Chapter 20: Forgotten visitation

Time flew by when your mind caught adrift of sorrow, it would be denial if I continued to wear such an apathetic mask. Counting from the distant past, the death of my golden knight should be the second time my heart dies; no matter how hopeful one is, the cold world would find a way to kill one’s caring.

Burning bridges, deception, mauling. I began to question how did I become such a being. The past comes haunting at my bloodied hands, I have sent them to their demises. My redemption is forever out of reach, for such preservation stems from fear of what I possessed being taken away.

The moon comes again outside of the window, I count the days back until such a dreadful meeting. The world table, where the fractions begin to decide the order for centuries forward. Mortals are too fragile to have any distinguish stain thus any declaration can have their world torn from generations.

A knock on the door, who should be awake in such lateness? It doesn’t change anyway, I open the door hoping for something that eases the tension in my heart.

As a surprise, Gabriel and Azazel stand outside as they shouldn’t be waiting for me to open. As archangels, they should have passed through without an announcement.

“A sudden visit like before but someone has insisted on having to go along with me. Thirteen can speak later through his participation won’t distract us of his thought.” Azazel starts and makes himself seated, his actions seem routine with grace he begins to sit and makes a drink.

“Mikhail…” Gabriel makes a subtle nod before going in himself. Like a good host, I should make some refreshments for the long journey. Heating some goat milk, a few slices of fruitcakes are decorated on two plates.

As I brought them out, Gabriel began to have small bites of such; he looked quite peaceful with those treats while avoiding eye contact with me. I take my late-night meal in a relaxed manner, reminding myself how long I work with such low energy. The smooth goat milk with the tartness of the fruitcake.

“Shall we begin?” Azazel put down his drink, the bitter smell suggests a dark roast of coffee.

“Please do, Fifth.” I signal for the discussion to begin, and he takes out three items from the back of his wings. A white envelope, a box with proper garment and lastly an emerald stone.

“Should the human inform you, the world table is taking place in the late of this month? The date should be close to two weeks from now.” Azazel speaks with an authorial tone, he explains that two of our fractions shall participate in such a meeting.

The meeting shall take place at the crystal that the elves served to guard and keep a record of such was transpired. The fractions are [Mortals], [Beasts], [Angels] and [Demons].

The meeting shall be a declaration more than such a discussion of peace, with the two fractions that have declared hostility against each other having a duel to death per tradition. A morbid and prideful one indeed.

“You should accompany Kushiel to the world table meeting.” Azazel declares that Gabriel has the same surprise reaction as mine.

“I think father has taken a hasty step, at least I can come to protect him in the sense that we can cooperate against the hostile fractions.” Gabriel protests in the sense of my safety, so he doesn’t hold that much against me. It is a relief that I still have someone to void my concern for.

“That can’t be arranged.” Azazel expresses displeasure. “Your action in the dragon’s invasion has put a target on your back.” He continues with a refute about his participation, but it doesn’t sound.

“Then the same can be said of my participation, I have made such lessons akin to Kushiel’s ones to the leader of the dragons. Shouldn’t they have more animosity against such one?” I protest with reasons, as look to Azazel whose frown begins to deepen.

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“Such an irrational move for the archangel of knowledge. However, it should be fine, as you said you are teaching such lessons, correctly?” Azazel turns to me, his eyes emitting great intimidation, still, his words hold some kind of opportunist plead that what he assumes is true.

“I was quite gentle when compared to Kushiel’s teaching. I know how Zadori was quite a prideful one at the start so I taught him only humility before letting him go with a pact.” I explained my doing as Kushiel became quite agitated at much that he was quite unable to speak forcing Gabriel to converse in his stead.

“Do elaborate on such a pact, brother.” Gabriel opens, his eyes looking for a way back out of this.

“The pact doesn’t have anything to do with the current fraction at discussion, I only made him swear on never attacking the humans again.” I give them an answer.

Gabriel answers with a reassuring sigh, his naivety puts quite a small blowout compared to Azazel’s confusion. It looks like Azazel has thought that I would have squeezed into the conflict between humans and dragons to squeeze out a more “presented” solution of ours.

“So you just act out in the agenda of humanity’s protector, it is quite reassuring that you aren’t self-centered and unjust as Kushiel.” Azazel shakes his head while massaging his temple. Look his relationship with Kushiel is somewhat opposite.

“Gabriel, leave the room at once. You may converse with Mikhail once I have finished what I came for.” Azazel orders.

“But what about-“

“The report shall be accorded under my authority, your contribution shall not be detailed as you asked. Now leave.” Azazel stops and waves his hands before Gabriel can answer. With no other choice, Gabriel leaves the room.

[ Judgement of mortality]

[‘Poenitentia’]

A light bell rings in the distance, Azazel is using his authority then. This is the real reason that he has come, to interrogate me under Father’s assignment. To think of having a great distrust against a groundless undoing. But…

“Isn’t it too far, Azazel? You are sure to have judgment so suddenly.” I say with my face darkened with unsatisfactory, for these unyielding days having a debate would be somewhat “comforting”.

“You have changed, Mikhail. If this was before, you would have cowered and confessed your sins eagerly. But this isn’t an integration for you. It is my confession booth.” Azazel shows a rare smile, the kind of a predator waiting to dish his meal.

[‘Quaestio’]

“Then to begin what is your true purpose here, Azazel? Judging by your reaction, it would be somewhat doing with Kushiel.” I state my assumption, his eyes light with an orange shade. It is somewhat of a virtuous sight for an archangel, I wonder what was it supposed to be.

“Father suspects there was corruption within the thirteen, he was saying to clear those traitors. The question was to judge whether you were or not.” Azazel answers, his eyes still stare at me.

[Vertias] The bell rings with his body hasn’t got any restraintment.

How strange, whether my spell hasn’t worked or his statement passed through the question, answering with the omitted truths. It seems like this would be the game of who would be outed first.

“Why are you so tensed when I mentioned the lesson? Unless you are saying that the dragons have done justice picking on the weak or that you are seldom against another’s archangel methods.” I continue with my analysis.

“The dragons have traded them with the human's life, so I have no object even when you involve Gabriel in such an endeavor. I also harbor no strong deject for Kushiel.”

[Falsetto] An irritating bell rang through the room with a restrained appearance on Azazel. A slight heavy chain, showing his word turning this into a confessing booth.

“This assures my words, you are not the first one to distrust my oblige. Make the opposite of my words should know my truth,” Azazel answers with a sigh while fixating on his attire.

“Then what is the purpose of-“ Before I can answer, Azazel asks his question.

“When I said there is a traitor among us, and the confession of before. Are you willing to eliminate this one?” Azazel stares with orange pupil expanding in his eyes…the virtue he has been exerting was…”Diligence”

I begin to debate such a question, to answer “no” that would bind me with chains just because of my resentment of Kushile resonates with his reaction; but answering yes would be outright having a target in such a cruel mission.

No matter how much I harbor my siblings, outright killing them would be quite cruel….in the end

“I will when the times come, but only under my jurisdiction of their sins. Are you ordering me to do such?” I answer.

“I understand, I shall do my support with such ideal. Doing whatever you want such judgment of yours.” Azazel chuckled before the whole room returned to its former appearance.

[Incertum]

Strange, I have never heard such a judgment from the spell before does it mean his spell overlaps with its judgment? Before I can investigate more, Azazel has already disappeared. Likewise if is efficient, then the hard part comes later.

The end