Page 4:Pious Agony

Chapter 1:A Graveyard of Sin

Pain was a constant for people like me. See, I sinned against the Church, and now I was being punished for eternity. My sin? There was none. I was selected at random because the church needed an example. So, here I hung, my blood flowing freely and endlessly as I'm steamed alive by my jailer.

The Jailers were hideous things, they wore cloaks that hid their scar-ridden and malformed bodies, along with masks that hid their hideous ever grinning faces with ever bleeding wounds and eyeless faces.

Now, you may ask, how do I know what they look like? I know because we become the jailers. I've been here millenia, suffering for a nonexistent sin, and in that time I've seen lesser men and women bow to our torturers, I've seen them finally "repent" and become one of them, earning a smile and cloak.

I frown as the steam burning me stops, and I look up, realising the ever present screams from The Laughing Daughter and The Howling Son, had stopped. My eyes settle on the blue world around me, the two orbs of screaming people above me frozen in time.

"Silence is wonderful, is it not?" a sultry voice asks. I try to turn my neck to view them, but it only leads to failure.

Thankfully, the person had walked around the cross I was crucified on, and stood in front of me. It was a woman. Her beauty was divine. She had long midnight hair and multicoloured eyes, with lips colored like that of the blood I leak, and golden skin that seemed to have a shine like that of a divine. She wore a dress, one that showed much of her shoulders and breasts. The dress moved with her as though being dragged by water, and its colour was a shade of royal blue I had never seen before.

So, with a god so clearly standing before me, I could only answer her with a croaked out response of "Yes".

The woman's eyes twinkled like stars in their amusement, and her lips parted into a beautiful grin as she stalked closer and closer to me. The woman was shorter than I, that much I could realise, her 5 foot 6 stature small to my own flat 6 foot.

"Let's make a deal" She purrs, her voice like honey and balm against my ears, the sound caressing my ears with the gentleness of a lover.

I gulp, and nod slowly, the wounds on my body reopening with the movements, and causing me to wince in agony. The goddess lifts an eyebrow at my reaction before continuing what she was saying. "In return for freedom and healing, you will do missions for me. What do you say?"

I don't hesitate, I don't care if this goddess had me serve her for the rest of my undying life, or if she didn't, this was a way out of the hellhole that I had been in for millenia. "Yes" The word is forced out of my mouth with all of my strength, my malnourished, wounded and dehydrated body protesting at the action.

The Goddess smiles and clicks her fingers, the cross holding me disappearing in all of a moment, and the wounds and ailments giving me agony disappearing along with it, though an annoying burning sensation from my forehead persisted." Now, your first mission is to kill a man named Shurjoka, he lives near the first Church, so you would do well to begin your journey"

And with those last words, the Goddess disappeared, her form dissolving into an aurora borealis that became the surroundings, time resuming shortly thereafter with the guard in front of me falling into the pot of steaming vinegar that she had been stirring, the sounds of her screaming brought joy to my ears.

I had to run, however, because the stomping footsteps of guards had made themselves known. I panicked, and as I started to get to my feet, I tried to run. Only, I didn't know how to.

I fell flat on my face, and as the stomping feet of the guards began to make themselves known, I wriggled my way under the steel pot of vinegar, Desperately trying to move my arms so that I could retaliate if it came to it.

Thankfully, however, the guards didn't seem to notice that I was under the pot of vinegar. Their horrific screeching voices overpowering the ever distant screaming of pain coming from the sun and moon.

"A guard is dead"

"Yes, Yes, one is dead, and one lurks among us"

"But where could he be?"

"We have no clue, but we must find him or else we will be punished. We care not of you, but you will suffer as well, if the group does not find him"

"Yes, we must leave, now, else the punishment will be worse"

The stomping steps of the guards waned as they marched away. My arms could work now, and so I pulled myself up, and away from the scalding metal. I laid on the burning hot sands for all but a moment before I pulled myself up with my arms. It took me a few minutes to learn how to walk again before I ran.

I ran and ran and ran, the sand beneath my feet as though burning knives as each and every grain dug into my skin. I cared not, however, as I was running to my freedom.

I passed by hundreds and thousands of insane, and crucified people, of all races. Be they Human, Elf, Dwarf, Celestial, or Tiefling. Everyone the church disapproved of was suffering in this hell. I didn't care, however, even as they screamed and yelled and begged for my help, even as they pleaded and cried and balled their fists in futile anger, I ran by without another glance.

As the blood stained sands eventually turned to unstained sand, and the sky ran red with the blood of countless people, I realised I was free.

I had run for hours without food, drink, or rest, and now I was free. No longer was I being tortured, no longer was I punished for a nonexistent crime, no longer was I hung up on a crucifix as though I were a dog. No, I was free now, and that fact cemented itself easily when I saw the forest in the distance.

I couldn't help it, I collapsed to my knees, and tears welled up in my eyes, the salty, cool tears slid down my cheeks as I tasted freedom.

I sat there for about an hour, witnessing the beauty of life for the first time in however long I was tortured. I was reminded of the fact that I was now a fugitive by the sounds of hundreds of thumping boots.

