Raising a Monster

It is a knight's duty to protect their Queen.

Not just from physical threats, but mental ones.

For a Queen must always believe she is above everyone. That her very existence is one that is untouchable and unattainable by those lesser than her. For this is the basis of her mentality. This may not be true of all Queens, but it is of yours.

Your duty is to defend this mindset from all those who would dare shatter it.

And you have failed to uphold it.

A thrown chair bounces off of your breastplate. You know it was an accident. That it was not truly meant to cause you harm. Merely one of the few ways your Queen has to calm herself down.

It still pains you nonetheless.

She's panting, eyes wide with rage and frustration. You did her hair up just the way she liked it this morning, but now it was wild and falling out in places. Her once pressed suit is wrinkled in places, especially where her arms are shaking at her sides.

You bend down, your head held underneath your right arm, and set the chair upright. You hold it out so that your Queen may take a seat. She takes it, but her rage does not abate. She angrily slides the chair towards her desk. Her hands quickly pick up the folders on it, opening and slamming them down on the marble.

"I can't believe them!" she says, reading through the three new assignments given to her. You walk over to her left side, ready to serve her if needed. You do not attempt to read the papers. They are not for one of your stature to concern yourself with.

Your Queen scans the papers with eyes both critical and angry. The anger slowly gets worse as she reads. It makes you wish that you could just burn the documents then and there, maybe then her anger would abate into the aether, "These are the missions we give to rookies! I should know, I've given them to rookies!"

She slams her hands onto the table, "I make one mistake and they toss me aside! At least be upfront about it assholes! The information you gave me never said anything about Craft being able to tap into his power! If anything, the fact that I failed is their—"

You place a gauntleted hand on your Queen's shoulder. She glances over at you, anger slowly but surely subsiding once she looks at you. You stay like that for a time, before removing your hand and bowing before her.

Your master sighs, hand going to her hand, "I know, I know. I shouldn't let it get to me. 'Those who live in the past are doomed to repeat it' and all. Agh, I need a drink."

You produce one from behind your back. A simple margarita with a pinch of salt and lemon, your Queen's favorite. You offer it and she takes it, "Thank you, darling." She sips it three times, before sighing and handing it back to you. You take it, and wait until she wants it again.

Your Queen looks back at the papers on her desk and chuckles, "Will admit, didn't expect the target to actually be able to put up a fight. Didn't the report say he was just a highschool teacher?" You take your head in both hands and move it up and down.

Your Queen laughs making your mood skyrocket as you look upon her beautiful smile. You will protect that smile, no matter what happens.

Your mind flashes with memories of what happened. You shake slightly, but keep your Queen from noticing.

You will never allow that to happen again.

She calms down and continues, "Do you think that anyone will actually listen to his 'message'?" You don't give an answer, and she comes up with her own, "Yeah, right. Like anyone would. 'This is a safe haven for people to live their lives.' Well, whatever, let him think what he wants."

You do not say anything, but inside you are planning. It is possible your Queen may never see that man nor the monster that has attached itself to him ever again, but you will not allow that to happen again.

He hurt your Queen.

That is all the reason you need to want him dead.

---

Didn't think I'd have this much trouble writing this up.

Criticisms and otherwise are always welcome.

"You're sure going to be ok?" your father says, hands patting you down for the hundredth time.

"Yes, father," you say holding still as he dotes over you again.

"Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings."

"Yes, father."

"And don't go too far, you might get lost."

"I highly doubt that."

"And if anything happens, anything at all, call me and I'll come running."

"I know, father."

"And don't forget—"

You gently take your father's hands in yours, and place them by his sides, "Father, I will be fine. I am not a normal human child, remember?"

He looks at the ground, "I know...but you're my daughter. And I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you again."

"That's sweet, but you don't need to baby me. I'm far past that stage now, aren't I?" you say, not really expecting an answer.

Your father is silent for a second. Then he looks up at you smiling, "Yes, you are. Just be safe, for me."

"I will try," you hug each other for a minute. Then you turn around, open the door to the house, and walk outside into the afternoon sun. You look back to wave at your father, who waves back. Then you shut the door behind you.

You turn and look out into the streets. You put your hands behind your back and start walking down the sidewalk.

Time to grace your followers with your visage.

---

Finding Cultist: 85 + 15 (Cult's Messiah) + 5 (Trust in Me) = 105 Artificial Crit

Wow.

It is a really good thing you decided to intervene when you did.

It was easy enough to find the main "chapel" of your supposed "followers". All it took was a quick telepathic scan across the neighborhood.

The thing that makes you inwardly groan, is the blatant way they advertise themselves. The building you are currently standing in front of is quite obviously a public rec center, indicating that they either do not have the funds or resources to afford a meeting place of their own.

