Thank God that's finally over. Raguel thought as he left God's Workshop. No, he did not care for the irony in that thought. Seriously, that should have taken 10 to 30 minutes at most. Not several hours!
Never the less it was that Talk was done, and he was free. With ample time he can make it back to Viviane without worry.
"Raguel," he looked up to see his three sister Archangels waiting for him, Raziel, Remiel and Gabriel. "Brother, we would like to speak to you about a few things." Said Gabriel as the spokesperson of this group.
"Okay?" Raguel wondered why he started feeling worried.
"Chiefly among them is your martial ability." Said Gabriel with a serious expression that left no room for confusion about what she wanted them to do.
The moments the words left her mouth, the youngest Archangel summoned his Holy power.
"Salvation!" Raguel shouted.
And apparently had forgotten that Raziel had came up with the spell.
Tick-tock.
The first day Viviane was too busy remaking her wards, which to her irritation she found out, weren't broken. Rather, it was like all the tiny weakpoints that could theoretically used where lined up and widened, all to pull out Raguel, then closed up again. There was still a hole in her roof though.
So the first day was one were Viviane rebuilt her wards piece by piece, as though it was a magical ship of Theseus.
Tick-tock.
The second day Viviane started working on remaking and improving her wards. She had thought they were at their strongest, but it looks like she slacked off. Well, now she will truly make them impenetrable.
...She also couldn't stop thinking on Raguel.
She was going to see him again, right? Soul related magic was the most potent there is, so clearly the Biblical God won't be so merciless as to keep him back, out of some jealousy, right?
No, no, Raguel always espoused on how kind their 'Father' was. So they won't be punished for interacting with a Fairy and incurring a debt, right?
Viviane pushed the thought away for now. She needed to perfect her wards so nothing could go through them.
In fact, let's add Arondight as one of the centerpiece for transforming and shifting wards. Now that I made the fortress defenses, let's see some thieves try and sneak pass these. Viviane giggled at the thought and went back to work.
Tick-tock.
It was the third day and Viviane couldn't keep still.
There was a large smile on her face, as she went about cooking some small amount of food, to show off to that chibi-archangel whose the ruler of the kitchen.
Sure, her feast table was filled over, but that's because she cooked a tiny bit of many things. Maybe there might have been one or two, too many 'lasagna' dishes Raguel showed her, mentioning it was his favorite, but that because she didn't notice she made the first or second one. Silly her.
After cleaning up the house, finishing the food and enchanting it to stay warm, she sat down to do a little reading. She had nothing better to do.
She couldn't read. Her eyes would slide off the pages and look at the clock.
Tick-tock.
He should have been here by now.
Viviane was drinking some nice calming tea. Not for any reason, she was already calm. She just liked the taste. Liked it so much she was on her fifth cup.
Twelve hours till the three day period was up. Raguel was late, but still in the safe zone. So it's fine. It's all fine.
Viviane was fine.
Tick-tock.
Eight hours left.
"Honestly, that no good, teasing little feathered brat. What is he thinking not being here by now? It's his life he's playing with. Is he an idiot? Is he stupid? I even made the contract ensure the time in the Human World and the Fae World would sync up when he travelled. So two days should have passed in his world. He should have rushed here much, much earlier!"
Viviane was pacing.
She was pacing so much, that she wore down a literal trail on her carpet.
Honestly, she had prepared many things for that Archangel, and yet he still didn't show up? How dare he!? Well, she was taking away all the food, and won't greet him when he comes back.
It will all be just back to work right away.
Tick-tock.
Three hours left
Maybe he didn't plan on returning. Viviane thought laying down on the floor. The carpet broke down from her walking, so she burned it. ...She'll get another one later on. Maybe she can go shopping with Raguel?
"IF HE'LL APPEAR ALREADY!" Viviane shouted to her empty home.
She huffed and rolled over, pounded on the floor with her hands and feet for a bit, and let out a squeal of frustration. She huffed once more as she layer her head on her arm, and tried to empty her thoughts of anything.