My eyes widened and I scrambled up, running towards the forest as fast as I could. My feet pumped beneath me, the hot sands splaying about as I stomped into the forests, the giant gnarled yellow trees grasping at the ceiling with their black leaves and orange fruit.

The shade of the forest soon basked me, covering me from my would be hunters, their yells of outrage and wrath echoed throughout the clearing. I stood in place for what seemed like days, in reality it was hours. My feet soon got tired, but I didn't sit. I needed to be ready if they were to hunt me.

Thankfully, once The Laughing Daughter rose in the sky, and The Howling Son fell, the Guards had stopped their search, the screams of a million people filling my ears once more.I ran for a while more, eventually finding a river of red water, I nearly collapsed in relief but made myself run a little further.

As I arrived I collapsed to my knees, and stared blankly down at the water before me, my reflection different from what I remember, but my mind absent. I blinked as I regained awareness and stared down at the clear water beneath me, the stream cutting through trees and grass. I stared at the water, and what stared back was not me. I looked much too weary, much too battle worn. I looked like a soldier, and my eyes seemed full of wrath. I was full of cuts and lacerations, but most importantly, my forehead was marked with a symbol.

I licked my dry lips, the face staring back at me glaring with what seemed like the wrath of The Howling Son. Closing my eyes, I inhale a long lungful of air, and stand, centering myself. The goddess had granted my freedom for a price, I needed to hunt down this "Shurjoka".

I glance at my reflection one more time, my face resting in that glaring, wrathful state, but my thoughts in constant activity. I clench my teeth and turn away from the red water, marching forward through the multicoloured forest. I needed to find a map or something, who knows how much had changed during the millennia of my torture.

God, was it truly so long ago that I was persecuted and placed within that wretched field? I remember it so clearly, the church of The Howling Son had been so new back then, but, though they were new, they gained power rapidly. I remember the exact moment when a radical member of the church had assassinated our ruling council of Monarchs. I remember it happening so fast, and I remember the sacrifices they made to summon The Howling Son. I can only imagine what they did to summon The Laughing Daughter.

Still, I can only wonder how much had changed during the past time, what kinds of technologies had been made? Were there new cou-

My eyes widened at the sound of a snapping branch, and I hopped backwards, just narrowly dodging the claws of a Ulygor.

Its claws miss me, but only barely, the sharp keratin shrieking through the air as the Ulygor cuts through a tree. My eyes snap to its exposed back, and I rush to get on it. The giant beast beneath me shrieks as I grab its horns and begin to rip them off, the bony horns tearing out of its flesh as I violently twist its head back and forth, ignoring the shrieks piercing through the ever present screaming.

Eventually, when ripping them off by hand doesn't work, I stand, and place my foot on the middle of its head, its long neck twisting and curling beneath me as I fight for dominance and balance on top of the beast.

Eventually, as all things do, the Ulygor dies, the horns having been ripped off and stabbed through its skull. I breathe heavily, my skin red hot as I stand atop the beast's bleeding body, the long, twisting neck beneath me limp, and the eyes empty as I rip the antlers out.

I had acquired a weapon.

I sigh and step off tiredly, my shoulders sagging as I grab the Ulygor by its neck, and begin dragging it with me. I needed to find shelter, and the Ulygor would provide food for a long time, its giant body would make enough food for a month.

I gulp down the water in the hollow tree trunk, the cold red liquid sliding down my throat like slime as I drink it. I grab the skewer planted in the ground and tear a chunk of meat off, the hot meal burning my tongue as I chew. I was having what felt like a feast. The food and drink were excellent, better than before I was excommunicated, and it felt like everything was only getting better. I tear the last chunk of meat off the skewer and swallow, a haze of tiredness falling upon me suddenly as I reach for my water.

I fight it, my eyes flickering between shut and open as I gulp down the water, before, finally, I lean back into the mud wall, and close my eyes, the last thing I see being the rooted ceiling of the tree I was under.

Sleep that night was amazing, the screams of the tormented had been dulled through the wall, and I had been fed heartily.

Waking up, however, was an entirely different matter. While at first I had been groggy, I had been shocked to realise that I was being watched. In the corner sat the Goddess, her flowing black hair seemingly like a fine mist as it cascaded down her shoulders, and her symmetrical and beautiful face propped up on her fist as she stared at me boredly.

"W-Wha"

"What am I doing? Waiting, now, You have not yet completed my mission, Why?" she asks, her melodious voice soothing my panic, before I raged as I realised that I was being controlled.

I narrowed my eyes, and at her flinch I must've looked quite a bit terrifying. "Because It'll take at least a week to walk there on foot, what, You think I can teleport?" I respond sarcastically, a sneer forming on my face as I fail to repress the anger at being manipulated. I was fine serving someone, I was not fine with being manipulated and toyed with.

The Goddess quirks a brow, and sighs as she stands. Her dress falling to her ankles as she walks over to my sitting form, her walk regal, and full on knowledge of something unknown. She speaks as she looks down at me, a weariness in her gaze "You need not be so angry at my ignorance. I simply thought that the city would be close. I expected to have Shurjoka killed within the week, no, that can't be any longer. We will travel to the Chapel, and you shall kill him in front of me. Do you understand?"

