VERSE II
Few hours ago....
In the cool of the night, insects chirping. The lands vast yet obliterated. Felled trees and disheveled soil structures surrounded them.
Rivers of water formed by the rain, riddled along the land open under the heavens.
The moonlight beaming in its brilliance, the stars twinkling in the clothing of the sky.
Seraphina followed her master, he who she had vowed to serve.
He had eccentric markings and scars. His body, pale void of warmth.
A pale skin adorned and webbed with black veins, the absurdity of the color was defying, cold yet beautiful in her sight.
Though, no human possessed such vein color.
She had never seen anything of such, an exception is the Nether of course.
When she was given her mission by the gods, she could not comprehend such meaning of her quest.
Why did the gods think that sending the sibling of the Saviour to the nether, could restrain him from rash actions?
On a second thought, he acted rashly. So the plan was a complete failure and a bummer.
She decided to encode her thoughts in her language.
She would not let her master read her no further, she had to think and understand some concepts that can compromised her servitude.
The soil beneath her feet was cold, as she cut her soles upon little pebbles underneath.
Her eyes fixated on her master, an enigma in the body of a child.
Rash actions, that was the main reason she was ordered to send his sibling to the Nether.
And also to curb her own rash actions, she let the thought of seeing a perpetrator get to her head and unjustly sent a nine year old child to the Nether.
Yet for what reason was she sent to the Nether? Of course, she had seen his sibling had fallen to the path of Iniquity.
Yet the power she possessed, sharply contrasted to her own.
Perhaps his sibling possessed what she has, but how?
Perhaps, the reason why the Nether claimed her soul.
But such child was innocent, and she could see it in her actions.
The divine sword, a sword ordained by existence as justice and absolute law.
A replica had been given to Kato, yet strong in its own might.
Divinity, possessed by Iniquity. What transactions are going on?.
This is could cause a peril in the mortal realm and many other realms at large.
What are the gods doing? And Existence too, why does it see such and let it be?.Despite its laws, against absolute polar opposites.
Or maybe she's the one who is wrong, afterall she fell from her insubordination.
What was it? It was not physical but mental and emotional.
She had been carrying revenge in her heart, to kill her younger sister's murderer.
That alone is forbidden for angels, who are to remain, at heart, neutral to laws and judgements and trust the divine.
Yet she didn't, now she had gained insight to comprehend such matters.
She understands why the angels at the beginning of creation fell from glory, it was but for the same reason.
It blinds you, it blinds your eyes and makes you see your actions as perhaps normal.
Such was the way, the way of Iniquity.
Now she understands why Iniquity is said to be the source of all evil, and of course the absolute of negativity.
Negative thoughts brew along, within the mind. Slithering into the heart, like the snake that watches its prey.
In its cunning and deceit, it lures you to commit actions , exhibit behaviours of which one had not committed before.
The actions are such, that defies laws.
Hence, a sin.
She could not believe it, she had never for once sat to think about this in all her years of being divine.
Yet just few hours into her new nature, she .... She had comprehend a little of the nature and matter of Iniquity.
That means, it's far more stronger than she thinks.
She looked upon the back of her master, a gruesome black mark repulsive in sight sat by the left part of his back where the stomach lay in the abdomen.
It carried purple runes, etched upon it, but dim.
She reminisced their battle, and when he had tore apart her wings from her bones.
He had the repulsive scar too, upon his abdomen and the left part of his face but back then — the runes were brimming with light force, the purple shimmered bright.
Her master, his soul possesses the sole root of Iniquity.
She had seen one of the Seven deadly Sins, when she saw the relay message Archangel Uriel and Archangel Gabriel had recorded, as they gave warnings to the royalties of the Nether , not to interfere in the mortal realm.
Uriel was there for support, and Gabriel as the messenger.
The deadly sin she saw through the recordings, Gluttony, though fierce it made her quiver as she watched, he was nothing like her master.
His eyes had no damnation, which was a stark contrast to the eyes of her master, of whom the gods call, The Savior.
Her suspicions once again was raised, as she recalled the issue with the Nether.
Why did the gods decide that sending his sibling to the Nether is a good choice? That's literally his domain. He could just go to the Nether and get.....
She shifted her gaze from her master to the moon.
His soft whistling, seemed to give her some peace.
