The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building] Chapter 687 – The Absolute Worst

Kassandora responds with a preface to build a foundation for her argunt and to pamper . As if there is so cowardly honour in the fact she gave credit for being aware of social gas. I gave her a warning, she chose to ignore it. Thus, a preface is not needed: everyone knows who I am and the image that Kassandora wishes to represent.

Yet there exactly is the issue with Kassandora, for she gives off an image she wishes to represent and yet the woman is a stark contrast to what she thinks she is. She lays it upon myself that I quest for settling the matter of the soul out of sheer narcissism, so that I can then go and profess how grand my own spirit is. How this conclusion was reached, I do not know. Where the logical connection exists, likewise, I do not know. I am the Goddess of Love, and I do not Love. It is not so grand secret that I do not Love. All the Gods I have ever loved are long dead. Those who exist now are younger than , and it is my romantic heart that cannot stomach being the older partner in a relationship. Unfortunate, the situation is. Truly.

Nowhere near as unfortunate as the cage that Kassandora has found herself in. A sociopath who is skilled in the ways of the tongue, for Kassandora can rally like no other. Yet that skill offers no real value in terms of long-term relationships. She can weave mortals around her finger, most mortals would even be grateful to die under her command, for they know that their lives will not be wasted. Not so much Divines, and especially not the greater Divines that we stand in the leagues of.

Kassandora has managed to successfully burn everyone around her. It is not the burning that is done through dysfunction, akin to Maisara’s endless demands or Elassa’s natural pretentions. Nor is it honest in its utter disdain for almost every living thing on Arda, such as Anassa. It is a burning done through success. Everyone looks upon Kassandora’s victory’s, at her sacrifices and her wars, and is awed by them. And then, once they join up, they realise that Kassandora places the sa amount of value on a life as she does to a blade of grass. It is excellent to watch Kassandora’s victory’s, but to be a part of Kassandora’s victory’s is to execute massacre after massacre, all the while being aware of the fact that at any point, should Kassandora deem it necessary, she will sacrifice any of her pawns without a second’s qualm about it.

The woman fact she hypocritically entertains this dilemma is proof enough that she worries about it. Because that is what Kassandora. A woman full of worry, whose mind cannot ever rest. Her campaigns are won off the back that all she has are her campaigns. She talks of taking misery in managing the market, let it be so. I am miserable in managing the market, I do not wish to do the boredom. What a unique dislike I possess. But let us flip the question. What would truly end Kassandora? What would take away her life goal? It is the very thing that she says she wishes she fights for. Fortia’s dream, Peace on Arda, would end Kassandora.

Of course the question of the soul should not be answered for her. There is a natural conclusion to it, it is not hers, where we intellectually pleasure ourselves talking about our own purity. It is the next step of the cycle, can a soul be saved? Can a soul be redeed?

Whether Kassandora has a soul in the first place is debatable. But if she does, then whether her soul can be saved, everyone knows the answer to already: No.

- “Not Your Desne”, written by Goddess Helenna, of Love, in response to “Nothing to Debate”, written by Goddess Kassandora, of War.

Kavaa stood straight and looked up at her house. It was a modern mansion, of that there was no doubt, but if Olonia was wanting to build, then Kavaa had let her build. Without Pantheon demands on how grand a Divine’s ho should be and with Arascus stating that Kavaa’s ho was to be hers and that he would only give architectural advice if she asked for it, Kavaa had taken that as free reign to finally build sothing for herself. And build she did.

The ho sat in the mountains, it was large, obviously, with Kavaa being a Divine, but it wasn’t a palace or a cathedral or a fortress. It was simply an upscaled ho. The windows were all glass, the forest around its edges creeped in to give shelter and privacy. Around the bag, there was a huge balcony with her pool. That had a floor of entirely glass at first, although feeling like one was swimming on floating water wasn’t as appealing as Kavaa had at first thought. It had been remodelled to be fashioned out of white tiles. “This is it.” Kavaa said.

