87. No More Sin

No answer came.

Naturally.

Phobos stood up in silence, his emotions already under control. They were sinners; that they were still alive at all was already the Emperor's grace. How could they dare ask for more?

But the air began to grow heavy.

Then a voice rang out. But he could not hear it clearly.

A wandering hurricane swept through the command room. A fierce, pure radiance blazed before Phobos's eyes, and a roaring storm came from far away, carrying emotions of immense magnitude.

The walls gradually turned transparent. It was as if he stood in the universe, amid scattered starlight, with Malvolion, soon to be completely devoured by the hive swarm, floating quietly beneath his feet, burning without a word.

What?

What was this?

Phobos stared blankly at everything before him. He could not understand it; he could only watch passively. And that voice drew closer and closer, reaching his ears from the far side of the void, so near that he could finally hear it in full.

He heard it clearly. He understood completely.

+Do not weep, Phobos Lileo. The suffering of the Lamenters will end today+

"Is that you? Emperor?!"

The voice did not answer, but Phobos's vision was wrenched rapidly out of his body.

He saw "himself" still standing in the command room, head lowered in silence. Yet his soul seemed to have reached a higher dimension. In that infinitely stretched vision, he saw a glimmer of golden light.

The radiance was right beside him, floating quietly, burning silently.

Warm, gentle light shone upon his illusory soul. Phobos wanted to weep, but forced the thought back.

Only because he had said not to weep.

+You are innocent+

A voice came from within the radiance.

+No one can declare you guilty. No one has that right. But