Cultist of Cerebon - Litrpg/Isekai

Zareth smiled politely as he passed one of his followers while descending the spire, allowing none of his agitation to appear on his face.

Thankfully, the elderly lizardkin woman appeared too busy to stop Zareth for conversation. It wasn’t long before he reached one of the corridors halfway down the spire, and made his way to an unobtrusive wooden door.

The loud exclamations coming from the other side quieted quickly after Zareth began knocking; the students inside were likely curious about who was interrupting their lesson.

The room was typically used only by Instructor Hallenford on a single day of the week to teach the members of his cult who had chosen to become [Cultists], or for the occasional literacy lesson open to anyone in the spire. Therefore, the room wasn’t occupied for extended periods and rarely received visitors outside of those times.

However, it was starting to become clear that this would change now that Vidhatri had arrived.

It took a moment for the noise to die down before the door opened, revealing Vidhatri standing on the other side with a pleased expression. The shivarath had made clear that the role of a ‘Senior Fleshwarper’ was to offer both protection and instruction to ‘those who wish to serve the Weaver of Sinews.’

Vidhatri seemed very passionate about this role and was more than happy when Zareth assigned her to teach his followers.

“Good afternoon, Vidhatri. I apologize for interrupting your lesson,” said Zareth, not paying any mind toward the wide-eyed looks being sent to him by the shivarath’s students behind her. “But I felt like it would be useful to listen in and see how you’re teaching my followers, especially given the topic of discussion.”

Vidhatri naturally didn’t have any reason to refuse him access to any part of his own followers, and immediately agreed. However, she did turn a distrustful gaze toward Rizok before responding.

“I’ll not allow any of our god’s secrets to be shared with outsiders, but I suppose you have come at a good time,” Vidhatri said after a moment, her tone reticent as she glared at the lizardkin. “I’ve just finished educating your [Cultists] on the specific attributes of their most likely Class Evolutions and was about to discuss more general information regarding the System. These details are no great secret and are why I suspect you are here.”

Zareth ignored the shivarath’s attitude toward Rizok as the two of them had seemingly formed a mutual antipathy toward one another without ever having said a word to one another in his presence.

The more important matter was the topic of her lesson.

“It is,” Zareth readily admitted, not having a reason to hide his motivations. “I still haven’t been able to make a final decision and thought that this would be a good way to get my thoughts in order.”

Zareth had managed to narrow down his choices for Class Evolution down to two options, but he was having a frustratingly difficult time settling on one over the other.

He’d always known that picking an option for Class Evolution would be a momentous decision and that he would likely spend a significant amount of time mulling it over… but he’d expected that the ‘correct’ decision would be a bit more clear.

The fact that he was still unable to choose between one of the most ‘unique’ and one of the most ‘generic’ options offered to him, somehow added a strange irony to his dilemma.

“It is not ideal for one of Cerebon’s chosen to be so unresolved, but it is understandable given the circumstances,” said Vidhatri, her tone a baffling mixture of censure and empathy as she stepped. “Come inside. My wisdom is always available to our people.”

Despite her zealotry, or maybe because of it, Vidhatri had shown herself to be fairly good-natured to the members of his cult since her arrival. Zareth couldn’t help but view her like an ornery lioness that might allow you to pet it one moment and take a bite out of your hand the next.

Entering the well-lit room, Zareth took a moment to greet and survey its occupants. Older people were generally too well-established and accustomed to their Classes to go through with changing it, even if they could afford the exorbitant costs, so all of the new [Cultists] were young people from the slums.

Zareth was beginning to become more… admired among that demographic than he had expected, to the extent that he felt faintly uncomfortable with their reverential gazes.

He quickly made his way to the back of the room and took a seat on one of the piles of cushions spread throughout the room. Rizok followed soon after, settling his tail comfortably across the cushions in a way that would be impossible on a chair.

“I do not trust her,” Rizok said quietly, his slit-like eyes locked onto the shivarath walking to the front of the room. “Are you certain that it is wise to allow someone so fanatical to teach those who you intend to take leadership positions within your cult?”

Zareth glanced at the lizardkin, confused about where his uncharacteristic animosity toward Vidhatri came from.

“It’s certainly a risk that she could teach them some… strange ideas, but not a large one,” Zareth said confidently, already having given the matter a lot of thought. “People raised in the slums are very suspicious and aren’t prone to blindly accepting what they’re told. There’s a good reason why the Conclave had so much difficulty recruiting from there. Is there something more specific about her that bothers you?”

Rizok hesitated for a moment as if considering what to say before responding. “She simply reminds me too much of some of the more zealous members of the Conclave. Aggressive and dismissive toward those they deem beneath them. Tal’Qamar is better now that it's represented by faiths that better resemble its people and don’t exploit them. It would be a shame if that were to change.”

That made sense to Zareth. While Rizok hadn’t said anything explicitly negative about the gods or their faiths, it wasn’t hard to guess that he didn’t have a best impression of them given his at times very pointed disinterest.

