Lilith pov

“Lives are bestowed by the goddess. No one has the right to take them,” the man with the kind smile had said, sunlight glinting off his face as he looked at me. I was twelve, staring up at him with wide, curious eyes.

“But… what if there are bad people?” I had asked cautiously. “What if I have to fight, or kill, to protect myself or someone else?”

He had crouched slightly to meet my gaze, his smile unwavering but his eyes sharp, serious. “If it ever comes to that, Lilith… then do it without hesitation. Protect yourself. Protect what you must. But know this, never do it...