As Hammer and his priestly escort approached the inner sanctum, they seemed surprised by how little activity there was. Work in progress had been abandoned, food was lying on tables and doors were left hanging open. Turning the final corner, he saw Rain and two others standing before a behemoth of an imprisoned man. Was this who they wanted him to free? Then he saw Rain gasp in pain and fall to her knees. Somehow, the sword in his hands knew his fear. It sprung to life, severing the head of the priest in front of him. Others stood shocked around him, swaying and with eyes wide as if high on some drug. The sword cut down two more before the others reacted. Should I be doing this? I'm not even in control of the sword, it's controlling me! He heard a faint hum coming from the sword, a song of glory, rising and falling in time with the hacking. He was approaching the six priests closer to the door, who had grouped together. Something punched into his side. A shattered knife blade fell to the floor. What? How did that not go in? The sword wrenched him around, swinging up, tip entering another priest's groin, slicing through their body and coming out between shoulder and neck, entrails spilling onto the floor. Another dagger punched into his back, glancing off his hardened skin. Evan must have done something, there's no way this can be right! The priests had realised that their knives would not work, and had now retreated, opening the way for him to reach Rain. The six priests in front of him moved apart, in the middle of where their circle had been was a whirling storm of flame and light, streams of colour shone out and spun with it. Whatever it was, it was sentient. Electricity arced from it to one of the nearby priest, who fell, mouth open wide in a silent scream, skin melting and burning instantaneously. The creature seemed somewhat lesser now, smaller. He charged at it, closing the gap. It vanished with a pop. A matching pop sounded behind him. He spun. The thing had appeared behind him. It moved a few metres in a jagged line, then popped out of existence and back again, even closer to the exit. Hammer turned back to the doorway where he had seen Rain. The priests that had summoned the strange creature had scattered, excepting the fallen one with the red zigzag symbol on his back. The scene in the doorway had frozen and dimmed. Rain was on the floor, two priests stood to her left and just ahead of her, one in mid step towards her, the other in mid step towards the naked giant in the centre of the room. Had it been wearing colourful chains when he entered? He rushed towards the doorway. By now the room inside had turned completely black. He tried to enter but could not. An invisible wall pushed back at him. His sword had stopped singing. The room was silent. He turned, priests were looking on him. Some in anger, some in awe. He expected them to be afraid, to run, but they surprised him. One spoke.
“Was the unchaining completed?”
Another replied, “I feel the same. My bones still hurt.”
“My fingers and toes still burn.”
Almost completely ignoring him, each priest listed their complaint, like some bizarre ritual. Did all these priests have something wrong with them? It seemed like it. Was that the sacrifice they made for their god? That didn't seem right; they wouldn't be complaining in that case. They must be hoping for release. That was what they meant when they called him the Reliever? That he would free them from their pain?
It seemed some agreement was reached among the priests. They realised that the promise of release was false; their god was gone, but their suffering remained. One by one, the priests comprehended this, losing their faith in salvation. Tera would not protect them from this powerful man with the strangely effective wooden sword. Their faces sagged, hope leaving their eyes. Some fled back out the entrance passage, others just stood despondent, staring at the black doorway framing the man who had just murdered members of their number. What they were thinking, he could only guess. Thoughts of pointlessness. Thoughts of sorrow. Thoughts of betrayal. To worship in hope of the relief of suffering, and be betrayed at the moment you had worked towards for years? Yes, it would be a shock indeed.
What would he do about Rain? Should he wait here? He couldn't get to her body, that wall prevented him. There was no point remaining. Waving his sword threateningly, he walked back through the path he had cleared, out to the entranceway, and began to make his way back out of the temple complex.
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