It wasn’t an uncommon sentiment in Tal’Qamar, despite the potential benefits of worshiping a deity. Many people in the city saw religious organizations as groups aiming to lure them in and gradually take over more and more of their lives.

“I have no intention of allowing that to happen,” Zareth reassured, meaning every single word.

Rizok stared at him with an assessing gaze for several moments before nodding solemnly and turning his attention to the front of the room. Seeing that the lizardkin had no interest in continuing the conversation, Zareth also focused on Vidhatri’s lesson.

“We have discussed the Class Evolutions that you young [Cultists] are most likely to one day gain,” said Vidhatri, four eyes scanning her students imperiously as she spoke. “Whether it be the [Fleshwarpers] charged with defending your cult, the [Fleshmenders] who heal its people, or the [Flesh Animators] who create Flesh Golems to serve a myriad of purposes, each path holds immense power and responsibility. Perhaps you may even serve our god in a less common way, as an [Occult Ritualist] or… as an [Aesthetic Beastshaper].”

Zareth held back a chuckle as Vidhatri presented the last option with a distinct air of distaste. She didn’t seem particularly impressed with a Class designed to create ‘frivolous pets for fools with too much gold.’

Better to simply rely on the well-tested Flesh Golems rather than be restricted to creating good-looking monstrosities, according to her.

“There are many who foolishly believe that these more unique Classes are more powerful or prestigious,” Vidhatri continued, her tone dripping with disdain. “Do not be mistaken. The requirements for my own Class are not particularly restrictive, yet I am powerful enough to slay any heathen who threatens our god’s work!”

Vidhatri punctuated her exclamation by suddenly morphing her lower arms into a bone tipped spike tendril of flesh that surged across the room within the blink of an eye and stopped right before Rizok’s snout.

Zareth’s eyes widened at the display and his first instinct was to tell the shivarath off for threatening his bodyguard until he saw the look of utter disinterest on Rizok’s face. While most of the students reacted with the expected shouts and gasps of shock, the lizardkin hadn’t even flinched, seemingly unconcerned with Vidhatri’s posturing.

[Leadership] told him that it would be better if the two handled their own differences, so Zareth decided to let the matter go.

Vidhatri chuckled and retracted the tendril, morphing it back into two separate arms with a speed that made Zareth envious before glaring at the students until they quieted down and continued her lesson.

“Nevertheless, it is to our god’s advantage that his faithful take on a wide variety of roles,” said Vidhatri, her voice beginning to take on a more measured tone. “Every competent organization understands that it is better for those capable of meeting the requirements for the rare and useful Classes to take them. Especially as the common Classes can be delegated to those less suited for specialized roles. For these reasons, it is necessary that you are all educated about the System in general, so that you make the most informed decision on your paths.”

Zareth hummed in appreciation as Vidhatri finished the rather intense introduction to her lesson and began detailing some of the more commonly known features of the System. He knew that a lot of what she had just said was for his benefit, and he appreciated it.

Much to his surprise, he wasn’t the only one.

“She knows what she’s talking about,” Rizok said with a hint of reluctance, eyes focused intently on the shivarath. “For all her zealotry and theatrics, there is a sharp mind behind it. And her advice is sound as well. High Command is well known for doing intensive screening to determine the aptitude of new recruits for particular Classes.”

Zareth was relieved to hear that. He’d already reached the conclusion that it would be better to pass up Classes that could be delegated to the members of his cult. Doing so would eliminate all of the Classes that Vidhatri had mentioned earlier, leaving him with [Atavistic Apostle], [Cerebon’s Watcher], and [Cult Leader] as options.

While Vidhatri didn’t know the exact requirements for [Aesthetic Beastshaper], Zareth doubted that they would be difficult to narrow down so long as one of his followers participated in making the cult’s designer pets.

He had been a bit worried that he’d been too hasty in eliminating so many potential options, so it was good to hear that other more established organizations shared his perspective.

Much of what Vidhatri spoke about for the next few minutes was common knowledge and not too interesting to Zareth. It was only when she started discussing her cult’s interpretations on the System’s history and its nature that he started to pay attention.

“It is important to always be aware that there are many things about the System that remain a mystery to us,” said Vidhatri, shrugging her shoulders and crossing her lower set of arms. “Not only regarding its origins, but also the details of how it functions and the limits of its capabilities. Both of these are popular topics of research for [Mages] and [Scholars] everywhere. It was only a mere six centuries ago when the Veilspire Academy discovered and published the means to force a Class change outside of Class Evolutions. ”

Zareth hadn’t actually known that, and he was more than a little interested in learning more about such research and how the magic academies contributed to it. He made a mental note to ask Vidhatri when it wouldn’t interrupt the lesson.

“The Weaver of Sinews has made it explicitly known that he approves of learning more about the System and making use of its capabilities,” said Vidhatri, a predictable trace of fervor creeping into her voice at the mention of Cerebon before she reined it in. “There are some who believe otherwise, such as particularly foolish mages, the Moksha Sanga, or to use an example that is more local, the Cult of the Unfettered One. It is my experience that such people are better left ignored.”

