VoC: B1 — 19. The Crime of Indignity
Added 2025-09-07 23:59:55 +0000 UTCThe half-eaten sweetbread tasted better than it had any right to. Cassy chewed mechanically, sharp teeth making quick work of the discarded pastry as she dug deeper into the restaurant’s refuse pile. Her shark tail swept lazily behind her, a small charm clearly visible and occasionally brushing against the pristine alley wall.
PoV:
1. Cassy (Our Trash Saintess!)
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The half-eaten sweetbread tasted better than it had any right to. Cassy chewed mechanically, sharp teeth making quick work of the discarded pastry as she dug deeper into the restaurant’s refuse pile. Her shark tail swept lazily behind her, a small charm clearly visible and occasionally brushing against the pristine alley wall.
Her belly growled, [Gluttony] acting up with [Ravenous Appetite], which wasn’t the most comfortable combination. Sadly, all the leftover money from her last slave contract had been split between a mother, asking her for money for her children and her last previous meal.
The scent of rotting vegetables and fish scraps mixed with something sweeter—perhaps honey cakes from the morning’s service, but [Gluttony] made everything taste at least decent.
She’d learned to ignore the maggots. They provided protein, after all, and her stomach had long since stopped caring about such trivial concerns. When healing didn’t pay the bills, no Adventurer party would take you, and you had a bottomless abyss for a stomach, you did what you had to.
A sticky substance clung to her fingers as she pulled free a broken candy stick, probably dropped by some noble’s child. She examined it with dull red eyes, not bothering to brush off the worst of the debris before sliding it between her lips. Sugar was sugar.
“There she is! What did I tell you? Disgusting…”
The voice carried the particular tone of authority that meant trouble.
Here we go again… Such a bother. At least I haven’t eaten any meat… If [Feeding Frenzy] activated, they might have taken my ignoring them and eating as a sign of resisting…again. Deep breaths. Deep breaths…
Cassy didn’t bother looking up immediately, instead taking another slow bite of the candy stick. The footsteps approached—three sets, heavy boots on cobblestone. She could smell their apprehension and disgust.
“Cassandra Nameless… Pull up your status menu.”
The name sounded wrong in his mouth, all official and proper but without the elegance she’d been raised with. She didn’t give anyone her actual last name, and for good reason.
She did as she was told without turning, trying to calm the jitters in her belly.
[Name: Cassandra (Disowned).]
[Race: Half-Mako Sharkfolk; Half-Human.]
[Class: Cleric.]
[Level 5.]
[Follows: Sekrina, The Soul Healer.]
“Good… In the name of the Holy Emperor, you are charged with Indignity in the Third Degree under the Public Decency Statute of 782. Subsection D.”
She finally glanced up, taking in the lead guard’s twisted nose, clearly not wanting to be near her. His uniform was pressed, his badge polished. Behind him stood a few younger watchmen, hands resting on their cudgels.
Shoulders rising, she inhaled slowly and let it out with a roll of her eyes.
After nearly two years of being in and out of indentured servitude, she reacted on impulse. Twisting around with a measured grace that was honed, not natural, she spread her dirty and ripped dress to the sides and offered the most elegant curtsy they’d witness outside of court.
Voice slightly lower than most girls, flat of emotion, and speaking softly not to show off her sharp teeth, she whispered, “My apologies, Officer, but might I add a correction? I prefer Cassy, the shortened version.”
The patrol officer’s lip curled. “It’s creepy how refined you act when you want to… And your legal name is what’s on the papers, fishbreath, even if your last name was stricken. This is your fifth charge of Indignity this month alone.”
“Sixth.” Cassy pulled herself upright with practiced indifference, hands held at her front and torn dress settling around her dirty legs. A hole had been roughly cut in the back to accommodate her tail, the edges frayed and stained. “Second Officer Bradley decided not to charge me to avoid touching my filth, not three days prior. But who is counting?”
“Bradley let you off, hmm? That’s quite the accusation…”
“And the magistrate is counting,” growled one of the younger female guards. “He’s sick of seeing your scales in his courtroom. When your name was brought to his desk for investigation, he was cursing for an hour… How do you get your masters to pay off your debt themselves? A curse? Mind control?”
Cassy showed her weakest smile. “Please, First Officer Hansen, add the accusation to my crime. And why not all of the above, Madison? I would love to inflate your arrest numbers this quarter… In the end, more money for me when they pay off my debt.”
The patrol officer unrolled a scroll, voice taking on the ceremonial tone required by law. Cassy could practically taste the aggressive undertone, though.
“Under the Dignified Conduct Act of 782, established after the Demihuman Nudity Riots, any humanoid creature found engaging in activities deemed ‘beneath the standards of civilized society’ shall be subject to immediate censure. This includes, but is not limited to: consumption of refuse, public bathing in non-designated water sources, and sleeping in areas not zoned for habitation…”
Cassy passively sucked on the candy stick, eyes visually checked out and vacant, as he went on for ten straight minutes, voicing every little detail added to the Act. Even some of the other officers’ eyes started to glaze over.
She knew why it had been implemented. Actually, it started like most laws in the kingdom. Simple, clean, and for a purpose—ending nudity in some rather provocative demihuman cultures in public spaces. Noble intentions, perhaps, but further petitions and revisions drowned it in layers so extreme that now…it was illegal to be poor.
“…And thus, your fine is set at…” The officer paused, flashing a cruel smirk quickly, which vanished before his subordinates caught it, “Ten Imperium copper pieces.”
Now, that caught Cassy’s attention, making her bite hard on the stick, crushing it, and making the officers jump back, weapons in a defensive stance.
