Chapter Text
“Thus concludes this morning’s sermon. Have a wonderful day, beloved Followers!
-Thank you, Leader!”
As the followers of the Red Crown left the temple, the Lamb kept studying the tome laying on the altar. They turned around to meet the faces of Witness Malphas and Narinder, standing behind in silence, as always.
“My Lamb, began the cat, may I ask what are you doing?
-Ah, nothing special, Nari, weren’t you supposed to spend time with your siblings today?
-Sozonius took Shamura to study the parchments he gathered in Silk Cradle. And I do not wish to stay with the three fools I call brothers and sister.
-Ah, still struggling to let go of your eldest, I see, mumbled the Lamb. How about you, Malphas? What brings you there?
-I am merely doing my duty as a Witness, my Lord, answered the sheep, bowing. Although, may I be allowed to ask what are you searching for in that tome of yours?”
The Lamb scratched their neck with a smile:
“I am doing some research about the Old Gods. The Gods of opulence in Midas’ cave, for example, are still a mystery to me… Are they even Gods?
-Lamb, we already talked about this, sighed Narinder. Upon ascension, a God becomes...
-a concept, I know, completed the Lamb. But why am I still a tangible being why they are not? If they were to die, would someone take their place? Just like the Mush-
-Phtisis and Tabes have been taken care of, firmly cut Narinder. You replaced them. You replaced Chaos, Famine, Pestilence and War, and that is without forgetting Death.
-I just wish to make sure my flock is safe…
-I know. However, you have said yourself you would not become like the Bishops of the Old Faith, and yet I witness you adopting the same strategies as we did: killing all Divine remnants in your way.”
The Lamb hit their head on the altar in frustration:
“Why is all of this so hard?”
Malphas intervened:
“Perhaps taking a breath of fresh air would help you feel better?”
***
“Well, I do not feel better.”
Winter had just ended, and the tender sun of spring was starting to shine again. Critters came out of hiding, and flowers bloomed back on the Cult grounds. Narinder saw Pom and Kallamar play Knucklebones a few meters away.
“I think you are so used to conflict peace disturbs you, remarked Narinder, looking at his brother. Believe me, I understand such feeling.
-And how do you deal with that? Inquired the Lamb. When you Five slayed the last God standing, what did you do next?
-Why, they partied!”
Astaroth had come from behind the bench the trio was sat on, a wide smile on her face.
“What-how…?
-Remember I am still Kallamar’s ears, little Lamb. After they defeated Beburos, they partied for fifty years!
-That I remember, somberly said Narinder.
-You do not sound so happy about that…
-Why, yes! A party, for the Old Faith, meant sacrifices. Sacrifices meant more work for me. In reality, only the four of them had the chance to be merry.
-Liar, whispered Malphas, loud enough for everyone to hear
-By all means, ô Witness of the Red Crown, do enlighten me on how that period was joyful for us!
-Oh, you truly do not recall? One day Shamura organized a fight pit. Understand, Lamb, that unlike you, they never spared anyone. It was always a fight to the Death. Now, one the Followers lost, and was sent to Narinder’s domain. However…
-Ah, yes, I remember, cut Narinder. A bull. I was terribly tired that day, and had asked him if he wanted to live forever. “Why not”, he had told me. I sent him back to the realm of the living with a golden skull necklace.
-Wait, I thought Cimeries was the first Follower you ever resurrected, said Astaroth. I was there, I have seen it!
-Ah, there is a slight nuance, précised the cat, closing his eyes. When a soul dies, they present themselves to me. In theory, I let them pass on to the next life without further ado. This bull, I simply… refused the entry. Resurrection, however, is equivalent to me retracting from that laissez-passer.
-Why can’t I decide that? Exclaimed the Lamb. My Followers always die when I least expect i-
-Patience, my Lord, cut Malphas. Narinder had thousands of years to get ahold of his powers.”
The Lamb sighed: how long has it been since they became the last God of these Lands?
Right, they were not. They morphed the Red Crown back into the grimoire containing the list of every relic they gathered.
“Mmh… in link with money, I have the pouch of the Kephomite, and Laplace’s coin. Does that ring a bell to anyone here?
-That makes no sense, thought Astaroth out loud. Laplace never had a coin, he had a dice!
-Gods can have different items of values, remarked Narinder, raising an eyebrow.
-Yes, but I knew Laplace, Kallamar had infiltrated his ranks for a long time before slaying him. And never did we find a coin of the sort!
-Very well, I trust you, answered the Lamb, moving their hooves to calm the Witness down. How about the Kephomite?”
Malphas, Astaroth and Narinder shook their heads.
“Well, the next step is obvious,…”
They turned their head to the Knucklebones table.
***
“The Kephomite, Lamb? No, I have never heard of such name. Now go away, you are making me lose the game!”
Kallamar sighed: he had rolled another one.
“Ha! I win! Exclaimed his opponent, raising three of her four arms in victory.
-Could you at least tell me where are your siblings?
-Well, Heket is waiting for Narinder to cook with her, as he said he would (he looked at the cat, eyes full of judgment), and Leshy must be by the field. As for Shamura, I think the answer is already obvious. Hey, don’t go away you, I want a rematch!
-With what gold, Kallamar? Signed Pom, juggling a small bag with a hand. See you at lunch!”
The squid deeply sighed:
“I worked under literal Fortune, why does this happen to me?”