Angel Monarch

Sera chuckled upon hearing Despair's words. However, deep within her gaze, fervent hatred burned as a terrifying grin spread across her face.

"So, you're telling me... You destroyed Newber, my home... You killed all those people. My friends. My parents!... You destroyed so many lives because of a mission?!... You put me on this path of endless suffering for some arbitrary future desire of making me powerful enough to avenge Aerin?"

The smile on Sera's lips seemed permanent, as was the hatred and disgust gleaming in her eyes. Bea stared at the Archangel with a similar gaze, but she wasn't smiling. Instead, Bea was moments away from beating up Despair.

"Did I understand everything? You selfish bastard!"

She basically spat those last words, but the Archangel didn't get angry. He took a deep breath and smiled at Sera with sympathy.

"I'm sorry for all your loss. I wish I could've saved all living creatures, but I'm not omnipotent. The best I can accomplish is working for a better future..."

He became silent for a moment and took another deep breath to prepare for the next words.

"Sadly, Lady Seraphine, you're wrong. Newber would've always fallen, regardless of my presence... Everyone still would've died, including you."

Sera raised a surprised eyebrow, still not convinced by Despair's words. However, he just laughed it off and continued.

"After you became an Evolved, a monster attacked you. Without my initial sacrifice, you would've perished before ever stepping a foot outside Newber. Also, with you gone, how many more would've died?... Don't you remember Havel? The Goblin Camp? Europe?"

The Angel's hands trembled as she imagined a future where she never became an Evolved...

She never would've entered Havel, and Harold would've used Nightmare to kill everyone. Lucy, Leslie, Will, James, Bea, and her own daughter, they all would've all died!

The Goblin Camp, Melinda and Bran, both dead... Another Goblin Camp, Astrid dead... New Athens, under the control of that Transcended, Kathy, Percy and many others would've died...

"And I didn't even mention Harold yet. That Mad Scientist was more dangerous than any of you ever realized. You believed he merely planned on opening thousands of Gateways, when in reality, he just wanted to open one!"

"What do you mean?" Asked Sera, as concern mixed with deep rage burning in her gaze.

Bea still held the Angel's hand, giving periodic squeezes, which seemed to calm Sera's turbulent emotions. However, even she looked curious upon hearing Despair.

"You didn't realize what that machine was for. He built and hid false records of it, so nobody could figure out the exact purpose... The machine, if supplied with enough energy, would've opened a Gate into the dark emptiness, the space between Realms... Where Madness sleeps..."

The silence felt like a living being, as both Sera and Bea tried processing Despair's words.

They couldn't believe it. The source of all their suffering and misery was so close to encroaching upon Earth.

"I thought Madness stayed in hiding, but if 'Their' location isn't hidden... Then what the fuck are all the Empyreans doing? Why don't they unite and kill him?"

While Bea's reasoning was sound, the answer was quite obvious.

"Because they aren't powerful enough to kill him easily! Some of them will die in the battle, and they're all selfish and self-serving. Nobody wants to sacrifice themselves for the greater good! Am I correct?"

Her golden-green eyes landed on Despair's proud form. He smiled at the Angel and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, you're. I can't quite remember the details, but upon discovering Madness's location, the Empyreans began arguing. Many want to leave him undisturbed and sleeping, since he can't cause any real trouble that way."

"The fuck you mean, 'can't cause any real trouble'! How many Realms suffered because of Madness's passive influence? Billions of humans just on Earth from the Apocalypse!"

Despair chuckled at Bea's rage.

"Oh, you're serious? First, let me educate you about how small Earth's Realm actually is in the grand scheme of the Universe!... Most larger cities in other Realms have populations larger than all the humans who ever lived put together. A city with a trillion residents is ordinary!"

Both Bea and Sera looked shocked upon hearing this.

Even though Qinrir told Sera that the most powerful races have quintillions of people, she thought he merely exaggerated. However, it seemed everything he told was the truth.

"Now that your worldview is shattered, let's talk about Madness. All these monsters roaming around the Realms are carrying his will, yet he isn't in control. All the destruction caused by his passive will or aura. It affects every Realm!... Could you imagine how powerful he would become after awakening?

"He would be unstoppable! Waking him would condemn the entire Universe to a long, painful death!"

Sera sighed deeply while leaning back in her chair. She placed her bare feet on the table while balancing the chair on its back legs. With her hands behind her head, she stared up at the white ceiling and closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she spoke without turning her head.

"I understand why waking Madness is dangerous. However, I'd like to know more about 'Them'. How and when did 'They' appear? What's 'Their' goal? Can't 'They be reasoned with?"

Despair shook his head while exhaling all the air from his lungs.

