Dorin's Devotion

For a solid week after the creation of the angels, things were quiet for Ahsch. That wasn't to say that nothing happened - more materials were ordered for the construction in the woods, the construction itself was started, Ahsch and his girls began to put together at least a tentative outline for his new cult, and the Dominant Mage resumed tinkering with his magic - but nothing ground-breaking or urgent occurred. Phashim didn't turn up again; the only contact with Kirasiel was several days after she met the angels, and that was a simple missive to inform the hrafthi that his cult was given official permission to proselytize; while construction was starting up, there was little-to-nothing for Ahsch to deal with aside from sign papers and read progress reports; and while some tenets for the religion were being formed, Ahsch was still ruminating on the important parts.

Like what domains to aim for. What commandments to proclaim. The sorts of things he couldn't take back once he revealed them. The things that Butler had given him a lot to think about.

Two things stood out during that week. Both were important, but neither quite reached the level of draconic visitation.

The first was the realization that multiple times, Ahsch had overlooked the advantage of his Heart Sight, embedded as it was within Threefold Senses. A recent example being the dinner with Kirasiel - the hrafthi was sure he'd seen at least a ghost of a smile on the royal brat's face, but he didn't know why she had smiled. And while his ability to see emotions could've helped, he hadn't even noticed at the time.

It wasn't a failing of Threefold Senses, he realized. It was a failing of his own mind. While the condensed spell let him have all three of his sensory spells active at once without giving him a headache, the sheer amount of information streaming in from seeing magic, emotions, and having heightened senses all around was simply too much for his mind to handle all at once. So much like he could walk through a crowd, look at people's faces, and then not remember a single face ten minutes after, if he didn't focus on the Heart Sight aspect of Threefold Senses, it simply didn't register to him. There was no mystical notification or logbook he could look back at to review missed or forgotten bits of information.

There were, of course, ways around that. Just like magical and physical 'stats,' there were mental 'stats' that he could improve, thanks to the Mana that now saturated his body. Overall, mental stats didn't improve anywhere near as much as physical and magical could, but it was still something to pursue. Which prompted Ahsch to start doing mental exercises, often in tandem with his magic. There was no HUD or stat sheet to check his progress with, but he hoped that eventually he'd be able to notice improvements.

The second event of the week was that Ahsch finally made up his mind about Dorin. In the end, with the way things were going overall, the Dominant Mage had to concede that the benefits far outweighed his own objections, especially when not only the servant in question, but his girls all were in agreement that making Dorin a Thrall was the best choice. If he was going to make an entire cult to himself, it was silly not to use the rest of his tools on a consenting ally.

But unlike his first three Thralls, Ahsch didn't want to simply get Dorin's oath and call it a wrap. It was too important an event, and treating it so casually could lead to just as casual of disregard for the importance of what was happening. So Ahsch decided to make it a proper ceremony, at least somewhat.

With input from the other four - not counting Kirasiel - who were aware of Dominant's Tithe and the Thralls, a simple, quick ritual was formed. Lacking any sort of proper hall or chamber to hold a ritual in, the group was in Ahsch's study. Ariin and Mahat stood to one side, while Aena, Nyrin, and Sifthi lined up on the other side and a little further back. Avery and Butler looked on from in front of Ahsch as witnesses, while Dorin stood before the hrafthi, who was in front of his desk.

Taking a deep breath, Ahsch recited the lines he had come up with, feeling slightly silly for the whole rigamarole, but determined to cement the importance of taking a new Thrall. "Dorin, you have come to offer your servitude, beyond that of a manservant or attendant."

"Yes, My Lord."

"Do you do this knowing the consequences: that my will shall become yours, and your release shall be mine to allow?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Do you do this of your own free will, without **** or doubt?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Do you agree to be bound thus forevermore?"

There was only the slightest hesitation before, "Yes, My Lord."

"Then present your Oath, that I might accept you into my service as a Thrall."

Dorin blinked, looking up at Ahsch in confusion. The Dominant Mage had decided against forewarning his servant of that requirement, part out of paranoia of the boy enthralling himself without Ahsch's go-ahead, and partly to see what he would come up with on the spot, without time to craft an Oath ahead of time.

After a few moments of thought, Dorin spoke. "I, Dorin, hereby swear myself to my Lord... and Master, Ahsch Odestag, as a Thrall in his service. I shall serve as always, and endeavor to serve ever better, for the betterment of my Master."

Even as Ahsch felt the Oath take, an the fourth of his Thrall 'slots' was taken up, he nodded, then bowed his head. "I accept your Oath, and take you as a Thrall in my service. Your devotion shall be rewarded."

The room was silent for a moment, a strange gravitas remaining. It was broken by a slow clap from Avery. "Well, that was sure something," she drawled. "Did it work?"

Ahsch nodded. "It did." Then, looking over at his other two Thralls, he gestured them forward. "I have a few commands for my Thralls."

Ariin arched an eyebrow, but Mahat just smirked knowingly as the two stepped up to flank Dorin. "Firstly: you will not, in any way, shape or for, inform anyone of the requirement of an Oath to become my Thrall. Second: my identity as a 'godling' is to remain secret, until such time as I decide to reveal it. Finally, and for Dorin alone: you are free of the restrictions that Dominant's Tithe places on you in regards to your orgasms - whenever, however, and as much as you like, you have my permission to climax."

The Dorin started to nod, but paused when Ariin and Mahat bowed, both girls smirking while chanting "Yes, Master." Even as Ahsch rolled his eyes, the servant followed suite, giving a deep bow and repeating the line.

"Oh, and Dorin?"

The servant looked up, a hint of worry on his face.