Cultist of Cerebon

Zareth was glad that he had chosen to wear his shawl and headscarf when he left his house to go meet his next client. Even after having lived in this world for more than two decades, Zareth still found it difficult at times to adjust to Tal’Qamar’s scorching desert sun. Life would have been so much more pleasant had he been reborn in a lovely tropical paradise instead.

Zareth’s eyes darted in vigilance as he walked through the Spicebloom Bazaar on his way to Sunstone Heights. It wasn’t uncommon for [Thieves] to stalk the streets leading from the district where the spice merchants sold their goods to the district where Tal’Qamar’s wealthiest residents lived. After all, anyone who could afford to pay the fees to enter the Sunstone Heights made for a good target for pickpockets despite the higher risks involved.

However, it wasn’t only criminals that he had to worry about. In particular, Zareth made sure to keep an eye out for the ornate white robes worn by the clergy from the temple of Suhail. They wouldn’t hesitate to harass and extort him if given the chance, but he was relieved to see that they were nowhere in sight.

I guess the sand-worshiping bastards aren’t going to ruin my day for once, Zareth thought with a smirk.

With his mood lifted, Zareth hummed a tune as he kept an eye out at the various stalls for anything interesting. The city was as bustling as ever, with traders from all over the region passing through the largest oasis cities in the harsh Qahtani Desert. Tal’Qamar alone held access to the narrow valley that led the Eldamir Empire, thus allowing it to control access to any trade passing through the Qahtani Desert.

Spices were the most important trading goods that passed through Tal’Qamar, thus why the bazaar was named what it was, but there were plenty of other goods which Zareth might be interested in.

Along the streets, vibrant stalls lined with colorful awnings provide shade to the merchants and customers. Zareth could smell the aroma of exotic spices, while the sounds of haggling and conversations filled his ear. Various goods from textiles and pottery to expensive enchanted trinkets and jewelry were on display, many of them coming from distant lands that Zareth had only heard about in tales.

As much as he might hate the heat, Zareth knew that there were many places out there much worse than Tal’Qamar. The city was quite prosperous thanks to its location and was also unusually tolerant toward people of different species. That last part was particularly helpful given that humans were by no means the majority in the city.

There were humans native to the Qahtani Desert of course, but the Desharin weren’t seen in Tal’Qamar all that often. Instead, they tended to live like nomads, with the small settlement on the outskirts of the city being the closest thing they had to an urban dwelling.

Zareth found his attention being drawn to a lizardkin selling some foreign fruits and decided to indulge himself by trying a few. They were a tad expensive given the distance involved, meaning that the merchant needed to use a high-level Skill to prevent spoilage, but what was the point of living if you didn’t treat yourself every once in a while? Besides, business had been surprisingly good recently.

The merchant obviously tried to scam him for as high of a price as possible, but Zareth had spent most of his second life growing up in the slums of Tal’Qamar. He was well acquainted with the tricks and tactics used by people trying to scam him out of his money.

“This is a Sabellian Peach, human! Not only is it delicious but there are even some who’ve received a point in Spirit after eating them,” the lizardkin boasted as he tried to justify his exorbitant prices. “Fifteen silver for one of these is practically a steal!”

“Then why is nobody buying them?” Zareth asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow. Fifteen silver was more than most skilled laborers made in a week. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s clear that you tried to sell these to one of the nobles before the deal fell through. You won’t find many people in this part of the city willing to pay fifteen silver for a fruit. How about five silver instead?”

The lizardkin hissed angrily at him, but Zareth knew that he was right and that the merchant didn’t have much leverage. Sure enough, they eventually agreed on a price and the lizardkin reluctantly handed over the fruit for seven silver coins.

With the transaction complete, he took a bite of the fruit as he continued along his way. It was quite delicious and tasted something like a blend of an apple and a mango with a hint of something exotic Zareth couldn’t quite place. As he ate the fruit, Zareth decided to pull on that strange presence in his mind connecting him to his Status. He wanted to see if his Spirit had actually risen after ingesting the fruit.

Name: Zareth

Class: Cultist Level 18

Stats:

Active Skills:

Passive Skills:

Strength: 16

Corrode Flesh

Magic Perception

Vitality: 18

Deaden Nerves

Flesh Perception

Agility: 16

Flesh Manipulation

Cerebon’s Boon

Spirit: 24

Minor Purify Flesh

Aesthetic Intuition

Willpower: 22

Ritual of Offering

Veterinary Knowledge

Control: 22

Nope. Spirit is still the same, Zareth thought as he turned his attention away from his Status.