The snort of disdain that came from Zareth’s side and caused all eyes in the room to turn toward Rizok. The lizardkin was completely unapologetic as he continued to look ahead.

“Unless the heathen has something to add on this matter?” Vidhatri asked, her tone one of false politeness at odds with her sharp eyes.

“Merely that your knowledge of these lands is far inferior compared to your knowledge of the System,” Rizok said without hesitation. “If you were to tell someone from Eldamir that the Cult of the Unfettered One should be ignored after they assassinated their empress and directly caused a series of civil wars, they’d laugh in your face.”

Zareth watched the two of them quietly glare at each for several moments, feeling more and more confused. There was something strange about their interactions, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

The silence was fortunately interrupted when one of his cult’s few ogre members, a young man by the name of Nog who was sitting next to Tamir, hesitantly raised his hand.

“Um, I have a question about that,” said Nog, flinching slightly when Vidhatri broke away from her staring match to turn her attention to him. “Uh… I’ve heard stories about those guys and I just always wondered how they’re so dangerous if they don’t use the System?”

Zareth could tell that Nog’s question was one a lot of people in the room were curious about, himself included. Although, he felt like he could make a decent guess based on what he knew.

“Ah, an excellent question,” said Vidhatri, her expression softening a bit as she prepared to answer. “Magic existed in this world prior to the System's existence, and is still capable of being used, which they do. This is done through channeling and manipulating the Etherveil, which is the common name for the vast ocean of magic that permeates our world. It is not known why the majority of Classes offered by the System prevent the ability to channel the Etherveil, while those lacking any Class can use it without issue. But this matter is the source of many theories.”

Zareth had actually done a decent amount of research into the Etherveil recently given that [Atavistic Apostle] was one of the Classes that did allow people to channel it. From what he understood, studying it wasn’t particularly popular since it wasn’t considered very strong.

Allegedly, a [Mage] would find it both more efficient and have more potent results if they simply used [Fireball] rather than drawing on the Etherveil to form a sphere of fire and launch it at someone.

Something about that felt strange to Zareth and he wasn’t sure how much he believed it, but he had no evidence to the contrary.

“I once killed a member of the Cult of the Unfettered One’s who claimed that the Etherveil was stronger before the System’s arrival,” Rizok said with open disdain, apparently not sharing Zareth’s skepticism. “They also claimed that this is why they seek to destroy it.”

Vidhatri naturally didn’t appreciate the interruption, but this time when she turned to glare at Rizok, Zareth noticed a peculiar hint of… appreciation in her eyes.

“You seem quite competent and well-educated for a heathen,” Vidhatri said with a hint of grudging respect.

Zareth turned toward Rizok and saw that his face was still as stoic as always… but his tail was continuously swaying in a rhythmic manner.

Zareth looked rapidly between Rizok and Vidhatri as he tried to figure out what was happening between them until he suddenly understood and couldn’t help but cringe.

[Leadership] was right. I don’t want anything to do with that, Zareth thought as he suddenly looked at Rizok in a new light. Best of luck, friend. I think you’re going to need it.

“What is it?” asked Rizok, noticing his gaze.

“Nothing,” said Zareth, likely too quickly if the suspicious look on Rizok’s face was any indication. “Just realizing that I shouldn’t judge a cactus by its spines is all. I didn’t expect you to have such… strange tastes.”

He could tell from the lizardkin’s confused expression that he didn’t understand what he meant, and Zareth didn’t bother to clarify as Vidhatri continued her lesson.

The majority of the following lecture wasn’t all that useful to Zareth, at least until she began talking about Classes that involved a person empowering their followers. She wasn’t the slightest bit ambiguous about how powerful such Classes were when combined with a competent organization, and made Zareth more confident that he was right to include [Cult Leader] among his more favored options.

Nothing that he’d learned so far lead him to believe that [Cerebon’s Watcher] would be very useful, as a Class dedicated to enhancing his third-eye couldn’t compare to his other choices.

Zareth likely would have chosen [Cult Leader] already if not for the potential of [Atavistic Apostle]. Not only was the Class ‘unrestricted in its ability to wield any form of power,’ but it also could allow him to decipher the tome of Meldorath and learn more about the Conclave. That alone could be incredibly beneficial to him and his cult, but Zareth also found the idea of learning more of this world’s ancient history itself to be rather interesting.

Every time that the topic came up, it seemed more and more like this world had a great deal of secrets just begging to be uncovered.

A part of him had even expected that Cerebon would do something to push him toward [Atavistic Apostle] given how even the god himself seemed interested in ancient knowledge. It certainly would have made his choice simpler if that was the case, but he’d only sensed Cerebon paying him the typical amount of attention ever since the Rite of Flesh Liberation ended.

Without that guidance, it was a fairly difficult decision that had Zareth’s mind racing as he battled with the best path forward. He even began considering the benefits of more outlandish tactics, such as acquiring multiple Classes before eventually combining [Atavistic Apostle] and some other leadership Class so that he could get the best of both worlds.

