Angel Monarch

Sera floated motionless before the Archangel, her mouth agape and eyes wide. Her body trembled, but not from despair. She simply felt too shocked by this impossible meeting, with the first creature she killed.

The Archangel of Despair just stared at Sera with a dazzling, blinding smile. His burning sword dissolved into empty air just as the last vestiges of darkness disappeared.

"Hey, I don't want to alarm you or anything," Whispered Bea into Sera's ear. "But isn't that the Archangel you killed? I'm pretty certain he shouldn't be alive and saving our asses."

Bea giggled as Sera's piercing golden-green eyes glanced back, annoyed. However, soon both women turned silent as the Archangel's booming laughter shook them to their core.

"I probably should give you an explanation," Said Despair while glancing around. "This memory is falling apart and won't support us much longer. Let's leave before it's too late!"

Indeed, he was right. Both Sera and Bea stared down at the wide hole, leading into nothingness below. Along its edges, large cracks formed and spread everywhere, making the gaping hole even wider.

"Fine, but how do we leave exactly?"

The Archangel just chuckled and snapped his fingers, causing reality to shift.

The memory broke apart all around them, and moments later they found themselves in a brightly lit room. White walls and ceiling with gold embellishments decorated the space. With each step, the hardwood floor echoed under the Archangel's feet.

Through the giant windows, a fresh breeze entered the room, bringing the fragrant smell of flowers inside. The curtains danced to the rhythm of the wind. Their shadows also danced as the bright light shone inside the room.

Different furniture brought life to the otherwise hollow room. Cupboards full of utensils, plates and books. Near a corner, a long sofa and a pair of armchairs marked the lounge area. There was also a fireplace with a dying flame burning inside.

Below a wide circular window, with mosaic, colorful designs, a giant bed spread, taking up a large portion of the room. A long table with many empty seats connected the main entrance to the giant balcony door. Above the table, a silver chandelier swayed gently.

Both Sera and Bea glanced around with curious expressions. The room's primary colors were white, gold and silver, combined with a bit of dark brown below their feet, but even most of the hardwood was covered by a giant golden rug with white and silver embroideries.

"This room looks very... depressing. Why do Angels hate actual colors?"

Upon hearing Bea's words, Despair began glancing around in confusion, while Sera just chuckled and glanced down at herself.

She wasn't in that strange glowing energy form anymore. Her pale skin glistened in the encroaching bright light, while next to her, Bea's tan skin glowed with green hues.

The dresses they wore in the real world covered their bodies. Bea's made of blood-red petals, while Sera's made of glowing golden ones.

After checking themselves, both Sera and Bea turned towards the balcony, but outside only a blinding light existed. They could see nothing beyond the balcony, as if it were a border containing a memory inside.

"I can see you already figured out where we are, but just in case, I'll explain." Said Despair while seating himself at the long table.

Sera and Bea also sat down, since they didn't feel any danger emanating from the strange Archangel. In fact, the man looked quite jovial and kind. He kept smiling at Sera, like a proud father at their daughter.

Before now, Sera couldn't inspect Despair's facial features well. He looked weirdly normal for a powerful Angel.

He looked like a handsome middle-aged man, which wasn't unusual for a Stellar. His unkept, long whitish-gold hair kept falling in his face, while his hand absently brushed against his short beard.

A pair of kind dark yellow eyes stared at Sera, while his lips stretched into a wide smile, revealing perfect white teeth. Whenever his mouth wasn't smiling–which rarely happened–laugh lines would appear near his lips. Stellars didn't age and could only get wrinkles if they desired so.

The Archangel took a deep sigh as his gaze moved around the room with nostalgia.

"This was my room back in Aerin. High above Heavduin, The City of Radiance, inside the Castle of Brilliance. I spent barely any time here alive, yet I always cherished the beauty contained within this place. I think it'll serve us well for this conversation."

Both women raised their eyebrows while glancing at each other. They noted Despair's melancholic tone and his speaking in past tense.

"So you're aware of your death?" Asked Bea, blunt as ever.

Despair just chuckled, and said, "Of course! I planned it myself! It would be quite awkward to forget something so important as your own suicide!"

