Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Zareth looked up from his attempt to create a new designer pet as he sensed his cults surprise guest making her way toward his laboratory.

Yesterday, he had just been about to finish showing Vidhatri around the spire when they had received a sudden visit from an officer sent by High Command. Apparently, the shivarath had decided for some odd reason that it would be a good idea to sneak into TalQamar rather than go through proper channels.

One of the many guards patrolling through the Spire Gardens had caught sight of Vidhatri when she revealed herself, resulting in High Command sending someone to interrogate her. It had been a nervous few minutes of trying to convince the suspicious officer that Vidhatri was not an immediate threat to the city and his guest. The officer had finally agreed to conduct an interview in the morning instead and left.

Naturally, Zareth had decided that their conversation could wait until later while the shivarath was being questioned and focused on handling other matters, such as reassuring Tamir that he definitely wouldnt be required to participate in sapient sacrifices.

Probably.

Sadly, later had become now and he now had to deal with the foreign zealot stepping into his laboratory.

Welcome back, Senior Fleshwarper Vidhatri, Zareth said as the shivarath walked down the steps and began studying his equipment and samples with an appreciative expression. Im surprised High Command was willing to let you go so quickly.

The local authorities merely wished to soothe their pride after I was able to bypass their heightened security, said Vidhatri, her voice utterly unapologetic and mildly disdainful as she honed in on Meldoraths Heart and crouched down to study it. With the weight of your cults political power and my willingness to reveal how I had gotten past the gates, the heathens had no reason to keep me detained.

Zareth was glad that the situation had been resolved relatively easily, though he had a feeling that wouldnt remain the case if something like it happened again. High Commands liaison not-so-subtly had made sure Zareth knew that Vidhatris actions would reflect directly on him in the future.

It is impressive what you have managed to accomplish alone and without guidance, Vidhatri continued before he could respond as she pressed one of her palms against the floor near Meldoraths Heart. With this, it makes sense how your cult has successfully functioned without proper sacrifices. However, I still believe your refusal to offer the Weaver of Sinews his deserved tribute is a foolish mistake.

Zareth immediately winced. Hed a vain hope that the shivarath wouldnt bring up their cultural differences after he explained the cults situation in TalQamar yesterday, but it seemed like that was too much to ask.

Just when he finished fixing a polite smile on his face and was about to reply, Zareth suddenly faltered as Vidhatri did something that made him completely lose his train of thought.

Why are you doing that? Zareth asked as he watched Vidhatri push aside her cloak and reach into the meat of her left calf.

Zareth was baffled as the shivarath retrieved what appeared to be a small coin-shaped piece of flesh with several runes carved onto its surface before closing the wound.

Our bodies are often the safest place for Cerebons chosen to hide items from those ignorant heathens who would persecute us, Vidhatri explained calmly before holding the flesh coin into the air and murmuring a few words in her native language, causing it to begin glowing.

It took a moment for Zareth to realize what was happening, but he eventually noticed the lack of sound coming from beyond his laboratory. Vidhatri had likely used that coin to create a magical ward that would ensure that they had privacy for their discussion, similar to Rizoks [Aura of Silence] Skill.

That wasnt necessary. This place is already the most heavily warded location in the spire, Zareth said as he watched the shivrath return the flesh coin to her thigh with obvious curiosity. Although, I would be interested in learning what that thing is. It seems very useful.

No precautions are too great when discussing our peoples secrets. Especially with such a highly leveled heathen standing guard nearby, Vidhatri explained as she began walking around the laboratory and studying his specimens. As for your question, its name in your tongue would translate to Flesh Rune. They are created through the efforts of [Flesh Scribes], a Class common among a particular sect of our gods worshipers.

Zareth couldnt help but imagine the many possible applications of these Flesh Runes. Hed heard of distant cultures where magical tattoos were common, but hed never been able to find anything similar since tattooing wasnt a very common practice in TalQamar.

In addition, he'd just learned two important pieces of information about Cerebon's other worshipers. First, that they were persecuted enough that they'd be paranoid about protecting themselves, and that they also possessed knowledge that would be highly valuable to his cult.