"First things first, Madness is a 'He'. As for everything else, I can't remember... I feel like I knew Madness once, long ago. I knew exactly what happened with 'Him'... It feels horrible... tragic... Simply trying to think about 'Him' makes me sad..."

"Okay, Despair," Said Bea. "I don't want to be rude, but we're in a hurry to an... important meeting... Do you want to tell us anything else important? Remember, we might never meet again!"

The Archangel just smiled as Sera opened one eye to glance at Bea. The magnificent woman blushed and looked away, while a radiant grin grew on Sera's lips... She knew exactly what the 'important meeting' entailed...

"You're right. After today, we'll probably never speak again. I already feel it. This fragment will die after you leave this memory. It'll rejoin my soul in the Afterlife..."

He took a deep, sad sigh, but continued smiling while staring at Sera's comfortable form.

"It was all worth it, though. With this fragment recovered, my soul will finally know peace, because my last mission was a success... Even if I wasn't able to help, you gained many good friends who will continue guiding and supporting you!"

Sera's golden-green eyes opened as a small smile stretched across her face. She pulled her legs off the table and reached forward, gently grasping Despair's large hand.

"Thank you, Despair. Your wings served me well in these trying times, and all this new information will help. I'm certain!"

The Archangel chuckled.

"You should actually try learning how to use those damn wings then! You barely scratched the surface of their potential!... Anyway, I'm sure you'll figure everything out... I'm proud of you, Lady Seraphine!"

Slowly, the giant Angel stood up from the table, then reached down to help both women to their feet. However, he didn't release their hands, and instead pulled both into a tight hug.

"Thank you for everything again!" He said while gentle sobs shook his body.

Confused and awkward, the women reciprocated the hug. They might as well comfort Despair before his inevitable death.

A few seconds later, he released them. Despair turned away quickly and walked towards the balcony. He stood in the blinding light and glanced back over his shoulder.

"One more piece of advice before I perish... Look for the Archangel of Light! Her mission had to be like mine! Find my elder sister and ask for her help!"

His last words still echoed inside the chamber, as Despair turned back towards the blinding light. He took a deep, shaky breath and walked forward until nothing remained of his form.

Sera and Bea watched him go, with sadness enveloping their hearts. Even though they barely knew Despair, his sacrifice saved so many people, including both women standing there, their friends, their children, and so many more!

However, neither shed tears as he passed. Despair wouldn't have wanted them feeling melancholic. Instead, they both smiled, or at least pretended to, but without humor or joy... the smiles only appeared depressed and pretentious.

When the Archangel's form fully disappeared, the entire chamber began falling apart. The source of the memory was gone... Despair was gone...

A few seconds later, the room broke into pieces, and both women fell into the empty, blinding light.

...

In the real world, a loud argument was ensuing. Sera only heard noises, and for a few seconds she couldn't move her body.

As time passed, she gradually regained control, and after a full minute, the noises turned into voices. Two apathetic females and one annoyed male. Nearby, a small groan reached Sera's ears, which belonged to Bea.

Sera sighed deeply, which silenced all the arguing. Her golden-green eyes opened, revealing a strange, inexplicable scene.

A shadowy, pale woman wearing black armor held a petite, beautiful woman wearing a plain, modest dress. They both stared at Sera with embarrassed expressions.

Faith's hands grasped the collar of Hestia's dress, raising her to eye level. However, after seeing Sera rise from her chair, she dropped the petite woman and stared at the ground with a shameful expression.

"What the hell is happening here?" Asked Sera clearly annoyed.

"Nothing... We were just arguing about how to wake you up!" Answered Faith, still keeping her gaze on the ground. Hestia also nodded meekly, not even able to speak from embarrassment.

Qinrir just sighed near them and turned towards Sera...

"Your Shadow got angry that you accepted Hestia's assistance. They were arguing about who would be the better maid and caretaker."

"Shut up!" Said both Hestia and Faith simultaneously, which further heated the air between the two.

Sera sighed and closed her eyes. She held the bridge of her nose while shaking her head in disappointment. However, before she could've lectured them both, she felt a hand tenderly grasp her arm.

She glanced around at Bea's grinning form. Suddenly she recalled the plans made with Bea, and a small giggle escaped her lips.

With small steps, both women backed towards the exit, while keeping their eyes on each other. Upon reaching the doorway, they stopped and glanced at Faith, Hestia and Qinrir's confused faces.

"I think both of you're great at your jobs, so stop arguing!" Ordered Sera. "Also, me and Bea have an important meeting to attend, so we'll leave now. I'm sure everyone's curious about what happened in my memories after Qinrir left, but that explanation will have to wait!"

With that, both women rushed outside while snickering between each other, like teenage girls sneaking away on a date.