“Mmh.” Kassandora replied. That was the predicted response, Kavaa had basically forcefully dragged Kassandora here. Although it was important that Kassie get so rest. The woman could not be working all the ti. And especially now, after Pax’s death, Kassandora deserved so sort of reward.

“Do you want to go in?” Kavaa asked, and then silently kicked herself for posing such a stupid question. Kassie would lie of course and say yes, but why had Kavaa even asked? If they had co all the way out here, why give Kassandora a chance to back out at the final step?

Kassandora wrapped a finger into that crimson hair of hers and gave it a pull. “I do.” Was that even a lie? Kavaa had expected it, but it sounded honest enough.

Of Health stepped towards the front door. It was reinforced steel, although painted over in a dark blue-grey colour. The key ca out from her wallet and she turned it open. “Ta-Dah!” Kavaa didn’t know why she said that. Now, as the door swung open to reveal an a clean inside, all oaken beams on the ground with hooks for coats, several of Kavaa’s were already hanging there, Of Health realised the sheer scale of the challenge she had brought upon herself.

Kassandora followed Kavaa inside and watched her shut the door, then turned to the look at the rest of the room like a statue. Kavaa kept track of the woman’s red-eyes and face. Kassandora did not smile, did not smirk, but she didn’t frown either and… Kavaa took a deep breath, a blush rising in her cheeks. This was easily the most beautiful Goddess she had ever allowed into her ho. “It’s cozy.” Kassandora finally gave a quiet comnt. “I like the fireplace.”

Kassandora’s eyes went to her fireplace. For Divines, it was roughly the standard expected but they were all large. A human adult could walk straight into it and only need to lower their head. “I’ve only used it a few tis.” Kavaa said. “We can light it today.” She just about managed to stop herself from saying if you want at the end of that sentence. Kassandora nodded and looked around.

Kavaa’s kitchen was a tidy little corner steel sinks behind an island, although it was all furnished out of the polished wood. Her cabinets were loaded with drinks. Whiskeys, in preparation for this mont, and gins, for her own enjoynt. Kassandora turned to look at the large couch which faced the huge television hanging off the fireplace. She looked down at the floor. “Should I take my boots off?”

“Oh.” Kavaa said. She had forgotten about that in the trepidated excitent. “Please.”

So the pair of Goddesses took off their heavy boots. Both had co straight from the front-lines. Neither had brought anything with them but the clothes on their backs. Kavaa ultimately did have to resort to asking Arascus for help, and Arascus had sent a team of bureaucrats under the excuse that Kassandora’s papers were being transferred to the Central Strategic Council for safekeeping now that Pax was dead. And so, the two Goddesses stood there. “What now?” Kassandora asked, her eyes went to the ground and narrowed.

“I don’t know.” Kavaa said. “I was hoping you would want to do sothing.”

“I was thinking you had activities planned.” Kassandora said as she walked over to spot and rubbed it with her black sock. “Did soone bleed here?” She looked up at Kavaa with a quizzical eyebrow raised as if reconsidering who she was looking at.

“Fer once.”

“Fer?!” Kassandora asked. “What?!”

“After Furcas. She ca here to get healed.” Kavaa pursed her lips. “She made a ss.” Fer’s stomach was buried sowhere in the forest, Of Beasthood had disposed of it herself thankfully. She had even scrubbed the floors back then.

“Oh.” Kassandora said, then looked around again. The pair of Goddesses stood there, looking through the huge glass wall at the mountains and the forest. Further down, Lubska civilized began although it was just a village in the distance. One car was driving along a road, the sky was grey, building up for a snowstorm. “I…” Kassandora said. “I’m not a good guest.”

“I’m not a good host.” Kavaa said. In fact, she was terrible. Normally, she would get out of her clothes, go shower, and then pour herself a drink to crash. With Kassandora here though… it was embarrassing to do that. So she did nothing. “We should wash.”

“Are you or going first?” Kassandora asked.

“Do you want to?” Kavaa secretly had wanted to wash together. But Kassie was too quick for that.

“I have no particular mind.” Kassandora said. “I can stand and wait.”

“You can sit down.” Kavaa said.