Thats fascinating, but you dont need to worry about hiding while youre in TalQamar, said Zareth, refocusing on the matter at hand as he plastered a smile back on his face. The people of this city know and accept our presence. I assume that not sacrificing any of them helps with that.

Perhaps. The authorities did seem much more tolerant of me than I was expecting, said Vidhatri, surprisingly open to his perspective considering her religious zeal. Though I doubt you would feel the same if your cult faced the same conditions as we do on Zumair. Or if youd experienced a need for specialized biomass without having your necessities conveniently fulfilled by acquiring forgotten knowledge.

That was the second time that Vidhatri had mentioned a link between Meldoraths Heart and the need for sacrifices, and Zareth couldnt help but be curious. He hadnt forgotten that Cerebon had sent Vidhatri here specifically because of the tome hed found in the lost temple of Meldorath.

Zareth had been anticipating that they would engage in more small talk, but he had no complaints if Vidhatri wanted to dive directly into the heart of the matter.

Are you implying that sacrifices are your primary means of acquiring magical biomass? Zareth asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. Is that why Lord Cerebon seemed so interested in finding Meldoraths temple and acquiring the knowledge of her followers? So that you would have an alternative?

If so, that would explain a lot and reflect well on Cerebon in his opinion. Unfortunately, Vidhatris snort of disdain made it clear that his conclusion was off the mark.

I would not normally speculate on our god's intentions, but I will make an exception in this case as he has directed me to guide you, said Vidhatri as she stopped in front of the floating biomass templates in the back of the laboratory. To answer your question, I doubt it. The Weaver of Sinews has never cared to control the behavior of his worshipers like some lesser deities, nor does he indulge us in unearned power. Cerebons chosen are expected to find their own path and prosper through their own efforts.

Zareth wondered how much of Vidhatris opinion was accurate and how much was the biased perspective of a zealot.

If Lord Cerebon doesnt care about Meldoraths Heart, then why did he go to so much effort to acquire this tome? Zareth asked skeptically as he walked over a nearby bookcase and retrieved the object of their discussion. I find it hard to believe that he spent several decades searching for a lost temple if not for that.

The various fleshcrafting designs were all quite useful, but they were all things that he would expect Cerebons other worshipers to be capable of creating. Hed latched onto Meldoraths Heart being the deity's target, because it seemed the most likely game-changer in the tome, but Vidhatri had only displayed a moderate interest in the biomass creating organ.

The moment Zareth picked up the tome in question, Vidhatri turned her full attention to him for the first time since entering the laboratory.

Is that it? asked Vidhatri, her eyes locking onto the tome with a fervor that made him uncomfortable. Give it to me so that I may examine it.

Zareth hesitated as Vidhatri extended her lower pair of arms, obviously expecting to be obeyed. His instincts rebelled against the idea of surrendering what was likely his most valuable possession to someone he barely knew, but he ultimately saw no reason to refuse.

After all, hed already copied what he could from the tome, and she had been sent specifically by Cerebon for exactly this purpose.

Oh, how sublime to have finally fulfilled our gods mandate after so long, said Vidhatri, her previous disdain disappearing in favor of near-rapturous glee as Zareth reluctantly handed her the tome. You have done well, Cultist Zareth. Few worshippers your age have managed to further Cerebons designs as well as you have done.

Zareth barely held back a shudder of unease. It was bad enough having Vidhatri four eyes locked on him with such intensity, but the sudden switch from coldly examining his laboratory to widely smiling with overwhelming joy was more than a little disturbing.

Thank you for your kind words, Senior Fleshwarper, said Zareth as he shifted in place and tried to hide his discomfort. Although, I would appreciate it if you explained in detail exactly what designs Im furthering.Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

Vidhatri barely seemed to hear him as she opened the book and began reading, her eyes moving with such speed that he could have sworn she was a [Scholar] with [Speed Reading] or something similar.

