They bound his hands and put him at the centre of the circle. All cultists watch him attentively like there were watching some sort of spectacle, and in a certain sense, there were. They looked at each other, each of them having a different mask and speaking a different voice. It was strange, something was wrong. He felt like those weren’t properly human but something had happened to them.


    <<How know how many people we sacrificed last month?>>


    Pxan didn’t respond


    <<two-hundred, nearly all of them were from the low quarters. All of them were stubborn at first, just like you. But after a bit they accepted our offer.>>


    <<Your offer?>>


    <<Yes. To help us bring a new world. Pxan you know how corrupt this system is, how know how many suffer, yow know all those things. Now we offer you a chance to change this system with us. To fight for an ideal, to have meaning in your life. What was the last time that you woke up happy?>>


    Pxan looked at him blankly, he didn’t remember.


    <<What was the last time that you felt a deep connection with someone?>>


    <<A..decade ago>>


    <<It wouldn’t be beautiful to read anything that you want. Without worrying about censorship. Without worrying about denounces and claims. To live in a healthy society without paranoia?>>


    <<Yes...that would be beautiful.>>Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    <<Then come with us and we will build this new world, one brick at a time.>>


    <<I can’t.>>


    The deer mask inclined <<Why?>>


    <<You are cultists, you bring bloodshed to this world. You are the plague of this world. Without you, anything would go fine.>>


    The cultists all laughed at the same time.


    <


    >


    <<Hundreds of thousands!>>


    <<Less than ten thousand. Maybe even less than eight thousand. We lose members by the day. Do you know how many of us live on this ship?>>


    Pxan remained silent


    <<Less than eight hundred people. Five hundred of those are poor people in the low quarters. All the stories that you have heard about far worlds where cultists ruled, all those heinous crimes and accusations are all false. We are ghosts of another era. >>


    <<How could I ever trust you?>>


    <<You need not trust us. Trust those documents.>>


    Pxan hands were unbound and a few files were thrown on the ground. They all had  the mark of the inquisition and the council. Some of the names he recognized. The document talked about genocides and corruption in the government to be attributed to the cultists.


    <<I don’t trust you still. Those documents could be false!>>


    <<Are you willing to bet with your life on that affirmation?>>


    Pxan stood silent again. The deer cultist came closer <<No one here wants to hurt you. You were simply doing your job. Join us and we can build a better world together.>>


    Pxan stood silent again. The deer cultist offered his hand <<everything that is being denied to you could be yours. A costless and free education, a good home, the right to be unique. There wouldn’t be another government. All will leave in peace. All you need to do is to take my hand.>>


    Pxan looked at him, nearly crying <<and if I refuse?>>


    <<We will cut your prosthetics and sacrifice you to the great huntress.>>


    Pxan jumped back and started thinking.