Tenth author's journal 2: Mikhail

44.2_Second Tragedy

Chapter 44.2: Distrusted bond

[Contain “gore”. Proceed with cautious]

[Weapon master]: An authority of the sepharim of strength Gabriel. It makes me attune to any weapon and fighting style at an instance? I don’t trust its effect very much, since it doesn’t help me to reach the strength to fight evenly with Mikhail. Heck if Camael doesn’t train me that much, it would be useless to use this to shorten anything.

[Absolute obidence]: An authority of the sepharim of strength Gabriel. An authority that makes everyone see me as friendly…That is what I know about it, Mikhail said something about communicate surpass any boundaries. Well, at least it would help me in helping my brother get away from punishment from Father.

[Messager of death]: They said the third authority comes from my own personality but I don’t know what even is this. But quickly got replaced by a new one so I guess it was incompatible with me.

[Blood dominator]: The authority to gain control of every kind of blood, so also long as a creature bleeds, I can turn the tide of battle. Ever heard of choking on air? Well, that would have to be done with blood too. Trust me, I know too well when I grow bored of having my blood grows into spikes that pierce the enemy.

[Gabriel’s pov]

“Act natural, Jeremiel. Don’t let your flaw be seen by them.” Whispering through the silver armor, I calm Jeremiel who also where the same type. It’s somewhat common to those who have multiple façades like us.

“Don’t need to remind me twice.” Haaaa, it’s hard to see someone who also weeps herself before acting so chivalry-like. So this is what they worshipped when it comes to the archangel of justice.

Those five of us have been gathered before the hot iron strikes, it would be at least fun to look for those foolish quotes of something so horrendous that hasn’t happened yet they shout out of vengeance.

“I must prevent the eradication of my race. Lambert has gone too far,” started Camael. So her illusion must have been something voiced about Lambert planning to erase harpies to favor his children. How vicious one to be.

“Those children are innocent, how could you, Mikhail?” Raphael holds tight to her mace, practically trembling. From what she grieved about, I guess my brother killed a bunch of children in one go because of something involving his freedom.

How idiotic, one must remember from what he said before. “ To understand all knowledge, sacrifices must be made. But all of them must come to a term of preserving a worthwhile future to proceed.”

Called me someone who bares too much affection and bias toward Mikhail but I can assure you that my brother would never do something like this. To dimwit enough to extinguish the world’s future just to win some vendettas isn’t something that he would tolerate.

“Then let us go, father awaits over good news.”

They have been dispatched across the continent, I guess visiting Uriel and our days would be over since the others will cause the shenanigans all over the place. I hope that Azazel and Raphael don’t trouble brother too much. They are…far too inferior to be his problem after all.

“Jeremiel, proceed with the teleportation. As we have practiced, just be calm and I will do the talking.”

‘Collocatione’ and we appear at the entrance of the domain of twins. Ha, how original if I don’t have to go on missions every now and then the library would be the twin domain…that and Mikhail didn’t wreck the place.

The domain of twins is quite different as the place is separate at the center with the fountain.

On Jeremiel’s side, there are books, scrolls, and stone tablets; those are laws from different races at different times. Jeremiel besides studying combat, also dips into the law of races, times, and customs. They are for a reason of boarding her knowledge as she trusts the archangel of justice would do the same. How simple-minded

On Uriel’s side, the garden is filled with different flora and a cavern fill with minerals. The entrance seems to be a space formula that is too hard for me to decipher, all I can read are “Replicant” and “Burnished”.  Human tools are quarter around her working desk, interesting does she want to learn from humans rather than dwarfs?

“Good afternoon, mistress.” The harmonious voices of the two head angels come to greet Jeremiel, they are both children, female…the components were from harpies, they aren’t hand-picked to be an angel but rose to one from the pile of discarded failed models.

“God’s spear, archangel Gabriel. We welcome you to the domain of twin.” Their giggles are eerily similar to each other. Ugh, artificial angels are what I am disgusted by the most. Instead of keeping their previous egos, Father ripped all of those away for an obedient machine work only to serve those higher.

“Where is my sister?” Jeremiel rushes them, in a hurried manner. Sigh, now you know why didn’t Father trust her. 

“The sinner is held captive to the words of the father of paradise.” One said.