Her thoughts made her heart ache.
Unless, her master cannot go the Nether. A restriction?
Or is he training her? No! It's the former.
Why else would her first mission be to serve his sister and guide her through the Nether.
And then he says, it would wait. Inorder for his sibling to familiarize herself.
What does he mean by such statement?. It seems he knows something about her supernatural abilities.
Was it the latter? Does he really wish to train her?
How? When? For what reason?
No matter how long she thought, she could not bring herself to understand the relationship her master, Kato has with the gods.
She decided to leave her thoughts be, as it would only make her go insane even more.
The quiet footsteps of her lord, walking before her. His peaceful thruds upon the puddles of water were somehow soothing her soul.
She closed her eyes.
How could she find such peace in chaos? How could she feel so divine in sin?
This was to be sacrilegious, but she cared not, not anymore.
And a sudden halt, at once she opened her eyes again.
A shelter structure made from wood, a cracked form yet standing firm with its brick pillars and foundation build.
Tree, palm to be exact, could be seen around the shelter.
A thatched roof, old but solid sat atop the shelter.
It's seems a renovation was done or is currently underwent.
Yet from inside, lively noises brewed. Laughter and chuckles, as she could hear the sounds of mortals make merry.
She looked upon her master.
" Sir, we wear no clothing." Her voice turned grey, a devastating fall from the harmonious voice she had with her divine status.
He shifted his gaze from the doors to her eyes, his face succumbed not to emotions.
" That is why we are here, did I not say I know of, a place?". His voice too, expressed nothing.
She gulped. How the hell is a shelter here? This land was ravaged by the Devils, of which burst out of the Nether just over hours ago.
Yet, here a shelter stood unfazed, and palm trees bouyant.
" Forgive my curiosity sir, but I know not where are." She replied his question, bowing her head with a hand between her chest.
She gazed deeply upon him before throwing a glance at the shelter once again.
It was quite large in size, with small windows of which warm lighting escaped.
Now the cold wind blew harshly, biting against her skin.
She had never felt so vulnerable, in her life.
He sighed deeply, at which she threw him a glance.
" Follow me, I want you to experience something. You will feel it, very very well."
He wore a frown.
" But it would be worse than the shame you are feeling right now." He stated.
What! He knew , he read what emotional state she was in right now.
So...so it's called shame. She has never felt like this nor had any reason to, for as angels no one cared as much.
But now, she does... And for some reason it's hurts even more.
Stepping onto the porch, Kato opened the door and stepped in.
The noise inside paused instantly.
" Where is the manager of this inn?" She heard his voice call out.
" Shame huh!" She spoke to herself. She nodded, smiling.
She shall adapt her angelic ways, and not care about anything.
At once, she too stepped in.
And all eyes fell upon her.
For these moments, no one moved. The silence was deafening, but the gazes she received was noisy and heart aching.
She wished to cower to the side or run, which she had never done before, but she fret not—brazen upon the crowd.
Yet all she saw, and could see, were deadly sins around her.
Men in heavy mustaches and linen clothing, their eyes feasting upon her body as they murmured not but licked their lips, holding their mugs, ascertaining to their nature of lust.
The individuals, clad in armory, instantly exhumed envy, and wrath.
Perhaps the opposite gender, such was her own gender, were also clad in armory.
That was her depiction.
The maids, staffs and the rest of the weary looking mortals, dressed in different satire and material expressed greed in their hearts.
Greed!. For what, for her?.
She looked at her master. For she, could not move, frozen in place.
At once, he returned her gaze suddenly. She received a telepathic message, the voice exactly like Kato's and she knew it was her master.
" They would ascertain us as devils, in 3 seconds."
She looked at her master, and he nodded.
She couldn't help but ask why?
Then the silence broke, and a lady dressed in a yellow elegant robe with red embroidery screamed, her voice seeming to shatter Seraphina's eardrums.
" Devils, it's sentient devils.".
And there was chaos. The mortals in armor stepped forward, looking at her and her master.
The men and women behind them, broke the tables, smashed their mugs.
What!.them, demons?
She glanced towards her master again, but he stared straight forward.
" When you looked at them—" she once again heard her master's telepathy.
" What were their transgressions?"
Chants of anger roared through the inn.
