Enter DarknessNote: A change was made two posts ago for consistency. See yellow annotations. As the ring of fire faded away, Xantus watched the priestess as the flickering blaze lit her face from beneath, leaving highlights where shadows would otherwise reside. Her sharp eyes and confident, beaming stare cut thought his defenses, then softened as she smiled. She glanced at the altar where the corpse had once laid then said in a calm, playful voice, "Xantus, the price for your entry has been paid. The goddess is pleased; I can feel it. She has taken his soul."
Before the flame died down, a torch was dipped and lit. As the flame was passed from torch to torch the priestess waved her paw while fixing her eyes over his shoulder. Accepting her cue, Aella approached carrying long branding iron with a small, skull shaped emblem at the end. As she held it out, one of the white-washed figures came forth with a torch and began to heat it as they spoke.
The fenki asked, "Xantus, what's wrong?" as she watched his facial expression shift and change. She knew he was troubled by something, but thought better to wait and let him ask for himself.
He looked back at the empty altar, then at her and asked, "He was supposed to be a sacrifice? but.."
"But?"
"But his corpse has vanished. This was not true death, thus the sacrifice was not successful. What does this mean? Did Dakkru not like the sacrifice? Does this negate my notion that I was called by her?"
A smile grew upon her face as she said, "You base this assumption on what your eyes are telling you, but your calling came from deep within, didn't it? You weren't sure if it was your own desires that led you here or the inspiration of the goddess. It was that deep - it came from your gut, the very core of your being."
She walked to the altar and slowly touched her paw to the ash.
"Yes, but..."
"Which should you follow? Your eyes or your gut?"
Reluctantly, Xantus replied in a low tone that reeked of confusion, "My gut... I suppose?"
The priestess shrugged, then returned to Xantus and parted his robes. She placed her soot covered paw upon his chest as said, "You are about to step into the darkness. You will stumble and fall if you rely upon your eyes alone. You will go mad if you listen to the voices that chatter in your eyes. Let Dakkru be the light that guides you. She will speak within your gut - giving you inklings as to which way to go, hunches and inspiration. Learn to follow them, and to ignore the senses when the two conflict."
Xantus nodded, then said solemnly, "Understood."
"Do you accept the mark of Dakkru, the life of darkness that shall follow?"
"Yes."
"Do you hereby offer your life and services to she who is the fulfillment and fruit of life - the divine cloud to which mature and worthy life ascends?
"I do."
With that, she removed her paw from his chest, leaving behind a blackened stain. slowly, the glowing branding iron was brought to his chest - its orange heat making his flesh glow. Without hesitation, it was pressed to his skin. He bit his teeth as hard as he could as he pursed his eyes shut and tried not to scream. Fists clenched, his body jerked back and beads of sweat poured from his head. His face were lit up with pain as he groaned and cursed.
Aella covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh. Catching a glimpse of her laughter, the priestess looked at Aella and shook her head as she chortled, "Men..."
Turning back to him, she said in a solemn voice, "Xantus Necare, welcome to the priesthood of Dakkru."
*** The End ***