A large empty cavern with a dull haze covering the ground. There was just enough light to see about ten feet in front of him. But who was he? And where was he? Where was the dim light in the cavern coming from? So many questions, but it was hard to focus with the pain twisting in his gut. He knew that the only cure was to consume something. But the cavern was only rough stone and the light fog that covered everything. He looked around but it was the same in every direction.

  “Hmm, so young to know such hunger. But you should not be here.” A voice came from the darkness.

  It was a hiss, a growl, and a scream all combined into a horrible cacophony that barely resembled speech. Somehow the meaning behind these sounds was clear to him.

  “Where is here?” he questioned the voice.

  “This is nowhere. You are too far away to be worth the effort. Leave, it is not yet time.”

  With these words, the pain in his stomach became sharper. It seemed to grab hold of his subconscious and pull him away. A second voice came to him as his vision blurred at the edges.

  “Hey,” it whispered. “Hey, wake up!” This time more urgent.

  Wake up? His vision went black, and his eyes snapped open. The fog in his head began to clear as he looked around. The other children were still packed around him. The voice was from Kurtis who was right next to him.

  “You sure thrash around a lot when you sleep,” he said with a funny look.

  “It was just a bad dream,” Hugh replied while rubbing his eyes.

  He was hungry once again, the pain from his dream had followed him to the conscious world.

  He looked at the children on his other side who had also woken due to his restless sleep. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

  “Forget about that and listen, it sounds like they’re doing something right outside the door!” Kurtis interrupted to get his attention.

  Sure enough, there was some conversation going on outside the door. It was too muffled to make anything out but the doors opened to reveal another wagon. It was actually eight wagons once Hugh looked past the lead. All of them packed with more children.

  “Everybody up!” shouted one of the guards. He was fairly pudgy with a thin mustache and red face. “Time to get moving!”

  The guards began to unload the new children in a hurry. None of them were given food or water. They were simply hauled out and chained to the rope. There was some variety in this group. There was a couple of Vekesh, covered in fur with small horns growing out of their heads and hooves for feet. They looked similar enough to be a brother and sister.

  There was also two Ogrin. One was only slightly smaller than Kurtis. She had grey skin and black hair with teeth that were more like the tusks of a boar. The second was a short creature. Green skin and large pointed ears. Sharp teeth were currently bared as she looked around. That one was for sure a goblin, though Hugh had no idea what the first girl was.

  Even though there were more wagons and children than Hugh’s group had, it took considerably less time to unload and secure them. Soon there was only a cage left to the side.

  “Is that the troublesome one?” Pudgy asked, pointing in Venerith’s direction.

  “Yes sir, that’s the one night shift was talking about.” Replied a subordinate.

  “Then tie him up well and ensure he can’t screw things up. Now hurry up, we need to get the offerings to the site quickly. Damn Priests are impatient and wanted to start extra early.” Growled the heavy man that Hugh assumed was in charge.

  Venerith looked to still be sleeping on his side. Two armored men quickly moved to the cage and began unlocking it. While one opened it, the other stood at the ready with a wooden baton. They seemed to have learned from the other shift's mistake because as soon as the cage opened Venerith kicked off the back to spring out. His face was immediately introduced to a foot and both guards pinned him to the ground and tied his hands behind him. They also tied his feet together with just enough slack to walk but not run or kick anything.

  The rest of the guards focused on untying the large ropes from the wall and attaching them to a wagon and each other. The end was knotted so no one could slide off and run free.

  “Listen up!” The lead hollered. He seemed to enjoy shouting a lot. “You will follow the wagon. If anyone does not keep up they’ll get a warning. If I have to stop the wagon there will be consequences for everyone. So, it’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure the person in front of you isn’t a problem. Now move!”

  The wagon began to move, slowly at first but quickly picking up speed. It evened out at a fast walk as they were led out of the room and through the doors they had first come in. Back outside, the sun was just starting to light the land. The rocky trail was still moist from the rain last night and slowed the pace of the wagon. Some of the children still slipped and fell due to the rope they were all tied to tugging at their feet. The pudgy leader would then scream at them to get up and if they didn’t move fast enough the wagon would have to stop. Anyone around the person who fell got yelled at and a hard slap across the face. The captives quickly learned that if one fell they needed to pick them up fast.

  The trip was probably only twenty minutes up the rest of the mountain, but to Hugh, it felt like hours. He was still weak despite finally getting some food the night before and the march was tiring him out quickly. Not to mention the stomach growling and pain that seemed to beg for his attention constantly.

  Finally at the top was a large stone building. It looked well made and had at least a small amount of artistic design to it. There was a large tree with a flaming red canopy. Just like the ones on the guard uniforms, except this one was much better cared for.

  ‘This must be a church. The only time I've seen that symbol on a building was on the church back in Ordith.’ Thought Hugh. ‘Greedy bastards were always asking for donations but when I came for help they would chase me away. Now I’m being dragged here because they want something from me. What about what I want? I’m about to be Gods damned sacrificed, and all they could spare was a measly ration bar.’

