Execution
As Cypher walked through the twisting streets of the underhive, illuminated by the orange glow from glowing crystal-like rocks that defied logic, the streets teemed with activity.
"Are you watching the execution today?"
"I heard the church caught some new heretics!"
"Mommy, can I come?"
"Me too! I want to see!"
The conversations echoing around him caught his attention. He listened intently, deciding to gather some information.
"Excuse me, mister," Cypher stretched his small hand and tapped the back of one of the men passing by. "Do you know where the execution is being held?"
"Huh... oh, I see your faith is strong, kid. Haha," he laughed and pointed toward the church in the distance. "It's being held in the courtyard in front of the church, but be quick or you'll have to watch from the back."
"Thank you, Mister!" Cypher waved his hand and skipped away under the man's gaze, looking as innocent as could be.
"Kill him!"
"Death to the Heretic!"
The crowd roared to life in front of an imposingly large cathedral, its shadow looming over them like a hammer ready to swallow them whole.
Ahead of them was a large stone platform, ornate carvings and symbols lined its surface, their meaning lost to the illiterate peasants who had gathered for the show.
Standing atop the platform was a woman clad in white holy robes reminiscent of a nun, golden armor barely visible beneath them. Her golden blonde hair fluttered in the light breeze, and her glowing blue eyes pierced through the crowd, exuding an incredible aura of love and kindness.
Behind her were three people kneeling on the cold stone platform. Two were a young boy and girl, struggling against their silver chain bindings, tears forming a puddle beneath them. The last was an older man, with brown hair and sharp features, bruises and cuts covering his face as he looked at his children with desperation.
The crowd ceased their murmurs immediately as the woman raised her hand in a gesture of silence, a kind smile on her face as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Fellow children of Endo, I, Saint Clementine, welcome you all to witness the cleansing of these abhorrent heretics who dare to taint the holy minds of our youth!"
"Kill them! Down with the heretics!" one of the men in the crowd roared.
"SILENCE!" The saint's tone shifted to disdain after being interrupted.
A wave of pressure descended on the man, his eyes bleeding from the force. He collapsed to the ground, foam spewing from his mouth, and was carried away by knights in full suits of gold armor.
"Now, here we have the commander of the local guard, suspected of aiding the wicked fiends of the Cult of Releigh, infiltrating our homes and tainting our lands!"
"P-please, my children had nothing to do with this!" the older man begged, bowing his head to the stone platform. "Take me instead, I beg of you!"
"Your heretic blood runs through them. Who's to say they won't turn against us in the future?"
"It wasn't my fault! They said they'd kill my family if I didn't comply!" His pleading grew louder.
"Enough! Do you have no faith in Endo? Is his guidance and grace not enough?!" Clementine's words spat out with venom, a stark contrast to her previous display. "Under the jurisdiction of Emperor Theon Von Terra, by order of Supreme Cardinal Vanderwall of the Holy Church of Endo..."
"I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY BEHEADING!"
A shift in the very air occurred as the saint held up her arm. A golden blade composed of pure light materialized from thin air, shining down onto the crowd, causing them to hold their breath in fear.
SHINK!
Prrrt!
Blood flowed from the neck of a now headless corpse, showering those below the platform.
"FATHER!"
"YOU BASTARDS! I HOPE YOU ALL ROT IN HELL!"
The two remaining children cried out as they watched their father's head roll off the platform and land directly in front of a strangely smiling young boy.
"Magic! Magic, magic, magic, ma..." murmured Cypher to himself like a madman, failing to notice the head rolling toward him.
It was as if a switch had been flipped—his entire mind was on overdrive.
Thump!
His heart skipped a beat, breathing growing rapid. Years of trying everything to prove that humans could break their limits shattered in an instant. Not even the original Cypher had seen anything like this.
This world had already shown him something he had only dreamt of through countless hours of study and brutal human experiments.
This world was magical, and magic had no limits.
"AHH! What a devoted young man you are!" Clementine clapped happily, mistaking Cypher's manic excitement for devotion to their beloved god, Endo.
"Why don't you come up on stage, child? Bring the head of the sinner with you."
"Magi—huh, I'm sorry, Miss Saint, are you talking to me?" Cypher snapped out of his daze and found everyone staring at him, the severed head at his feet.
"Don't be shy, young man, come on up," Clementine eagerly invited.
"Hurry, kid!" a man beside Cypher picked up the head and handed it to him.
Damn, this crazy woman might kill me! Stop encouraging her! Cypher didn't voice his thoughts and kept smiling, head in hand.
His small limbs grasped the edge of the platform and began to climb.
"Poor thing..." Clementine's hand stretched out in front of Cypher, but it wasn't just a hand—it was a clawed golden gauntlet that cut into his thin skin as he held it.
Disregarding the pain, Cypher soon found himself in front of a thousand eyes, all watching him intently.
"Here you go, Miss Clementine," he said as he passed the severed head into her hands. She placed it down in front of the kneeling corpse.
"Young man, how strong is your faith in the great lord Endo?" The simple question hit Cypher like a hammer, especially since he barely knew who Endo was.
However, a smirk played on his lips, for what he did have was experience—specifically, experience with religious fanatics, having been raised by two of them.
"He's amazing! I feel his heavenly grace shines a light on this world, healing the believers and cleansing the heretics with his divine presence!" Cypher lied through his teeth while expressing admiration.
"But..." Cypher lowered his gaze, looking ashamed.
"But?" Clementine's eyes turned cold.
"But I haven't been able to learn as much as I'd like to. I have no family or money to buy such knowledge." He lowered his head further, playing with his fingers as if nervous.
The saint's gaze softened. Her sword disappeared into particles of light as she ruffled his hair, oblivious to the pain the gauntlets caused him.
"Your devotion will not go unrewarded, child."
As she spoke, she moved her hand behind her waist and brought it back to reveal an ornate silver and gold curved dagger, inlaid with text that read, For I am the savior, the cleanser, and the protector.
"Use it, show your faith, and strike down the sinners." Her smile grew ear to ear as she placed the dagger in Cypher's small hands and pointed toward the two now wide-eyed heretics.
"W-wait, you don't have to do this!" The tears flowed from the boy's eyes as he realized his time was coming.
"My sister! Leave her alive!"
His voice grew frantic as he watched the yellow eyes of his new executioner glance coldly at him.
Step...
"Wait!"
Step...
"Brother, I'm scared!"
Step...
"Sto—"
Prrrt!
"Ahhh!" The young girl cried out as she watched her brother collapse, blood flowing from the cut on his neck.
"Broth—"
Slice!
Her head fell onto the ground.
Cypher barely registered their deaths and turned away, ready to give the dagger back.
"Keep it. You've proven yourself a role model for all the children here. Bring it to the church tomorrow, and show it to the Deacon on duty. He'll help you get some study books."
She looked genuinely happy despite the gruesome affair.
"I promise to study everything I can, Miss Saint!" Cypher said eagerly.
Cypher held the knife close and climbed down from the stage.
"Loyal followers, please return to your homes. And remember to always devote your mind, body, and soul to the Lord."
The event ended swiftly. However, a few greedy eyes remained locked on Cypher's new dagger, its value far beyond their meager earnings.