Chapter 906 905 - A new path
They started walking over to the building they'd just been spying on. Naeku walked a little anxiously, but Erik strolled nonchalantly.
Naeku spoke up, perhaps to distract from her own nerves. "So… do you disagree with the message?" she asked, her tone both curious and cautious.
"Hmm?" Erik hummed, raising an eyebrow at her.
"You mentioned the world view and message they've ascribed to you," Naeku explained, her eyes locked on the building they walked towards. "' Ascribed' makes it sound like you don't agree with their message."
Enlightened, Erik nodded, "Ah," and then grinned. "No, they actually captured my worldview and ideals extremely well. I mean, the idea of being worshipped feels weird, but I don't mind the message they spread with this cult. By ascribed, I just meant that they did it without my input."
"I see," Naeku muttered thoughtfully. "I don't think you've told me much about this message."
With an amused twinkle in his eyes, Erik glanced at her with a smirk. "Well… why don't you try and guess? You know that I think they captured my view and ideals, so what do you think their message is? What do you think they're telling the followers?"
Naeku stopped in her tracks, and Erik followed suit. She turned to look at him with narrowed eyes. It was obvious she took his challenge seriously. As his wife, she refused to believe she couldn't get this right.
"There's definitely some fighting in there…" she muttered as a start. "Strength, prowess, honour, bravery, that sort of thing? Things that fit you, but also find great purchase amongst the martial nature of my people…"
Chuckling, Erik nodded and held up one finger. "You've got one of the three major tenets they're going with. Two to go."
Naeku grinned victoriously and immediately continued. "Family! Despite being an asshole who thinks about either sex or fighting ninety per cent of the time, your family is genuinely important to you."
He smiled warmly and extended his second finger. "One more… This one may be a little harder to guess, but you'll smack yourself if I have to tell you."
Her frown deepened. Unbeknownst to her, had she not spent the last month and a half or so secluded, she would have had an easier time with this. It was more obscure at first, but Nora and Anne had gotten more obvious about the way their cult was structured.
At the same time, she was obviously aware of his belief in the natural ways of dominance and submission, but to realise Nora and Anne would dare orient a religion around that was another step entirely.
"I…" she finally muttered hesitantly. "Revenge, maybe…? Or… or something about the natural order?"
"Heh, I'll give it to you on that second one," Erik chuckled, before finally stepping forward to open the door they'd reached by now. "But the specifics may surprise you…"
Naeku grinned and followed him, the joy at knowing your partner momentarily wiping out her anxiety at seeing this cult or religion from the inside. Yet, she was very curious about what he meant.
The moment they entered, they were met with the pretty, smiling face of Anne. She and Nora could feel his presence, so they'd obviously realised he was coming. As always, she wore the servant outfit Elora had once designed, though there'd been talk of making a new outfit specifically for the fingers to set them apart from those like Leila and Seraphina.
Although Erik did notice one new thing about her.
"Hey, Anne," he greeted calmly, then cocked an eyebrow and reached out his hand before she could respond. His fingers gently touched a tight choker around her slender neck. It was mainly a black, wide, and elastic band kept together by an intricate, jewel-like clasp at the front. It was beautifully made, silver, and engraved with the same howling wolf's head as used in the symbol he often used, but missing the fairy wings.
"What's this…?" he asked, curiously, though liking its design.
Seeing he was pleased, Anne smiled widely and leaned forward a little to give him better access to her neck, her hands clasped behind her back. "It's something new we've introduced to the church, Master! Going forward, anyone who serves another must wear their symbol or name around their neck, while their dom must do the same around one of their fingers."
She blushed happily, her eyes twinkling playfully. "Of course, Nora and I only serve you…"
Erik smiled and made the band of runes that encircled the base of one of his fingers flare up a little. It read 'Anne Skolgen', and this practice was clearly the inspiration for making doms wear rings.
Anne grinned at him as he chuckled and pulled his hand back. "I like it," he said, much to her delight.
Meanwhile, Naeku stepped up from behind with a curiously raised eyebrow at this conversation.
Anne turned to her with a respectful nod. "Welcome, mistress," she greeted. "Master told us you might be stopping by one of these days." She lifted her head and smiled excitedly. "I hope you like what you see! And for the initiate's sake, I hope you'll give your approval."
Naeku frowned; the clues in their previous conversation moved to the back of her mind for a moment. "Initiate? Approval? What do you mean?" she asked sceptically.
A little hesitance, Anne looked at Erik, and he quickly picked up the hint. "I told you about the fingers, remember? I know you're still sceptical about the church and the creation of these fingers, so I told them to hold off until after you got the tour you wanted. Neither this cult nor the creation of more fingers is worth upsetting you, so I'm not having them proceed without your approval."
He glanced over at Anne. "I assume by 'initiate' you mean someone who chose to start the trial towards becoming a finger? Or apostle, I guess?"
Anne nodded eagerly, and Naeku looked at him strangely for a moment… but then her expression melted into love, and she gently hugged him from the side with a slight pout. "Thank you…"
Erik reacted with surprise. "Oh? Did you actually expect a simple visit would be the extent of my patience with your discomfort about this?" he chuckled warmly.
She continued pouting, giving him an answer with her silence. After a moment, she frowned and looked at Anne. "Wait, so… you're saying there's actually someone willing to…" she stopped, appearing uncomfortable. "I mean… no offence, but… at least you'd known him beforehand."
Anne giggled and shook her head. "None taken, Mistress! I know it's weird. It's not like I've suddenly forgotten everything from before… Nor has my perception distorted to make me believe I always would have and should have been serving Him from the moment I was born. I've simply chosen to become… something new. To diverge from the path I was on before, and enter a different one. A happier one. Personally, I'm not surprised others would choose the same."