ARC I - BEYOND GENESIS: MACHINE -

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"God has bequeathed us an important mission. We stand at the intersection of destiny concerning our flock and all of creation," Michael declared, his hands firmly gripping the chamber's grand Table. Light cascaded over the billowing cape behind him, illuminating the Twin Dragon insignia.

The High Covenant had convened at the White Tower at the highest peaks of Heaven, shrouded by a golden light. Its marble arches were intricately carved with designs of past heroes who embraced the Tower. Water flowed from the reservoirs in the Tower to Heaven below. A clock on the Tower read 2040.

Seated in the Grand Confluence, a room reserved for high-stakes deliberation, they gathered at the Table of Creation. Projections of the realms hovered on top, allowing them to monitor activities.

A fire blazed in the center. Flames licking at their youthful faces, the exalted figures of the Ruling Council, Uriel, Raphael, and Michael, claimed their seats.

Uriel, resolute, gave a nod. "Indeed, brother. We're prepared to begin, shall we?" Her round glasses adorned her heart-shaped face as she calmly sat in his chair. The reflection of the flame hid her eyes. A Wolf's insignia peeked from her blue cape.

However, Raphael was lost in the labyrinth of these thoughts, his eyes tracing the empty throne of an Archangel. "We must not proceed in haste," he murmured, "not while our Sister's absence remains unaddressed."

Uriel's eyes met Raphael, her glasses briefly revealing a beast in her eyes, her mouth curling in a wolfish grin."Raphael, your concern for Gabriel always shines a bit brighter than the rest of us, doesn't it? Your heart seems to throb louder at the mention of her." Her gentle smile softened the tease. "Her absence casts a gloom over us all."

Michaels's eyes briefly dimmed, his crimson eyes consumed by darkness, before looking up. "The absence of Sister Gabriel lies heavy upon our hearts, yet we face a dire urgency as aether fades from our realm as angels vanish daily."

As they watched, the projection shifted, showing a map of Heaven. Points of light began to blink - each one representing a missing angel.

The words lingered as their faces were hidden in shadow.

Moving his hand on his chair, Raphael accidentally nicked his pale skin. Blood seeped from his wound. He observed as his nanorobots emerged and tended to the droplets.

With a mix of curiosity and concern, Uriel remarked, "Such machines within our midst—born of humans, now among the divine. Though mostly present among human-born Angels."

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"Indeed, Sister Uriel. The skies of Heaven have indeed shifted over these two decades," Raphael mused, gazing where light flowed through the chamber's expanse.

With a slight tremor in his tone, Michael cut through, "While Gabriel's whereabouts are yet unknown, her Academy yearns for leadership. Its stewardship cannot remain absent." Michael moved his hand, revealing a projection of Gabriel's Academy, locked in darkness.

"Silhouettes dance in Gabriel's Academy," Uriel interjected, her voice diminishing to a hush. "They tell of a mysterious AI, born of her own making, perhaps a key to her absence." She put her palms forward, showing two empty hands, letting the Archangels gaze at the writing on her palm.

Uriel gestured, moving the Academy, and the air above the Table shimmered. It showed a portrait of Gabriel, her silver wings cast in the air, blonde hair flowing down her body, and a cape with a Phoenix emblazoned.

"Moreover," Uriel continued, her gaze piercing the circle of her peers, "there's talk of Gabriel's ward, her adopted son, John. Whispers suggest she implanted an AI within the boy, perhaps to compensate for his... unique nature. A solitary wing, yet burdens far beyond." The projections shifted again, showing a young man, his body sculpted, yet his eyes seemed worn, his cheeks sunken.

Raphael smiled softly at John before turning his attention to Uriel. He clenched his fist, his eyes darting to Uriel's blue wings that seemed to siphon the air around it. His eyes flowed around the black robes that wrapped her and the necklace on her chest decorated with a dragon that swallowed itself.

"The boy is akin to us in more ways than one," Michael acknowledged, his eyes narrowing with concern and a spark of strategic interest. "One wing or two, he is of Heaven, and if these rumours prove true, we must ensure that we guard him in the interest of the realm."

"We should commit to the task considering what Sister Gabriel wanted for him," Raphael stated firmly.

"Very well," Michael conceded. His gaze softened as he looked at Raphael's wing, which had been deformed in an accident. Trembling, he pronounced, "We shall investigate the Academy and perhaps even the boy. I can assure you, Brother Raphael, that it will be conducted under the purview of Cherubim Daniel."

Raphael grimaced, his eyes wavering.

"The balance of Heaven," he concluded, his voice rising with an air of finality, "may well rest in our understanding of these mysteries and our actions henceforth."

As the gilded light of the chamber waned, a silence settled over the assembly, each member bound by the gravity of their duty. The gathering dispersed as they retreated into their respective chambers.

The sun dipped behind the high Tower, ushering in the night.

Beneath the High Covenant lay the still air of Heaven. In Gabriel's Academy, shadows bloomed, slicing through the once peaceful halls. In it, John slept in the Garden that divided the realms. He suffered in its empty world as his friends guarded him with watchful eyes.