Tenth author's journal 2: Mikhail

37_Last resort

Chapter 37: Amalgadon preparation

After Shin’s situation is resolved as he finally accepts his identity as a half-demon and half foreign god, he has been…talkative. Day in and night out, he has been quite attentive to my need and often makes me of going to sleep but I find it too cumbersome rather thankful.c

It isn’t like Andromalius's strange kind of adornment to me, they are rather impulsive acts of protection as something as actively trying to prove himself over the new power and authority that he has been given. When are you going to return Andromalius?

As for the banquet, Uriel has asked me to confirm and celebrate her rebellion. I am not sure how to say this, it’s still come as a surprise so many of them are dissatisfied with pa so much that they have formed a secret rebellion against him.

The banquet will take place in Lambert’s mountain range near the garden of promise, it was hard time to discuss for the four of us to discuss where to hold it as Saudade isn’t suited for them as the construction is still unfinished at its finest; Uriel’s place is basically so near pa that our positions as traitors will be exposed.

As for the fourth traitor…I don’t know much besides Lambert's words that “His place isn’t suited either, child.  A place where the constant guard and defense mechanism, I shall be the host for this one. But don’t expect my children to serve you like the world table.”

With that I can deduct of impossibility, that isn’t Raphael or Barachiel as their territories are supposed to have a close remark with mortal life so it is neither of them. It won’t be Jeremiel because Uriel would have made notice if her twin sister decided to join the rebellion…the main reason should have been how close she was with Kushiel her personality must have been stained by his blasphemy.

So there are only Azazel, Zadkiel and Camael left. To think the most likely Azazel the archangel of death is the least possible because of his unstable state of mind. Such as death is something of a duty to him so every soul harvest would have him less and less sane to the point of disassociating himself when the list is still unfinished on that day.

Before the clock strikes forth the day of rebellion, I must make preparation. Once the iron strike red, there is no more turning back. Just then I wish not to burden them with anything when it failed, there must be a failsafe when the rebellion ends bitterly.

“Your majesty, are you fine still?” Shin’s constant shake awakes me from the drift of thoughts previously. Subconsciously, I still can’t resolve myself by asking like this. As much of the problem at hand, I should take every possibility to account.

“You’re here already, Shin?” I ask groaningly, for the morning request I ask him to have the artifact which can interact with one in Aeterna from afar. It has been mentioned so many times yet I haven’t seen it in action before.

“I have to make haste when the order comes to me. What has caused you to be lost in thought, your majesty?” Shin asks once again, this one never knows when to quits the act, does he?

“It’s a headache to have bombard with questions like this, Shin. Do you have the crystal as I ask?” Scratching my head, I scoff.

“Here, what do you need it for?” Shin handed over the artifact. The design in which similar to the one Blood Claw but imbued with poison as a safety measure. Why so much poison I wonder, I know Andromalius recorded for his poison but…it’s quite much to coat everything with it?

“Call Akin for me, Shin. I need to have a word with him.” If Andromalius is still stuck in those northern mountains, I will have him come for the time being.

Shin pushes the “α” symbol for the signal to be transmitted. As the picture is stable, “δ” begin to shine a yellow light. Akin appears behind the signal, counting something not knowing who called.

“Hello little brother, fathe- Little majesty, don’t mind those words, will you?” Akin says awkwardly with a smile, his clothes aren’t neat as there are stained with potion and bandages. Akin must have a hard time when the doctor of the village busying do…this.

“Speaking informal, are you? I still like that quality of you. Are Andrommalius there?” I laugh about it.

“Father is in his room. Please give me some time to fetch him.”

Akin disappears from the frame. His voice echoes from the other room “Milord, there is someone who wants to speak with you.”

“It’s better not be Shin, I have enough of his earful praise of their majesty.” An annoyed voice roars from behind. I look at how bashful Shin has become after that statement, even Andromalius is annoyed at how devoted Shin has become just by mediocre help.

“It’s the little majesty. They want to speak with you.”

As soon as Akin finishes the sentence, a loud thump can be heard from the other side. It follows after a large shadow that conner the crystal ball.

“Mikhail, may I ask for the reason for this sudden call,” Andromalius asks while grasping air. The unbuttoned pants and shirt show a little of the indecent side of him, his abdominals flash before my eyes. Shin was flustered hushing his father to cover up while desperately covering my eyes.

After the shenanigan calms down, I speak: “…Ahem, yes. It is indecent to interrupt your “resting” time. Can you return to the palace as I am needed of your presence?”

“I know he has been quite troublesome with that earful of “miracle” he has received, I shall come in replacement of my child.” Andromalius sighs

“But you see your majesty, I am quite fearful of the inability of protecting you whenever there are greater threats…I am not suited for a caretaker as I claim.” Showing scars and foils of my cuts, I find they to be stubborn not to regenerate, or is that I haven’t known my capabilities until now.

“A caretaker isn’t one only of the sense of protection but also the one who will call me from the madness of irrationality. If you still wish to further improve yourself, I shall something for you, sir Andromalius.” I make a promise as important as my existence.

Andromalius is a man…while lacks the quick wit of youth, he has much wisdom about how the world revolves. To have him lead Saudade after my failure will be important if I want to see the light of day again.

