[In this world, you cannot create anything out of nothing.]
A blond girl was once again floating in darkness as she listened, her eyes wistful and face expressionless. She masterfully hid her excitement about going back into the tribe and playing games with Dawn.
She was craving the control she had in the group of remnant tribe members.
[I have asked you to bring this heart not only for sparing you, I have asked you to bring it for a ritual]
Flieday tensed up immediately; any ritual involving Chinen sacrifice was considered one of the worst crimes a tribesman can do. However, she relaxed in an instant; the path she had seen to walk on was undeniably made from Chinen skulls and coloured with blood.
Not only did I… No, I shouldn't think about it.
As long as she lives to see another lay, as long as she can walk on the path to control and conquering she would gratefully take part in any ritual.
[Chinen were not made directly by the heavens and earth, thus they do not know the path to divinity. I am granting a boon to Chinenkind, by this ritual you will be taking the first step to the end of Chinenkind!]
Flieday tilted her head lazily "Get over with it."
Flieday felt something change in the atmosphere, as if something had infiltrated this void of nothing; before she could do anything she fell on the warm floor.
She grunted as a single fire illuminated her; she was in a huge crack — it was as big as a normal tree in itself and was shaped too angularly to be naturally formed.
In front of her was a bare pale man with no facial features. It did not have noses or lips, nor did it have anything resembling eyes.
"Is that your true form? This is the spirit?"
[It is merely a temporary vessel for convenience]
She looked at the singular source of light in the dimly lit crack — a single ball of fire, compressing and twirling in itself.
[This is the ritual to become what I have decided to call a laity. That is compressed fire covered with invisible cloud dust from the tear of mistress.]
The fire was pale blue in colour as it floated around Flieday.
[The cloud dust is for stabilising and the fire is for energy. You can find some cloud dust in the clouds around tall mou-]
"Why are you telling me this?"
[...This is a treasury, what is a bigger treasure than knowledge?]
The bare, pale man's hand stretched and dived into a small crack as the voice- or the spirit continued.
[As I said, cloud dust can be found around tall mountains and the tears. Compressed fire can be either created by Requim or found around areas where lords and kings resided. In your terms, it can be found in extremely hot areas.]
The pale hand brought a dull corpse of an ape; it had no injuries and was seemingly in perfect condition. The ape was not alone though; along it the pale hand brought many other corpses of apes.
[These are grade one beast. For the ritual, one would need around ten of such beasts for a good success rate.
"What is the success rate?"
[50% if everything goes well. It will go higher the stronger your meaning is.]
"..."
Flieday paused, seemingly contemplating something before asking, "What is the meaning here?"
[Your belief about life.]
***
"Where will we find a Chinen heart then?" asked Elias. He and the Respected Duke were talking about the ritual, and the Duke wanted to warn him about the price of becoming a Laity or a combat warrior.
"Where did your tribe members find Chinen heart?" The old man asked, as he looked at Elias knowingly.
Elias's expression turned grim. He had forced himself to remember the tradition of his tribe to hide the fact that he could lock such memories, thus he knew the cruel practice.
"By dueling their kin."
"The tribal people believe that if one cannot bring themselves to kill their kin, then they are not worthy of such powers. Some connect this to their deities, while some use the mask of pride.
Take my advice and do not think of such delusions; it should not matter whether you are kind or cruel to others. Be kind to yourself."
Elias looked at the old man's serious face. His expression churned as he shuddered, careening back a few steps.
The old man looked at him with a regretful expression "I am sorry if i-"
Elias covered his mouth and squatted; before the respected duke could say anything, though.
…
Is he okay? Did I trigger trauma?
Thought Haoki as he watched his new disciple squat down. He felt extremely troubled as he heard the kid make a noise.
It was stifled and held back by the hands covering his mouth. It was like a snort at first and then… a wheeze?
Was he… laughing?
The kid let out a small snicker before losing it. He wheezed before laughing loudly; He was definitely laughing!