Chapter 28: Patron Journey (P4)

The Cult of Phien. My first encounter with the frightening group gave me all the reason I need to be wary of them. They held the means to control large numbers of people, an entire village in fact. And with the entirety of Arak village under their control they did absolutely nothing except…worship a totem. Seemingly harmless but I am no fool, I could imagine plenty that they were a plague.

Fortunately for me, the Following managed to save my hide from said plague before it took me as it was plainly intent on doing. Talk of things like the Cult and the Following only served to inspire me to seek strength. If such powerful people were to set their sights on me, not the simple pass by like my experience with both was, but like a predator hunting its prey. To survive I would need strength, to triumph I would need much more, much, much more.

But I expect I would get it, after all, that is what this wolf, this would be Patron God of mine Lotar is asking of me; to triumph. The resulting power given will be undoubtedly well enough to undertake the task. Right?

"No." Lotar rumbles. He'd grown several feet more and now lay around the tree and shrine like a dog guarding a bone. His fur shone even more, and the mana exuding from his presence alone was, intoxicating. It is as though the longer he was here the more his power grew.

"What do you mean no?" I ask from the floor. I was getting dizzy and had to take a seat somewhere.

"I mean no. You are strong for a mage, strong enough to feel my presence and not convulse which is an admirable trait for anyone who would seek to be my Warlock. I can give you all the power your body and mind can handle right now bu-" Lotar licks its fur and yawns, "But the Cult is entirely different. They are individuals worshipping a being vying relentlessly for Godhood, this being will and has enslaved nations to simply obtain worshippers, their minds conjoined into one with a single purpose; to serve. Their Patron is not so considerate of the vitality of mind or body. They are powerful. And a great hinderance."

"And what are your goals? Its pretty obvious this being, the Cult has pissed off a lot of people, there's another group going after them, the Following, they destroyed an entire village of the Cult and saved my life. Can't you just leave this to them and have me pursue your true goals?"

Lotar scoffs, fluffing its tail about in the air, "My true goals are whatever we agree on pact. You could not comprehend my intentions even if you were to be privy. Will you serve my purpose and destroy the Cult of Phien in exchange for power?"

I would. Of course, I would. The power Lotar gives me now is only dependent on what he can channel through me without tearing me apart, it stands to reason that that would increase the stronger I grow personally. In truth, it seems Lotar is a crutch, albeit a powerful one. But best read the contract first.

"And how will I find the Cult?"

"That is not my problem."

"And if I don't find the Cult and destroy it? What about the power then?"

"What I have given, I can take." It growls, annoyed by my questioning, "The more Cult members you kill, the more access to my power you gain, the more you have my favour."

"And how do I know when I need to kill another Cultist? How do I know when I am out of favour with you?"

Lotar grins, that frightening grin scares even more so now that its teeth are the size of my body. "Like a wolf starved of its prey, you shall feel a hunger, a desire, burning deep, and hot through your body and you shall know no relief till you sate the thirst for the blood of your prey."

And there's the catch! Insanity by supernatural hunger.

"All you need to do, is eat the flower." Its voice is soothing, seductive, promising, guaranteeing power beyond my scope of imagination.

And all I have to do is eat the flower.

The flower, white stained with the crimson blood of the wolf, of Lotar had begun to grow. It stood taller now, amazing it stood at all, it grew roots as well.

"My blood is nurturing. Take the flower before it grows too big to swallow."

Lotar is right. I wouldn't want to choke down a large tuberous plant, better to keep it small and quick.

I stood and trot on to the shrine with the wolf backing the large bowl. Closer look tells me how nurturing Lotar's blood really is. I could see the roots of the flower grow, continuing to push it upright and dig into the base of the bowl. The roots throbbed and sucked up a lot of the blood, the white petals seem to absorb the blood staining them into itself with greed. It is hungry.

Like I was. Like I would be. Is this power really worth all that hunger?

Right now. It is.

I grab the flower by its stem and rip it out of the blood, stuffing it into my mouth with vigour. Its crunchy. It tastes like…chicken?

"Why does this taste so good?"

Lotar looks confused, "It doesn't."

"It really, tastes like the best chicken ever." I keep chewing, trying to refrain from swallowing.

Lotar smiles, "Ah, it must be the Enchantment by one of my warlocks. She hated the taste of the plant, said it tasted like death and void. So, she made it taste like the best meal she'd ever had. A brilliant mage that one."

Soon there wasn't anything to chew on. I swallow and I wait. I don't feel any different from before though, I haven't even gotten a notification.

"Nothing is happening. Are you sure it worked?"

Lotar scoffs, "Its working fine. You just need to do one more thing."

"And that is?"

"Well you have to find a Cultist and kill them in my name, for my sake. Only then will the power, my power in you be revealed. Spill me some blood and you shall be given the power you desire."

I can't help groaning. This feels very much like a scam but at the same time…

"And where do I find a cultist?" I sigh.

"I thought I told you I don't care how you find them." Lotar yawns, stretching its limbs and thumping around the mountain for yet another comfortable position to lie in.

"So, how the hell am I supposed to become your Warlock!"

Lotar groans, tired. "If it troubles you that much, I'll help you this once. There's a village not far from where you came, the Cult has taken over it. Arak village I believe I'll send you back to where I picked you, the material plane tires me so, another thing I have to fix."

"Wait no! I've been ther-"

Lotar waves its tail and, in a flash, it's gone and I am standing alone in a field of tall grass and weeds.

Upon taking in my surroundings, breathing the air and feeling the ground through my boots. I sense a presence and realize I'd been missing something all this time.

"Anselm!" I yell. Immediately I feel his presence stronger and closer to me, then I activate Summon Spirit on him.

"Where have you been! You fainted, got dragged away by a wolf that appear out of nowhere and then you disappeared with said wolf!" he screams.

"How long have you been hanging around here?" Is the first thing out of my mouth.

"What? I don't know. Hours? The sun is coming up so I've been here for some time." He floats down to me and takes me by my shoulders, "What happened to you though? I thought I'd never see you again."

I snort, "Missing me, are you?"

He lets go of me and frowns. "If you disappear, I don't think I'll ever find another Necromancer willing to even summon me for two minutes."

"Right." I mutter, losing all humour, his life, his experiences were all dependent on being summoned. After all I've learned from Ioina Village I doubt there are others out there capable of summoning spirits like I do. "I'm sorry. The wolf took me to its shrine for a sort of…ritual."

"I heard." He murmurs. Right, he was watching. "It intends to give you power then. Did you get it? You don't seem any different than before." Anselm critics, circling around, examining me.

"I'm not." I grumble, shooing him away. "At least not yet."

"What do you mean. Going through puberty again?"

"I roll my eyes at him and answer. "No, the ritual has already taken place. All that's left is for me to complete my end of the bargain to get the power that he imbued in me."

"And what's your end of the bargain exactly?"

"I have to eradicate the Cult of Phien."

"What!" his eyes nearly pop out as he exclaims, "The Cult is large, powerful and very large. Did I mention that they are multicontinental?"

"I just have to kill at least one Cultist in Lotar's name to activate the power is all. But from that moment on I'll have to go on killing Cultists to retain his favour and power. I don't have to eradicate the Cult in my life time. At least I don't think so."

"Don't think so? You didn't get the details?"

"I did, I did. It's just. Ugh! Whatever, let's just go. We need to find out where the nearest nest of Cultist is. I need to know if this is worth it."

"Sure, but don't say I didn't tell you so when you find your soul serving meat to a white wolf for eternity."

I roll my eyes again. But deep down, I am worried of that happening.