“Truly!?” Andromalius tearfully grasps, I hope this won’t turn like Shin. But to think of the past never had Andromalius stepped out of his way to pursue his adornment for me. There were many times he decided to go against my wish just to prove the superiority he has over ancient demonology.

“Yes, I have not for been known for not keeping my promise. Do come at your most groomed state.” I scold him once more before ending the call and push the “ω” to end, the “δ” light dims as the signal cut off.

“Do you truly hate me this much, your majesty? Are you not liking my true self so much as to cast me away.” Shin put the artifact away with a whimper, quite a strange one I admit. I start to believe Furcas was right about his mother being “weird” with her lessons.

“No, Shin. Given your inexperience, I do not trust myself to give you such high stake one. There will come a day someone needs to take up the mantle if I am captured back.” I confess the whole plan for Andromalius to take up the throne if there would be something ever happened to me, as someone naïve as Shin I would guess he will go to confront them because of the arrogance of a new power if the rebellion ever reaches his ear.

“Why such thoughts, lord Mikhail? Have something happened?” Worryingly, Shin acts again as the small child he expected to be.

“For now, I am making my resolve for the future that I wished to leave behind. The one whom you should assist is your father. So let cease your empty praises for me, shall we?” I put off the ease from his back for now, let a child be a child, should they not?

“I understand, your majesty.” Shin smiles and goes back to his regular duty. And now I have to prepare Andromalius, the gift he deserves. Where should the wound be today? From both arms, there is no left of “pure” mana as before. Even when I cut there would not be abundance as before. Spreading the no longer white wings of mine…let cut here, there would not be as painful as losing someone.

1..2..3

For the dusk to come, Andromalius arrive as the lustering sun has just settled down. He has been outside scolding Shin for quite a while now, those words are not but a presentation of his sternness against the rulebreaker or that touching his “precious”.

I should prepare the tea now, the sweet chai that he likes serving himself rather than someone else. Let's use dandelion-based today, shall we? The masala chai today has more of a bitter taste rather than the usual sweet and spicy. And for the final drop of his own healing, the left wing’s blood. Dripping them by the cut of the letter opener, the tea changed to the usual transparent state. I hope he doesn’t take notice.

“Greeting your majesty, how have you been?” Andromalius comes in as I hide my wounded wing, how fortunate for me. He wears the most formal clothing that an injured body can handle, as not fresh as his tunic before but the bare chest reminds me of the flashes of his upper body before.

“You have taken quite enough time, sir Andromalius. Do join me for a tea session.” I seat him down in front of the tea cup with the angel’s blood.

Over time, we chat about the domestic changes as the tea in his cup slowly drains. The healing effect begins to take place as the bandages begin to get looser with each gulp he takes.

“That’s incredible that we are able to take such close territory just by your presence at the blood moon ball, Mikhail.” Andromalius is astounded by those contracts that I am able to sign with those demon “marquises”

“It was nothing. There is something I wish to give you, sir Andromalius.” I give him a small red box with a vial of angel box from my right wing.

“This is your blood! I can’t take something as precious as this, your majesty.” Andromalius refuses

“But you have drunk it, haven’t you? Check your wound, they have healed fully, sir Andromalius.” I chuckle at the obvious. Bandage by each, he untwirls them before my eyes. Those cuts are healed as if they have never existed.

“When did I? The tea!” Andromalius grasps s he finally knows the answer.

“Quite a wit you have got. The masala chai has a strong scent so it canceled out any scene weaker than it so you didn’t smell any of them.” I point out my scheme as it resolves beautifully before our eyes.

“You’re so mean to force me to take such a precious gift from you, Mikhail.” Andromalius pouts.

“Since you have taken such gifts, won’t you listen to my request, sir Andromalius,” I request

Confessing fully to the rebellion against the paradise itself along with the four archangels. The plan hasn’t been made in motion but they carry such risks I can’t afford to lose.

“In the event, they attack here and I get captured; do not engage with them, evacuate the citizen to your village, and don’t worry about the surrounding territory as they know Saudade is only at the capital place and won’t risk enraging surrounding demon “king”.” The failsafe plan is that Andromalius will rebuild Saudade in my stead and I will only be remembered as the failed sovereign to bring the catastrophe by taking more than I can handle.

“Your plan is flawless, Mikhail. But I can’t accommodate such a cold-hearted. Leaving you behind isn’t something I can do.” Andromalius says with tears dripping from his eyes, embracing me with his bare chest, holding me close as if not to let go.

“But you’re my caretaker, sir Andromalius; you shall be the one who inherited my legacy. Won’t you hear out this dying one’s last words?” I beg with my sincerity, for the future I would at least leave behind something more meaningful than my stupidity.

“I shall only as the last resort…Please promise me at least to stay alive, Mikhail.” Andromalius holds back his tear and releases me from his musky chest.

“I will only try my best,” I vow

With those hard words said, I have finished setting up the failsafe plan, time for the banquet of traitors to take place.

The end

Can you argue about the reasoning for betrayal?

Plenty of gold coins, Lustful love interests, Enchanted treasures

A change of heart, a conflict of ideals, a shattered ego.

Is loyalty such a deal when betrayal outweighs it?