When sins dress themselves in purity…
and shame becomes sacred…
mercy has no place left.
Here…
faith is not born…
it is slaughtered in its own name.
And from between bowed heads…
a judgment rises…
that knows no forgiveness.
Chapter Four: The Sanctity of Shame
After Ilia passed judgment on those who killed the girl, and when he finished his melody, they died in a strange way. Ilia continued walking without stopping, leaving this city behind, while the people were still screaming: He killed the heroes! He is a criminal!
Until he heard the whisper…
This time, it was clear.
The voice laughed:
"Ha ha ha… did you see how ugly humans are? Do you still have mercy in your heart toward these mortal creatures?"
Ilia replied calmly:
"I don't know."
And he continued his path toward another city, searching for a place to stay.
As he approached the second city, little by little, the air became suffocating with every step. The sound of prayers and the smoke of incense grew denser, until he took his first step inside.
This city was known for worship and devotion. Everyone wore white robes, their heads lowered, prayer beads in their hands, worshiping everywhere.
But Ilia… saw something else.
He saw distorted forms.
He did not understand what was happening, because he saw with his heart, not with his eyes.
The high-ranking religious figures were collecting donations from the people, claiming they were for the poor. People rushed toward them, eager to give.
Ilia stood there… watching.
Then he saw it.
Horns… on their heads.
The whisper returned:
"Do not be deceived by appearances… behind every white face lies a charred heart."
Ilia did not understand what the whisper meant.
In the depths of the night, when the entire city had fallen asleep, Ilia was lying on the pavement…
Until he heard voices coming from inside the temple.
He approached… step by step…
And then—
He saw.
The same sight…
the one that stole his vision.
The high-ranking religious men were indulging in filthy acts with women, drinking alcohol, drowning in corruption…
Until they brought a small child into the center of the hall.
Candles were lit.
And Ilia saw…
Baal.
They were worshipping Baal.
They chanted together around the child.
When the chanting ended, one of them stood and said:
"My lord Baal… accept this offering."
And in a single moment—
He tore the child's neck apart.
They brought their cups…
and drank from the child's blood.
Silence filled the place… for a moment.
Then the whisper said:
"Deliver your judgment."
Ilia grabbed his violin.
His eyes… were dripping black ink.
Tak…
…
Tak…
…
Tak…
(The Masked Requiem: The Mass of Shame)
[Soft funeral tones]
"Your white garments… are a night without dawn
Your prayers are deceit… a stab in the back
On the pulpits… purity and dignity
In the basements… wine and disgrace
You bow to the ground… while your hearts rise
To a god of clay… whose covenant you broke"
[The melody grows faster and sharper, as if tearing velvet curtains]
"You took the money of orphans… in the name of God
And wasted it in nights of sin and sighs
Your donations are poison… in the cups of the thirsty
Your worship is a trade… in the cheapest fabric
You preach asceticism… while your bellies overflow
And purity… while your rooms are filled with filth"
[Solo violin, sorrowful and haunting]
"Your offerings are souls… groaning in oppression
Children slaughtered… in chambers of sorcery
You poured innocence's blood… into cups of hypocrisy
In the name of sanctity… you tore every covenant
Slaves of the devil… in the altar of guidance
The screams of the victims… echo within you"
[Ilia strikes the strings madly, his voice shaking the hall]
"I saw your corruption… behind the curtain
Feasts of perversion… dances of collapse
O worshippers of Baal… in robes of light
My insight exposed… what lies beneath graves
In the name of sanctity… you bowed to filth
And sold souls… to redeem yourselves
Do not raise your hands… for God sees all
You are fuel for Baal… and your fate is harsh
You built religion… as a veil for sins
So damn the foreheads… that bowed to disgrace"
[The melody calms, but carries a tone of threat]
"Your purity is filth… your asceticism is unclean
I am the blind judge… and breath is restrained
The mask has fallen… and betrayal is revealed
No prayer will save… those who betrayed trust"
[A final powerful strike, then silence… followed by Ilia's whisper]
"Wash yourselves with crocodile tears…
Build your fortresses from wind…
The hidden is revealed… and the act is over…
…
…
…
(Guilty)"
Ilia turned… and left.
Behind him… screams rose—
terrifying screams.
The entire city awoke.
They rushed toward the temple…
only to witness something beyond comprehension.
Meanwhile, Ilia had already left the city.
He reached a nearby river and sat on its bank, trying to breathe.
The silence… was terrifying.
Then he heard footsteps.
Slowly approaching…
Step… by step…
Until he felt a hand resting on his shoulder.
A female voice spoke…
beautiful… yet terrifying.
Ilia turned and asked:
"Who are you?"
She replied:
"I am neither an enemy… nor an ally."
Ilia frowned slightly and said:
"I feel like I've heard that before…"
Then he asked:
"Then who are you?"
She answered:
"I am you."
Ilia froze.
"How…?"
She said:
"You judge… and I execute.
I am the whisper that says: Deliver your judgment.
I am… Lilia."
Ilia was stunned.
Lilia continued:
"Continue your path… expose their falsehood…
and leave the rest to me."
Ilia spoke…
And at the same time, Lilia spoke.
Their voices… merged into one:
"A pact… binds two souls… to one fate."
…
To be continued
What fell… was not just a mask…
but an entire world of lies.
The heavens remained silent…
but the judgment was delivered.
From this night onward…
no light will deceive…
and no sanctity will hide its shame.
For when the judge begins to play…
sins do not end…
they collapse.