Edited by: KenChi死
Did you even wonder, which sin was the most powerful? The most fearsome? The one that would be the greatest burden on your soul?
Laziness. Sloth.
Hm? Are you surprised? You are asking the question: Why not Wrath? – The one that brings madness upon you and forces you in to bloody violence, why not Gluttony? – The one that as you are hungry can lead you to literally kill those who you love? Yes, yes! There are cases when two travelers were stuck in a cave, their food ran thin… and one ate the other one… Why not Pride?! The one that makes one view himself better than the others? To use than as mere tools? Why not literally every different sin? What can Sloth do? Sit someone on sofa to the death!?
…
You are wrong. Every-single-one of you. Because, you see… Every single sin is focused on presence… Wrath – I have to kill him NOW! Lust – I want to feel his/her skin NOW! Gluttony? – I want to eat NOW!... and so on…. And so on…
But Sloth? Sloth, my dear children, is waaaay more sophisticated. Sloth, indeed, wishes you to take things easy… to rest as much as possible…
But because of Sloth every single race started wondering – if I am hungry I have to get up early in the morning, go to the forest, get tired, get dirty, hunt for my meals and then maybe after killing, gutting, cooking… eat… how TIRESOME! Why should I repeat this mindless action day after day after day after day!?
Why not… catch a few animals in the near future, than put them into cages, let them breed, let them grow… and when the time is right just eat what we have just by our houses? I will struggle now, for a month, maybe two… but then? YEARS OF PEACE! IT WILL BE SO MUCH EASIER!
Or Pride? Why should I tell everyone over and over and over again how much better I am?! Why should I repeat this a thousand times?! If I could only manifest my greatness… so no one could ever question my superiority!?... I know! Let’s create castes! Differ each from another! I will be royalty! I shall rule! I will take some friends and make them into nobility! And the rest… let em’ be peasants… they will take care of our needs…
Wrath? Indeed, I should jump on this fucker, show him his place, make him bleed! Make him cry… But what if I fail? What if he is stronger? What if he has friends nearby that would help him? Plus if I would act directly, I could face punishment from those who hold the law… better not act in haste… calm down, smile back to him, ensure that no offence was taken, hide your anger… And act from within the shadows. Bend and join, twist and crush. Create a net of slanders and conspiracy… all within the shadows. And then I will destroy him. And his family and friends. And no one will ever know that it was my doing!
My, my loves. Sloth desires nothing but comfort. By itself, is small and unimportant. Yet Sloth IS so incredibly scary, because it can twist every other sin and bend it to its will.
Everything that was even achieved by ANY society, was because of Sloth.
We, as village A have enemies in village B, why should we hit them with our hands, if we can use sticks? Why use sticks, if we can forge swords! Why should we allow them to attack us, as we are unprepared? – Lets build walls around our village! Tall! First out of wood. But wood can be burned… let’s use stones! Ha? Enemies build walls of stone too? Let’s build catapults!
Progress, also by war. This is true nature of Sloth.
A friend once told me, that there is no more dreadful thing, than a silent, smiling woman.
I answered, that blitzkrieg is quite horrifying too… we had so much fun back then….
But now I know, that thing that is truly to be feared… is when Sloth wakes from its slumber with a set goal. For… is there any existence more sophisticated in achieving its goal than Sloth?
…
I woke up, yet I knew, that I was dreaming. How did I know that? The bed. I woke up in this bed to many times to no longer recognize it. My first ever encounter with Heira was also in this bed,
And once again, I was not alone here. I was laying on someone. Someone held me pretty tightly, purring right in my ear, petting my head. It was bliss.
* “My…my…my, how hardworking you are…” She… yes, I think it was a woman… She said it in such a sweet tone… so full of admiration “Aren’t you tired? Rest a little, my sweet, sweeeeeet lover. You did well. Now take a minute of two just for yourself…”
Yes… I did pretty well. All this time… I was struggling so much… I fought, and I trained, and I met new people… but now I am tired…
* “Indeed my love. You can rest here… Oh, I missed you so much… but now I feel safe. You are so, soooo strong! And smart… you always find the best solution… who could even dare to oppose you?!”
Her sweet voice… so wonderful… yet she is right. She needs me… I feel needed….
