User blog:AloofComputer/The man who walked alone: Chapter 12

Chapter 12:Heresy and sacrifice

“No.”

Pallanto shifted uncomfortably. The three men were sitting in a small room, with the priest sitting across them around a small table. A candle flickered at the middle of the table, its dim light casting moving shadows around.

“You know I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t vital, Father.” Alatar insisted.

“No. Plain and simple no. I know you are suffering, Alatar, but this… this goes against every ethic, every tenet, among all the gods, men and monsters. Only a sadistic madman would impose this. And only on others. Not even my daughter would be given that, and you know what she did.” the priest was calm but unrelenting.

“I know what I ask of you, Father. I know that it is something unfathomable. But we are running out of options here. And this is something I have to do. Alone. This is done by my own free will.”

“Damning yourself before God?” the priest’s voice raised a bit. “Forfeiting your name, your body, your very soul? Listen here, child, there was a reason this… thing, was declared heretical. It strips of a human, all that is human, leaving only pain. There is no relief from this. Even our strictest tenets forbid undue suffering willingly imposed upon others. And to top it off… turning yourself into an incubus? Not even in the undead wars of old did we stoop so low!” the priest showed how upset he was, by sitting up and pacing back and forth in front of them.

“This is different, Father. The very capital is within striking distance from the lilim’s forces. You know what happened at Lescatie. What will happen here.”

The priest stopped his pacing, and turned to Alatar, his face a mask of controlled anger. “Don’t you try to lecture me on that! I know the situation. But the end doesn’t justify the means-”

“Those means are willing to take the risk, Father” Alatar’s cold voice cut him off. “I am not doing this for myself. I am not doing this for revenge, or despair. I am doing this for the people here. I am doing this on a calculated plan.”

The priest glared at Alatar’s face, the same face that stopped his knife-wielding hand. Something broke inside him, and he collapsed on his chair. “Please” he whispered pleadingly, “don’t make me do this… you are a blessed one.”

Alatar’s face softened. “It will be worth it, Father. I don’t mind the oblivion. As long as you remember me.”

---

“That is very advanced spellcraft, Alatar.” Pallanto said, admiration creeping into his voice. “There are a handful of wizards that can pull this off. And even less subjects that are going to survive it. And only one willing.”

“Is that a compliment? Why, thank you!” Alatar shot back. “Keep the book a secret. Gods forbid, you may even need it again. Are you sure you understand the modifications needed for the seal?”

“Yes. Where is that priest anyway? It’s almost midnight.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Fullmoon will come.” Frederic answered with a grim voice. “Here are your things, Alatar. I must admit, such equipment will be a huge advantage to the Order-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Thanks, commander. The blueprints and instructions for them are in that book I gave you. For now, be sure you do what you must, if things turn ugly. And don’t forget, to speed things along with the mobilization.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The commander grunted. He took out his sword, enchanted with runes of holy power, and checked its condition. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to this. This is already insane as it can be.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Even God thinks so.” The three men turned to the source of the voice. The old priest walked towards them, with grim face but determined steps. They had chosen a small clearing, somewhat far from the city walls. “My apologies for the delay, but I had to do some preparations for the ritual. I hope you stocked enough mana potions, Pallanto. The ritual is short, but exhausting, to say the least. There were more people involved, according to history.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Well, this is hardly an option now. Let’s hope that the city guards don’t react that fast.” Alatar smiled.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The priest and the mage drew an arcane circle with holy symbols, while Alatar removed his clothes, leaving only his pants on. The priest turned to him. “Are you sure about this?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar’s bitter smile looked like a grimace in the moonlight. “Such a cliché question, Father. Of course I am sure. How about you?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Of course not. And I never will. But it is up to you, all things considered. Let’s begin. Lie within the circle.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar obeyed. The ground was cold and damp, with small stones digging into his skin.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Extend your hands in the chape of a cross.” the priest instructed. He knelt just out of the circle, Besides Alatar’s head, and Pallanto knelt at the opposite side, a small bag filed to the brim with mana potions. Frederic stood a bit further, his sword at the ready. The priest raised his hands to the sky.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Holy one, looking over us, extend your will upon this sinner. His deeds are atrocious, defying the holy order upon the world. His will is degenerate, blaspheming without hesitation or remorse. His soul is loathsome, reveling in sorrow, despair and tears. Your humble servant pleads you, fill him with holy light, scorch the evil from his being!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The priest’s hands flashed white, and the ground shone with light. With a low rumble, the circle’s symbols glowed blue, and a pillar of light shot to the night sky.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar felt the calming effects of the holy energy flowing inside him, soon to be stung by the three corruption marks on his body, that stood out clearly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The two men started chanting for the second phase of the ritual.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You who betrayed the good and pure, you who gave in to envy and greed, you who stand before the eyes of the holy, from you do we take away your poisonous heart!” The priest’s voice came right out of the old books. Palanto murmured the incantations, his face growing pale by the second. Searing pain shot at Alatar, as the seal began forming on his left breast, over his heart. He grit his teeth and his fingers dug into the ground.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Pallanto drank three potions after the first seal. That thing took a ridiculous amount of mana to set up. Feeling the energy rushing into him once again, he nodded at the priest.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You who defiled the innocent and unspoiled, you who gave in to lust and corruption, you who stand before the eyes of the holy, from you do we take your wicked desire!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A stronger pain came over Alatar, from his lower abdomen. The two seals started resonating, resulting in a sharp pain, like he was repeatedly stabbed over the two seals.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The priest’s face had a sorrowful expression, watching the pain carve Alatar’s face in the light of the pillar of holy energy, but pushed on. “You who took refuge in the wicked and immoral, you who reveled in debauchery and self-indulgence, you who stand before the eyes of the holy, from you do we take your evil pleasure!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Grraaaaaahahhhhaaahahhhh!” The pained cry tore through Alatar’s throat and gritted teeth.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">His body hovered above ground. The pillar of holy light was sucked into the seals, making them glow red. The sickening smell of burning flesh filled the area. At long last, the light was gone, and Alatar’s body slammed to the ground. Pallanto tried to stand, but his legs betrayed him; he cursed and drank the last potions to restore his energy. The priest stumbled to the fallen figure, along with the knight-commander, his sword at the ready.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Alatar?” The priest asked, wiping the sweat from his face.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar’s eyelids flickered oped. He stood up with a groan. “That was… painful.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">His empty tone froze the priest’s blood. He has hoped, against all odds, that the ritual wouldn’t work, that God wouldn’t approve and give her power.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We have to go.” The commander’s voice broke the silence. “The city guard will be here any minute. Along with the Order.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You can go. I’ll stay.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar turned his empty eyes to the priest. “That is illogical, Father.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Is it? Someone has to be here to take the blame. They will find out about the ritual from the magical residue. There aren’t many who can do it. You three continue on. I won’t be of much help anyway.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You realize they will put you on trial for heresy.” the knight-commander told in a matter-of-fact way.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes. But if I claim to be punishing… Alatar, for trying to corrupt the city from within, I think I’ll avoid death.” He turned to the mages. “That’s the second time I am willing to defy God’s teachings.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“But it is effective, nonetheless.” came a cold reply. “A knight trying to corrupt the city from within will blow away any doubts about the reports for imminent invasion. And if the knight escaped, that would speed things along.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Correct. Godspeed to all of you. And, commander? Please visit my cell to tell me how it turned up.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Distant shouts and barks of dogs alerted them of an approaching patrol. “Now, go!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The three men took off to the forest, and the priest sat on the ground, exhausted.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">---

