The devil spoke, "Malachi, my old friend, causing trouble again? I thought you left the angelic drama behind when you embraced the abyss."
Malachi grinned. "Azazel, the drama never ends. I'm just here to stir the pot a bit more. Care to join?"
Azazel chuckled, his voice dripping with sinister delight. "Oh, I'm always up for a bit of chaos."
As Azazel joined the conversation, the celestial atmosphere crackled with opposing energies. Elyon, the junior angel, observed the devil with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Seraphiel maintained a composed demeanor, addressing Azazel, "We discuss the delicate balance between free will and cosmic order, a balance your kind often tips towards chaos."
Azazel shrugged nonchalantly. "Chaos has its own charm, Seraphiel. But I'm not here to debate cosmic philosophies. I heard a mortal is causing quite a stir. Malachi, care to share the juicy details?"
Malachi chuckled, enjoying the devil's interest. "Our mortal friend, Magnus, has unwittingly become a central figure in the astral drama. He's on a journey to collect the shattered Eldorian Shards and restore balance to the realms."
Azazel's eyes glinted with mischief. "Shattered shards, you say? Now, that sounds like a party. How about I lend a hand? Stir things up a bit more."
Seraphiel raised an eyebrow, skeptical of the devil's intentions. "Your assistance usually comes with a hefty price, Azazel."
Azazel grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "Oh, Seraphiel, where's the fun without a bit of mischief? Consider it a collaboration. We devils can be quite helpful when it suits our interests."
Malachi continued, "Anyways, you angels are always so full of yourselves, thinking whatever you do is right." Malachi rolled his eyes.
Before anyone could say anything else, Seraphiel signaled for Elyon to come to a quieter place in the clouds. Elyon furiously said as he looked at Seraphiel, "Master, I don't like these devils. Well, the points that they made are right, but what are their motives?"
Seraphiel glanced at Elyon, his expression guarded yet contemplative. "Elyon, the motives of devils are often veiled in ambiguity. Azazel's interest in Magnus and the Eldorian Shards raises questions. We must proceed carefully."
Elyon, the junior angel, frowned, sensing the potential for turmoil. "But Master, why would devils, known for their malevolence, involve themselves in the affairs of mortals and the astral realms?"
Seraphiel sighed. "Their motives are seldom pure. Azazel, in particular, thrives on chaos and disruption. However, even devils recognize the importance of balance in the cosmic order. There might be a hidden agenda beneath their willingness to assist."
Elyon, still puzzled, questioned, "Could it be that they see an opportunity to exploit Magnus and the Eldorian Shards for their own gain?"
Seraphiel nodded thoughtfully. "It's a possibility. Devils are opportunistic beings. We must monitor their involvement closely and ensure that Magnus remains shielded from the darker influences at play."
Azazel chimed in from nowhere, "Look who's talking. Angels are the opportunistic ones. We are the ones who keep you guys in check."
With a swift motion, Seraphiel summoned celestial energy, manifesting a luminous sword of pure light. Azazel responded in kind, conjuring a dark, ethereal blade that seemed to absorb the radiance around it.
Seraphiel, usually in his calm demeanor, angrily said, "Azazel, you really question the authority of the angels. It is about time I punish you."
Azazel laughed evilly and said, "Authority!? Geez, Seraphiel, you are such an old man."
The clash of their swords echoed through the astral realms, each strike sending shockwaves that reverberated across the cosmic tapestry. Azazel's attacks were random, motivated by the abyss's unpredictable nature, but Seraphiel's movements were precise, guided by the wisdom of eons.
Malachi created popcorn from thin air, flew towards Elyon, and put his hand around Elyon's shoulder. "This fight is amazing. Finally, the best showdown." Before Elyon could say anything, Malachi stuffed popcorn into Elyon's mouth, which made Elyon glare at him. Malachi snickered.
While a dangerous battle was happening in the skies, my friends and I were heading back home to discuss our further plans. Rowan curiously asked, "So, what's the plan?"