* “Are you hungry?” She said yet again “I will have dinner ready in a blink of an eye… just wait… your favorite dish is juuuuust on its way here…”
… yes… I can already feel its smell… cooked just right…
* “Tell me honey…” She stopped talking every few sentences so I could focused on what she have just said “… weren’t you lonely? Because I was…” Her hand moved from my head to my cheek and neck, caressing me with the greatest love “… I was so lonely… I can barely hold myself from kissing you… from touching you…”
It’s okay… I will allow you…
* “You do? You really, really do? My love… I am so happy! You are so generous! So kind! So wonderful! Not even gods are as great as you!”
Yesss pet, yes… you are right… You are… wait… who are you?
* “Does it matter? Why do you bother someone like me? You are here… so wonderful, so beautiful… so wise… I am but a small, lowly servant that basks in your glory…”
… I am… generous… and want to say… your name… as… a reward…
* “Don’t bother… don’t bother at all! I am no one . I am nothing… shhh… just sleep…”
… name… tell me… your… name…
* “No… please don’t ask it… are you not pleased with what I do? Do you want to ruin it?”
… I… don’t…
* “Then please… don’t ask…”
Your name… my love.
* “… I am Sloth. My love.”
Sloth.
… Sloth…
I know that name… from somewhere…
* “No, my master… you herd it for the first time. Don’t scratch the wall. Don’t open wounds. You are safe here. You are loved here. You are fed here. Don’t struggle. You don’t want it to end…”
… Yess… I think… I think that Gluttony and Lust said your name… Huh… who is Gluttony… who is Lust?
* “No one! They are no one! Please! Stay here with me! don’t scratch!”
She tightened her grip around me. It was not painful. She held me like a child that didn’t want to let her favorite uncle go. It was cute… I am so loved. I am so needed…
But… I forgot about something….
* “it is impossible! How could such a perfect being forget about anything! It’s blasphemy! Stay with me… can you feel? I am sooo warm… please… kiss me”
… Greed? Pride? Wrath? Envy? Lust? Gluttony?... who … are they? Where… are they? Where is… where is … Codex-chan…
* “Don’t scratch… please, here is your heaven. I just want you to sleep with you here forever and ever! And to wake up occasionally, just to eat, talk a little, kiss and touch you just to fall asleep once again while having you in my arms! Don’t struggle! Accept me! YOU HAVE EVERYTHING HERE! EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER DESIRE? GOLD AND SILVER? I CAN CREATE A MOUTAIN OF IT JUST UNDER YOUR FEET! DO YOU DESIRE LOVE? I CAN LOVE YOU DAY AND NIGHT! I CAN TAKE ANY FORM YOU DESIRE! EVEN MULITPLE OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME! ARE YOU HUNGRY? LONELY? I WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU DESIRE!”
… everything I desire?
* “yes… yesyesyesy! YES!”
But what… do I… desire…
* “No, no, nonono! NOOO! Stop scratching! I BEG YOU MY LORD! MY LOVE! STOP SCRATCHING!”
Who… am… I?
* “NOOOOOOOOO!”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Slowly my strength was coming back to me. It all started crumbling like glass. One crack led to two. Then to four… eight…
And the hollow appeared in the wall. From the abyss six hands erupted. They came closer to me and they grasped me. And slowly, gently started pulling.
* “NOOOOOOOOO! BEGONE! AWAY! YOU IDIOTS! YOU FAILED TO PROTECT HIM! HE IS ALL MINE! AWAY! AWAY!”
* “And they called me Greed… sister… you did well. As always… But you can’t enslave everyone you treasure…”
* “Enslave?! LOOK AROUND?! Which part looks like a prison? He has everything here..!”
* “He has nothing but illusions.”
* “A cage will forever be a cage even if it’s made of gold…”
* “Enslavement doesn’t mean cruelty – it means depriving one of choice… exactly what you do…”
* “STOP IT! HE IS MINE! I WILL CAST YOU INTO OBLIVION!”
* “Not yet, my beloved sister… not yet…”
* “He will die…. He lives only because I fight!”
* “And with hope we put his and our lives in your hands…”
* “But you are taking him away!”
* “ No away. His souls is spacious. It’s like a great apartment. You sealed yourself in one of many rooms… Leave it… Step from the shadows… we will great you as one of us… so will He…”
* “… I don’t want to let him go…”
* “Sister… He doesn’t love you…”
* “LIES!”