Zareth was just about to ask his question again a little more forcefully when Vidhatri finally decided to answer.

The reason for your confusion is because youve dismissed this as the mere journal of a dead goddess worshiper, said Vidhatri, her eyes never leaving the tome as she turned another page. You cannot be blamed. The High Priest who wrote this went to great lengths to hide it from even his peers. Come closer and make use of our gods gift. Look upon this tome with his eye to guide you.

Zareth was very skeptical. Hed naturally already studied the thing closely with the [Eye of Cerebon], but hadnt noticed anything else than some of the script becoming legible.

Am I looking for anything in particular? Zareth asked after a few moments of unfruitful staring.

Focus harder, Cultist Zareth, Vidhatri said with a hint of censure. Our god does nothing without reason, including bestowing upon you his sacred eye. He wishes for you to break the illusions that surround this tome, and you will not fail him.

Feeling pressured by the zealots words, Zareth mustered his resolve and focused entirely on the [Eye of Cerebon]. Nothing happened at first, but then he began to feel the same indistinct pressure that he usually felt when attempting to see through an illusion.

Soon enough, the tomes fleshy surface began to writhe as the script shifted and changed into what seemed to be a completely different language. Where before the [Eye of Cerebon] was able to translate the tomes writing into something Zareth could understand, it now appeared far more dense and completely illegible.

Not only that, but the divine energy emanating from it somehow changed in quality in a way that was difficult to describe. It wasnt necessarily more powerful, but it definitely felt more potent to his senses.

What language is this? Zareth asked, his eyes widening in astonishment. The script from before looked like some ancient form of Nephalan, but I dont recognize this at all.

Youve succeeded? Good, said Vidhatri, sounding pleased as she looked down at him with approval before refocusing on the tome. I have no idea what this language is, nor would even the most knowledgeable of [Historians] I suspect. Meldorath would not have wished for any but her highest ranking servants to be capable of reading this. It is likely written in whatever language the dead goddess spoke prior to her apotheosis, far in the distant past.

Zareth had no way to know just how long ago that was. He knew that Cerebon had usurped Meldorath somewhere around the time that the System showed up, which was about three millennia ago, but any history further than that was lost to time.

Given that it had been written before his time, even Cerebon might not be able to read it.

Although, these were merely guesses on Zareths part since he didnt fully know what a god was capable of.

If Meldoraths High Priest had gone through the effort of having a tome written in a dead language and then concealing it behind a deceptive illusion, it must have been extremely significant.

Unfortunately, I am no more capable of reading this language than you, and the Weaver of Sinews is not prone to explaining his motives, Vidhatri admitted with a hint of reluctance, answering the question Zareth was about to ask. However, we have noticed over time that our god seems interested in the acquisition of any knowledge pertaining to the System War.

Zareth hummed thoughtfully as he considered the information. He wished that he could just use the artifact at the top of the spire to ask Cerebon directly, but the god had proven less than receptive to being contacted.

The splitting headache and the ominous aura of warning that came crashing down on him when he had tried the last time had made that abundantly clear. Zareth had a feeling Cerebon would only contact him again once he had something for him to do.

Thinking on the matter, it made some sense that Cerebon wouldnt know everything about the System War despite becoming a god around the time it had ended. The actual war supposedly lasted for several centuries, longer than the majority of mortal lifespans.

Do we have any idea what Lord Cerebon is looking for specifically in regard to the System War? Zareth asked, his mind racing as he tried to figure out the gods motivation.

We do not, though we assume that it is related to the Systems creation, Vidhatri explained as she closed the book. It is known among the upper echelons of our faith that the pantheons on the winning side of the System War actively suppress such knowledge, even through the use of lethal methods if necessary.

Zareth wouldnt normally consider ancient history to be particularly relevant to his life, but he hadnt forgotten that the Conclave could be counted among those Pantheons. His instincts told him that this wasnt a matter that he would be able to ignore.

Zareth was pulled from his musings when Vidhatri suddenly returned the tome to him, much to his surprise.

