A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Before Erik could wonder any further about the specifics of the cult's seating arrangements, his thoughts were interrupted by a whispering Naeku. He looked over and noticed she was back in her werepanther form.

She'd been human up to now because Anne was allowed to see that appearance, but on this balcony, anyone could look up and see her human face. Though this tradition seemed less and less important to her, she also did it because this was the only form her people knew.

"Uhm…" she began, nervous and quiet, glancing at Nora below as the seductive, blond werewolf spoke in a bombastic voice about the greatness of their lord, the Wolf-Sire. "I didn't really think about this before, but… am I going to think you're a god if I listen to her like this?"

Erik cocked an eyebrow and grinned a little. "Have you so little faith in your own willpower? I thought you were more self-confident than that…"

With her pride prodded, the fire in her eyes flared up for a moment as she glared at him. "It's not about that!" she grumbled. Her expression quickly fell again, now pouting the furry lips on her slight panther snout. "I just… I already love you, and I'm far more submissive to you than I ever thought I'd be toward anyone. It feels like worship isn't that big of a step from here. I know you've probably already thought of this because neither of us wants that, but…"

Smiling, Erik nodded and pulled her body against his. "You're right, Elora and I already thought of that, but you don't need to worry. I wasn't sure at first, but Elora did a little more research in the various libraries we've found on this specific topic, and she discovered there's a curious interaction between a proselytiser's power and love."

Naeku smirked and cocked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me love conquers all?"

"Heh, that's be nice, but no," Erik chuckled, shaking his head. "Love doesn't protect you against all proselytisers. Rather, Nora's power takes root in the absence, or merely growing love for a person or thing. If the love for that specific something already exists, then there's nothing for it to take root in."

He shrugged and winked at her. "So… unless there's something you wish to tell me, you should be fine."

The princess grinned at him, clearly relieved. "Hehe, I guess we'll have to see if I end up worshipping you, then."

Erik chuckled and shook his head. "Well, even if you didn't, I'm pretty sure you'd still be fine. Nora's effectiveness is predicated on several factors, including willpower, willingness to believe, willingness to worship in the ways Nora lays out, and even the knowledge of her power's existence. Even the initiates aren't told exactly how edging is supposed to turn them into apostles. You'd be fine on several of these counts."

Naeku smiled, but before she could respond, Nora's voice drew their attention. It seemed the cult's leader had moved on from talking about Erik's greatness to the order of the day.

Finishing her intro, Nora thumped her chest and bowed her head. "By the chains that bind us to the Wolf-Sire!"

Everyone in the room echoed her words, though with varying levels of zealotry.

After a moment of silence, she looked up and spread her arms with a stern expression. "Today, my fellow Wulfs, I want to talk to you about duty and societal roles! Because every role comes with specific duties! Though you may determine for yourself what role you wish to play in society, you cannot choose the duties that come with it once you've chosen!"

Several heads in the room nodded along with her, clearly in agreement. Erik above did the same, and even Naeku found herself nodding along. Erik also realised 'Wulfs' was the designation Nora had chosen to describe the followers of this cult.

"Specifically!" she continued, putting extra emphasis on this word. "I want to talk about the most basic roles. The two roles all of us are intimately familiar with, because they are part of the natural order, and fundamental principles of our Wolf-Sire!"

She extended her hand towards the standing men and women on the ground floor, who all looked up at her with rapt attention. "I am talking, of course, about the roles of those among us who lead," she then shifted her hand towards the kneeling people on the second floor, "and those of us who follow."

Nora took her arm back and frowned. "I am talking about those who lean towards dominance, and those who lean towards submission. Because both are essential and have been around for as long as our races have existed! Society followed this principle in every consecutive age, including the previous one! The age that ended with the awakening, and what we called the 'modern' age then."

She smacked her arms on the lectern in front of her and gripped it tight before leaning forward. "Money, politics, and death! This was where the dominant ones of that age congregated! It was with these tools that they ruled over those leaning submissive… and the latter accepted this, because they believed that an unliving wage and a vote between politician clones was how they were supposed to be repaid for their service…!"

Boom

Crack

Suddenly, Nora smashed her fist into the lectern with an anger and violence that surprised a few among the crowd, including Erik. "But they were wrong!" she snarled, intense, narrowed eyes glancing around the hall. "There is an exchange between doms and subs. There is a social contract! Both roles are invaluable! Neither can be ignored! Both have duties, and when either role ignores those duties, the world falls apart!"

She spread her arms again. "This was the rot in our old world! The pre-awakening world! Those who were supposed to lead and protect chose to ignore and dismiss!"

Now she pointed forward, straight at the people standing just below her. "Tell me!" she demanded furiously. "What are the duties of a dom?!"

"To protect and lead!" they all answered in unison, bowing their heads respectfully. "To be the rock others can rely on! To serve society by protecting and leading those weaker than us!"

Nora's finger moved on to the second floor. "What are the duties of a sub?!"

"To serve and comfort those who lead!" they all responded, with bowed heads.

"Correct!" Nora boomed, smashing her hand on the lectern. "The dom has more far more duties. Far more responsibility! And this is why they are worthy of service by those who do not wish to lead!"

Narrowing her eyes, she leaned forward again. "But… in the end, we are weak. Duties are forgotten or ignored when we get too comfortable. When this happens to a sub, it will be their dom's job to pull them back in line… But who does the same for doms?"

Now she raised an eyebrow. "In the past, there was no one… but not anymore."

Suddenly, she waved her hand, and a kind of staff appeared in her grip. Only those on the upper floors could see there was a kind of metal symbol on the end of it, now planted on the ground. In Erik's mind, Elora's voice immediately squealed with delight. "Oh my spirits… She didn't!"

Nora thumped the staff on the floor and yelled behind her. "Bring him in!"