Chapter 10-298: Of the Damned and Mortals (1/2)

The Penitent Warlocks of Heavenbound Hall didn’t sleep much.

Part of that was the habit of those who had to watch their backs and fight for all their lives. Part was that once they learned Meditation, slipping into it was an easy and serene way to pass the time.

Part was that as the power of their Pacts coursed out of them and was ignited en vivus, to either be Fed to the Land or instilled in magical items, they were relaxed and rejuvenated all at once, finding their souls free of the hatred and dark passions of their Pacts, all such things merely more fuel to the vivus they were offering up to the Land.

It was a literal cleansing of the soul. When they didn’t engage in it, they could feel the dark tentacles of their Pacts worming up their minds and souls again, even if they slept.

Ergo, the Penitent didn’t sleep much.

There were actually several dozen of them now, taking advantage of the amnesty and the offer to come in, stop running, use their Pacts for a Good purpose, actually get paid for doing so, and not have Heavenbound, Good people, and the enemies they had all made ready to kill them at any time.

To their surprise, they actually found that they had earned a lot of respect for coming in. Turning against the purpose of your Pact was no small thing, and even if the Dark Pacts allowed it, they inevitably tried to turn one’s deeds to the darkest of ends with constant pressure on the minds and souls of those who had them.

It took massive willpower to resist that impetus and come in here, finding a way to do something about it.

Granted, if they wanted to see it as a prison with gossamer walls, it was. They had the right to leave, and the Hall would give them twelve hours. They could walk out the door at any time if they felt this chance was too much. The discipline, the serenity, the energy, the focus, the pure naïve willingness to do Good things just to make the world a better place...

It had indeed been too much for some of them. None of the three who had walked away were alive now, having chosen their fate and then been hunted down like any other Dark Warlock. There were no second chances given, and if that meant there was another Pact available for some sucker, that was what it was. Such souls were twisted, and even if the Pact had to let them go into the Shroud, they were basically still going Down.

The ones that chose to stay were choosing guaranteed Damnation, but as long as they lived, no one else risked the same. Perhaps it was noble, perhaps it was foolishness, perhaps they just didn’t want to die, knowing they might still be headed Down there.

Still, sensing the power of the Pacts that had infiltrated them getting burned away was literally a searing proof of what had been done to them. While it had never forced their decisions, it had helped lead them, and they had bitten hook, line, and sinker in many cases.

But now they were here, in Penitent Hall, dressed in unique white robes, the Seal of their Pact on their breast indicating their status.

Most of Heavenbound Hall was open to them. Even the Angelos had come to speak to them, and Windgraf Mochtal worked with them without batting an eye. Every day they were empowering Craft and making Power Reserves, the ability of the Wrath to emulate any spell when Crafting (once they learned the trick of it) enabling them to work on even the most powerful magic items easily.

That included working on projects for me, among other things.

They could work out, spar, train, and were encouraged to stay physically fit and active, as Sloth and Gluttony were inroads of Sin that started the process of corruption again. Finding sexual partners could be more difficult, but the power of vivus could be fed by Lust, too...

They didn’t sense me coming, but they definitely felt Master Fred arrive.

Master Fred was in Amazon form, but there was no not recognizing his standard garb, or the silver in jet of their eyes. The waiting Warlocks, who had all risen to their feet, gawked at the sight.

“As you were,” Master Fred said in their layered voice, gesturing them to return to their duties. They would have no difficulties listening while expending Wrath.

Slowly, wondering what was going on, they sat down on the various chairs and benches scattered about this balcony atop Penitent Hall, from which they could see the sky.

Master Fred looked up at the stars, and the Warlocks followed suit despite themselves.

“There are hundreds of them,” Master Fred said softly, and I watched the Warlocks quietly shudder, and nod agreement. “When the Shroud is gone, they will be extending their hands, seeking servants. Were it not certain when the Curse of the Dawn would fail, it might even be safer for the Shroud to remain.”

“Master Fred, what happened?” a familiar voice spoke up, and I recognized the young Sinbound from Mexico, Pedro Lopez, looking both ten years older and younger than before at the same time, what with that white hair and a light on his face that his purple-on-black eyes didn’t reflect.

Master Fred glanced at me, I nodded, and we proceeded to tell the Warlocks about Hong Kong, what they had done to likely the single most powerful servant of Good on the planet, and what Master Fred had done to get the strength to free him.

Master Fred went on to describe the chance the Shroud was giving them: rather than burn, but instead to contribute if they wished.

They were going Down, just like Master Fred and his captive souls were, but there was no reason not to stick a finger in the eye of Hell when they did so, was there not?

“As our voice reflects, we are not under coercion, we are helping of our own free will,” they said calmly. “And when you go Down, we, too, shall see you there.”

The Warlocks there were mostly Sinbound. There was one Firebound who had a really horrible track record behind him, coming for a last attempt at sanctuary, and a Lawbound who was hiding from the Church of Imprus, about which he’d spilled some very damning and embarrassing stuff... and was shocked to find they hadn’t released him from his Pact, perhaps to punish him in the afterlife...

The Penitents were the ones Master Fred visited first when he returned here. He understood them, for better or for worse. They were all going Down.