What kind of Class would that even give me? Zareth mused idly. I’m pretty sure I once heard a theocratic leader referred to as a [Hierarch]. Would that make me an [Atavistic Hierarch]?

However, that would be incredibly impractical since not only would he only be able to consolidate them during his next Class Evolution, but he didn’t even have a guarantee of success.

Given the lack of any documentation regarding [Atavistic Apostle], it was a bigger risk than Zareth was willing to accept. However… as he listened to Vidhatri discuss Ruler Classes, he had a vague inkling of another path forward that he hadn’t considered.

“Senior Fleshwarper, can you elaborate more on the requirements and process of acquiring a Ruler Class?” Zareth asked, interrupting the shivarath in the middle of her lecture. “Specifically, how would someone like General Nasrith have changed from a military focused Class to one more appropriate for governance after taking control over Tal’Qamar? Or would his new Class be more likely to combine those elements?”

Rizok gave him a cautionary glance, likely trying to remind him that High Command had designated the details of General Nasrith’s Class to be a state secret. However, speculating on the matter itself wasn’t illegal, which was why Zareth was willing to do so. Still, it was definitely a taboo that he shouldn’t engage in outside of his spire.

Such topics were like catnip to a group of young people who had never been allowed to know the affairs of their leaders, so it wasn’t surprising when everyone leaned forward in interest.

“Information regarding Ruler Classes is rarely known outside of nobles,” said Vidhatri, her eyes focusing intently on Zareth. “However, the leader of my sect, Flesh Father Harshad, was granted land by the [Raja] of Dehkshetra. Therefore, I have some knowledge on this matter. I assume that since this ‘General Nasrith’ has taken roles leading both the city and the military, that his Class does indeed combine those elements.”

That was what Zareth had assumed, but he was glad to have confirmation. If he could potentially choose [Atavistic Apostle] and then have a reliable way to transition to a new Class that combined its best features with the ability to enhance his followers, that would be perfect. It felt a bit strange to consider his next Class when he hadn’t even finished choosing his current one, but Zareth would need to think ahead if he wanted his cult to flourish.

It would drastically heighten the importance of his cult managing to claim land when it came time for High Command to divide the spoils of war, but Zareth was already intending to move toward that objective.

Before he could ask for further clarification, someone else beat him to it.

“Really? How does that work?” asked Tamir, eyes alight with curiosity. “I don’t know what Class General Nasrith used to have, but I heard folks used to call him the ‘Sandstorm General’ or something like that. Does that mean his new Class is something like [Sandstorm Sovereign]. Is that even a Class?”

“That’s wrong! My pa was in the military, and he says people just called the General that ‘cause the military uses a lot of [Sand Mages],” argued a wiry young human woman by the name of Afira. “General Nasrith was probably a [Mercenary Warlord].”

“I know little about the Classes common to this region, but the specifics matter little," Vidhatri said loudly, cutting off any potential arguments before answering the question. "Once a person comes into ownership of land, either through conquest or being granted it by another sovereign, they simply need to go through the typical Class Change ritual. Should they meet the requirements, then the System should offer a Ruler Class that inherits the qualities of their previous Class. This holds true regardless of the specific Class.”

That made sense to Zareth. An [Archmage] who ran off and decided to conquer some far off piece of land should be able to become a [Sorcerer King] or something like that. However, he could tell from Vidhatri's tone that it may not be as easy as that.

“What are the requirements?” Zareth asked hesitantly, somewhat fearing the answer.

“It varies depending on the specific Ruler Class, but [Scholars] have identified a few requirements that seem shared among them all,” Vidhatri replied, tilting her head slightly as if trying to recall some long-forgotten lesson. “Aside from the requirements for land, an individual must also have a certain number of subjects if they wish to possess a Ruler Class. A [Raja] who loses either will soon find themselves losing their Class as well. Those subjects must willingly live on that land, lest you find yourself becoming a filthy [Slave Lord]. And finally, your territory must not be disputed by any who hold equal claim, or you will only be offered a Transitory Class such as [Claimant Lord].”

Most of those didn’t seem too bad, but Zareth could see one that might definitely be an issue.

“How many subjects, specifically?” Zareth asked, hoping the answer wouldn’t be too daunting.

“It depends on your ambitions, I suppose. An [Archmage] would not wish to abandon such a Class to become a [Mystic Village Chief] after all,” said Vidhatri, immediately causing many of the students to chuckle at the thought. “The exact numbers are beyond my knowledge, but I’d estimate that you would need at least a few thousand to safely meet your purposes. Fortunately, most such Classes do not need to worry about any other requirements, such as the faiths of their subjects or their degree of devotion.”

Zareth felt his hopes drop as he heard that number. His cult had only recently surpassed two hundred members after his big, flashy ritual, and he sincerely doubted many of them would willingly emigrate from Tal'Qamar.

The entire city-state itself only had a population somewhere north of a hundred-thousand, sustainable in such a harsh environment only due to magic and System nonsense.

