[ WP ] - `` Justice runs in crimson rivers ''

`` Another day, another sea of corpses. Do these people never learn? I was sworn to bring the light, not snuff it out.'' Tory pondered the irony as he unclasped his helm. His armor gleaming crimson retribution, his sword coated in vindication. In such a short moment an entire village had their Light blown out. 
 `` It's never enough for these people, squabbling like dogs over scraps that The Council drop from the table.'' For the first time in his life Tory felt old, old to his bones, despite having the chiseled face of a 21 year old, sometimes the time caught up with you more than the age did. He looked over the `` Justice'' he had wrought, taking it all in, in a split second that seemed to last an eternity. He saw tattered clothing, wooden spokes, toppled wagons and death so much death. 
 Not a single person survived, the worst of it all was the children were the last to go, as they always are. Since they have the most innocence they deserved the longer life. A last few moments to witness Holy Fury and Divine Retribution, a last few breaths to see what the avatar of a `` Loving God'' looks like. Each one of them had that look of pure horror and disgust etched into their faces. Forever condemning him. Him, a man above condemnation with the mantle of Jury and the title of Executioner. He felt filthy. It was the smell that got him, a mixture of blood, shit, piss and vomit coating him and bathing him in self hate. 
 Every human experiences agony differently so every Vindication smelled different. 
 He dropped his sword into the muck and guts beneath his boots, knelt down beside it and said The Paladin's Prayer. 
 `` Ori mahsck teriuo Niu. Pogjvu rylai opt ipecasib. Oristah mah op.'' ( Light takes what dark makes. Through blood your sins are forgiven. Lightfather take you. ) 
 
 The words rang hollow, he no longer believed with the zealous conviction that, that young Retribution Brother once had. The Light only cleansed and healed what was on the outside, Zealous conviction had to cleanse what was inside. It no longer did. A small smile was the only proof of Tory's appreciation to the analogy he saw unfolding before him; As the sun colored the sky crimson, watching Oriha disappear behind a mountain, casting shadows on the ground Tory lost the light.