Or, and this is the most likely explanation, not a single member understands what the word subtlety means. This is further lent credence when, after walking closer to the revolving door that acts as the entrance, you see a young man and woman yelling while holding pamphlets in their outstretched hands. They're both wearing long, yellow overcoats with their hoods up preaching whatever drivel they've been fed by whoever their "leader" is.

You approach the feet of the woman, "Excuse me, ma'am?"

She stops yelling and kneels down to your level, "Hello there. Are you lost little girl?"

Her hand reaches out to touch your head, but you bat it away with a hand, "No, I came because I'm interested in this 'religion' of yours. Do you mind?" you indicate the pamphlet and she hands it to you, a little surprised. You thank her, and quickly read through the whole thing.

When you're finished, you are decidedly miffed.

They apparently call themselves the "Children of a New Order (eugh)" and preach the exact same thing that every other cult and religion preaches. "Our God is the one true God! All sinners must Repent! If you don't you will cast into the fiery pits of blah blah blah blah."

It causes you to shake your head as you close the foldable paper in your hands, "It is very fortunate that I decided to come and guide you before you made fools of yourselves."

The woman quickly stands, offended, but then she starts to examine you with a more critical eye, "Wait...haven't I seen you some—" Her eyes become wide and she drops the papers in her hands in realization, "Oh my God."

You smile, "Indeed. Now, could you please take me to my flock?"

---

You'll give them this, they are at least slightly organized.

After revealing who you were to her co-preacher at the door, both humans were overjoyed to lead you into their "church". They're both as giddy as school children, asking you a non-stop stream of questions that helps you get a feel for exactly what the teachings among your worshippers are.

From what you've heard, you need to have a word with whoever this "Head Priest" is.

Thankfully, it seems your father's abnormal luck has rubbed off on you. When you enter into the main room of the rec center, you see the man standing on top of a podium. He's giving a sermon to over 65 people in attendance. There's a good variety of people here. Women, men, you even see a few children. The air in the room is filled to the brim with excitement, and the Head Priest is taking full advantage of it. He keeps yelling about how their new Lady will bring them into a Golden Age, right all wrongs, and other such promises.

Hmm, he must be trying to make up for the lackluster room he's secured. Beige walls, floor, and seats make this place look more like a school gymnasium than an actual church. Your two guides lead you right down the center of the aisle, flanked by both groups of fold out chairs with people in them. As you start to get closer, you hear people gasp and point at you once you pass. You even see a few putting their hands together and praying.

You simply keep looking ahead with your eyes locked on the man pontificating on the raised podium. It doesn't take long before you're standing right in front of the man, you having to look up since he's on a raised surface. The two greeters bow to you in unison and blend into the crowd.

This close you can see what the young man looks like. He has dark skin from being in the sun for too long, wearing the yellow robes all of the adherents seem to be fond of. However, where everyone else has plain yellow, his robes have ivory stripes inlaid into them. Rings jingle on his bony fingers and his too white teeth smile down at you from where he is standing. He speaks with a voice that sounds like its given this speech a hundred times over, "Look my Children, we have a new adherent to our faith! Tell me, young one, what is your name and why have you come to our fabulous assembly?"

From his lavish clothing and haughty demeanour, it is quite obvious this man is one who makes a living off of the gullibility of others. And he is the one who is to speak for you? Unacceptable.

You keep your voice as flat and emotionless as possible. You want this man to understand that you have no patience for him. You put your hands behind your back and probe his mind for information before speaking, "To answer your first question, Ivan Hodrick," you watch as the man's face falls when he hears his name. Then you let the crowd mumble before continuing, "No, I shall not grace you with my name. For you do not deserve to know it."

This causes the crowd to gasp in shock, and Ivan to grit his teeth. Before he can respond you play your card, "To answer the second question, I am here because I want to speak to my followers. For you see, I am your God." You deliver the last line with a small use of your power. You let the sheer weight of your presence make everyone feel how serious you are with that statement.

To Ivan's credit, he doesn't buckle and attempts to refute you, "You dare! Then prove this to me you—" he is cut off as you levitate off the ground until you are standing eye level with him. At this the entire assembly starts to gasp and openly pray as you take flight, you even see some of them fall to the floor in worship.

Ivan backs up as you float forward and take the stage. You let your feet hit the floor and walk closer to Ivan. He keeps backing up until his feet hit the edge. He loses his footing, yelling as he falls off the stage. It isn't long enough to kill him, so you let him hit the floor with a thud. Then you turn to address your flock.