"But if you died, then... How are you here? You know... In my head!"

The Archangel stopped laughing as Sera spoke. His dark yellow eyes locked onto hers, with nothing but admiration glinting in their depths.

"When you killed me, I used my sword to imprint my mind onto yours. I didn't have any bad intentions; in fact, I wanted to help you on your journey. However, you killed me too fast, so only part of my mind got uploaded, and I couldn't communicate or provide advice.

"I did see everything that happened to you though, and I must say, I'm truly proud of you, Lady Seraphine. You're exceptional even for an Angel. Also..."

He became silent as his eyes moved from Sera to Bea. His gaze turned thankful as he lunged forward and his giant palms grasped Bea's hands faster than she could've reacted.

"Thank you, Lady Bea, for helping, guiding and defending her in my place. I could never serve as a protector who's as powerful and compatible with Sera as the World Tree she loves! You even sacrificed your Seed just to ease her suffering... Thank you so much!"

Bea gently patted Despair's hand, then quickly pulled away, her face contorting into a strained, awkward smile. She tried to ignore Despair's words about love as she answered.

"No need to thank me. I just helped my... I just helped a friend in need!"

She glanced away fast, so Sera couldn't see the heavy blush on her face. However, the smirking giggle soon reached her ears, making any attempt at hiding futile.

When everybody calmed down a bit, Sera's golden-green eyes turned towards the Archangel. Her smile might've seemed kind to most, but Bea recognized the cunning glint in her eyes.

"I'm sure you had a good reason to transfer part of your consciousness, but before we begin that conversation, could you explain... Who are the Knights of Fate?"

Despair's smile widened as he began telling the story... His story...

"A long time ago, before most Realms developed life, Aerin was already a bustling society. In this Realm, lived the Angels. They were led by a Goddess and a God, whom everyone worshipped, including the Noble Angels, the leaders of the Angelic cities...

"One such family was blessed with two daughters and a younger brother. Through sheer coincidence, these three siblings caught their Goddess's attention, and after a long rigorous training, they received the title, Knights of Fate, with the designation Archangel, marking them as their Goddess's own chosen soldiers."

The Archangel leaned back in his chair, causing a small creak to echo inside the chamber. His smile turned reminiscent as he stared at the hanging chandelier.

"The Archangel of Destruction, my eldest sister. A Celestial with the power to destroy matter and energy... The Archangel of Light, my elder sister. An Ethereal with the power to control light, changing its inherent properties... And finally me. The youngest brother, only a mere Stellar...

"Together we carried our Goddess's will, bringing justice, destruction or both, wherever we went... To be perfectly honest, I can't remember much else. The transfer wasn't entirely successful, so most of my memories went to the Afterlife with my soul. I only remember my last mission!"

He became silent, and Sera didn't prompt him to continue. She needed some time to process everything Despair revealed. Bea also didn't intrude on the quiet, so for a minute, nobody said anything.

"Where are your siblings now?" Asked Sera, surprising both Despair and Bea.

They both thought she'll ask about his last mission, but instead a kind smile stretched across her face. Her golden-green eyes looked worried, which made the Archangel's heart ache.

"I don't know. Much of my memory is forgotten, but I hope they're alright. Thank you for your concern!"

Despair's smile widened as he saw Sera in a new light. Even after witnessing all her Evolved life, he couldn't get an exact feel for her personality. However, now he understood his last mission and its necessity.

"So? What was your last mission?" Asked Bea after she grew bored with the emotional silence.

Both Sera and Despair chuckled upon seeing Bea's curious expression. Sera even grasped the magnificent woman's hand, just to tease and annoy her.

"Fine, I'll tell you. I don't remember exactly who gave me the mission. I received it a few millennia after Aerin fell... First, I needed to obtain a Seed of Madness, so it could turn me into a Horror. Then I needed to pass through a specific Realm Gate, and finally..."

The Archangel turned towards Sera with serious eyes, holding none of the previous jovial attitude.

"Finally, I had to sacrifice myself to an unassuming, brown-haired, human girl, and help her Evolve into something the Realms had never seen before!"