“Thank you Astoria, you’ve made me a very happy man. I promise that I’ll do everything in my power to return the favor,” he said with a winking smile. Then turned to his glass of wine offering it gently then drank it. The taste was good sweeter than usual he supposed from the pure happiness he felt.

As he turned to sit down the whole world spun. He took a step then stumbled he braced against the table with a powerful hand, and grunted in confusion. Slowly he tried standing only to fall all the way over knocking the table over.
The bottle of wine rolled by his face, and he looked at it. The scent coming from it, smelled like, no, no she would never. Maybe a mistake? Then why wasn’t she affected when she drank? No, no, no no no slowly he turned to look at the woman he swore his heart to.
“What... what, did, you, do,” he asked slowly. He then grimaced as he still tried understanding trying to fight the feelings of betrayal. Still trying to figure out some sort of logical reason why this was happening. A dream? Maybe she was being mind controlled. That had to be it! He reached a hand out, and cast dispel on her only for nothing to happen. Not even a faint indication that a spell had been broken. So he used anti curse instead, only for nothing to happen. He started trembling as his heart felt like it was breaking. “Why,” he struggled to ask what he did wrong. But, his voice was muddled and came out more like a groan. While the rest of his body wouldn’t listen, and was no longer responding to his commands. So he was forced to just stare up at Astoria with pleading questioning eyes.

Astoria looked at him, tears in her eyes. She couldn't answer him as he struggled to ask her why she had done it. She simply waited for the sedative to take full effect, then took out the piece of parchment with the spell written on it. She looked into his eyes, and for a moment her determination wavered. The hurt there was deeper than any emotion she had seen from him outside of the joy of playing with the children. She closed her eyes against the tears.

"How could you? How could you hurt so many?" She whispered, her voice catching. She placed the parchment on his forehead, chanting the words and putting her power behind them. The curse would drain his energy faster, and keep him from exerting himself in the way he had to destroy that city. It would take hundreds, maybe thousands of years, but it would slowly kill him. She was glad it was such a long punishment, it would give him time to repay the lives he had taken.

Ayrie cried out, unable to be heard by their past selves. She felt the regret well up in her belly, her chin wavering as she fought tears. 'No! No, Don't do it! He did nothing wrong! You know he did nothing wrong!' she screamed, watching as the blue runes from the parchment spread over Asran's body, burning themselves into his skin forever and binding him to a curse he never deserved.

Just as he began to scream in pain, Ayrie was ripped into a whirlpool of memories. Meeting with the Angel, going with him back to his city under his protection. Helping him to further advance towards Godhood, as he was so sweet and generous, serving people with honor and humility. Following him willingly until she discovered his lies, telling Nadia to go to Asran to protect him while she stayed behind to try to undo what she had helped the Angel accomplish.

The whirl stopped just after she had confronted the Angel and fled, planning to go to Asran to dispel his curse and beg his forgiveness of her betrayal. She knew he would never take her back, but she hoped that if she explained herself he would forgive her. Before she could make it back to Cornopa, the other Sin Lords ambushed her, overpowered her, and ripped her apart with their dark magic.

"You will NEVER harm our brother again." she heard Wrath say as they tore her heart from her chest.

As Ayrie watched all of this she cried, screamed, begged. She finally woke after Astoria was killed, Father Darrin was shaking her, trying to wake her.

"Ayrie...Ayrie it's okay. I'm here, it's okay." He had gathered her into his arms and was rocking her back and forth. "It's okay, child."

"F-Father Darrin... I-I..." She couldn't finish as real tears welled in her eyes. She put her face in his shirt and continued to cry until there was nothing left.

The next morning Asran woke up groaning. His body was still exhausted, and aching from the other night. But, thankfully he was well enough to move on his own again. Even if it was slow moving. He got himself dressed, and prepped for work.

