Chapter 2

“Child, why do you take advantage of my kindness so?” The light asked her. Vinea gave no response. She’d been here before, countless times. So many times, and yet she was still amazed by it. Why was this place, where space and time merged, so breathtaking? She didn’t know.

“What do you mean?

“My child, so many times I’ve given you chances to atone for your sins. Why won’t you learn?” The light asked. It had a beautiful, feminine voice, that of an angel. And yet it provided Vinea no calm. In fact, it was just infuriating her

“What sins do you speak of, Spirit? Of what are you possibly accusing me?!"

“You know full well, Vinea vi Vystrya, of what you have done. You have put yourself in the path of the chosen child, and have constantly been hindering her.”

“Hindering?!” Vinea cried. “Hindering?! The first time I saw her, I ignored her, stayed out of her path, I met this fate. The second time I befriended her, even got her engaged to my brother, she made him kill me. The same happened when she begged me to get her married to my best friend! The one I was engaged to, and yet I still did that and she got me executed! This has happened so many times! So many times have I saved her life for her to take mine! Hinderance, you call me!? I got her married to the Emperor! If that is not her duty and her fate, I don’t know what is!”

The voice still spoke in the same pitying tone “She is the chosen child, she is never wrong. It is your fault for sinning and getting in her way”

“How dare you!?” Vinea roared at the voice. It didn’t pay attention to her. “Why won’t you let me die, then?! The moment my soul is about to leave me, you turn back time! Why can’t I die?! I’ve been living in the same seven years before my death for centuries now, and yet you won’t let me die!” Even after her speech, the voice ignored her.

“This is the last time I will be lenient, turning back time as I see fit. I hope you will learn this time”

“I refuse” The voice seemed to go into a state of shock.

“What?”

“I refuse to help the heroine in anyway, that chosen child of your’s. If I am to succumb to an execution, then I wish to deserve my death, not only to wait for it!”

“You are going against the will of the Creator!”

“The Creator let’s us only suffer once, and then let’s us die in peace, awaiting our judgement. Your will is not the Creator’s. I reject you”

The voice seemed to not care, as long as her chosen child was alright. “Then be it so. Just remember, Vinea vi Vystrya, that your chosen path will not be the one you choose, and even if it is, only death will befall you”

“When has it not, Spirit?” And with that, the light faded into complete darkness.