I better get up. It will look bad if he arrives only to find me laying on the floor like some street urchin.
Tick tock.
Two hours left.
What if it's my fault? Viviane thought sitting on her large cushion chair with her legs pulled, and rested her head on her knees, rocking back and forth. What if I made the wards too strong?
Viviane considered reasons for why Raguel hadn't arrived yet, till she reached her current conclusion. Sure the wards were now so thick one might mistake Viviane to have been in war. Of course the entrance being left as a way in would be a clue that the Lake Fairy wasn't paranoid, or thinking she was in battle.
If said entrance wasn't covered with dozens of spells to identify intent, subtle, hidden, magical or otherwise, and would boot out even potentially unaware enemies. The only people that could even stand in front of her door, were those with no ill intent. The only ones who could enter were those who Viviane specifically invited in, and actually liked their company.
Was that too vague? ...Do I not like Raguel as I thought? Do I dislike or hate him deep in my heart?
The answer after some soul searching was no. She did not dislike him.
Maybe I should lower the wards enough to look outside. Viviane considered.
She had made it so that she couldn't observe the outside of her house, as some magic users or beings could use observation to teleport. The only thing she would detect outside her home was anything with neutral or negative feelings toward her.
That's the problem isn't it? I wouldn't have noticed anyone outside who had good will toward me. That's it!
Viviane went to work on her wards.
Tick tock.
30 minutes left.
It had taken a considerable about to work in a hurry, but she had managed it. Viviane could now see outside of her house.
And there was no one.
Is...is he too late? Should I just take the whole thing down?
As she looked at the clock, she realized there was no time to do anything. Even if she hurried with all her strength, she couldn't take down the wards. They were made too strong, durable and self-repairing.
She wracked her head for reasons why. Why was Raguel not here yet? Why did he not appear yet? Was it possible he lied to her? Everything confirmed that he did. So why?
I should have given him more time. Viviane stared at the clock in despair. Three days were too short.
She could do nothing but start at the spot Raguel was summoned from, and the clock on the wall.
10 minutes left.
Please, please Raguel. Please come back. Viviane pleaded in her mind.
5 minutes.
Should I pray? Is that it you vengeful God? Do you just want me to submit to return my love without harm!? Were you jealous that Raguel dared to care about me? Well, what is it!?
3 minutes.
"This is stupid." Viviane muttered and left the spot Raguel was summoned from.
2 minutes.
She came back to the spot, and started praying.
Fine! I pray to you oh merciful, generous Lord! Let me see Raguel once more, safe and whole. Please return him as you took him. Please...give back my love to me.
1 minute.
"Raguel..." Viviane muttered, the name literally heavy on her tongue.
Her eyes watered as she had come to realize. Raguel was important to her. It had been a short few months, but in that time, the innocent, pure, mischievous archangel had captured her heart. For the first time she felt like she wasn't alone, like there was someone whose company she was glad for. Someone whom she did not want to do without.
And now she had to face the possibility that she would never see him again. Because she didn't trust him to return to her.
"Raguel...I love you." She said the words as though saying good bye.
A ball of light flashed on the spot Raguel left from. It expanded and in a second flashed out and left the familiar small Archangel in place.
"Hey Viviane! Father did I miss you. I know it's been three days for you, but for me, it's been a few mon--"
"IDIOT!" Viviane grabbed the Archangel and pulled him to her bosom. "Stupid! Fool! Imbecile! Halfwit dunce dolt! What kind of moron would come back at the literal last minute of a three day magic contract!? I almost lost you, you you thickheaded dullard!" She cried out, tears falling from her eyes, as she hugged Raguel as tightly as she could not wanting to ever let go. "Loveable idiot." She cried again in a soft tone, smiling as she felt the Archangel's hair against her cheek.
While Viviane was letting loose her feelings, Raguel had a different thought in mind, while enjoying the warm embrace.
Father returned me literally a minute before time was up to make a Suspense Bridge Effect. ...Nice, Dad. Raguel literally could feel a divine thumbs up in his head from his Heavenly Wingman.
