Within the dark depths of a dungeon, inhabitants known as prisoners occupy each cell. Not only was each cell designed to be as small as reasonable–no unnecessary space–each prisoner is chained by his ankle, allowing only a predetermined limited range of movement.
In a cell near the far left corner of the dungeon, a man with unkept, overgrown hair is slumped over against the hard metal wall. His bruised and battered body is on full display; he is unable to turn away from his own unsightliness.
This "man" is only a mirror reflection of the true man sitting across from him–Zateon.
How long has it been? two?…maybe three?…
"Hey, you bum, you better not be snoozing in there–you know what time it is!"
…ah, they're here. Awaiting just for me, behind the prison guard, a group of the most deranged prisoners.
Demi-human prisoners.
The guard opens my cell, but only for a brief moment. Once the last animal entered, he wasted no time locking the cage again.
With a grin on his face that looks like he's holding in a huge laugh–poorly.
"Y'all know the drill–15 minutes, make it count. Anything but fatal wounds, else you'll die along with him."
"We got it, no need for reminders. Right, boys?"
"You bet! We all know the plan; it's the same as always."
"Then nothing else needs to be said. Let's get on with it–we shouldn't keep our sandbag waiting."
"How rude of us!"
All I can do is helplessly watch as the animals draw nearer to me while they lick their fangs, crack their knuckles, sharpen their claws…some even partially transform.
Whatever actions that followed within those 15 minutes, my mind couldn't retain it–it had no desire to do so.
The only reason I was aware of anything happening in the first place was because the small mirror accompanying my cell could not hide reality.
The reality that I'm the man charged with attempted rape–accused by my very own friend.
The reality of my body, chained against the cold steel wall, bruised and beaten was ever present before me–but I'd very quickly forget about it whenever I saw the only scar that meant anything to me.
The only scar that tormented me from the inside out, day after day.
I dare not touch anywhere near that cursed eye.
"..."
I think I've forgotten even the sound of my voice…
Clank
"Heads up!"
Thunk!
A hard, dark brown object strikes my forehead, coming from outside the cell. The guard–a female this time–snickers in mockery.
"Enjoy your dinner. You have three minutes, then lights out for four hours. Go on, don't just sit there wasting time, chop chop."
"..."
It's night time already?...I can't even muster up the energy…
"You know that if you don't start eating, I'll have to force-feed you again. You are not allowed to starve to death."
"..."
There's no other choice.
I slowly reached out towards the hard object–a stale bread roll…seemingly. Bit by bit, I chip away at it, making it crumble into messy chunks that spread all over the floor. The guard rolls her eyes, shaking her head as she witnesses a pathetic sight; a natural reaction.
"Hmph, never in my life have I seen such irredeemable, pathetic filth like you. I can finally understand for myself the kind of things our ancestors experienced with your kind. How sad, not even a god could save you. Pft!"
Like the animal she is, the guard spits in my direction, landing right on my foot with perfect accuracy. Following that, she turns off the only light source available.
And now, I am left in absolute darkness, alone.
"..."
The thought of a deity never crossed my mind since…
…since…
"...sigh."
I'm in no position to be skeptical. If I can distract myself from this hell even for a short moment…what else is there for me to lose?
At the risk of being too noisy, I vibrate my vocal cords in an attempt to warm them up. After all, my external voice has been unused for so long, it would be like trying to lift heavy weights without stretching.
"Dear god…no, I-I suppose that there are several. But tonight, in this moment, I seek to appeal to the one who is in charge of our universe. Only someone like you could have the power to free me. Free me from my shackles that bind me here. Take my soul away from this body–a brief death would suffice. Please…I will do anything. I swear upon my life. I can't…go on like this…"
In the end, all I could muster up was a whisper–a weak whisper at that.
"..."
A pause. A quiet pause. A long quiet pause settled in the moment I stopped speaking–the moment I stopped thinking.
My eyelids grow heavy, my body has had enough…
…
…
"Zateon…Zateon…"
"...?"
I can hear a faint voice, calling out to…me? It sounds so soft…so gentle…so motherly…
–But I don't recognize it at all.
Even so, for the first time in years, someone has called my name without animosity.
"I can hear you, whoever you are, but I cannot see you or anything for that matter. Perhaps this is just my dream, which would explain the incomprehensible."
"This may be beyond your current understanding, but I am not a figment of your imagination. I have heard your deepest plea, my child."
"Your…child? I'm sorry, but I don't recall pleading for you so there could be a misunderstanding here–! No, perhaps I'm mistaken. Would you happen to be–"
A ball of bright light suddenly appears in my vision; my mind can't adequately comprehend it enough to describe it outside of layman terms. Staring closely, I could almost make out the shape of someone inside, but it's too abstract to properly make out.
A slim figure?
"Indeed, I am none other than the goddess of this world, your creator. Let's waste no further moment–you called out to me because you needed a savior, correct? You are completely hopeless."
"...correct. Ever since I've been falsely accused of…a heinous crime done to my former friend, my life has been an endless hell devoid of meaning. I request that you take my soul away. Reincarnate me, consume me, destroy me altogether–as long as I don't have to live this mortal life anymore, I don't care."
"I refuse. What kind of mother would take the soul of her children? Do you realize what you are asking of me?"
"But a good mother wouldn't let her children suffer either…is that inaccurate?"
"...no, that is not, but I have a more appropriate proposal that will resolve your problems. All I ask is for you to confirm one thing: your faith. Zateon, do you have your utmost faith in me as your goddess? Be mindful of your response."
"I have no reason to hesitate. There's no one left in my life who I can trust–there's no one who trusts me, moreover. If you are the only one I can rely on, then I will put all of my faith in you. Yes, I, Zateon Jigg, confess my uttermost faith in you as my goddess!"
"Very well then. Effective immediately, you will leave this country and start a new life in Fraus. There at the temple, you will begin training under my appointed leadership."
"Training? For what, may I ask?"
"The esteemed honor of becoming one of my apostles."
Bang Bang!
"?!"
Before I had the chance to process what the goddess meant, my vision of her was abruptly cut off and my eyes opened to the sight of that guard impatiently standing outside my cell.
So my prayer was nothing more than a dream…a delusional, hopeful dream.
"Wake up, human! Looks like you're in luck–someone actually cared enough about you to bail you."
The guard steps aside, gradually unlocking the cell and opening it–though not without looking away at me. Her efforts made a way for a middle-aged woman to step up from behind.
This woman, someone I have never met before in my life, looks at me thoroughly before speaking. It was only for a brief moment, but in that moment, I did not feel like I was being looked down upon. Rather, I somehow felt warmth coming from her; a warmth not too dissimilar from what I just felt in my dream.
"My name is Ruth, but please refer to me by my title 'Elder Ruth'. I look forward to working with you according to the will of our goddess, soon-to-be Apostle Zateon!"
She bows her head, shining a toothy smile that was brighter than any source of light in this prison.