"Oh great darkness, the time for the end draws near… please bestow this innocent lamb Your grace!"
The old man's voice echoed through the hollow, damp cave, trembling with devotion that bordered on madness.
Before him stood a grotesque statue carved from dark stone, its surface warped into shapes that didn't quite resemble anything human.
Shadows clung to it unnaturally, like they were alive.
The old man knelt so hard his bones creaked, pressing his forehead to the cold ground.
"Hoooooooooaaah!!"
The followers behind him mimicked his actions, dropping to their knees in waves, hands raised, eyes trembling in fanatic worship.
Their ragged breaths filled the cave, mixing with the distant dripping of water. Relief… hope… obsession… all of it twisted together inside their smiles.
When the old man—Augustus—lifted his head, his grin stretched almost unnaturally wide.
"Haaah… it won't be long. Soon… soon we will meet our goddess's chosen one our savior our everything!"
