Eldritch Exorcist

We both took another swig of the liquor, followed by an ice cube and a strong inhale. I could feel my muscles relax.

"Ok, why would you assume something like that?" He asked, his face a mix of worry and seriousness.

I described the entire incident in Brazil, step by step, including every detail I could remember. And once my story was over, we both sat in silence for a while. I could see that storm of thoughts was brewing inside his mind, as I waited for it to calm down enough to continue the conversation.

"Are you sure it's the same technique?"

"Honestly, no. My grandfathers' journals were more of a family heirloom, describing our history. He kept any research in other books and scrolls, so I don't have the study he was describing. But from my knowledge of spells, I can tell you that between Brazil and the mythical disease, the techniques at their core are very similar. Whoever pulled this job probably has at least part of the original method."

"Shit, that's bad news. But it's just a technique. It could be all this is, someone stumbled upon it and recreated it, right?" I could hear hope in his voice.

"Well, technically yes, but that's not very likely. Think about it. The original miracle workers were spies. From all the history still preserved, they are always described as traitors and infiltrators, masters of hiding and manipulation. I mean, for fuck's sake, they pulled one over on the Gods. Then what followed was hundreds of years of persecution and them being hunted down, a worldwide kill-on-sight order. You think some book would just be left by accident? Even my family lost a major part of its treasures."

"But to have sleeper agents after so much time. No one should remember their leader." The cat paused with his mouth open a bit. He then furrowed his brows and asked with his voice lowered. "You don't think they succeeded in their original goal, do you?"

We both shut our mouths for a second, suggesting that alone could get you labeled as a sympathizer.

"No, if they did, we wouldn't still be around," I chuckled, "and they would not be hunted down for so many years after. But I think they survived in one form or another. There is something more that makes me lean towards that conclusion."

"Ok, give it to me." Said the cat and prepared himself for the news, sitting a bit straighter.

"Let's say I am right, let's say they survived in some form, infiltrating where they could with whoever they had left after, somehow still loyal to their leader, or his ideals. My family was many things, but we were never spies or well known for subtlety." We both smiled a bit. "So if my father thought that Miracle Bringers were still around... Let's assume he assumed similar things even if he did not have concrete proof. What do you think he would have done, knowing his life is coming to an end?"

"By the endless sands, you don't think he…" Q'Shar froze with his mouth half opened.

"There is an easy and surefire way of ensuring there are no traitors or spies. You just kill everyone." I said with a heavy voice, "It never made sense to me why he had not employed any new servants to live with me after he would be gone. And I still remember his last day. He just called me to him and told me he was going to die today, and to keep it a secret. If he believed there were spies around, it made sense. He took everyone to their final resting place and then gave the order to make it their grave alongside his. The true servants would follow, if their deaths would guarantee our family's future, then probably with smiles on their lips. But if someone was an agent, getting the job just to get to me, they would put up a fight."

"And since no one returned, he succeeded. Fuck me, that's brutal."

"Efficient. Just the way he liked," I chuckled.

"Ok, but why not give you a warning?"

"Not sure, maybe he wasn't sure till the last moment, maybe he had other reasons." The man was sometimes a mystery even to me, 1300 years of life could make you hard to understand.

"So what now?" The cat broke the bit of silence. "I wanted to propose we get a few groups on our side offering them a deal on using the mana vein, but now, maybe we shouldn't."

"What?" I asked, the corners of my lips rising a bit. "Since when do you, of all the creatures on earth, tuck your tail between your legs?"

"Cat jokes, really?"

"If we let their presence isolate us from any alliances, then that is no different than losing. We make the alliances, draw out the spies." I locked my eyes with my feline friend and smiled widely. "And then sacrifice their souls to the abyss. I won't let my father's work go to waste."

"You sometimes sound like the man himself." The cat now also smiled like a schesche cat, "but I like the plan. For once, your horrible ideas sound reasonable."

We both downed another shot.

I wanted to protest, but then, remembering the human sacri- I mean a person tied in my apartment, I just stopped, especially considering what I wanted to ask later.

"Anyway, we should proceed as planned, and once we get the chance, lure them out into the open. We have to get more intel, though."

"I'll get right to it."

I could sense a slight shift in the atmosphere. As long as there was something to do, even a shadow of a plan, the restlessness gave way to determination. We both relaxed a bit mentally, this time without the help of the liquor.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"So, who did you want to make an alliance with?"

"Right, we need some local alliances to help keep the land in our grasp, as no offense, you are just one person. So I think we can make deals with witches of Salem, the Germain vampire clan," The cat sighed, "and your favourite mushroom buddies."

Brokers hated dealing with Mycanoid people due to their strange values and philosophy. I, on the other hand, really got along with them.

"Sure, if you think you can get them with a good deal, and something guaranteeing their loyalty, then I leave it to you. I also want you to send a heads-up to my friends."

"Do we have to?"

"Yeeeep, you know who I'm talking about, and they know how to keep their mouth shut, so no worries."

"Yes, I know who you are talking about, it's hard not to considering the shit the six of you pulled when you were younger."

"Good times. They should be informed."