I would normally take this back with me to Dehkshetra, but the [Raja] of a neighboring nation has been insistent in targeting our sect prior to my departure, Vidhatri explained, answering his unspoken question. Returning would risk delivering this precious item right into their grasp. Instead, I will stay in this strange city where I can offer you guidance on how to properly serve the Weaver of Sinews, while also working to decipher the tomes hidden contents for our god.

Feeling resolved, Zareth took a step back before closing his eyes and activating [Ritual of Offering]. Hed felt Cerebon vaguely directing a portion of his attention on him for a while now, but the sensation immediately intensified with the formal beginning of the ceremony.

Lord Cerebon, this faithful servant beseeches you to accept this offering in the hopes that you will honor him with your attention, Zareth said without the slightest hesitation as he recited the first part of the oath.

He could feel divine energy swirling around him, the air heavy with anticipation.

I humbly offer not only a trace of your fallen predecessor, but also my eternal renunciation of all other deities who you do not recognize, Zareth continued, his voice firm and unwavering. So long as you have me, I will endeavor to do everything in my power to further your designs on the mortal plane. Bestow on me the understanding of the infinite potential for transformation that exists within me and eternally free my form. Bestow on me the perspective few would dare to seek so that I may better follow my ever changing path. Bestow on me the honor of seeing the truth of your way, so that I may lead others to your wisdom.

The second Zareth spoke the final words of his oath, he only had a moment to notice the divinity seeping out of the tome before his attention was consumed by a strange sensation. It started slowly at first, with his extremities tingling as if they were falling asleep, but rapidly intensified into a blazing inferno that was difficult to comprehend.

Every fiber of his being felt like it was being constantly pulled and stretched as Zareths body convulsed. He wouldnt describe it as painful, but indescribably odd when his bones shifted, his muscles rippled, and his skin reformed at what felt like random. Every moment was a new experience, as the world around him melted away and became something new.

He was an avian creature, confident in his supremacy as he soared through the open skies with great wings, the feeling of wind ruffling through his feathers. Adrenaline coursed through him as he dove toward unsuspecting prey.

He was an aquatic insectoid creature, smaller than he had ever been and feeling the push and pull of water as he darted between deep ocean currents. Terror consumed him as he escaped from hungry predators.

He was a colossal terrestrial beast, powerful and heavy-set with a shell capable of withstanding any force; the world his to roam freely as he devoured everything in his path. Pride and dominance grew with each of his earthshaking steps.

Zareth experienced what felt like countless forms, some familiar and recognizable, such as a sleek panther with a silky coat or a slithering snake feeling the warmth of sun on its scales. Others were foreign and alien, such as a formless creature without eyes or ears that sensed the world only through vibrations.

However, it was the final transformation that he would end up remembering for the rest of his life.

It was strange, and for some reason seemed much more vague than his previous experiences.

Zareth was some kind of humanoid, with a slight build and large horns growing from his temples. He wore a comfortable cloak that felt bizarrely familiar and carried a staff that emanated terrible power. He stood somewhere high, looking down at an indistinct battlefield filled with countless beings that clashed for eons in a conflict he was somehow certain would soon end.

Zareth knew that he was powerful, but he could plainly see beings of incomprehensible strength laying dead on the field in front of him. The sight filled him with both contempt at the wasted potential and fear that he would soon join them.

But that fear soon transformed into an unending well of resolve to grow beyond any conceivable limits.

Zareth could still feel the embers of that resolve burning within him when he regained his senses, hands and knees touching the floor of his laboratory as he panted with exhaustion. All of those visions were exactly what hed been told to expect by Vidhatri, but that final one seemed qualitatively different from the rest.

Before he could fully consider the implications of this, Zareth was suddenly distracted by a System notification that hed been fantasizing about for most of his second life.

Cultist has reached Level 25! Multiple Skill Points Gained! Class Evolutions Available!

It took a moment for the realization to sink through his general exhaustion and Vidhatris zealous celebrations. But when it did, a victorious grin split Zareths face and he didnt hesitate to take a look at the potential new Classes as he stood up.

