CHAPTER 342: HUNGERING

I finally got out of bed, though reluctantly, and made my way out of the bedroom, and into a greeting room of sorts.

’Seems I was right.’ I thought as I looked around the lavishly furnished greeting room, which was equally as fancy as the bedroom I was just in.

Nobody was here of course. Likely because the Emberin Lady told people not to disturb me until I came out. Which I am thankful for.

But right now, I wanted to eat someone. I don’t know why, but I had a craving to just swallow someone whole.

And I was feeling picky.

I wanted someone thick and meaty. I wanted someone who would struggle and resist me. I wanted the full predator experience.

’Goddess, how long has it been since I last did this? It must’ve been... I can’t even remember, but I’m sure that I’ve done it somewhat recently...’

’Oh yeah! The dungeon! I completely forgot about that! ... I barely remember that experience though... Everything about it just feels fuzzy except a few bits here and there...’

As I reminisced, another pang of hunger struck as my stomachs rumbled with a growing hunger, reminding me that I needed to satiate it soon, or else... I instinctually feel something bad will happen.

Shaking my head, I went to the exit of the greeting room and went through, finding myself in a fairly long hallway, with doors spread out along it, likely leading to more private rooms.

None of my concern right now.

’Why have I only just realised what this hunger is anyways?’ I pondered as I slithered along it until I came across a large door that looked like it led to somewhere important.

So, I opened it. And it was somewhere important as there were many Naga gathered here, all in different coloured and patterned robes, all being informed of their new orders by the Emberin Lady I met earlier.

And the moment I opened the doors, everyone turned to look at me before bowing and greeting me in unison.

""""Greetings holy one.""""

I was a little taken aback momentarily by how loud it was but brushed it off and immediately stated my demands.

"I want prey."

It was their turn to be shocked, as they clearly did not expect that.

One of them, I believe to be of the lowest rank of hatchling, came up to me and bowed as they said, "It would be my honour to become your sustenance if it would satiate you."

My pupils shrank and the next thing I know, I’ve punched her into the floor, my body flaring up both figuratively.

My body was literally smoking as my skin and scales writhed as if they were about to transform once more.

I also realised that I was hissing and snarling violently at her as well.

Turning back to everyone else, I stated this, "Never... Never again. Do not EVER suggest such a thing like that EVER again."

I didn’t realise it, but I had just released my [Bloodline Aura] upon them to the highest degree. That combined with my extremely sharp and visceral tone more than likely imprinted my words upon them deeply for the rest of their lives. Maybe even for generations.

"W-We understand. We shall never practice, preach or condone such acts ever again." The Emberin Lady trembled as she spoke. It almost seemed like she was about to collapse.

Everyone else here also looked like they were about to faint as well as my words set into their very souls.

I took a deep breath and relaxed. But my stomachs growled once more, and quite audibly this time, so everyone was able to hear it.

I wasn’t embarrassed by my stomachs roar, I was hungry, and getting a little irritated because I was so hungry.

"I’m waiting." I said in a rather sassy tone.

"R-Right, of course. We’ll get right on it!" The Emberin Lady exclaimed before ordering two of what I believe are called Coiled Clerics to go and fetch me some ’Prey’ from the cells.

Just the thought of it was enough to make my mouth start to salivate and drool.

Wiping my face of my saliva, I noticed that the Emberin Lady was finishing giving the rest of the Sect members here the gist of the orders I gave to her. But in a more refined way with more in-depth instructions as well.

In the meantime, I just waited for the two who went to the cells to bring back what would most likely be a prisoner or something.

When the acolytes and other ranked individuals left the room, along with I think Shayllaa who I think I was in that crowd, I was left alone with the Emberin Lady.

She slowly approached me, being respectful and making sure to keep her distance.

Minutes passed and my hunger only grew, my stomachs making lots of noise. The silence became extremely awkward.

For her, not for me. I was just becoming annoyed mor than anything as I hadn’t had a craving like this for a long while.

But to try and pass the time, I decided to reaffirm my knowledge about the Sect a little, since I can’t actually quite remember how it works.

However, the way I went about asking was rather harsh and blunt, "What are the different rankings in the Sect again? I haven’t touched up on this stuff for decades."

The Emberin Lady seemed to give out a sigh of relief at me breaking the silence. I also realised that I didn’t know her name either. I’d just been referring to her as the Emberin Lady this whole time.

"Before that, tell me your name."

She seemed to jump a little at my second demand, but followed through with it anyways.

"My name is Zatyraa. And, as you know, I am the Emberin Lady of Fire. This is the second highest rank that can be achieved within the Sect. The highest position, and the one that leads us, is The Empyric Coil."

"Alongside me, there are four other Emberin Ladies, each representing their own part of the faith. Rituals and Magic, Knowledge and History, Resources and Wealth, and finally, Justice and Righteousness."

"Below us, you have the regional leaders, the Veiled Watchers, who oversee a general region of the kingdom. Currently there are seventeen regional leaders, but I believe that the maximum is nineteen. Totalling up to a maximum of four in each of the cardinal region and three in the central one. Our influence doesn’t go that far outside the queendom, with only a few churches here and there inside the Empire."

"Speaking of, you then have those who maintain the church and its affairs, the Fangbearers. I believe you’ve met the one that works here."

"Then you have the Cinder Custodians, who are the guardians of our sites and members. After them, you have the Coiling Clerics, which is more of a general term for things like Priests, Monks, and Scholars and the like."

"And then finally, you have what we call Kindled Spirits, which is basically just the lowest ranks available for those who have just been indoctrinated into the Sect."