Chapter 22

The Balance of Power

"My sister has finally proven herself to The Guardians. For myself, I was proud of her. She gave it her all to finally best me in sparring. This feat gave one of our Graces a particular intrigue on her. Too this day, I still do not know what he saw in her. I was still young, and even now, My sister, My twin in blood, had more potential than I could of ever imagined. They say I was the star child, The prodigy, The Guardians' Chosen. How naïve and tunnel visioned they were... More importantly, how I was aswell."

The air is calm, only a light breeze persist as the sun edges closer to the horizon. Dusk has begun as the golden hour has struck. A lone Mundah, a human man, carrying what seems to be an assortment of scrolls is running through the fields panting and in a hurry. Looking back seeing that he is being followed by only one winged man, Sariel. In pursuit, he continues to try to grab the man but the human is agile. Seemingly dodging and using his skills to avoid Sariel's Grasp. The man is a scout Sariels mission is to capture the scrolls the human scout carries to help advance the Arael Military's Intel. But with the night quickly approaching it would be nye impossible to get him. Sariel stays to the code of Arael Military Training and Ethics. During the light of day Arael do their wars and strategies. At night however they cease all duties as the night is their disadvantage. This gives the Daeva and Mundah ample opportunity to flee, reorganize, and continue to thrive the war for ions. That advantage is what the human is running for. If he can outlast Sariel in the chase till night, he can most Definitely escape.

Fortune favors the bold as the top disc of the sun seeps into the maw and only the feint orange glow is left. Instantly Sariel air brakes and hovers watching the man flee and go farther and farther. The man looks back seeing his would be predator halt he slows his pace and laughs with delight. For he has seemingly done it. The moonshine bask in front of him as it gives him a shadow. For the human he turns and back pedal to seemingly mockingly salute Sariel as a Farwell gift. But something seems off. Sariel continues to hover though he is not in pursuit he continues to stare at the man intently. Then for a brief moment his hair is blown widely as a black mass darts past him. Then with great speed catches up to the human man and hovers in front of him blocking out the moon light. There wings as black as the night the man eyes gaze in horror. He is in disbelief no arael has ever had black wings before, and secondly has pursued a Mundah at night.. The last thing he sees is a spear like scythe envelope him and monochromatic eyes of blue and purple. The parchments and scrolls fall to the floor, the chase has come to an end.

The pair fly back, Sariel is holding the Intel as Azriel is by his side. "You have gotten faster sister. Endurance will be pleased on our progress." Azriel says nothing but she nods. Though she is very much thrilled to be by her brothers side again a lot has changed. She can only follow her brother at a distance and not be seen by anyone. Even fellow Arael. She is only tasked to do night missions. It breaks every Arael code in existence but The Guardians have granted her this privilege. Eager to prove herself she does them without question. The pair are turning the tide of the war little by little. Alone and as a Duo. Each of them are one man armies compared to their fellow Arael in Arms. As they return to the Cathedral Azriel is stopped by Envy and moved to another section of the building. "My child, your abilities are most impressive, Those Daeva and Mundah are scattering in droves at every attack you lay into them. They are weary. Contemplating their very strategies when you are sent at their feet." He walks over to the bowing woman and lifts her chin with his pinky. "How fascinating your abilities are. While your brother follows the code, you however.... you thrive with the unorthodox. Unpredictable, relentless, Your movement even impresses My sister Endurance. That, I say, gives you more of a footing than your brother ever could." He looks out to the balcony. As they are very high up, the curve of the earth is slightly visible. He gazes at the night sky. "Tell me. Do you ever feel worthless... as if you are burdened with jealousy and malice? That you are capable of so much... and yet... are given so little?" Azriel is speechless she opens her mouth but says nothing. But that is more than enough for Envy to continue. "The righteous are for those with a sense of justice. Justice... is for the ones that deserve what comes to them. Justice... is a means of knowing what is right and what is wrong." He outstretches his hands basking in the stars above him he breathes in then slowly breathes out. "You can be the bearer of justice my child. A means to the end. The light... to the dark..." He walks over to her and places a hand on her shoulder. He then speaks softly and sternly "You will no longer be in the shadows" He lift his hand but the weight of his words keeps her still her eyes are shaking with thoughts flowing into her mind. He continues to walk out the room. "Sleep on it and study young one. I'll wait for your answer in time."

For being with the five for all their lives, They still bring a sense of curiosity to the minds of the young twins. As time passes they grow ever more closer to them. Watching the twins every move. Most particularly, Azriel. She, by every bit of the words, is extraordinary. The 3 that have been watching her more intuitively is compassion and trust, the keen eyed is Envy. For he sees something more. While Sariel pulls ahead in discipline and code, Azriel's physical strength, agility, and her mind are put to their paces. She's their ace in the night. More often than not Trust and Envy consult each other on her progress. While Compassion, as he always does, cheers the twins on in delight at every milestone they break. All the session and tests has culminated to conjure the prowess of both children. Envy is satisfied, The child under his wings has excelled in every way, shape, and form. He can feel the fury, the power, the need to be better in her aura. Trust walks to his brothers side and leans in close. "It is inevitable that they will surpass their mother, the children are most intriguing, but I sense you have other plans for the girl brother." Envy raises his head and slightly grins "I feel that the girl and even the boy have far surpassed Haliel some time ago. The girl is unique in all characteristics never have we've seen any of our chosen of this caliber survive for this long. But most importantly with her attributes. She is one of a kind. The mortals below will be under her mercy when the time comes." He looks to Trust and Trust chuckles "With that attitude brother it makes me believe that you think she'll even surpass us in power." Envy crosses his arms as he watches the twins spar and train not saying a word to the comment. Trust looks to him and then shrugs shaking his head. "Never in our times we ever saw a Mortal stand even close to our might. These children are strong sure... but don't be to bent up about their progress they are merely pieces to our play box" Trust walks away and Envy continues to watch the twins, more closely, at Azriel. A grin hits his face ony slightly, for he feels there is more to it than that.