Though Wrath’s words were still bothering him as he remembered Astoria. Of the day she tore his heart and soul asunder. He looked at the runes on his chest as he buttoned on a dress shirt. “Why? Did I truly disgust you so much? Was I just a toy for you to play with,” he asked himself. Then sighed out a deep breath, and went to the door.
He turned to look at the doctor who handed him a packed lunch. “Thank you,” Asran said. “You’re welcome father,” the doctor said smiling. She was one of the few children he’d managed to save before he’d become too weak to even leave the city. Asran left the doctors office, and went to go check on Ayrie. To make sure for his sake, and her own that she was safe.

While walking there Asran had pulled out one of the paper wrapped sandwiches from the basket, and was eating. When he got to the door he was on the last half. Asran gently knocked on the door then waited for a reply. To those priests all he was, was the very friendly mayor. Or at least that was his hope anyways. Otherwise, what the hell?

Ayrie had stayed up all night, talking with the priests and deciding on the best course of action. She knew that Asran hated Astoria, and although she knew that she herself was a different person, her soul had committed a terrible act against him. The priests had tried to sway her from her decided course of action, but they couldn't stop her. Even only half trained as she was, she was more powerful than anyone in the Church- and had decided to separate herself from it in a way that would never be forgiven. She had recalled the spell that controlled Asran's curse, and how to remove it, and she planned to do just that as soon as she was powerful enough. The priests had eventually given in to her reasoning, and remained on the promise that they would help her in any way they could, including keeping the Church at bay as long as they could.

When the knock sounded at the door, Father Gerrick -now as spry as a thirty year old thanks to Nadia- jumped up to answer it, revealing Asran on the other side. Ayrie smiled at him, though her eyes were still red and puffy from all the crying she had done during the night. She recalled the feelings that Astoria had had for him so long ago, the love and then the feeling of betrayal when she thought he had hurt those people. She knew she had to tell Asran the truth.

"Hello, Asran. That is Father Gerrick, and this is Father Darrin." She said brightly, shifting in her seat to hide her nerves. She was terrified that even if she swore to dispel his curse that he would still revert to hating her once she revealed the truth to him. "They were accosted by Wrath last night, but a mystery woman came to their rescue and we are protected, for now."

She showed him the ring, but didn't mention Nadia, as she was unsure whether he knew Nadia's true identity. The priests had told her that the Seven Lights had fallen out of touch with each other over the years since Astoria had died, having never truly been a group to begin with. Nadia was the only one alive who was alive when Astoria was, and presumably the only one who knew what had really happened.

Asran had a very panicked look on his face. Which wasn’t for the reason she thought. “Ayrie what the hell, I told you not to go telling the priests my name,” he said. As anyone with any knowledge on demons knows that Asran is the demon lord of gluttony. Asran looked at the priests with a very scared expression. As weak as he was right then even a blessed butterknife could kill him. Quickly he started backing out of the room. “Well it was nice meeting you bye,” Asran spoke quickly before taking off like a shot. Getting the hell out of there before the priests had even the slightest chance of stabbing him with said blessed butterknife of doom.

"I had hoped that he would know me better than that by now." Ayrie sighed, laughing a little at his reaction. She stood, her side and shoulder twinging only slightly as she had recently taken something for her pain. "I will return later, Fathers. I need to find him."

She had put on a simple outfit that morning, a flowing yellow skirt and top that allowed her wounds to breathe. Following in the simple trend her hair was in a bun behind her neck, with tendrils falling around her face. As she walked outside she called after him, hoping he would slow down so she could catch up and not make her chase him all the way to the main temple.

"It's okay!" She yelled, "Slow down dammit, I'm injured!"

Asran had only managed to get fifteen feet away before collapsing against a wall heaving for breath. He held his side his half eaten sandwich dropped to the floor beside his dropped basket. Sweat beaded down his brow he tried catching his breath easing the pain. But, running off like that spent far more energy than he had. He looked at Ayrie then away swallowing hard. It was easy for Ayrie to catch up to him.
“I must look pathetic. The great demon lord looking like a wet paper bag could take him out,” he said chuckling.

Ayrie walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, I'm not much better off and I'm a LOT younger than you. All I got yesterday was a scratch and a burn." She purposely downplayed her injuries.

She smiled at him, realizing this would be a lot harder than she had previously imagined. Thinking she could tell him, and actually telling him, were two entirely different things.

