Published at 18th of May 2026 7:18 am

Chapter 151: Perdition

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MALZ.

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MALZ.

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MALZ!

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MALZ WHOM I LOVE MORE THAN ANY OTHER, HEARKEN TO ME!

My eyes are peeled open by twisting, thorny vines. Im being strangled, restrained by the same vegetation that forced my eyes open, piercing my skin as I try to struggle away. I can't move, save for my eyes, which dart rapidly around to take in a horror nearly as great as my new pain.

Im in an orchard. The orchard. Pomegranate trees are all around me in twisting rows. Bound to each tree by thorny vines are figures, deformed and writing in agony. Half fused with the trees, parts missing, and the red fruits growing out of them like tumours. Insects, unnatural in both form and size, crawl over them, writhing with crittering cries. My vision darkens as one crawls over my eye, and I realize theyre on me too, but their legs are barely felt over the prevailing general pain.

I panic far less than I probably should. I mean, theres no reason not to. Its over. No one leaves Anars orchards. I dont have any tools to work with. All my blades are with my body no wait, theres one left

MALZ!

Suddenly, the vines holding my head break apart, allowing it to droop down to see a shadowed figure standing beneath me, looking at me with such dreadful eyes, red like the fruits of his orchard. Tall with a regal bearing, garbed in brown leather that covers everything but his angular face. Tall, with limbs that arent quite right. Too long and thin My god, I presume.

He speaks again, but his lips do not move. Rather, theres a rustling of wind as every single figure on the trees whisper for him in unison. I do gladden for your company, Malz, for you have fed me more than any mortal under such adversity. But, as much as I would welcome you, we must put off the celebration. There is a deal we must discuss.

Deal? My voice cracks, whelmed by a great thirst and pride? Pride at his praise? Why should I feel pride from the words of someone who will torment me for all time?

Ah, yes, do forgive me, he speaks again, but this time through his own mouth. His voice is unexpectedly melodic, and theres a sense of him being more fully here than a moment ago. Its the vines, you see. They drain the fluid analogue but we lack time for that.

Whats the rush? I croak. Its over. I have nothing left to do but rot.

Anar smiles, revealing needle-like teeth and an inky expanse for a mouth I think I see stars in there. Yes, well, while time does flow quicker here than the world world, things arent quite at a standstill, and we need to act before your body deteriorates too much.

A strange hope flickers. What is he talking about? The eye

Incorrect, he interrupts, not willing to wait for me to grate the air out of my coarse throat, the Eye does not allow resurrection spells, but that doesnt prevent lets say manual endeavours. The facts of the matter are this. You werent killed by the blade qua blade, but by the ritual ripping your soul from your body. A ritual that is a divine contract, and like all divine contracts, the god being contracted must accept the deal. If I dont, then your soul will be sent back to your body and return it to life for about ten seconds before the knife in your heart sends you back to me. So, I advise you to act fast.

Why would you I try to ask, but my voice fails to finish the now lengthy sentence.

He smiles and snaps his fingers, and suddenly theres an ornate white tea table complete with tea set and little cakes. Apologies. Manners. Here, have some. Its quite good. He takes a teacup and presses it to my lips. After an instant of hesitation, I rapidly sip, ignoring the boiling temperature. Its extremely sweet, by which I mean on the precise threshold of being too much. Pomegranate flavoured, obviously, but also a mix of other flavours that Im certain Allan tried to get me to be able to recognize the significance of Allan. What would he Cant think of that now.

Anar smiles, trying to be comforting, but still ends up as sinister. Like a cat with a mouse, though not half as cute. Now, isnt that better? he says, putting his own cup to his lips. My throat is much better, though I dont speak, not that my silence bothers him. Now, you were asking why I would go through all the trouble of returning you to life? After all, you are a juicy offering in your own right. But of course, the answer should be obvious. Its because I love you, Malz.

My face twists in confusion and I suppose disquiet would be the best word. My stomach lurches, though not quite at the level of disgust. He laughs at my reaction. Not romantically, of course. That would be crass. No, I love you as any god should love their favoured. I love the concept of you. Your intensity as you try so hard to change the world around you. I would love you even if you had not fed me hundreds of souls. He gestures around to the trees, and I realize that many, likely most of the figures bound to the trees are those I recognize. Those I have personally offered to the figure sitting so politely before me.

All of them are screaming, though they lack the breath to make a sound.

I turn back to Anar, feeling uneasy at the sight of all those souls with twisting thorny vines burrowing under their skin and draining their essence dry. Uneasy and an overwhelming desire not to join them. So, whats the deal? I ask, my voice much better.

Anar grins. Why, you shall become my favoured, of course. My first. You shall be under a contract much better than those I give to my initiates who have such fleeting loyalty. Your sacrifices shall be sweeter and longer lasting. Youll even gain the ability to temporarily lower your boons, to better hide yourself. Something most of my fickle friends never reach the need for. And when it is finally time for you to stay in my orchards, it will not be a place of torment but of a pleasure far greater than all those fool paradises offered by other gods. I have many princes in my domain, free to roam about and take part in its delights. But you shall be chief among them, Malz. You shall taste fruits that only I have consumed before you But, you have to stop thinking about that bitch Tacyn. It hurts me when you want to leave me, Malz It hurts me so much.

He seems to almost spasm in a sudden fit of rage, clawing at his face, creating deep gashes where light green pus oozes out. The bound figures all around us begin to wail, and the same substance seeps out of their orifices. The sky darkens and the wind picks up.

Then theres a sort of snap, and everything is back to normal, with him sipping his tea with a gentle smile on a bright sunny day. So, no more thinking of that. In fact, from now on, youre going to have a quota. One soul a month, to start. From both you and your cult.

My cult? I ask.

