The flames were dancing in the pyre. Tarvin followed their movement with his eyes to calm his mind. He had his sacrifice ready, but still didn’t feel at ease. Was it enough to attract the attention of the gods? This was something Tarvin was not familiar with. He was good at taking important stuff away, not at giving it. Sure he had some experience with giving coins to the poor, but he couldn’t possibly compare this to the giving to the gods. There was a whole religious aspect at giving offers to the gods. No, he shouldn’t worry about that. He just had to present his offer to the gods. No one was offering right now. Tarvin stood up and walked to the pyre, while opening his backpack.

“Gods,” he started his sentence. “for years I have lived on my own. I learned how to live independent. I kept myself to my own moral standings. I saw this society from the side it doesn’t want to present itself. People filled with greed and hate walk with a smile on their faces over the streets. People who like taking from others. Who enjoy standing above others. I took from them.” Tarvin took the trophies he gathered from the mayors and threw them one by one in the fire. “And I gave some back to the ones they took from. Not because that is what I should do. Not because it is what others think that is right. I did it because I am free to make my own choices. I did it because they were wrong and doing it felt right to me. I did it because I felt myself that this was the right thing to do.” Tarvin was shouting right now. He knew he was gathering more attention than he should. That he should be planning his escape right now. To disappear in the crowd. But he didn’t want to stop yet. 

“Please accept my offer. Not just the trophies, but also I will show the world what it means to be free. I will not be held down by the standards and moral choices of others. I will find out for me myself what is right and wrong and tell other to do the same.” He saw the circle close. His way to escape had closed when he tried to express his feelings to the gods. A lot of unwanted attention had focused on him. He heard the people whisper to each other. A few man in fine clothing were giving him mean looks.

Tarvin looked at the sky. “Please gods help me,” he whispered.