Some conquered land would come with their own people, but High Command would almost certainly distribute such places to more powerful factions and give him land with a few natural resources as a consolation. He could potentially gain a thousand subjects eventually, but it would take far too long.

Maybe I should just go with [Cult Leader] after all? Zareth thought with a hint of disappointment as Vidhatri returned to her lectures.

It certainly wasn't a bad option, but Zareth couldn't help but wish for something more. This was a dangerous and unforgiving world and it had thoroughly taught him that he needed to greedily grasp every single advantage that he could get his hands on.

"What would you do if you became the ruler of a territory?"

Just as Zareth was stewing in his thoughts, he was suddenly pulled back to reality by a strangely solemn voice.

Zareth glanced to the side and saw Rizok staring at him intensely with an assessing gaze.

"What do you mean?" asked Zareth. Whether it be because of [Leadership] or just his own instincts, he had a feeling that the answer to this question was very important to Rizok.

"With a thousand subjects, you would be the equivalent of an Eldamiri [Baron]," Rizok elaborated, his reptilian eyes still locked directly on Zareth. "I have seen many of those during my service to the military, and many are not fit to rule. They are either too ambitious, too weak, or too cruel. Each brings its own set of troubles to the people they govern, so I wish to know how you would handle such power if you become a [Cultist Lord] or whichever Class the System offers you.”

Zareth took time to consider his response, knowing that Rizok would likely see through him easily if he lied. Moreover, the lizardkin had saved his life several times by now and he didn't want to give Rizok a bullshit answer to a question he seemed genuinely invested in.

"It's… honestly difficult for me to say," said Zareth, hesitant as he answered as honestly as possible. "I'd like to believe that I would be like one of those perfectly just and wise rulers who act exclusively in the best interests of their people, but the truth is that I don’t know if I can. I’ve seen and experienced what happens to people who live entirely for others and expect them to return the sentiment. I want nothing to do with it.”

Perhaps Zareth was selfish, but he’d long since accepted that about himself. Using his resources to help people was nice, but he’d honestly always seen it as a secondary objective to helping himself.

Rizok said nothing, simply watching quietly as he waited for Zareth to continue.

“Still, that doesn’t mean I’d become a monster,” Zareth said with confidence, completely certain of his words. “The best way to ensure that a territory is useful is to make it flourish, and that can only be done when the people living there are happy and prosperous. Not to mention the fact that they'd be more likely to join the cult with a good impression of me. From what I've seen of Tal'Qamar, it could be so much stronger if the Great Houses cared more about the opinions of non-naga. I would do things differently."

Zareth wasn't certain if that was the answer that Rizok was looking for, but it was the only one that he had to give.

Rizok fell into a contemplative silence for several minutes, long enough that Zareth had turned his attention back to Vidhatri lesson.

Just when he was beginning to wonder if the lizardkin was going to respond at all, Rizok finally spoke, his voice carrying an indiscernible emotion. “If you’ve already learned what you need here, then there is something that I would like to show you outside of the spire.”

Zareth glanced back to Rizok, and saw a glint of determination in the lizardkin’s eyes as if he had just made a significant decision.

Zareth considered it for a moment before nodding and standing from his cushions. Vidhatri’s lesson had indeed helped him organize his thoughts and brought him closer to choosing a Class, but there wasn’t much reason for him to stay much longer.

Besides, he really wanted to hear what Rizok had to say.

“Thank you for letting me sit in on lesson Senior Fleshwarper,” Zareth said as he made his way to the exit, giving the shivarath a respectful nod. “Rizok and I have business elsewhere, so we’ll be taking our leave.”

It was always wise to be polite to people of a higher level than him, and Vidhatri definitely qualified.

“Very well. May the Weaver of Sinews watch over you,” Vidhatri responded, returning his nod with one of her own before sending an appreciative gaze toward Rizok. “As for you, heathen, I would test your skill in combat when the opportunity arises. I must know if you are truly capable of adequately protecting the leader of this cult.”

Once again, Zareth noticed Rizok’s tail began to sway more vigorously even as the lizardkin remained otherwise impassive.

"I look forward to it," Rizok said simply, his tone challenging.

I'm sure you do, Zareth thought with a snort as he hurriedly made his way out of the room.

Once the two of them descended the spire and stepped out onto the streets, Rizok took the lead and began taking them toward the northern section of Tal'Qamar. The trip was largely uneventful, with Rizok remaining quiet and Zareth deciding to just follow along so long as the lizardkin didn’t try to take him away from untraveled streets.

I really need to buy an enchanted item that hides my appearance, or some other item that can make me anonymous, Zareth thought with annoyance at his recent spike in fame.

Eventually, Zareth realized that they were approaching the residential area where members of the military tended to live, near the barracks and his former temple. Most of the pedestrians at this point were members of the garrison and were far less interested in Zareth as they all seemed absorbed in their own worlds.

“They know by now that the war is going to be more difficult than we’d hoped,” said Rizok, answering his unasked question. “Most of the soldiers have fought in enough battles to know when a conflict is threatening to drag on. The enemy coalition outnumbers us and still has a high degree of motivation.”