" You filthy demons, it's demons. They are the sentient devils. How dare they waltz in here, in the purity of the flesh, unashamed?".
Their voices croaked, like the voices heard in a battlefield.
Seraphina, alas was stricken with fear. Her heart panged harder, and her bones wobbly.
" What were their transgressions?" She received his telepathy again, his voice fiercer this time.
The mortals in armor drew their sword, and some began chanting spells.
" Lust, envy, wrath, greed and these armored men once again, exude ego greater than them in their foolish belief of vanguishing demons, pride." She thought of it, but Kato read her mind.
" Oh, so you even identified deadly sins, not even normal sins. Incredible." He seemed to applaud her.
It seems, her master was aware she had no knowledge on how to use telepathy.
The mortal who drew the sword, swung it to the side.
In a heavy sigh, his voice echoed through his glistening silver helmet.
" You are not worthy to step upon this land."
The bass of his voice was clarifying yet frightful.
From the size or his armor, he had a lean body.
Seraphina tried to ease herself through panting, she knew not how to use these power that her master had given her.
" All we need are clothing, if it's bestowed upon us, we shall go on about our way." Seraphina voiced out their need. Of course, it is the duty of the servant to convey the needs of the master.
It is how it should be done.
But they harshly objected, deeming them insignificant and once again solidying their thoughts and assumptions.
" Where is the innkeeper?" Kato shouted once again, brazen.
She looked at her master.
He had asked her what were their transgressions, yet he does nothing. Nothing at all.
The mortals in armor reinforced their strength, and the spells changed by the people in the inn materialized.
Black chains formed out of thin air, which struck them both to the ground, immobilized.
" You are not worthy, to walk up on this land."
The man in the armor raised his sword high, his objective clear.
To take their heads, yet Seraphina knew not why she fret.
Neither she nor her master can die, but —
A familiar sensation washed up on her, enveloping her being.
She knew it, such warm, gentle glow.
She looked at her, of whom produced the energy.
Her blonde haired lady in a priestess robe.
Divinity? Is she an envoy of divinity?
Then her master, ..... His eyes and throat was sliced by the goddess in the realm of judgement.
She threw a glance at him, his face, his head was tilted down.
She knew it...
Divinity could burn them right now!. That's why she was scared, it might not kill them but it can harm them badly.
Is this how her master feels? All the time in the gods? Was this how he felt in her own presence?
Now the roles were reversed, she really hated it and hated her past self too.
" You know their transgressions right?" She heard her master's voice once again through telepathy.
" Now, say these with me— ' Vester peccatis, vos damno. Nam stipendium peccati mors est.
Per potestatem mihi datam, ego, operatrix iniquitatis quae statum suum sibi arrogavit, condemno vos, qui iustitiae ministratis et in me peccavistis.'."
Translation - By your sins, I condemn you. For the wages of Sin is death.
By the power vested in me, I, a worker of Iniquity of whom has acclaimed her status,I condemn thee, they that serve righteousness who have transgressed against me.
And she repeated these words at heart.
Suddenly, the chains broke free, and the wails of the mortals echoed throughout the inn.
The wooden walls shattered to pieces, the wooden floors broke open as if ready to swallow them whole.
Seraphina raised her head, but horror met her eyes.
She saw it, saw all of it right before her.
Devils, in different, monstrous forms, consuming every single mortal.
She looked at her master, of whom has now regained himself.
She has seen devils and fought against them before but, not this many.
They were eating the souls of the mortals, ripping apart their physical bodies — ligament by ligament.
The priestess, has her own devil. Her divinity foiled in the presence of the devils that surround her, consuming her instantly.
Her mouth ajar, she could not believe it. These mortals that made merry few moments ago, had already been killed and sent to the Nether out of their transgressions.
At once, the devils vanished from their sights leaving blood and grim in their wake.
It was quite, eerie and disturbing.
Kato stood up, walked towards the dead bodies.
Unclothed the priestess, removing bloodied, tattered robe.
"This power, is what I wanted to show you." Kato finally spoke. His hands, gesturing Seraphina to take the clothing and wear them.
She did not object, she put them on.
Kato stripped a dead body of his clothes, and wore them.
He took the man's underwear as his shorts and the man's bloodied clothing to cover himself up.