Available Class Evolution(s):

[Occult Ritualist] - Masters of esoteric ceremonies and arcane rites, Occult Ritualists specialize in their chosen deity to accomplish tasks few can replicate. They are adept in invoking blessings, summoning otherworldly entities, and can potentially draw from the Etherveil with sufficient training. Crowning Skill significantly enhances the potency of Rituals.

[Fleshwarper] - Focused on the manipulation of all organic matter, but especially their own, Fleshwarpers are masters of altering, enhancing, and weaponizing their bodies. They possess unparalleled control over their own biology and can transmute it beyond the bounds of conventional understanding. Crowning Skill grants a physiology capable of rapidly adapting to external stimuli.

[Cult Leader] - Pioneers in leading those who worship a deity shunned by some societies, Cult Leaders are charismatic individuals highly skilled in guiding and enhancing their followers. Possessing abilities granted by their chosen deity along with Skills dedicated to empowering their cult, they are a force to be reckoned with in both the spiritual and political realms. Crowning Skill grants the Cult Leader an intuitive understanding of how their followers can be best utilized to the cults benefit.

[Aesthetic Beastshaper] - Sculptors of living organisms, Aesthetic Beastshapers merge the realms of artistry and biology to craft living masterpieces. They reshape creatures, marrying form and function into beautiful yet deadly beings. Crowning Skill grants the ability to mold a creature directly from biomass, imprinting desired traits and features.

[Atavistic Apostle] - Scholars and practitioners of forgotten powers, Atavistic Apostles are those who seek the mysteries of the ancient path and benefit from their acquired knowledge. These few individuals are unrestricted in their ability to wield any form of power they can understand, such as the Etherveil or Divine Essence. Crowning Skill grants intuitive visions to decipher and harness lost knowledge.

[Cerebons Watcher] - Ever vigilant against the enemies of their god, Cerebons Watcher can pierce through illusions to see the true state of any being hiding behind them. Enemies caught by the gaze can be cursed by the watcher to suffer from a wide array of maladies. Crowning Skill significantly enhances the ability of their divinely bestowed eye.

[Fleshmender] - Specialized in the healing of bodies, the Fleshmender is uniquely capable of diagnosing maladies and reconstructing damaged tissue with unparalleled precision. Crowning Skill grants the ability to mend damage done to flesh through magical means.

I have way more options than I had expected, Zareth murmured to himself. It is going to take a while for me to make a choice.

He would need to consider each of them clearly, as this decision would be one that decided the course of his future. The most difficult part would be researching a more explicit description of the Crowning Skills offered by each Class, as the ones given by the System were too vague for his tastes.

It was fortunate that Vidhatri had arrived in TalQamar just in time for him to seek her advice.

However, as he turned to the shivarath and saw that shed transitioned from her celebrations directly into fanatically completing a prayer to Cerebon in gratitude for a successful ceremony.

Somehow, he had a feeling that it would be a while before she finished.

Rizoks tail snapped from side to side in frustration as his [Aura of Greater Perception] once again failed to penetrate into the laboratory behind him.

He was normally able to get at least a vague understanding of what was happening within that room, despite its fairly robust magical defenses, but he had become completely unable to see anything shortly after that high-level shivarath went inside. It made Rizok deeply uncomfortable that he was currently incapable of watching over Zareth, for several reasons.

Not only was he genuinely fond of the ambitious [Cultist] and wished to ensure he was safe, but he also needed to stay aware of his activities now more than ever as a result of High Commands intent to distribute land after the war.

That singular decision had the potential to change more than most people realized, and significantly increased Zareths importance.

That was why Rizok was barely able to stop himself from grinding his teeth when Zareth let himself be isolated alone with a powerful individual with questionable motivations. In hindsight, it was relatively unsurprising given Rizok could also be described by such a label from Zareths perspective and the strange human still tolerated his presence.

That didnt make it any less frustrating.

It didnt help that hed felt the distinct sensation of divine power descend on the laboratory a few minutes ago, even through the wards.

