(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

more, no less. And as for my place as a Dustman, well..."
Soego's breathing quickened when she gave his hand a firm little squeeze,
"People hear the truth I preach. Some listen, many do not. But still I gather
many to our cause even if they do so on a whim and leave us later. But their
fates are of little concern to me... frustration and pity are also things a true
Dustman must rid herself of. And futility must be embraced.
"Besides," her moist red lips curled back to reveal a sharp grin, "I tempt the
higher-ups. I test and remind them constantly of what they must purge
themselves of. It was probably why I was promoted to Factor so quickly...
mixing with the weaker stock of Factotums would've done more harm than
good."
Soego licked his lips, "I believe- I am ready to join the Dustmen."
Seladril's smile was still warm, "Patience, Soego. You still have much to
learn."
~~~~~
Under Seladril's tutelage Soego's passions cooled over time. She was as
warm as ever, as kind and cheerful. But in Soego's heart it was as if a bright
summer day had clouded over, and the resulting gray pallor had leeched the
color from the world. A dreary fog had begun to cloud his passions, usurping
the light's rightful place.
And so when he was twenty, Soego put on the robes of a Dustman Initiate.
Seladril, his sponsor, smiled proudly during the ritual as he coldly handed
over his last physical ties to sentiment and feeling. The bronze pendant he
had given to her long ago in shy gratitude, but that pair of old shoes and the
bottle of perfume would be destroyed in the furnaces that night, freeing him
at last to walk the path towards True Death.
The other Factors nodded approvingly as they filed past him, faces flat and
expressionless as stone. Seladril was the last to leave, and as she did she
pressed her soft red lips to his cheek in a sweet kiss and whispered into his
ear.
"I'll share one more secret with you, dear Soego: I am still quite fond of
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