The trio made it to the river that was near Elysium castle. Throughout the years this had become their spot. Their safe haven from the outside world and from the responsibilities that formed their respective lives.
Although, none of them ever complained it was a fact that neither one of the friends had it easy. For Emilia as all knew she was expected to thrive as a commander for her father. There was no moment for weakness or selfishness. She had a mission in life and very few moments to herself.
On the other hand, there was Azael who hailed from the most important demon family on earth. Just like Emilia's family his family was also tasked with the training of the demon legions on earth who helped keep a peaceful balance between good and evil. However, for him the responsibility was a little bit different. Since he was the second child, his father expected little to nothing from him. Azael often found himself trying to prove that he was a good asset to his family and that he could be trusted, but more times than not he was only but a small shadow to his great, elder brother Ezequiel. For as long as he could remember his father always trusted his elder brother more and although, he knew very well that his father loved him, each day was a battle to prove that he was worthy of his trust and respect. Azael's goal in life was to follow on his brother's footsteps and if the day ever came to fight alongside him in the battlefield he would not think twice and step forward.
Clementine knew that since they graduated from the academy a lot had been thrown at Emilia and Azael. Although, she was responsible for her family's orphanage her responsibility was not even close to that of her friend and boyfriend. Clementine's mindset was that nothing could be done so might as well embrace it with positivity.
By the rover you could see Clementine throwing rocks at the river with Emilia sitting next to her collecting nearby stones and passing them to her friends to continue rock skipping.
At that moment Azael came close to them and crouch down in front of the ladies stopping Clementine from throwing another rock at the river.
"Okay listen. Now that we are here, I need to tell you both something important.," Azael's voice was close to a whisper.
"What is it sweety? You are scaring me" Clementine said as she did not understand why Azael had to be so secretive.
"Azael this better be something real, because if you are just trying to scare us, I will beat you up" Emilia was not up to playing around with Azael and she hated when he drove Clementine to the edge.
"Like you could?" Azael smirked
"Want to see?" Emilia retorted back with an even bigger smirk on her face.
"Okay, okay calm down. I do have something to say" Azael looked around as if making sure that it was just the three of them in the area
"Today in the morning I saw my dad and brother enter my dad's study. They were acting really weird as if they were hiding something, so of course the responsible guy that I am I followed them." Azael told them as he placed the tip of his fingers on his chest as a sign that he was in fact a responsible person.
"You mean the gossip guy that you are" Emilia was not having it. She knew Azael to well.
Azael gave her a sharp gaze meant to ask her to take him seriously as he was not trying to teas the girls this time. Yes, he admitted that in the past he loved playing practical jokes on the girls, but this time he was for reals.
Emilia immediately threw her hands in the air. "Okay, sorry, yes the responsible guy that you are"
"Thank you for admitting that." Azael's ever so proud tone could never be contained.
"Azael, come on focus. What happened?" Clementine who was still nervous was running out of patience.
"Yes, so I followed them, and I tried to go in, but the door was locked so naturally…" Azael could not finish his sentence because Emilia interrupted him again.
"You spied on them using your powers?" Emilia said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes, I mean." Azael glared at Emilia once again completely frustrated. "Are you going to let me finish telling you guys or not?"
"Yes, fine I'm sorry… what did you hear?" Emilia decided to stop. She wanted to know if his story was going to be something real or another one of his pranks.
"Thank you. Like I was saying they both looked really worried. Something was not right so it was my responsibility to find out what was going on. And as soon as I activated my powers the first thing, I heard was Arconte"
"What?!" Emilia shouted in disbelief
"Azael are you sure?" Clementine's shock could be heard on her voice.
"What?!" Emilia was still in shock
"Yes, they were talking about sightings and Arcontes. Apparently there has been evidence collected that someone had been trying to summon them"
"If that's true that can only mean one thing." Clementine was both shocked, but like the person that she was she always tried to maintain a calm attitude.
"Someone is trying to mess with the balance" Emilia whispered more to herself than to her friends.
"From what I heard, my father and brother are still not certain of what is going on, but for sure there is evidence that there have been rituals to summon those creatures."
"Azael, I have to tell my dad immediately." Emilia jumped to her feet.
"No, you don't" Azael stood up and block her way.
"Yes, I do" Emilia retorted back. This was not something that she could keep a secret. If this turn out to be true, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"No, you don't" Azael looked at Emilia and responded while grunting his teeth. His attitude was strong and intimidating, however, this was something that never worked on Emilia or Clementine.
"Are you seriously trying to intimidate me?" Emilia asked with a wide smile on her face showing him that his intimidation tricks never worked in the past, and they would not work now.
Azael sight loudly. He knew he could not intimidate his friend and so he retorted to pleading. "Emilia no you don't. Come on if you do, it will only show me as a gossiper. Let me see what else I can find out before alerting your father."
Emilia looked at him as she crossed her arms on her chest. She was trying to decide her plan of attack. She knew that this was something that could not go unreported, but at the same time Azael was her friend and he was asking for a favor.
"Please, Emilia, pretty please." Azael pleaded giving her with the most adorable puppy eyes that only his shameful self could come up with.
"Ahhhhhhh…. Fine!" Emilia gave in.
"Yes!" Azael cheered on as he had won.
"But I can only give you two days. If in two days, you don't find out something I will have to tell my father."
"Emilia," Azael started his pleading act again.
"Two days, or do you prefer me going and informing him right now?"
"No" Azael placed his hands in front of Emilia as if stopping her from leaving even though she had not moved from her spot. "Two days is just perfect."
"Now that you guys are done arguing for the nth time today" Clementine said while rolling her eyes visibly annoyed at their childish behavior "can you imagine if this is true what does it mean? Arcontes are vicious beings, neither demons nor fallen angels. They are just simply creatures who love chaos and pain. Their presence on Earth could easily disrupt the peace that has reign for thousands of years."
"What worries me is that Arcontes cannot just waltz into the Earthly realm. They have to be summoned and the only way to summon these vial creatures is if demons and angels work together, which means that there has to be an unknown alliance between angels and demons to bring forth these creatures."
"But why? Even if they do succeed and summon them which side would control them?"
Maybe it's not about two sides anymore, but a third. Maybe those beings who are not happy sharing Earth and they have finally decided to create their own clan and claim Earth for themselves. My father has told me stories about the Arcontes and their power and honestly it is something completely unimaginable. Those creatures are so strong that if summon they for sure will create havoc on Earth."
"And maybe this third clan wants exactly that. Havoc that is neither hell nor heaven"
"But if these Angels and Demons are discovered planning against the balance… they must know there will be consequences," Clementine thought out loud.
"They will become fallen, fallen angels and fallen demons. Not welcomed on earth, heaven, or hell. Imprisoned for all of eternity." Azael concluded in a whisper that send chills down Clementine's back.
This news was grave and although there were many possible reasons for why anyone would want to summon Arcontes, the end was always the same: the balance was being threaten. There were beings who were not happy sharing Earth with their opposites, and they were working in the shadows. Hiding their intentions to destroy the peace the has existed for thousands of years.