The Luring and Sacrifice of Anasya

Nanok emerges from his study parched and famished, taking in the hot desert sun. It wasn’t nearly as warm as the volcano, but provided plenty of heat all the same. As he walks down the dirt street to the city’s tavern, he catches a glimpse of a stranger through the window. Definitely a woman judging by the figure. He chuckled to himself thinking of the possibility of a new lay as he then recognizes that the woman was clad in white linen. Good against the desert rays, but to be only wearing that color? His heart begins to race with excitement. Perhaps this was the one. He enters the familiar tavern with his usual swagger when approaching women. The woman looks back behind her to observe the approaching old man, allowing him to get a good look at her face. She was young. Olive skin and dark hair. Meticulously groomed. Lack-luster breasts. Ornate jewelry adorned her face like the ridge of a veil. She was drinking from the standard goblet; the fresh liquid inside it and on her lips was clear. He takes in her scent as he sits right next to her, getting a little too close than most people would. She smelled lightly of sweat and lavender. Probably rubbed the flower on herself in lieu of perfume. But most importantly, there was no smell of alcohol either on her breath or near her. He gives her a big smile as he mentally tallies another point towards his theory.

“Why hello there deary!” he says ogling her further, taking in every inch of her body. “Can’t say I’ve seen ya ‘round here before. I’m Nanok. Pleasure to meet ya. What’s a pretty girl like you doing in such a dusty place like this?” The woman sighs as she sets down her goblet and faces him. “My name is Anasya. I came here to find like minded brothers and sisters. I’ve discovered that they can be found in any of the corners of the earth, even in this dust as you say.” Her voice was strong, yet supple like a swaying palm tree. The proud and practical type, with little care for small talk. “Interestin” the old man says rubbing his beard. “Can’t say I’ve seen anyone that looks, talks, or acts like ya unfortunately deary. Most that live or come by here are ugly. And they aren’t ever as….proper as yerself. You carry yerself differently then most” Anasya gives a ghost of a smile and an affirming nod. “Yes, I have noticed. Women here seem to not know their place in the grand order. I had to splash water on one such visitor that thought it was fit to concern herself with topics reserved for men. It seems like only those of the cloth have any self-respect these days.” The words flowed from her mouth like marbles: Solid and distinct, yet small and simple. She seemed to take pride in her state of mind compared to others.

Nanok’s smile grows. This one may very well be his much-needed virgin. “Heh! I bet that showed her well enough. But now I’m curious…you mentioned those of the cloth like yourself…are…are you a priestess by chance?” Anasya’s steely façade crumbles from the weight of her self-righteousness as she beams in pride. “Indeed I am. I am a priestess of Mitra, praise be upon him. And though my male counterpoints may rightfully have more authority, I am equal in righteousness, for my mind, spirit, and body have all been long purged of the temptations of Set and the physical world. I make it my mission while I am captive here to be a worthy servant of Mitra, so that his Grace may rest upon all who accept it." Nanok begins to laugh. Long had he searched for a desert flower, only for one to fall in his lap. His laughter brings forth tears of joy as he kneels down before the priestess, pulling at her dress. “Oh thank heaven! My prayers have been answered! I have searched for weeks hoping to find someone like you, and here you are!” Anasya is startled at first, but softens her expression as Nanok professes his gratitude. “All prayers shall be answered elder….Pray tell, what have you sought after me?” Tears subsiding as he rises he answers “I need a priestess of great virtue deary! Someone who is the definition of purity. Only then do I have a chance!” He rushes out of the doorway for a moment, before turning around and calling back to Anasya: “Please wait here while I grab some medical supplies! We need to hurry if we’re gonna make it there before sundown! It’s not that far!” As the old sorcerer runs to the city infirmary, he hears the priestess cry “M-medical? Yes! Hurry!”

Nanok bursts into the infirmary and begins to grab a few tools and instruments from Doctor Cassia’s personal stash. These would help ensure that everything was correct before going forward. He then sprints out of the building before immediately nabbing his personal ritual sack, already prepared for this day. The old man then practically bounds down the town stairs as he calls out to Anasya: “I’ve got everything! Keep up with me and we’ll be there in no time!” He then runs past her, looking over his shoulder once to ensure she was following him, as the two rush out of the city towards the Shattered Springs. The journey took some time, only because the poor girl somehow had worse lungs then his ancient set. It didn’t help that the poisonous air seemed to constantly waft their direction, sending the priestess into cough fits often. He looks back to check that she’s fine, and each time she defiantly presses onward, determined to prove that she is worthy of whatever great task that only the purest can accomplish. He chuckles to himself at the thought. They were almost near Baki’s home, and with her the ritual would be a guaranteed success. He had accounted for everything long prior to this day. Reaching the highest point of the outer spring, he calls Anasya over to him as he gestures to the lake in front of them, the poisoned air practically trying to seep into their skin as they step closer. “Here deary,” he says pointing over the poisoned lake. “Gaze upon this foul curse!” he says motioning for her to take a closer look by the edge. The priestess clad in white steps forward, taking in the landscape, eyes locked on the lake. “This place is unholy. I may not be of use” she says with a tinge of sorrow. “Oh, I disagree” the old sorcerer says as he clubs her over the head. The poor woman’s eyes roll to the back of her head as she crumples, muttering incoherently. Nanok then grabs her unconscious body and carries her near the home of his love.

