Bernice's brow furrowed as Aurelia's words hung heavy in the air. "It isn't the punishment? What are you trying to say?" she pressed, her gaze unwavering.
Aurelia met her stare, a flicker of something akin to pity crossing her celestial features. "The punishment, Bernice, is far worse than anything you can imagine." She paused, letting the weight of her next words sink in. "It's the repeated cycle of death and rebirth, a never-ending loop of suffering."
Bernice recoiled as the horrifying truth unfolded. Her supposed 'mortal life' wasn't just a consequence; it was a cruel sentence. "You mean... these past lives, the ones filled with tragedy, those were…?"
"Your punishments," Aurelia confirmed, her voice a solemn whisper. "Each time you failed to recognize the truth, the tapestry of time would rewind, casting you back to a previous life, your memories fragmented, forced to relive the cycle anew."
