How is it that I end up in these situations over and over again? I thought about it in my head for a long time, because I had plenty of time for that. When I came to, I could hear the ringing in my ears and people screaming. When I opened my eyes, I saw a crowd of people standing around me with flaming torches, shouting, "Burn the bastard! BURN! - Funny how I was considered a heretic. My hands ached from the tight rope that held me tied to a pole stuck in a well-built wooden pedestal. As I lifted my gaze to the sky, I saw the bright moonlight, which could not fail to delight me with its beauty, and the light breeze that caressed me was so pleasant. Now, it's going to get very hot next. - You're as optimistic as ever, Cain. That's good, because I thought you'd give up. - These words came in the soft voice of a cloaked girl who appeared in front of me, her face concealed by a hood, but her beautiful red hair was visible, and in the light of the moon it looked like it was on fire. People's voices fell silent, and time stood still when she appeared. - You did come to see the fun, my dear Aria. - I always smiled involuntarily at the sight of her. I don't even know why. - It's no fun for me, I'm waiting for you to stop wasting your father's gift and start your own way. - As long as I've known her, I've never heard her anger or raised tone, she's always calm, but her gentle voice always puts me at ease. I guess that's how it's supposed to be when talking to an angel. - Come on. The way, the mission, the father's will. It wasn't in my bloody plans. He's the one who banished me again. This time it's gonna be worse than hell. And how would someone like me follow his path? - You know why. You should be the new light for them. I was just trying to open my mouth to say something when she disappeared again. Oh, for fuck's sake! She likes to say and bail. But now that she's gone, the show's about to start. My ears started buzzing again with people screaming, but after a couple of minutes they began to subside. A priest who was a member of the Order of the Inquisition appeared before me. - Brothers and sisters, today we will destroy the spawn of Satan! The holy fire will purify his body and soul! In the name of our Lord, let us pray for our salvation! - This old man spoke so confidently, and the people obeyed him, yet feared him, only their faith in their father was unshaken. Now this situation makes me laugh. - Hey, old man, do you think your speeches will save you from the torment of hell? I know that your bullshit is for the public, and that you're wasting your pennies in carnal pleasures is one of your sins. I fear you have fucked up your place in God's realm. - Oh yes, now I can see the peasants' eyes going up in their heads, everyone whispering to each other, and that old fart grabbing the torch and starting yelling at me. But I'm right. There's no such thing as a perfect clean person. Everyone's a sinner. Only children are sinless. Heaven is a luxury not everyone can afford. And then I began to feel the heat on my legs, the flames, surprisingly, quickly began to engulf me, starting at my feet and moving higher up my body. The fire licked me like a wild dog licked its freshly caught prey. Yes, yet it was impossible to get used to this pain. I felt the flames that engulfed me begin to melt my skin like red-hot tar, and the fire began to penetrate, eating away at my bones and organs. A savage piercing pain that made me scream in my voice and lose consciousness. Maybe I'll die this time. And then there was the silence that brought me freedom...