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Valentine.

My sweet, sweet Valentine.

Do you remember?

I still remember the days when we were young. The seven of us scraped by on our wits, fueled by scraps, and frayed by false generosity. The cold, the bitter cold, caused even Death herself to seek warmth at our sides. Death's sweet embrace kept us all alive, the promise of a bright afterlife better than all the pale realities of this wretched dimension.

We named her Winter.

Remember now?

Hardly could I forget your oath, that should the trials of life grow too trying on our wearied souls, you would escort us to the gates of heaven and vouch for our souls. But pray tell, how can a man go meet God his maker when there lives a goddess to hold him in her arms? Had I but one life to live, I would have spent it just to see you ascend to immortality, to escort you to the throne of divinity so I could die in the glow of your beauty. It was fitting that the Alchemist should grant you immortality first.

And how bright you were! Even clad in our immortal skins, our brightest lights were as darkness to you. Some of us boasted strength, some boasted smarts, others paraded their popularity. But you were always different. You gave us family. Where you were, there home was. We did not deserve you.

What is humanity to you, then? Perhaps the capacity of their minds is unique, 'tis true, but they haven't the lifespan to grow a shred of wisdom, nor have they the natural goodness of lesser, feral creatures. Humans are evil, born in darkness, and bathed in utter depravity. You know this to be true, and I even heard it from your own lips. "There is nothing good in man," you once said to me. "Were God to wipe him off the face of the universe, He would be hailed a hero and crowned with glory for His conquest."

So tell me, then, why you continue to play with them? Why do you feed them, clothe them, [b]speak[/b] to them, even show them kindness? Why do you create worlds for them, guard their families, and raise their children? What do you see in them that you should stoop so low beneath your station?

My mind reaches only one conclusion.

I fought it, wrestled it, avoided it all I could.

You have joined their side.

O Valentine, my sweet, sweet Valentine, the time is nigh when at last I come to free your heart from mankind's wicked chains. Soon, my lady, I shall return the ancient favor and hold you in my arms, as you once did for me. Soon, we shall be together again.

Just the two of us.

The other five can go to hell.
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