[Unfortunately, there's no divine here to save you. Only a devil. And the worst of them all, at that.]
Amith's words elicited an internal sigh from Eleanor.
'Divine, huh? That reminds me of how terrified I used to be during the yearly blessings, thinking the priest's divinity might burn me because of you.'
[It didn't, because your own divinity blocked it from happening.]
Eleanor possessed two types of energy: both magic power and divinity.
Divinity was a positive energy, especially potent against beings and phenomena on the negative end of the polarity spectrum.
Naturally, Devils existed at the furthest extreme of that spectrum.
However, the connection between Eleanor and Amith was unique, so much so that Eleanor's divinity couldn't harm the Soul Fragment of Amith nested within her soul.
In her current state, Amith couldn't interact with the material world directly unless she manifested through Eleanor's body.
And the two most viable methods for that to occur were either Eleanor willingly granting her control, or Eleanor going berserk from an overload of soul power after absorbing another of Amith's fragments.
But using Amith's power would mean Eleanor losing her divinity, and that would only worsen her already fragile position within the Crafiel family.
Because of that, she had never allowed Amith to manifest, nor had she ever made an effort to search for the Devil's remaining fragments.
But now…
'It doesn't matter anymore.'
[Oh? I thought you'd rather die than accept my power? If I'm not mistaken, you said that on at least two occasions when you were close to death.]
'Those were just the naive words of a girl who hadn't truly known what death felt like.'
Eleanor's reply brought a faint, wry smile to Amith's face as she responded,
[And now, with the improper cleansing of your past life's memories undone, you remember exactly what death is like, and find yourself more desperate than ever to cling to life.
It is within my power, but it will cost you.]
As she spoke, Amith reached out and placed a hand gently over Eleanor's chest.
[This heart of yours will produce divinity no more.
And you'll also need to take on one of my Brands.]
'A... Brand?'
That term hadn't appeared in the game, so Eleanor had no idea what it entailed.
In the game's storyline, Amith had simply fused her soul with Eleanor's. But the real Amith, who clearly understood that Eleanor possessed memories of another life, hadn't even brought up that option.
As if reading her thoughts, Amith continued,
[The Brands are tied to my Authority over the Deadly Sins. I'll expend my own soul power to restore your body to a functional state, and in return, you'll repay me with a rather steep interest.
Whichever Sin's Brand you take on, that aspect of your life will be amplified. You'll become far more susceptible to falling into it.
The emotional energy produced through acts linked to that Sin will be converted into soul power, the same power you'll use to repay your debt. Once the debt is paid…]
'What happens when I pay my debt?'
A faint sense of fear was beginning to creep into Eleanor's heart, and sensing it, Amith chuckled before answering.
[Well, that depends on you. Once the debt is paid, you can choose to keep the Brand, or discard it along with the powers it grants you.]
So, it seemed the Brands weren't merely burdens or side effects. They came with both advantages and drawbacks.
As soon as Amith finished speaking, she raised her hand, and white magical energy rapidly gathered above her palm, forming seven glowing white cards, each marked with a black symbol.
Pride bore the image of a lion's head, crowned by a radiant sunburst behind it.
Wrath displayed a shattered mask, glowing eyes peering through the cracks that spread outward like lightning.
Envy featured a mirror split in half, with one side showing a vibrant reflection and the other dull and cracked.
Greed showed a treasure chest spilling over with riches, entwined by curling black roots.
Lust depicted an open mouth sinking its teeth into a ripe fig, dark nectar dripping down its sides.
Gluttony revealed a gaping maw with multiple tongues stretching greedily toward a dangling fruit.
Sloth was marked by a broken clock wrapped in thick vines, its hands frozen in place.
[Make your pick quickly. Your time is running out.]
As Amith's voice echoed in her head, the seven cards hovered before Eleanor, each pulsing faintly with power, whispering both promise and consequence.
Pride was power, authority, and ego. It could make her bold and fearless, but it also carried a blinding quality. It might cloud her judgment, force her to stand when she should retreat, make her reject help when she needed it most. It could turn competence into arrogance.
Wrath might strengthen her in battle and enhance her combat abilities, but at the cost of control. It could push her over the edge, into blind rage, unable to tell friend from foe, or mission from madness.
Envy would lead her to compare, to despair, to burn with resentment over what others had, even things she never wanted before. Amplified, it could turn allies into threats and friends into rivals. She might become someone who measured her worth by the lives of others.
Greed meant always wanting more, wealth, power, and control. But it could also blind her. She might hoard when she should give, risk when she should play it safe, and become a puppet to desire, endlessly clawing for more, never satisfied.
Lust wasn't just desire, but fixation. A hunger that could cloud her judgment, turn purpose into impulse, and pull her toward fleeting comforts she might come to regret. She could find herself drawn to the forbidden, chasing sensation, emotion, and connection.
Gluttony was overindulgence in anything. Attention, safety, comfort, and even pain. It could dull her edge, slow her down, and trap her in cycles of craving and brief satisfaction, never truly fulfilled.
Sloth was stagnation. Apathy. The quiet rot that crept in slowly. It could sap her will to act, to care, to move. Maybe it would numb the pain, but it would numb everything else too, until she became someone who watched life pass her by and did nothing.
Eleanor silently shut her eyes and pondered.
In her past life, Eleanor Keishara had been confined to a hospital bed, body failing, dreams left unfulfilled. She had wanted to travel, to fall in love, to seek thrill and beauty and depth, but illness had robbed her of all of it.
Now, she was alive as Eleanor Crafiel. Burdened, and in pain, yes, but alive in a world she had once adored from behind a screen.
She had her favourites among the people and places of this world, and often imagined what it might be like to walk among them.
Certainly, she wanted revenge against the Grand Duchess who had tried to kill her, but she wouldn't live for revenge alone.
She wanted to feel desire, hunger, and pleasure. To chase joy even as it fled. To steal moments from a world that would rather consume her.
Eleanor longed for what she had never had, and from that longing, her choice was made.
'Hey, Amith.'
[Have you made your choice?]
'Yes, but could you at least heal me enough to sit up and talk?'
Amith blinked at the request, saying nothing at first, then shrugged. It wasn't like she wasn't going to get her payment anyway.
[I suppose it can count as an advance service.]
She snapped her fingers, and Eleanor immediately felt a rush of energy from the depths of her soul, an overwhelming torrent of power that reminded her exactly what kind of existence she was dealing with.
Her broken bones mended, torn flesh and tissue restored, and the dull ache at the back of her head faded.
Sitting up, Eleanor looked down at her arms and shook her head with a wry smile.
[Make your choice, lest you return to your previous state.]
Amith's voice echoed in her mind, and Eleanor turned to face her, eyes meeting that ever-composed expression as her lips parted.
"You know, I've always wanted to make that calm expression of yours crack, even just a little."
[I don't follow…]
Amith arched an eyebrow in mild confusion, though the rest of her expression remained unchanged.
"You've elicited all sorts of reactions from me over the years. Hardly seems fair, does it?"
[I fail to see how that's relevant to the current situation.]
"You're about to."
Eleanor replied calmly, then reached out and cupped Amith's face. Before the devil could question her intentions, Eleanor leaned in without warning and pressed her lips against Amith's.
[!]
Amith's eyes widened in surprise, and Eleanor, holding that gaze, smiled faintly as she deepened the kiss, pressing Amith down to the ground and slipping her tongue past her lips.
It took a full ten seconds for Amith to snap out of her daze, and by the time she did, Eleanor pulled back, a sultry smile curling her lips as she reached for one of the still-hovering cards.
"I choose Lust."