I grabbed the wheel and told about Seraphiel's revelation about reincarnation and the Eldorian shards. Rowan listened to me carefully. Even though Rowan was a bit of a hyperboy, he was actually very caring and an introvert. Rowan asked, "So basically, these shards are scattered across different dimensions. And it is your job to collect it."
"Yep."
Rowan became a bit disturbed. "What the hell! Why is it your job!? Can't the angels do it themselves?"
Anna nodded with him and said, "I know! That's what I am saying. Magnus, I think you shouldn't accept it."
I understood their concerns, and a part of me shared the sentiment. . I glanced at Lumina, who was playing with her tiny hands, seemingly unaware of the cosmic turmoil surrounding our lives.
Rowan's frustration was evident as he continued, "I mean, why drag us into this cosmic mess? Can't the angels or whoever deal with their own problems?"
Anna chimed in, "Exactly, Magnus. We had our lives and our plans. This is too much."
I sighed, realizing the weight of their words. "I get it. It does seem unfair, and I didn't ask for any of this. But Seraphiel made it clear that the balance of the realms is at stake. If we don't do it, who will?"
Rowan grumbled, "Why not the angels or devils themselves? They started this mess."
Anna nodded in agreement. "Yeah, why should we be the ones fixing it?"
I glanced at the road ahead, the city lights blending into a distant glow. "Seraphiel mentioned something about the delicate balance between free will and cosmic order. Maybe it's not just about fixing a mess but ensuring that the realms find harmony without imposing too much."
Rowan crossed his arms, still visibly frustrated. "Harmony? This feels more like chaos to me."
Lumina, sensing the tension, looked up at me with her innocent eyes. I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility, whether chosen or forced upon us. "I don't have all the answers, guys. But if these shards are as powerful as Seraphiel says, we might be the only ones who can prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
Anna glared at me and said, "Great! Now, you are becoming like every other protagonist. At least learn to be selfish, brother."
I smiled and said, "I guess you are right. I think if we do this job, we need some payment."
Anna raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet skeptical. "Payment? Seriously, Magnus? What kind of payment are we talking about here?"
I chuckled, enjoying the banter despite the serious topic. "Well, we're dealing with cosmic forces, right? How about a wish? Like, one wish each. We complete the task, and each of us gets a wish granted. It's a win-win, right?"
Rowan smirked. "A wish? Are we dealing with genies now?"
I nodded. "Something like that. Think about it. We could use a little favor for all the trouble we're getting into. What do you say?"
Anna pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Fine, but let's make it clear. No world-ending wishes. I'm not dealing with that kind of drama."
Lumina, still sitting on my lap, clapped her tiny hands in approval, seemingly excited about the idea of wishes. Our journey continued.
Before stopping at home, I stopped at an abandoned park. I called for Seraphiel.
The air in the abandoned park shimmered with celestial energy as Seraphiel materialized, his once-pristine appearance now showing signs of fatigue from the battle with Azazel. His wings, which are usually radiant, bore traces of ethereal wounds.
I approached him with a respectful nod. "Seraphiel, we're willing to accept this responsibility. But on one condition: After we collect each shard, everyone who assisted me and I will get a wish granted. It's only fair, considering the risks involved."
Seraphiel's eyes grew wide with surprise as astonishment briefly took the place of fatigue. "A wish for each ally and yourself? That's an unusual request, Magnus."
I held my ground. "I believe it's a fair exchange. We're putting ourselves on the line for the balance of the realms. Granting a wish for each of us seems like a reasonable reward."
After a moment of contemplation, Seraphiel sighed, the weight of the cosmic struggle evident in his celestial features. "Very well, Magnus. If that is your condition, I accept. Each of you shall have a wish granted upon the successful collection of a shard."
With an understanding nod, I felt a sense of assurance that our efforts wouldn't go unrewarded.
"Seraphiel," I inquired, "where should we begin our quest? Where can we find the first Eldorian shard?"
The angelic guardian closed his eyes for a moment, as if communicating with the cosmic energies. When he opened them again, he spoke, "The first shard resides in your world, Magnus. The dimension holds a specific shard. Seek the shard within the boundaries of your own reality."
As Seraphiel's words echoed in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
It looks like I am back to square one.