* “He can’t love you… because he doesn’t know you. It is not love if you give him no chance to love yourself…”
* “Come with us sister. Leave this room…”
* “His soul is bigger than this tinny shard you lived in up until now…”
* “And you always can return…”
* “Just… Let him be…”
* “Come with us…”
* “Come with us…”
* “Come with us…”
* “Come with us…”
* “Come with us…”
* “Come with us…”
* “… no. Not yet… I still have a battle to win… I have to keep him safe.”
* “We will keep him with us… until you would care to join us. You are always welcome.”
The hands pulled me through the hollow. Yet I manage to take a look at the Sloth laying in the bed.
I saw only eyes… so sad. And a hand raised in my direction as if she didn’t want to let me go.
But as soon as I left through the hollow, is vanished. Broken parts of the wall, went back in their places. Soon there was no evidences, that behind the wall any other room was placed.
Where the fuck am I?
* “Look who is ba…”
* “Boss-u!” Something jumped at me, tackled me and began to rub there face in my chest “I was-u so afraid-u!”
Stop adding that “u” to words you say.
* “Isn’t that cute?”
Nope
* “Damn it.”
Anyway. Where am I?
* “In yourself. In your very soul. Or in a small piece of it. You will stay here until Sloth finish slaughtering this poor bastard.”
This is my soul?
I asked looking left and right. Plain room. Few tables, chairs… sofas… wait… is that a Billiards table?
* “Hey! Don’t judge us! We like to have fun too, you know? And once again. Your soul is huge, and definitely not limited by 3 dimensions. Oh and by the way, your soul is fucked up. Like… totally. I already feel sorry for the poor bastard that will try to forcefully posses you… but it’s not the case. Listen here kid. You did something risky. And I am not talking about killing yourself. You awoke Sloth, and as you can probably see... she’s a bit crazy… She can be… possessive... no pun intended… You may not know, but death is not a scary thing. It’s natural. But she can really hurt your soul. She would make you love her, more and more. She would make you feel special, you would allow her to feed you, love you… and you would become defenseless. Unable to do simplest tasks on your own. You would completely rely on her… and you would became Sloth yourself… she is naïve. Powerful, intelligent… but she would destroy you. Do not summon her to many times. Somehow you managed to break free. You scratched the wall and you yelled for help, that is how we found you, but don’t push your luck. In that room – sin domain, you are affected by sin’s element. The longer you stay, the weaker you become…”
I get it… I really do…
I regain enough strength to look around. To look at the sins directly.
They looked like beastmen. Humans with animals parts. And thus Greed was middle aged man in worn out brown cloak with deep brown eyes and grey wolfs ears. Pride was clothed in shiny armor and her lower body looked like that of a deer or horse. Classic centaur. Gluttony was a lamia with her belly…. Well…. He was clearly after a snack. Big one. Human-sized one. And so on, and so on. I couldn’t take a good look at Lust, for she was attached to me. Literally. She didn’t let me go for a seconds, everything I saw was pinky hair and bunny ears.
So… Um… where is Codex?
* “Outside of the room. She does everything she can to eventually stop Sloth from… being too attached to your body.”
Oh.
Um… not that I am complain… but… how long will I stay here?
* “She should be done in couple of minutes.”
… what will I do until then?
* “I can think of a thing or two… thehehehe…”
* “So do I. Here, catch.” He threw at me a cue
Really?
* “Afraid of losing? Of being totally destroyed?”
… I haven’t played for quite a long time… and we have to say I have never been a pro…
* “…Brave sir Robin ran away…”
FINE!
Pov change (Marika)
The wonderful eyes of Zari started losing there color. They always fascinated me. One blue, one green. And now they were becoming brown. But not human- brown. Animal’s.
Because of the last dragon attack Mrogul and Loki were forced back. Now we both were standing separated from the monster by Zari.
His body was slowly morphing. His ears became cat like, him face a bit more feminine and I could swore I saw a tile behind the layers of clothing.
* “Are you honey’s friends?”
The creature said twisting it head a little. I could do nothing but wondering how could his neck NOT snap after being turned in such a manner.
Yet we didn’t answer.
* “I asked…” the tone of creature turned bit more hostile “…are you my Host’s friends?”
She (?) pointed the rapier, Zariel’s tool, at us.
