(10. A) Father and Son, a divine bond

Aaradhya's concentration snapped back to attention; he focused on something else.

A dozen maids and a dozen butlers rushed out of the main entrance with bowed heads and greeted their high priest. They kneeled and prayed a moment later for their lord.

"-Once is a weird occurrence, twice is an uncomfortable habit, three times is just too much-", Aaradhya physically cringed. 

Luckily, the moment didn't last too long. An older woman stepped out of the villa and followed the maids and butlers in what Aaradhya assumed, was customary worship. 

"Okay all of you. Get back to work and do it quickly. We have but a few hours before our first round of guests arrive...", the lady waved the gathering away. She noticed the unimpressed and flat expression on the high priest and regretted the arraigned fanfare.

"Greetings High priest. We have all received the wondrous news. And welcome to Glass Peak Villa our Lord. Please forgive us if everything is not up to your standard, we are in the midst of decorating for the festivities yet to come", the lady patted her apron and raised a hand towards the main entrance.

"Please follow me in. Some of the elders can't wait to meet our glorious Lord in the person", unintentionally crow's feet and growing wrinkles gave away the woman's age. 

"-This woman looks nearly 90. How is she still kicking about?-", Aaradhya reasoned.

"It is nice to see you too Mrs. LaGrange..", the high priest gave a dry chuckle. As if he were embarrassed but didnt know how to express it.

"I know this may come as a surprise, but our Lord is not prepared to meet anyone in his current state...", the high priest raised Aaradhya a little bit.

"I see. I'll have someone prepare a bath, meal, and clothing fit for our lord. Afterwards, a stylist will be there to help you and our lord prepare for the conclave...", Mrs. Lagrange took out a pen and pad. With a snap of her fingers, a butler came out from the building and ferried her notes around the premises.

"Thank you for the help, additionally I had hoped we would reach the lord's chambers uninterrupted. Is that possible?", the priest asked her with a small bow of his head. If most of the elders saw this, they would scream about the dishonor and shame.

"Oh, stop that you. I always blush when you do this...", Mrs. LaGrange shuffled and clapped her hands with an even bigger smile. A different butler grabbed another note and ran back inside.

"Just follow me and our lord will make it to his chambers without so much as a fly reaching him"

"-Weird. Her posture is different, looser but in a more controlled way, as if she's acting... or am I overanalyzing someone's embarrassment? Most likely the second, Ill relax for now. As far as I know, this is just your run of the mill filthy rich cult of devoted people... on second thought, she may be an odd entity... -", Aaradhya tilted his head and watched her with keen interest. 

"-Huh!-", on the other hand, it turned out that staring at one person for longer than a few moments seemed to be one way to agitate soul sense. The building, for the most part, vanished as every soul inside of it lit up.

"-So my vision transitions through the fog every time it turns on? Like a focusing apparatus? Regardless, I can see into the building now so... there are a few people heading this way and.... whoa!-", in no less than the dozen or so seconds all of those people were taken out of their path.

"-Did they get pulled up to the second floor? Please, I know it's a common trope, but please don't let what I just said end up being a raised flag-", without giving him time to settle what happened, soul sense receded back into barely perceivable sensory cues as if his concentration were broken.

"-And just like that. I only saw them get pulled away and up. My spiritual senses come and go at odd times to be sure... I should give a good look to Mr. Marimo's autobiography...-", the instant the high priest passed the threshold of the villa's front doors Aaradhya looked around and narrowed in on what he did see for a split second; motions Mrs. LaGrange saw out of the corner of her eye.

"-There is nothing up there aside from a massive chandelier... Hm, the metal looks freshly polished but there seems to be a streak of dust floating around from just underneath the paneling...-", Aaradhya lowered his head and locked gazes with the older lady for a moment. An odd sense of discomfort exploded his body, but he weathered the storm and looked across the floor.