Considering that Tal’Qamar was looking at this as a war of conquest, Zareth had no doubt that Rizok was right and that there would be a lot of blood spilt before it was over.

It didn’t take long before Rizok led them to an unobtrusive residential home. Members of the military were much better paid than most citizens of Tal’Qamar, so it was decent in size and rather well-kept.

“Is this your home?” Zareth asked curiously, reaching the obvious conclusion.

“Yes. Though not the one that I was hatched in,” said Rizok, opening the lock on the door and heading inside.

Zareth sincerely doubted that Rizok would have openly brought him to somewhere directly connected to himself if he had bad intentions, so he didn’t hesitate to follow him through the door. Once he was inside, Zareth took a moment to take in his surroundings while Rizok began to remove his armor, hands unclasping greaves from his digitigrade feet.

His first impression was that Rizok’s home was very… austere. It lacked any personal touches that made it feel lived-in, with no signs that anyone lived there other than Rizok himself. Even the furnishings seemed frightfully similar to the plain wooden furniture that he himself had been issued by High Command. Zareth felt like even the barracks would feel more like a home than this place.

“How long have you lived here?” asked Zareth as the lizardkin finished removing his armor and set aside his sword. He’d very rarely seen Rizok without them and was faintly surprised at how much more comfortable he looked.

“Nearly twenty years,” Rizok replied, immediately causing Zareth’s eyes to widen in shock. “Before that, I lived with the rest of my family in the servants quarters of Vhelan Manor, like all the rest of their kesh’sisk. Once that was no longer possible, I joined the military and was issued this house by High Command. Though I’ve spent very little time here over the years.”

Something in Rizok’s tone caused Zareth to pause and study the lizardkin closer. He wasn’t sure if it was the exhaustion in Rizok’s eyes or the slump in his shoulder, but Zareth suddenly felt like the lizardkin seemed… older than he usually did.

He wasn’t certain of Rizok’s exact age, but he was likely somewhere around forty or fifty years old. It wasn’t that he was physically frail, of course. Lizardkin had similar lifespans to humans and the System both increased it and allowed people to remain fairly vigorous well into old age, but there was just something about Rizok that was… weary.

It honestly made Zareth feel a greater sense of companionship with Rizok. Even if the lizardkin may not know it, they were both mentally similar in ages and Zareth occasionally felt a similar tiredness.

“There was something that you wanted to show me?” Zareth prompted, breaking the lizardkin out of whatever trance had temporarily befallen him.

“Oh, yes. This way,” said Rizok, seeming mildly flustered before he led Zareth deeper into his room toward a small room in the back.

It didn’t appear anything special at first glance, appearing to just be a modest workroom with a wooden table in the center and a single shelf containing a small number of books. Zareth took a seat on one of the stools around the table while Rizok went to retrieve a book from the shelf, its leather cover as plain as the rest of the room.

Zareth was just about to ask what Rizok wanted to show him when the lizardkin softly said some sort of strange, foreign word and the book’s appearance began to change. Zareth watched in astonishment as its cover changed to one far more ornate, with the sigil of a stylized dragon stretched across it

It wasn’t the display of magic that had surprised Zareth so much, especially since he had known for a long time that Rizok had something to hide, but rather the fact that his [Magic Perception] hadn’t noticed anything at all.

“Did you know that the Nephalan Dynasty used to be highly regarded for their [Illusion Mages]?” Rizok asked calmly as he handed over the book and sat on a stool. “They were known to study the mirages created by System Spawn in order to refine their craft. The Great Houses and the Conclave never discovered an easy way to counter it, which was why they needed to wait for the Dynasty’s collapse before they could begin to conquer these lands.”

Zareth looked back and forth between the book and Rizok before suddenly feeling an inexplicable surge of exasperation.

“If you’re about to tell me that your family belongs to some sort of ancient royal bloodline and you want my help overthrowing the Great Houses, I’m going to be very upset,” Zareth warned, his tone of mock frustration only slightly exaggerated. “My life is already complicated enough without adding that kind of nonsense.”

Rizok seemed to startle, his eyes slightly widening before the lizardkin suddenly let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. “Nothing so dramatic. I’m not sure where you got that idea, given that I know you relax far too rarely to spend your time reading stories.”

Zareth smiled, glad that some of the growing tension had been broken.

“You don’t need to worry. None of my affairs will put you in any more danger than you are already in if you decide not to be involved,” Rizok said as his laughter began to die down. “Overthrowing the Great Houses would be impossible even if the entirety of Tal’Qamar joined forces in the attempt. They are far more powerful than most people know, so I will not ask you to do something so foolish. However, you are right that I could use your help.”

Zareth wasn’t sure how much he believed Rizok when he said that whatever this was wouldn’t put him in any increased danger, but the lizardkin deserved to at least be heard out.

“If you’re not some sort of ancient prince, then why do you have this?” Zareth asked, gesturing toward the book as he opened it and took a look inside. The script was rather ancient, but still decipherable so long as he read very slowly.

