The moon rises in the east, and the bonfire shines. Priest Tomate holds the scripture high, gazing at the clan leader of the Kokom Family, the young Serpent Divine Descendant Ti’aj Kin. The devoted priest’s heart is as hard as stone, viewing faith as the foundation of everything. If the opposing Maya chieftain refuses, he will lose the hard-earned opportunity.
"Ah! Abandon the Heavenly Serpent Divine and completely convert to the Chief Divine?"
Upon hearing his uncle Tikalo’s translation, Ti’aj Kin’s forehead sweats. Such a condition is an unacceptable price for any Maya Divine Descendant. Generations of ancestors have worshiped the Heavenly Serpent Divine, the family has prided itself on being the most revered Serpent Divine Descendant, passed down for a thousand years... Is he to convert to the xica Chief Divine of the Highlands today?
"I?... How could this be?... "
"Promise him! Ti’aj Kin, my nephew, the last sun of Mayapan!"
Mayan rchant Tikalo gazes resolutely at his young nephew. He has wandered among various tribes for decades, already cultivating a flexible faith bottom line. At this mont, he solemnly advises in the ancient Mayapan language.
"Think of the hundred thousand undead of Mayapan! Think of your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather! The blood feud of the Kokom Family is like mountains and oceans... This is the family’s last chance! Seize it, promise him!"
"The father who died in battle, the grandfather who died in battle, the great-grandfather who died in battle... The blood debt of the Xiu Family, the revenge of Kokom!"
The young divine descendant Ti’aj Kin grits his teeth, flas ignite in his eyes. For revenge, he is willing to pay any price, even if it ans completely converting to a new god. He does not hesitate, slowly kneeling under Priest Tomate’s , and cries out softly.
"I am willing! I am willing to worship the Supre Main God! No matter what kind of divine spirit He is, or what price He requires of , as long as He grants strength!"
Upon hearing this, Priest Tomate raises his eyebrow. He deeply looks at the young divine descendant and speaks aningfully.
"My child, the Chief Divine Huitzilopochtli is the Supre God of the Divine Realm. His power is beyond your imagination. You need only to sincerely believe in Him, and strength will descend upon your soul... You must swear by the Ancestor Spirit never to betray, sincerely one!"
Boundless darkness envelops the jungle, star-like flas flicker at the feet. The ancient, broken Chaos Temple stands ahead, while hundreds of Xiu Family samurai corpses lie behind. Light and darkness, desolation and death, together depict the mystery of the night, also narrating the ancient god.
"...I swear by the Ancestor Spirit!"
Under the scripture, the young divine descendant Ti’aj Kin kneels, his forehead sweating again. He bites his lip hard, even drawing blood. Swearing by the Ancestor Spirit, if violated...
"I will sincerely believe in the Chief Divine, Huitzilopochtli! He is the Supre God of the Divine Realm, ruling over my flesh, blood, and soul! I will never betray throughout my life, if violated... if violated..."
Priest Tomate lowers his eyes, his lips lightly moving, reciting the guidance.
"If violated... then the Kokom Family bloodline shall be severed, the Ancestor Spirit will eternally fall into the Abyss, never to find peace."
"Ah!..."
"Speak."
"...I will never betray the Chief Divine throughout my life, if violated... then the Kokom Family bloodline shall be severed, the Ancestor Spirit will eternally fall into the Abyss, never to find peace!"
The young divine descendant, lost and forlorn, takes the most vicious oath.
"Very good!"
Priest Tomate finally nods, a smile appearing on his lips.
"Bow your head, I will cut off your hair and throw it into the fire. Raise your hand, I will cut your palm, letting the blood drip into the fire. From this day forward, your soul and blood will go to the Divine Kingdom, controlled by the Chief Divine! And your body will remain in the human world, spreading the glory of the Chief Divine among your tribes!..."
"...Yes. I will spread the glory of the Chief Divine among the tribes..."
