🗿 The Wasped World
Chapter 6. Itlan
The precise emergence of this enigmatic, otherworldly golden structure remains shrouded in mystery. The Itlanians believe that it served as the abode of the esteemed Golden God long before their settlement of Itlan was established...
In fact, the discovery of this wondrous structure was what inspired the founding of the city. Its mesmerizing presence captivated the ancients, who responded by constructing a towering ziggurat at its base and devoting their lives to its worship.
The Itlanians kept knowledge of the Golden Abode largely restricted to themselves, primarily due to the unsettling legends and events associated with it. These stories spoke of a transformation that awaited those selected to enter its hallowed chambers – a transformation that would leave their bones turned into solid gold, impervious to damage and capable of being bent and shaped in ways no mortal should. This transformation granted them inhuman flexibility, allowing them to bend their bodies in ways that defied human physics.
🗿 🗿 🗿
Within the confines of Itlan, the rituals of worship persisted since time immemorial. Children were indoctrinated from the womb, taught to venerate the Golden God, and compete for an elusive prize – the chance to become his chosen ones. Teenagers devoted their lives to perfecting the art of dance, honing their fluid movements in anticipation of the rite of passage that would take place on their eighteenth birthday. On that day, a select few would be taken into the Golden Abode, never to return quite as they had been.
Upon their eventual return several months after, these "golden youth" were elevated to a status comparable to that of the gods themselves. These "golden youth" were now adorned in shimmering garments, their bodies able to twist and contort in some otherworldly ways.
Their transformed bodies became symbols of divine favor, and they were revered and worshiped by the entire city. Dancing with grace and poise, they showcased their newfound abilities, manipulating their own bodies in mesmerizing ways. The wearing of impossibly tight bindings, such as tight belts or neck rings, became a badge of honor, a symbol of their devotion to the Golden God and their acceptance into the pantheon of the transcendent.