You raise a hand to quiet everyone down before speaking, "Before we begin, I have a few questions to ask all of you. How many of you are here for your own ideological beliefs?" The assembled look at each other confused, so you try a different tactic, "Let me rephrase. How many of you are here because you believe that I will bring about some big societal change that will bring the world into a Golden Age? If you are, then please stand up."

About half of the assembly stand from their chairs. You nod, "Good. Now, how many of you believe that I will send you to a glorious afterlife when you die, and sentence everyone who doesn't agree with us to eternal damnation?" This time just about the entire gathered group stands up. The only two who haven't are the young man and woman who greeted you earlier.

You nod to the standing people, "Good. All of those who are standing, please leave the premises."

This gets everyone mumbling, some sounding like they're going to argue with you. Not wanting to deal with that, you just take control of their minds and make them forget everything they ever heard about you. Father would probably be mad at you for this, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

And you won't hurt him.

You won't let anyone or anything hurt him.

Silence descends upon the room once it is cleared out. You nod to yourself, and float off of the stage to the floor. The two greeters approach you, confusion etched on their face. You probe their minds for names...ah twins.

Isha and Mathew Lordstrom.

Fine names.

They seem to be waiting for something, so you wave your hand to give them permission to speak. Isha goes first, "My Lady, do you bid us to leave as well?"

"Of course not," is your answer, "I wouldn't have a Cult if I didn't have followers now would I?"

"But then, why did you eject everyone else?" Mathew ask.

"Because they were not loyal to me," at the confused looks you get, you elaborate, "Those people were not loyal to me, nor my wants and desires. They were loyal to their own. Their convictions, ideals, and emotions were the things that ruled them. It is people like them who have led so many followings such as ours to ruin."

You start to walk towards the door, beckoning your true worshippers to follow you, "If I am to have a Cult, all of its members shall be beholden to me and me alone. Nothing and no one else. I have no need for those who would put their own agendas above my orders."

You stop at the revolving door and hold out your hand. With a little concentration, you form a glowing green orb in your palm. You put it into Isha's hand, both her and her brother staring at it with reverence, "This is a gift, from me to you. To thank you both for choosing to be loyal to me. As your first test, there is a man behind the stage. He is still unconscious, but will wake soon. When he does, put this into his ear. It will erase his memory and he will no longer be a threat to us. Do this, and you have cemented yourselves as my Disciples."

They both look towards the stage, then back to you. They both nod with fanatical determination in their eyes. Mathew speaks first, "What shall we do afterwards?"

"Go into hiding. Do not draw attention to us. Do not go seeking members, let them find us. We will grow, and we will become powerful. But it will be in secret, so that when we make our move the world will not see it coming. I shall contact you when I have new orders for you. Understood?"

The twins bow to you, "Yes, our Lady."

You nod and turn to walk out the door.

Pride swells up in your chest, but you keep the same dignified look you had when you left home. You start to make your way home.

Father will be happy to hear about this.

Maybe you'll ask him to take you for this "Ice Cream" you hear so much about? You've been meaning to try it.

(Ana made Contact with the Cult! Cult numbers cut down to 2! Cult is now in hiding! New Perk Gained: A Loyal Following: They believe in me and only me. (Ana has two extremely Loyal Followers who she can order to complete task for her at any time. You will need to meet this Followers before Howard can do anything about them.))

---

Sensing Eldritch: 77 + 15 (Senses) - 20 (???) = 72

"Hah! Nice try!" Ana's outburst makes you jump a bit from where you're sitting.

"What, what happened?" she was just putting out some feelers again, what could've happened?

"Oh don't worry about it too much father, "Ana says with a dismissive wave of her hand, "That Eldritch Monster I told you about that's under the school? It's apparently aware of your actions, and attempted to get a better idea of where we are so that it could send an attack squad of some sort. But, thanks to my brilliant abilities, I've completely negated its plan!" she says with a lot of pride in her voice.

You would say something about that, but you're getting tired and have to go to work tomorrow. So you just shrug and get back to helping Ana meditate.

(Eldritch Attack Negated!)

---

Another day, another dollar.

Ana's going back to school today.

The house is fine, foods doing good right now.

Volkar called earlier, said they're ready whenever you are to assault Crossroads.

Rivauld called, saying she's glad you understood her situation and thankful for you telling her about Ana.

Ana's doing fine, she's really getting along with those books.

Days until Ana Matures: 3 Months

Your Actions: 2

Spoiler: Special

[] Assault Crossroads: You've got all you needed. Now it's time to take the fight to them! (Will take up all Actions for Howard and Anastasia! Begin battle for Crossroads!)

Anastasia's Actions: 1 (Back to School)

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Internet's back!

...It's still shit, but it's better than nothing!