Zakarius, watching from the shadows, had heard the rumors of Elior’s arrival. The presence of such a prestigious cherub in the academy intrigued him. He knew that cherubs possessed a pure power, almost incomprehensible to the rest of the celestials. But beyond that, he sensed something more: an opportunity.

Through his projections, Zakarius began to silently follow Elior, observing how the young cherub interacted with the academy’s leaders and recruits. Despite his youth, Elior spoke with a rare confidence among cherubs, a sign of his upbringing among the elite. However, there was something within him—a hint of unease, perhaps the weight of expectation that rested upon him as the son of an oligarch.

Zakarius knew he had to proceed with caution. Invading the dreams of such an important cherub could be extremely risky, but it could also provide him with a pawn of incalculable value. If he managed to manipulate Elior, he would gain access to the Celestial Oligarch Republics, their influence, and, most importantly, their vast scientific knowledge.

One night, Zakarius decided to take the risk. He waited until Elior was deeply asleep in the special quarters assigned to him within the academy. Through his projection, Zakarius entered the cherub’s dreams.

Elior's dream was different from those of the other recruits. Instead of the usual images of battles and training, Elior dreamed of the future: vast cities covered in glass and metal, a sky illuminated not by divine light but by ingenious structures crafted by human hands. In his dream, Elior walked among scientists and oligarchs, discussing great technological advances that could change the destiny of the Republics and Eternal.

Zakarius watched in silence. Although Elior was young, he already had a brilliant mind, filled with ambitions. His dreams revealed a vision of progress and control, but they also showed his doubts. The young cherub feared he might not live up to the expectations of his father and the Republics. That fear was something Zakarius could exploit.

With a subtle intervention, Zakarius appeared in the dream—not as an imposing or authoritative figure, but as a presence in the shadows. He whispered soft words into Elior’s ear as the cherub walked among his visions of the future.

"Do not fear failure... true power is not found only in scientific advancement but in what others cannot see. In what is hidden... in what you can control from the shadows."

Elior did not respond in the dream, but Zakarius could feel the words filtering into his subconscious. He knew not to rush, but he had already planted the seed of doubt. If he could influence Elior, this cherub could become one of his most valuable allies.

As days passed, Zakarius continued to watch Elior. The young cherub seemed not to fully recall the whispered words from his dreams, but Zakarius could notice subtle changes in his behavior. There was something in Elior’s gaze—a subtle restlessness, a spark of curiosity that hadn’t been there before.

Zakarius knew he couldn’t act too quickly. Elior was more complex than the young recruits he had manipulated before. His mind was sharp, and any intervention too obvious might make him suspicious. But the opportunity he represented was too tempting to ignore.

Zakarius decided that, for now, he needed to be patient. Elior was only the first step toward something much greater. If he could lure him to his cause, he could gain access to the scientific advances of the Celestial Oligarch Republics—a significant advantage that could aid him in his plan to resurface and reclaim the power he once held. The war against the necromancers was not over yet, but if he played his cards right, Zakarius could tip the scales in his favor from the shadows.

Trapped in the darkness of the phylactery, Zakarius felt the shadow of his old ambition beginning to take shape once more. Although his darker side constantly whispered that he should destroy the celestials from within, something else kept him restless: his old yearnings.

Throughout his long life as an angel, he had always envied the life of the cherubs. Eternal youth, carefree living, the freedom to exist without the weight of duty. And now, Elior, the young cherub, embodied everything Zakarius had desired but never possessed.

“Why destroy when I can replace?” he asked himself. Living again in the body of a young, powerful cherub would allow him to escape the prison of his phylactery. He would no longer be a specter trapped in limbo but a living being once more, with the potential to shape destiny at his will.

That was when his plan began to take shape.

Zakarius knew that replacing Elior’s consciousness would not be easy. The cherub was protected by his lineage and his pure nature, but Zakarius had one thing in his favor: the connection already established in Elior’s dreams. Through this connection, he could delve deeper into the cherub’s mind and, over time, attempt to replace his consciousness with his own.

Every night, Zakarius pushed further into Elior’s dreams, testing the limits of his influence. At first, he only planted small doubts, but as he gained more control, he began to insert fragments of himself. He introduced false memories, making Elior believe he had always had a second voice in his mind—a voice that whispered advice and warnings. That voice, of course, was Zakarius, infiltrating deeper into the cherub’s thoughts.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Your life can be so much more than what you’ve been told,” Zakarius whispered in Elior’s dreams. “You can be more than a mere heir... you can be eternal.”

While Zakarius worked on Elior's mind, he did not forget the army of followers he had started forming among the younger recruits at the academy. He knew that if his plan failed or if anyone began to suspect, he would need to act quickly. He couldn’t afford to be discovered in his current state, still weak and trapped in the phylactery.

So, at night, besides invading Elior’s dreams, he also visited his followers. He enveloped them in dreams of glory and power, feeding their darkest desires. He whispered to them that the academy was deceiving them, that the seraphim and higher angels were not worthy of their loyalty. Little by little, he prepared them for the moment when he would need to unleash chaos within the academy.

