chapter 4 – the weight of pride
he stood alone in the silence that followed the shadow fight.
his chest heaved, breath ragged like a storm raging inside his ribs.
the forest faded around him, but the whispers didn't stop.
lust's voice floated like smoke, soft and cruel.
"you fought well. but fighting isn't enough."
"what do you want from me?" he asked, voice low, tired.
"understanding," envy said, stepping from the shadows. her eyes were sharp, cold as winter frost. "pride without understanding is arrogance. and arrogance falls."
wrath cracked his knuckles, voice like thunder.
"you must carry the weight of your sin. or it will crush you."
"what weight?" he demanded.
"the burden of your past. the pain you hide," gluttony said, voice heavy like his body. "to be proud, you must first face what makes you weak."
the ground trembled, and the world shifted again —
he was back in the dark forest, but now the trees whispered memories.
he saw flashes — broken faces, lost moments, words left unspoken.
a memory hit him sharp and cold —
a younger version of himself, alone on a cold rooftop, staring at the stars he couldn't reach.
"why?" he whispered.
lust stepped close, "because pride isn't just strength. it's the mask we wear to hide the cracks."
envy smiled, "and everyone's mask breaks."
he shook his head, "not mine."
wrath's voice was harsh, "that's because you haven't tried hard enough."
"then show me," he said, "show me my cracks."
a figure stepped out from the shadows — a child, pale and trembling, eyes full of fear and sorrow.
it was him.
"you're scared," the child whispered.
"i'm not," he said, but his voice faltered.
"you're scared of being forgotten," the child said, tears shining in his eyes. "scared of being weak."
he looked away, pain twisting inside.
"pride is a shield," lust said softly, "but shields can break."
"if i break," he said quietly, "then what am i?"
"you'll become something new," gluttony said. "something stronger."
the madness inside whispered again, louder now.
"embrace the cracks. become whole."
he closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him —
pain, fear, loss — and beneath it all, a burning fire.
"i'm not afraid," he said, voice steadying. "i'm proud."
envy smiled sadly. "pride born from pain is dangerous."
"dangerous enough to survive?" he asked.
"maybe," wrath said. "but the test isn't over."
the ground cracked beneath him once more — pulling him deeper into the trial.