Chapter I
Year 4357, Month of Sigilind (8), Day 07.
10:37
Emile sighed and held their head, their headache that morning was terrible, and their body aches were worse. At some point in the night, Emile's cat, Nocturne, had curled up on Emile's chest. Emile removed the fluffy kitten from their neck and placed her on a blanket, getting up and groaning at the severe pain shooting through their body. Emile stumbled over to their kitchen and grabbed the bottles of medicine that were organized on the kitchen counter, and took them dry. Emile stumbled back over to their couch and toppled onto it, waiting desperately for the pain medicine to kick in. Emile groveled on the couch for a while, not knowing how long it had been as they drifted in and out of sleep, all while being in disbelief that they forgot to take their pain medicine, the one thing that kept them from keeling over day by day.
Emile was brought back to alertness with the realization that their PortComm was ringing, still on their belt. Emile detached it and checked it. Someone— whose name Emile didn't check —was calling them. Emile picked up the call and put it on speaker, too lethargic to hold it up to their ear. "Hello?"
"Helloo!" The person on the other end said.
"It's pronounced 'hell-oah', not 'hell-oo'," Emile explained, being purposefully condescending due to their bad mood.
"I'm just trying to be a little lighthearted because things will be a little more...serious when you get here." The person said.
Emile groaned into the device, realizing they were late to an "important" meeting. Even though they were considered important by Lorika, they were merely weekly get-togethers between the apostles. "I forgot to take my meds last night and passed out, I'll be there soon."
The person on the other end spoke softly yet encouragingly into their speaker, "I really must recommend that you set alarms for this sort of thing Emile, you could've completely set your schedule off. I'll book another appointment between us so we can get this sorted out one-on-one in a professional setting, and talk about why you missed your nightly dose, okay?"
"Sure." Emile said, hanging up and getting up, head still sore from their hang-over. Emile changed into their uniform; thick stockings, formal combat-boots, a short skirt that went down to their mid-thigh (if pulled down to Emile's hip-dips), a dress shirt, tie, and a short cloak-like overcoat with a hood all in black with blue accent. Emile brushed their hair, it was easy since it didn't go anywhere passed Emile's chin or halfway down Emile's neck, if you were looking at the front to the back of Emile's hair respectively. Emile styled their thick hair by leaning over, fluffing the back of it and throwing their head back. Emile's wispy black bangs provided coverage to their deathly pale skin that was nearly the color of paper, its only saving grace being the light orange undertone it held, and the bright vermillion color that smoothly surrounded the outer corners of Emile's eyes like a colored eyeliner birthmark. Emile often wondered about these peculiar features in their face, and body, why they seemed to have them and not others. Some thought it was because Emile had been infected with many sicknesses that left a lasting impression on their already fragile body, some thought it was a gift from NIKE herself; a way to make Emile stand out amongst the followers, a way to signify Emile as an apostle— as most of the other apostles had strange and even outlandish features. However those explanations fell of deaf ears, Emile had the single most impressive features, some that humans should never have, and Emile felt- no, knew- it was a sign that Emile was the superior human, the form of human that should be revered, because everything Emile had gone through had to have reason, they knew. It was some sort of build up, a way of preparing Emile for the greatness that they were destined for, a greatness even greater than what NIKE had promised. Because Emile was greater than NIKE, Emile was more God than her—
Emile was drawn from those thoughts by the vibration of their PortComm against their desk. Emile had strange bursts of extreme narcissism,, especially when Emile studied themself for long periods of time. They knew it was something they needed to talk about with their shrink during their next appointment; these thoughts were getting out of hand. Emile sighed and packed their bag with their essenstials before leaving for the meeting, picking up the incoming call and holding the device to their ear with their shoulder as they opened the front door to their quarters.
"Emile, where are you?" The soft male voice said into the speaker, Emile could tell the person on the other line was smiling.
"Hello, Amor," Emile said with a bored tone of voice, "I'm on my way now, I'll be there in about twenty minutes."
Emile explained the situation to Amor, and could hear the authoritative voice of Lorika on the other end as Amor relayed the information back to her. Emile cut the call short as they exited the elevator, now on the top floor, hundreds of feet above the ground. Emile walked up to the large door, attached their PortComm back to its holster on their belt and entered the room, pushing the large doors open.
Emile saw the cheerful mock-human immediately appear in Emile's vision with a single blink. Emile bent their head back so they could look at the tall figure. Emile's personal doctor and therapist; Ciel Romeo.
Ciel filled Emile in on everything they had missed, which was just basic background information. Emile nodded along, not really paying much attention to Ciel because every primal urge in Emile was alerting them to the eyes of a predator. The threatening eyes that bore into Emile, calculating their every move, Emile could almost telepathically tell what they were observing, their facial expressions, their posture, the way they carried themself. Emile made every move with calculated precision, not wanting to alert the spectator onto something that was caused by a mere freeze in Emile's brain. Emile pulled everything they needed out of their bag, and finally looked up to where the eyes were coming from; the head of the table. Lorika sat leaned over the large triangular table, sitting at the flat base of it, staring at Emile, who sit directly next to the corner. Her elbows propped her body up, her hands were clamped together, her index finger was projected straight up, covering the direct middle of her lips as she bore into Emile.
