This was all too much to process for Opehlia, but Diligence didn't care and kept going.

"While my impact on the world was severely limited, my ability to see the future remained fully intact. Even if I couldn't move, there were a few things I was able to do…"

Diligence let the water flower collapse and sent a small stream of water shooting off into the distance, hitting the walls of the gorge.

"Just by redirecting a lizard's path, I can change how an event plays out on the other side of the world with declining accuracy up to 25 years in the future… In your case, every time you snuck out to remove the ballots, a convenient animal was scampering nearby to help distract the guard."

'T-that…'

"I know it may sound hard to believe. But truly, fate bends to any and every will. Though it may not appear to."

Ophelia gripped the soil as she looked over toward the wall and spotted a red lizard scampering about, turned around by the water stream.

"What matters is that I was able to protect you thus far, and we've finally met at the point when Kindness' power transferred to you… As for when that happened, it was the moment you bled for your brother… the moment you gripped the rose and spilled your blood."

Ophelia stared, drifted back to the rampaging waterfall.

Nothing changed with this knowledge… but at the same time, everything changed.

To learn that her entire village, everyone she knew, was simply a product of Sloth's petty survival. All of her life, she'd been merely raised as cattle to feed an unwilling goddess. The Goddess, who was named simply 'Goddess' out of Sloth's mockery.

It wasn't right…

Nothing was right.

Because Sloth was scared of Diligence and imprisoned her, her brother had to die like that 300 years later?

'Bullshit!'

Ophelia hated Lust, and now she hated Sloth too. While she was at it, why not add the rest to the list?

She hated all of them — all of the Vice who sew terror throughout the lands.

Beings that seemed so distant their existence could be mistaken for fairy tales, yet were in fact so close and rooted in her everyday life — so close that never for one moment had she been free of the bastard's influence…

This truth was painful.

She'd been spared because of her natural resistance to the Lilac Liora'fen, but at the same time, being spared meant being allowed to experience the plights unimpeded. Being able to understand that everyone she once knew was not at fault for their radical nature… Being able to understand why everyone around her was so content with their awful tradition…

It was this Sloth bastard.

At least, if Ophelia were to take everything the trapped oracle said at face value.

On the other hand, doubting Diligence brought more pain than the supposed truth. Why search for more pain and reason when she could stay ignorant, at least for the moment?

After a long silence, Diligence spoke up again:

"Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Ophelia looked down into the churning waters and, with her new goal on her mind, asked:

"How… how can I free you?"

After all, if Diligence was Sloth's antithesis, she was the key to killing the terrible Vice.

Diligence was quiet for a moment before she uttered a simple reply.

"You can't."

'I can't…?'

Did that mean someone else existed who could?

Well, Sloth probably could. But if that were Diligence's only hope of freedom, then looking for a way to kill Diligence and pass it on would be the better path.

"Anything else before we start your training?"

Ophelia pushed at the ground and shakily stood:

"Yes… There is one thing I need to know."

The voice of the Goddess responded:

"What would that be?"

Ophelia kicked a flower and then said:

"Is it possible? Is getting my revenge on such terrifying beings truly possible?"

Diligence laughed and said:

"Kindness, in my eyes, your revenge is already complete."

***

'I'm starving…'

Ophelia hadn't eaten since she'd fallen four days prior. Thankfully, Diligence was able to purify bits of water to make it drinkable…

Not that Ophelia was too happy drinking from a pool her kin drowned and died in, but the thirst eventually became enough to overcome her reservations.

But, she'd only be able to eat if she hunted, which was not in the cards just yet.

Right now, Ophelia was still training to sense her Aether, with Diligence aiding her.

It was going relatively smoothly. Especially so since she'd been infected with a bit of Sloth's power all of her life, which actually made sensing Aether easier. Not to mention, according to Diligence, she also possessed more than the average human, regardless of her nature as a Virtue.

It's natural reinforcement of her bones and skin was a big reason why she survived the fall in the first place. And…

Speaking of a Virtue…

If what Diligence described was correct, there were two souls and two cores inside of her…

Ophelia didn't entirely understand the full connotations of such a thing, but she did know that once those two cores and souls combined, the transition would be complete. When it was complete, she would have full access to her own power and the power of Kindness.

Though to understand that power, she'd also have to learn to read Soul Scripture…

Which could only be done after she had a sufficient understanding of the Aether she hadn't unlocked yet. So, it was going to be quite an arduous journey.

One she was willing to take…

After all, once she completed the beginning of her training, it would be time to start her revenge… She would avenge Laertes.

She would kill Sloth and Lust. The two bastards are responsible for his death.

Well, maybe not by her own hand, but she'd help set in motion the branches of fate that would lead to that conclusion.

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