Tom listened intently, hoping they would continue gossiping. Every little morsel of information was welcome; he was as a starving man, and even the smallest piece felt like a godsend to him. He knew he needed to learn more.

Thankfully, Delilah continued:

“If you really find the expense of the ritual distasteful, I have good news for you. You’ll be pleased to know that this is the final generation.”

“They said that two years ago, too.” The man complained immediately. “The council even voted on it. It was locked in. We were no longer going to support the drain. In the end, the vote was almost unanimous, because all the locals who actually pay taxes and vote for the council members hated it. Most of these kids are from adventurers, and you guys don’t pay for a thing. Do you know the rituals were adding, like, one whole percent to our tax rate? It was a crazy expense.”

“And an equally crazy benefit for those lucky enough to receive it.” She shot back.

“That us taxpayers shouldn’t have to cough up. Let the brats’ parents pay it. That is, if they think it’s actually worthwhile.”

The woman snorted. “The higher powers had a different idea. It was the priests who overruled your bean counters. Are you really going to argue against DEUS?”

“The priests are probably corrupt.”

The woman responded to that claim with a low whistle. “Man, you’re losing it. This isn’t earth. DEUS is real, every one of us knows it… Seriously? Corrupt priests? How do you even imagine that working? I can’t imagine what level of blasphemy that would even count as, them ascribing words falsely to her.” The way she referenced the word blasphemy was enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. Tom, with his own experience, agreed with her. You did not mess with the GODs. “There’s no way the priests are taking her name in vain.”

There was an awkward pause. “She can… um… well, the designs of the GODs are beyond mortal minds like us.”

“Quite. Now, are you going to read that?” She sounded very happy to change the subject.

Tom would have felt the same. Discussing what the GODs did when they were disrespected was never enjoyable.

“We only have a limited amount of time.”

“Is it really necessary?”

Delilah laughed at that:

“It’s not a command of a priest, so I guess you technically have some leeway, but are you really brave enough to go against Eden of the Green?”

There was another embarrassed silence.

“Is she even real?”

“Is magic real? What kind of silly question is that? Yes, you thick idiot, she’s real. Very much so. With some of the ignorant things you say, one would think that you’ve spent the last fifty years locked away in your workshop without talking to a single person.”

The man chuckled, not at all offended by her acerbic tone:

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“That’s pretty much what I’ve done. I’ve put my head down and done my job. I’ll have you know my ranking is below a thousand. That’s better than most of you adventurers.”

“I know,” Delilah said, sounding apologetic. “It wasn’t intended as a dig. But yeah, she’s real. I’ve met her. She’s so fucking competent when out in the field it gives me goosebumps. I’m good, but she’s on a different level. When she’s in a camp she’s scary, obsessed with the reincarnated ones. I’m not sure she talks about anything other than them and plans to farm ranking points. She’s got a two tracked mind.”

“Yeah, but what can she do to me?”

“Well, the last person to skimp on reading her message got thrown into a darkhole trial.”

“That’s cold. But was that really just for not reading the stupid message? Or did they have other infractions? Was this just the straw that broke the camel’s back?”

“It was just about the message. The guy had apparently been a saint apart from that one mistake, and the outcome was worse than you think. He used to be a crafter, and was forced to enter a darkhole trial. I mean, what the hell? I don’t know what’s in there, but far stronger people than him had entered and never emerged. He didn’t have a chance. She basically executed him.”

“Totally unhinged.” The man agreed.

“She’s intense, but I’ve met crazier. The punishment was because a reincarnated kid got killed due to his mistake.”

“So, you’re saying I don’t need to bother with this.” There was the sound of rustling paper. “Honestly, what’s the chance of there being one in this batch?”

“What’s the chance of a reincarnated one here?” she said thoughtfully. “This late in the competition, I would have said close to zero, but that was before the priests insisted the ritual goes on. DEUS isn’t doing this for nothing. So yeah, I wouldn’t bet against it.”

“We’re warded. No one would know if I didn’t read it.”

“Seriously! Are your brains rotted? Are you really considering not reading it? We’re talking about priests and Eden of the fucking Green. You’d have to be…” There was a moment of stunned silence. “All I can say if you don’t, then I’m going to. I don’t want to be sent to the darkhole because I’m associated with you.”

The gruff man cleared his throat and laughed nervously. “I’m joking, of course. I’m not about to neglect my duty. I’m not suicidal.” There was the rustle of paper. “Listen up, kids. I know this is a shock, and the ritual is the opposite of pleasant, but it’s done. We’ve wasted more credits than is sensible, but your human bloodline has advanced a notch. Congratulations, you’ve received a massive bonus and a head start most of the human race will never get.”

“You should probably stay away from editorialising why you do this.”

“Eden’s not going to care.”

Tom heard Delilah chuckle:

“You haven’t met her.”

“Now…” there was the sound of paper being repositioned; then the way the gruff man was speaking changed. Now it was like he was reading off a sheet instead of repeating stuff from memory. “The ritual has stunned you for ten minutes, so this message can be delivered in full without you betraying any reactions. If you are reincarnated, your life is in imminent danger.”

Shock went through Tom. The early conversation had primed him for this, so it wasn’t a total surprise, but still - his life being in peril? This was not what he had expected.

“Eyes away from them…” Delilah hissed.

“Are you seriously policing me?”

“No, I volunteered to stop you from doing something stupid because I like our arrangement. But you need to stick to protocol. You. Don’t. Know. Shit. There could be someone out there watching you.”

The gruff man obviously took the warning because he was quick to continue his reading:

“Reincarnated human children have been hunted by hired assassins since the first years of the competition. Significant expense has been taken to protect you, but rank discrepancy means our obfuscation attempts are not perfect. You are responsible for your own survival and cannot rely on our protections. To facilitate this, it is recommended that you hide your special nature until you have sufficient power to defend yourself from rank sixty assassins.” The man paused for a moment. “As if any of these kids are going to ever be strong enough to face a threat like that. What a dumb piece of advice to give. It should read you’ll need to stay hidden until the end of the competition, because that’s the best they’ll manage.”

“Stop opinioning and bloody read it. You need to be finished before the stun wears off.”

Tom managed to not outwardly react to the statement. But his pulse quickened. Were things truly that dangerous? If they thought they had to make an announcement, then it probably was.