The Lord of the Rotting Apple Speaks to a Man

Iblis came down from a spiral mountain and it took him ten years. The entire time, a youth aged to manhood and earned his maturity waiting in awe of the Cursed One. To think that he was cursed as an unbeliever; in the moment he transformed command into will and spurned love of humanity, he was cast away, this master of the dead apple. The apple that offers a home to every worm in need.

But you in your youth could not see me while I was on the other side.

And you came to manhood believing you watched me descend the mountain.

Behind it in its shadow I faded into the dusk of a parallel field of apple trees.

Every time one fell it rotted quickly on the ground and earned love of worms.

How many had eaten these I do not know because I looked forever forward.

How many followed behind me I do know because I looked forever forward.

How many set against me I do know because I always looked forever forward.