Mercy is hardest the second time.
The first time feels like courage.
The second feels like habit.
And habit is where faith begins to fray.
⸻
The requests come quietly.
Not announced.
Not paraded.
One by one, they step into the edge of the bond—heads bowed, hands open, eyes hollowed by the weight of what they’ve done.
A quartermaster who rerouted supplies away from a starving city to save his own district.
A scout who sold safe paths to the Covenant in exchange for his sister’s life.
A priest who preached obedience while counting the dead as acceptable loss.
They do not come together.
They come alone.
Jason counts seven by the end of the week.
His hands shake as he marks each name.
“This isn’t coincidence,” he says hoarsely.
“They’re following Ardent.”
Zane nods grimly.
“