He laughs. Of course. Who else would lead it than my favoured once Tallow is gone? I never did like him much, you know. Put a little too much emphasis on the lunatic in lunatic cultist, and Im certain you noticed some of the little ways he twisted my writings.

I nod, expressionlessly.

So, youll take over his cult and grow it. If you do, I assure you, you will grow in power beyond your wildest hopes. You will liberate your homeland, and crush that upstart empress No, lets not talk about that. In fact, I think only one more word needs to be spoken. That word is yes. He gives an expectant, waiting look.

I dont know what to do. Allan was right, I needed to stop. I was spinning out of control. Im reckless when Im under a boon or have a potential one in front of me. Eventually, Ill go too far and expose myself and I look around and see all those Ive given, and the pain theyre suffering. How do I feel about that? How do I fee about having to give more to avoid the same fate?

Numb. I feel numb. I feel like I should feel something, but I cant. Is it something hes done to me, or just something broken inside myself? I dont know, but I do know that numbness tends not to last. Its conspicuous absence is a promise of a return, and I dont know how I will handle it.

I dont want to take this bargain, but I dont see a way out. How do I?

Im afraid you dont have much time to decide, dearest Malz, Anar says with a forced smile and a trace of irritation. He stands and plucks a cancerous pomegranate growing from one of the bound figures and takes a bite from it, powering through the thick, leathery skin and letting the juice pour down his chin. He holds the fruit up to my face and bids me eat from the exposed portion. Just take a bite, and the covenant shall be complete.

It looks so sweet, so juicy. I know this isnt just a fruit. Its a physicalized form of the power granted by the boons, but given directly rather than through an intermediary. It must feel amazing to take.

Theres a flicker of something, the world darkening and an impression of the fruit being replaced by a rotting version of it, with maggots crawling over it. But its gone as soon as it happens, leaving me with a sense of it being just my imagination. Just me looking for a reason to refuse. But why would I refuse such a pleasure? Such proof of all my efforts being appreciated by at least one person?

I bite down. Its so sweet. So delightful. The true form of what I now know every sacrifice was just a hollow imitation of. Will I ever taste the like again?

Anar grins. Good, its so wonderful to finally have you in full, Malz. You dont know how I longed for it. Now, go. I REJECT THE SACRIFICE OF YOU! GO BACK TO WHENCE YOU CAME!

Theres a lurching sensation as the vines holding me snap apart, letting me fall to the ground. I look up and see the red figure of the Mynharan looking down at me, just next to where I was bound. Flowers have sprouted where his eyes were, but I know he can still see me, because he turns his face to my supine form. The last thing I see before my vision fades is him mouthing the words told you with a triumphant grin. The power flowing through the bitten fruit makes me numb to his smugness, but it takes on a faint note of sourness.

Yes! Yes! The power flows through me! The rapture of Anar! No, wait, somethings wrong. Its not working. Why isnt it working!?

I open my eyes to see Tallow shrieking in dismay as he still straddles my body, frantically looking around in wild confusion. Theres pain where the knife went in, nearly whelming. But I also notice an absence of pain anywhere else. Whether because he dropped the spell when he stabbed, or the link was severed when I left this world, his paralysis spell is gone.

He looks back down as I wheeze a breath of life, but too late as I grab the wrist holding the dagger with one hand, and his head with the other. Wrapping a leg around him, I twist around, reversing our positions as I slam his face into the table with Anar given strength.

His nose and several teeth are broken when I turn him back around to apply the runes. He tries to fight me off, shouting no repeatedly, but hes too stunned to mount an effective defence. My hands shake as I trace the runes using the blood from the hole in my chest. My vision is fading, and I feel my muscles tense and spasm as if every part of my body is suffocating. But either by supernatural control, or just conditioned familiarity, I trace the runes seconds before I lose consciousness again.

Anar! Why have you forsaken?! He shrieks in despair, but I shout over him.

Ask him in person! I give your soul to Anar! I plunge his own dagger into his heart and am instantly whelmed by the conflicting pain and pleasure.

Then I fall off the table. Weak, despite the strength flowing through me. My vision darkens, and my body spasms as I continue to bleed out. Anars grace heals wounds, both from the sacrifices and the fruit, but it cant replenish lost mass. Even with his healing, it takes time to convert nourishment to blood, and Im still bleeding.

So, it all depends on how much power I have right now. How much of a boon that fruit gave me, and how good a sacrifice Tallow was. Seconds pass as my vision continues to darken, but then the wound on my heart closes, and I gradually recover enough to stand.

The room is stunned, everyone shocked into silence and stillness All save one.

Daddy, no! Silmilce screams in rage as she rushes at me, dagger drawn. Dazed, I almost dont even bother stopping it, but instinct twists me out of the way at the last instant, followed by a punch to her gut. She doubles over, allowing me to grab her and pin her to the table, me leaning over her with my mouth next to her ear as I whisper.

Anar sent me back. Do you know what that means? It means Im his favourite. His chosen champion. Do you know what that makes me to this cult?

Daddy, she whimpers under me.

Leader shall suffice. I turn to the others to address them, letting her slump to the floor. Anar chose me over your former patriarch. He sent me back to lead you, to raise you to greater heights. Kneel, or share Tallows fate.

They look hesitantly amongst themselves, but one by one they all kneel.

I feel exalted. Triumphant Something I dont know Theres a figure in the hall, emerging from the shadows, and my triumph turns to shame.

Allan has arrived, blade drawn and red with blood, and hes looking at me with such pity. Such despair. Such disappointment.

I maintain eye contact for what must only be seconds before shame forces my gaze away, and I hear him slink back into the hallway where hes no longer visible, but I can hear faint sobs as his breathing and heartbeat grow erratic.

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