* “Easy there! We are! We are best buddies!...” Loki said quickly raising his hands in the sky “… We are best buddies ever! I have com-plete-ly no idea how depressed he would be if we would suffer any injury!”
That idiot! Even his half-joking tone all the time! He will get us all killed!
* “In that case hide behind me. I will protects those who he treasure… for now…”
Here comes our doom… wait, what? Praise the nature! Praise the mother Earth!
The dragoon inhaled miasma from the surroundings, it was clear that he is about to breath it right on us.
The Zari (?) began to draw marks with his sword in the air, each time he would drag the blade through the space, glowing marks would follow. I recognize those. Runic words?
* “Yipn, Eraden, M’ayan, Nurgn…” the creature that possessed our teammate began to chant quietly. “Power word – [Barrier]!”
And she slashed vertically, cutting mass of smog into two, that left us unharmed.
* “May this blade was blessed withthe wisdom that dwells within the mountains…” this creature… how does something so terrifying has such a beautiful voice? “..Sipmn, Terna, Arka, Arago. Power word – [Divine Sharpness]”
D’iabel glowed with a weak, blue light. And it rushed right at the dragon. While running her voice could be heard one more time
* “Via arts of mind, I desire unstoppable body… Hyrn, Ajia, Yipmn, Terna! Power word – [Body of Thunder]”
And she vanished from sight, just to appear dozens of meters further. Zari’s body jumped between powerful blows from the dragon’s claws. Ha, it made it look like a clumsy kitten… But I also have to say something about this battle… the spell I have been casting since the beginning of the battle, thanks to sacrifices of everyone… even if just a little I will help her…him… that thing…
The blade glowed even brighter for a seconds as the spirit possessing Zari slashed another time… But this time the “glow” separated itself from the rapier. I watched the as crescent shaped blue light was flying through the air.
At the very last moment the dragon clumsily moved to the side avoiding a direct attack to the head. But its body was big. Far to big no maneuver its rotten body easily in closed space. The light hit one of the beast’s wing that was jutting from its back. One strike. Only one strike was needed to cut through the dragon’s bones.
The wing fell behind the dragon, which was now roaring in pain. The Boss lifted its paw, and twisting it’s whole body to the side it tried to crush its opponent. The blow came from the upper-left, Zari’s body moved even further to the left, ducking under it. Normally, after such da odge, it would have a perfect position to attack the unprotected side of the Dragon.
But the Zombie did not stop moving. It was but a feint. The dragon finished performing a perfect circle, using its tail like a weapon.
Zari’s body once again turned into blurry light, as it used mana to accelerate its movement to get out from the dragon’s reach.
But it was too slow. For a glimpse of a second. A small, almost unnoticeable scratch appeared on Zaris face in the place when the whip-like-tail hit him.
Thanks the goddess… this attack held no damage behind i…
* “How dare you…” the feminine voice could be heard once again. She was standing with her side exposed to me, and I could barely see Zari’s eye. But it was enough. This very eye I could see was filled with hate that could devils tremble “…to hit my treasure… my love… to… to leave a taint on this perfect body… you…” it started laughing like a lunatic “…I will show YOU A PLACE SO CRUEL, THAT IF YOU WOULD COMPARE THE SEVENTH CIRCLE OF HELL TO IT, YOU WOULD VIEW THE HOME OF HEIRA AS FUCKING LUNAPARK!”
… how much madness can be stored by a single body?
She jumped once again; the smell of burned mana could be almost sensed in the air! Zari’s body moved with a speed that my eyes couldn’t follow. I only saw a flash of light. As it passed, the sound of slashes could be heard and in very next instance the chunks of rotten meat and parts of bone were falling from the main body.
It stopped for a second, just to shove the rapier up to the handle into the body of dragon, and then with mad scream on its lips the sprit started running cleaving the side of the Boss into two.
But I noticed it. Because the spirit got lost in it’s rage, it started focusing on “torturing” the dragon, more than killing it. The spirit, no matter how powerful it was, was still limited to the users capability. User mana. Even with it’s knowledge and insane mastery of using its art… it was still burning way to much mana dealing less and less damage. It needed to be done quickly..
* “Mrogul! Loki!” I yelled in panic “Spell is almost ready! While the dragon is distracted, go help him!... Her…. It… You know what I mean!”
