Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 172: Hidden Secrets

Ramael began to hear the murmur of the cultists as they left the temple. Footsteps echoed on the damp earth, mingling with their lively voices. Some were commenting on the sermon, others were simply chatting amongst themselves, but they all seemed happy and relaxed.

He could have gotten up and left before they saw him. He could have hidden in the hut. But he didn't.

He sat on the log, arms crossed and staring at the ground. Except for Narinder, no one else could harm him, so there was no reason to run away.

It was then that he heard light footsteps approaching directly towards him.

"Wow! So you're the ram."

Ramael looked up and saw a dog, with a large golden halo floating above its head.

He was silent for a moment, surprised. He knew what that halo meant. In his world, only the most faithful and devoted cultists could obtain one.

"That halo is..." Ramael said cautiously. "Because of your faith in Narinder, or was it because of the lamb?"

The dog smiled proudly.

"Our god Narinder gave it to me!" he replied excitedly. "I'm the only one with a halo around here."

Ramael blinked.

"Unique? Didn't the lamb have more followers with halos?"

The dog tilted his head, thoughtful.

"Well, I came to this cult... a few years ago. My job was simpler back then. But I can tell you that those who had a halo in the time of the lamb as leader, well... they're now resting eternally."

Ramael felt a chill.

"Oh... I didn't know."

The dog sat on the ground, looking down at him with a friendly expression.

"It was during the time of the fight against Shamura," he explained. "Lambert required a lot of power and sacrifices to defeat him. Besides, those noble sacrifices were spouses of the lamb..."

Ramael felt a pang of discomfort in his chest. He had asked about a subject that, perhaps, he shouldn't have.

The dog noticed his discomfort and wagged his tail vigorously.

"Oh! Don't worry!" he said with a big smile. "You're more special than anyone else! You have the right to know what you want!"

Ramael crossed his arms, thoughtful.

"Well, if I may ask things... can you tell me a little more about how Narinder came to this cult? I already heard a little, but... I would prefer to have more information from another point of view."

The dog wagged his tail enthusiastically, clearly excited to share his knowledge.

"But of course!" he exclaimed, happy to serve the ram. "Let's see... When the lamb defeated Shamura, a few very quiet days passed. No one expected what would happen next. Without warning, Lambert went straight to free He Who Waits. I remember that he gathered twenty cultists to sing and take him to the Veil, and from there... the lamb did not return until it revived some time later."

Ramael frowned, processing the information.

"So Narinder appeared without the lamb?"

"Yes," the dog nodded. "And that took many by surprise. But we were partly excited." We always pray to the god of death, and he was finally among us.

The dog wagged his tail and continued with more enthusiasm:

"Narinder asked for a few sacrifices the first week, but that's only natural, I suppose. A god chained for a thousand years must need strength, don't you think?"