“My ancestors can indeed be traced back to the Nephalan Dynasty, though as a long line of servants rather than royalty. It is why House Vhelan took us in as kesh’sisk,” Rizok began, his expression sobering considerably as he began to explain. “That book was handed down to me by my father, and mainly contains stories about my people’s history.”

That was consistent with what Zareth had been able to read so far, though he was struggling to see what Rizok wanted from him.

“Why go to such lengths to hide this?” Zareth asked, confused with the need for such secrecy. “I’m sure it's valuable, but an ancient storybook doesn’t seem like it’s worth all of this… subterfuge.”

“It normally wouldn’t be. High Command would simply confiscate such a book if they found it in most people’s possession,” said Rizok, a trace of anger creeping into his expression. “But for me, the Great Houses would likely have me detained so that my mind could be pilfered before they chose to execute me.”

Zareth felt a chill run down his spine at the surety in Rizok’s voice. He’d already cultivated a fairly negative impression of the Great Houses, whether it be because of Farida’s words, Kassan’s actions, or the general degree of corruption with which they operated in Tal’Qamar.

Therefore, Rizok’s words didn’t exactly come as a surprise, but it was by no means pleasant to hear. Especially given his own animosity with House Khysar and reliance on House Vhelan.

“Why would they do that?” Zareth asked, feeling a sudden unease as he glanced down at the book.

Rizok took a moment to consider his words before answering Zareth’s question with one of his own. “Have you ever wondered why there is no lizardkin equivalent to the Desharin or the ogre communities? Why none of us gather in our own enclaves and continue our own traditions? Why you’ve never heard of the lizardkin worshiping a deity of our own?”

Zareth had wondered that at first, but he’d sort of written it off as the lizardkin being thoroughly culturally assimilated by the naga. However, he supposed that even if that were the case, there would still be a small minority that clung to their own traditions. Every culture had its holdouts.

Seeing that Zareth didn’t have an answer, Rizok nodded as if that was what he’d been expecting and continued speaking. “While humans and ogres native to the Qahtani Desert are small in number, my people are not. Our population is large enough that the Great Houses could never afford us even the flimsy autonomy given to the other races. Thus, they’ve done everything in their power to ensure that our history, traditions, and identity were wiped away.”

Zareth nodded in understanding, feeling that this story was starting to become somewhat of a familiar pattern. It was different because the vast majority were well integrated into Tal’Qamar, but still in line with Tal’Qamar’s fractious history.

“Given the context, I’m guessing that you’re a member of some secretive lizardkin organization attempting to fight against that,” Zareth predicted, his mind racing as he began to connect the dots together. “You told me that your father was the [Seneschal] for House Vhelan and that he died. Was your family somehow involved? Is that why you were sent to the military rather than becoming a servant?”

“That’s… correct. I’ve always known that you were smarter than average, but that’s quite impressive,” Rizok said after a moment of surprise. “My father was discovered while attempting to gather restricted historical records and was then ordered to be executed by Lady Marilith’s late husband. I was young at the time, so they simply told me that he’d been killed in an accident, but one of my father’s compatriots told me the truth when I became an adult. The Tessik are not rebels. Merely a small group of lizardkin who don’t wish to see our culture vanish into nothingness.”

Zareth smiled faintly at the compliment, despite knowing his guess wasn’t as impressive as it seemed to Rizok. The information that he’d obtained from Whitescale had already revealed to him Rizok wasn’t trusted by House Vhelan and that his father’s death had been discreetly covered up.

That and the general cloak and dagger nature that he was beginning to associate with the Great Houses made it easier to connect the dots once Rizok gave him more information.

Honestly, Rizok being a member of a group dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of lizardkin culture was a lot less extreme than some of the scenarios that Zareth had imagined. It made sense, as a large group of secret rebels could have never hid from the Great Houses long term, especially given how well integrated the lizardkin were.

“Alright, I understand everything so far. But what do you want from me?” said Zareth, pushing down his faint discomfort as he hoped that his mind was not making connections where they didn’t exist. “I can’t imagine that I would be of much use to your organization. The Great Houses could crush me like a bug if they felt like it.”

“For now, certainly. But there are still ways that we can help each other,” said Rizok, leaning forward earnestly as a trace of hope grew in his eyes. “Lady Marilith is less cruel and more farsighted than her husband. She doubtless sees that Tal’Qamar cannot continue as it is without mimicking the Conclave’s efforts in suppressing the city’s restless factions, which is the only reason why High Command would willingly offer to distribute conquered land. Land that you clearly desire and which we can assist in acquiring so that you can meet the requirements for a more powerful Ruler Class.”

Zareth struggled to keep his expression even. That was definitely an offer that he was interested in, though there did seem to be some complications.

“Is that all that you want from me? A place where your people can live away from Tal’Qamar?” Zareth said suspiciously as he considered the offer. “It seems dangerous. How could your people even help me acquire this theoretical territory of mine without alerting the Great Houses? I’m not interested in risking my head getting cut off just for a better Class.”

