In the Shadow of the Divine

[Dusk]

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Looking out the window at the space, one could easily indulge in lengthy reflections. About how much humanity has, yet continues to desire more. In its greed, it spares neither outsiders nor its own. In its greed, it will consume itself. Greed, greed, greed...

At least, that's what most of her people would have said.

Emilia, however, saw other facets here, and greed was only one of them. Those others were no less powerful over people's souls: fear, desire for control, vanity, arrogance. She herself was not free of them all. Her actions were built precisely on fear; fear of losing what she had found by pure chance, which had upended her view of the world. For which she was willing to kill, to commit baseness, and to risk her own existence.

Foolishness. But precisely the kind of foolishness that made life worth living.

...

Unexpectedly hearing a voice nearby, the albino blinked twice, looking slightly surprised, as if waking from a fleeting dream. She glanced at the man who had addressed her, taking in the contours of his face and clothing. He didn't look like someone who belonged here. But, then again, neither did she.

When she was still a street urchin on the streets of Pittsburgh, she might have reflexively flinched, looking for her brother, seeking his protection. But not now. She was in Freeport, and random violence was not tolerated here. Not to mention Emilia herself now had some tangible aces up her sleeve... Still, it was best not to use them.

So far, however, there was no hint of hostility in the stranger. So perhaps she should curb her paranoia.

"Yes, the sight is impressive... Especially when you've spent most of your life seeing only smog and dark clouds."

She smiled with a hint of sadness. The voice sounded slightly distant, but not cold. Her eyes, though, still studied him, as if searching for a chink in his armor.

"Perhaps it really is obvious that I'm in a kind of... daze. It's hard to stomach when someone I considered practically family turns out to not value me at all. And forces me to choose between the cause I've dedicated my life to and sanity."

Crimson Veil, looking away slightly, twirled her glass in her hand. Then she exhaled.

"...They all walk toward the abyss, lured by the loudest shouters. Many complain about power determined by blood or wealth... But is power really better when it goes to the one with the loudest voice?"

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