MaelBut the attack never came. An overwhelming feeling of disorientation was the one thing that let him notice his feet were off the ground. The wretched feeling of warmth assailed him, pinned his arms, and tried to wrap around him. "This doesn't concern you.
Stand aside. I-
But it was too late. Lucy touched him, and he touched her. And what was once lost was returned to him, entering every pore of his body and stretching it to the brim.
His eyes shot open, crowned with a pained gasp.
There was once a monster who'd point its blade at a woman and her own child.
A sinner who'd cut down its kin and rejoice.
Drink from heaven's own delusion.
A soldier who had known nothing but war, and was ultimately betrayed by it.
Who'd cut down the one thing he ever loved.
"The union of heaven and hell is a sin most grave."
Arrows of light rained down, surrounding Asmael like a holy crown of spears. A towering assault of burning light, purging. Killing. The demons who tried to resist fought bravely, only to be cut down and butchered like animals. Men, women, elders, children. All those of impure blood burnt to the Accuser's arrow of justice.
And the attacks wouldn't stop.And the tears wouldn't stop."Rejoice. Praise His name and repent with eternal rest."
As islands were burnt and heavenly cities torn to ash, the archangel and his armies kept razing the unfaithful. The sinners. Those who must be judged above all else. The soldier's entire life was nothing more than a war that had never ended. It was only fair. It was just.
A woman and her child laid before his cold gaze, clutching at each other in fear.
His arrows pointed downwards.
And-
"My own wife.... and child...?"
The brightest of lights swooped over the earth, burning into the sky. Followed by a monster's blood-curdling scream. What was she doing to the former angel? What did she show him? As he turned his head to face Lucy, the monster of monsters looked back and shed a bloody tear.
"I don't need... anyone else. Being punished for my sins....for all eternity... is fine." Such words were a true struggle to muster, yet the smile on his lips was far easier to show. For just a moment, there was no fight in his body whatsoever. "What you showed me... that was no lie. Unbelievable... it's too cruel. Death by your hand would be less painful. Thank you."
Can a soldier who's only ever known the horror of war - learn to find peace?
"But I can't stop now. It's too late to stop. No one... stops. My war won't end until I can make all of them pay. The voices, I can still hear them cursing at me. If I can at least make this world livable for them, then maybe I can quiet my phantoms. I can't let that thing live."
But was that thing the grace... or himself?