Emile sat up, folding their arms on the table in front of the manilla folders they had extracted from their bag, and leaned their head forward with a slight tilt so they could show Lorika that she had their full attention. Finally her red eyes wavered from Emile, and she looked at the attendence generally in one singular view.
Next to Emile was Ciel, a humanoid creature that was the sheer definition of uncanny valley. Across from Ciel was Ezekiel, a creature that was only slightly human, a distant relative to the species, one that was built for water but could survive on land. Next to Ezekiel was Amor, and across from Amor was Asha, an android helper that resembled a twelve year old boy.
Lorika finally spoke up, "Well, since we finally have everyone in full attendance, lets discuss the topic at hand." Lorika began to speak more on the next areas of Kah-O' and Sheraingai- the neighboring countries to the east and west respectively- that they could take, and possible ways to ensure the cooperation and eventual assimilation of the townspeople. Several ideas were thrown out, Emile didn't speak though, they were zoning out, all Emile had to do was create new remedies and medicines that would keep the people happy while being cost effective and easily accessible for them. Emile continued to not pay attention, but still maintain the image of being fully attentive, a skill Emile had learned even before being an apostle.
It was when the hometown Emile grew up in was mentioned that Emile was brought back to reality. "...Charleston would be a good option, I hear that the Charleston Academy of Sigilind is one of the leading religious institutes in the world for Sigism." Ciel said cheerfully, whilst Emile fought back the urge to shiver at the mention of the academy.
"I don't see how that would be beneficial, Ciel, the people of Charleston would be the least likely to accept the doctrine, they're already heretics." Lorika explained.
"I say we kill the heretics," Amor spoke up, "'If the heretic chooses not to worship the One Divine Victory then they shall be struck down by My hand.' NIKE said it herself." Amor said, reciting a scripture from the Doctrine of NIKE.
Lorika thought for a moment and opened her mouth to speak when finally Emile found their voice. "No, that should only be a last resort. If we manage to convert one of the most devout groups of Sigist's then we could use that as leverage to show that NIKE is the way."
Lorika raised an eyebrow, a light frown on her sand colored skin, she was prepared to speak before Emile spoke a response before she could say anything. "And when i say leverage I don't mean that NIKE isn't the One Divine Victory, I'm merely saying we could use them as an example that even the most devout people of other religions will see that NIKE is the Superior God."
Lorika seemed pleased, even impressed by that response, a slight smile formed on her face. "You make a good point, Emile," Lorika stood up, and explained a plan for Amor to carry out with the military, and gave everyone else goals. Emile was to work on a highly effective poison that the soldiers could coat their weapons with, Ciel would be helping as to work on the most effective ways for the poison to work on humans and immobilize them.
By the time the meeting was over Emile would have to take their meds, but just as they were about to leave through the door Lorika called out to them. "Emile, do you think you could stay, I'd like to talk with you." Emile grimaced, something Lorika couldn't see from where they were standing, but nodded anyway, as Ciel left the meeting room they flashed Emile a lipless grin, as lips were something Ciel lacked.
The smile said "Good luck".
Emile placed a hand in Lorika's outstretched hand. Lorika kissed the back of Emile's hand. The two were currently standing in front of the large window that cast light into the room, the window that the triangle shaped table pointed at.
"I couldn't help but notice your hesitation to speak today," Lorika said, still holding Emile's hand. Emile looked down at their hand, still held lightly in Lorika's, but didn't say anything, "Are you perhaps...afraid to speak in front of me, or even to me, because of yesterday."
Emile looked out the window, "No, It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that I am not in the mood to speak my mind. I'm still delirious do to my mishap in taking my medicine," Emile said, "But I sincerely apologize for making you worried about me, and I find it quite flattering that you would hold me in your mind, your majesty."
Lorika smiled, still not letting go of Emile's hand. She seemingly noticed Emile's apprehension about their hand being held. "Emile, if you want or need something you can always speak your mind, you don't need to withhold yourself from me." Lorika said, she looked either amused or enamored, but Emile decided it must be the former.
"Do you think you could let go of my hand, your excellency?" Emile said, looking at their hand once more. A sly smile spread across Lorika's face; this was clearly her intention.
"Oh, I didn't seem to notice I was holding your hand, my apologies, Emile. But please," Lorika walked closer and spoke softly in Emile's ear, "Don't be afraid to express your feelings or concerns with me, any place with me in it is a safe place, my precious disciple," Lorika said. Something about the way she said it made blood rush to Emile's face, immediately flushing their face a noticeable orange, Emile's heart palpitated in a way that it never had before, even though this...feeling...was nostalgic, like Emile had felt it before. Lorika leaned away, and leaned against the large window, "Oh my, Emile, are you feeling alright?"