Kyupin had, after various missions and encounters, finally made her way to the capital of the game. Stokbon. She had spent the necessary hours recuperating to refill her 'Rest' and 'Energy' meter, her avatar silent and still as it slept. When she'd 'woken' and trotted out, she ignored her reflection. She had no need to see puffy red eyes staring back at her.
The innkeeper had not been as discrete about it.
"Rough times, huh?" he'd asked her, taking her grimace as a solid 'yes'. He had leaned in, as if to tell her a massive secret.
"Y'know, I've seen your kinds before. They say there's a temple, in them hills," he had gestured vaguely in some direction,
"praying there gives 'em peace of mind." He had offered a sagely nod, and Kyupin, a weak smile back.
"You should tries it."
And she had nodded.
"Of course," she had replied, so easily. Because it was just a temple, and you just had to pray, right?
Kyupin found herself on top of the hill, staring up at the massive cathedral. It was beautiful. And, as she entered, Kyupin realized it was just as gorgeous on the inside. She inwardly thanked the innkeeper who had told her of the place, her senses relaxing. Even the soft pit-pat of footfall calmed her. Instinctively, she approached the large group of people lined up before a set of stairs. One by one, they climbed.
"Wha-" she tried to speak, though was quickly shushed by an irritated woman in front of her.
Curious piqued, Kyupin trailed after them (were they... pilgrims?). She did not know words of prayer, did not know the gods they worshiped, but she begged silently for their forgiveness regardless. It was a game, but each death had felt so real. Each corpse so still under her fingers. If there was somebody or something out there in this oddly realistic world, she hoped they heard her.
She slowed to a stop before the wizened monk.
He said nothing, so she didn't either, just trotting forward obediently when he gestured for her to approach.
"I love you, Vale-" She faltered, heart stopping at the familiar voice.
The look of disappointment, of pain, her father squeezing her hands, crying by her bedside when he thought her still asleep. The rage her brother had felt on her behalf. She felt sick.
How did they-
She came back to reality with a start, blinking her eyes clear of the tears welling in them. Kyupin whipped around to look at the monk, questions simmering inside of her. His sad, sad smile... Kyupin bit down her sob, facing forward in determination.
These were her sins, weren't they? She had to face them, had to know that this was her fault. She was used to shouldering an unbearable burden.
She could do this.
Again and again, as she climbed through the path, her mind was ravaged with... experiences. Visions. Hallucinations. Whatever you wanted to call them. Some from her real life, some from the things she'd done in this game. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, skin pale and eyes haunted by the time she stumbled on to the final platform.
She carefully eyed each of the statuettes, drinking in every exquisite detail. Were these the... symbols of the gods?
Twelve gods. Deities. Figures.
Twelve people to beg for forgiveness - no. Not forgiveness: for understanding of what she'd done. Acceptance.
She took a shuddering breath, taking twelve incense sticks, lighting each one and carefully putting a stick in every pot. Soft, broken whispers escaped her, tumbling out explaining herself.
Clenching her skirt tightly, Kyupin waited for... something. A sign, maybe. A sign of their judgement.
Thrown die:
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