"There's something that we need to talk about, and I would appreciate it if you would come inside, so we can sit. The priests are going out to gather some things we need here." She motioned back to the door, where Darrin and Gerrick were making their way out of the house. Gerrick might be feeling spry, but they were still old men, with old man brains. They had probably remembered fifteen things they needed on the way out the door.

“Ah you cheeky,” Asran said with a chuckle. He looked to where Ayrie had gotten hurt, and his face saddened a little. “I’m sorry my sister hurt you,” he said. Then stood up to follow Ayrie though he did grab the basket. As he wanted to eat his lunch still even if it might be a little disturbed.
When Asran took his seat he asked what it was they needed to talk about. His face was filled with concern.

"It's alright, I understand why she did it." was all she said when he apologized for his sister. "I mean, it hurts, and I don't like her, but I get why she wants to protect you and why she hates the thought of me being around you."

She watched him settle, and took a seat on the couch herself, a pillow behind and beside her to help keep her sitting upright. She sighed again, finding it difficult to begin.

"I had a dream last night, about you... and Astoria." She started. "Rather, I should say Astoria came to me and took me through her memories of the events that happened back then... I know what she did to you, and I know how and why. I also know that the God of the Church was behind it all. I'm so sorry, for all of it, Asran. You didn't deserve any of it."

There were tears in her eyes as she waited for his response, knowing that the next thing she said needed to be said carefully.

Asran looked at Ayrie then looked down at his hands. Slowly he rubbed them together, and then looked to Ayrie. “Can you tell me why she did it,” he asked her. “Because I still do not understand why. Why she, did this to me.” He looked at Ayrie with those same pleading eyes he’d given Astoria the night she’d cursed him. Nadia hadn’t told him she wasn’t able to before the angel ascended, and was able to hunt her. Even now she hid behind her illusion from the god.

Ayrie sighed, this part was tough as it showed how little faith she had had in him.

"When the Angel showed up in the city, someone came to Astoria to tell her why he was here. They told her that you had destroyed a city to the north of here, that you had killed everyone including the women and children. That you had left only one survivor... This of course wasn't true, but the person who told her was someone she trusted. The Angel was the one who had the city destroyed, he made it look like it was you while you were out scouting trade routes for Cornopa. This, combined with the fact that you are a Sin Lord, convinced Astoria that the person was telling the truth, that the Angel was right to come after you. It made her angry, she felt betrayed, and so she did as they asked and cursed you before leaving you that night." She paused for a moment, trying to think of how to say the next part. She did not want Asran to know that it was Nadia, not yet, not until she knew how he would react about Astoria.

"When she and the person she trusted realized what the Angel had done, how he had deceived them, Astoria burned down one of his temples and left to come back to you. To lift the curse and beg your forgiveness, but your siblings attacked her before she could get to you."

Asran’s eyes widened he’d wanted to know why. He had always had his suspicions, but to hear he was right made it feel like there was bile in his mouth. He put a hand to his mouth, and looked away. Tears coming forth, and he couldn’t resist the urge he started sobbing. He’d loved Astoria trusted her above all others, and yet. She had zero faith in him? So it was true there truly was no one that had ever loved him in such a way. He screamed out his outrage and hurt as it boiled in his chest. Then held his head with his hands as even if Astoria had even cared a little about him. That she’d been killed before telling him why.

Ayrie wanted so badly to reach out and comfort him, but she knew that she shouldn't, not until he heard the full truth from her. She knew she had to be the one to tell him, that if he found out or realized it any other way he would surely hate her more. She was crying for him, though she had thought she had no tears left.

"Asran, I'm sorry, but there's more. You said once that I am not Astoria, and I don't believe that I am the same as her. I have a different personality, different appearance, and a more trusting heart... I would never hurt you, I would never have believed the story Astoria was told, or acted on it, without asking you about it first. I have trust in you that you would never do something like that. But... I do have her memories...." She looked down at her hands. She hated having to tell him, hated the knowledge that he would probably leave and the burgeoning friendship between them would come to an end. "I was born with Astoria's soul."