Fastening Anasya to the alter overlooking the spring, he then takes out the medical tools he nabbed before he left New Lithos. Using the instruments, delicately checks her body underneath and confirms his suspicion and her claim: She was indeed a virgin. Setting aside the tools he calls out to Baki “Come quick! We can begin immediately my love!” After a moment, a sorcerous clad in black wearing a tooth emerges from the home. The two embrace for a, lips caressing each other sensually as they hold each other tightly. “When we’re done here, we should celebrate properly”, Baki says playfully as she lets go, prodding at one of Nanok’s old wounds. “Anything for you Sapling” he says as he stares deep into her eyes, before looking over to the bound Anasya. “But let’s finish here first shall we? We don’t want all our practice to be for nothin do we? Eyeheheh” The two cackle together for a moment as they move to their assigned places.

Baki begins to chant in the language of the Void as Nanok awakens Anasya. The priestess tries to move and cry out, but her body fails her completely. “Don’t worry deary,” Nanok says reassuring the girl. “You’ll be with your god soon enough…if they even want you after this that is! Eyeheheh!” The old coot rips apart her blouse to expose her chest, before takes out the Smoldering Stone, heat still radiating like a forge, and places it on her sternum. The stone burns her flesh, forcing her tongue to be loosened and cry out in pain. After a minute of scorching her chest, Nanok removes the stone and sets it down on the alter of obsidian. Admiring the newly burnt flesh on the virgin priestess, he then pulls out a large heart of a beast. It was still warm, though not nearly as hot as the Stone was on its own, and yet the its hot blood seemed to call out to it. Making a precise incision, Nanok cuts into the firebeast’s heart and inserts the Smoldering Stone inside it, watching as it seemed to drink the hot juices of the organ. As the heart seemed to maintain a ghost of a beat, he sets it aside once again and takes the knife and looks deep into Anasya’s eyes. Still reeling pain from the stone, she didn’t even notice the knife until it pierced her chest. With the priestess’ screams invigorating him, he cuts and saws away her ribs quickly until her own beating heart was completely exposed. Not hesitating for a moment, he then cuts out the heart, the girl panicking at the sight of her own organ removed.

Just as Anasya’s screams subsided into panicked gasps, Nanok placed the firebeast heart inside her chest cavity. The girl’s virgin blood reacted with the heart and Stone almost immediately, causing it to practically ignite. The priestess lets out a harrowing scream as her blood is sucked away into the Stone, all the while as it scorches her flesh black and cooks her alive from the inside-out. While Anasya lives out her final minutes in sheer agony, Nanok raises his arms as his head slumps. A chilling lullaby then cuts through the burning air: '”Shugnahoth ot shugg ng fm'latghor, ph' ph'lloig li. Mgah'ehye fahf virgin fm'latgh. Reignite fm'latghor. R'luh ephaiah mine, mgah'ehye loose ymg' chains. Mgah'ehye fahf virgin fm'latgh. Reignite fm'latghor. Ignite fm'latghor”'

When the lullaby is finished, Baki’s chanting and the Anasya’s screaming stop at once as well. The sorcerer opens his eyes and gazes down at the priestess, now only a burnt husk more resembling a statue of charcoal than a woman. He smiles has he grabs the now blackened firebeast heart and peels away its flesh, revealing the Kindled Heart. Baki gazes into the Heart as well, eyes sparkling with a twisted look. Nanok then takes her by the hand and guides her to the alter, where they then sit with Anasya’s corpse between them. The old coot then takes the fresh heart of Anasya, the only thing left of her that wasn’t burnt, and eyes it for a moment. He looks down at the corpse before cracking off some burnt bits, sprinkling them on the heart like a garnish, before offering it to Baki. “Here you are my love. It’s the least I can do. Everything went perfectly thanks to your help.” Baki smiles at Nanok, before taking a big, juicy bite out of the heart. Giggling as she eats, she replies “Anything for the old man I love”. The two then cuddle as they watch the sunset, satisfied with each other’s presence and a job well done.