He wasn’t particularly disappointed because it was obvious from the start that the merchant was just trying to get a better price for his wares. There probably was someone who improved their Spirit by eating the fruit, but the stat must have already been on the verge of an increase.

Stats weren’t so easily raised.

Before he made it to the Sunstone Heights, Zareth made sure to dispose of the fruit core and make himself presentable. His business relied almost entirely on word of mouth, which meant that aristocrats would be much less likely to hire him if he looked like a common street rat. Zareth made his way over to an ogre merchant who was selling mirrors and handed the muscular nine-foot-tall humanoid a copper coin in exchange for allowing him to use one.

Zareth gave himself a quick once over as he adjusted his headscarf and shawl. He looked much the same as every other human native to the Qahtani desert, with dark skin, gray eyes, and a wiry build gained from years of living in a harsh environment. He was a tad shorter than he was in his past life, standing at just under six feet tall.

Unlike most humans in Tal’Qamar, Zareth’s skin was smooth and unblemished to an unnatural degree and he hid two ears filled with piercings under dark, shoulder-length hair. Both his unnatural skin and his many piercings were consequences of his service to Cerebon, which Zareth did his best to avoid advertising.

Not because it was illegal to be a [Cultist] or anything of the sort, but because the Conclave only tolerated worshippers of foreign gods in their city so long as they remained appropriately discreet and paid a satisfactory bribe every once in a while. After all, the Conclave wasn’t above suppressing their competition if given the chance.

It’s a shame. I’m sure a face like this could convince plenty of people to worship Cerebon, Zareth mused, smirking as he appreciated his own reflection. Worshiping the God of Flesh and Transformation definitely has its benefits.

Just as Zareth felt satisfied with his inspection and was about to continue along his way, he spotted a familiar set of white robes in the reflection that caused him to let out an annoyed sigh.

Damn it. Just when I thought that I wouldn’t have to deal with them today.

Turning around, Zareth was greeted with the smug and greedy expression of Cleric Sethash, a mid-ranking member of Suhail’s temple. As the lizardkin approached with an arrogant saunter, Zareth resigned himself to leaving this interaction a few silver short.

“Well, if it’s my favorite heretic,” said Sethash, his large tail swishing lazily from side to side. “Suhail favors me on this day. I was very much hoping to see you on my way to the Spire Gardens, and here you are.”

Zareth wanted badly to make a snarky quip about the lizardkin’s interest in him, but barely managed to restrain himself.

“Cleric Sethash, what a surprise,” Zareth said with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Always a pleasure. To what do I owe the honor?”

Sethash narrowed his vertical-slit eyes, studying Zareth with a gaze that felt more like a snake sizing up its prey. “I merely wished to congratulate you. I’ve heard how successful your little… business has become. You must’ve become quite flush with gold recently.”

If Zareth had only recently reincarnated in Tal’Qamar instead of enduring its pervasive corruption for over two decades, he would likely be seething with anger right now. Instead, he only felt a familiar simmering frustration and a yearning to become powerful enough that nobody would dare harass him like this again.

“You flatter me, but business is not quite as good as you might think,” Zareth lied, feigning embarrassment as he rubbed his neck awkwardly. “However, I do think I can spare a small donation for the Conclave. You all do so much for this city, that I think it’s only fair. How does… six silver sound?”

Zareth really didn’t want to allow his bribes to increase in price just because he was making more than he used to. Sethash was the greedy sort, frequently using his authority to threaten anyone he could get away with extorting. Given that only the military and the Great Houses could rival the Conclave in power, Sethash had a long list of potential victims to choose from.

Zareth mentally prepared himself to haggle as much as necessary, which was why he was so taken aback when Sethash merely sneered at him and extended a scaly hand expectantly.

“Very well. Six silver it is,” said Sethash, voice thick with impatience. “Be grateful that my presence is requested in the Spire Gardens, heretic. Otherwise, I would ensure that you show more enthusiasm in donating for the benefit of the Conclave.”

Zareth could hardly believe his ears, but he wasn't the kind of person to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Oh? Is there something big happening today?” Zareth asked as he carefully retrieved six silver coins from his pouch and handed it over to the lizardkin. Knowing the value of information, he pulled out an extra silver and waved it suggestively toward Sethash.

