The Sin's Virtue

If there is anything known to every soul living in Diverso-Terra, then that is about the distressed relation between Ignis and Río. The two can never stand in each other's presence. Never.

That is why Ignis is never seen on núcleo meetings or any balls if Río is the one to host it but this tension was not there since the start. It has just developed over the last few decades and now, well now they just simple hate each other. I, however don't exactly know why that is. In fact nobody does. I often ask Ignis about this but she always shrugs me off, pretending like its no big deal but then thats how she is.

She would be such a loquacious person and make you comfortable around her but that does not mean you know her. I have been with her for so long and in the mean time I have come to know how less she talks about herself. If not at all too. Her words reveal nothing about how her past has been or how she is doing in present. She is an outspoken pal of mine but then sometimes I feel like I barely know her at all.

It is not like I did not care enough or that I was not interested, its just she likes to keep things to herself. So I guess I understand why she has burst out all of a sudden.

"Stop it Ignis." I said calmly. I have seen her getting worked up on simplest of matter. You have to just snap her out of it and she will be back, to her normal state.

She glared at me and I felt the heat around me fading away slowly. I waited until she was steady enough to listen to me again.

"You okay?" I asked as she blinked her eyes to adjust to the dim lights around us.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Sorry about that."

I shook my head smiling at her. Impulsive as always.

"But he will pay!" She exclaimed all of a sudden. "How the hell he dared to question you?!"

"Río is not to be blamed. Neither are Sins." I do not know why I was being so modest but I guess thats all I can do to keep Ignis soothed. "Why would they trust me anyways. I mean I am a Virtue. Isn't that enough of an excuse?"

Ignis just scoffed under her breath.

"There is no point in dwelling about it now. Specially when I just have a month with me." I said with a blank voice.

Frankly at this point I feel exactly like that.

All the anxiety, burden of failure, the raw emotions have suddenly left me or I don't know maybe all of them at once are leading me no where and I fell like this. Nothing.

"I don't understand this." Ignis said getting up to face me. Her head was blocking my vision as I stared up at her upside down face. "Why did you use the mark?"

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Naturally there was no way you were going to find all the Virtues within a day or so." She said waving her hands to stress her point. "But now you have constricted your time too. In short you are done for in a month."

Wow such a fantastic way to console me.

"I know." I said getting up. "Thats not what it was meant for. The other Virtues were being stripped down of their powers and I could feel it prominently in my veins. We are connected Ignis, and as you say even a day is enough to spill disaster on the mainland."

"The stupid balance I suppose?" She asked. I nodded my head.

"It may not affect you but it does to me. I am created to uphold that. It is fundamental to my existence, Ignis." I explained like that much was not obvious.

"You talk like I didn't know that. For your knowledge, I have been here since before you." She rolled her eyes at me and I sighed.

"Oh yeah? Then tell me everything you know about Death." I demanded. If it has come down to this then I might as well gather every bit of information I can on her. That will at least let me know if I can stand against her or not.

Ignis frowned at me.

"Why do you want to know about her?" She asked confused.

"I suspect her." I told her.

"And not Chao?" She raised a perfectly shaped brow at me. "Who are you and where is Shye?" I rolled my eyes at her.

"Its not what you think. Both could be at fault but if it were him, I would have known. I am very well familiar with his trace." I shuddered at the remembrance of his existence. To think he is out there somewhere really bothers me sometimes.

"How do you know he is not behind all of this?" I turned to Ignis who was giving a challenging look to defy her point. I would admit that it was really tempting to just agree, to just blame him for every wrong in my life but the rational part of me knows I can not do that.

"He can be but think about it, he wouldn't just steal away my sisters to avenge his rejection." I tried to convince myself more than to her. "I mean thats way too much."

"Or not?"

Or not.

"Just tell me what you know about Death." I sighed. I don't want to talk about that being. If I can avoid him, that is exactly what I will do.

"Well," She made a face. "She is famous for being subtle. You can not easily approach her. Moreover, that chick likes to be alone. I have met her just once in my life and I am glad I don't have see her everyday. Stone cold freak."

"What do you mean stone cold?" I asked intrigued.

"See for yourself when you meet her." Ignis said taking off her heels and flopping down on couch. I made my way to her and sat cross legged in front of her.

"But you said she is difficult to find.." I pointed out. "Not impossible right?"

I waited for her response hopefully.

"Yeah. There is a way." She said sitting up. "I think we need Aire."

The element of air.

"Why her?" I asked and then it hit me.

