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Your first instinct is to reel back and punch the angel in the face, a deep rage welling up inside you, ready to explode. Despite this, you hold back, the cautiousness of your nature warning you first to be patient. Wait to strike. You listen, not out of a want to, but out of necessity. You can run, but they will likely follow.

Whether or not they notice your thoughts, your body language, they do not say. Their smile remains placid, taking your silence as consent.

Their voice projects itself outward, clear, and almost cutting into your mind, "You have strayed from the righteous path of Zir. However, It is forgiving of those that have lost their way. It is only natural for mortals in their ignorance to sin. Therefore, I have come to offer you your redemption."

She holds a hand out, a halo materializing. The light from it is blinding, a shining gold that befits the otherworldliness of these... beings. You feel a sense of deja vu at the sight and a twist of disgust in your gut.

"Should you choose to walk the righteous path once more, you will earn the right of salvation. Your work, your body, and your blood, will slowly but surely cleanse the corruption of your soul, as you devote yourself to It and Its teachings once again. Do not besmirch this opportunity, it is the highest honor for this choice to be presented given your blasphemous crimes, mortal."

Irritation works its way through your veins and down to your fingers. A violence calls at the thinly veiled condescension.



Your mouth opens, your voice unable to temper the defiance, "And if I refuse?"

Her eyebrow slightly raises, as if amused, "Why would you make such a poor decision? Do you not understand the weight of what you have done? To steal from Zir, to take Its blessings and bestow them in false imagery? Do you see yourself above It?"

In her other hand, a dagger materializes, shimmering gold, ornate, almost ceremonial. Yet, you feel the touch of buzzing, sickly, divinity coming from it even just a few feet away.

"I d--"

"Your actions do not just corrupt you. It corrupts those around you, taints them with your sins, blackens their souls. Your friends, your family, have they not dealt with it enough? Do they even know what you have done to them? They would sooner denounce you, pray for you, and hope that you would come to make the right decision."

You feel yourself tremble.

"Why continue to touch them with your filthy hands? Spread your lies onto them. Cast your filth, as it will fester, and I will have to come to them, same as you, to save them from themselves."

"I haven't hurt them."

"Is that what you believe? Then why not tell them? Why keep it hidden beneath lies? To make them accomplices?"

You cannot answer her.

"You may look upon me with hatred, but you know in your core what you have done. There are only two ways to redeem yourself."

She holds both options out to you. "Work, and earn the right to Its grace once again. Or, cleanse yourself and your loved ones entirely of your corruption, with one simple redeeming act."

The guilt wells and bubbles. You cannot help but see some of the truth in her words. This is what you were taught: Paradise is earned through struggle, through hard honest work, where your actions should be for the good of everyone else, and the mistakes are something to be bled for in hopes of redemption. The path G0D has you walk is not easy, but you must walk it regardless. Prevail, repent, redeem. It has been what you've known. You thought your actions could be justified if it meant helping those around you.

Really, you thought yourself above it. Above the toiling, agonizing, painful work of every-day life. In the end, it is selfishness within you. The ultimate sin.

She plucks the strings that were carved into you from childhood, an instrument built off of fear and guilt and want. To earn the right to be accepted. To redeem yourself through your work.

To work forever, is it so bad if it's for the greater good? They'll likely house you, feed you, provide the basic necessities. Maybe pay you to still provide for your loved ones. You'll at least still get to see them. Maybe...

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