“My coat is dirty.” Kassandora patted the black leather that fell down to below her knees. “Your couch is clean. I’ll stand and wait.”

“I don’t mind.” Kavaa said. “You go first.” She could stand and wait. And it was her house at the end of the day! She could make a ss herself if she wanted to! Kassandora turned to the corridor that led to the other rooms in the place.

“Then I’ll go first.” She said. “Lead the way.” Kavaa led the way indeed, through the corridor, towards the bathroom. She appreciated the polished wood, even here, the tiles were fashioned to be brown. Fer had called her odd for it. Kassandora just stopped in the doorway, looked around, then looked at Kavaa. “Why is it all brown?”

“I like wood?” Kavaa asked the answer. “Why?”

“No I’m not judging.” Kassandora said. She tapped one of the tiles on the wall in a judging manner, then looked into the mirror. Kavaa stared at her through it. Red eyes t grey ones, both Goddesses could stomach a mont of the tension in the room before they looked away. Kassandora chuckled and face-first on a wall. “We’re the worst.” Kavaa wanted to go and jump off a cliff.

“We’re the fucking worst.” She agreed.

“Wow.” Kassandora said. “I’ve never t soone so fucking inept at this as you.”

“Takes one to know one.” Kavaa said.

“At least Fer talks.”

“I know.” Kavaa said. “But you don’t and neither do I.”

“How did you ever make friends with Helenna and Iniri?” Kassandora asked. It wasn’t even a judging tone, it was one of pure defeat and curiosity, as if the thought of Kavaa making friends actually baffled Kassandora.

“I can talk to people, you know.” Kavaa said.

“Well you know I can too!” Kassandora said. “It’s just…” She looked at Kavaa, turned crimson, then looked away. “You know. It’s different.”

“We’re the fucking worst.” Kavaa agreed. They were truly the worst. Just the absolute worst wastes of space that this world had ever seen. What was romance? Kavaa did not know. She had read of it, Helenna had told her of it, but whatever romance was, it apparently decided to be at the opposite of Arda compared to where Kassandora and Kavaa currently where. “Do you want to shower together?” Kavaa looked at the showerhead.

Kassandora slid down the wall she was leaning against. “Is that how you start it?” She asked.

“I don’t know!” Kavaa said. “How would you propose it!”

“I…” Kassandora said, then looked down at the tiles which resembled rectangular pieces of wood. “I wouldn’t start it in the first place so don’t go looking to for advice.”

“If we do it once! It’ll be easy!” Kavaa said. That was all it required, they just needed to break the barrier once, and then it would be broken. She had lived long enough on this world to know about how so things could not be put back into a box once they got out.

“WHAT!?” Kassandora gasped from the floor. Kavaa stared at her for a mont, then realised what she said. Then turned so sickly red she felt as if she was going to faint. It wasn’t that! She just wanted to wash each other!

“NOT LIKE THAT!” Kavaa said. “SHOWER! JUST…!” There was nothing else to say. This woman on the floor defeated her. Just crushed her. She went to one of the cupboards and pulled it open. She almost dragged the whole thing off the wall. “Shampoo’s in here-use whatever you want-don’t use it all.” And with that, Kavaa stord out in a wave of embarrassnt before Kassandora could say another word.

The door was pulled behind her, Kavaa crashed into the wall on the corridor, leaned on it, then slid down. She felt as if she was burning up. As if sohow, a Divine had actually managed to catch fever. Her cheeks blazed vivid crimson, she closed her eyes and tried to think of an operating table. Of an open wound. Of sothing that she knew. Of how to handle the common cold and what prescriptions to give. Of… The shower turned on. Of Kassie showering.

And she had to run from that spot. Into the kitchen at first, although as she stopped here, she realised she had no plan beyond waiting. Planning. Plan. Kassie planned everything. That was good. What would… Oh no. The blood drained from Kavaa’s face as she realised yet another fatal mistake the two of them had made together. With each leg feeling as if it was stone, she dragged herself back to the doorway of the bathroom and then knocked. Thumped on it more like. Her fingers didn’t want to uncurl themselves from being fists. “Kassie?” She called out.

