To Sin Is Divine

"If you cut off every part that can be touched, eventually nothing remains."

— Serah, in a journal page never sent

The Dream That Wasn't

Serah stood in an endless field of white flowers.

No wind. No sun. No scent. Just perfect stillness.

She wasn't in armor. No blade. No voice.

Just a robe. Pure white. Untouched.

"You're free now," a voice said.

She turned.

There, sitting calmly on a throne of bleached bones, was herself.

Hair bound tight. Eyes glowing with divine clarity.

Emotionless. Serene. Silent.

[System Alert: Sin Mirror Detected – Chastity Variant]

Designation: Serah_02 – "The Hollow Saint"

The Dialogue Begins

The Mirror stood and walked across the field, feet not touching the ground.

"You've protected others by walling off your heart," it said. "But you still feel."

Serah clenched her fists.

"I choose to feel," she said. "And I choose who I feel for."

The Mirror tilted its head. "That is not chastity. That is favoritism."

Serah narrowed her eyes. "No. That's humanity."

The Mirror smiled — a perfect, placid smile.

"That is your weakness."

The Prison of Purity

Suddenly, Serah was back in the old chapel.

Younger. In training. Surrounded by robed mentors.

Her hands were slapped for speaking too boldly.

Her knees bruised from kneeling too long.

One voice echoed above the rest:

"A pure vessel has no preference. No pain. No pleasure. No love."

She saw herself obeying. Numbly. Perfectly.

Then she saw the Mirror — still sitting on the bone throne, now towering above her.

"You could've been perfect," it whispered.

"If only you had cut away the last piece: your heart."

The Real World Cracks

Outside the dream, Kael sat at her bedside, watching over her.

Zayne stood near the door, tense.

"She's locked in," he said. "The Mirror attacked through a purity trance. Psychological override."

Ren looked shaken. "You mean she's… what? Frozen in her own soul?"

Ten gritted his teeth. "Can we pull her out?"

Zayne frowned. "She has to walk out herself."

The Inner War

Back in the illusion, Serah stood face-to-face with the Mirror again.

"Why do you keep wearing my face?" she said.

"Because you don't hate me," the Mirror replied. "You're just afraid I'm right."

It raised a hand.

Suddenly—every image of her team appeared around them.

Kael reaching for her hand in battle.

Ren making her laugh with a dumb joke.

Zayne falling asleep mid-prayer and her covering him with a cloak.

Ten leaning on her shoulder, not saying a word, but trusting her silence.

The Mirror raised a glowing dagger.

"One cut," it said. "And the emotions go away. No more pain. No more longing. No more… failure."

Serah stepped forward.

Took the dagger.

Held it against her own chest.

And smiled.

Choice

"I always thought chastity was about denying things," she whispered.

"But it's about choosing what to protect."

The Mirror's smile faltered.

"I protect love. I protect my team. I protect myself."

She dropped the dagger.

"And I won't live like I'm already dead."

[Virtue Ignition: Chastity – Ascended Form Unlocked]

[New Skill: Sacred Bond]

"Select one ally per battle. That ally becomes immune to corruption, mental attacks, and seduction effects while linked."

The Mirror screamed as cracks spread across its face.

"Purity is loneliness!" it shrieked.

Serah stepped forward, now in full armor, wings of golden light erupting behind her.

"No. It's devotion."

She struck with a blade of shimmering silver.

The Mirror shattered.

Back in the Real World

Serah gasped and sat up.

Kael caught her.

"You came back," he said.

She looked around, eyes wet — but burning bright.

"Took the long way," she muttered.

Ten handed her a cloth to wipe her brow.

Zayne bowed slightly. "You faced your Mirror alone and still made it home."

Serah nodded, exhaling.

"Never again," she said. "From now on, I let others stand with me."

System Update

[Sin Mirror Defeated: Serah_02 – The Chastity That Starves the Soul]

[Virtue Strengthened: Chastity +10]

[New Skill: Sacred Bond – Acquired]

Kael helped her to her feet.

"Five down."

Serah smiled, faint but real.

"And the two hardest left."