“The Conclave is gathering in the Spire Gardens and the palace,” said Sethash, only hesitating for a single moment before greedily grabbing the silver. “The reasons are none of your concern, heretic, so don’t bother asking.”

Zareth could immediately tell that Sethash had no idea why the Conclave was gathering from his annoyed expression.

Whatever. It’s got nothing to do with me. So long as this means that I don’t need to worry about running into any more of the bastards, I’ll just count my blessings.

Seemingly in a hurry, Sethash turned without another word and began walking toward the Spire Gardens. Zareth waited until the lizardkin was out of sight before continuing along his way, a quickness to his stride.

His clients weren’t the kind of people who it was smart to keep waiting.

It took a few minutes of walking, but Zareth eventually reached the towering walls which separated the Inner Circle of Tal’Qamar from the rest of the city.

As he approached the armored guards, Zareth reached into his pouch and retrieved a sun-shaped silver emblem that would grant him free access into the Inner Circle, a gift from one of his previous clients. Zareth had been more than happy to waive his usual fee in favor of being able to pass by the guards without paying the toll.

The guards glanced quickly at the emblem before lazily waving him through. As he stepped through the large archway and entered the Inner Circle, Zareth was immediately struck by the stark contrast between the two areas.

Where the Spicebloom Bazaars had been a bustling cacophony of merchants, noise, and dusty streets, the Inner City was an oasis of opulence and serenity. Streets paved with polished white stones gleamed under the sun, flanked by lush gardens and opulent manors. The atmosphere was much quieter, making Zareth feel as though he had stepped into an entirely different world.

The buildings were constructed from polished stone and gleaming marble, unlike more modest clay and adobe buildings in the outer districts. Many of the residences even had gardens with exotic magical plants, expensive fountains, or other luxurious displays meant to show their wealth and power.

Personally, Zareth felt that the upper class of Tal’Qamar being comfortable enough to flaunt their wealth said enough about the influence they held in the city. After all, you had to feel pretty secure to build a fountain in the middle of a desert.

Not only that, but there were even fewer guards here than in the bazaar. Although, that probably shouldn't be surprising when you lived in a world where wealth and combat prowess were often linked, through either higher levels or enchanted items.

Zareth noticed the crowd becoming significantly less diverse the further he walked through the narrow, winding streets to the Sunstone Heights. Soon, he became the only human walking along a street with nothing but lizardkin and the occasional snake-like naga.

Thankfully, Zareth had begun to cultivate something of a reputation since he began his business, so there were fewer people looking at him strangely than when he first started.

It didn’t take long before he arrived at his destination, one of the larger manors in the district. A grand entrance flanked by two intricate carved stone pillars led to a courtyard filled with lush greenery and a beautiful fountain out of place in a desert city. The manor itself was a sprawling, multi-tiered structure with elegantly arched windows and balconies that offered a view of the well-manicured gardens below.

As Zareth approached the entrance, his [Magical Perception] allowed him to sense the potent wards surrounding the building, the outermost layer designed to alert the inhabitants of any guests. A lizardkin guard with dark-red scales and finely crafted armor stood watch at the entrance. As Zareth approached, the guard raised a hand and gestured for him to halt.

“State your business, human,” the guard demanded, his voice cold and authoritative.

Zareth offered them a polite smile before he replied. “Greetings. My name is Zareth, and I’m here to see Lady Yssir. I believe she’s expecting me for an appointment?”

The guard stiffened and eyed him with caution, clearly recognizing his name. “You’re the [Cultist]? Don’t look like much. You ain’t one of those crazy System hating freaks, are you?”

Zareth hid his annoyance and chuckled softly before shaking his head. “Not at all, sir. I’m just a humble servant of Cerebon, God of Flesh and Transformation. I have no issues with the System. Besides, I’m sure a respectable woman like Lady Yssir wouldn’t be associating with such extremists, no?”

Reminded that Zareth was there on the invitation of his superior, the guard hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “Fine, follow me.”

Zareth trailed behind the guard as they passed through the manor’s expansive courtyard and entered the main building. The interior was just as lavish as the exterior with opulent furnishing and expensive pieces of art adorning the walls. The guard, unbothered by the many servants going about their business, guided Zareth through the foyer to a set of grand double doors and announced their presence.

“Lady Yssir, your guest has arrived,” the guard called out.