The reply ca a mont later. “I’m washing.”

Kavaa had to drop the bomb. “We have a problem.”

“What’s the problem?” Kassandora called back through the door.

“Ahh…” Kavaa began. She felt utterly stupid. How had she not thought of this? It was miserable! It was the first thing that anyone did when planning a trip! Helenna had even reminded her of it. “Do you have spare clothes?” Kavaa asked. For a mont, the sound of water beca a constant. The reply ca a mont later.

“I’m sorry.” It was almost silent.

“Don’t be.” Kavaa said. “Ahh…” To think there was a ti when she thought this would be a sweet mont. And to think those thoughts were the just the products of devious whims and now that the situation ca to be, Kavaa wanted none of it. “I might have spares?” Kavaa said. “Is that fine?”

“It’s not a problem?” Kassandora asked from inside. She must have stepped out of the shower, the sound now was of drops falling on tiles.

“No it’s not!” Kavaa said. “Is it a problem if…” She couldn’t suggest it. Not after what just happened in the bathroom. She had not ant it like that! She truly had not ant it like that! “You know. I have spares.”

“Are you fine with it?” Kassandora asked.

“Of course I’m fine with it!” Kavaa replied through the door. She wanted to slide down, fall to her knees and just curl up into a ball and cry. “Are you?”

“I…” Kassandora trailed off. “It’s… Don’t worry. I am fine right now.” Kassandora said. There was a thud. “Are you by the door?”

“I am.” Kavaa replied.

“Sa.” Kassandora answered quietly. “We’re the absolute worst.” Kavaa took a deep breath and giggled to herself. They were truly incompetent. This could not have gone any other way.

“I’ll bring you so of my spares then.” Kavaa said.

“Thank you.” Kassandora said.

“Sorry for not reminding you.”

“Sorry for not thinking about it.”

Kavaa wanted to apologise again, but she that then Kassandora would apologise. Neither would let the other take the bla. What despicable fools they were. She pushed off the door. “I’ll get you a shirt.” She had to slowly haul herself to her own room. A shirt and… Kavaa hit another block. Kassandora was taller than her. She looked at the huge bed she owned. Nothing even crossed her mind. She wanted to saw that bed in two at this point. Her desk had a small book, her diary. Kassie…

Better to put that away. Kassie wouldn’t read it, would she? Kavaa held the book aloft. Kassie surely wouldn’t read it… Kavaa smiled to herself and closed the desk. Maybe Kassie would read an open left on the desk, but she would not go rifling through Kavaa’s private desk. But a book? Kavaa saw her blush in the mirror. It was as if she was looking at another person entirely. The Goddess of Health did not have cheeks that red. The Goddess of Health was pale and overworked, grey upon grey, grey hair, grey eyes, pale skin that made others question if she saw the sunlight. She put the diary back on the table and left it open. Kassie would not read it, but Kavaa would not mind if she did.

So Kavaa turned to her wardrobe and opened it. She stared at the white shirts and the jumpers. Her eyes shirted for anything that wasn’t white or black. She was just the worst. Helenna probably had enough colours in her room to make a rainbow seethe with jealousy. Kavaa had white, black, grey. Cream. There. Cream was a shade, that at least wasn’t monocolour. She got the shirt and then…

The trousers. Kavaa closed her eyes. Maybe she could stick Kassie in a dress instead? The woman taller than her. Trousers would surely rip. Shorts? Hiking shorts? Kavaa squeezed her eyes even tighter. That would have to do. Hopefully Kassandora could fit in them. Hopefully. Definitely. She had to. They would both die of embarrassnt if they Kassie couldn’t.

With a handful of clothes, the walk back to the bathroom door felt like a crawl. “Kassie.” Kavaa said. The shower turned off.

“I’ve finished. I didn’t use all the shampoo.” Kassandora said.

It was sweet that she was so considerate even now. “I have clothes.” Kavaa said. “How do you want them?” There was another pause.

“Don’t move.” This ti, it was almost a whisper. The door creaked open. Kassandora’s hand, now slling of the coconut shampoo that was Kavaa’s favourite reached out from behind it. It grabbed at the air. “Can you pass them.”

