Seraphina sat at the café where she and Victor had agreed to meet. Her thoughts were still swirling from the recent events—the escalating disappearances, Lucian’s unsettling presence, and the battles she barely managed to survive. She wasn’t one to show weakness, but even she couldn’t deny that she needed more strength. This world of angels and glitches wasn’t something she could navigate with her current abilities. She needed to be better.

Victor walked in, his usual calm and composed demeanor as unshaken as ever. He took a seat across from Seraphina, smiling slightly, though his eyes were serious.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” Seraphina began, her voice betraying a touch of tension. “I think we both know this situation is spiraling. The disappearances, the glitches—it’s becoming too much.”

Victor nodded, resting his hands on the table. “It’s bigger than just Lucian. There’s a storm coming, and we’re all going to be pulled into it, whether we want to be or not.”

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t afford to sit back and let this happen. But I also know I’m not ready—not with how things are going.”

Victor leaned back slightly, observing her for a moment. “You’ve been doing better than most in your position would, Seraphina. But yes, I know what you mean. Michael’s training has helped you survive, but there’s more to being a reaper than just being tough.”

She raised an eyebrow. “More?”

He nodded. “A reaper isn’t just a tool to help the angels. There’s angelic power within you, even if you don’t realize it yet.”

Seraphina frowned. “I don’t feel like there’s anything inside me but confusion and exhaustion.”

Victor chuckled softly. “That’s because it hasn’t been awakened. Being a reaper means you have a link to the angelic power. You’re not just a mortal anymore—you’re part angel. You’ve seen glimpses of it already, haven’t you? The way your body heals faster, the instincts kicking in during fights.”

She recalled the last battle—the way her injuries had healed almost overnight. It had unsettled her, made her question what she was becoming. But she hadn’t realized it was because of something deeper inside.

“Part angel…” she muttered.

Victor’s expression grew more serious. “If you want to survive what’s coming, you’ll need to fully unlock that part of yourself. I can help you do that, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Seraphina’s jaw tightened. She hated asking for help, but this was different. She was out of her depth, and she knew it. “What do I need to do?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Victor leaned forward, lowering his voice as he explained. “We need to tap into the angelic energy inside you. It’s there, but it’s dormant. Michael hasn’t been able to draw it out because it requires a different kind of training—one that connects you to the spiritual and celestial side of being a reaper.”

Seraphina nodded slowly, absorbing his words. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

The training began in an open, isolated field just outside the city. Victor had chosen the location specifically for its seclusion—no distractions, no interference. The only sound around them was the occasional rustling of the wind through the grass.

Victor stood a few feet away from Seraphina, his hands clasped behind his back. “The key is focus. Your mind is cluttered right now. You need to clear it, focus on the energy within.”

Seraphina crossed her arms. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It’s not simple,” Victor replied, “but it’s necessary. Close your eyes.”

She hesitated for a moment, then did as he asked. The world around her faded into a dull hum as she shut her eyes, her thoughts racing. Victor’s voice broke through her inner chaos.

“Breathe. Let go of everything. Forget about the battles, the missions, even your doubts. There’s power inside you—find it.”

Seraphina focused on her breathing, trying to push away the tension that had been building within her. She felt ridiculous standing in the middle of a field with her eyes closed, but she trusted Victor. She had to. Slowly, the world around her began to fade, and a different sensation started to stir deep within her.

Victor watched her closely, sensing her energy shift. “That’s it. Don’t fight it. Let the energy come to you.”

Seraphina’s heartbeat slowed as a strange warmth spread through her chest, followed by a tingling sensation in her limbs. It was subtle at first, like a flicker of light in the dark. But as she focused, it grew stronger, more defined.

Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly as she felt the power surge within her.

Victor nodded approvingly. “You’re beginning to feel it now, aren’t you? That’s the angelic side waking up.”

Seraphina flexed her fingers, her body buzzing with energy. “It feels… different.”

“It should. You’re not just human anymore, Seraphina. You’re something more.”

The rest of the day was spent honing that newfound power. Victor guided Seraphina through a series of exercises, teaching her how to channel the energy, how to control it. It was exhausting, and by the time the sun began to set, she was drained—both physically and mentally.

But there was progress.

Seraphina collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily as she wiped sweat from her brow. “This is harder than I thought,” she muttered.

Victor sat down beside her, looking out at the horizon. “It’ll get easier with time. You’re already doing better than I expected.”

She glanced at him. “You expected me to fail?”

He smiled faintly. “No. But I didn’t think you’d catch on this quickly. You’re more determined than most.”

Seraphina chuckled tiredly. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”

Victor’s expression softened. “No. But that’s what makes you strong.”

As they sat in the fading light, a sense of calm washed over Seraphina. For the first time since this whole ordeal began, she felt a sliver of control—like she wasn’t just a pawn in this celestial game. She was starting to become something more.

Later that evening, as Seraphina walked back to her apartment, her mind wandered back to the events of the day. She could feel the power inside her now—dormant, but alive. Victor had opened a door, and there was no turning back.

When she reached her building, she paused for a moment, glancing up at the sky. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but for once, she felt like she had a fighting chance.

On the other side of the city, Lucifer stood in the shadows, watching as the night deepened. His investigation into the missing persons cases had led him down a dark and twisted path. Something was very wrong, and he intended to get to the bottom of it.

He had been careful not to alert anyone to his presence, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching him.

As he turned a corner, he caught a glimpse of movement in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, he disappeared into the shadows, determined to find out who—or what—was behind the disappearances.

End of Chapter 21