Asran finally managed to calm somewhat though his tears kept flowing. When he heard the news that Ayrie was indeed Astoria reborn he felt like he got sucker punched. Was this why he found himself falling for her? ‘No! This isn’t fair! This is not how I wanted this. Astoria, why can’t you just leave me in peace?!’ he stood up abruptly only to fall back as he found his strength waning more. The emotional turmoil he was feeling was too immense for his body to handle.

The runes started glowing again, but this time it was black instead of gold. Asran clutched at his head as he screamed in pain. As it felt like a thousand hornets started buzzing around in his head. Nadia suddenly appeared, and used guardian summons to form sealing barriers around him. “Quickly get behind me child. The emotional turmoil has weakened him spiritually. Meaning the secondary part of the curse is activating,” she said.
Even wrath appeared, and started helping Nadia with containing Asran. “You really did a number on him Astoria. I’ll get to you later for right now witness your handiwork.”

Ayrie cried out, fearing the worst. When Nadia appeared she did as directed and got behind her. "Nadia... I didn't know telling him would do this to him. I couldn't let him find out from anyone else, or on his own. It had to be me."

When Wrath appeared she felt an odd mix of relief and fear, but when the demoness called her Astoria she felt anger.

"I may have her soul, Wrath, but I am NOT her. I would never have done this to him." She glared at the back of Wrath's head. "I'm going to release him from this torment when I have learned how, and you can either help me or stay out of my way."

Soon an inhuman roar echoed and shook the earth around them. The magical pressure that fell upon the city was enough to thrust those weak in the magical arts to the ground. The markings on Asran’s body shot out a black substance that wrapped around him quickly taking form. It was his armored form like in astorias memories, but it was wrong. There were cracks lined with teeth all over his armor pouring forth blue flames. Asran slammed his fists angrily into the barrier starting to tear it apart.
“Feeding frenzy, I’m pretty sure if Asran was conscious for this he’d make a joke about eating his feelings,” Nadia said giggling. Wrath just rolled her eyes as she focused on keeping Asran contained.

Ayrie wasn't quite sure what the name of the magic they were doing was called, but watching Nadia and half remembering Astoria's power she decided to help by placing another barrier outside theirs. She placed it outside theirs in order to make sure the power wouldn't touch him, but would reinforce what they had in place. She poured as much energy as she could into it, feeding it power to help contain him.

"Well, let's make sure all he eats is feelings." Ayrie said. 'She might be angry at me but if Wrath hadn't attacked us last night this wouldn't be happening now.'

Asran soon began to weaken, and soon collapsed to his knees. His armor spitting up bits of fire before dying out. Nadia, and Wrath looked panicked as they saw Asran’s eyes start to dull in their glow. “He’s really become too weak... hasn’t he,” Nadia said. Her voice filled with such sorrow, and regret.

“There’s not a lot that can help him anymore,” Wrath said. She looked away her hands clenching into fists of rage. “If only you’d realized your mistake before you could do what you did Astoria. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe he’d have been able.” Wrath cut herself off as she looked at her brother. His black armor turning grey, and flaking off. “Maybe we sons can still fix this... Maybe just maybe pride can fix this with his magic.” She looked at Ayrie.

"Asran..." Ayrie went to his side, but wouldn't touch him in fear of hurting him more. She simply knelt beside him, looking up at Wrath and Nadia helplessly.

"What do you want me to do? I know what the spell was that caused this, but I do not know enough, or have enough practice, to reverse it myself. Not yet." Ayrie said, looking back at Wrath and feeling more kinship with her in their mutual care for him. "I'll do whatever it takes to help him."

Her determination to help him was genuine, though she had her reservations about working with Wrath. This was the woman that had attacked them, had wounded both of them and caused Asran to expend even more energy against the restraints of the curse. Had she only listened to him and left them alone last night he might not have been so weak when Ayrie told him the truth. She couldn't be certain, though, so she tried not to blame her. The Angel was the real villain in all of this, the one who was now proclaimed a God. He deserved punishment, and Ayrie was going to see to it the truth of his nature was brought forth, even if it killed her.