Judgement Executioner: The Sin Collector System

Mortem Caste

Elias followed the sin broker down a ring of stairs that descended even further into the earth, the path out by torches that burned with black flame and radiated a ghostly white light.

Every one of his attempts to get answers out of the broker proved to be effortless.

Their steps echoed as they walked further down the stairs. The silent echo was enough of a deterrent, Elias snapped. He ran in front of the sin broker and blocked his path.

"Hold up you bastard, I need answers and I'm going to get it." He barked out, his veins on the verge of popping on the size of his head. "I won't be going deeper down this hellhole with you."

The sin broker stopped and said nothing, his face hidden by the darkness of his hood. Elias still harboured fear to this strange figure but the rage he felt from not having anything go his way was more greater.

The sin broker snapped his finger, the sound echoed down the stairs case. A rush of cold wind emanated from the broker and engulfed Elias causing him to collapse unto the ground.

"Know who you speak to, vermin." The broker said as he reached down, holding the collar of Elias shirt, he started to drag him down the stairs like an animal.

Elias recoiled or made an attempt to but aside from his brain no path of him physically responded, he felt his body had died.

He protested within himself but there was nothing more he could do.

The broker broke the silence after a few minutes. "You should be afraid, unregistered collectors are either persecuted or recruited. It depends if you can command the sin factor."

Elias was forced to listen, he found out how benefiting every piece of information was to him.

"Your awakening was sudden, you had the drive to take out your first victim. The urge of the first awakening is always uncontrollable, luckily you did not cause us any trouble. So let's say you've halfway proven yourself."

Elias wondered if he would feel sore all over when he regained control over his body.

"The world of sin collectors operates under a strict hierarchy, since you are not one of us I would rather not tell you much." The broker spoke again. "I am a sort of middle man, a messenger for the clockwork inquisitors. I am more of a passive worker, The Mortem Caste on the other hand are the strongest and greatest collectors of this generation. Now they are the ones who you be afraid, normally you would not be assessed by them but you are an anomaly."

"Pray to whatever god you serve that you pass their test. Or pray for a quicker death."

"What the fuck have I gotten myself into?" Elias thought to himself. A trickle of sweat went down his forehead.

Not long after they reached their destination a room behind a huge steel door, in the room a huge circle space with a huge round table and around it... ten seats.

Elias gulped down and wondered if he would have to pass ten tests.

They waited in a circle — five others, spaced out like predators too proud to share territory. The table a beautiful marble wood, with eccentric designs of silver and purple. The seats more like grand thrones than actual seats, those seating on it all wearing a black uniform with a purple badge and white vests.

Aside from the five, the rest of the seats were empty.

Each person had a unique presence:

Their eyes turned to him as the door was shut, Elias could now feel whatever grip the broker had on him now released.

He stood with as much confidence as he could muster which surprisingly was not much.

The broker stepped out and addressed the seven seated powerhouses.

"Dear esteemed mortem caste, I bring unto you... The intruder."

Elias swallowed hard, he was against showing any respect to the people who allegedly kidnapped him.

The sin broker started to introduce everyone, one at a time.

"Thorne – The Butcher Priest."

Elias looked at a massive man in blood-soaked vestments. His mask was a split iron cross, and he looked anything but human.

"New meat," he grunted. "Still soft. I smell guilt."

"Veyla – The Crimson Whisper."

Next was a slender woman with sin-inked tattoos that moved across her skin like worms. Her voice barely above a whisper, but it echoed unnaturally. She watched Elias like he was prey… or a toy.

"He's stolen a dead man's bones," she said. "How poetic."

Elias thought to himself. "These guys are fucking nutjobs."

"Hexin – The Laughing Blade."

There was a young, unhinged, looking man with silver goggles and snow white hair. His jacket was lined with severed fingers — all trophies from past battles.

"You smell like judgment and shit," he chuckled. "Can I keep your eyes when you die?"

"Fuck you." Elias wanted to say but he chose to keep that to himself.

"A twin pair – Called only Left and Right."

They wore mirrored masks, two ferrets facing opposite sides. They spoke in riddles. Said everything in unison almost as if they had a well rehearsed routine.

"If you judge wrongly, the bells toll…"

"…and the world takes notice."

"Am I supposed to get that?" Elias asked himself.

The remaining seats remained empty, but their presence pressed against the Elias' lungs like invisible chains.

Suddenly, all fell silent.

A column descended from the ceiling, it was a smooth brass, etched with glowing glyphs. Four mechanical figures stepped out of it. Their faces were porcelain smooth, painted with permanent expressions of disgust.

Each wore long coats covered in watch faces and sand timers.

Elias was left speechless. "Are these machines? What kind of fucked up world is this?"

"Judgment Circle. Order: Inquisitorial Review."

The broker announced.

The four mechanical men walked with impossible silence, it was almost like they floated on thin air. One looked directly at Elias and he could feel it's gaze dissecting him.

"You, foreign soul. Elias Graye's shell."

Elias found the courage to speak up, it was his trial anyway. "I didn't choose this—"

They started to walk circles around him as they took turns speaking. "Irrelevant. Your arrival threatens the Stability Ratio. Your Sin Growth is erratic. Dangerous."

"We have had others like you before, so far you are the only one who seems to have survived the first thirst without losing sanity."

"Do you think that makes your special?"

"How should I know?" Elias said in his defence. "I have no idea what's going on anyway."

The other collectors watched — some amused, others indifferent to the show.

The mechanical men all came to a stop and spoke in unison. "You may continue. For now. But if your sin count exceeds tolerance, we will unmake you."

They turned away.

"We are watching, Falseborn."

When the Inquisitors left the same way they had come, Hexin snorted.

"Well, that went swell. You pissed off the Judges. Good luck sleeping."

Elias still had no idea what was going on but he was sure he would not like Hexin.

Veyla approached him, voice like silk soaked in blood.

"You're already changing. I can see it. You carry sins you haven't earned… yet."

She leaned closer, too close for comfort.

"You'll judge someone innocent soon. And when you do... the world will start to notice."

Elias did not have a second more to respond, aside from the two, none of the others seemed to care about him as they simply left. "So what now, do I get to go home?"

The broker led him outside and said. "You join us now, forget everything you ever were and become reborn."

"But I have a family." The words he said were those he never expected he would speak in his life, but if it could get him out of his problem he would do it.

Surely they would consider.

"You won't be the first." The broker simply said and started to walk away.

Elias cursed under his breath.