2-65 Seven Sins


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Am I supposed to be… thrilled by that prospect?” Erin asked, as blunt as she could sound.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Normally,” Nyx replied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sounds tedious. Can I pass?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It will be quick, I promise. It won’t be as tedious as you may think, Erin.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Still not interested.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What is it that humans always say?” Nyx mused with a hum. “Birds of a feather flock together?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’re saying my siblings-in-faith are all tricked into this position?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That is not my meaning when I said “birds of a feather”,” Nyx exined. “And what you said is not true.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin red.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, at least notpletely true,” she admitted. “None of them were forced into this. They chose to be my Apostle because the other choice is death, same as your circumstances. Well, nearly the same.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin’s re didn’t wane.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What I meant by “birds of a feather” is that none of you held any blind faith towards me. You are impartial even to my opinions.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t have any faith in you at all, blind or not,” Erin retorted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nyx tittered. “It hasn’t even been a month. A lot can change in a short amount of time. Look at you; aren’t you just the prime example of change?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin couldn’t deny Nyx’s words. A look in the mirror could easily prove the truth in the goddess’ words. It pained Erin to ept it but it was even terrifying to imagine how much more she could change in theing days.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, I don’t expect faith toe from you any time soon. Then again, faith is not what I expect of you in the first ce.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t care what you expect from me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well, I’m in no rush to garner your trust. We can put that aside for now. Meeting your brothers and sisters of the same faithes first. Now, this might sting a little.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin reeled herself away from Nyx. “Don’t you dare—” But there was nowhere she could run to.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nyx didn’t even approach Erin. The Goddess’ body merely glowed brightly and Erin felt information was seared into her mind like someone had branded her brain with red hot iron. It was agonizing at first but slowly, the pain was reced with a serene sensation like a sea calmly flowing into a river that extends for hundreds of miles. And the faces of people she had never met appeared in her memories. Names appeared alongside those faces. She immediately understood these people were also the Apostles of Nyx. There was an interesting fact she discovered along with this information.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And there, all done. You are all now acquainted with one another. Quick, isn’t it?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin groaned, her hand clutching her head. “This was not what I had in mind. And these people… Pride, Gluttony, Envy, Avarice, Sloth, Wrath… These are—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“The seven mortal sins, as mortals would put it. A concept embraced across worlds because it inevitably exists in all mortals as long as sentience is present.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nyx’s profound revtion did not enter Erin’s mind as she was still recovering from the sudden influx of information into her brain. It wasn’t just their names, faces, and the sins they were attributed to. Erin was even able to feel the location of each of them. She knew precisely where they currently were even if they were in a ce she had never been. And out of the six individuals, only two of them were strictly speaking, humans.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So you’re the goddess of sins, is that what you are?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“More of an overseer. It is one of the many aspects I govern, yes.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin felt like she heard something extremely heavy but to avoid the trouble, she didn’t touch the subject any further.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“These six individuals are your allies, family you could even say. Should your paths cross, I sincerely wish you lot would offer a helping hand to one another when that timees.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“As long as they don’t give me a reason not to be warm with them, I’ll help.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, that’s a little...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin rolled her eyes. She knew there would be a catch. She wanted to raise her voice but she calmed down after convincing herself of the futility. She was at the Nyx’s whim and mercy. No matter what she did, it wouldn’t matter. In a way, she considered this true despair. Apletely hopeless situation where she even gave up being angry. It was faster to just nod along whatever the goddess was saying and hope that her request wouldn’t be as obnoxious as her character.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Aera ss, the holder of Wrathmonger,” the goddess said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Flipping through the pages of her newly induced memories, the face of a gentle girl with ck hair and violet eyes appeared in her mind. “What of her?” Erin asked. She was struggling to hold back on asking who came up with the name.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Out of the seven of you, she is the most recent to join the fray.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You mean the most recent to be inducted by you,” Erin muttered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There was no way Nyx wouldn’t have caught that remark but the goddess continued without retorting. “She is currently, shall we say, lost.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s very specific.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“She was the only one who called out to me on her own ord. Well, not specifically for me at least. Her circumstances were bleak. She prayed desperately for divine assistance. She didn’t pray to a specific god. She just prayed. And I decided to take pity on her.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin gave a look. “You took pity on her?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“She was… just like you, Erin. She was desperate. She would invoke the assistance of any Divine but her heart— even if it was a despairing situation, her heart stayed firm. The other Divines refused to help her because they knew she wasn’t the type to easily bend her knees towards power just because she was offered tremendous help.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And why did you help her then?