The Giant Cult

NARRATOR NOTE//: Hey everyone! Apologies for the late upload, life just seems to want to keep fucking me right now. I lost my power for a good chunk of Friday, so I lost quite a lot of writing, but luckily this chapter wasn't hurt too much. Unfortunately, next weeks chapter might be a little late as well.

Thanks for sticking with me and my rocky upload schedule as of late. I'm gonna try and get back to consistent uploads some time, if life would remove it's whole fist from my ass soon. Hope you all enjoy this short chapter. JZ

"Hilfa is the culprits name. She is the one responsible for this supposed Cult." The Queen explains as cleans her sword.

"Do we know what this Cult wants?" Terra asks.

"Well, they want us dead, that's about the only certainty we've got." Kyuala says.

"But why now? There's been plenty of times when a group could have attacked." The advisor's/Musha's eyes go wide. "N-n-not that I would ever admit to anyone, my Queen! Nor would I even entertain such treasonous thoughts!"

The Queen chuckles. "I know you wouldn't, Musha. However, I believe their timing is due to Hilfa's meddling with the young sister of the elves. She practically **** this path onto all of you, and the battles fought on your time are easier won."

"So, the whole thing about hearing your voice in her head was bullshit?" Amilia bluntly asks, obviously not listening to the explanation the Queen and John provided earlier.

The Queen looks down at Amilia. "Technically, yes. She did hear a voice, but it was Hilfa's. She apparently found out how to communicate through the curse as the queens of old did. It's probably that discovery that deluded her into thinking that she was better than I. This whole situation is probably an attempt to usurp my throne."

"Surely if that were the case, she would've just stayed and tried to kill us then and there?" John thinks aloud.

"Hilfa isn't someone who stands on the front lines. She is a scientist. She finds ways to break the opposition down with magic and volatile concoctions. She was a key part in defending our home from invaders decades ago."

The advisor aka Musha picks up from there. "She created a gas that could be deployed and would shut down the enemies bodies upon inhaling it. That gas stopped any reinforcements that our unwanted guests may have had, and was practically the reason we won. Of course, the Queen leading the charge gave us the strength we needed to persevere."

"Musha, you don't have to kiss every inch of my perfect posterior. The initial connection is more than enough."

"Yes, my Queen. My apologies." Musha says as she lowers her head.

The Queen then turns back to the group. "As Musha explained, Hilfa is incredibly intelligent. She probably already has--or is working on--some sort of concoction to use on us. Which is why, I would like to offer an accord."

"Don't take it. Any accord she offers always ends up with you being her fucking ****." Kira spits out, finally speaking up.

The Queen turns to the centaur. "You knew fine well what the deal was when it was offered. It's not on my head that you feel like a fool for taking it."

"I wasn't offered anything! I was taken! **** to comply or innocent lives were going to be taken!"

"You were not taken. You were saved. If it wasn't for my scouts, you would be a skeleton, picked at by the crows looking for the last rotting pieces of flesh that still clung to you."

"You call this being saved?!" Kira shouts. "I'm **** to kill innocent people just to prolong your selfish, monstrous lives!"

"Wait, what did you just say?" Clarva asks, her face not believing what she just heard.

"I'm saying that the only reason giants live so long is because they sacrifice innocent people who just so happen to be around them!" Kira explains, her voice never wavering for even a millisecond.

Clarva's stomach drops as the few images of her mother flash in her mind. Karray knows that look all too well, so she quickly flies over to try and comfort her large friend.

"It seems the half-breed didn't know. What a shame you had to find out in such unfortunate fashion." Musha says, practically taunting Clarva.

"Musha. I believe silence is needed from you right now." The Queen orders with a firm tone, shutting her advisor up immediately. "Now, what the centaur just revealed to you all is indeed true. We use sacrifices to prolong our own lifespans. However, we have our reasons."

Amilia scoffs. "No fuckin' way you're gonna try and justify sacrificing people just to keep your selfish ass kicking."