Kavaa passed the bundle. “That’s all of them.”

“Thanks.” Kassandora said. “And sorry, I’ll wash them at the end.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Kavaa said. “I do my own washing.” The door shut as Kavaa stood in the corridor and waited for her turn. There was movent from inside, very obvious movent. And then a groan.

“We have a problem.” Kassandora said. “Sorry.”

Kavaa knew what the problem was imdiately. “It’s tight?”

“There’s a size difference.” Kassandora said. Kavaa released a deep breath. She could not believe the situation had beco this fucking disastrous. It was a farce!

“Can you get the shorts on at least?” Kavaa asked.

The reply was delayed, and the fact it was so delayed imdiately gave away what the reply would be. “No.” Kassandora said. Kavaa said took another deep breath. Disaster. Worst-case scenario. This would be so stressful for Kassie that she would never want to do it again. It was just the worst.

“I have a big jumper.” Kavaa said. “It’s more for comfort but…” She trailed off herself. Why had she not stocked clothes? “Yeah. Sorry about this. Apologies. Really, I an it.”

“It’s my fault.” Kassandora said. “A jumper is fine then.”

“Do you want socks?”

“Please.” Kassandora said and Kavaa trawled back to her wardrobe. She got the largest jumper in her wardrobe, although it was more akin to a black with a hole torn through for the head, and then two thick tubes for the arms. Grey in colour, of course. Like everything else Kavaa wore. And thick socks. At least the materials were good. It was all soft to the touch, that could be aided by the fact Kavaa rarely actually spent ti here so the clothes weren’t ground down.

And her own set of clothes too. Kavaa returned to the bathroom door and knocked again. “I’m back.” Kassandora slid the door open again, then reached out her hand. She retrieved the jumper and the socks, and then shut it. Rustling from the inside, then a sigh.

“I cannot believe I’m wearing sothing like this.” Kassandora said.

“Is it comfortable though?” Kavaa asked, hoping that the hope in the voice was not too obvious.

“It’s comfy.” Kassandora said. Kavaa breathed a sigh of relief. Then stood at the door. On the other side of the door, Kassandora was stood too most likely. They stood and they stood and they stood and… Kavaa had to say it, didn’t she? Kassie would have to co out eventually. But… Where was the strength she had managed to conjure up in Levhen? Where was that Kavaa!? But that Kavaa had been at wit’s end, thinking they were all going to die. That was a different Kavaa entirely. This Kavaa… This Kavaa had nothing. Nothing planned and nothing to say and no want to push Kassie into doing sothing that she didn’t want to.

“Ahh…” She did break the silence though. Kassandora wouldn’t.

“Uhh…” Kassandora replied from inside. “You want to shower, right?” Kassandora asked.

“I should wash.” Kavaa replied.

“So I have to get out.” Well, she didn’t. She could stay. Kavaa’s cheeks turned red again.

“Sort of?” Kavaa wanted to smack herself for the reply. Either Kassie did, or Kassie didn’t! And she had to! Because Kavaa had to shower herself now!

“I’ll get out.” Kassandora said. The door did not open. The handle did not even begin to turn. “Don’t…” Kassandora once again failed at completing a sentence. “The colour’s good.” The colour of the jumper she had received was grey. It was terrible. What a lovely person to try and convince Kavaa it was good.

“Most of my clothes are like that.” Kavaa said and instantly wanted to die again. What sort of statent was that even? Most of her clothes were monochro? Great. How sad she was! And even worse, it was a lie. Not most! Almost all! Save for the things in cream!

“Yeah.” Kassandora replied. “I’ll…” The door suddenly opened. Kassandora stood there, her hair still wet, in that huge jumper. It fell to just past her thighs. On Kavaa, it would have reached her knees. She wore those socks. Kavaa’s eyes strayed over her bare legs for a mont, then back up. At least it wasn’t tight across the chest. And then she saw that Kassandora’s cheeks were as red as her eyes or her hair. “Don’t comnt on it.” She whispered. “Please.” That last word was begging.

