The Akhapost Conspiracy

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        The mood on campus was as low as the setting second sun, the indicator of the coming sacrifice.

        Random, on the other hand, was bizarrely cheerful, going about his normal routine with a spring in his step. Barry made several attempts at probing for answers on his night time disappearances, but with no luck.

        Random slept soundly that night, while Barry stared at the ceiling, contemplating everything that had happened so far. Was         Random actually acting strange? He really had no barometer for what strange even meant here, and for all he knew the guy had been disappearing after curfew and creating magical explosions in his dorm room since day dot. Even so… something was still bothering him.

        The next morning, Barry climbed down from the top bunk to see that Random’s bed was already empty. Checking the clock, he groaned in frustration. It was already 20 minutes into breakfast - he’d have to hurry if he wanted to eat anything. 

        He found Random tucking into a mutinous bowl of porridge in the mess hall. Random looked up as Barry approached, giving him a chirpy hello. 

        “Morning sunshine,” he said, looking Barry up and down. “You know, something's been up with you these past few days. I don’t know what it is.”

        “Something’s up with me?” Barry spluttered. “You can’t be serious, can-”

        “Ahhh, I know what it is,” he interrupted, a sly smile on his face. “Did I call you over just now, or did you sit next to me of your own accord? That’s not like you at all.”

        Underneath Random’s light, singsong tone, Barry felt the words sting a little. Had he really been that bad?

        “Maybe you’ve just worn me down.” He said instead.

        Random hummed non committedly, but was soon distracted by an apple growing fangs and launching itself at them. Barry watched the interaction with a frown. His gut told him the upcoming ceremony would be important and Random had something to do with it.

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        Later it would seem obvious to Barry, but his roommate had been absent every weekend since he’d arrived. Previously he’d been thankful for small mercies, but now Barry wondered if it was something more.

        That weekend, Barry acted like any other Friday night and tidied himself ready for bed. He lay down and waited until he heard movement; Random was leaving. As quickly and quietly as he could, Barry followed, sneaking out of the dorms and across the grounds. 

        He almost lost Random a few times as he made his way through the winding dark and unfamiliar streets of the city below.

        He managed to catch Random just as the man was entering a house. Was he breaking in? Did he live here sometimes? Barry crept closer and peered through the window. 

        The interior was plain and simple, with few pieces of furniture. Random hurried over to one of them; a large chest. Hauling it open, Random soon pulled out a few random garments; some leather but mostly cloth. 

        But Random didn’t put them on. Instead, after getting undressed, he just stood there in the centre of the room and closed his eyes. Thoroughly embarrassed about peeking on his roommate getting changed, Barry turned to leave but stopped when Random’s skin began to ripple.

        His skin turned several shades lighter, his hair becoming blond. The structure of his face began to morph into something Barry could no longer recognise as Random. Even his height had reduced. 

        Quickly, Random got dressed into the clothes he’d pulled from the chest, and as he turned, Barry realised he recognised the new face; it had been in an image from the paper a week or two back. A kid who’d caused a dangerous ruckus in the square.

        Random surely wasn't actually this kid, so why was he pretending to be? Was he trying to help the kid from the paper? Or was he using it for some scheme?

        What was he playing at?

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        His question was answered at the sacrifice ceremony; held at twilight, at the threshold of a gaping canyon that narrowed into a small, sunken channel up the side of the mountain. A path wound through the channel, ending in darkness.

        Thousands of onlookers gathered in the valley, and the atmosphere might have been festive if it weren’t for the slow, ominous fluctuation between silence and restlessness.

        Right by the edge of the canyon was a small podium, lit by flickering runic lights. A tall, bearded man stood atop it, waiting for the murmuring crowd to grow quiet once more. Behind him was a line of dark-clad mages. Barry realised the man to be the current head of government, Kadani.

        “The second sun sets once more,” Kadani bellowed, his voice rolling through the valley. “And once more these solemn countrymen must sacrifice one of their own!”

        A ritualistic pause, then an echo from the crowd. “Once more,” they shouted.

        Kadani nodded. “Before the name of the candidate is drawn, we will give the call for volunteers! Will anyone give themselves in the place of the unnamed?”

        Whoever would voluntarily give themselves to be sacrificed? To be tortured and- 

        A small form stepped calmly from the edge of the crowd to approach the podium.

        “I will give myself in sacrifice to Akhapost,” said the child Barry knew to be Random in disguise. What was Random doing?!

        “All countrymen will bow their heads in honour of this child! He has saved us for this sun-cycle, and will be celebrated forever more!”

        There was a ripple in the crowd, as they bowed their heads.

        Barry watched as the assembled mage-guards fanned out, ushering disguised-Random into the jaws of the mountain. They raised their hands, a soft chant beginning in their throats, but there was little point to it; disguised-Random went freely, with no need for magical restraints. He walked without pain or fury to his death, leaving the silent crowd behind.

        The mage-guards and Kadani followed disguised-Random up the channel. While the people then dispersed, Barry moved along the edge towards the channel., taking a split-second decision to follow too. If the guards caught him and turned him over to Hathor, he could use ‘know thy enemy’ as a defence, and if he wasn’t caught, well the excuse still held through. Maybe he could find something to use against this monster. 

        At the very least, Random needs help, and I need answers. Barry decided.