"I don't care much for justification. I care about survival. The giants of old had a problem that no cure could fix. It's something our original ancestor brought with her from her home. Between the ages of one hundred to two hundred, a giants body begins to shut down in one of multiple ways. Either their blood begins to get as thick as mud, their muscles begin to weaken, or the worst of the three... they become feral."

"I feel like the answer is obvious, but I have to ask; what happens if they become feral?" Virra asks, knowing full well what the answer is going to be.

"The giant loses all touch with reality. They become more savage than those undead you fought. I've seen the horrors just one rabid giant can unleash, so could you imagine the devastation a whole clan could unleash?"

"We've seen the results of your clan's handy work down in Hynesgar. If those are the tame ones, I wouldn't like to see crazy bastards." John says.

The Queen gets that confused look that John has seen a few times now. "In Hynesgar? What do you mean? What happened?"

Clarva decides to answer the Queen's question with one of her own. "You're telling us you didn't know about a few of your ponies trampling half a village just for shits-and-giggles?"

"No. I didn't. How long ago was this?" The Queen asks, her tone remaining neutral.

"About a month ago according to one of the people. It seemingly aligns with the first sign of symptoms in Virra and I's youngest sister." Terra responds.

The Queen hums to herself. "Hilfa, you fiendishly clever wretch. She's been planning this for some time it seems."

"Planning what, your highness?" Musha asks.

"A takeover. I believe that the taunting of your sister was the beginning. She taunts your sister, believing she won't be saved by your family, then she sends out some grunts to begin carving a path for the newly turned giant to follow. She'd probably to continue brainwashing the girl, getting her to blame me for her uncontrollable actions, then once she arrived, Hilfa would offer her help in taking my life. So, Hilfa and her traitorous legion combined with a blood-thirsty giant, it would've almost certainly led to my **** or serious injury at the least."

Amilia looks at the surrounding corpses of the giants. "Didn't you just take out a bunch of giants like five minutes ago? How the fuck does one more make a difference?"

"Because they lost the upper hand thanks to John letting me know about the voice in the girl's head." The Queen answers.

Virra then asks the next question. "So, where do we fit in amongst this mess?"

"That's simple. You don't, or rather, you didn't."

The group are left confused at the Queen's words.

"Let me explain." The Queen starts before continuing. "Obviously, none of us here knew that you all were going to come to Muprosyll, and we especially didn't expect John to be roaming around. Now, unfortunately for Hilfa, I requested that she begin working on the energy project, so the ability to continue with that previous plan of hers was greatly hindered. However, extremely fortunately for her, you all arrived and came to our door step. I am not one to believe in the divine, but I can't simply accept that you all coming here was mere coincidence. What I can believe with the utmost certainty, is that Hilfa had nothing to do with getting you here whatsoever, unless she struck some sort of deal with an extremely powerful entity."

"Which becomes entirely possible since there's a Cult running amok now." Lani adds.

"Exactly. Now, we can't say for certain until we get to Hilfa. Which is why I wish for us to enter an accord."

"Doesn't matter what the circumstances are, do not accept any sort of deal that comes out of her mouth." Kira spits with nothing but venom.

"We should at least hear her out." John says to the centaur's dismay.

"Alright. I shall lay out the terms as plainly as possible. Your group and my clan will work together in dispatching of this supposed Cult, and any members that may include. In exchange for saving my home, I shall remove the curse from the girl, and I will leave John untouched."

A quiet envelops the room like a unexpected fog sneaking in. The accord seems simple enough, a bond that benefits both, but the Queen's previous actions leave that doubt in the back everyone's mind. However, that is not the last of the Queen's words.

"And for your help, centaur, I shall grant you the freedom you desire, and I shall leave the villages of your people alone. I will even swear an oath to it."

Everyone is shocked, especially Musha whose eyes have gone wide. "Your highness! What about-"

"I know exactly what I'm risking here, Musha. However, we have no clue just how many of our number belong to this cult, and thus, we don't have many trustworthy options."

