To Sin Is Divine

"Some men destroy the world in rage."

"Others do it in silence."

—Unknown, Archive of the Last Prophet

The Illusion Begins

It started in the dream.

Kael sat alone at a long wooden table.

A candle burned at the center, the only light in a pitch-black void. The flame danced—warm, gentle.

Then the voice came.

"You did nothing, Kael."

Across the table sat… himself.

Hair neater. Clothes pristine. No sword. Just folded hands and a calm smile.

But the eyes—cold.

[System Alert: Sin Mirror Detected – Kael_02]

Class: Patience (Mirror Variant)

Alias: "The Silent Watcher"

The Test

Kael stood up. "I already know what you are."

The Mirror nodded.

"Yes. I'm the you who waited. Who reasoned. Who compromised."

"I'm the Kael who watched cities burn… because he believed it wasn't the right time."

The world around them shimmered.

The table turned to ashes.

A city appeared—Velharem, mid-collapse. Screams filled the air.

Kael turned—and saw himself again, this time dressed in the robes of a High Priest.

"You could've spoken earlier," the Mirror whispered. "You could've burned the doctrine before it buried children."

Kael clenched his fists.

"I tried. I gathered knowledge. I prepared."

"Too slowly."

Kael drew his blade.

The Mirror simply raised a hand.

Phase One: Illusion Warfare

[Skill: Memory Loop – Activated]

"Target is trapped in key moments of moral hesitation."

Kael blinked—

—and he was standing before Lucien, years ago, holding a scroll labeled The Book of Forbidden Virtues.

"Do you denounce the Church?" Lucien asked.

Kael opened his mouth.

But no words came.

[Silence.]

Time looped.

Again.

And again.

"Do you denounce the Church?"

"Do you denounce—"

"—denounce—"

"—Church—"

He couldn't speak.

Suddenly, a hand reached through the loop.

Zayne.

Then Serah.

Then Ren.

They pulled him back.

Reality Reasserted

Kael gasped awake in the ruins of the cathedral.

The sky overhead churned—half light, half shadow.

The Mirror floated above the altar.

Eyes glowing. Arms open. Voice gentle.

"You fight too hard, too soon. Let them see more. Learn more. Wait…"

Kael stood slowly, blade trembling.

"I've seen enough," he said. "People died while I waited."

The Battle Begins

Kael charged.

The Mirror countered—not with weapons, but with doubt.

[Skill: Weighted Stillness]

"Slow target's resolve. Each decision takes longer to reach."

Kael's body lagged—muscles heavy.

Each step took effort.

"Is this the right move?" the Mirror taunted. "What if another dies because you didn't wait five more seconds?"

Kael pushed forward.

Zayne cast a beam of light to clear the path.

Serah hurled a dagger to distract.

But the Mirror ignored them all.

He was only watching Kael.

Kael roared and drove his blade forward—

—and the Mirror caught it between two fingers.

The Breaking Point

"Your greatest virtue is your cage," the Mirror whispered.

"You let people suffer because you're afraid to choose too soon. And when you choose too late…"

A vision erupted—

Serah dead.

Velharem in flames.

Ten whispering, "You should've moved faster."

Kael collapsed to one knee.

But then—

He heard his voice. Not the Mirror's.

Not the Church's.

His.

"I waited, yes."

"But when I rose—everyone rose with me."

He stood.

[Virtue Triggered: Patience Ascended +10]

[New Skill Unlocked: Judgment Step]

"Make a perfect decision in real time. One per battle. Immune to delay-based skills."

Kael raised his blade.

"Waiting isn't weakness," he said. "It's the choice to be ready."

He lunged.

Slash.

The Mirror staggered.

Kael stabbed again—this time through the mouth, silencing it.

Final Words

The Mirror collapsed, fading into smoke.

"You'll doubt yourself again," it whispered.

Kael nodded.

"I hope so."

Then the illusion shattered.

System Update

[Sin Mirror Defeated: Kael_02 – The Patience That Watches You Burn]

[Virtue Strengthened: Patience +10]

[New Skill: Judgment Step – Unlocked]

Kael turned to the others.

"I saw what I could've become."

Zayne asked, "And?"

Kael's voice was quiet.

"I still might… if I ever stop listening."