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Will he be all right?” Pallanto asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Fullmoon has still some allies within the Order. He also has a sharp wit and good knowledge of the Order’s inner workings. I will present the reports tomorrow. Hopefully they will be preoccupied enough to leave it for later.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Leave it for later? He is facing heresy charges.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“That is the best we can hope for, at the moment. I’d be more worried for myself, if I were you, Pallanto.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What do you mean?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“The investigation will find out the magical residue of the spells. You will be charged as an accomplice.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You can hide in the meantime” Alatar interrupted. “And tell that you and the priest faced me, and I fled. You gave chase, but my transformation was complete. You can sport a few cuts and bruises to be more convincing.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Damn it, this is more than I signed up for!” Pallanto exclaimed in anger. “This is only for you, Alatar. Don’t you forget that. Not all the wine and magical trinkets in the world will get you out of this.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Fine. If I return, I will see to it.” The cold tone of Alatar evaporated Pallanto’s annoyance. “Here is a good place. If the transformation goes wrong and the commander can’t stop me, you can bring the rocks down our heads.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The small cave was carved into the sold rock by nature. Alatar took the devil gems and proceeded inside.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Are you sure the barrier will hold out?” Pallanto seemed very worried. The release of monster mana deep inside human territory was something he wouldn’t ever consider, even for the most audacious experiment.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes. The barrier that holds monster mana at bay, also holds it within. I will draw it in my body. Then… I will be turned. In theory.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“An awful lot to be tested in theory, Alatar.” the commander growled. “I would prefer somewhere within monster realm.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Me too.” Alatar replied. “Be sure to send a team of priests to purify the place. It will make the story all the more convincing.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Let’s hope there are no miscalculations in your plan. Hey, are you all right?” Pallanto asked at the look of pain on Alatar’s face.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“No. The seals are painful. But the Seal of Pleasure also negates any resistance a human has over small pains and the like. I can only assume that the pain in my stomach means I am hungry. Let’s finish this.” His emotionless voice betrayed no pain, and the reflexive winces of pain on his face were fading fast.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">He took the five shining gems and proceeded into the cave. Pallanto cast the barrier, while Frederic readied his sword. All or nothing.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Intense flashes of purple light poured out of the cave, dying out soon after. The knight-commander tightened the grip on his sword. After a while, there was silence, and a lone figure came out of the cave and touched the barrier, which repelled him slightly. Frederic and Pallanto approached cautiously. A pair of emotionless violet eyes gazed back at them. “It is done.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Chapter 12 is out. Criticism welcome