I squint while staring down the left side of the street in front of my house as the black limousine rounds a corner. Its headlights had little trouble cutting through the shadows cast by the storm clouds overhead. It glided down my street, drawing the attention of the various citizens walking along the sidewalks. Interesting events like this were a rare occurrence around my neighborhood, one of the main reasons I chose to live here. So seeing something like this turned heads. Especially considering the shining symbol of the Magos of Melphis on the doors of the three-sectioned limo. Blue flames that burned despite the rain were arranged in a circle around a single, blue eye that stared into the soul of whoever dared meet its gaze. That made people lock their eyes on the thing until it pulled up in front of my house. Certainly making some feel proud at the thought of the Magos coming to their neck of the woods.

Personally, it just made me glad I would out of here soon. A year or two away should be long enough to make everyone forget this event. Which meant they wouldn’t ask questions once I got back.

I readjust the dark blue pack in my left hand before whistling at the limo as it comes to a stop in front of me, “Well, wasn’t expecting this when I woke up today.”

The middle side door opens to reveal old Moldo in his civilian clothes. Which meant that he ditched the shitty cloak that dragged along the floor, with a more practical black suit and tie combo. His right hand held down his bowler hat while his left kept the door open for me. He jerked his head towards the car while shouting, “Get in, Crowley. Try not to bring in too much water when you do.”

“Oh sure, let me just dump it all off before I get in,” I roll my eyes while shrugging my shoulders to adjust my coat. It’s a bit of a pain to crouch my way into the car but I’ve been living with this thing for long enough that it doesn’t bother me anymore. Just need to lead with my cane and slide on into the leather interior. I toss my pack onto the seat to my right where it lands with a wet thump.

I ignore the glare Moldo shoots my way as he closes the car door. He gestures towards my bag as I get situated with my cane across my lap, “Shouldn’t you be worried about that?”

“Nope. Waterproof. Outside might be wet, but the inside should be fine.”

“And if it isn’t?”

“Then me and the guy I bought this from are gonna have words when I get back,” I lean back against the black leather seat with a sigh, “Besides it’s just my clothes in there. They should have a dryer where I’m going unless Celestine has decided indoor plumbing is somehow heretical.”

“Just clothes?” I could hear the confusion in Moldo’s voice, “I figured you’d bring more than that.”

“It’s not just clothes. I’ve also got a thermos with a built-in water filter in there.”

“...Why?”

“Cause I don’t know what the water’s like over there, and I can’t exactly look for anything suspicious while I’m bending over a toilet now can I?”

“...Alright, I’ll give you that one.”

I grin and tap my cane with a finger, “Everything else is right here. Extra Brimstone Dust for making symbols, extra Silver Dust in case I have to fight some Demons or Angels, I made sure to get my hidden blade sharpened, even got some lockpicks in there just in case.”

“Including...,” he lets the sentence trail off, but I know what he’s talking about. I nod grimly, the thought of the thing hidden in my cane making my skin crawl. Moldo returns the nod then knocks on the window and calls out, “We’re ready Goston. Get us outta here.”

A familiar growl comes from the front of the limo, followed by the acrid smell of burning Brimstone. I raise an eyebrow as the vehicle starts moving and ask Moldo, "Goston? Isn't that that Imp you rescued from some Clerics about...shit how long ago was that?"

"Ten years," Moldo says with a shrug, "And yep, that's him. He's been pretty attached to me ever since then."

"And within that time the thing hasn't tried to kill you whatsoever?"

"First, while Goston may be a Demon, he most certainly is not a 'thing', Crowley. Second, he's saved my ass more times than I can count at this point. I trust him with my life."

"And it has nothing to do with the fact that it pisses the Celestines off that you managed to redeem a Demon their oh so holy Clerics marked for death?"

The Magos pushed his hat down to hide his face, but I could tell he was smiling. I chuckled and leaned back in my seat while turning my head towards the window. The large, silver walls of Melphis that separated it from the outside world came into view. Our ride slowed to a stop, I heard the familiar creaking of the city gate opening, and then we were on our way once more. We left the darkness of Melphis behind soon after that, entering into the rolling green hills just outside our walls. I flinched away from the window as the golden sunlight hit my eyes. When was the last time I got out of the city? Two...three years ago?

I start asking questions to distract myself from the stinging, "So, you gonna tell me anything about where we're going? Or am I expected to go into all this completely blind?"

"Care to clarify?" Moldo crosses one leg over the other while leaning back in his seat.

"I mean about the kids and where I'm going. Who exactly am I gonna be living with, where will it be, and am I getting any support besides a ride over there?"