I stay silent for all but a moment, her voice soothing my anger, and allowing me to process her words. With a small nod, I stand, Grabbing her offered hand and in a moment that feels like eternity all over again, the screams stop, the world blurs into colours not even thought up, and we move across kilometres of land in a few seconds.

We stop in an alley, the familiar grime of the walls bringing back a sense of nostalgia, and the hustle and bustle of the people walking across the street bringing a familiar, yet long since gone noise to my ears.

"I have taken you to Chapel City, when you find Shurjoka, invoke my name and I shall be there." The Goddess begins, preparing to leave.

"Wait" I begin, stopping the woman in her tracks, she blinks, turning her eyes up to me. "You haven't told me your name yet."

She stares at me blankly for a moment before slapping her forehead with her palm "Shit, I really haven't. My name is Khepri, I am the goddess of the Sun,Mystery, and the Unknown"

I nod, and turn around beginning to take my leave just as Khepri herself does. The alley does well to obscure my nude, and bloodied form, the darkness cast from it allowing me to hide in plain sight. I watch people walk by, their clothing much different than I was familiar with, but it didnt matter in the end. When a man just about my height and build walked past the alley within arms reach, I grasped the back of his long leather coat and pulled him into the alley, placing a hand over his mouth to silence his scream of surprise. Before he can say or do anything he is knocked out and I begin to strip him bare, leaving him nude in an alley. No one will think much of him if I remember correctly, thinking the man to just be a bum or homeless man. And his ramblings of having everything stolen would be taken as ramblings of a mad man or something similar.

I frown at how constricting the modern day outfit is before I ignore it and try my best to walk out as naturally as I can. It's hard, of course, what with the new architecture coming into sight along with the constriction of my new narrow leather shoes. But its pushed through all the same.

I walk down the street leisurely, discreetly looking at my surroundings. The houses that were built are dark, and have stone sculptures and pointed rooves, they're made of wood and stone, and seem to impose a sense of scale on me. The church I can see just fine however. It towers over even the large spire like bell towers, the roof of it seemingly scraping the sky with its size.

The building itself is very opulent, with marble pillars and gilded walls, it stood as a gigantic symbol of wealth, the large holy symbol of gold and jewel glittering in the very early morning. I glanced around myself once more and began to walk toward the church, following what seemed to be a crowd of devout followers.

It was just as I was passing a nun that I accidentally bumped into a child. The child was a boy, and, falling on his backside, he looked up at me. His eyes were wide and full of childlike innocence, he was a small child, standing barely up to my waist, and his hands were gripping a straw doll.

"Wow! You're tall mister!" the boy grinned, his eyes glittering with curiosity as he stared up at me.

I felt my lips tug up into a slight smile as I offered him my hand. "I am"

He gasped, nuns around me turning to me with wide eyes for some unknown reason. "WOAH! YOU'RE VOICE IS DEEP!" The child shouted the glittering curiosity beneath the veil of his eyes beaming out. At his shouting I lean back slightly, a confused expression on my face.

"Uh, I guess so, yeah?" I say

The child's grin goes wide, as he beings to badger me with questions, following me as I begin my journey to the church. The Child, whose name I later learn is Offrande, makes for good company. Staving off my boredom with questions about myself and the world.

His innocence seemingly seeps into the world, his joy infectious, and his energy uplifting. The boy was charismatic, I would admit that, but unfortunately Charisma only gets you so far in this world.

As we arrive at the church a bell tower rings and Offrandes face goes panicked, rushing out an excuse to leave and sprinting off into an alley. Though weird, I dont pay it much thought, merely thinking it to be a curfew.

I step into the gigantic creaking doors, the inside of the church showing its opulence even more. It looked like a palace, with every surface being covered in either jewel, Gold, or Silver. Monumental holy symbols littered the inside, shoving the religion down my throat, paintings, and sculptures made by what must've been genius artists cover every inch of every surface. Actually, now that I looked around. It was quite creepy being inside.

It was silent, unnaturally silent, the eyes of every piece of artwork seemingly following the symbol on my forehead with a hatred. I continue to step further in, the door at the very end of the kilometre long church opening to show a tiny figure.

The figure seems to notice me, turning towards me and beginning to walk my way. I speed up my walk, and just as I'm within range to see him, he disappears.

A whoosh and a splash of blood, and there's a head rolling.

I slowly look down, the head of child staring up at me with wide, tearful eyes bereft of innocence and life.

I stare down blankly at it, the screams of a dying and dismayed woman echoing into the silent chamber as blood paints the floor in its red life liquid.

"I'm sorry, excuse the filth. Only one family of clients may be inside after all, it is what the Howling Sun has taught us. Now, what may I do for you?" The figure, a he, Says. His voice pleasing to the ears, a smooth bass.

I keep staring at the head at my feet as I answer "Im looking for the priest Shurjoka" My eyes are dragged up at his next words.

"Why, thats me!" he says, a small smile on his face, a fleck of blood dripping down his cheek.