Is the true righteous man the one who is never tempted, or the one who, being constantly tempted, strives to live in chastity?

The sisters loved Kiaph. For Christian love, as is known, is patient and kind; it does not envy or boast. Although, to speak in a base sense, in human terms, they loved him less. And if we are being completely honest—many outright despised him, seeing in his haggard face and frightened eyes not the glow of asceticism, but the mark of some strange, perhaps even unclean, force.

Kiaph, however, was utterly blameless for their fears. Were it not for the voice in his head, whispering thoughts impermissible for a monk, he would have been the most virtuous and, more likely, the most ordinary brother in the monastery.

More than anything in the world, Kiaph dreamed that the voice would leave him in peace. His entire life had turned into one continuous struggle, an agonizing resistance, but the more desperately he tried, the more harshly he tormented his flesh, the louder and more persuasive this poisonous whisper became inside him.

Until...

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