Spellheart 9: Chapter 21

The man who greeted me was an unfamiliar demigod. He was tall and well-dressed, with piercing eyes and a confident smile. He exuded an air of charisma, but something about his demeanor felt subtly sinister.

This wasn't the first time one of the Cult members had opted for a preppy Earth-like look. It hadn't been universal, but common enough that I was starting to wonder if it was a theme of the cult. From the statues outside, deifying themselves, and perhaps humans in general, was certainly one of the cult's favorite pastimes. It wouldn't surprise me if embracing Earth culture had something to do with that.

"Welcome, esteemed guests from afar! I am Ethan Carter, and I lead the Cult of the Unblinking Eye. Your presence here honors us," he said, extending his hand in a gesture of friendship.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Ethan. We hope to learn more about your organization during our stay," I replied, shaking his hand cautiously.

Ethan's smile broadened. "I'm certain you'll find our practices and beliefs quite fascinating. We have much to share with one another."

As we exchanged pleasantries, Sam and Dean stood close by, their eyes alert and their expressions carefully neutral. I could tell they were just as wary of this man as I was. But for now, we would have to play along and learn what we could about the Cult of the Unblinking Eye and its intentions.

"Sam, Dean, it's good to see you two again as well! It's been far too long. You haven't been attending the yearly meetings. Last time I saw you was what, one, two centuries ago?" Ethan asked.

"We quite publicly parted ways with your little club," Sam said, keeping his hands at his side. Dean pointedly crossed his arms and tilted his nose upward. For all the work they'd gone into preparing me for this meeting, they seemed to have no intention of applying any of that knowledge themselves.

"Right... well... I still hope you'll come around. A lot has changed over the past few hundred years. We are bigger and more powerful than ever," Ethan flashed a pearl-white smile. When neither Sam or Dean responded, he turned that same smile on me.

"Theo, right? It's your first time here! We don't get sleepers much these days. Most humans brought here woke up long ago. I know you're probably hiding a big secret, but don't worry, I won't pry. Us on the other hand? We're an open book. Please, let me give you the full tour of our facilities here, just one of the many temples available to all humans, free of charge. Whether they're a member of our little club or not, as Sam put it." Ethan gestured for us to follow him deeper into the grand building. "I'm sure you'll find the architecture and history of this place quite intriguing."

I nodded and followed him. "If you're offering, than I accept. I'm something a student of elvish history myself."

Ethan chuckled. "Good! Ultimately, elvish history blends into the earliest days of the Ten Thousand Worlds. The days when the creators of this place still wandered its halls. Did you know they were humans, like us?"

I had indeed known as much, mostly due to my discoveries aboard The Wanderer and studying the statues that had given me the World Titan Fiendbody. Still, I thought it best not to reveal too much. Appearing ignorant might give me an advantage at a later date, so I kept my mouth shut and my eyes mildly curious.

"Very interesting. But what makes you make such claims?" I asked.

Ethan clapped. "To the exhibits!"

***

As we followed Ethan through the grand halls of the temple, I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and unease. He led us to a room filled with various artifacts, scrolls, and statues that he claimed held the key to understanding the true history of the Ten Thousand Worlds.

"Here, we have exhibits that prove humanity was the first of the races among the Ten Thousand Worlds," Ethan said, gesturing to the displays with pride. "These ancient scrolls and stories mention humans by name, predating any other known race."

I examined the scrolls, which were carefully preserved behind glass. The rows of tightly packed text were cramped, but legible through their container, and I was surprised to discover they were written in plain English, despite the ink and quill appearance of the document. Human words penned by elvish hands?

I nodded appreciatively at the scroll, while nearby Ethan beamed with pride. Dean, on the other hand, seemed far more interested in a statue next to the scroll, depicting a naked elf woman looking up with doleful eyes. Sam scrutinized the scroll with a critical eye and made an appreciative grunt.

Ethan continued, "Moreover, these accounts from the first golden age demonstrate that elves were created to be subservient to humans. It's the natural order of things, you see. One creator in particular was in charge of defining the whole elven form and culture. It’s why they’re so pleasing to look upon. They were made that way.”

