Trade of a Lifetime?

He stood alone, as always, sipping whiskey neat. The bar was quiet today, music softly humming from the record player in the corner. Nevertheless, he could still hear the whispers of chatter over it. His ears flicked back and forth, intently listening for any juicy tid-bits that would be useful to him. The gossip he heard sometimes in places like this was astonishing. They think they're safe because it's quiet. But the walls have ears, don't you know?

Beside the usual mutterings of complaints about work or the wife, there was a couple sat behind him (a gruff-looking fisher-pig and his scrawny, mule skipper) who were discussing something very interesting. He sipped his drink once more, closing in his focus around their conversation.

"Have you heard of Fortune?"

"Course I hear' of Fortune."

"They say it can gran' forever life."

"Forever life? Ridiculous!" The hog scoffed.

"Shhh...Keep yer voice down."

"Why should'a? That's laughable."

"Nooo, it's true! I heard it from Scotty. It's how these 'ear mage characters live for so long."

"Well, by golly. I woul'nt believe it."

"Nah, me neither but if Scotty said then its definitely true."

They both hmm'ed in agreement, nodding their heads.

Their attempts at a lowered tone was laughable, especially if this piece of knowledge was supposed to be secret. Whoever this Scotty is, he's clearly a trustworthy source for the sceptical pair to be swayed so easily. Whatever the rumours, it was certainly intriguing. Eternal life? What a score that would be.

Kivo finished his drink, left a couple of coins beside the glass and left swiftly. The two sea dogs had changed the topic so it was clear he wasn't getting any more information from them. He had heard whispers of Fortune before but, not being native, he had very little idea about who (or what) this Fortune could be. He slinked down the darkened alleys, stepping through the cesspit of drug-addled homeless as they pleaded for money for more. This part of town was full of the desperate, all hunting for their own forms of salvation. If there was fortune to be found, it was these guys who would be the best to ask for direction. If Fortune could gift immortality, there was no telling what other goodies it could bestow. He rounded the corner and this street was empty bar one drunken fool knocking on the door of a home. The home looked simple and rickety, one gust of wind away from toppling down if it weren't for the structures either side holding it up. The small sheep was filthy and Kivo could smell him from where he stood. He lent against the door with his forehead, kicking the door with no real rhyme or reason.

"Excuse me."

Still, the sheep continued banging the door. Kivo stepped forwards a little more and raised his voice.

"Excuse me."

At last, it aroused him from his dreamy state, his head wobbling like a spinning plate of a stick as he tried to focus on the black stallion.

"Oh...(hiccup)...is this...(hiccup)...your gaff?"

"No, it is not."

"Oh...(hiccup)...could you let me in anyway? I lost me key."

"So this is your house then?"

"No, I d...(hiccup)...don't think so."

"Then why would I let you in?"

"You'd be doing me a kindness, good sir."

It was then that the sheep toppled over onto his side.

"What you laying down for? Is it bedtime?" He smiled a toothless smile, hiccupping once more.

This conversation was boring now. Kivo strode over and lowered his head to the drunkard's height so their eyes were level.

"Listennnnnn..." the pegasus blew softly on the man's face.

All the little background sounds died, his peripheral vision blurring. All focus was now on the fool.

"Listennnnnn.." he repeated, his voice soft and calm. "Dive into your mind. Seek Fortune and give me all you have."

The dipsomaniac thought for a moment.

"Fortune is Ivras' patron. There are two others - Destiny and Grace. They bestow great gifts to their worshippers."

So Kivo was looking for a shrine. Bingo!

"You will remember none of this and forget."

And like that, the trance was over. Kivo slipped back into the shadows, darting away. Time to find a shrine.

The man had said there were worshippers for each of these Ivras patrons so there must be a physical site where someone could go and pay their respects. Faline is a large place. It would easy enough to find one of these followers for the location.

It took Kivo less than a week to discover the shrine's location and it really wasn't far. It was clearly marked and the devotees were all too eager to point him in the direction. Wasn't much of secret for those fishermen to be whispering about it in an empty pub on a random Tuesday afternoon. The shrine was large. Very large. It was hard to miss. It's structure was simple with some low walls outlining the perimeter. Kivo could easily see in and he was fairly unimpressed. It was empty. Still, he continued on his quest for immortality. He entered the wall's compounds and stood centre stage. The walls inside were painted, splashes of red and gold throughout.

"Stranger."

The ghostly, ethereal voice sprouted from the air and Kivo quickly darted round to face its maker. A small group of beings stood before him, all donning masks painted with hideously warped smiles.

"What do you seek here, stranger?"

"I am Kivo. I heard you can grant me ever-lasting life."

There were murmurs throughout the group.

"Indeed but it comes at a hefty cost."

"I can pay whatever it costs."

"If you're sure."

"Positive."

This was all the elders needed to begin the ritual. They stepped forth, forming a circle around him and began chanting incantations. It continued for what felt like hours as they swayed their upper bodies, chanting louder and louder before stopping abruptly. Simultaneously, they all dropped to their knees bar one. This priest stepped towards Kivo with a small bowl and a dagger in front of him.

"An offering of sacrifice is required."

Kivo gladly gave, grabbing the dagger swiftly. He held out his foreleg and quickly slashed open a wound which bled freely into the bowl. This gash festered and bubbled, blistering within seconds of the cut being made. This was the beginning.

"The ritual is complete."

Kivo felt obligated to bow to them, thanking them for their generous gift. Deep down, he was beginning to consider the possibilities he now had at his fingertips and the decades of crime to come. However, there was one thing that bugged him. It niggled at him in the pit of his stomach. His eyes glanced down at the laceration on his leg. It had already begun to ooze, the skin reddening with every pasting moment. It hurt, feeling like pure acid had just been poured all over him. He attempted to heal it himself but nothing seemed to lessen the ache. He made a mental note to see a doctor but nothing could dampen his spirits. He was going to live forever.