Chapter 47
He who fights with monsters might take care
Lest he thereby become a monster.
And if you gaze for long into an abyss,
The abyss gazes also into you.
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—Friedrich Nietzsche
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MIKHAIL
The scent of burnt flesh clings to my clothing as I fly back into Assur. The sentries hail me as I coast over the South gate, but I do not greet them. I fly straight to the central square where the food line trails towards the temple and land in the middle of them, uncaring that my wings knock several to the ground. I stalk toward Immanu, cradling the grim bundle against my chest. My vision narrows until I see no villagers, no food line and no absolution. All I see is him.
'There,' the dark hunger whispers. 'There is your quarry…'
I place the dead child onto the table where the Chief's coo
