Vessel had been part of Sleep's cult for many years—over a decade, in fact. He had killed so many in Her name, offered so many songs for Her, each time losing a little part of himself for the greater good, but despite his best efforts, he was never named as the goddess' most devoted. No, that title belonged to someone else. Someone who Sleep would not name. Vessel was determined to find them.

It had been months searching through the ascended realm of the Garden of Eden, and yet Vessel still had not found the one who claimed the title of most devoted. He couldn't help but feel both angered and defeated. He'd done so much for Sleep, why couldn't She just welcome him like he deserved? Surely he'd done more for Her than anyone else ever could. It wasn't fair.

Vessel marched through the lush forest of the Garden towards his lake—his—where he went to calm down. However, as he was approaching the bank, he saw a figure already in the water. Vessel felt a flash of anger. Who was this being who dared to intrude upon his sacred space? He was about to yell at the strange person, but then he noticed how.. Inhuman it seemed. Surely no normal person had deer horns on their head, or sharp claws like a bird's talons. Vessel himself was touched by Her grace, as the presence of his dark skin and six eyes suggested, but this being was clearly more favoured.

An Ascended, Vessel realised. There were very few of them roaming around the Garden, mostly because there were very few people who had devoted themselves to Sleep so thoroughly to undergo the transformation from human to Ascended. They were what Vessel was trying to become—and exactly who he was jealous of. Maybe this particular Ascended was the most devoted out of everyone in the cult? Vessel had to find out.

"Hello?" he called out, hoping to get the Ascended's attention. He could push down his pride and jealousy for a few moments. He could. Maybe then, Sleep would be proud of him.