Moments later, the double doors slowly opened to reveal a spacious chamber where Lady Yssir, an elegant naga dressed in fine silks, awaited. Her upper body was that of a beautiful human woman with light skin while her lower half was a long snake tail with green scales that she had laying along the couch she was reclining on. She also wore a necklace adorned with several yellow Sunstones, the rare and unique gemstone found only in the Qahtani Desert.

“You are punctual, human. I’m glad to see that you are not foolish enough to waste my time,” said Lady Yssir, her voice cold as she set aside the book that she had been reading and studied Zareth with a mix of curiosity and disdain. “I’ve heard much about your… talents. I expect you to live up to your reputation. Gharan, you may leave us.”

The guard bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Lady Yssir gestured to a nearby chair, and Zareth obediently took a seat with a polite smile on his face. He’d long since gotten used to the condescending attitudes of Tal’Qamar’s upper class. It had annoyed him at first, but so long as he got paid good money and didn’t need to go back to being a penniless vagrant, he could endure a little bit of arrogance.

“Thank you for having me, Lady Yssir,” Zareth said respectfully. “I understand that you require my assistance with a few cosmetic alterations that you would like to have done. Please share the details with me so that I can provide the best possible service.”

Lady Yssir continued to study him for a moment longer before finally speaking. “There are a few important social events that I’ll soon need to attend. I’ve heard good things from Lady Tiraz about your ability to improve the luster of skin and scales in a way more natural than common elixirs. I will naturally pay you well for your work.”

Getting [Aesthetic Intuition] was the best decision I’ve ever made, Zareth thought with glee.

Not only was he given the chance to do work that would contribute to raising his Class level, but he got the chance to make good money while doing so. This was far better than hiding in some forsaken corner of the world and making fleshy abominations or ritualistically sacrificing isolated travelers as the Grimoire of Cerebon recommended.

“I understand, Lady Yssir. Just to be clear, you wish any alterations I make to appear natural, yes? Could I convince you to allow a few minor variations in shade in regard to the color of your scales?” asked Zareth, hoping that she would agree. Cerebon seemed to prefer bodily changes that were more dramatic in nature, and it would contribute more to leveling up his Class. “I think it would look quite striking and enhance your natural beauty even further.”

Lady Yssir raised an eyebrow at Zareth’s blatant flattery but seemed to be considering his proposal. After a few moments of silence, she nodded. “Very well. I will trust your judgment, but remember that I expect these changes to be subtle and tasteful. I am not some newly wealthy merchant’s daughter eager to flaunt herself in a garish manner.”

“Of course. If you have no other specifications, then we can begin straight away,” Zareth said eagerly. He could feel that he was rather close to increasing his level and was hopeful that he would be able to do so in this session. “It would be best if I begin with your scales and move on from there.”

Lady Yssir agreed, but not before warning him about the consequences if he did anything improper while working on her. Given that he wasn’t suicidal, Zareth quickly reassured her of his professionalism. Moments later, the naga woman placed the end of her serpentine tail in his lap and he began preparing to begin the procedure. Zareth gently laid his hand on her scales and used [Flesh Perception] to get a thorough understanding of her body composition.

Aside from being slightly more muscular than he would have expected, Zareth didn’t find anything unusual so he activated [Flesh Manipulation] and got to work. It was perhaps a few minutes after he had started that Lady Yssir broke the silence. “You are quite a bit better than I had expected, human. Have you been doing this for long?”

“I acquired the Skills necessary for this about a year ago, Lady Yssir. That's when I began,” said Zareth, indulging the woman’s curiosity as he smoothed the scales beneath his hands and infused them with a subtle sheen. “Before that, I focused more on tending to minor wounds for those who didn’t wish to spend the coin on someone with a specialized healing Class.”

“Hmm, I see,” Lady Yssir mused, her voice betraying a hint of intrigue. “I must admit, I was skeptical when I heard about your services. In a city like Tal’Qamar, most [Cultists] are not quite so open about their Classes, especially not ones who serve gods as… unique as your own. I have never heard of Cerebon. How did you come to serve such a deity?”

Zareth continued his work as he considered his response. Nothing about his Class or business was explicitly illegal, but his situation was delicate enough that he needed to be cautious with the information he shared. “I received instruction on how to earn the [Cultist] Class when I was younger from a traveler. He told me about Cerebon and the Skills he offered, so I felt like it was a path worth pursuing.”