Rizok’s features sharpened, a determined glint appearing in his eyes. “We have our ways. The naga have grown complacent and view the city’s lizardkin as little more than obedient servants, but we have plenty of experience maintaining our networks in secret.”

Zareth could definitely believe that. Growing up in the slums had given him a front row seat to how little attention people paid to those who they considered beneath them. Still, this was no small matter and he needed to figure out every single detail before he even considered agreeing.

“This seems like a rather large risk that you’re taking, for not a lot of benefit,” Zareth said as he locked eyes with Rizok. “Even if migrating to this hypothetical territory would make your group slightly safer, they wouldn’t be able to openly practice your traditions without fear of discovery. Not only that, but you’re putting a lot of trust in me by even revealing this much. How can you be so sure that I won’t betray you to gain favor with the Great Houses, especially given my relationship with House Vhelan?”

He was genuinely expecting Rizok to respond with some kind of threat, so he was surprised when the lizardkin instead slumped back with an expression more exhausted than Zareth had ever seen on him.

“To be honest, I’m not certain that you won't,” Rizok admitted with a sigh, his voice quiet and weary. “It is why I warned my allies before coming to see you, so that they know to disappear if I don’t report by nightfall. I’ve watched you long enough to know that you’re a good person overall, but there’s a hunger in your eyes that makes it difficult to predict what you may do for the right price. I can only hope that the benefits I’ve offered you are enough, and that you live up to the words you shared with me earlier.”

Zareth was taken aback by the honesty in Rizok’s voice and the resignation in his expression. He knew that the lizardkin could likely kill him before he could leave the room even without his sword, though not without being pinned for the murder, but Rizok seemed completely willing to accept whatever fate may come his way.

He didn’t like it one bit. There was something about seeing someone so much more powerful than him so… downtrodden that made Zareth feel utterly unsettled. It reminded him too much of how he had felt when he had been betrayed and left alone… and it also made him wonder if gathering power would truly let him avoid ever feeling that way again.

Zareth forced himself to ignore that strange feeling and focus on the proposition at hand.

The risks were obvious. Zareth was unlikely to be killed immediately even if he was discovered, given how important his cult would soon become to Tal’Qamar, but it would still be a catastrophe if the Great Houses turned against him and his cult. He was under no illusions that they wouldn’t hesitate to wipe him out once he outlived his usefulness.

On the other hand, Zareth was beginning to reach the conclusion that living under the thumb of the Great Houses was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. They were too powerful for his cult to overcome, and it was a stark limit to how much they could grow before being seen as a threat. Having his own territory where he could put some distance between him and them was a tantalizing opportunity, not to mention the benefit of being able to choose [Atavistic Apostle] while still having a path toward Skills that would empower his followers.

The… uncomfortably coincidental synergy between [Atavistic Apostle] and the ambitions of his potential new allies did not escape Zareth’s notice either.

“I like you Rizok, but this is a lot of danger that you’re asking me to willingly accept,” Zareth said as he locked eyes with the lizardkin, only to receive a tired nod of understanding in return. “Fortunately, I’ve always known that great benefits come with great risks. So long as you’re willing to actively promote my cult among your people, I’m willing to work with you. How exactly do we start?”

He saw the tension ease from Rizok’s posture, a tentative hope replacing the weariness in his eyes. Zareth had chosen this mostly because he believed it was the right course of action, but he was glad to see the closest thing that he had to a friend lose that defeated look.

Even if this turned out to be the wrong decision… he somehow felt like he wouldn’t regret making it.

“Well, there’s something that I should mention. There’s a specific piece of land that the Tessik want you to claim which we believe is closely tied to our history, and you’ll need to earn a lot of recognition for wartime contributions to do so,” said Rizok, his voice suddenly much more animated than it was before as he leaned forward. “I imagine that you’ve already made plans to do so, but there are ways that we can help.”

Zareth nodded and listened. He’d had a vague idea about claiming the land around the ruins of Meldorath’s temple, but it was no great loss if he didn’t. It would take the Adventurer’s Guild years to finish clearing out all the Flesh Golems, and there were no other resources anywhere near it besides System Spawn and sand elementals.

Having assistance to outcompete the rest of the Hierophant Council in war contributions would also be a big help.

The two of them spent the next few hours scheming together, united in a common purpose in a way that they hadn’t been before. While Zareth had never treated Rizok poorly, he’d always kept in mind that the lizardkin was keeping secrets and kept him at an arm's length as a result. Now that everything was out in the open, he could see himself one day actually growing to genuinely trust Rizok.

Eventually.

It would be… nice to have an actual friend again, Zareth thought as the atmosphere between them grew warmer, before a mischievous idea crossed his mind. Especially if it means that I can tease Rizok about his strange taste in women.

When the sun began to set and the two of them were ready to return to the spire, Zareth was confident enough in the path ahead that he made a decision he’d been dwelling on for a while.

[Cultist] has evolved to [Atavistic Apostle]!