#jfc my replies keep ending up stupidly long

[piouspromise]

The words fall from her mouth without her even thinking as she watches him crouch down on the ground like a wounded animal. His current, pathetic state is fitting for someone who kills with so little regard for human life. For someone who considers himself a real predator as he seems to, his own body seemingly rejecting the wretched soul that inhabits it in such a painful way is more than deserved.

This place must be meddling with her sanity, though. The gods will always forgive even their most sinful child, if that person seeks their forgiveness. They never abandon anyone; if anything, humans are the ones who abandon the gods and the spirits. Escher is clearly not the sort of person to seek out forgiveness from the gods, however, so he may never get it.

She can’t help but flinch as more blood comes up from his throat before her eyes...it’s painful to watch, even if the person in such a state is more than deserving of that pain and more. His face contorted in anguish and frustration as his usually gleaming white teeth are turned red, blood dripping down his chin while he’s bent over as if the weight of his sinful existence is crushing him...he truly looks like the monster she knows he is. So why is it that she struggles when gets to witness such greatly deserved suffering? There’s an emotion she can’t quite place, and it’s not pity. He deserves none of that. It isn’t the reminder of teachings from the priest and the sisters who treated her like family, either. While they may very well be calling to her from the afterlife, telling her to remember the importance of mercy and forgiveness, his sins are too great for her to forgive...especially when he shows no signs of contrition at all.

And then, more blasphemy pours from his lips, and the ease with which he spouts such abominable things is in stark contrast to his body, tense and twisted with pain as he hacks up his own blood, breathing raggedly as if the exertion of merely living is too much.

He’s in a pitiful state, but she has no intention of softening her words for the likes of him. “You should care. If you repent while you still have the chance to do so, then you might have the opportunity to make it to heaven. I’m sure that’s the only place left where there’s any love for you.” She can’t stop herself from baring her teeth in fury, as if the ferocity of the creatures they’ve been fighting are finding life anew within her. “Then again, if you’re stupid enough to believe they can actually give us immortality, and I know you’re heartless enough to kill other people to try and get it regardless...then maybe you don’t think you’ll have to worry! But the gods and the spirits always find a way to strike down the wicked, Escher...so while you may live forever, it’ll be a life filled with misery.”

His attack seems to be finished at about the same time as her words of caution, and he stands to his full height, spitting out the blood that’s left over. What he says next, though, she can’t quite understand. The words, yes, but the real meaning seems to be lost. It’s clear, however, that he’s trying to instill fear, or at the very least give her a warning.

He’s skilled with his sword, and she knows what he’s capable of. He also surpasses her in both stature and strength. Yet she doesn’t back down, instead choosing to bring herself physically closer to him.

“Are you threatening me, even though you know it could cost you your life to try and fight me? You’re hardly a patient man at all...I wouldn’t expect you to be able to hold out on killing anyone long enough to be granted immortality anyway. Your need for violence surpasses any others you might have.” /continued from here.