"-The scatter is large, but the spread is in an obvious square shaped pattern.... Could it be there are hidden passages in this villa? -", he looked up once more and tried to spot a difference between what floated down onto the chandelier and onto the floor. Almost as if the universe wanted to congratulate him for an amazing deduction, his vision flashed for a split second. Eight or so bright gold souls hovered above 4 pale gold souls. All of them had fragmenting blue rings that dyed their bodies.

"-Yup. There are secret passages. Not only do I have a personal mini army and cult, but my help are also masters of stealth and architecture. Death, did you think a wealthy slash freaky cult was not enough? -", Aaradhya appreciated the idea behind his background, but this really was too much. It showed on his crumpled little face that he was discontent.

Mrs. LaGrange looked at what her lord expressed interest and clapped her hands once more, her age vanished behind the cutesy facade and exceptional facial control.

"Ah, I just remembered that there is a lot that I need to do for the next few days. A meeting that will last three days is not something easy to prepare for. So, if I may excuse myself?", she waited for the high priest's response.

"I'm sorry for creating so many problems for you. I truly thought it would be smart to capitalize on the momentum we've had at late. Nex time, I will give you a proper amount of notice", the high priest nodded. Mrs. Lagrange stepped out into another hall.

"-Does she know about the secret passages? If so, did she see that I noticed them? Furthermore, if she did notice will the passages be left alone, moved elsewhere, or will they be destroyed...-", Aaradhya frowned as the questions piled up once a new door opened in his mind.

"-Also, how can she promise we would be undisturbed if she has preparations to make for the conclave....-", his vision sparkled with spiritual light and fog far longer than a brief moment.

"-Seems I'm getting the hang of this-", the difference this time was his body also dipped into a warm cocoon of soothing light before his senses stabilized. Almost like the sun hit his skin indoors. 

In the distance, about a dozen or so souls rotated around the building in a tigh knit circle. From afar, other golden souls would rush toward them.

"-Those people must have been ordered to not let anyone or anything near me...-", the areas around these protectors buzzed like campfires.

"-I can't seem to tell the difference between souls. I wonder if thats just how it is or if it's a problem I can fix later-", at every bonfire, every soul but one would go pale.

As promised, the high priest brought them to their final location without so much as seeing a fly. 

Towards the northernmost part of the villa nearest to the peak of the island mountain, a massive staircase coiled around a pillar of uncut stone. The stairs led to massive double doors. The high priest pushed the doors open with a soft  push.

A rocky tunnel with natural cut windows led through the mountain peak. A giant glass window with a view of the ocean laid at the end of this hall, a staircase that coiled upward or down laid at either side of this beautiful viewm

"-Wait a second, did they turn the entire mountain peak into my personal space...-", the stairs evened out to platforms every so often as they want up. Each entrance was labeled with something Aaradhya didn't understand but guessed based on what he could see. Recieving room, entertainment rooms, waste and washrooms, guestrooms, kitchen, private recieving area, kitchen, master bedroom....

"-Incredible. This whole upper tower is for my use, or seems that way at least. Even though I don't know much, the time and craftsmanship that went into all of this must have been tremendous. Its almost enough to make me wonder how many years it took to complete it all? -", the high priest asked Aaradhya something but how could he respond with anything other than confusion. The man scrunched his face then opened the master bedroom.

"-Wow, I could get used to living like this if this is my personal space-", Aaradhya scanned the room and noticed the meticulous care and planning that went into the placement of everything. From the rock garden to the miniature forest and waterfall, all the way to the spotless stone and wooden furniture. Even the open ceiling design added a layer of beauty as natural soft light provided warmth, comfort, and mystery.

The high priest carried Aaradhya to the master bedroom and put him down on a baby bed already set atop a bed of larger firm cushion.

"-This looks like a sit down... hm. Actually, it's very likely he wants to ask me questions but isn't sure. The battle between logic and religion, I can see it. Am I just a baby or am I something more, it's very obvious what your thinking father -", Aaradhya stared at his father's dark expression and readied himself. Logic seemed to be losing the battle.....