Moldo responds with a sigh while shaking his head, "You'll have to ask Archangel Remiel about that, Crowley."

"Seriously? You're the Magos. You're in charge of one of the biggest cities on the planet, and you can't tell me what support I'll be getting, if any, on a mission you gave me?"

"True. I am the Magos. Of Melphis. My reach only extends as far as the city walls, and no further. Unless I want to get us embroiled in a political shitstorm with Celestine."

"I thought we already were in one."

"And pushing the limits of my political influence will only make it worse," Moldo sighed, shaking his head in frustration. I scoffed but didn't say anything. The bastard was right, much as it irks me. Celestine's already baying for blood, and hearing the guy in charge of the city they think is in the wrong started ordering them around wouldn't help matters. I need to remember that the only person he said was on our said was the Archangel. He had never mentioned any others.

Of course, just cause it made sense doesn't mean it made me feel better about my situation.

I groan and look out the window as the grasslands give way to thick forest and then rushing rivers. The Frontier, the large patch of uncivilized land that separated our two cities. I've had to go out here a lot to track down escapees or take care of a Feral Demon that had shacked up a bit too close to Melphis. Guess I won't be doing that for a while...unless the Archangel has started looking for outside help to deal with Feral Demons.

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Moldo gets my attention by saying, "Crowley, believe me. If I could get you any support on my end, I would. But I just can't right now. But I'm confident Remiel has things well in hand and will give you whatever you need."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, tell me anything," I wave him off while keeping my eyes locked on the window. This might be my last moment of peace and quiet before I have to deal with a bunch of noisy brats. I'm gonna enjoy it. Moldo gets the hint and stops trying to talk to me. We spend the rest of the ride in complete silence, our thoughts our only company.

I start thinking about my current situation. Most Melphians would be sweating up a storm right now. They're being taken to the city of our "rivals" and will soon meet with the guy in charge of the whole place. They'd be agonizing over what they were going to say to the Angel. Whether they wore the right shoes or not. If their hair was done right, all that crap. Me? I didn't really care. I knew Moldo, and anyone who could get along with him was either an asshole like me or a nut like him.

Either way, I'm confident I would know how to deal with him once I saw him.

----------------------------------------

I was a fucking idiot.

"Is something troubling you, Sir Crowley?"

"A little bit," I say slowly while trying to keep pace with the Archangel himself. I keep my eyes low to the ground, doing everything in my power to avoid looking up at my host. Not because I didn't feel worthy to look upon his magnificence or shit like that.

But because he was glowing.

Literally.

Gold light shot out of the guy's body wherever he went, and I couldn't look at him without getting my retinas burned out. Closing my eyes didn't help cause it'd somehow get through the gaps between my lids. I tilt my head up as much as possible without looking directly at Remiel and ask, "Could you turn down the lights? It feels like I'm staring right into the sun."

I get no answer the light does dim enough to the point where I can tilt my eyes up. I hear the sonorous sounds of Remiel's voice saying, "My sincerest apologies. Is this more to your liking?"

"Yeah. Thanks," I say while looking up at the Archangel. And when I say 'up' I mean 'up'. I was 5'9" and Micheal had a good three inches on me. When I first saw the guy after Moldo dropped me off I could hardly believe he was the guy in charge of the city. Oh sure, he looked the part. White flowing robes that went down to his feet, six pure white wings growing out of his back, a literal Halo of light hovering around his head, and walking with the calm, humble demeanor you expect from his kind. The only parts of him that were human were his bare hands, feet, his fair skin, and flowing blond hair.

And that's where the mistake I made comes in. I've heard of the Angels all my life, but I've never actually thought the term was literal. Demons I could understand. I spent my whole life growing up around those bastards and had been face-to-face with the worst they had to offer. But Angels always seemed more like a title to me. Maybe it's because Celestine seemed more cult-like than us that I saw it all as a scam. Heck, when I was younger I had this running theory that the Chosen actually drew their power from Demons Celestine had taken from us. Seemed more likely than glowing winged people from the sky.

Thus I based my assumptions and strategies for my meeting with Remiel around the ones I use when dealing with Moldo. That, at the end of the day, the two of them are functionally the same thing. A man in charge of a large city with a lot of power behind him, but a man all the same.

That is now all out the fucking window.

Cause Remiel is no human. And he does nothing to hide this.

Which means I need to come up with a completely new strategy for dealing with him, on top of getting used to the rest of this place.

Great.