“I advise both lord and mistress to be careful.” The other chimed in, maybe he has known that Jeremiel wasn’t brainwashed or we just acted too carelessly.

“Lead us to her,” I command. Both head angels bow their heads as they recite some kind of password. It was too little and fast to hear.

The fountain opens up the path down a spiral to keep the most heinous criminal. I am aware of all domain has that kind of prison but I never imagine each one to be so different.

Walking down the spiral staircase, the prison is relatively empty. So what is this prison built for anyway? Well if I would have to guess from those blood stained with multi-color, I would guess an experiment site.

In the last layer of the room, there lies Uriel who obediently lay in her room working on an artifact of a sort. Maybe she has gone madden, but from the eerie look, I bet something different from the start. Well first to deal with those annoying mass produces angels.

“Jeremiel has you brought a friend, here?” Uriel answers, her eyes still focus on the products on the table. The compass doesn’t seem to have complicated, seems only to be an indicator with rune craft to it.

“Both of you set the time to half an hour then you can execute the sinner, until then you shall not disturb us.” At the same time, I flipped over my hourglass set at most half an hour or so, the first quarter is for Uriel to understand her reality and the second is her choice. By the last grain, I will have to take her to Mikhail’s kingdom.

“As you command, lord Gabriel.” Both head angels go out with a chuckle following, it may have synced with father to get that expression.

The room turns silent after my previous statement, a little flinch from Uriel, but I see that is nowhere near the reaction I saw from my brother's memory in the banquet of traitors. Jeremiel just standing there holding the mace she holds in hand, the only reason she hasn’t struck is that Uriel is still safe.

“What are you doing, Gabriel? I thought we are going to “ Let zip that mouth of yours, again Jeremiel can’t seem to read the room. I wonder how did she manage on the battlefield with intelligence less than a common soldier in things other than physical assault.

“And I thought that you let me do the talking.” I scoff, conjuring a spear makes from my blood to prepare to bust Uriel out of here. The blood lance is something I usually used out of my authority? Well, my predecessor, the sepharim of strength isn’t one who really holds any authority that noteworthy.

[Weapon master] and [Absolute obidence], are questionable at best. Mikhail explained them to be some of the strongest authorities in the domain of battle. The only fact that I used blood so much is that I like having my brother heal me so much.

By some miracle or cruses, it slowly turns over my previous authority [Messager of death] to [Blood dominator]. Well, it is still a secret between him and me that my authority changed. I remember how he wished to spend time analyzing it after finishing his first task, how long was it now? Nine months pass so quickly, does it?

“How bold of you to come here and threaten my sister. You arrogant little child, you never know-”

I cut the chains connect to Uriel’s legs and hand before she can finish her babbling. How annoying I never thought a rescue mission would be such a hassle.

“Let cut the idiotic acting of yours then?” One thing is done, on to the another. Now to have her trust enough to let me carry her to Saudade. In previous exchanges with Uriel, I remember only the envoy of Sloth remember her, yes?

What was it, Ragnorr Abanddon perhaps or is it Kryos Abanddon…no no, I get mixed up with the demon that bonded with Mikhail. Either way, one of them should have remembered her.

“Whatever sins are you making me confess before executing me, then God’s spear?” Uriel stands before me with her façade kept as some prey, I see the distrust in her eyes. Well at least, Jeremiel calms herself now; remind myself to ask Uriel to teach her some basic manners in conversation, she is going to need it when living with demons.

“We both know that the amulet works on Jeremiel so let's not hide the fact that you decide to let yourself capture to clear her of suspicion.” I point at Jeremiel’s neck, those amulet is still the pinkish color like before.

“Heh, you act like an irritating brat. So what will you do next after releasing me? Beheading us both? I won’t let you hurt Jeremiel.” Uriel still has her doubts. How irritating, can Camael finish quickly that we may not have this struggle?

“Also drop the sisterly act, you were suggesting the four of the betrayers give her a peaceful death at one point,” Jeremiel says nothing about my statement, maybe perhaps she has also guessed it at some point when I said that Mikhail was going to harm me.

“Well, you still have a connection with Mikhail then? You should know his suggestion also.” Uriel scoffs, you damned old hag. If I hold any resentment towards him would you think that I left any space for your negotiation?