The high priest opened his mouth to say something but not a peep came out

"-Oh? A last ditch effot? I wonder what scientific data came to mind-", for minutes, the two sat in silence. 

"Forgive me. You should be able to understand me now right?", Aaradhya's father spoke Russian. The high priest's back slouched whilst his face sagged, as if a few decades were added to his lifespan.

"-I see. He realized I just didnt understand the language he used. The stress of being the high priest of this cult also seems to have finally caught up. But looking at him... He's not very excited that I understand him now. Hm, is it possible he wanted me to know the other language?", Aaradhya nodded yes towards the end of his thought process then display more confusion as his father spoke.

"....Forgive me. I am used to speaking in my native tongue whilst addressing you. I asked if you are our deity?", the high priest said something but switched back to Russian to repeat himself. His eyes burned with a hopeful glint. Aaradhya paused for a long while...

"-This answer. It's very layered. In one sense, I am their god. Death cultivated their history and behavior to cater towards my every whim. But I am not their god in that, I do not have the power nor the emotional width to care about any of them. At my core, I don't want to be involved with people that make me uncomfortable... But at the same time, I do want to utilize a free resource prepared by an all-powerful entity...", Aaradhya's hesitation and thoughts displayed on his face in some way through a frown. After a few moments, he nodded his head yes but not up and down in absolute confirmation. The motion looked more like an unsure head Bob but it seemed to be enough.

"Thank you, my lord. I will wait until you can share your wisdoms with me", the high priest let out a sigh and gasped for air. His posture shot up and a charismatic stability once again held his facial features in youthful handsomeness. In the distance, the laughter and jiggles of excited maids echoed throughout the mountain peak. 

"I have one last question, would you do me a great honor and answer this one as well? Before you answer, know that it is presumptuous question that may be slightly disrespectful in your eyes", the high priest bowed his head and waited for a response. He didn't wait long; Aaradhya nodded his head yes.

"Are you willing to be my son or would you like to be treated as a divine force?", the high priest stood up with his back straight and paced.

"-I think I understand. Just as I have, you must have kept mother's dream for me close to your heart. I'm sure that If I wanted the second option, you would resign yourself to the role of being my high priest and keep this cult alive, but...-", Aaradhya nodded yes one last time, only this time, he put up one finger then nodded.

"-I don't want the cult as it is. Just the resources it has to offer-"

"You are truly willing?", the proper mask the high priest wore his entire life, shattered. Aaradhya nodded once more.

"-My eyes sting-"

"Thank you... Thank you my lord, my son. Thank you", the high priest barely got any words through torrential sobs. 

"-This idiot, he needs to have more fortitude if he is to be my father...-", Aaradhya cried but remained composed unlike his father.

"-Now that I think of it, isn't there something I can do to give him just that? This would be mutually beneficial. I could get my meaning across without needing to talk... Now I just need a ...that works-", Aaradhya reached out and touched his father's bowed head. The man brought his head to his lord's feat overcome with emotion.

"-This fool has me crying like an idiot,  *frown*. How, useless! Stop crying and do what you must to ensure our future happiness-", Aaradhya held his breath and focused on the spot just above his heart. The dark behind his eyes erupted with the light of souls in the background. 

"-First, a physical connection...-", the sanctuary within himself surrounded everything after a brief jaunt through a world of dense green fog.

"-Commune with the essence of my own soul...-", he sat down on the reflective darkness and dipped a finger down. Gently, he shaped the abyss upward and as it moved, blue light shimmered.

"-Hold onto the anchor point within myself... refer back to the connection outside if I can, can I? I could if I maintain my focus...-", Aaradhya held his posture. One hand shaped the glowing Abyss like one would shape clay and the other faded into the environment alongside half of his body.

"-I can do this...-", with a deep breath, Aaradhya pulled the mold from the ground and let his concentration be broken everywhere except for on his hands. One held the abyss and the other rested on the high priest's head.