Rather than bother with that, I focus my attention on our immediate surroundings. Namely, the city of Celestine itself. On the surface, the place didn't look that different from Melphis. Same skyscrapers, same multi-colored brick buildings, same cars rolling down the roads.

But the difference wasn't in the environment. It was in the people. There were no homeless or destitute laying out in the street. People walked with their heads held high and eyes wide with a sense of purpose. They stopped to say hello to each other as they walked down the street. And the generally dark blue or plain black T-shirts were replaced with white blazers, suits, and pants with gold trimmings. Not to mention the Angels of all shapes and sizes flying around right above us, stopping every now and then to speak to some citizens for one reason or another.

In such a bright place, I stuck out like a sore thumb. My black jacket, dark blue shirt, matching jeans, and black boots marked me as an outsider. The only reason everyone paying attention to me is that whenever they did their eyes would lock on the Archangel. The dude wasn't exactly subtle and didn't seem to care if he was. He walked down the street with his head up and a beaming smile on his face.

It, honestly, kind of creeped me out.

"We are approaching the Chosen Ones' place of residence, Sir Crowley," Remiel suddenly spoke, turning his head to, literally, look down at me, "Moldo mentioned that you had questions about possible arrangements for your task?"

"That's putting it lightly," the pack I'm holding over my shoulder shakes as I shrug, "That fucking Magos told me jack and shit about any 'arrangements'. All he said was that he was confident you would've taken care of things."

Having to look up to speak to Remiel meant I could barely make out the expressions he made in response to my reply. But his voice kept up the indifferent tone as he spoke to me, "He is correct. I have done what I can to ensure your stay with us is a pleasant one. First, we have secured living space for you within the same residence as the Chosen Ones you shall be watching over."

"Wait...I have to share a room with the kids?"

"Not a room. Merely the building you will be residing in."

"And it'll just be the six of us?"

"Correct. Though if you require anything, there will be two Clerics living in the neighboring buildings that you may consult with. I chose them both personally for this task, so feel free to fully confide in them."

"Rrrrriiiiggghhhtttt. This building has more than one bathroom, right?"

"It has five."

"Of course it does," I'm already hating everything about this, "Please, continue."

"Second, there will be precisely three thousand Solars, our local currency, within a chest inside your room. Feel free to use them and the chest to your heart's content, but be aware that we shall not give you any more funds should you lose or spend all it. Anything else, you will need to acquire through your own means."

He stops talking and stares at me for a few seconds. I nod and gesture for him to continue, which he does, "Third, while you are a guest within our fair city, know that you will be subject to its laws. If you are found guilty of a crime, I will not be able to intervene lest uninformed parties begin having suspicions about our relationship and your reason for being here. Fourth, do not be afraid to contact me if you require any assistance that my Clerics cannot give. Simply come to my Temple and you shall be welcomed with open arms."

"Gotcha, gotcha," I nod, making all kinds of mental notes. He goes quiet and I take the chance to ask a question of my own, "And what the kids?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Chosen Ones I'm gonna be living with. No one's told me anything about them, and I'd like to know what I'm getting into."

Rather than respond, Remiel stopped walking and gestured towards his right, "I believe it would be better if you met them yourself. We have arrived."

I stop with the Archangel and stare at the house I'm gonna be living in for two whole years. The place was...average looking. It was a two-story building with five windows, three on top and two on the bottom to the left and right of the front door. A pink mat sat right in front of the door with the word "Welcome" spelled out in bright gold lettering. The walls and door were all painted white, making it blend in with the similar buildings around it. However, it's roof was triangular rather than rectangular like the others.

Hmph. The place didn't look at bad as I expected. Still could use some work though. I don't see one alarm system, magical or mundane, set up outside at all. That would be a surefire way to get robbed or attacked by an escaped Demon back in Melphis.

But I suppose the Celestians don't have to deal with things like that all that often.

I look at Remiel and point towards the front door to the house. He nods and waves me forward. I thank him and make my way to the door. I set my pack down and go to knock, but stop when I notice that it's a bit ajar. That makes me raise an eyebrow, as I feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise up. Did the bastards I'm after figure us out? Were they already here? Or did someone sell us out? Either way, I could be walking into a trap here.

Tightening my grip on my cane, I count backward from three and force the door open.

"Give him back, Mako!"

"Make me, Keiji!"

"Stop it you two! Lord Remiel is supposed to be he-Mako watch out!"

"Huh? Uwwaaaahhh!"

Next thing I know flying, black ball of fur collides with my face, bounces off, and sends me falling backward onto my ass.

One second.

It's only been a second.

I have yet to formally meet any of these kids.

And I already hate them all.