––––
I stood frozen.
"Sinner of Greed," I whispered to myself—when a faint metallic scent reached my nose.
Blood.
Before I could piece it together—
Loras appeared, droplets of blood orbiting him like deadly beads.
They twisted, stretched, and hardened into a blade aimed squarely at the mysterious man.
"Explain yourself, Mr. Gold…" His voice dropped, cold and precise. "No—Sinner of Greed."
The mysterious man raised both hands—but before he could speak—
Loras swung.
I didn't see the strike. Only the sound.
Golden coins erupted, spiraling around the Sinner of Greed's arm as he parried the blow. Metal screamed against blood-forged steel.
Loras leapt back at once. The edge of his crimson blade was cracked.
"Tsk," Loras clicked his tongue.
"You didn't need to do all of that, Loras… I meant no harm," Gabriel said.
Loras stared, cold and calculating, as if measuring him. Then, almost imperceptibly, the blood blade melted and sank into his body.
Gabriel exhaled, and the coins that had swirled around his arm floated neatly into his pockets.
"Then… shall we talk?" he asked.
The Chief's voice cut through the charged silence.
"Explain yourself, Mr. Gold. Why is there a spy hunting Envy in my village?" Calm, controlled—but with a simmering edge of frustration.
Gabriel raised a hand in a placating gesture.
"Easy now, Chief… I'll explain."
His gaze flicked to me for a moment before he sank into a seat.
"The spy… comes from the nearby Kingdom of Khatar," he began. "They've grown cautious. Apparently, they've seen Envy roaming their lands."
Loras spoke next, his voice sharp.
"But you said this is your fault."
Gabriel hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
"Well… you see, there are currently seven Sinners. Each of us can sense the others if they are close. So most likely… Envy came here to see me."
"And what about this boy?" the Chief asked, his gaze locking onto me. "Why would the spy suspect him?"
A brief silence stretched across the room.
Gabriel's expression darkened, voice low and serious.
"Because… he is a host. A vessel for Envy to possess."
A shiver ran down my spine.
"I'm in danger?" I muttered.
"No!" Gabriel chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"As long as you haven't awakened your Sinner ability… Envy won't be able to track you."
"Sinner ability? What… what is that?" I asked, curiosity tingling.
"You don't know? Hey… where did you pick up this kid?" Gabriel asked, glancing at Loras.
Loras spoke, calmly as ever.
"The Chief's daughter found him. He claims he came from the Mountain of Eve."
Gabriel nodded thoughtfully.
"I see… a tribe that chooses isolation from the world," he muttered.
Then, without warning, Gabriel clapped his hands—sharp, commanding.
Everyone flinched at the sudden sound.
"Listen closely," he said, eyes scanning the room, "because what I'm about to tell you is very important."
I leaned in, curiosity sharpening, and nodded slowly.
"Well… I'll start from the beginning," Gabriel began. "Everything starts with Ken."
"Ken?" I asked, confused.
"Yes. Ken," Gabriel said, voice grave. "Ken is life energy… a power you hold from your desire to achieve your will. Like… Loras' blood earlier."
"That blade?" I asked, eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Gabriel nodded.
Loras leaned forward slightly, his tone sharp.
"I must ask… what's the difference between my Ken ability and your Sinner ability?"
Gabriel let out a slow sigh.
"Ken abilities… they come from the desire to achieve someone's will," he began, eyes thoughtful.
"Sinner abilities… are tied to a single Sin. And they can shift depending on who is chosen to wield them. But," he added, gaze sharp, "Sinner abilities also come with restrictions—you can't use any magic that isn't connected to your Sin."
"Well… earlier, when you blocked my blade, how come your coins didn't even scratch? That's a Ken enhancement, right?" Loras asked, curiosity and challenge mingling in his tone.
Gabriel smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Indeed. I said Sinner abilities can't mix with other magic… but Ken enhancement? That isn't a magic spell."
"The difference between a Ken enhancement and a magic spell," Gabriel explained carefully, "is this: magic turns Ken into an element and casts it outward, while a Ken enhancement… stays within a single object or ability, simply strengthening it."
He lifted a coin.
"Like this, an ordinary coin…"
Then an aura suddenly enveloped it, shimmering faintly.
"Now this is no longer an ordinary coin… this could kill."
With a flick of his finger, the coin shot forward, embedding itself in the wall with a sharp ping.
That's the same aura I saw in his coins… I thought to myself, wide-eyed.
"That's the first time I've heard of such a thing," Loras said, amusement in his voice.
"The Academy never taught prodigies like us to use enhancements on our abilities…"
He leaned back slightly, a small smirk forming.
"No wonder they called you a genius back in your time," he added, praise clear in his tone.
Gabriel's expression hardened.
"It's nothing. Anyway… this kid will be under my charge. No one knows when the spy—or Envy—might appear again.
I scanned the room, taking in their faces, the weight of their gazes pressing down on me.
"Very well… take him with you," the Chief said, voice edged with worry.
Golden coins slowly floated toward me, shimmering in the dim light. Before I could react, they pressed against my body, lifting me off the ground.
"Hey!" I shouted, struggling, but it was no use.
"I'll be going now, Chief," Gabriel said, tone calm, almost teasing.
He waved casually as the coins carried me upward.
And then, from the shadows outside the window
I saw it... A faint figure watched silently, eyes glinting with intent.
"I'll give you more information the next time we meet," Gabriel called back.
To be continued…