I frowned. “Pretty sure there were elves in myth and legend for a long time.”

Ethan shrugged. “I never said the original creators of the elvish race didn’t take inspiration from lore and fiction back home.”

As he showed us the various stories and artifacts that supposedly supported his claims, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The idea that elves were created solely to serve humanity all seemed like a way the Cult of the Unblinking Eye justified what they were doing, and I could sense the same discomfort I felt from Sam and Dean.

Dean, unable to contain himself any longer, blurted out, "You’re mind control shit is fucked up, you know that right?”

Sam nodded in agreement, adding, "These ancient stories can be interpreted in many ways."

Ethan chuckled, unfazed by their objections. "Agree to disagree, Sam, Dean. I’m not trying to convince you. Just talk to Theo here. Besides, it's a matter of perspective. We in the Cult of the Unblinking Eye believe that humans are superior to elves and other local races. We're simply embracing our rightful place in the world."

I put on my neutral face and spoke. “While I think everyone deserves to hold his pride in something, I think it’s healthier to draw that fulfillment from your own personal accomplishments. Thinking of yourself as innately better than others is just an excuse to allow yourself to be too lazy to even earn your arrogance.”

Ethan, noticing my cloaked hostility, tried a different approach. "Theo, my friend, you seem uncertain about all of this. Perhaps you need to experience it for yourself to truly understand. I could arrange for some elf slaves to be assigned to you during your stay here."

I hesitated, searching for the most diplomatic way to decline his offer without offending him. "Ethan, I appreciate the gesture, but I believe I can manage without any assistance during my visit. I have my own companions, and they are all I need.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his expression. "Well, that's quite noble of you, Theo. Are you certain? We have all kinds of elves in our collection, suitable for every taste you might have. They’re even trained in our unique cultivation technique, which will allow a man such as you to siphon away power that took them years to accumulate in one quick session. It really is the most efficient way for humans like us to grow in power. And don’t think the elves wouldn’t do the reverse to us if they had half a chance.”

Ethan shot a glance at Sam and Dean. “And before the two of you complain, no. They’re not even ‘mind controlled’ as you put it, though that’s really such a crude term for the techniques we use on our defensive units. The cultivation vessels are paid like regular workers to cultivate all day and night so that we can harvest what they collect at regular intervals.”

Ethan spoke the truth. The Crimson Dragon Clan matriarch would have been the death of me, had I been captured for her even a moment longer. But I’d been saved that day by Sava, Assyrus, Eltiana, Nela, and all the others.

I held up my hands, speaking softly, but firmly. “No thanks. And I’m quite certain, thank you.”

He looked like he was going to try a little harder to convince me, and his furrowed brow darkened. He clearly wouldn’t appreciate being lectured about morality. And I had no right to do so, considering how much elven blood was on my hands. So, I said something that I hoped he would understand.

“I have no intention of using someone else’s cultivation vessel.” I flashed him a sheepish smile. “What can I say? Personal preference.”

Ethan nodded, his smile returning. "Of course, I understand. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. We’ve accommodated people like you after they’ve joined our organization, so such tastes definitely aren’t uncommon. I know that I have a few favorites I keep strictly to myself as well. Anyway, since you don’t want to partake in our hospitality, I have other duties to attend to. You may wander the halls and walk through any unguarded door in the temple. I have just received word that the delegate from the World of Woods and Wilds has arrived, so I’ll be greeting them in a moment. The two of you will meet during the feast at sunset.”

I offered him a polite smile in return. "Thank you, Ethan. I'm sure we'll find our visit to be quite enlightening. Until sunset."

The moment Ethan left, my shoulders sagged in relief. This diplomatic visit was going to be tougher than I thought.

<Author's note>

So, I ended up introducing a new character, though I'm pretty sure you guys are right and I didn't introduce an Alexander, at least it seems that way from my Control-F searches through my Scrivener documents. He pops up in my notes but not the actual text.

Anyway, here's a chapter! A little more worldbuilding. We'll finally meet the Satyr king in the next section.