"What the fuck?"
Lucifer's bewilderment echoed through the cavernous weaponry room as the dagger disintegrated in Orion's hand. The Archangel brushed the metallic dust from his hand regretfully; it wasn't his fault, but he still felt a sense of responsibility regarding the ruined weapon. Wordlessly, he looked over at the demon, who seemed to be a little more protective of the stiletto he held, moving to sheath it in his boot, away from Orion's damaging hands.
The tirade continued from the Ruler of the UnderKingdom, who could not comprehend the loss of his blade. "That shouldn't happen! They were made from my blood! The demons were made from me! I was an angel too! I sacrifice so much blood to keep this realm pure, and the weapons betray me?" Frustration tainted his mood, and he shoved Edward and Orion from the weaponry room. "Out! Both of you!"
The door slammed shut behind the demon and the Arch, separating them from Lucifer.
Edward straightened his shoulders, and Orion thought he looked a little miffed about being tossed out of the room by his master. The Arch put a hand on the demon's elbow and offered a weak smile.
"Hey, don't look so upset. It wasn't either of our faults. He had said it was an experiment, and sometimes those go wrong. He's just angry that it didn't work, that what had always been certain is now a mystery again."
A scoff escaped the demon's lips. "Either you or the Seraphim, it was going to happen to one of you. Now he's going to be miserable until a solution is found. He was always so proud of the demon blades."
The pair began the long walk back to the Great Hall, Edward's mood matching that of his master's. Orion kept quiet, not wanting to worsen the bleak mood that had overcome the demon. The thud of the Archangel's armored boots was the only thing penetrating the uncomfortable silence as the pair marched on.
After Edward and Orion had reached the top of the steep stairs, a thought came to Orion, and he stopped the demon from moving any further. He recalled the things that Zerachiel had confided to him about Michael, and what Lucifer had told him about how the demons were created.
"Edward! I think I have the answer!"
The demon's stormy sanguine eyes narrowed, as if he didn't believe the solution could be so swiftly reached.
Not discouraged by the response, Orion continued. "The demon blades, Lucifer said they were forged with his blood, right?"
"Yes."
"And the Seraphim, he was Unleashed, right? Your master broke the powers free from him after he Fell?"
"...yes...," Edward answered, seemingly more interested.
"Unleashed Fallen can create your kind, that's how you're made? So even though he hasn't, the Seraphim can theoretically create his own demons. So why don't we make new weapons, new blades? Ones forged with Lucifer's, Michael's, and my own blood? I'm not one of the Fallen, but perhaps this way the blades will accept all demons here, all of the ones to come, and myself?" Orion's wings twitched excitedly, proud of his idea.
"That's... not a terrible thought. I'll risk the master's rage to tell him."
With the last of his words, Edward disappeared, leaving Orion alone once again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Adam leaned his javelin against the crook of his arm, freeing up his hands to talk.
(Vincent, William still seems upset, distracted?)
Vincent nodded, and turned to William, whose eyes were still puffed and red from his tears. "William, Adam worries for you. He says you still seem distracted. Talk to us, you'll feel better getting it out in the open."
The newest recruit sheathed his weapon, no longer interested in sparring with his brethren. His shield clattered to the ground, and he sat on the ground next to it.
"I'm just so disappointed in myself. I nearly killed Ravenna, and after all she did for me. She pushed for my Conversion; she stood up for me when there was no one else to do so. My behaviour was shameful…trying to feed off of someone I owe everything to? I'm disgusted with myself, and you all should be as well."
Vincent translated William's laments for Adam, who tightened the frayed rope around his waist as he thought.
Adam's hands were a flurry in front of him, and Vincent spoke the gestures aloud for William. (You did nothing wrong. You are a new Convert, and it is something we all struggled with as new Converts. I fully believe Ravenna would understand, and I know she would forgive you. She believed in you enough to ask Master Lucifer to keep you, she would believe in you enough to understand it was not your fault that you attacked her. Human blood is just so tempting to our kind. I'm grateful I never tasted it, because I don't know what I'm missing.)
William was beginning to recognize more of Adam's words as his hands crafted them elegantly, making him feel closer to the other demon. Vincent's narration of Adam's gestures, filling in the gaps of what William could not decipher, made the newest recruit sigh in relief. –The others here truly care about me. This really is my home. They understand my struggles and worries. This is my family.–
Vincent looked between Adam and William, taking a moment to speak for himself. He signed for Adam, including him in his conversation. "Adam is right. I know what it is like to lose the battle against your temptation of human blood. We do not fault you for what you have done, and we know the lord does not, either. The Seraphim may harbor some resentment toward you, but that can be worked out. He is just likely to be protective over the woman he loves; you surely understand that, having had a family yourself."
William closed his puffed and red eyes, a profound understanding from the other demons washing over him. "Thank you, both of you."
As he stood to resume his training with the other demons, the newest recruit noticed a silver-haired angel making his way toward them, his large figure casting an imposing shadow.