"Every painting I've ever witnessed, Sebestian. Every landscape I've ever beholded. All of this world its' glory. For mine to admire and take. I will uphold God's will in this existence."
"Truly a remarkable prayer."
"You did hear?"
"I hear not your thoughts but the actual words you try to directly tell God, whether it is of reverence or blasphemy."
"Sebastian."
"Yes, Ismael?"
"陛下. Whenever I converse with the Lord. Also, keep me from blasphemy. As long as you're here with me, more than seeing for me, protecting me while I sleep, keep me from badmouthing Lord God."
"Ismael, as long as you remain stoïc and brave, I'll never leave your side. I will be your eyes and your guardian."
The angel looked up so Ismael could see the sky, blue and vaste. Grateful he finally was, for his beloved human, to finally turn away from this life of crime.
"It seems time has passed since I hid in the water cave. Did you take me out?"
"Yes I have, Ismael. Basil Morgan reached out to me, literally. Physically. So I took him out. He is dead, Ismael. I'm sorry if this troubles you."
"Protection is nothing to feel guilty for. My hope to be reunited with all my friends is annihilated, though, I'll admit I thought he had more in him than that. Perhaps in a distant dream I'll see his final moments. Sebastian. Guide me."
"This way, sir. Always forward."
In a castle, far away in lands and morals.
"Two of you have died. I expected more from you."
"Capucine", interpellated Raven, trembling. "Only Basil has died."
"I said two", she confirmed as Pride felt warmth inside of his soul until it became insanely hot, he burned before all of the people around him.
"Capucine! Pride was a child! How could you?"
"Pride had in him none but the name. Besides, you all belong to me, you exist to exist as sins for my ascension. Your life matters not. Two sins down. Pride proved to be both uneventful and unecessary. While you keep feeding off my air, I have to find reasons to keep you all alive other than my ultimate goal. Useless parasytes. I'll make you crawl. Why not, after all. As you all are, chained to another like cattle, come crawl at my throne. Show me you deserve to breathe oxygen. The same oxygen I breathe. Don't make me postpone my own wish because of your damned insubordination and inability to obey simple orders. If I could kill you and revive you a hundred times I would. Now I have to find new elements and personifications of gluttony and pride. Because you lot were not able to keep up with your respective fonctions. Enough! Enough of your fake worship. Creatures of flesh and blood no more no less. Sacks of organs held by mere bones. Why should I care what happens to you? Once I've fully transcended, I'll dispose of you."
"Capucine, Goddess of Greed, what have we done? To deserve this."
"Shut your mouth, Ariane. You're no better than them. I ordered you to perform rituals to enhance your powers. To connect with your true nature. And what have you done so far? Complained? "Oh it hurts, Goddess". Pathetic. Do not. And I mean do not. Make me crack the whip."
"Yes, Goddess. I won't. I'll succeed. Envy will win this battle for you."
"Envy better behave like the good kitty she is. Otherwise, animal abuse will be on the menu."
"Envy Kitty does not disrespect the Queen. Envy obeys."
"Each of you has a room to train to connect. At the end of each day, from now on, I'll be checking on your individual progress. If I'm disappointed in you, I'll take you to my room. And all of you know what this entails. So go back and do your homework, or you'll stay with the teacher after class."
They stood up like army soldiers and chanted in her name, for her glory and power as she stared at them in pure hatred and disgust. "Slaves. All of them. Slaves of mine. I should go back to the town and tell them that they're staying for some time. It'll give me time to replace the missing sins. Gluttony is not easy to find, but Pride? I can. I have and I will. I could kidnap one of them and torture them until they break and then rebuild them in my image, in their true nature. But I want more. I need more. I deserve more than this joke. The vision I was entrusted with clearly showed me seven sins I was meant to rule and govern. If I can't fulfill this mission to its' full extent what am I? What am I even doing here..."
"Goddess, I've mastered a corruption ability. I could show you if you intent of going back to town."
"Alice, are you linked to my thoughts?"
"By instinct, yes."
"Remarkable. I could use that. Great work, Alice."
"Thank you Goddess. I...feel weird..."
"I turned up the heat a little, so you don't feel cold. See how thoughtful I am?"
"Goddess, please, I want to help..."
Alice spontaneously combusted in agony and fear, sadness of seeing her home country engulfed in the same flames that are currently consuming her body.
"Three down. I may have to replace everybody if you creeps keep disrespecting me like that. Do not. And I repeat. Do NOT. EVER. Connect to me. You're way too low on intellect and spirituality. You are tools. When a screwdriver breaks, we throw it into the garbage and we grab another. Now. Go outside, we're having a change of plans. Bring me a Lust, a Gluttony and a Pride. You have three days. Beyond that point I'll just torture every single one of you until you die."
"Yes, Goddess", they said at unisson, before leaving. Capucine breaks her shackles and lets them leave. "I hope they do a good job. It won't be too long before Ismael finds this place. Torment is mine to adjust to my liking and my will. My own slave to grab onto. Every part of his body already belongs to me, not a single atom of his identity is his."