Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 56: Sun and moon necklaces

Narinder took the sun necklace in his hands, his eyes scanning the inscription: "To win, one must first give something else." Then he lifted the moon necklace and read its inscription: "The law of nature demands that creation arise from destruction." Narinder felt his heart beat faster. He knew he was on the verge of a discovery, something that could change everything. Excitement enveloped him, a mixture of hope and eagerness to unveil the true power of these objects.

Determined, he headed toward Helob, the spider he had always avoided. Every time he saw her, he was reminded of Shamura, and that memory caused him an uneasiness that he preferred to avoid. But today, driven by his recent revelation, he approached Helob firmly. The spider, with its sinister smile, watched him approach.

"I want four followers. I offer 400 gold coins," Narinder said in a determined voice, despite the discomfort the creature caused her.

Helob licked her lips in pleasure. "Pathetic little creatures! But so tasty..." she replied with a high-pitched laugh, as she pulled four innocent animals out of her web. With a nimble movement, she handed them to Narinder after receiving payment. "Yeeeeees, do you like them? I think there are a lot of these tasty morsels..." she added in a mocking tone.

Narinder, paying no further attention to them, teleported the four followers directly to the cult. She knew she would need them soon. As she did so, the weight of the collars in her pocket reminded her of the power she was about to unleash, but also the sacrifice she would have to make.

Steadily, Narinder made her way to the cultists' teleportation area, her heart pounding in anticipation. There was no time to waste. With a snap, he indoctrinated the four new adepts, giving them cultist clothes. He didn't stop to observe their species; he knew that, as mammals, they would be useful in his mission.

The new bull he had acquired was given the collar of the sun, while the red dog was given the collar of the moon. The new cultists looked on with shining eyes, happy to receive these gifts, but Narinder did not share their joy. His mind was focused on the greater goal.

With a maniacal grin lighting up his face, he walked through the temple door, feeling the power of his new acquisition and the fervor of his followers. He was ready for what was to come. The mystic's words echoed in his mind: "Knowledge is often acquired through sacrifice." And he was willing to do whatever it took to obtain it. Ambition drove him, and with each step, he came closer to his goal.

Narinder rang the temple bell, and the cultists filed in, their faces expectant. Instead of the usual sermon, however, a palpable energy filled the air.

"Today we will get straight to the point," Narinder proclaimed in a firm voice. "There will be a double sacrifice, but do not worry, it will be the new ones who will be sacrificed."

The four cultists he had acquired, terrified, exchanged panicked glances. Their eyes reflected despair and confusion at the prospect of an impending sacrifice. Narinder, sensing their fear as a source of power, smirked.

With a powerful movement, he opened the portal to the world of the dead. A green tentacle emerged from the abyss, enveloping the red dog and drawing him into the unknown. A scream of terror escaped the lips of the new cultists, who now understood the true nature of their loyalty.

But this time, the portal did not close. Instead, from within it emerged the mortal form of Aym, the black-furred cat, looking completely confused. "Where am I?" he muttered, his voice filled with bewilderment.

Narinder, unable to contain his joy, continued with the ritual. Another green tentacle reached out from the portal and took the bull, dragging him to the other side. Just then, the mortal form of Baal, the other twin cat, appeared. "Master?" he asked, his gaze filled with uncertainty.

The cultists, stunned, watched the scene. Some crossed themselves, while others murmured among themselves, in awe and fear. The atmosphere was charged with tension, as if the very air feared what Narinder had unleashed. The reverberation of power emanated from him, and the new cultists understood that they were in the presence of a being who had not only defied death, but had also mastered it.

Finally, the portal closed with a burst of energy, leaving the cultists in a reverent silence, their hearts pounding. Narinder's figure stood imposingly, and a subtle smile spread across his face. He had defied the laws of the universe and brought the twins back.

Narinder looked at his cultists, noting the mixture of fear and admiration on their faces. He knew that the double sacrifice was too much for them, and he still wanted to get back the necklaces he had given away. Tension had filled the room.

"Don't worry! I don't like making meaningless sacrifices," he exclaimed, his voice ringing with authority.

He clasped his hands together and a surge of divine power flooded the temple, filling it with light. A white portal opened before them, and, to the cultists' amazement, the red dog and the bull emerged from within.

Narinder approached those two and retrieved the necklaces they had.

They both began to cough up black ichor, but they were alive, and that was what mattered.

Narinder, exhausted after having performed two resurrections, stood firm. The effort had tired him, but his determination kept him standing. The cultists, seeing the miracle before their eyes, burst into applause and cheers, their devotion to him deepening at that moment.

"My faithful may go in peace!" Narinder declared with a smile, his heart brimming with satisfaction at the sight of his congregation's loyalty. The cultists, still excited, began to leave the temple, carrying with them stories of what they had witnessed.

Once the temple fell silent and only the distant echo of their murmurs could be heard, Narinder turned to the twins, Aym and Baal. Their gazes were fixed on him, filled with curiosity and confusion.

"What does all this mean, master?" Aym asked, his eyes searching for answers.

At Aym's question, Narinder walked over and hugged the twins tightly. The closeness provided them with a strange mix of warmth and comfort amidst the confusion surrounding them.

They were both still confused about how they had gotten there, but Narinder's embrace gave them a sense of security. Tears began to well up in Narinder's eyes, and he cried silently, overwhelmed by the happiness that this moment offered him.

It was a moment of pure connection, where the weight of his responsibilities and sacrifices faded away, leaving only the love and loyalty he felt for the twins. In that embrace, the past, the pain, and the struggles seemed to fade away, and there was only the present, the promise of a future together, and the certainty that their bond would be unbreakable.

The temple, though full of shadows and challenges, was illuminated by the warmth of their union, and Narinder knew that he had found in them not only allies, but a family that would give him strength in the darkest of times.