"And you still don't." Clarva says.

The Queen turns to the half-giant. "Mightenos. You are the daughter of a great warrior, one who had lifetimes to perfect her skills. Now, you may not agree with how her life was extended, but if not for that, you wouldn't have been born. You may feel like your memories of her are tainted, but the curse of us giants is that we don't exist without the horrible actions of our forefathers. However, putting all of that aside, I hate to admit that I need your help with this Cult. I need all of your help."

The group remain silent after hearing the Queen's plea to Clarva. No matter how much Kira tries to convince herself that the Queen's words are filled with nothing but lies, everyone in the room could hear the desperation in the Queen's voice.

The group share glances filled with uncertainty, hoping the other has made their choice so they can follow, but unfortunately, they all seem to be in the same boat.

Well, all except for one.

"I accept." Clarva says, stunning everyone, but Karray is the most shocked out of them all.

"Clarva! What are you doing?! After everything we've talked about?!" Karray asks, beginning to know what's going on in her best friends mind.

"On a condition of my own." Clarva continues, not answering Karray's question.

The Queen nods. "Whatever you like."

"I want you in the pit... to the ****."

Stunned silence continues as the tempered fury of Clarva burns in her eyes, directed solely at the Queen of the Giants.

The Queen looks at Clarva, and a smile appears on her face, rivalling the seriousness of the half-giant in front of her.

"If we survive the battle that I expect will occur, then I will gladly show you why I am the Queen." The smile may remain on the Queen's face, but there's some venom in her words that tells Clarva that she truly means it.

As the giants stare at one another, John finally makes his decision. "I'll fight with you."

The Queen looks to her left, looking directly at the human. A chuckle escapes the large woman's lips before saying, "You've already surprised me twice today, I suppose that this makes three."

"If you truly mean to uphold your word, then I'll gladly kill some more giants." Kyuala says as she takes John's hand. "However, if you don't keep your promise, I will add you to that list as well."

"I expect nothing less." The Queen responds.

After those words from the Queen, the elf sisters and Amilia move forward, now standing beside John and Kyuala.

"I guess we're joining as well. I owe Green Machine here a few." Amilia jokes as she nudges Kyuala's arm.

As the group, plus Clarva are all on the same page, the only three remaining are Lani, Karray, and Kira. Lani is the first to give her answer. "I'm with you John, always."

John gives his guide a warm smile as she reaffirms her place on John's shoulder.

Next, Clarva looks at Karray as the pixie just lets out a sigh. "Fuck. You know I'm with you, C. Just like we promised."

Finally, everyone looks at Kira who is leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her spear dangling from her shoulder. "What? Do you think I'm going to happily join in on the comraderie? I don't know you people from the dirt under my boot, and I'm certainly not going to happily fight by the side of the bitch who enslaved me."

"But...?" The Queen asks, cheekily insinuating that there's a continuation about to occur.

Her insinuation is correct as Kira lets out a sigh of her own. "But... I'll join as well. I will take any opportunity I can get to kill some of you overgrown bastards."

The Queen smiles. "Well, it seems like we've assembled quite the **** squad. Now, we move onto the first step of our plan."

"Which is?" Kira asks.

"We find out who is on our side." Musha answers as she heads to the door.

A few seconds later, the door closes behind Musha as she heads toward the pit to rally the troops as it were. Meanwhile, the others remain in the throne room.

"So, are we supposed to just sit here with our thumbs up our asses?" Amilia asks.

"As fun as that sounds, no. While Musha is gathering the clan, let us begin to plan for the storm that probably awaits us."

"And where do we start?" Kyuala asks.

"We must prepare to go down to Hilfa's territory. Which also means that it's time you all learn the truth of the Skygrabber Mountains."

Clarva beats everyone to the punch by asking, "What secret?"

The Queen looks at all of them before answering. "The mountains aren't just any regular mountains. It's all connected to a singular super volcano."

Following the most common trend of the group, the room falls into a dead silence as the risk of everything has just increased a hundred fold.