Andrews: He lifted large white stone pillars, shifting them in place on a strange circular stone platform. He lifted his hat before wiping the sweat off his face, "Man, Uriel, is all this really necessary? We have been moving and shifting this shit around for months now since we last spoke to the others even!" He turned toward Uriel, watching him use some white energy to draw symbols on the ground.
Uriel: He lifted his hand, sighing at Andrews' remarks before turning his head toward him, "To restore Heaven, we must gain passage to its relics. Such a feat cannot be accomplished from the realm of mortals. Wouldst thou endeavor to rebuild a castle upon the shifting sands of the sea?"
Andrews: He stared blankly at Uriel, not understanding a word he just said. "Whatever you say oh great Archangel."
Uriel: He shifted his head a bit, tilting it in confusion at Andrews's remarks, "For a man of holy calling, thou dost not appear as kindly as one ought to be."
Andrews: He shifted another pillar, shifting his coat open from the side, revealing his hidden Bible. "I Believe in the teachings of God, believing that kindness is a virtue to be bestowed upon all. Yet, in this strange place, where the struggles of humanity often overpower our noble intentions, I find it very difficult to uphold all of my values.
He stared into the pillar he was moving, "This world, in its superficiality, pales in comparison to the divine truth we seek through Our Savior. It is with great difficulty that I extend respect in such a fallen state, longing for the day when Our Lord Jesus Christ will cleanse my imperfections and restore the holiness we are meant to embody."
Uriel: He walked closer to Andrews, standing in front of him while holding out a hand, "May I read your 'Bible'?"
Andrews: He raised an eyebrow, "Yeah of course." While confused, he unclipped his Bible and handed it to Uriel for him to read.
Uriel: He opened the book, slowly observing each page, as he carefully read through each page he spoke, "Verily, a wondrous tome it be, for in its sacred teachings doth reside the purity of this esteemed figure, known as 'Jesus'."
Andrews: "He is not merely a figure; He is Our Father, our compassionate Savior. The one who sacrificed Himself on the cross to cleanse us of our sins, enduring immense suffering for our redemption. His love and grace are boundless, and He tirelessly supports us, His beloved children. His divine virtues resonate within us, nurtured by the presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding our thoughts and actions with unwavering strength."
Uriel: He handed him back his Bible, "If thou possesseth such kindness through thy faith, why dost thou ever seem so filled with ire?"
Andrews: He held onto his Bible, sitting at the edge of the stone platform, "My sin eats at me every day, I question if I have the strength to break away from it..."
Uriel: He sat down next to him, "Do you believe that in your heart or your mind Andrews."
Andrews: He faced him, and a couple of tears ran down his face. "I don't know...so many people would be alive if I was just stronger..."
Uriel: He looked down into his own hands, "1 Peter 4:16, what does it say."
Andrews: He blinked a couple of times before speaking, "'Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.'"
Uriel: He placed his hand on Andrews's shoulder, "Thou dost lay the weight of that town's misfortunes upon thine own shoulders, for the vile acts of Lucium. Know this: it was not thou who wrought those deeds. Cast not the blame upon thyself for that which thou didst not commit; thou shalt not be judged for that which lay beyond thine own actions, but rather for those choices thou hast made."
Andrews: "You are right..."
Uriel: "Thou shalt grow as an individual, recognizing thyself through faith and spirit, rather than through the sins or tragedies of this world. Reform thine heart, and seek true enlightenment." As the two spoke, suddenly the platform beneath began to shake, it felt as if the whole mountain was shaking. The two turned around, noticing a figure standing in the middle of the platform. "Draw."
Andrews: He readied his pistol as Uriel drew his sword, the being's form was collected into a small cluster of constellations, and a blue glowing robe followed. "What do you want?! Who are you?!"
Uriel: As he stared, he was able to recognize the figure as the ground steadied itself, "Wait, put thy weapons down. I know this figure."
Andrews: He looked between Uriel and the figure, "Who is it!"
Uriel: He placed his sword down, staring in awe at the figure's collection of positive energy. "Xerion..."
Andrews: His eyes widened, his attention focusing on Xerion now, "Xerion? As in the one who banished Lucium? THAT Xerion?"
Xerion: He placed his hands together, bowing down slightly as he greeted them, as he sat back up, he spoke, "Uriel, the Archangel of Wisdom, it is lovely to see you again. Ah, and Detective Smith Andrews, it is good to see you well again."
Andrews: "How do you know who we are..."
Xerion: "I know who you both are because I was there to give you hope at your lowest hour, to give you light within your hearts even when Lucium attempted to take it all."
Uriel: "He is the valiant soul who rescued me from the clutches of Lucium when he seized dominion over the realms, banishing that foul wretch to a forsaken realm shrouded in mystery, known to none."
Andrews: He sat and thought for a moment, "That burst of hope and will I felt when escaping that fire and fending off all of those creatures, that was you?..." His eyes narrowed skeptical as to what this Xerion figure refers to himself as.
Xerion: "Indeed it was. I see the calm in your gaze, and you have nothing to fear." He gently lifted his blue robe, revealing a Bible of his own. "I understand my purpose. I embrace what I am and what I am not."
Andrews: Upon seeing this, he placed his pistol back in its holster, and his body expressions began to calm down. While he wanted to get mad at Xerion, for all of the times he could've intervened to stop so much bloodshed, he had a slight feeling he understood why he didn't. "All those times..."
Xerion: He nodded slowly, "I can sense your thoughts and feelings towards me. To step into a narrative that isn't mine to share would disrupt the beautiful tapestry of free will that connects us all. We both understand that free will is the most precious gift of all, allowing each person to chart their course. To choose someone else's path would be to deny them that intrinsic right, for ultimately, the only one with the power to place themselves in our lives and guide us..."
Andrew: "Is God."
Uriel: "Pray, why dost thou reveal thyself unto us once more, Xerion? Is there aught thou desirest to impart?"
Xerion: He levitated towards the two, placing his hands on their shoulders. "The two of you are a grand partnership, and I couldn't be more proud of the figures you have become. Heaven was never truly locked away from you Uriel, but you held onto a small slice of revenge in your heart. Upon reading the words of God, in your attempt to heal Andrews, you have opened up your own heart once more. I am here to tell you, this Heaven is ready for you to repair."
He turned his attention toward Andrews, "I know of your opinion of this false realm, believe me I know and understand it well. But know this Detective, a paradise far greater than anything waits for us just beyond the pages. Remember that as you find peace in your heart." As he stepped out of the way, the stones collected themselves together creating a door-shaped frame with a glowing white gateway. He stood beside the two of them, "I know the two of you will bring back the greatness that is the realm of divinity."
Andrew: "The two of us? But I am no angel I cannot possibly be able to help out."
Xerion: "It is not about how you look, it is about what resides within your heart."
Uriel: He slowly walked back into the gateway, trying to prepare himself to see the sight of what remains of his home.
Andrews: He took a deep breath in, staring at the gateway before deciding to enter it. He stopped right at the foot of the portal, turning back to see that Xerion was gone. "Thank you." He walked into the gateway after Uriel.