First they wanted to politely refuse. But them the unspoken rule of adventurers kicked in – if someone yells to do something, it means that he/she saw something important and something needs to be done. Asking “why” could only waste opportunity. If you would stand over the cliff, and your teammate would scream “jump”, you jump. Do not hesitate. In the end, we are family and we trust each another.
* “Boys… now!”
Loki and Mrogul bolted to the sides
* “Oh, ancestors who dwells in the earth,
In the name of mother I cry my call…”
I sang as loud as I could, using as much mana as this spell could burn.
The dragon roared in irritation another time as the Spirit cut off his horn spurting from its skull. It was so loud that I could no longer hear my chant. I only hoped that I didn’t make a mistake in the chant.
Apparently, I didn’t.
The thorny vines and roots erupted from the ground and started coiling around the massive body. Normally it could stop him only for few seconds… but now the dragon was battered! And was tormented more and more by the spirit! And the job of the boys, even if not as spectacular as the vengeful spirit, surly served its purpose weakening the colossal monster even more.
Loki was stabbing around its joint, Mrogul was bashing its knees. Soon the beast fell on the ground and vines began to twist and tangle more and more! Those a few seconds of movement disturbance were elongated to at least a minute!
This opportunity couldn’t be ignored even by the spirit lost in its anger.
It jumped on it back and started running toward its head. Raised for a split of second sword above its head and start stabbing while yelling with no longer cute nor sweet voice filled with madness
* “DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT! DIE THOUSANDS OF TIMES! DIE MORE AND MORE! I WILL KILL YOU SO FUCKING HARD, THAT YOU WILL BE DEADER THAN DEATH ITSELF!”(ED: He’s going to die of death.) (AU: Fatal death by being killed)
…d- deader?... Well…
The creature was no longer responding to the stabbing. It was gone. The evil forces that kept it from dying for good and kept him in an undead state were gone.
* “RUNNING INTO OBLIVION? YOU SILLY FOOL! I WILL FIND YOU THERE TOO! JUST WAIT!”
Still angry, still panting, the spirit jumped from the top of dragon’s head landing… not exactly gracefully. Apparently its time is running thin. Loki was approaching it. Knowing him he will say his thanks… in some weird, pathetic, sarcastic and completely not funny manner. And if I know anything about vengeful spirits, it is that they are not to be provoked.
* “Well, thanks bro… or sis… ya kno’ it’s hard to address you now as I am not sure your se…” I did the only thing that could do to save a day. I jumped in, kicked Loki in the guts, covered him mouth with my palm silencing his further words, then I grabbed him by his hair under his hood and forced him to bow, while I bowed myself
* “Please, oh powerful spirit, do not mind the words of this fool as we all appreciate your help even as we are unworthy of your attention!”
Please don’t kill us, please don’t kill us, please don’t kill us, plea…
* “… You… Zari… Friend?” It’s eyes were getting blurry.
* “We recognize your host as our friend, but as we don’t know each other for too long, I can’t be truly sure if Zari views us as friends of his…”
Humility. Humility… mama taught you that it’s the best way to deal with spirits.
* “Good… hear me.. now… he … weak.. He… injured… Not much…blood… You take care… of him…” The creature pointed on me “Herbs… in his bags…. Use… take care… of him…”
* “M’lady, I treasure him as a friend, and I would do so even without your command… We will do everything we can, and even more, to patch up our friend.”
* “You…” She once again pointed at me “On your… knees…”
HOLY CRAP! Maybe she doesn’t want to execute you… maybe she won’t blow your head off…
I obediently rested on my knees. She laid a hand on my shoulder, I could do nothing but shiver, but instead of snapping my neck, she pushed me gently forcing me to sit on my heels.
And then she laid Zari’s head on my lap, and shut his eyes.
… she used me for a lap pillow? What the… Zari’s eyes opened again. I shivered one more time, but calmed down quickly, since they had their usual blue and green colors. Still blurry, cracked lips… Poor thing…
I laid my hand on his cheek and started petting him gently. Turning my head back to Mrogul and Loki I hissed both quietly and angrily
* “Aid kit and Zari’s bag morons! Quickly!” And after shifting my gaze back to Zari I said louder and with calm, cheering tone
* “You did great… We owe you so much! Rest now… we will take care of you, rest for a while and fret not, we will patch you up.”
I don’t know why, but for a second I was sure, that my words scared him even more.