From Zareth’s perspective, one of the strangest things about this world was how transactional the relationship between gods and their worshippers could become. There were certainly many who followed their chosen deity out of genuine faith or devotion, but it was also common for people to simply pursue the benefits.

A traveler had somehow noticed Zareth’s unusual maturity and intelligence, so decided he would make a good worshiper for his god. Cerebon’s Skills and Boon had offered him the chance to be something more than a Thief or a Street Rat, so the decision had been an easy one.

Lady Yssir seemed to accept his explanation, nodding thoughtfully. “Interesting. I’m surprised that the Conclave of Sarqalim has allowed you to operate unmolested.”

I wish. My life would be much easier if I didn’t have to pay those bastards bribes constantly, Zareth thought bitterly.

The Conclave of Sarqalim was an organization formed of the most popular religious groups in the region and held an oversized degree of power in the city. Tal’Qamar was ostensibly ruled by a powerful [Merchant Lord], but the Conclave had been gradually accumulating influence for as long as Zareth could remember.

“The Conclave has seen fit to ignore me so long as I don’t preach against the System or seek any followers for Cerebon,” said Zareth, choosing to omit the part about the bribes. “Although, that varies between different clergies. The temple of Suhail has been particularly hostile toward me when they have the chance.”

Lady Yssir scoffed disdainfully before responding. “Typical. The Conclave has long since forgotten that it is not their place to enforce this city’s laws. If the [Merchant Lord] doesn’t rein them in soon, then someone else will do it for him…”

Zareth wasn’t sure how to respond to that. It was surprising to him that she felt so comfortable voicing these opinions to a stranger, but the politics of Tal’Qamar’s upper class had always been opaque to outsiders. Instead of saying something that might get him in trouble, Zareth merely hummed noncommittally and continued his work.

Lady Yssir didn’t seem interested in continuing the conversation either, and he was allowed to focus entirely on the task at hand. It was only when Zareth was close to finishing the last of Lady Yssir’s scales that something unexpected happened to break the silence.

Cultist has reached Level 19! Skill Point Gained!

Zareth couldn’t help but laugh and cheer with excitement, which Lady Yssir immediately reprimanded him for. “What is so funny, human? I hired you to work, not act like a fool in my presence.”

“I apologize for the outburst, Lady Yssir,” Zareth said quickly, trying to suppress his excitement. “I’ve been trying to increase my Level for nearly a year now, and I just received the notification that I’ve finally succeeded. It caught me a bit off-guard. It won’t happen again.”

Contrary to his expectations, Lady Yssir’s glare immediately softened considerably and she even offered him an approving smile. “I see. Then I apologize for my words, human. There are few endeavors in this world more sacrosanct than personal growth and the acquisition of power. What Level have you achieved?”

Caught off guard by her sudden change in demeanor, Zareth hesitated for a moment before responding. There were some people who refused to share these kinds of details, but he wasn’t important enough for it to really matter. “I’ve just reached Level 19, Lady Yssir. Thank you for your understanding.”

“That is surprisingly high for someone of your age and background. If you are lucky, then you may be able to achieve a Class Evolution within the next few years,” said Lady Yssir, somehow managing to sound both impressed and condescending at the same time. “Go ahead and allocate your Skill Point, human. My people believe it is bad luck to delay such things, and I won’t have you bringing ill fortune into my home.”

After giving Lady Yssir his thanks, Zareth pulled on the strange presence in his mind and moved to do just that. The first thing he did was examine the new Skills available to him. Zareth already knew that he intended to use his Skill Point to modify one of his already existing Skills, but it was always worth taking a look to see if he’d met the requirements for something new.

Available Skills:

Active:

Minor Blessing of Cerebon - Temporarily bestow a lesser version of Cerebon’s Boon to an individual regardless of their Devotion. Grants slight increase to physical stats and regeneration. This path leads to further skills related to the bestowal of blessings and curses. +2 Spirit. +1 Willpower. +1 Control.

Minor Siphon Vitality - Temporarily lowers the Vitality of the target while increasing your own. Effect increases over time. This path leads to further skills related to the manipulation of stats. +1 Spirit. +2 Willpower. +1 Control

Create Lesser Flesh Golem - Allows for the creation of a small flesh golem, a simple construct with limited intelligence. Physical abilities vary with materials used for construction. This path leads to further skills related to the creation and modification of artificial beings. +1 Spirit. +1 Willpower. +2 Control

Passive:

Devotion Perception - Gain the intuitive ability to sense those who already feel devotion to a deity and those who would be open to your own. This path leads to further skills related to socialization and cult management. +3 Spirit. +1 Willpower

Malleable Flesh - Increases the flexibility and elasticity of your own flesh, significantly enhancing the ability for one to modify themselves through Flesh Magic. This path leads to further skills related to personal augmentation. +1 Strength, +2 Vitality, +1 Agility.