Zakarius knew he couldn't act too soon. He needed full control over Elior before taking the next step. But if the situation required it, he wouldn’t hesitate to use his followers to start a rebellion within the academy, weakening the celestial forces from within.

With each passing day, Zakarius grew closer to his goal. Elior, though still unaware, was being invaded little by little. Zakarius's voice had become something familiar to him, a constant presence in his thoughts. The cherub had begun to question the authority of his teachers and the path that had been set for him.

Zakarius knew he couldn’t rush. If he tried to take control too quickly, Elior might resist. But he also knew time was not on his side. The academy was a place full of secrets, and he couldn’t afford to be discovered before completing his plan.

"Soon…" he told himself as he watched Elior sleep in the darkness of the night. "Soon I’ll be free."

And if he couldn’t achieve this, he would not hesitate to provoke a revolt, unleash chaos among his followers, and take what rightfully belonged to him. But his primary desire, one that had awakened from deep within, was not to destroy. It was to live again, to feel, to experience the freedom of a new life, even if it was stolen.

Zakarius knew the moment had come. Every night, he had delved deeper into Elior’s mind, establishing his presence, weakening the cherub’s resistance. But tonight would be different. Tonight, he would take full control.

In the silence of the early morning, as Elior slept in his room, Zakarius entered his mind one last time. This time, he didn’t intend to be just a whispering shadow; this time, he planned to fully seize the young cherub’s consciousness.

Upon entering Elior’s dreams, Zakarius felt a wave of pure, fierce resistance—a presence that was more than just a mental barrier. It was Elior’s essence, who, though unconscious, sensed the intrusion and responded with all the strength of his spirit.

Elior: "Who are you…? Why do I feel this darkness in my mind?"

Zakarius: "Do not fear, young cherub. I am only a voice… a guide that will lead you to a destiny greater than what your mentors have taught you."

Elior attempted to expel that shadow with a burst of inner light, but Zakarius, a pseudo-lich, overwhelmed him and advanced, projecting images of grandeur, dominion, and power into his mind.

Zakarius: "You have potential, Elior. Your place is not in the shadows of the Oligarchic Republics or the Holy Church. You can transcend. You can be immortal."

Elior: "No! My place is beside my father, Auron… with those who bring light and innovation to the world. You are not part of that purpose!"

Zakarius felt Elior's words repelling him, but his desire for control was stronger. As he advanced, Zakarius's shadow began to envelop Elior's consciousness, trying to smother that essence of light. But the cherub was strong, much stronger than Zakarius had anticipated.

Zakarius: "Your life, young Elior, will only be complete if you let someone experienced guide you. Let me be your guide… or simply be you."

Elior: "Never! I am Elior, son of Auron, oligarch of the Celestial Republics. I will not yield to a dark entity like you!"

That final flash of resistance was enough to give Elior a momentary respite, allowing him to use a last resort: a mental spell that would scatter his memories while hiding his essence in the deepest part of himself, waiting and gathering strength to reclaim his life if possible. He sent one last thought, filled with sorrow, knowing he might never see his beloved father, his role model, again. He should never have come to a place like this; the academy was not safe.

Zakarius, alarmed, tried to stop him, but it was too late. Elior's mind faded into a whirl of confusion, and Zakarius felt it extinguish, erasing every trace of his memories.

Zakarius opened his eyes. The morning light filtered through the windows of Elior’s room. Everything seemed normal, but something was terribly wrong. He rose from the bed, feeling the light, youthful body of the cherub. It was the body he had always desired, full of vitality and purity. However, when he tried to remember why he was there, or what had happened, his mind was blank.

"Who am I?" Zakarius wondered, but he couldn’t find an answer. He couldn’t remember his past as a fallen angel, his downfall, or his plans. All he knew was that there was something different about him, something that didn’t fit. The body was that of a cherub, but his mind… his mind was that of someone entirely different.

He tried to act like Elior, but everything seemed forced. He didn’t know how to move with the carefree grace of a cherub or how to interact with others of his kind. His mind was filled with the experience and judgment of a fallen angel, but his appearance remained that of a young cherub, which drew curious looks from those around him.

As Zakarius moved through the academy in Elior’s body, it didn’t take long for others to notice that something was wrong. Elior had always been a prominent figure, not only because of his lineage but also due to his charismatic and lively personality. Now, however, there was something in his behavior that seemed strange.

The other cherubs observed him with curiosity. Although they tended to be whimsical and extravagant by nature, Elior had always been eloquent and self-assured. But now, there was an awkwardness in his movements, a coldness in his gaze that didn’t align with the carefree nature of a cherub.

"He must be going through a phase," some said, shrugging. Cherubs were known for their unpredictability, and no one in the academy, not even the high-ranking angels, suspected what had truly happened. Elior’s importance as the son of one of the three oligarchs of the Oligarchic Celestial Republics meant that his unusual behavior was attributed to his status, and no one dared question it openly.