This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder Than Expected

7.31 – Patron

The next morning, Zoey filled Rosalie and Delta in on what Fe had told her. Both seemed pleased by the announcement, though if she had to guess, for primarily different reasons: Rosalie, in relief that they would soon have a reliable artificer to inspect their items, while Delta's delight came from a more … personal interest in the sheepgirl's return.

She gave the good news to Sabina next, since, while Zoey didn't think the two craftsmen had a relationship as meaningful as 'old friends', they were closer than simple acquaintances. Fe had even mentioned Sabina as a factor in what had made her mind up.

"Oh?" Sabina said when Zoey showed up to her room and informed her. "I see. And as soon as tomorrow? How fortunate.  You used one of your dreaming potions to make contact, you said?"

"Yeah. Apparently there's no distance limitation. Was worried there might be, but—got lucky, I guess."

"The possible uses of that potion are intriguing," Sabina mused. "If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate if you took the opportunity to write down your experiences in depth. For my records. I might be able to make derivative potions."

"I'll do that, then."

"Would you like some tea, by the way?" she asked. "I have a few questions of my own, if you aren't in a rush."

"Oh? Sure." Her lessons with Sabina happened later in the day, usually, so she hadn't expected to stay long, only to deliver the news. But she could spare a few moments.

The offer for tea was atypical, but not enough to make her suspicious. There was a tray sitting prepared on a side table, which she hadn't noticed. Sabina grabbed it and brought it over.

"What does your schedule look like for the rest of the day? Are you busy?"

"Always," Zoey sighed in response, taking the offered cup of steaming liquid. "But it's just more of the same. Training, practice, and—you know, other stuff."

Sabina's lips twitched at Zoey's not so subtle implication. The alchemist lifted her tea and took a sip, so Zoey mirrored her. The flavor that hit her tongue nearly made her choke.

"It's sweet!"

"Apologies if it's not to your taste," Sabina said. "Anything crucial?"

"Sorry?"

"In your schedule. Is there anything that couldn't be interrupted? Particularly in the next few hours."

She blinked. "Um. No, like I said, just more of the same. Training, mostly. Probably won't be too long before we set out for the next shard, though I want to be here when Fe arrives. So not till after that." Plus, there was the issue of Astrid. Not that it was an issue, but she was still adjusting to the revelations Zoey had dumped on her, and she guessed it wasn't one-hundred percent confirmed that she would want to tackle a lewder shard. "Why do you ask?"

Her vision swam, her head feeling suddenly foggy. She shook the sleepiness off—at least, she assumed it was a bout of fatigue. What else could it be? But she'd woken well-rested, so she wondered where it had come from.

"Just verifying the timing isn't inconvenient," Sabina said mildly. She took another sip. "That I won't be impinging on anything important. Since I'll be borrowing you for the next few hours."

"You will?" The words came out slurred to her own ears, and a jolt of concern went through her. But even that was muted; her head was growing heavier by the second. Sluggish as her thoughts were, she made the connection as she looked down at her tea. "Did you … drug me?"

Sabina arched an eyebrow, seeming impressed that she'd made the deduction so quickly. "It's difficult to make something potent enough to pierce a fourth advancement wayfarer's constitution, but I am an alchemist. I was up to the task."

In the few remaining moments before she slumped in her chair and lost consciousness, Zoey mused over how little she was worried about the development. She'd made connections with people high up in this world, and danger was implicit by association with them—hadn't even Elodie mentioned assassins? Who was to say such an organization couldn't have gotten to Sabina?@@novelbin@@

Or even that the woman in front of her wasn't someone wearing her face? Zoey and Delta had done that themselves, once, in an infiltration of the Cult. But rather than assuming this was a poisoning, or something of that sort, she just assumed—well, she didn't know what. But Sabina had seemed herself in their interaction, and she trusted her.

Well, too late to worry now.

Her vision went black.

***

She woke some indeterminate amount of time later naked and strapped to a stone slab. Her limbs jerked instinctively, but she was thoroughly restrained; she only managed to shift around, the leather straps creaking in response. Maybe she would have struggled more fervently—and she might have had some success, sharing stats with Rosalie and Delta—but she was interrupted by a voice.

"You're awake. Good. The dosage performed as expected, within variance." Sabina hummed, tapping a finger into the clipboard she was holding. "As I said, drugging wayfarers is tricky, and not my specialty."

The alchemist was standing a few feet away, dressed in her white lab coat. The details of the dimly lit environment trickled in, and it took a second for Zoey to recognize where she was, since she'd only been here a few times.

The Temple. Her temple. The building had changed. It was furnished now: hanging lanterns leaking soft red light, wooden benches with plush pillows for sitting, tapestries hanging on the wall, and carved stone statues among other decorations. The whole space had been taken care of. The alcoves had curtains hanging from them, pulled open, but the implication that they could be turned into private spaces was clear; Aria had mentioned the idea. There was comfortable-looking lounge furniture inside each. The adornments trended, as expected of this 'holy place', sensual in nature. Nudity in the artwork was abundant, and, while mostly tasteful, not in the timeless way a museum might allow. Definitely more carnal than that.

The air was filled with the light smell of incense smoke, jasmine and sandalwood mixing with subtle hints of vanilla. The elegant stone and stained glass interior made it clear this was a temple, but the interior was more reminiscent of … a bordello, perhaps, than a true place of worship.

Aria had done a great job in only a few days of preparations. The temple looked nearly ready to open to the public.

Zoey was lying on the altar, hence why she'd thought it was a 'stone slab.' She was strapped down

"How … thematic," Zoey finally said, piecing together what was happening. She gave another tug on her restraints. "Am I your sacrifice tonight, then?"

"Sacrifice?" Sabina asked, a tinge of amusement in her voice. "I suppose in some senses, you aren't wrong."

"Not that I'm not interested, but an explanation would be nice."

Sabina raised an eyebrow in response. "I hope the tea wasn't too much, but there's a certain atmosphere I'm going for. This was a more dramatic, and thus suitable, arrival, was it not? I did ask for blanket permission."

Ah. Right. That conversation. Another puzzle piece clicked in.

So this was—the event. To Patron Sabina and move her up in advancement through a 'holy ritual'.

Which meant …

Zoey calmed her rapidly quickening heart.

"There's enough energy?" She'd expected this to happen later. Days later, if not a week or more. The temple wasn't even open yet.

"Aria thinks so. She's earned a surplus of 'Holy Energy' in the past few days; she said her reserves feel abundant."

Without any followers, she'd earned that much? Just setting up the temple?

"It works like that?"

"She was surprised as well. But it makes sense. It would count as an act of worship, no, to pour one's attention into the furnishing and establishment of one's temple?"

That did make sense, actually. This was a large, culminating milestone, and the temple looked nearly ready to open. She was pretty sure Aria herself had suggested that even mundane activities as High Priestess would create a trickle of Holy Energy, just not as much as the more 'explosive' events they might one day host.

"Just to verify," Sabina said, "you have no pressing obligations?"

"I should probably tell someone where I've gone, at least."

"That's been handled."

"Then, uh. Yeah. Guess I'm yours."

"Excellent." Sabina walked over, and, twisting under her restraints, Zoey watched her pull a wheeled cart toward the altar. It held rows of vials atop it; there were drawers that might hold other tools or liquids. "You'll be my test subject for today. It seems a suitable ritual for our relationship. And I have the blessing of your High Priestess." She pulled on a pair of white gloves. "Now," she said, plucking a potion from the rack. "Let's see if my labor has borne fruit."