Just as he dived down into his personal spiritual world, his senses pulled him back. From the abyss a bright blue orb popped out of the dark. As he traveled, the ball elongated and broke apart into giant pillars that weaved around each other and stretched. As he broke through to the world of fog, they were just a handful of threads. When he opened his eyes, Aaradhya held a single hair width thread that glowed a deep azure blue.

In a second, he slapped the thread onto the top of his father's head and said...

"-Do you understand me now?-", the high priest stopped crying and slowly raised his head. Jubilation and a dizzying amount of confusion sent ripples throughout his body.

"My lordly son, I do. I don't know how I know but I understand your meaning. I can sense it now. Your glory and presence. Its more than I ever imagined, almost as you are with me...", the high priest held the top pf his head with one hand and wiped tears with the other. 

Aaradhya didn't notice the whoe thread, even with soul sense activated. He could see the end of a blue line come from his heart area with the other coming from his father.

"-Oh, it worked....-", the notification jingled once more and cut off his thoughts.

"-Ah. And there we go. I expected some sort of penalty for using my blessing completely unprepared but this is a rather serious level of backlash...-"

"Have you cleansed me of my sins? My heart feels lighter", Masih Sr, despite not being able to see it, felt the spiritual connection between the two. 

"-No. You still murdered dozens of people for this disgusting cult and my mother, so don't take any burdens off of yourself just yet. Atone for your sins through your actions not through some made of grace from a fake deity-"

"I understand my lord... Son...", Masih Sr bowed his head and exhaled.

"-From now on. Keep these facts in mind. I do NOT like the idea of this cult. I DO, want it's resources. I will help where I can for my own benefit but everything else is do be dealt with at your discretion. As my father, I trust your judgment and ability. And finally, I do have mystical abilities. I will focus on cultivating them for the majority of time. I will share all I know with you and those we have both agreed will be useful but don't expect me to fill the role of their god once I am done with the practice I need. One of my abilities has been used on you, which is how we are able to communicate our thoughts and knowledge. Do you understand everything I have just said-", Masih Sr closed his eyes to contemplate.

"I do. I will do my best to ensure you can get the most out of your experience here. I will also share all I know with you, if you are willing to learn"

"-Of course I'm willing to learn father. For now though, decipher the text in this book if you can-", Aaradhya, impressed by his father quick pickup, opened the mountain Breathing technique in his mind and read it. As he did so, the images and writing transfered over to his father.

"As you wish, my son. I will be going now. I also have to get prepared. These next three days will likely be filled with snaked tongues and bloodshed", the priest stood up and met the young ladies who were on their way up to the master bedroom.

"Take care of our lord. A fine bath and meal. When that is over, clothe and groom the lord's appearance. Only ask yes or no questions if you want to address him directly. As for the specifics, I will not tell you about your own jobs", the ladies bowed their heads and entered the room after the high priest left.

The entire time, Aaradhya frowned and nearly even grimaced. Though he couldn't quite tell what his father was thinking, the man's emotions were on full display. His joy and curiosity nearly drowned out Aaradhya's own emotions.

"Oh my lord. How are you so cute?", one of the maids rushed over and kneeled down at the edge of Aaradhya's bed.

"Oh my. You stink my lord, let's clean you up real good okay?", the first lady said. A tiny mole in an odd shape almost seemed to glitter on her ear.

"Ahhh...", the other maid directly fainted because of the scent. Aaradhya could just barely make out a half cover beauty mark on the woman's under arm when she fell.

"-Why do I feel as though a massive headache is on its way? I thought my followers were all supposed to be respectful and reserved around me...-", Aaradhya glared at the maids then sighed when the second stood up and shyly approached with a bright red face. 

All of a sudden, alarm bells rang inside of his head as a chill spread throughout his bones. For a moment, his eyes flashed but soul sense did not fully kick in. He stared at a single point with unbroken concentration and a frown but no matter what he did, soul sense did not activate.

"-Something is here. Damnit. What was it? It was almost like it passed through my body. Damn, I can only hope it activates at the right moment-"