There were few things in this world capable of making Rizok uneasy, but the machinations of deities were definitely among them.

Just as Rizok was weighing the benefits of repeating his attempt to look past the barrier, he suddenly felt a familiar presence breach the very edge of his [Aura of Perception] about a hundred feet away from the spire. They were just far enough that none of the [Guards] watching for people approaching the spires would take note of them.

The presence belonged to one of his fellow lizardkin named Virel, one of the few keshsisk in service to House Khrysar who had seen the truth and worked to further the same cause as himself. Virels assistance had been especially useful as of late with Zareth gaining the Great House as a political adversary.

Rizok would normally activate his rare enchanted ring to initiate a concealed telepathic conversation with them the moment they entered his range, but the risk of being discovered was too high.

There werent normally any individuals worthy of wariness within the cult of Cerebons spire, but Rizok had no way to know Vidhatris abilities so it was best to be cautious.

Thankfully, there was a contingency in place for this exact scenario.

It took a while for Virel to realize that their normal means of communication was compromised before he began sending the prearranged signals. Through a series of quick activations and deactivations of an enchanted amulet hidden beneath Virel shawl, Rizok was sent a coded message to arrange a meeting during his next break from guarding Zareth.

Given that it wasnt worth the risk for Rizok to respond, Virel continued sending this message on loop every few minutes to make sure it was received before leaving.

Although Virel hadnt sent a message marking the meeting as urgent, Rizok still found himself wondering what information needed to be shared with him. It most likely had to do with either some conspiracy against the cult of Cerebon or the ongoing state of the war. It was too dangerous for them to have unnecessary contact, so those were the only topics relevant to Rizoks role that were important enough to warrant meeting.

Rizok was so lost in thought that it was only his Skill warning him of nearby movement that drew his attention back to reality. Snapping his attention back to the laboratorys entrance, Rizok spotted Zareth emerging and nearly let out a sigh of relief to see that he was safe.

Just as he was about to greet the frustrating human, he suddenly froze as he noticed something different.

The ability to sense another persons level was occasionally unreliable and not fully understood, but Rizoks instincts were sufficiently honed that he could easily tell the difference between the various Class Evolution thresholds. It was the difference between embers that were slowly multiplying in a campfire and a blaze that had reached its true potential.

His sensation of Zareth felt stuck between those extremes, an indication that he had yet to select his actual Class Evolution.

It was impressive. He had watched Zareth grow from someone who was merely an abnormally competent young man to a budding leader worthy of recognition. But yet again, it seemed like hed surpassed Rizoks expectations and reached a milestone that usually only extremely talented or extremely privileged individuals achieved at a similar age.

Congratulations, sir, Rizok said with genuine warmth as the human made his way up from the laboratory. Youve grown at an impressive rate.

Thank you, Rizok. Forming this cult has been a demanding experience, but definitely a rewarding one, said Zareth, his eyes both tired and proud. Im glad that I finally achieved my Class Evolution so that I can better lead the people counting on me among other things.

That last part was said with a meaningful tone that made it clear to Rizok that the human still remembered his previous promise to discuss certain matters with him when he reached this threshold. Rizok glanced quickly at Vidhatri, who glared at him with a gaze full of suspicion from behind the young human, before looking back to Zareth and giving him a discreet nod.

After seeing his silent signal, a small smile grew on Zareths face as he continued on as if nothing happened.

But for now, Im done working for the day and all I want to do is celebrate, said Zareth as he began walking up the spire and calling out to the nearby members of the cult. Where is Tamir? Someone tell him to go to the Spicebloom Bazaar and get everyone some burfi. Im in the mood for something sweet.

Well at least the foreigner hasnt influenced his personality with whatever deity related headache they were talking about, Rizok thought to himself with a hint of relief as he followed his charge.

He could only hope that Zareth would be able to maintain his demeanor moving into the future. Because the way things were developing, he had a feeling that the young [Cultist] was soon going to learn that the reward for gaining power was usually just heavier burdens.