Kavaa nodded. She wouldn’t say anything. “You…” Kassie would need an objective. “Please sit on the couch.” Kassandora nodded and walked past, turned left, and made robotic movents towards the living room. Kavaa just took a deep breath as she thought of what she should wear. Curse her devilish mind for thinking up of an idea that Helenna once told her was suprely romantic. Curse her body for following through with it.

She returned back to her wardrobe and got a matching pair. The exact sa style of jumper and the exact sa style of thick socks. And then she went off to shower. The military coat was stayed with dirt, the shirt with sweat. She couldn’t even begin to describe the sll of her clothes, but she could describe what it felt like to leave them: relief. The shower should have lasted for an hour. Kavaa massaged the sa coconut shampoo that Kassandora had used into her scalp, Kassie truly had been conserving it like a field ration in enemy territory. Next ti, Kavaa would tell her to use more. The water could wash away dirt and gri, sweat and soot, it could even begin to wash away fatigue. Embarrassnt though, it could not touch. And cleanliness was all it brought. It revealed no plans nor gave any ideas as to what should be done today.

And so, Kavaa finished showering, dried herself off. There was only one towel hanging on the rack, the thought that Kassie had used it was truly devious, and it only made sure that the soft white cloth drenched her in two drops of exhaustion for every drop of water it snatched away. On went the jumper. On went the socks. The air felt cool between her legs. Kavaa stood at the doorway, said a silent prayer to no one in particular and walked out.

Kassandora was on the couch. Kavaa stared at the Goddess of War sitting off to the side and she realised her stunned she was. Kassandora had actually made a decision for herself. She got the blanket and covered her legs with it. Kassandora’s eyes fell upon Kavaa, they took in her one sweep, from top to bottom and then back again, and then she looked down at herself. “Why are you wearing the sa thing as ?”

“I wanted to?” Kavaa asked. The words were automatic. She couldn’t give a reason. She just wanted to. Fer had once given them scarves, Kassandora’s was shredded by Be’elzebub. Kavaa’s was a mory she kept in her nightstand. Since then, she had told herself they would wear a matching set of anything. She stood there, shut down, unknowing what to say even as Kassandora gave a slow of inclination of acceptance with a smile.

“It’s comfy.” Kassandora said. “Thank you.”

“I…” Kavaa said. “Yeah…” What was that even? Just verbal garbage. She said nothing of value whatsoever! She just made noise like so ape! “Drink?”

“That would be good.” Kassandora said and Kavaa got two large classes. The question of gin or whiskey was no question at all. Kassie preferred whiskey, so whiskey it would be. She sat down by Kassandora with the bottle, poured, passed a glass to Kassandora and then took a sip. Of War drank half of it in one go. Kavaa followed suit.

They sat there in utter silence. Staring into their glasses. Kassandora this ti broke the silence. “I always sit with dad like this.” She said quietly. “Just…” She chuckled. “Well, I’m not half-naked then.” Kavaa leaned on Kassandora’s shoulder.

“What do you talk about?”

“Nothing.” Kassandora said. “I don’t know how to hold a conversation that isn’t an exchange of information.” She took the rest of the drink, then reached over for the bottle. Kavaa finished hers. This ti, Kassandora poured.

“He said that once to . That with you, he just lets you sit in silence.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“Because I like nothing.” Kassandora said. Kavaa chuckled.

“You like .” She cooed and looked down at the blanket, then at her own bare legs. With a risky thought, it was downright devious. It should be done, shouldn’t it?

“I ant…” Kassandora said. “Nothing as in nothing, noun.” Kassandora said. “I just like sitting in silence.”

“Then sit in silence with .” Kavaa said. She forced herself to do it after finishing the second glass in one swing. She reached down and pulled the blanket over her own legs. Imdiately, she felt the warmth of Kassandora’s leg touch her own.

And so they sat, snuggled under a blanket, without a plan of action and without words to say. Kavaa did not mind though. A devious thought crossed her mind as she felt Kassandora’s cheek lean on the top of her head.

This was terribly romantic.

Helenna would be jealous.