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nyx chuckled. “As I have said, I don’t desire blind faith and she offered me none of that even after I dispelled her despairing situation. She bore the same gaze as you when you met me in person.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I have yet to hear yourmands, your eminence.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nyx giggled. “After the ordeal I freed her of, she took my gift and embarked on a journey of vengeance.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You want me to help her with her vengeance?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I want you to help her, not with her vengeance, but herself. This path she is treading on, she will only destroy herself. She has potential. It would be a shame if it went to waste.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And why me? What about the others?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’re the closest one to her. At present, she’s just in the next town to the east.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And what do I get out of this?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Same as before, a reward from me, anything of your desire.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“My desire… huh…” Erin mused. “You know what, I think I know what I want as my reward and I believe it is just right within your power and interest to do so.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh?” Nyx uttered with an amused tone. “Pray tell, my dear Apostle.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">****


    <span style="font-weight:400">As Erin opened her eyes, she awoke to a ck rocky ceiling. Aside from the unfamiliar sight, she also felt her head wasying against soft, malleable, yet solid.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, you’re awake?” Aedan asked, leaning his head into her gaze.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Immediately after seeing his face, Erin bolted upright and reeled herself away from where shey, Aedan’sp. Her tails and ears were also perking upright.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The Dragon-kin had an unassuming smile as he dusted hisp with gentle waves of his hand.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t you dare tell anyone about this,” Erin warned, her ears twitching in ordance with her tone.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wouldn’t dream of it,” replied Aedan, with the unassuming smile still on his face.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin heaved of sigh of relief and rubbed her temples. “How long was I out?” she asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“An hour at most,” Aedan answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin looked around. She was still in the same room where she fought the Ba’al. The only difference she noticed was how much tidier the room was considering the battle that had transpired.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I cleaned the room, somewhat, if you’re wondering about the changes,” Aedan exined. “I don’t know when you''ll regain consciousness so I take the liberty to clean the room. The smell was really getting to me and I’m sure it would get to you too.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nothing attacked us while I was out?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan shook his head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She heaved another sigh of relief. “T-thank you...” she said, faintly. “I-I honestly appreciate what you did… I don’t believe I would have seeded in this endeavour without your assistance.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nonsense. I’m sure you would have seeded regardless. Perhaps not as easy but I’m sure you would tough it through. You’re full of wonders, after all.”


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t call them wonders,”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Erin muttered to herself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So, what happened?” Aedan finally asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin was expecting this question. She shrugged. “I got dragged into some kind of subspace by my patron goddess. What happened to my body then?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You just fainted all of a sudden. I thought you were exhausted but as you slept, I witnessed some strange changes to your Mana flow. And I knew right then, you weren’t simply sleeping due to exhaustion. But thank the stars, you’re fine.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Were you worried?” Erin asked, eyeing him with a smirking gaze. Her tails were wagging in anticipation of Aedan’s answer.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I was worried. Things would be hell if you had died. How am I going to exin this to your kin?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">That wasn''t the answer she wanted to hear. For some reason, it annoyed her. “I’m not talking about others, Aedan. I’m talking about you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Me?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, you.” She pointed at him. “Putting others aside, putting consequences aside, what do you personally think? Were you worried, hmm?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan stared. He didn’t think he misunderstood her question but it was an unexpected question. “I was worried,” he answered, truthfully. “Not many people could put up with me. And those that could, usually don’tst long. Every acquaintance I had was just so transient.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A warmth began to spread within her. She didn''t remember being this happy over someone''s worry of her. She received plenty of others'' worry when she was still Argon Raze. Too many, in fact. She had always hated people’s overbearing worries towards her but somehow, it felt good this time. She realized it wasn’t people’s overbearing nature that she hated. It was their insincerity. She despised those empty worries of theirs that often came out of their mouth for the sake of formality.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So… what did your patron goddess want?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin recounted her short tale but she made it brief even though it was already a short recount.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s your request? And she allowed it?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“With somepromise.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And thosepromises being?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin smiled and winked. “Secret.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan recoiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly jump?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan expelled a breath. “Because you looked extremely alluring for a second there. If I didn’t know you, I would say you were tempting me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“But I wasn’t?” Erin replied with a befuddled look. “So even you can get tempted, huh.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I am in retirement, not celibacy. I have desires too, you know. Just don’t do that to strangers or acquaintances that you aren’t particrly close with. I’m sure they will get the wrong idea.