They’re quick to get dirty, huh?
“Ten copper pieces?” Instinctively, her tail curved inward for her to grip the edge of her blade-like fin, but she swiftly caught herself and slowly let it ease back. “That’s a princess’ monthly allowance…for ten months.”
“It fits your decorum then,” Hansen chuckled meanly, delight in his eyes as even the other guards looked stunned at the fine. “Shocked? Well, you missed the recent amendment that takes into account theft of the amount of waste consumed…backlogged.”
Cassy’s wide eyes dulled again as she let it slide off her with a long, semi-stressed sigh, recomposing herself. “I see. Did they amend that just for me and my appetite? I didn’t think my presence would spark such swift action from the high nobility. How…thoughtful of them.”
This was lobbied… Someone wants me for the rest of my life, and everyone else wants me off the street…for my own good and well-being. So vague…so filled with good wishes.
“Oh, yes, indeed… And, of course, failure to pay within seven days results in indentured servitude until such time as your debt—ten Imperium copper—plus accumulated interest and housing costs, can be satisfied.” Cassy could see how much the man was enjoying this—barely constrained in the lawful-good country’s graces.
“And who, might I ask, would be willing to take on the risk of ‘rehabilitating’ the Trash Saintess?” she asked, shoulders falling. “If there are no takers due to my ‘high crimes,’ then it is the duty of the high nobility to gracefully take me as their charge. So it is written.”
Some of the lower officers glanced at each other, gulping at the implication that if someone didn’t purchase her debt, then the high nobility would be on the noose to take her.
Hansen’s eyes twinkled, though his smile was thin and unpleasant.
“Oh, don’t you worry about that, fishbreath… Someone has already purchased your contract and will be requiring your…cursed talents.”
Healing? That doesn’t make sense… My healing is cursed. Only the most desperate seek me out…then curse me when I heal them and run away. What am I not getting?
Cassy felt something cold settle in her stomach, though she forced her expression to remain unchanged. “Wooh,” she mumbled in the same flat tone. “Aren’t I popular?”
“Don’t look so glum, trasheater. Might be the best thing that ever happened to you… Finally, you’ll be in a position to have all you can eat.”
Cassy sighed, extending her wrists without resistance and letting her mind simmer down into her typical dull, hyper conservative attitude.
Worrying burned calories, wasted calories meant her body would eat itself, and when physical damage happened, her body would automatically heal her…causing soul damage in return.
Pain.
It meant a lot of pain.
“Can we skip the paralysis tail lock this time? You know it doesn’t work on me.”
And…it burns calories. Oh, no…
Her stomach snarled loud enough to make the officers look at each other.
Damn all of you… All of that trash, and you burned it in this one conversation.
Life sucks…
“Regulations are regulations.” The younger guard produced the specialized shackle designed for tailed humanoids. “Turn around.”
She complied with the same mechanical obedience she’d shown the magistrate many times before. The metal clamped around her tail, sending the expected jolt of paralytic magic through her nervous system. For a moment, her sharp, dangerous tail went rigid, the sensation crawling up her spine like ice.
Then [Sekrina’s Blessing] activated.
[Hunger Levels: 51%.]
[Reserve Food: 0%.]
She withheld a grimace as a burning ache spread through her entire nerve system—not the electricity.
Soul Damage.
The cost of her healing.
Calories.
Not enough calories?
There was always fat in the soul.
And the worst part: it activated automatically to save her.
What did that mean?
It meant, for the most part…she was immortal.
The cost?
Pain.
A lot of pain.
And all I wanted to be when I grew up was a Paladin, just like my mom…
Now, I’ll be a house slave for my entire life, which…could be forever.
Sekrina, whatever forgotten goddess you are… I hate you.
Fourteen… I was fourteen.
Three years now.
Three whole years…and then the cherry on top?
[Gluttony].
You gave me [Gluttony], as if [Ravenous Appetite] due to my sharkpeople curse wasn’t enough.
Screw being your Cleric.
I. Hate. You.
Holy Emperor, strike me dead…
The only thing that happened was the paralysis dissolving like sugar in rain, her tail flicking free with casual ease. She waved it languidly, a depressed sigh close to her lips as the motion caused the officers to step back.
“It’s just annoying,” she said mildly, trying not to aggravate her stomach further. “The shackle’s still on, if that makes you feel better.”
“Keep it still,” the patrol officer barked, though his voice lacked real authority. “And move along.”
Behind him, one of the younger guards muttered to his companion. “I know it’s ten copper, but this is another waste of time. Her contract will just get nullified like all the others. Nobody can stand more than a week of her service for some reason.”
“Yeah, I heard she’s cursed by some forgotten goddess who challenged the Holy Emperor and lost. A former reincarnate that tried to ascend?”
“You believe those reincarnate propaganda stories? You can’t ‘become’ a god.”
“Then how do the gods become gods?”
“I don’t know… Hey, keep moving, snaggle tooth!”
“Hey, don’t touch her—I heard she can curse you with bad luck.”
“Shit…”
Sorry, fellas. The only bad luck…is directed at me.
As they marched her through the twisting streets toward the courthouse, Cassy couldn’t help but longingly gaze at the neat, perfect bins in the alleys along the way. The sweetness lingered on her tongue, a small comfort in the face of her growling, monstrous stomach.
Such a waste… Most of it isn’t even rotten. Not yet…because, of course, the smell would be a crime.
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[ Next POV: Damon]
[ Theme: Yikes! Well, we now see why the Holy Emperor is withdrawing his presence from this Lawful Good kingdom… What guidance will Titania give our MC? ]
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