Once more, the pure air was filled with odor and the taste of blood lingered once more.
" Do you know why they died and where sent to the nether instantly?". Kato asked her.
She knew not, and would state that.
" No, sir."
" Because, the sins you identified are deadly sins." He turned towards her.
He looked good. Though the scar on his face was repulsive.
His long hair still shimmered, and the dark green shirt that he had worn was oversize but stained with blood.
So where the black shorts he wore too.
She looked at the white robe she wore, it had been torn so it did not look like that of a priestess anymore , but it was not white either.
It was bloodied ofcourse.
" Deadly sins, are deadly because....if a being dies when those acts are being committed, they are condemned instantly without mercy to the Nether."
Seraphina's eyes widened. So...this was the true nature of deadly sins!.
She looked at the bodies. It petrified her still that this was their fate, but it was a consequence of their acts.
Yet she did not understand, still.
" If you had identified minor sins, well their souls would not be fully claimed and they'd still be alive, yet you were able to see the deadly sins they exhumed.
You really impressed me, Seraphina". He finally smiled, at her even.
His crimson eyes, seemed to hold peace.
" So, it was my first kill sire." She straightened her posture.
" After your fall, Yes." He stepped upon the crimson liquid which flowed continuously, the bodies sprawled across the floor.
" You should know, Seraphina, that actions have consequences.
Existence's rules have made it clear. One another, of the two pillars of creation, shall not have a bit to do with each other.
Meaning, they must abide by laws of creation of each pillar."
He sat atop a broken table, tapping the side, urging Seraphina to come sit.
He sighed, as she walked towards him.
" These so called people of the righteous path, had deviated from that by committing sins with their actions and thoughts.
Actions are anything that have been created, thoughts, emotions, as far as it was brought to life by a being. It's an action.
A reaction comes in, when it is....." He held her hand, as he helped her sit and left her hand once more.
The bulbs that emitted light were smeared in crimson color.
He shifted his gaze, staring into space, fixated at the bulb.
" When the actions are beings supervised by existence, it's laws and it's pillars.
If it defies a pillar, say divinity, it has defied the laws and existence itself. This causes a reaction, in which iniquity steps in.
To take control, as it had broken a law, a commandment, and it's only right for such a rule breaking pillar , absolute negativity and evil— iniquity — to step in and condemn them for their defiance." He looked into her eyes.
She was surprised. She was being told all these, why? And how does even know all these? Yes, she has known such before but not to this extent.
" So, Lord. What you mean is, It's our sins that condemn us?" She asked with a curious tone.
" Yes." He replied.
And for a short while, silence fell in their midst.
She summoned courage to speak again.
" Sir, if I may?—"
" What about me? And why I communicate with divinity?."
She nodded, it was no longer surprising that her thoughts could be read instantly. Infact she preferred it that way. She hates talking too much.
" You are not ready to know, Not now of course." He said, his voice has grown weary.
Instantly, his expression grew grim.
And she felt her blood boil, perhaps in resonance to her master's feelings.
" Its not the right time for her to know," he paused his statement, suddenly shifting his gaze up the stairs.
Her body tingled.
She could not believe a mortal escaped her perception.
The stairs croaked, as if giving up it's last breath.
The quite gentle sound of footsteps atop the stairs approached, the sound accompanied by the gentle clucks of shoes.
She felt a male presence, enveloped in their nature approaching.
A mortal, of whom wields evil as his nature.
" You have a lot to answer, and some of info to give about the sudden disappear of the devils..."
Seraphina saw his tapered black trousers, neatly cut and sewn. A golden embroidery with a tag, The House of Lamel.
A royal butler, or house member perhaps?
" You won't oppose right, Innkeeper?."
Seraphina saw her master's face dim even more.
She looked upon the man, of whom was covered in a golden robe neatly buttoned all through.
His shoulders, square yet lean.
His face, carried soft wrinkles highlighting his elderly age.
His golden hair combed all backwards, with streaks of grey.
He wore a monocle, it's frame adorned in elegant gold.
His hand behind his back.
" Ofcourse I would do so sir, " He bowed before Kato.
" Forgive me, I had to dress—" he threw a glance at Seraphina, of whom was still distressed and confused.
" For the occasion." The Innkeeper smiled at Kato. His voice, quite vibrant for his looks.