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin snorted. “You sound dead certain about it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Because I got the wrong idea.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin looked away. “I-I see...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well you look amused,” Aedan said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin frowned. “I look amused?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You were smiling.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin touched her face and felt the curve in her lips.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“In fact, you began smiling when I said I was worried. Were you that delighted?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s just your fantasy.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, sure it is,” Aedan retorted with a shrug.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“A-anyways, let’s finish up our business here and go.” Erin stood up and began walking in a certain direction. After walking a little distance, she stopped, turned around, and retraced her steps to collect her sword before returning to her path.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Mist Pearls is the other way.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin huffed and made a turn in her path.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That wall over there.” Aedan pointed towards a corner.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin ced her hand in front of the wall. A breeze blew by her fingers. She then gently gave the wall a few taps. A hollow sound returned. “There’s arge room behind this wall. How do we get through? Break it down?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That would be unwise,” Aedan remarked. “Unless getting caved in is your wish.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then what do you suggest? Or are you just going to keep sitting on the ground and watch?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan chuckled and pushed himself off the ground. As he made his way to the wall, he inspected the back of his left palm. The symbol was still pulsating with a vibrant glow. “My magic is still out of the question,” he thought to himself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Magic scrolls?” Erin suggested.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“If you have a million gold at the ready, then yes,” Aedan retorted. “This looks like a secret room. A secret room tends to have a secret door and lock.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I know that but I don’t see nor sense anything that could resemble a lever or lock.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Our dearly departed friend was a spell caster. It only makes sense if the lock is also some kind of spell.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t see anything, even with my Spirit Sight.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan activated his own Spirit Sight and scoured the room. After a few scans, his gazended on a certain part of the wall. “Found it, I think.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Where?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That part right there. See how that particr part is devoid of miasma?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Looks like something is repelling the miasma.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan put his palm on that particr part of the wall. He poured only a little of his Mana and like a lit fuse, a glow traced a wavy path until it reached a certain point. The wall shook and began to move.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That was easy,” Aedan said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Are you sure you should be using Mana?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“If it’s only a little, it’s no problem.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A slit appeared on the wall. The wall shook again before opening up like a double door. Dust and dirt were shaken off the wall and a gust of wind blew from within.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why would he hide something as insignificant as Mist Pearls in a secret room?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That is if you’re assuming he was trying to hide the Mist Pearls. Maybe he was hiding something else and the Mist Pearls just so happen to be in the mix.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The two walked into the room devoid of any light but darkness was never an issue for the two. Although, the darkness didn’t linger long as they noticed a glow looming in the farside of the secret room.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No way...” Aedan gasped.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What is that?” Erin asked. She saw something but it was still too far away for her to make out its shape.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aedan said nothing and kept walking towards the glow.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin followed behind. She wanted to ask but seeing his solemn face, she decided to trail behind him without a sound. Along the path, Erin noticed grasses were growing all over the ce. It was even growing on the walls. Appraisal told her these were called Nightspring Grasses. They possess soothing properties to the heart but huge doses could potentially cause the heart to cease beating. Erin swallowed a lump at that discovery. She unconsciously cupped her nose and mouth with her palm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The faint scent of blueberry and mint began to grow stronger and stronger the closer the two got to the glow. Soon, the two were close enough for their eyes to recognize the shape and size the glow was originating from.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What the fuck is that!?” Erin asked. The discovery was so shocking that she didn’t notice her own voice cracking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">In front of them, across a smallke,y a giant skeleton of a corpse. No matter how she looked at the corpse, there was no way she could see it as anything other than a skeleton corpse of a Dragon. Purple flowers with huge buds were growing all over the corpse with their vines entangling all over the skeleton. She could perceive a constant stream of some manner of dark aura emanating from the skeleton corpse.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That is the source of The Singrity’s peculiarity.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, I figured as much but I meant, what the hell is that thing?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That, my dear, is the skeleton corpse of a Dragon. An Ancient Dragon at that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ancient Dragon?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I guess you can say they are a tier below True Dragons.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin couldn''t help but notice the sorrow in Aedan’s tone. “This Dragon… I’m sensing you two were close?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Aye, we’re close,” Aedan said with a nod. “One of the few that I considered a true friend.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Erin was silent. She only stared.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Erin, meet Izayl, the Abyss Dragon.”