Zareth quickly went through his options and noted the only newly available Skill since his last Level increase, [Create Lesser Flesh Golem]. Much like the rest, it was a good Skill that wouldn’t actually help him in his daily life. Zareth had no intention of fighting monsters or starting his own cult, so these Skills wouldn’t be useful for more than their Stat increases.

Turning his attention to the Skills that he already possessed, Zareth looked to see which ones could be modified. Most of them didn’t reach the Stat or Level requirements to be evolved, but there were a few exceptions.

One that allowed him to upgrade [Minor Purify Flesh] to [Purify Flesh], which would be better at purifying diseases than the previous rank of the Skill and also have a small effect on curses. Another upgraded [Flesh Perception] into [Flesh Intuition], which would give Zareth an intuitive understanding of how to best modify a person’s body in terms of function.

[Flesh Intuition] coupled with the knowledge he’d gained in his previous life as a veterinarian would be very useful. The System could compensate for a lot, but he’d noticed that it was much easier to affect the parts of the body he understood the most. However, there was one option he had set his eyes on. Zareth turned his attention to the evolutions for his most important Skill.

Flesh Manipulation Evolution(s):

Permanent Flesh Manipulation - Modify the target's flesh. Difficulty of modification increases with the complexity of the change and the difference from the target’s original body. Changes can now be made permanent unless otherwise altered through Flesh Manipulation or a similar Skill. Permanent changes require relevant biomass. +2 Spirit. +1 Willpower. +1 Control.

Precise Flesh Manipulation - Allows for more precise control over flesh manipulation, enabling more intricate and unique modifications. Changes are temporary. Changes do not require relevant biomass. +1 Spirit. +1. Willpower. +2 Control.

After taking a moment to recall what he had read in the Grimoire of Cerebon, Zareth ultimately decided on [Permanent Flesh Manipulation]. The ability to make lasting modifications would open up a whole new range of possibilities for his business, as there were many people who would pay for permanent changes to their bodies. [Precise Flesh Manipulation] was nice, but it didn’t offer anything that he couldn’t already accomplish with enough practice.

Plus, his clients shouldn’t have much trouble acquiring the right biomass given that they were generally wealthy. With his decision made, Zareth allocated his Skill Point and felt a surge of power as the new ability to root in his mind and his Stats increased.

[Flesh Manipulation] has evolved to [Permanent Flesh Manipulation]!

“Thank you for your patience, Lady Yssir,” Zareth said as he turned his attention back to the naga woman. “I’ve made my choice and I’m ready to continue.”

Lady Yssir nodded, her expression unreadable. “Very well. Proceed, human.”

As soon as Zareth began working on the last of Lady Yssir’s scales, he could immediately tell that his increased Spirit made his [Flesh Manipulation] slightly more efficient. After ensuring that he hadn’t missed any scales and that they gleamed with newfound vibrancy, Zareth was about to ask Lady Yssir how she would like to handle the skin of her upper body when there was a knock on the door.

The same lizardkin guard from before, looking somewhat panicked, stepped into the room. “My Lady. I apologize for the interruption, but there has been an urgent development.”

Lady Yssir’s expression changed from one of annoyance at the interruption to concern. “Very well, Gharan. What is it?”

The guard hesitated for a moment, glancing at Zareth before he spoke. “It seems that the Conclave has been accused of assassinating Merchant Lord Raqasor. General Nasrith has taken control of the city and declared martial law. Soldiers are sweeping through the city and arresting members of the Conclave and those suspected of having ties to them.”

What?!

While Zareth was sitting there in shock, Lady Yssir had already shot out of her seat with shocking speed and began making her way out of the door. “Our business here is concluded, human. I suggest you return to your home as quickly as possible. Gharan! Give the [Cultist] his payment and meet me in the main hall with the rest of the guards once you return.

Gharan nodded and hurriedly gave Zareth a small pouch of coins that more than contained twice what he usually charged and began to usher him out of the manor. Much to Zareth’s unease, he could hear the distant sound of commotion and shouting as they made their way through the opulent halls.