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After the training is complete Envy approaches the tired Azriel as she tries her best to bow and keep her balance. "At ease, child." Azriel sits in as best of a comfortable position as possible as she wipes the sweat from her face. Battle scars cover her body and a bit of her face but have healed up quite well. Envy places his hands behind his back wrapping his hand onto his others wrist. "Come with me I must show you something" He begins to walk as Azriel slowly gets up and follows just behind. They approach a closed off chamber and with a swipe of the hand the door opens and unseals on its own letting air escape with a slight hiss. Envy enters and Azriel is in awe at all the books scrolls and columns of parchments neatly organized and set up in this library like chamber. "This is the Chamber of Terra Magni. The very root of all knowledge that has ever been written is set in here. Everything that we know or known to exist resides here." He twist his hand and points his finger upwards and a book floats to him instantly he grabs it from the air and it flips its pages on its own. "You are more than just special young one. Both you and your brother are 2 of a kind something we thought to have never been possible for ions." He flips the book showing the anatomy diagram of both Daeva and Arael Male and Female. The page then turns to the next showing a combination of the two. With writing that shows the impossibility and theories of such diagram. "You and your Brother. Are children of both sides. The Inconceivable conception of two races fused into one. daemonium angelus hybrida." He watches Azriel's face. It changes, yes, but not of shock, more of confirming what she might've already known. "You may speak freely my child." Azriel looks to the pages and then up to Envy her eyes already telling him that she had a feeling like this was apparent. "I always thought something was different about me, of course, I never doubted me and my brother were by blood. But I always thought I was the only outlier" She looks to her wings and slightly twirls her hair. "I carry the features of my people but I am vastly different in their appearance. The way the Daevans and Mundah look at me. They seem more afraid or shocked when I show myself. I was afraid. That if I showed my self to our people they would do the same." Envy closes the book and it floats back to the spot it was taken. Azriel eyes that spot carefully as he then approaches her.

"They will rejoice for you and your brother are keys to ending this war once an for all." He places a hand on her head "They will be confused at first, yes, they already know of your brother, but he of course doesn't posses your 'qualities'. But as soon as they are aware that you are his sibling they will fall in line. You will be their symbol of justice. The one that will uphold the balance of us all. The voice and actions of us Five. Your brother will follow the legacy of your mother. The guiding force of what means to be a Seraph. But you, you will be more than that. You will be a Seraph that questions the foundations of light and dark, of all races under the guidance of The Five. You will become, The Justicar." Envy's voice reigns true as if he is finally proud to announce this to her. She is at a pause, unsure as to how to react. It as similar as to when she first was introduced fully to him those many moons ago. Is that why they are watching her? Is this what she is to become? The keeper of the peace. The one too bring justice to all? She bows her head now knowing that she has a tall order to fill for how vast the title is. She glances at the area he placed the book but says no more. Envy is pleased for now. the plan he has sought for has now just started to come into fruition. Too what his true agenda on this, is still up in the air.

Envy begins to leave the chambers and the door begins to close on its own. After a moment Azriel also exits the chambers just behind him but tucked away under her wings is the encyclopedia book Envy had prior. She heads to her chambers hoping that she was not noticed and pretends to study her books as usual but on top is the book she swiped from the library. Now truly knowing that she and her brother aren't fully blooded arael. She seeks answers. As she studies, her answers seek more questions. Who was her father and mother? They speak highly of their mother but never mentioning her name. Have the Guardians been keeping secrets on their parents? What more do they know? Why did Envy tell her this now after many years under their eyes and care? Why did he even tell her? The Role she plays? The role that both of them play? None of this makes any sense. She continues to run through the pages and she stops onto the Daeva abilities page. She is at a lost as their is so much knowledge of the abilities they possess. How they can transform their bodies into organic armor. How they glow in the night. What intrigues her even more is that Arael blood burns their skin. If it is what Envy said and that she has both Daevan and Araelian blood mixed into each other, then that concoction is surely lethal to both sides, and yet, she and her brother live. The questions that flood her brain are so overwhelming it is incomprehensible at times. She is tunnel visioned at the complexity of this situation she has put in. This leads her to forget that she shares this room with her brother who then walks in and drops his gear onto his table which startles her. She instantly closes the book and gives a look to her brother.

Sariel blinks at his sister but continues what he was doing as he prepares to study as well. "You seem on edge sister. What, did Master Envy give you a scolding on your training?" She slides the book away and she shakes her head. "Oh, not at all brother, more of the opposite." She looks to him "Have you ever thought about our parents? As in if they were still around what would they be like?" Sariel tilts his head "What's gotten into you? I mean, sure, from time to time I wondered but our Graces say we are beyond that. For me I'm more focused on our training and our duty. Wondering on our parents was a children's dream." Azriel sighs. "We are still children... well to the Graces eyes at the least" She mumbles slightly. "Nevermind brother, let us go back to our studies" Sariel raises an eyebrow but doesn't think more of it. He too starts to study. Azriel eyes the book that is covered by her other study materials. She slightly shakes her head and does her normal studying for now. She has stepped into a well that seems to have no bottom.