Soon, curling green smoke rises on the low bonfire, carrying a burnt sll. Priest Tomate ticulously conducts the strictest, most formal faith ritual. Such a harsh ritual actually exceeds the standard for ordinary conversion, reaching the requirent for priest apprentices at entry. Indeed, this conversion ritual is also the initiation ceremony for the Chief God Priest.
"Praise the Chief Divine Huitzilopochtli! He stands supre, ruling all, omnipotent!..."
"Praise the Chief Divine Huitzilopochtli! He stands supre, ruling all, omnipotent!..."
The two recite the prayers one after another, one standing and one kneeling. The air fills with the scent of burning blood, the surrounding crowd remains silent. The mysterious atmosphere slowly disperses in the firelight under the night.
"..."
Old militia Chiwaco watches silently, not urging. He glanced at the Mayan rchant Tikalo, whose face appears calm, allowing Priest Tomate to act.
"Very good!"
After the ceremony, Priest Tomate looks at the inexplicably dazed young divine descendant, pondering. He always feels sothing is missing, wanting to do sothing more. What can he do? How can he deeply engrave the faith of the Chief Divine into the young priest’s heart like an emblem?
"Engrave it?... "
Thinking this, Priest Tomate’s expression changes. He recalls the most diligent sailor on the flagship, whose forehead is marked with a bright red Sun Hummingbird.
"Ahem! The final step. As the most important Maya Divine Descendant, I will grant you the most special ceremony! Close your eyes, raise your head, feel the glory and majesty of the Chief Divine... I will engrave His emblem on your forehead!"
The young divine descendant Ti’aj Kin hesitates, obediently closes his eyes and raises his head. Priest Tomate’s lips curl as he draws the obsidian dagger from his waist, steps forward, and his wrist cos down steadily!
"...!"
Mayan rchant Tikalo suddenly widens his eyes, opens his mouth to speak. But after a few breaths, he says nothing. Old militia Chiwaco also rembers sothing, his eye corner twitches.
"Hiss!..."
Cold pain spreads from the forehead, seemingly etched into the bone. The young divine descendant Ti’aj Kin grits his teeth, thinking of the burning revenge, sohow endures it.
After a while, Priest Tomate finally completes the last step. He gazes at the bright red Sun Hummingbird flying on the young divine descendant’s forehead and smiles satisfied.
"Ti’aj Kin, my child, do you feel the Chief Divine’s gaze?"
"I feel it, esteed Navajo Priest."
"Oh? What is His gaze like?"
"It is majestic, like fire. Blinding, painful, yet powerful!"
The young divine descendant Ti’aj Kin answers truthfully with closed eyes. Hearing his sincere reply, Priest Tomate smiles warmly.
"Very good! Ti’aj Kin, from today on, you are the divine descendant blessed by the Chief Divine! Similarly, you will also beco the Chief Divine’s priest, serving Him lifelong!... Praise the Chief Divine! He blesses us, granting us invincible power!"
"Praise the Chief Divine! He blesses us, granting us invincible power!"
Low chanting echoes between the temple and jungle, then fades into the night. The first Maya chieftain to convert to the Chief Divine, the first Maya priest to worship the Chief Divine, is born. Tikalo looks at the two, silently lowers his gaze. He slls the scent of fate’s favor, yet it is unrelated to him.
"Alright! Tikalo, we can finally talk again. As new allies, discuss the price of your error. This will affect your destiny."
Priest Tomate turns around, switching from devout Chief God Priest to a crucial fleet leader. He observes the silent Mayan rchant Tikalo with a half-smile, speaking in the alliance’s Navajo language. For so reason, the sacrificial dagger in Priest Tomate’s hand remains drawn, shining in dark red light under the fla.
"Tikalo, you should know His Highness’s regard for this East exploration. Yet you plotted all this. Therefore, are you prepared to offer enough compensation to calm His Highness’s wrath? Or are you ready to sacrifice yourself, offering your heart to the divine spirit..."
User Comments
0 comments from readers