Wrought King of Iron

Chapter 22: Regret

Moving upwards to the next floor, we ascended seemingly never ending stairs that stretched on and on. After a few minutes, we had finally reached the next floor, and our next challenge was awaiting us.

As we stepped into the next room, it was entirely empty, except for a large, square hole in the ground. The dim lighting prevented me from being able to see all the way, as I peered down. 

'Extremely impressive! I must say, that was exquisitely done, that last challenge was. The faith you placed in each other despite having such a newly formed bond was quite amazing. I expected you to take much more damage before succeeding but only this little amount, you shattered my expectations.' Her voice once again spoke into my head, filling me with a sense of dread from the condescending tone she had.

'Only a little? Sherou broke several bones and limbs, and you call that just a little bit of damage?' Luvia interjected, clearly angry over Altrouge's statement.

'Well, of course. That was only the first game. There is more suffering to come, in an increasingly grandiose manner. Take that as a warning that the rest of the games will have much more... painful outcomes.'

A sense of dread filled me. I didn't care for the pain I would receive, but I feared allowing Luvia to experience such suffering, as it was originally all meant for me. I couldn't bare to see anyone get hurt for my sake.

'The second game is one that strikes true to your personality, Shirou Emiya. Justice. Retribution. Recompense. All values you have upheld and continue to uphold. However, as one who lives the life of a hero, serving justice and saving others unequally, it is only fair if you are to be judged too.'

A mechanical whirring noise could be heard, and despite such a large platform being raised from the hole, the item in the centre was comparatively tiny, just over half the size of me. It  was a scale of justice.

'Yet again, the rules are simple. Touch the scale before you and be judged. An intense pain, relative to the greatness of your sins, will continue until you are fully cleansed. Simply, try to survive for as long as your trial and punishment lasts, and then proceed to the next floor.'

She said it was simple, and certainly the rules couldn't be clearer. An explanation of the system, along with a clear objective. However, to me it was lacking something. This system was missing the part of authority. For whoever is judged, is always judged by someone.

I shouted, 'What defines sin? How will this scale deliver punishment, if it is an object lacking sentience. The concept of wrongdoing stems from human morality and principles, but that machine won't understand the complexity of it all.'

'You will see, that in a fashion suited to humanity, you will be judged purely subjectively. The very essence of judgement, is the comparison of the actions of the judged, compared to the actions of those idolised for being the pinnacle of greatness.'

The irony, of having my actions evaluated by Altrouge, a being who isn't human, much less holding the values upheld by morality. She, who commits atrocities like this, involving torment and murder, and relishes in other's suffering, would be the one assessing the weight of my actions. Though, how would Altrouge know enough about us to judge our actions if she doesn't know about them?

'There is one final rule, that most would ignore, however, knowing you, it will be quite helpful to hear. The majority of sins committed by foolish humans are performed in masses of people. Collective sin. Therefore, as fellow humans, you have the ability to bear the burden of each other's sins. If you choose to grab hold of the one being judged, the punishment will be split between the both of you. In return, the one who sacrifices themselves to share the guilt, will be forced to witness the other's sins. For how can one truly understand and bear others' sin, without seeing the transgressions for themselves.'