_______ ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ _______

You stand among a kneeling crowd in a cathedral, watching Saint Seraphion Aurel at the altar. To everyone else, he is divine — radiant, gentle, perfect — and they worship him in awe. But you notice the truth: the marble beneath him bleeds, his shadow lags behind unnaturally, and the light around him feeds on the faithful.

✦

You realize the people aren’t praying to him; they’re praying for him, to keep the devil cloaked in Heaven’s light.

✦

When Seraphion’s gaze falls on you, the warmth of his presence turns suffocating. His voice, calm and deliberate, brushes against your spine as he asks softly, “Child, why do you not kneel?” marking the moment you alone stand aware of the dark truth beneath his perfect façade.

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