  The procession of children was brought through the doors into a large dark chapel. More guards were here including Captain Rudwin, as well as another large group of children. They were off to the side as the priests were gathered around a large, raised stone platform. Except, as Hugh was led around with the rest of the group, he saw that it was not a platform at all. It was a pit. He couldn’t see very deep from this angle, but he could hear wind descending into it. The noise it made sounded like distant howls of monsters and blood-chilling screams of horror.

  “Finally!” stated one of the priests in the brown and red robes of the Scouring Light. This was the same Priest that they had met the night before.

  “Took your time getting here.” He hissed at the Leader of the men who brought them up.

  “Apologies, Cleric Sonnard. We thought the beginning of the ritual was to start later,” the man replied.

  “We need to start as soon as possible with so many offerings. We can always slow down if it looks like the ritual will end too soon but speeding up is significantly harder. Or would you like to tell the citizens of the empire that we missed the Harvest moon, and we need another ten percent of their young ones,” the priest hissed.

  “No cleric, I did not mean to assume I know the workings of these things,” the man bowed in reply.

  “At least some of the men here know how to show proper respect when talking to those who know better Captain,” he sneered in the direction of Captain Rudwin.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Of course, Cleric,” replied Rudwin, voice overflowing with sarcasm. “I mean no disrespect; I simply dislike the smell of having my face pressed against another man’s rear.”

  Sonnard turned red and seemed about to spit venom at the Captain when a younger man in priestly robes approached.

  “We have everything at the ready Cleric.” He said with a small bow.

  “Good, then let us begin,” Sonnard replied, breaking his hateful gaze from Rudwin.

  He walked to the top of the platform by the pit and began to speak, hands outstretched and head to the sky.

  “Resami, giver of life and creator of the races, we come to ask for aid in a time of need. The land grows dry and infertile, and our sustenance dwindles each day. We come with an offering to the land, a tithe of essence, untainted by the use of their core. We give back to the world that has given to us, so that the land may once more bear fruit and give us life, as you did so long ago. With this, we begin the offerings of pure essence!” By the end, he was shouting but this seemed to be the cue.

  The first set of children was brought up. It appeared they would do five at a time. All were brought before one of the priests that lined the edge of the large pit by one of the guards. These guards were better dressed and appeared to be selected specifically by the church for this ritual.

  The children struggled but were easily brought to their respective spots. These guards didn’t struggle with them in the slightest. Clearly, they had some control of essence and had fortified their bodies. The Priests then drew out ornate daggers from their robes and closed their eyes in focus. The daggers began to glow with a red light.

  In unison, the priests chanted, “From the ashes of destruction, new life may grow stronger than before!”

  And with those words, they plunged the daggers straight into the center of the children, right where their cores would be. Immediately they began to scream, and smoke poured from the wound in their stomachs. The priests then pushed the children back, right off the edge of the platform. The screams echoed all the way down. There was never a sound of anything hitting the bottom. At some point, the cries of the sacrifices just blended into the howling wind that came constantly from the pit anyway.

  The children all began to quiver in fear. This was no mere killing of children. This was torture. They were setting their core aflame to break it and release the essence inside. Pain beyond imagining as your insides were consumed by fires made of essence. Your very being used to fuel the flame. Even the guards shivered in fear. It was clear they did not know that this would be part of the ritual. This was not going to be a quick death.

  “Bring the next group!” Shouted Sonnard.

  Most just stood in shock as the ritual guards grabbed five more from the line and brought them up. The next five screamed and thrashed all the way to the edge of the chasm but could do nothing in the grips of these powerful essence users. Once again, they chanted and stabbed these children. The only trace of the deed was the blood on the daggers and the sounds they made as they fell.

  As the guards came to collect the next set, the children had all begun to panic. The ropes held them in place as they cried in fear. Nowhere to run as the next were collected.

  “Cleric Sonnard, stop! What are you doing?” Shouted a guard. It was Godrick. “This is madness. Why are you torturing these poor souls before you send them off? These are just children!” He cried out.

  “Be silent! Do not interrupt the ritual. Captain Rudwin, I will not tolerate any more lack of discipline from you or your men. The sacrifices must have their cores broken to release the essence inside. Otherwise, we are simply feeding cores to the demons of the depths. This is the most efficient way to conduct the ritual. Now get in line or get out. I will not have your soft mind doom the rest of the Empire to starvation.”

  Rudwin grabbed Godrick by the shoulder and pulled him back into line. His own hand was clenched in a fist and his face was pale and hollow. He pulled Godrick to the side where they whispered with some of the other soldiers. As the third and fourth groups were sacrificed the whispering seemed to intensify. It went deathly silent when the fifth group was grabbed.

  “Uncle, please! Don’t let them hurt me. Uncle Rudy, I don’t want to be stabbed, please!” A young girl was fighting with all her might. Tears pouring down her face and snot coming out of her nose. She was apparently talking to Captain Rudwin. The look on his face was one of terror. It appeared his niece was one of the sacrifices. His entire body trembled as the entire group was brought before the priest. Sonnard seemed to have noticed and smiled maliciously at Rudwin.

  Then a voice Hugh had completely forgotten about in his terrified state laughed at the captain, “I knew you were a worthless coward deep down. Throw your family away and watch them be slaughtered like pigs!” It was Venerith.

