To Be Human

From the way that he acted, one would believe that nothing could disturb the fallen angel's composure and elegance. His sudden change in demeanor from calm to almost aggressive upon asking the question disturbed Cyril greatly.

From high above, Lucifer stared the man down with a gaze that could only be called cold and indifferent even despite his warm smile. His voice seemed to echo through the room, continuously repeating his words.

Do you understand what eternal torment entails?

Cyril was no stranger to suffering.

While he had been relatively successful in life, he had experienced his fair share of ups and downs. As a scammer and an information broker, both of those downs usually meant either torture or brutal beatings. One of the two if not both.

His death had come about by being tied to a rock and having his beaten body sunken into the river. That example should have explained more than enough about his circumstances.

While he could deal with the harm, it had engrained itself into his body. These experiences had grown a fear of pain inside him.

But…

"Maybe I don't know, but I'm still resolved to accept my punishment."

"From where I'm looking, you don't seem to be doing this to be a good person. If not, then why?"

"It's simple. More than my fear of pain, I fear becoming a hypocrite." Cyril shook his head softly before continuing. "As you know, I lived a life of suffering before I grasped my fate into my own hands. I've seen plenty of 'good people', and to be quite frank, they disgust me."

"Good people?"

"Yes, 'good people'. There are people who wear masks when they go out, pretending to be good people despite doing bad things. But these 'good people' truly believe that they are good people, failing to realize that their actions come with consequences, deluding themselves into believing that they're righteous.

The difference between the two is that one is aware that they are evil, while the other isn't. I don't want to become a hypocrite like that."

"Hm… can you give me an example?"

Lucifer asked the question, but his tone held no curiosity. It was evident that he already understood what Cyril was talking about, but he merely asked anyway as if to entertain his explanation before the court.

"Back when I was a still a boy, my little sister was going through bullying. I was away at the orphanage's boarding school at the time so I couldn't do anything, but one of the hired managers took it upon himself to help, even though she didn't ask him to."

Cyril's eyes narrowed as he spoke. It was a sore topic for him, one that made his blood boil just by thinking about it.

"Sure he resolved it momentarily, but he didn't understand that helping means to take responsibility to the end. He couldn't protect her forever, and when his term at the orphanage ended, the bullies came back. What do you think would happen when they thought she was hiding like a coward behind the backs of others? The results were even more severe than last time, prompting her into taking her own life while the manager lived his life freely believing he had done a good deed."

Lucifer nodded along to Cyril's explanation.

"I see. However, wouldn't the end result have been the same either way? The bullying would have continued. Would helping at least a bit count for something rather than watching the suffering continue before your eyes? Even if it failed, did he not still help with good intentions?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I can't claim to understand morality before you, the judge of Hell, but I'm also not claiming to be a good person like him or thinking I am one. To not be a hypocrite means to understand my sins, and that means to accept punishment, no matter how much I fear it."

Upon finishing his words, Cyril bowed his head.

A silence came over the already quiet court, now absent of conversation. The middle-aged man couldn't see the fallen angel's expression, but he still didn't look up.

It was only several minutes later that Lucifer spoke.

"Raise your head, Cyril."

Cyril followed the man's suggestion, meeting Lucifer's smiling eyes. Yes, smiling. Not only were his golden eyes smiling, but both the corners of his mouth had been raised in a similar small smile as well.

"John 10:10, of the New Testament. 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.'"

"…?"

"It is one of the few faithful and truly original quotes in that book, and it reminds me of you. My understanding of it is to not fear death itself, but rather a life unlived. As a mere mortal, your time is short but more full of life than countless others. Not unsimilar to a candle."

Cyril could sense wistfulness in Lucifer's voice, so he merely stayed quiet as he listened.

"Its flame is weak and flickering but it nevertheless struggles to survive, desperately fighting to devour the oxygen around it. Your existence may have been short-lived, but your wise mind and experiences have brought about a deep understanding of morality, with a moral compass stronger than countless others I have seen with longer lifespans."

The fallen angel sighed in admiration as he gazed at Cyril.

"It is simply… beautiful. This is why I love humans."

The middle-aged man was slightly confounded, his face one of confusion.

But before he could respond, Lucifer spread his arms wide as his elegant voice began to sound throughout the court. Along with his movements came a light that illuminated the darkened surroundings.

"You have heard his resolve, my fellows. What say you?!"

As the light spread throughout the court, Cyril then began to understand how truly massive the area was.

The darkness was pushed back, revealing the arched counsel table in its full glory, one that seemed the size of a building.

There were seven thrones in total behind the counsel table, and Lucifer was located directly in the middle. Three of them were arched to his left, and three others to his right. They had all been meticulously placed, spaced a good distance away from each other.

Cyril had been under the impression that he had been alone with Lucifer, but the view quickly changed that.

Several of the thrones were empty, but several of them had figures sitting behind them. Their very sight caused his breath to catch in his throat.