The guard didn’t waste any time, practically shoving him out onto the street and heading back into the manor without another word.

What the hell is going on?! Zareth wondered as he stood there, clutching the pouch of coins tightly in his hand.

Within just a few minutes, he had gone from celebrating his increase in Level to hearing that the city was descending into chaos. Even in the Sunstone Heights, Zareth could see panicked people rushing into their homes and raising their wards. The sound of shouting in the distance was growing closer by the second, and he suddenly realized that he needed to move quickly if he didn’t want to be caught up in whatever was going on.

Being a [Cultist] wasn’t illegal, but he had enough experience with Tal’Qamar’s guards that he knew to avoid catching their attention.

Zareth quickly started heading back to his home in the outer sections of the city as quickly as he could, sticking to the back alleys and quiet streets that he’d grown so familiar with as a child.

His heart pounded in his chest when he spotted soldiers wearing the emblem of Tal’Qamar’s military patrolling the streets or breaking into the houses of people he knew to be members of the Conclave.

Zareth kept his head down and continued on his way, praying that he wouldn’t be targeted by any of the soldiers. He had known for a while that tensions between the Conclave and the city’s government were growing, but he had never expected things to escalate to this level.

As Zareth reached the more familiar streets of his neighborhood he picked up the pace, desperate to reach the safety of his small and unassuming clay house. Unfortunately, he was greeted by a sight that made his blood run cold when he finally reached the street where he lived.

Exiting Zareth’s home was an armored ogre wearing the emblem of Tal’Qamar’s military, and they had spotted him the moment he’d turned the corner.

Fuck! Why are they looking for me of all people? I don’t have anything to do with the Conclave!

He briefly considered running, but not only did the nine-foot-tall ogre have much longer legs than he did, but he likely had a physical class like [Dune Skirmisher] or [Dervish Warrior]. His agility stat would at least be somewhere in the mid-twenties! It would be like someone who had never run in their life trying to outrun a professional athlete. The soldier must have realized this as well because he didn’t seem to be in any rush as he strode over to Zareth.

“Are you the [Cultist] named Zareth?” asked the ogre, his voice deep and rumbling.

“I am,” Zareth hesitantly confirmed. “Why are you looking for me? I don’t have any affiliation with the Conclave.”

“General Nasrith has ordered all Tal’Qamari citizens with religious Classes to be brought to the palace. The Conclave is to be dismantled and its temples barred from the city. All religious groups unaffiliated with the Conclave must formally swear fealty to Tal’Qamar or be escorted out of the city.”

Zareth’s eyes widened in shock. “But I’m just one person! I’m not a member of a Cult.”

“Doesn’t matter. My orders were to bring you or send you out of the city, so that’s what I’ll do,” said the soldier, uninterested in his excuse. “Which will it be, [Cultist]?”

Damn it.

Zareth took a deep breath to calm himself down and began thinking about his options.

He could fight or run, but he probably wouldn’t last very long in either case. The soldier almost certainly had a Level advantage over him, and Zareth only had one Skill well suited for combat.

If Tal’Qamar was about to go through a period of political turmoil as it seemed, then it would probably be safer for him to simply leave. Zareth had saved up enough coins and it wouldn’t be impossible for him to continue his business in a different city.

But… Tal’Qamar was where he had lived the past two decades of his life. It wasn’t a pleasant city, but Zareth was loath to allow himself to be driven out of it. Besides, there was also a chance that the soldier would suddenly chop Zareth’s head off as soon as he refused to swear fealty.

As Zareth calmed down and thought about what his life would look like if he stayed in Tal’Qamar, he suddenly realized something important.

This is an opportunity…

There were many aspects of his Class that Zareth couldn’t exploit due to his lack of a Cult. If the Conclave was truly being thrown out of the city, then that opened up the opportunity for others to take their place.

After all, the General was asking them to swear fealty rather than just throwing them all out, and there was a good reason why very few nations completely outlawed the worship of gods. Most gods offered powerful Boons to those who worshiped them which would give any nation’s citizens a sizable advantage.

If Zareth played his cards right, then this could change everything for him. The risks would be great, but the potential benefits were unimaginable. Cerebon would reward him very well if Zareth was able to convince people to worship the god.

He had long since given up becoming anything more than average, but it seemed that fate put this opportunity in front of him and Zareth would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t take it.

With his decision made, Zareth turned to face the soldier and gave his answer. “Take me to the palace.”

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