As Cypher walked through the twisting streets of the underhive, illuminated by the orange glow that emanated from glowing crystal like rocks that defied logic, the streets teemed with activity.
"Are you watching the execution today?"
"I heard the church caught some new heritics!"
"Mommy, can I come?"
"Me too! I want to see!"
The conversations echoed around him caught his attention as he listened intently, deciding to gatherbsome information.
"Excuse me mister," Cypher stretched his small hand and tapped the back of one of the men passing by ," Do you know where the execution is being held?"
"Huh...ohh, I see your faith is strong kid haha," He laughed and pointed towards the church in the distance ," It's being held in the courtyard Infront of the church, but be quick or you'll have to watch from the back."
"Thank you Mister!" Waving his hand, Cypher skipped away under the man's gaze looking as innocent as could be.
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"Kill him!"
"Death to the Heretic!"
The crowd roared to life Infront of an imposingly large cathedral, it's shadow looming over them like a hammer ready to swallow them whole.
Ahead of them was a large stone platform, ornate carvings and symbols lined it's surface, it's meaning lost to the crowd of illiterate peasants that gathered to the show.
Standing on top of the platform was a woman clad in white holy robes reminiscent of a nun, golden clean armour barely visible beneath them. Her golden blonde hair fluttered in the light breeze and her glowing blue eyes pierced through the crowd, an incredible aura of love and kindness behind them.
Behind her was 3 people kneeling on the cold stone platform, two of which were a young boy and girl that struggled against their silver chain bindings, tears forming a puddle beneath them. The last was an older man, with brown hair and sharp features, bruises and cuts covered his face as he looked at his children with desperation.
The crowd stopped their condensation immediately as the Woman held her hand up in a gesture of silence, a kind smile on her face as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Fellow children of Endo, I , Saint Clementine, welcome you all to witness the cleansing of these abhorrent heritics that dare to taint the holy minds of our youth!"
"Kill them! Down with the heritics!" One of the men in the crowds roared.
"SILENCE!" The saints tone shifted to disdain having been interrupted.
A wave of pressure descended on the man, his eyes bleeding from the pressure. He collapsed on the ground with foam spewing from his mouth, being carried away by Knights In full suits of gold armour.
"Now, here we have the commander of the local guard, suspected of aiding the Wicked fiends of the Cult of Releigh, in Infiltrating our homes and tainting our lands!"
"P-please, my children had nothing to do with this!"
The older man begged and bowed his head onto the stone cold platform.
"Take me instead, I beg of you!"
"Your heritc blood runs through them, who's to say they won't turn against us in the future?"
"It wasn't my fault! They said they'd kill my family if I didn't comply!"His pleading grew louder.
"Enough! Do you have no faith in Endo, is his guidance and grace not enough!"
Clementines words spat out with venom, a stark contrast to her previous display.
"Under the jurastiction of Emperor Theon Von Terra, by order of supreme Cardinal Vanderwall of the Holy Church of Endo..."
"I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY BEHEADING!"
A shift in the very air occured as the Saint held up her arm, a golden blade composed of pure light materialising from thin air shown down onto the crowd, causing them to hold their breaths in fear.
SHINK!
Prrrt!
Blood flowed from the neck of a now headless corpse, showering those below the platform with blood.
"FATHER!"
"YOU BASTERDS, I HOPE YOU ALL ROT IN ROT IN HELL!"
The two remaining children cried out as they watched their fathers head roll off of the platform and land directly Infront of a strangely smiling young boy.
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"Magic! Magic, magic, magic , ma..." Murmering to himself like a madman, Cypher failed to notice the head rolling towards him.
It was like a flip had been switched, his entire mind on overdrive.
Thump!
His heart skipped a beat, breathing growing rapid. Years of trying everything to prove that humans could break their limits shattered in an instant. Not even the original Cypher had seen anything like this.
This world had already shown him something he had only dreamt of through countless hours of study and brutal human experiments.
This world was magical, and magic has no limits.
"AHH! What a devoted young man you are!"
Clementine clapped happily, mistaking the manic excitement of the boy for devotion to their beloved god Endo
"Why don't you come up on stage child, bring the head of the sinner with you."
"Magi-huh, I'm sorry miss Saint, are you talking to me?" Cypher came out of his daze and found everyone gazing at him, and a head at his feet.
"Don't be shy young man, come on up." Clementine eagerly invited.
"Hurry kid!"
A man besidde Cypher picked up the head and handed it to Cypher.
'Dammit, this crazy bitch might kill me! Stop encouraging her!' Cypher didn't voice his thoughts and kept smiling, head in hand.
His small limbs grasped the edge of the platform and began to climb.
"Poor thing..." Clementines hand stretched out Infront of Cypher as his body was too weak to climb any further.
It wasn't just a simple hand though, it was a clawed golden gauntlet that cut into Cyphers thin skin as he held it.
Disregarding the pain, Cypher soon found himself Infront of a thousand eyes, all watching him intently.
"Here you go Ms Clementine."
The severed head passed from Cyphers hand to Clementines, who then placed it down Infront of the kneeling corpse.
"Young man, how strong is your faith in the great lord Endo?" The simple question was like a hammer to Cypher, especially since he barely had any knowledge of who Endo was.
However, a smirk played on his lips, for what he did have was experience. More specifically, with religious fanatics, having been raised by two of them!
"He's amazing! I feel his heavenly grace shines a light on this world, healing the believers and cleansing the the heritics with his divine presence!" Cypher lied through his teeth while he expressed his admiration.
"But..." Cypher lowered his gaze, looking ashamed.
"But?" Clementines eyes turned cold.
"But I haven't been able to learn as much as I'd like to, I have no family or money to buy such knowledge." He lowered his head further, playing with his fingers as if nervous.
The saints gaze softened, her sword disappearing into particles of light as she ruffled his hair, oblivious to the pain the gauntlets caused him.
"Your devotion will not go unrewarded child."
As she spoke she moved her hand behind her waist and brought it back to reveal an ornate silver and gold curved dagger, inlayed with text that read, ' For I am the saviour, the cleanser and the protecter.'
"Use it, show your faith and strike down the sinners." Her smile grew ear to ear as she placed the dagger in Cyphers small hands and pointed towards the two now wide eyed heritics.
""W-wait, you don't have to do this!"
The tears flowed down from the boy as he realised his time was coming.
"My sister! Leave her alive! "
His voice grew frantic, watching the yellow eyes of his new executioner glance coldly at him.
Step
"Wait!"
Step
"Brother, I'm scared!"
Step
"Sto-"
Prrrt!
"Ahhh!"
The young girl cried out as she watched he brother collapse, blood flowing from the cut on his neck.
"Broth-"
Slice!
Her head fell onto the ground.
Sypher barely even registered their deaths and turned away, ready to give the dagger back.
"Keep it, you've proven yourself a rolemodel for all the children here. Bring it to the church Tomorrow and you show it to the Deacon on duty. He'll help you get some study books."
She looked genuinely happy despite the gruesome aftair prior.
"I promise to study everything I can Miss Saint!"
Cypher held the knife close and climbed down from the stage.
"Loyal followers, please return to your homes. And remember to always devote your mind body and soul to the Lord."
The event ended swiftly, however a few greedy eyes remained locked onto Cyphers new dagger, it's value far beyond their meager earnings.