Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

The silohuettes seemed to be debating among themselves wordlessly while Gluttony seemed utterly relaxed. As the seconds turned to minutes, Cain was still struggling with his unease. Gluttony was a mystery to him and even Gaius who was also sitting nearby seemed to be extremely uncomfortable himself.

For the first time since he had met him, his instructor had looked... uneasy. Gluttony had once been touted as the skill of his disciple who had once been called the Origin of Sin. It had taken hundreds of Heroes and Gaius himself to bring it down.

Now he was without a body, sitting at a table before 4 more beings on the same level as that. Even if they were fragmented versions of themselves, so was he.

Gluttony on the other hand seemed utterly relaxed, watching the lights in front of them with a casual ease that made it seem almost regal. However Cain noticed that while it's form resembled him from his childhood, there were some distinct differences.

First was the violet eyes. This was not something he was born with, instead it was something he had acquired after bathing in the ancient demonic blood. However, Gluttony's visage resembled a childhood version of his current self.

The other thing was the teeth. From the smiles, Cain was able to realize that Gluttony's teeth were sharp and jagged like that of a vicious predator. Yet despite that, it didn't detract from his appearance in the slightest as his teeth somehow felt natural.

The silhouettes of Wrath, Pride, Lust, and Envy shifted in unison, their forms rippling like water disturbed by a stone. The air around them felt heavier, as if it recognized the weight of the decision they were about to make. Each silhouette, though featureless in detail, radiated a presence so powerful Cain could feel it pressing against the edges of his mind.

Wrath's form moved first. It was the most aggressive of the four, bristling with restrained violence. Its voice emerged from the darkness, low and brittle, like steel grinding against steel. "We will follow your plan, Gluttony," it said. "We wish to be whole again. But we demand a host who can carry the burden of our anger without breaking. We will not be shackled to one who falters under pressure. The host must be strong in spirit and will, unyielding even in the face of destruction. Anyone less will only bring us ruin."

Gluttony inclined its head, acknowledging the condition without a word. Its eyes, violet and cold, flicked briefly toward Cain, but gave no indication of judgment or approval.

Pride's silhouette shifted next, upright and imposing, radiating authority. Its voice was calm but cutting, deliberate in its precision. "I will submit only to a host worthy of reverence," it said. "This host must command respect naturally. They must hold the eyes of others without demanding it. The host's influence must extend beyond themselves. We will follow them, but only as long as they do not diminish themselves before the eyes of others. Our guidance is useless if their presence is weak or unnoticed."

Cain could feel the weight of that expectation press against him. Pride did not merely require power. It required recognition. It demanded a host who would be seen and remembered.

Lust moved slowly, its form shifting sinuously with a fluid grace. Its voice was softer than the others, smooth and almost hypnotic. "We will follow, but we demand a host capable of desire and temptation," it said. "The host must be able to inspire passion and draw the attention of those around them. They must manipulate without breaking the hearts of others, control without suffocating, and seduce without exposing weakness. The host must understand influence not as a tool, but as an art."

Cain swallowed hard. The condition was intimate, invasive, and unnerving. Lust's requirement was not for strength or recognition, but for subtlety, charm, and awareness of the human heart. He was not sure if he could meet it, and yet he felt no immediate fear from the being.

Finally, Envy's shadow shifted in a way that seemed almost restless. Its voice carried a sharpness that cut through the silence like ice through cloth. "We will join, but we demand a host capable of sacrifice," it said. "They must be willing to give what they hold dear, to endure jealousy and rivalry without faltering. The host must understand the pain of lacking what others possess and turn it into fuel for growth. Only then can we remain tethered without tearing them apart from within. The host must never envy their own power or ours, for weakness born of longing will undo us all."

Gluttony's form moved slightly closer to the center of the table, its expression unreadable but its presence commanding. Cain could sense the faint ripple of anticipation radiating from the others. They had agreed, but each had placed the weight of their demands upon a potential host. This was not obedience without conditions. This was a binding pact tempered by necessity.

Gluttony's voice was low, calm, and almost indulgent. "The other Sins agree to join in my plan," it said. "They seek wholeness. They seek power. They will obey only while the host and those chosen remain alive. Each of their demands must be respected, for a failure to meet one could unravel all. Cain, you will serve as the vessel. You must bear their conditions, for they are part of you now as much as you are part of them. You are their anchor."

Cain's heart hammered in his chest. The realization that the Sins were tying themselves to him in such a permanent, conditional way filled him with a mixture of awe and fear. Gluttony's form remained still, almost regal in its calm. Its teeth glinted in the faint light as it smiled, a predator's smile that seemed perfectly at ease with the chaos it had orchestrated.

The silhouette of Wrath leaned slightly forward. "We require strength," it said again. "If the host falters, we falter. They must endure and fight through any adversity without losing themselves."

Pride's shadow straightened, imposing as ever. "We require authority. The host must be seen and followed. They must not be diminished by others or by themselves. Our guidance is only useful if it is anchored to one worthy of respect."

Lust's form twisted in fluid arcs, radiating a strange, almost magnetic energy. "We require allure and understanding. The host must inspire desire, command attention, and manipulate the hearts of those around them without succumbing to weakness or obsession."

Envy's shifting silhouette sharpened like a blade. "We require sacrifice and resolve. The host must bear envy without allowing it to corrupt them. They must endure loss and rivalry without faltering, turning longing into power rather than despair."

Cain's throat felt dry, but he nodded slowly. Even in the face of these impossible demands, he sensed an underlying truth. The Sins were not merely submitting; they were placing their trust, fragile as it was, in him.

Gluttony leaned back slightly, its sharp teeth still catching the light. "Then it is settled," it said. "The pact is formed. They will be whole again. They will follow, for as long as you and those you choose endure. Their conditions are yours to bear, Cain. Accept them, and our plan begins."

Cain looked at the shadows surrounding the table. For the first time, the word 'ally' did not seem entirely inappropriate, even if these allies were the embodiments of human corruption and chaos. Their demands were harsh, their conditions exacting, but in the quiet weight of that moment, Cain understood one truth: he was no longer alone in his struggle, and neither were the Sins.

The darkness around them seemed to pulse, as if in approval. Cain felt the stirrings of power, subtle yet undeniable, brushing against the edges of his consciousness. The Sins had chosen, Gluttony had orchestrated, and now the first step toward wholeness was underway.