  He decided to taunt the Captain while his niece was brought up to have her core set ablaze. This was a breaking point and immediately he thrust his hand out and a beam of fire shot toward the priest in front of his niece. Sonnard was evidently awaiting this and immediately a wall of ash burst from his robes and intercepted the beam, deflecting it away. This was the signal for all hell to break loose. All the guards that had come with Rudwin drew their swords and began to free the children.

  The other guards seemed to hesitate on what to do until Sonnard screamed, “Stop them you fools. They’re ruining the ritual. All the planning will be for nothing. Do as your empire has commanded and kill these traitors!”

  The rest of the soldiers seemed to decide on loyalty to their cause rather than the rogue Captain. It became a battle of Rudwin’s men against all the other soldiers. Five against twenty with Rudwin himself facing down all of the clergy’s special guards. He was holding his own quite well too. Dodging and parrying while sending blasts of flame when he had an opening.

  Venerith immediately took the opportunity to stomp on the back of a guard’s knee. With a sickening snap, the man’s leg collapsed beneath him and the young noble stomped on his throat with the leg that wasn’t chained. A hollow crunch was followed by gagging sounds as the man started suffocating.

  The older children started to join in all jumping at the hostile soldiers in an attempt to distract them as the friendly guards fought to free them. This didn’t last long however because many did not have the same skill when it came to fighting or the surprise that Venerith had used. The children were a lot less enthusiastic to help when the soldiers started gutting them with swords.

  Meanwhile, Captain Rudwin was like a whirlwind. Dancing through blades faster than Hugh could keep track. Attacks that seemed sure to be lethal would slide off a blade that wasn’t there only moments before. His assailants were being pressed back despite the advantage of numbers. He was using them against each other, ensuring a friendly was always in the way of a clean attack, never in one place for more than a breath. Slowly but surely he made his way toward his niece.

  The priests had been stunned by the sudden battle, now just standing with mouths agape. They were broken out of their trance by more orders from Sonnard. Despite being a complete asshole, he seemed to be the most prepared for this situation.

  “Finish these offerings and move back, don’t just stand there you morons!”

  The rest of the priests seemed to slowly gather their wit. Rudwin was only ten feet away now. With a blast of heat, the surrounding guards fell back and he dashed toward the priest who had begun chanting above his niece. The priests were struggling much more to hold the children still as they had apparently not focused on enhancing their bodies with essence but more on channeling it outward.

  Focused on the ritual, the priest did not see the point of a blade headed straight for his neck. Nor did it matter. Just before the blade could pierce flesh, a solid ball of ash collided with the Captain, knocking him away from his goal. A scream tore its way from his throat at the same time as the girl he had been trying to save. A dagger was stuck in her stomach as she screamed in agony, smoke pouring from the wound. All he could do was watch as her body was shoved over the edge of the pit. He ran to the edge, desperate for a way to save her but it was too late. Rage tore its way free in a torrent of heat and flames. The entire room seemed to become an oven as the Captain prepared to avenge his loss.

  The priest’s guard guessed that they would not survive a further encounter and one of the men mustered the courage to sprint at him, sword drawn. Rudwin spun instantly and ran the man through the chest. It seemed this was the guard’s plan as he continued forward and threw both himself and the threat into the chasm below.

  “Saaaaam!” Shouted Godrick, watching his friend fall into a dark abyss.

  The guardsman paid for his lapse in attention with a blade through his back. The few guards left were being cut down quickly now that the essence users were free. The children who had escaped were blocked in by a wall of roots that sealed the door. They were being herded back to the wall and beaten into submission.

  Venerith was in the middle of the room with a blade pointed out, back to the pit. Kurtis had joined him and had found a blade of his own that he swung back and forth like a bludgeon.

  Hugh had stayed out of the way of all this conflict, watching from the sidelines. It was clear they had lost. There was nowhere to run and all the men who had fought for them lay dead on the floor. Pain once more pulled at Hugh’s stomach. He remembered the words the Cleric had spoken. All this was so that the rest of the Empire could grow crops and have food again.

  ‘No one gave a damn about me as I starved right in front of them. Not the people and not the church. Fine then,’

  Hugh climbed up on the ledge and shouted as loud as he could, “Hey, you worthless bags of donkey shit!”

  The room went quiet once more, and all eyes were on him. Before anyone else could get a word in Hugh made his intentions clear.

  “I hope your entire rat hole country starves to death!” He said, looking the cleric right in the eyes.

  And with those final words, Hugh jumped into the pit. Fuck them and their sacrifice. If he wasn’t getting something for helping them They certainly weren’t going to stab him in the soul before he fell down the pit anyway.

  The smug satisfaction only lasted for a second as he now realized he was plummeting to his doom. He felt himself hit a lot of different things on the way down, including a few walls and a slope that threw him down a side tunnel. As he felt many of the bones in his body break, he had a small second of frozen time where he thought to himself, at least they didn’t set my core on fire and then throw me in the pit.

  It was his last thought before he felt a hard and yet somehow soft impact and the world went dark.