Chapter 355: The Sect’s Failings
(MEANWHILE)
(Traytora POV)
After that gruelling amount of time, everything was sorted out. All that was left to do was to figure out how to punish the four beings that we caught.
The dead one’s were mine to deal with since only I could restrain them. As for the alive one’s, they would be held in the Sect’s dungeons until their punishments were ready.
And as everyone was filing out of the room, Krytaraa asked me to stay behind for a little bit to have a chat in private. She also asked the five Emberin’s to stay as well.
Once everyone else had left, Krytaraa and the five Emberin’s turned and bowed to me.
My eye twitched as I thought they would’ve known that I don’t like it when they do that. Then again, I suppose they can’t exactly help it with me being a direct descendant of the Goddess, so I let it slide for now.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" I decided to just get straight to the point, since I wanted to go home already.
"Right." They all straightened up as Krytaraa introduced me the five Emberin Ladies. "You’ve met Zatyraa, the Emberin of Fire already." Zatyraa gave a short, light bow at the mention of her name before Krytaraa moved on.
"Then you have Zakryta, Emberin of Knowledge and History. Sindria, the Emberin of Rituals and Magic. Tryzara, Emberin of Resources and Wealth. And finally, the latest addition to the council, Katzyrr, Emberin of Justice and Righteousness."
The four of them bowed just as Zatyraa did when their names where mentioned. Still, my question had yet to be answered.
"AS for why we asked you to stay..." She paused, looking regretful, "It’s about the first one you exposed..."
Another pause as I waited for her to spit out whatever it is she wanted to say.
*Sigh* "She was our top Spark Seeker. So, to see her being part of such a traitorous Cult is... Unpleasant, to say the least."
"I see... Is there anything else you wish to share?" I gently pried lightly, not really expecting anything else.
To be honest, I had no real reaction to that woman, who was currently being held on a soul leash of my own power.
"Well... It’s nothing of note but... I was wondering if you would like to maybe stay here, in the capital." She asked sheepishly as she twiddled her fingers together.
"..." Ooookay. Unexpected. "Uhh... Why exactly would I stay? And for how long were you hoping I would stay if I did?"
"W-Well, I was hoping you’d at least be here for the Veil’s End festival at the very least." She replied awkwardly, her eyes shifting rather oddly for some reason.
"... Why are you being so weird all of a sudden?"
"I have to agree with her. This is out of character for you." Katzyrr suddenly spoke up.
"Uhh..." Krytaraa blushed as her eyes shifted... Shiftily, if that’s even a word. "Well, being so close to you for such a long time has... Affected me in strange ways..."
I scrutinised her with my gaze, looking with more than just my eyes, but with my other senses as well. And it was then that I realised what it was that was making her like this.
"Ah, my bad. That would be my other Bloodline causing you to get so worked up. And due to being Astraa’s descendant, that just made it worse."
"Ah, I see. Forgive me for my insolence, but what kind of bloodline would do such a thing? Also, who is Astraa?"
My mind shut down.
’Is she serious? Who is Astraa? WHO IS ASTRAA??? Are you fucking kidding me!?! WHO IS ASTRA!?!’
My brows furrowed as I released my Aura, filling the room with it as my rage was let loose with a domineering pressure.
The six of them all fell to the ground in terror, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Their skin starting to perspire in fear.
"Are you fucking serious?" I asked, my voice eerily calm, yet the underlying anger could be heard easily. "Do you seriously not know the name of the very Goddess you worship?"
"P-P-Please forgive us!!!" Krytaraa begged profusely. "I-I-It’s j-just that her name w-was lost millennia ago!"
I squinted my eyes as I looked down at her as she, along with the other, began to prostrate herself. "Lost how exactly? How could you have forgotten something so important such as the Astraa’s name?"
"I-I’m ashamed for a-all my forebearers, f-for we have no clue a-as to why we have forg-gotten. I-It just oc-c-cured to them one day that we ha-ad forgotten."
Disgruntled and reluctant to do so, I stopped letting my Aura loose and contained it once more with a sigh.
’Why did I do that? Why was I so angry that they had forgotten her name? It’s not like I knew her name myself until I claimed her inheritance. And it’s clear that the Cult intends to replace her, so getting rid of her name would be an obvious thing, which would make it easier to then get rid of her and then replace her.’
"I’m sorry about that, I-"
"No, don’t be sorry, it’s our fault for forgetting what her name is." Krytaraa apologised as she and the others got back up.
"No, I really am sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. Really, I shouldn’t have. Thinking about it for a second, it makes sense. The Cult would want to wipe her name from memory to replace her more easily."
Krytaraa and the others bowed and continued to apologise regardless, "Still to allow them to do such a thing in the first place is unforgivable. We do not deserve any mercy for this folly of ours. Please, punish us."
"..." I could see that they wouldn’t take no for an answer if I was to deny them punishment. So, with a deep sigh, I gave them my punishment, "Fine. Your punishment, which really isn’t yours in the first place, will be to be induced into an immense state of lust for an hour. And on top of it, to make it an actually punishment, you will be denied your orgasms for an entire week."
"And, how exactly will you do that?" Katzyrr inquired, genuinely intrigued as to how I would execute this punishment.
"Well, this ties in perfectly with the other question you had..." I said in an unusually and eery cheery tone whilst smiling and placing my hands on my hips, looking nowhere in particular but not at any of them specifically. "My father is Asmodeus."
The moment I announced that, I cast [Curse of Lust] on each of them twice. Once to leave them in an uncontrollable and lustful state for an entire hour and, orgasm denial for a week.
"Welp, I’m off." I said as I turned to leave the room before they could jump me as the lust overtook them.
And just as I closed the door to that room, I could just about hear them start pouncing on one another.
Turning to the Cinder Custodians that were guarding the room, I gave them an order. "Don’t let anyone in or out for the next hour or so, understood?"
They looked at each other, a little confused, but complied nonetheless. "Yes ma’am."
Nodding, I turned to leave when I realised that I didn’t exactly have any idea of where I was to go now, nor did I have any accommodations.
’Fffffffffffffffuck.’