“I don’t blame my brother to act a little paranoid and merciful and neither does Jereniel when you act cold and distance.” Answering with a sigh, I check the hourglass.

The minutes have turned fifteen since I set in. This may have been Lambert’s breaking point since we depart late enough it should be. Lambert must have been at his breaking point now. Now or never he should use [Father of many] to communicate with his children now.

“Ah…no father.” Jeremiel weeps her eyes out and falls to her knee. She must be so heartbroken right now, which makes me wonder what a far-fetched child like Uriel will do. Will she weeps as a daughter of a great father or just have sorrow to lose an ally?

“What happened, Jeremiel talks to me. What kind of devious scheme you are making on your allies? I will confess it all, let my sister-“ My ears can’t keep on hearing these babbling, it is better to silence it before something drastic happens.

“It will be your turn soon just listen.”

This time Uriel’s façade breaks down completely, her coldness dissolves at the death of a precious one. May now she understand how dire the situation is and stop questioning me on everything.

“No, Lambert. You can’t, there will be no future that missed you. Hang on a little, please.” Uriel doesn’t weeps but her behavior is that of a child longing for their parents to leave.

“Each second you hesitate, another life shall be lost. What would make from this Uriel? If you don’t trust me, at least trust your sister.” I say calmly.

“What will you gain from this, Gabriel? I don’t understand at all. You offer me a way of freedom and yet have me witness the falling of my allies.” Uriel speaks in a broken manner, at least she is calm enough to be reasoned with.

“And yet you were supposed to be Mikhail’s mentor.” I scoff.

“What?” Uriel lights up, and in full glory, I see that Mikhail’s remark about her is right, a genuine confusion when her prediction doesn’t hold true. Though her is something greater than clairvoyance, it is still affected by so many factors that it is idiotic to try to make one event happen to one’s will.

“It’s an equivalent exchange. I let someone die to save both of you, don’t be so greedy. And my goal is simple as Jeremiel, to save my brother like she wishes to save you.” I explains but the time was cut short by the sand running out in my hourglass. I should have left an hour for explaining but still, I trust Mikhail would be fine.

The clock turn rings as the footstep of those head angels, the twin looks at Uriel with those eyes that want to eat her alive. “Time is up, Lord Gabriel.” They said, I hold the scarlet lance by side at will so I only need her confirmation to slice those useless heads of those robotic angels up

“Well, Uriel. Your answer?” I ask while cueing for Jeremiel to stand beside the range of my swing.

“I will leave it to you.” Uriel nods, finally we have reached an understanding.

“A good answer”

Thrust my lance behind to immobilize one of the head angels while the other tried to back away to defend itself. The blood accumulates on my lance turning it into a scythe to cut through the other head. The immobilized one tried to creep away but was cut in half before its hand can reach the stair.

Such a cheap material, those eyes belong to a human itself and the brain too, they connect all those nerves to the same line. And let me see those scattering organs, while the kidney and lungs are made of fine materials, the heart is made by impure humans. One of them even in the mid-transformation into a demon. Disgusting, I can’t expect much from a mass produce kind of angels

“Now, let us go-“ A ring from the head before I can guide them out. A disturbing message loads around my brain.

[ Subject M******* has died ]

[Cause of death: Abnormal mana depletion+ Soul defragment]

“You must be joking.” What the system meant by soul defragment, our souls are those of a fragment from Father and Mother. How can it be defragmented more? Does it mean, he would die for the last time?

“What is it, Gabriel?” Uriel’s question can’t be heard now.

No…no, no this can’t be happening not him. If I don’t have my brother, what would I fight for? All of my plans would be meaningless without him. If there is a miracle, please save Mikhail.

[Creator Y****** interference, commerce alternative path]

“Quite an irritation back then, a miracle finally showed up.” So God decides to go out of his chamber for the first in many years. But what with that name? I thought God didn’t have an indication besides many titles that angels would sing about.

“You are scaring me, Gabriel. Tell me.” Jeremiel comes to check on me.

“Look like Azazel and Raphael have almost finished in Saudade and Mikhail died again. We must be hurried if we want to save what is left of Matasyn.” 

The end

The third tragedy started with a great it went.

With numbers, everyone would think to be a small distraction.

Unbeknowning, the consequences after those false memories sent.

For the last witness of the great sealing to close the age of divination.