The leaves rustled as the wind graced them, making a nice and soothing sound. In a clearing with a beautiful view of two rivers who met and mended into one, there stood a group of mismatched people.
Two of the people stood like in a face off, staring like they dared the other to take a swing at them. Some of the other people standing around looked like they were enjoying the tension, some looked noncommittal like it was none of their concern, while some… looked barely present, hollowed gaze, rigid movements… It was like they were puppets of some marionette.
One of the men suddenly spoke in a slightly mischievous and mocking tone, "Thorn, you are late, by a couple of days even, what happened? Did your little plan not work?"
Thorn sneered at the false concern and said, "The plan worked fine, but there were… variables." Thorn looked nearly hurt, having to admit that his plan had hiccups, but that vampire wasn't on him, and technically the plan was successful seeing as the vampire came after the binding ritual… Thorn kept telling himself.
Loyd chuckled seeing his look, then he turned slightly serious,"You had hiccups, the creature you mentioned, what did you call it…?" he had a look of trying to remember.
Thorn returned "It was a vampire, the lord said so."
Loyd nodded and said "A vampire, was it really as strong as you say?" Loyd showed some concern, he knew best how strong Thorn was, as they had about the same level of strength.
Thorne's face turned solemn, "Yes he was strong, in a fair fight I would've lost, had I not been able to rip his arm off and use TK as a surprise method that he didn't understand, I would've surely lost:" As he finished saying that he glanced at one of his subordinates, the one who had hugged the vampire, then he said, "And if my subordinates had not been there as well, it could have still gone either way."
Loyd showed a look of surprise then excitement, he wanted to fight one of these, test his strength.
But then he came back to his senses and thought, then said, "Maybe if they are this strong we should form a group, you know, stick together?" Even he was surprised by his own opinion.
Thorn much more so, but he was sceptical of the idea, "I don't know…" he trailed. Just then a tug came, it was the lord, he had sent an approving pulse of warmth their way.
The lord wanted this group to be formed, but in Thorns opinion it was more of a cult than a group. But if the lord wanted it, then he wanted it. "Sure, let's make this cult." he said with some humor, but buried underneath was resolve, resolve to make this group or cult the best, the biggest, the strongest, the baddest, no one would want to mess with them.
Then Loyd said "Either we become legends, or we will become prey." Thorn looked at him funnily but on the inside he agreed, no one wanted to mess with the most poisonous animal or the craziest animal.
But then Thorn said,"We need to figure out the social ranking, we can't all be equal in the cult…" he then turned to one of the subordinates who had a hollow look and said, "plus some of them can barely be called human, they are more like husks."
Loyd then followed and said "Yeah there are levels to this whole accepting the lord thing, some of them remain the same, just loyal to the lord and stronger, while others become… darker in their very being, while also receiving more strength, and they accept the whole eating souls thing better. Some of them even show… potential, like us." Then Loyd turned his head and glanced at one of the husk like beings and said, "and then sometimes, you end up with these… husks."
Thorn nodded and said, "Lets just call them that Husk or The Husks."
Loyd tilted his head, grinning. "Husks… perfect. Tools. Puppets. Disposables. Every army needs its meat."
Then Loyd turned his head and said "What about the more… normal ones?" his eyes shifted to a group further away. They seemed to be discussing something. They mostly seemed human, except they would lay down their life for the lord in a heartbeat.
Thorn nodded and said "They are bound to the lord by ritual, still have individuality, their devotion is solid, of course. They are not yet lost. Let them be Acolytes."
Loyd chuckled and said "Acolytes… the ones to stupid to fear and too faithful to betray. Every cult needs its sheep."
Thorn nodded in and then the name was agreed on.
"The next group, the fanatics, the ones who take initiative, they have drunk more of the lords' will, what should we call them?" Thorn asked.
Loyd looked thoughtful then shook his head, he had nothing.
Thorn thought for a moment then said "They choose the fire. So. Apostle or Apostles, what do you think?"
Loyd nodded and said "Fanatics dressed as prophets. Dangerous… and very useful."
Then Loyd looked over to a subordinate, a girl, then asked, "What about the ones with potential?" Thorn followed his gaze then fell into thought.
After a while he said "A rare few… their souls burn brighter. Like the lord's own shadow moves within them. They are his Heralds, voices to carry his name."
Loyd grinning he said "Heralds, Blowers of the trumpets of the end, signaling the arrival of Messiah. Now signaling the arrival of the hollow lord."
Then in a moment of amusement he asked, "What about us?"
Thorn looked thoughtful for a while then said, "And us… we are not like them. We are the foundation. The spine of faith. Without us, the structure falls."
He turned his head and locked eyes with Loyd.
"We? We are the Pillars."
Loyd let out a small laugh then spread his hands like some villain showman and said "Pillars of the hollow lord. Hold us up, or be crushed beneath us."
Thorn shook his head with a slight smile.
Then Thorn changed his expression to more serious.
His voice cut through the clearing.
"Husks. Acolytes. Apostles. Heralds. Pillars. We are no longer wanderers. No longer fugitives. From this day… we are a cult."
Loyd looked pleased, as he looked at his subordinates.
So did Thorn, but he would never show it, not in front of them especially not in front of Loyd.
…
The next months blurred into years. Towns were silenced at their passing. Bread and blood bound the meek into Acolytes, while the chosen few rose into Apostles. Those who faltered became Husks, shells to be discarded or broken in service.
They no longer hid nor feared showing their heads. Their infamy spread with no restrictions.
Word spread like wildfire, though none dared to speak their name too loudly. Some whispered of Thorn, the serpent tongued prophet. Others swore Loyd could barter away your soul with a smile. But the truth was the same, a new truth was rising, dark as the abyss which it crawled from, sharp as hunger in a famine.
In the dark corners of taverns and cloisters, mothers hushed their children with warnings. Don't follow the ones who offer bread, the bread givers. Don't look the smiling man in the eyes. Don't answer when the serpent calls your name. And still despite all the warnings… the cult grew.
And Malrik, the Hollowed Lord, was pleased.
CHAPTER END.