Niathe spoke up. "No! She would love you. She would implore you to forgive yourself and she would love you anyway. No matter what. She would never abandon a child."
"…"
Speaking from personal experience I guess.
Is it true? Is Nyx the kindest out of them?
[No god or goddess can be considered nice. They're too complex for that. However Nyx is noted as being maternal and empathetic in nature.]
What if she sees through me?
[Look her in the eyes and don't look away.]
"Ok."
"What?"
"I'll do it. I'll sign up to the Nyx Temple. But I want to pick the acolyte."
Niathe looks positively surprised and Erichean looks relieved. She gives a sharp look to him and he nods in understanding.
"As you wish. I'll go grab them."
He takes off to go get the acolytes for me and Freesia pats my arm.
"Good choice."
"Who's your God?"
"Gaea."
"Is she friends with Nyx?"
"I would think so. They're sisters after all."
"Really? That's good."
"I suppose it is."
Erichean returned."I've found them. Pick quickly. We should hurry while all the moons are still out."
Freesia turned me around so I could pick an acolyte. That's a mixed line up. A demon, a fairy, and a witch walk into a bar. At least I'm assuming she's a witch.
[Don't pick the demon and the fairy.]
I thought witches were perceptive?
[This one's blind and underleveled so we'll take our chances with her.]
That explains the milky eyes. Fine.
"Her."
I point at the witch. Her flowing ink hair moved with her head as she looked at me. Oh my god. A white moon is tattooed on her forehead. Do I have to get a tattoo too? My mom always said she'd disown me if I got one.
Niathe clears her throat and addresses the witch."Efret? Would you please do the honors of baptizing my child?"
"Yes. It's my honor."
She banged her staff on the floor and used it to walk towards me. Damn she's tall. Why is everyone so tall?
"Then I'd like to begin now."
"Wait! Before you baptize Ria… I have something to say!"
Niathe sneered and spat out her name in a warning tone."Druvis!"
"The harp is used to cure and ease the pain of several children just like Ria. If you could find it in your heart too—"
Niathe stabbed Druvis. Just like that. No hesitation at all in her eyes and Druvis. Well she just ignored the three foot long blade in her hand. Holy shit.
I gagged and Freesia rocked me.
"I beg of you. Please. Asking it of my people was one of the most shameful things I've ever had to do. My son is already being punished I see no need to—"
"If you don't hand over the harp. I will lead a war against—"
Illyria roared."Enough! Just stop it! Niathe that's enough. Druvis you gave your word. It's no one else's fault but your own if you default on it."
I turned to Freesia to ask in a low voice."What is the harp and why won't Druvis give it away?"
She responded in time."It's a special enchanted instrument used to alleviate pain and heal wounds. Druvis's family relies on it to help people who can't afford other forms of medicine."
"So why did she say she could give it away?"
"She values her son too much. Spare the rod. Spoil the child."
Niathe, Druvis, and Illyria argued back and forth. Efret minded her own business and waited patiently. Azrian followed everyone's movements with her eyes and looked like she was on the verge of passing out.
This can't go on. She's going to get a stomachache and an ulcer if this continues. One of my requirements is to refuse the gift right? Can we go along with the original plan?
[Sure. Just be wary of your mothers ire.]
"Druvis?"
Druvis responded quickly. "Yes Ria?"
"I refuse your harp as a present."
[One requirement completed.]
[Beware your mother.]
"…"
Niathe screeched at me and I jumped."Miseria!"
I rushed out my proposal."Can I instead propose a loan?"
Druvis sounded indignant."A loan?"
"One way or another you're going to have to give my mother that harp. But instead of losing it completely…How about you pay to use it? Mother can lease it to you and you can pay rent on it every month. That way you can still heal the sick and needy. But you won't go back on your word. Mother will still own the harp in name."
Druvis looked gobsmacked."…"
Illyria remarked thoughtfully."What a diplomatic solution."
Azrian sounded utterly astonished."You said that she's only one year old."
Niathe tried to explain."She spends a lot of time in the library."
Azrian talked back."Has she spent her entire little life there? Where did she even learn the term loan?"
I replied,"A book?"
"…"
Druvis bowed towards Illyria."Your majesty, I would be deeply grateful if you could discuss such a delightful solution with me."
Illyria deflects the question."Don't ask me. Ask my daughter. She's the one who wants that harp."
All eyes turned towards Niathe who was still seething.
I rolled my eyes.
She twitched.
"Nia. I'm already going to lose my son. My people can't lose their only other hope. Please?"
"…"
"Mother. You can always request interest from them."
She giggled maniacally."Interest?" Oh shit.
"Mother if you don't accept the deal…I'll get baptized by—"
I whispered to Freesia. "Who does she really hate?"
She cooperated with me. "Say Hector."
"By Hector!"
Niathe gasps."No! Fine. We'll talk about your stupid loan!"
"Agree to think about it."
She sneers at me."I'll think about it, you little traitor. Efret! Baptize her!"
The woman in question shrugged and stopped leaning on her staff."Okay."
Freesia walked towards a table near the presents and Efret followed behind her. On the table was a bowl and three chalices.
"What's that?"
Efret refused to answer."You'll see."
The bowl was already filled with water and was reflecting the sky. One of the chalices was filled with water and another with what I was hoping was wine. The last chalice remained empty.
"I'll take her."
Efret reached for me and Freesia handed me off to her. Efret placed me inside the bowl and I was half submerged in it.
She then proceeded to hold up one of the goblets and started to chant. The tattoo on her forehead glowed and her lips moved faster.
What is she saying?
[She's calling for her mother. Nyx.]
The chalice glowed and Efret held it out to me. She pressed it to my lips and I drank a tiny sip. She poured it down my throat until I had consumed all of the substance.
It tastes cold.
I coughed and tried to muster up a word.
Efret grabbed another chalice and a knife I hadn't seen. She slit her own wrist and then took mine. Oh no.
No no.
She cut the palm of my hand and squeezed the blood into the chalice. The water in the bowl got colder.
"Niathe. Come here."
Niathe appeared at Efret's side and without instruction slit her wrist. She bled into the cup until it glowed a haunting white color.
"Drink it."
I tried to shake my head and say no. Freesia tilted my head back, Efret opened my mouth, and Niathe poured the mixed blood down my throat.
My eyes watered and I tried to spit it out to no avail. I hate it. It tastes nasty. Blood's supposed to taste good but this tastes different. It's so awful.
"Shroud her in your embrace, guide her through your shadows."
My throat burned and so did my back. It hurts. I tried to scream but all that came out was a whine.
This feels wrong. I don't want this. I can't do this.
[You have to. We'll fix it later but you have to for now.]
"Accept her loyalty and sacrifice. Child of the Earth. Accept the cradle of the moon as your own."
My back burned even harder.
"Chaosborn and a miracle of the night. Bringer of primordial love and nightfall…"
It felt like someone was taking a hot poker and carving up my back. I threw up and had to swallow it from the position I was in.
I hate you.
I don't want this.
I hate the pain.
Go away!
"Accept her into your realm of unending darkness."
A bell rang and glass broke.
My eyes trembled and shook.
I can't see anything. It's all dark now. But it's not the same. I remember death. This isn't the same.