I'm getting real tired of this drivel. I already have to deal with the High Court paying only half of my usual pay. Now I have to sit here and listen to this cult's leader while pretending to be one of them. Do people actually believe some crazy old man will save them? I understand people have gotten desperate with the recent plague, but they could at least think a little. I swear if I have to hear any more about some Holy Body and the purity of their blood I will be making the High Court pay double—no triple the amount of usual next commission.
Huh? Why did Everyone turn to look at me? Did I miss something? I decided to point at myself confused.
"Yes, you are the next one to receive the Holy Body's gift child."
Oh right. The 'initiation' of every new member. I take a moment to stare at the old man. He has particularly pale skin and his eyes are unnaturally red. I could practically see them glowing from the torches nearby. A common sign of the 'Holy Body's sacred servants'. In reality, they've been turned into an unholy thing whether the person's body accepts or rejects the 'gift'.
The High Court barely gave me details, but if I look just in front of me I can see what the rejected turn into. It's not a pretty sight. Upon rejecting the blood their body breaks down. It's a painful and bloody fate, yet as I look at the other followers all I see are the accepted. The good news is I had planned for this. Instead of chancing it and becoming a bunch of melted flesh or turning into an 'accepted' I decided to have a noble of the High Court switch out the blood I'm supposed to drink with red colored water with disguise magic.
The perfect plan~. I get 'initiated' without any consequences. I sell the information I gathered to the High Court and I get my payment. Simple as that. I truly am a genius like no other~.
I walk up to the cult's leader acting as I am paid to. On my knees and ever so 'grateful'
"I am ready to receive the holy gift. May the Holy Body prosper and purify my blood so that I may spread his gift evermore"
The old man sets a glass of 'blood' on the podium
"Come child. Drink so that you may be purified. Drink so that you may be free. Drink so that you are part of the Doué par la Lune"
I will never understand the overly complicated names for cults. I look over at the fire in the middle of this camp. All of the cultists surrounding it like it's special and chanting whatever prayer they chant. Of course, it's in a language I don't understand and I don't care enough to. I decide to walk up to the podium the glass of 'blood' is on and grab it. It seems thicker than it should. Maybe that Aléa noble added some edible lube in the water. Maybe that's why it stains the glass a bit as I swirl it. Whatever the case I can't stop for long and ruin the disguise now so I put the glass to my lips.
As I down the liquid expecting the taste of water. Something's wrong. It tastes metallic. Water doesn't taste metallic. There's no way a High Court's noble is incompetent right? Surely I didn't just drink the blood that turns humans into mush right?
I look over at the mound of flesh those poor souls turn into and I start to sweat. I feel wrong. Pain shoots through me. My vision blurs. I can't die like this. I'm not some servant. I'm a damn noble. If I die here. I… don't want to think about that. Am I hunched over? It's so hard to move. I don't think I can make sense of the old man's garble anymore. I'm wobbling as I stand.
"Her body has accepted the Holy Body's gift. Praise be to the Doué par la Lune"
The crowd is cheering, but I can't handle the ache anymore. Damn that Aléa noble. If I wanted it done right I should've just done it myself. I fell over not able to handle the agony anymore. Then all I see is darkness.