Baro stood before the towering gates of the sacred town, the faint sound of the guard's voice a mere whisper in the wind. He had come all this way—ascended the stairs, endured the trials—and now, the fruits of his labor lay before him. His heart throbbed with the pulse of triumph, his spirit brimming with that quiet, undeniable pride.
As Baro crossed the threshold into the town, the stark contrast hit him like a wave.
"So this is where the Sacred reside," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His steps were confident as he walked further into the town, the sound of his footsteps against the polished stone streets echoing in the silence. The magnificence of his surroundings failed to shake his poise.
His eyes narrowed as he continued to walk, his steps steady. "How different..." he whispered. "From the righteous town, from the workers, these nobles... They have all they want, and yet they are slaves to this golden cage."
Baro reached up, absently brushing his fingers against the soft, luxurious fabric of his robes, as though to remind himself that he too was now among the Sacred.
He was not here to simply live among them.
He was here to surpass them.
As he passed by a group of Sacred individuals, exchanging soft words and polite laughter, Baro felt their eyes on him, lingering for just a second longer than necessary. They saw the new arrival.
"New here, aren't you?" The Sacred spoke, his voice a calm monotone, his smile never wavering. "Peaceful, isn't it?"
"It looks nice... I'm still getting used to it," Baro replied, cradling Furfur in his arms, eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
"I'm Versan," he continued, his expression unwavering. "Been here for a while. Sacrificed most of my emotions—except happiness. What about you?" The smile on his face stayed fixed, almost unnervingly so.
Baro raised an eyebrow. "You gave up everything except happiness? Why would you do that?"
"For her," Versan answered, the smile never leaving his face. "Za. She is the reason I'm here. The reason I feel anything at all." He looked away, almost dreamily. "I'm grateful she accepted my emotions. It's... enough."
He then gestured to the tall figure beside him. "This is Oglin. He sacrificed his senses—he can't speak, hear, taste, or smell anymore. All that remains is sight."
Baro stared at Oglin, who stood silent, eyes distant. "So, his only connection to this world is what he sees?" Baro asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Exactly. His one wish is to stand before the Goddess and be seen by her," Versan said, his smile stretching further, something almost distant in his voice.
Baro then glanced at the man in the back. "And him?"
"Vanafel," Versan said, his tone flat. "He's a paranoid one. Thinks everyone's lying to him. The only one he trusts is the Goddess."
Baro nodded, taking in the strange atmosphere of the group.
"What about this little guy?" asked Versan
Baro's eyes softened for a split second. "That's Furfur. He's very strong," he said, his voice almost reverential.
Versan couldn't help but chuckle. "Haha, I'm sure." His eyes lingered on Furfur, wondering what exactly made him so strong. "You didn't tell me yet what you sacrificed."
Baro's patience began to wear thin as he listened to Versan's words drag on, the weight of their strange customs hanging over him like a cloud. He didn't care for the details of sacrifices and meaningless rituals; what he wanted was simple: to move forward, to get what he came for.
"Look, I appreciate all the sacred talk," Baro said, his tone flat, "but can we get to the point? How do I get my mansion like you guys?" He glanced around at the grandiose surroundings, the towering estates that made the righteous town look like a distant memory.
Versan chuckled, a light laugh that echoed around them. "Oh, so you want your own mansion, hmm? That's easy. The moment you're made Sacred, they give you one." He waved a hand dismissively, like it was the simplest thing in the world. "You don't need to worry about that. Just find one with your name on it."
Baro blinked, processing the nonchalant response. "That's it?" he asked, incredulous. "I just go and take one?"
"Well, yes," Versan said with a grin. "You'll have butlers and maids assigned to you as well. They'll take care of everything. A Sacred's life isn't that complicated, after all. You've already earned your place."
Baro couldn't hide the hint of satisfaction in his chest. This was far easier than he had imagined. "What about food, then? Do I just... show up and take it?" he asked, trying to gauge the simplicity of this new life.
Versan's smile didn't falter. "Food will be provided, of course. You'll never go hungry here. It's all part of being Sacred."
Baro nodded, somewhat satisfied, but there was one last thing gnawing at him. "And what exactly do we do as Sacred?"
Versan's grin deepened, almost playful. "Oh, it's simple. You oversee the righteous you're assigned to. Make sure they do their jobs properly. They're the ones who do the real work, you know. You just supervise."
Baro tilted his head, processing the words. "So... basically, I'm just here to make sure the workers don't slack off?"
"Exactly." Versan's smile widened, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "It's a powerful position, but not one that requires much effort. Everything is laid out for you. You only need to do as you're told, and keep your eyes on the righteous. It's easy work for someone like you, don't you think?"
Baro chuckled, feeling the weight of the situation settle comfortably on his shoulders. A mansion, servants, food, and a simple job. Perhaps this was the life he had been looking for all along.
As he said his goodbyes,
"Goodbye, then," Baro muttered, turning away from Versan and the group, his eyes already scanning the towering buildings around him. He could feel the weight of their gaze as he walked, but he didn't care. He was done with small talk.
It wasn't long before he found it. A grand mansion, perched on an elevated platform like a jewel among the sprawling estate. The nameplate above the door bore his name, engraved with a fine hand. His mansion.
Baro's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "This... is more like it."
The exterior was beautiful—stone and glass, a mix of modern and ancient styles. The towering walls, polished windows, and intricate carvings on the doorframe made it stand out even in a place like this.
As Baro approached, the massive doors creaked open just as he reached for the handle. A figure stepped forward—a butler, dressed impeccably in formal attire, his expression neutral yet welcoming.
"Welcome, Master Baro," the butler greeted him with a bow, voice smooth and practiced. "I trust your arrival was to your satisfaction?"