She is the messenger. Right.

"So call her?" I have met her a few times when she brings in message from the Sun. She is nice? I don't know. She is very curt and its hard to explain what is going on in her mind. Always blank. She is exactly opposite to Ignis.

"Wait here." Ignis left for her office and I lay down from all the exhaustion. As I closed my eyes, Pride crossed my thoughts and I couldn't help but be stuck on that.

As much as I try to avoid everything about him, I know I can't. I just can not. Not after knowing that he is my mate. Where is he? Was he in Impío when I left? Does he even know that I left? Or maybe it was him all the way who was questioning my motives?

He wouldn't

How do you know that?

He is your mate. He would never do that.

Whatever.

Is this because of that stupid deal? I could not help but feel rejected. I mean I know that is really wrong, I should not be thinking about him. I should be focusing on my own matters but I know somewhere, something is just not right. Everything is turning into a puzzle, and I am supposed to solve it. But how?

What if everything is connected or what if not?

One fine day all the Virtues vanish in the thin air.

I get the help from the Sins but then suddenly Pride is gone.

So is the help now.

What the heaven is going on?

I can't help but think about that night we cracked the deal, something happened that night which I am missing to understand, which is somehow passing over my head, which I am failing to comprehend.

What it must be?

Oh I just want this to end. All of it!

"Shye." I opened my eyes at the voice and sat up to see Ignis standing in the doorway calling me over to join her in the office. I did so and followed her upstairs. Her office was on the third floor behind the glass doors, immaculately decorated with all the antique stuffs. A long dark wood desk sat right in the middle of the room. Ignis rounded the desk and sat on the chair while I sat across from her.

"What is it?"

"I was about to call Aire when this came in." She handed me a piece of paper.

Great! Another letter.

What bothered me was that it felt exactly same like the previous one to hold in my hands. The touch of magic it had on its surface was clawing at my every nerve, alerting them in response.

I looked up at Ignis to ensure whether this was true or was she playing around with yet another prank of her on me but she only radiated seriousness. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, my voice clearly betrayed me, displaying my fears out in the open, proudly.

"It was already here when I came in." She said and shrugged. I turned the envelope around and there it was.

The seal. Black. Blank.

"Its from the same person." I stood up pacing around. The letter in my hand was now becoming more and more burdening with each passing second.

"How do you know that?" Ignis asked getting up. She rounded the table and perched herself on top of it.

"I just know. The surface feels same. You know what I mean? An-and the seal? Don't forget the seal! My heavens! This is not good. This is not good!" I ranted under my breath as my pace quickened. Ignis didn't say anything just kept staring at me as I measured the length of the room from one end to another.

The anxiety was going to throw my immortality into a trash.

"Just open it Shye." Ignis said groaning.

I turned to look at her as if she had lost all her nuts.

"Are you crazy?" I glared at her.

"No. You are." She said glaring back at me. "What are you gonna do otherwise anyways?"

Well she was right...

"I know I am right now open the damned letter." She ordered rolling her eyes. Wow now I was thinking out loud.

I pursed my lips and nodded. Taking my seat on one of couches near me, I opened the seal and took out the letter from the envelope. Smoothing the surface, I recognised the familiar handwriting from earlier.

Dear Humility,

I shall admit that using the mark was a spectacular step on your behalf. You almost jeopardized my plans but not anymore. In fact everything is now going to happen soon and that just happens to include the death of these little Virtues I have in my captivity. That is of course if you don't hurry up.

Still waiting.

My eyes widen as I read the same set of words again and again until it was imprinted in my mind.

Ignis took it from my hand and read it.

"What the heck?" She cursed under her breath but all I could feel was bewilderment. "Tell me Shye, you don't believe this psychotic right? Nobody can kill Virtues like that. This is some sick joke."

My senses were jamming with the amount of astonishment I was feeling in the moment.

"How is this possible?"

"What?" Ignis asked me confused. "The death of Virtues? Of course it isn't. Listen to me Shye-"

"No!" I cut her off standing. All of my emotions were turning into fear I couldn't control.

"How do they know I used the mark?"

-*-

Guys I am really sorry for such a lazy update. Been really busy in my exams but they are ending tomorrow so hopefully I'll be more active then.

Also guys I hope you are enjoying the plot so far, tell me what do you think in the comments down below or you can leave the reviews and as a token of gratitude I will mention you in the credits that I am going to do at the end. Thank you for all the advises so far. Your words really help me.

I love you.

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xo