment, a serious gaze on his face. Then, he laughed. “So much emotion. I am so very thankful we had this talk. Vitara will surely be pleased with you as her crown sacrifice.”

His laugh pissed me off even more. The simplicity of his reaction, combined with his denial of any wrongdoing and the constant divine excuses he used to dodge the argument, made me fume. I decided to get under his skin for a change. “Seeing how you’re still here, I assume your brother was the one sacrificed and eaten. Real shame that a piece of shit like you survived.”

He smiled faintly. “I was the one who led him to the main square that evening, actually.” He released a short laugh before continuing. “Told him we were getting away, that everything was part of my plan, and that he just had to trust me.”

My plan backfired as his words had shook me even more. “You killed him…”

He dismissed my words with a casual hand gesture. “Nonsense. He was sacrificed to the great Vitara, and I gained the trust of the village. So much that they were willing to share their blessings with me.”

“So, you killed your own brother? And for what? A longer life?” I asked in disbelief, my disgust growing with each word. His twisted morals repulsed me.

“You make it sound simple. I’ve accepted Vitara as my only truth, but while the villagers of Vedem can enjoy her gift of youth every year, I had to wait sixty years since my last time. I had to bring them so many unsuspecting travelers over the years to gain this right again.” He closed his eyes, as if recalling a memory, then continued. “Imagine the gentle embrace of a cool breeze on a hot day, the taste of freshly baked bread melting on your tongue, or the laughter of a child echoing through the air. Can you picture the awe-inspiring beauty of a star-studded night sky and the feelings it stirs inside of you? The feel of cool grass beneath your fingertips as you lie in a meadow? Or the simple pleasure of sharing a smile with a friend? You can’t, can you? Because you’re not truly living. You never did! But for me, these experiences, these exquisite fragments of life, are the reasons I’m still alive. The warmth of the sun on my skin is just a small taste of the sensations life offers. I aim to eternally savor these moments, preserving them like treasures to be discovered anew with each passing day, and nothing and no one will stand in my way!”

“Wasn’t your relationship with your brother something you cherished? Wasn’t it a special feeling you could experience only once in your life?” I asked, trying to undermine his views. “Sacrificing that while claiming you yearn for life is the real hypocrisy here.”

He shook his head, and the bells on his hat began to ring. “I loved my brother, but he was just a small part of my life. And as I continue extending it, his part in it will only grow smaller, proving my point.”

His words made me sick. “For someone you claim to love, you sure seem to dismiss his existence very easily.”

“I do not dismiss his existence!” He shouted, his voice full of anger. It was the first time I’d seen him express such emotion, and I was glad I’d managed to push him to this state.

“He’s one of the echoes of my past.” He said, touching one of the bells on his hat. “The first one of them all.”

“The first one?” I asked, confused.

He nodded, detached the bell from his hat, and showed it to me. It had an elliptical shape and was colored brown. The letter ‘L’ was carved on the back. “My brother. Landon.” Belferon whispered.

I suddenly understood what he meant - and the significance of the other bells. Those, along with the other hats he’d mentioned, represented all the people he had lured here to their demise. When I remained quiet, he took off his jingling hat and held it before him. The bells chimed as the hat shook in his old, weak hands, and he reattached the bell that represented his brother.

“The bells, Luca. They are the echoes of my past.” He said, reminding me of what he’d told me about his hat when we first met. “Soon, you will also be just an echo for me, but don’t worry - I’ll always remember you.”

He then hurried out of the room, leaving me behind to contemplate his words and the grim truth of the impending ritual.