"Fine," said the cat as if saying the word was some form of torture.

We took another swig. The most important part of the discussion had been done. Now we sat there letting our thoughts wander. I could see the cat focus back on me, already having an inkling what he was gonna ask.

"So who was it?"

"Who?"

"Don't play stupid, you brought back some dude with you from Brazil. Who was it?"

"Are you spying on me?" I said in fake offense.

"I spy on the deal we made. The fact that you returned with a massive Brazilian dude stumbling behind you is hard not to notice."

"Fine, fine, I went to Brazil and made friends, is that so weird?"

"Do you put a sleepwalking spell on all of your friends? That would actually explain a lot."

"No, I put a sleepwalking spell when I expect a very short friendship. But like a proper bff, he declared his willingness to sacrifice himself for my sake, such a good dude."

"Your social skills are truly staggering," the cat said flatly. "So what's so different about him for you to drag the guy all the way to the USA? Aside from his friendliness and self-sacrificial spirit, of course?"

"A bloodline, a bloodline of a fire giant, to be precise."

"Since when is your God interested in fire giants? I thought it was more of a raw-power kind of thing, and your new friend doesn't even have a circle if I'm not mistaken."

"Oh, but I don't want to sacrifice him to my God..." I said, sounding mysterious.

"I'm confused. Can you stop talking in riddles? It's tiring."

"See how it feels."

The cat sighed and took another swig.

"Ok, do you know the cult of Ancient Trees?"

"Ancient trees. Ancient trees," He mulled the words over as if repeating them would summon the answer like a ritual.

"Followers of Taipo."

"Ooohhhh, the Norwegian group, the forest village? Yes, I remember, aren't they one of the few people whose God still sends a messenger to this world?"

"Exactly them," I said with pride in my voice.

"....Ok, and?"

"What do you mean, ok and?"

"Ok, and what about them?"

"Really? I sometimes forget your knowledge ends where there is no business to be had. Taipo is a nature deity. Even though he is associated with death as part of nature's cycle, he is still a part of the forest pantheon. And like every forest deity, he has a bone to pick with fire giants. So when their God's messenger descends, they will need gifts, and a descendant of a fire giant is a premium one."

"That's great and all, but doesn't their God decide when the messenger arrives, not you?"

"And when do you think is the time when the Gods will be choosing their champions? I would bet that some more powerful oracles are starting to have dreams and visions."

"Right, so you provide a fire giant descendant, and what do you want in return? I'm assuming we will have to negotiate in your place." Said Q'Shar, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"What can it be about? Magic, of course." I smiled. "They have a technique of making an undead Ent. It is designed to blend in as a tree, with no discernible undead energy. I want that technique, and I would also like to see the descent of their god's messenger."

"That's all?"

"Yep."

"Don't bullshit me, Sam. I've known you for a long time. You don't get that excited over one spell. Not enough to drag some dude from Brazil and then smuggle him to Norway. What is it really?" Asked Q'Shar, sure of himself.

"Fine, fine, have you ever witnessed the descent of a divine entity?"

"No, not exactly common these days, why?" He asked, confused about the change of topic.

"I have. It was in Egypt when I was younger. When my father taught me death magic, we went to Egypt to let me learn necromancy from the death priests of Anubis. When we were there, they let us participate in a ritual of receiving a divine message." My eyes lost their focus. The memory brought back all the associated emotions and the presence from that day. "The God Toth sent a messenger. It was an ibis—a small white bird—but the feeling of its presence was something… I can't really describe it to you. It was overwhelming, something I couldn't truly understand. Beautiful... I want to witness it once again, like before, like that day under the pyramids. If the negotiations on the spell fall through, then fuck it. I want to see the ritual."

Q'Shar shook his head after my tale.

"I will never understand your family's obsession with the unknown. But fine, I know a lynx in Norway that should be able to negotiate in our name. But is it really so important you would lose out on the spell just for the show?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation. "There is an absolute beauty in the unknown, and the satisfaction when one day you comprehend it... The euphoria of knowing the unknowable is something worth every sacrifice. You have to feel it."

"No thanks, some of us still have fears attached."

"But you should go with me, see for yourself. I'm sure one more witness won't change much if they say yes."

"Sure, sure," sighed the cat, sounding uncertain.

I took half of the mana crystals from the runic nodes. The official part was over, so I left just the silencing runes operational. I then went to the bar to get some proper alcohol, the mind-affecting kind, and a pipe with some hal'vling leaf.

After a talk this serious, we both deserved some relaxation, with a long wooden pipe and a glass of proper whiskey.

We spent the time talking about the local powers and stories from around the world. And although we had started on a somber topic, we were now both unwinding after a bit of stress.

I was retelling my favourite tale about one of my few friends.

"After all the talking and posturing, my family this, my family that bullshit. We walk in, and the guy is kissing the vampire. On the abyss, I will not let him live that down," I finished laughing at the memory.

The cat laughed, taking another inhale from the pipe, looking quite comical with the long wooden stick in its mouth. A bit of comfortable silence descended over us as we took some time to enjoy the atmosphere.

In this silence, an unusual question popped into my head.