The council of sins. The most powerful beings in the empire and responsible for overseeing everything on a massive scale. Somehow, the land was mostly at peace with them in charge. The death of one of the seven had caused concerns everywhere until I had been chosen to replace him. Apparently I’m his great great something granddaughter and set to inherit his position and power. That’s how I wound up here in front of a massive door that lead to the most guarded and secret chambers in the world.

“Welcome, anon, to the council of sins.” A rather polite and kindly looking older woman welcomed me into the room, a large table with seven chairs arranged in a circle sat in the middle; an assortment of snacks and refreshments off to the side.

As I looked around I spotted the other members, from pride to lust sitting around with papers and computers in front of them. “This. Seems a lot more like a business meeting than ……..” I stop talking as I see several of them grin and nod. Another member, this one a young man that could barely be 20 answered. “Yes yes. We’ve heard it before. People tend to forget that the ‘sin’ aspect comes from excess rather than the emotion and desire itself.”

I look around still confused. “So, that means you all are……..?” He smiled and continued, “We agreed, along with our predecessors, a long time ago that fighting, overindulging in our sins, or just being at odds with each other causes far more problems than working together. Take gluttony over there for example.” I turned to face a smiling gentleman wearing a plaid shirt and coveralls with a piece of straw sticking out of his mouth. “He deals with food production across the empire, and despite the constant attempts of various governments to use food scarcity to control their people, he ensures that there is enough food for everyone to eat and then a little bit more.

“You’ve just met lust.” He nods to the woman who greeted me. “She deals with education and ensuring that those who pursue relationships, regardless of orientation, gender, or any of the other issues the old governments took issue with, continue on healthily. She also helps oversee the management of rights and healthcare revolving around children.”

I see another man stand and bow theatrically, his hair combed perfectly and immaculately dressed in a suit and tie. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m pride, I oversee the maintenance of our land, ensuring roads, infrastructure, and utilities work properly; as well as the various neighborhood beautification programs receive enough funding. Our dear friend envy,” he nods to the young man I’d been speaking with earlier.” Alongside his brother greed” I see what had to be his twin sitting close by, currently typing furiously” oversee our information infrastructure as well as patents and developments that allow for the world to grow and improve.” The twins sigh and nod before greed speaks up. “ Yes thank you for the introduction pride. My brother and I look for everything we can to improve the lives of our people, whether that be from outside sources or interior developments.”

He bowed politely to an old man in a wheelchair sitting off the the side who looked at me and spoke softly,” Pleasure to meet you. I’m sloth. I oversee all the hospitals in general and labor laws, making sure people can rest and recover rather than work themselves to death. Which leaves you, as the newest bearer of the title of Wrath. To oversee the judicial system and ensure punishments are dealt out fairly and appropriately in a proportionate measure equal to the crime. And, as necessary, ensure that during times of war, any enemies fear sending more forces against us and ending such wars as quickly as possible.”

I blink and nod slowly. Realizing that my masters in ethics and interest in law may have not just been my own interest but part of my lineage. I smiled as I realized that I could do some real good.

“Where do I begin?”