"I'm here, Viviane." Raguel said, rubbing circles in the fae's back. "I'm here. You're okay, you're okay."
As Raguel told reassurance to his fae friend, and maybe more, he slowly tried to move her toward the couch so they could sit down. A difficult endeavor to be sure, as Viviane didn't want to let go in any way, which forced Raguel to fly them both to the couch with Viviane latched onto him.
"Easy, easy there. While tears of joy are beautiful on you, as you are the Lady of the Lake, the snot not so much." Raguel chuckled.
"Stupid." Viviane pinched him, and pushed down a laugh while hastily using magic to clean up her face. "Don't you know if you say that to a lady, she might curse you."
"If it's someone I care for, I don't mind baring any curse." Raguel said as he finally separated, and now they faced each other. "Someone like you." He said just to drive the point home.
Viviane looked away blushing.
"Cheap talk won't be enough to make up for the distress you put me through." Viviane said without heat.
"Sorry." Raguel said sheepishly.
"Idiot!" She shouted. "What did I tell you about apologizing?" Viviane said as she felt the debt increase in her favor.
"Ah, right." Raguel rubbed the back of his head. "Don't...worry about it for now. Or rather it will end up being paid off later on from some stuff later on." He shook his head, then looked at the fairy intently. "Viviane there is something important I need to tell you."
Viviane straightened at those words, fearing the worst.
"What is it?"
"My sisters want to meet you." Raguel said gravely.
"...Excuse me?" The words didn't register right away.
"Yeah, Raziel, Remiel," with each name Viviane's thoughts began to race as she became more and more focused on facing this challenge. "And Gabriel want to meet and talk to you."
Viviane paled as she began to think on how to deal with this obviously very important meeting.
"How...how much time do we have?"
"Eh, Father said he'll give us a sign."
A ringing and a flash of light came from where Raguel arrived. The two looked to see a ball of light with the number "1:10" on it. The "10" started decreasing.
"Oh...we have about a minute."
Viviane jumped and ran around the house to preparing everything in a panic.
During the one minute of alarm, Viviane had to seriously consider, if she maybe wanted to strangle Raguel or not.
"Okay, first, my glamour."
"Yeeeah, they already know what you look like."
"What!? How?"
"Father decided to make the last report all the Archangels made 'visual', so they already saw what you looked like."
"Wa...wait. Your Father showed, all four months we spend together to all the angels of Heaven?"
"Nah, just the highlights."
"Phew."
"Like you cuddling me in your lab when you overworked yourself."
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
"Also they know your name from me, which protects from them using it, right?"
"THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW! THEY LIKELY THINK I'M SOME SORT OF CRADDLE ROBBER!"
"Wait, you're not?"
"AAAARRRGGHH!!"
Viviane lunged at Raguel hand stretched to his neck, only for Raguel to jump into the lunge to hug her, barring his face in her bosom.
"You, you, you--"
Viviane's face burst red as her thoughts halted for a moment.
"By the way, 20 seconds left." Raguel looked up to her face with a smile.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Viviane threw him off, from which he just floated away, and went back to making her home presentable.
20 seconds were up and the ball of light shined then in it's place were three Archangels.
"Hello and welcome to my humble home, I greet you as the Lady of this house and the Lady of the Lake." Viviane said, the picture of elegance and calm, while Raguel stood a bit away from her covering his mouth with his hand, trying to appear as stoic as possible.
His shoulders were shaking. He failed.
Under a glamour Viviane hit him with her elbow once.
"We greet you as well, Viviane, Lady of the Gleaming Lake." Raziel replied, using Viviane's full title and the added epithet specific to her. Since there were multiple Ladies of the Lake, each one has an epithet that in someway relates to the talent that gained her, her title. 'Gleam' referencing the light reflected of her swords. "You have a beautiful home and it's a pleasure to see it, and you as well. I hope we can get to know you better on this visit."
"Welcome, I have prepared a feast, please partake and enjoy yourselves to it as you wish without bounds." Viviane said back, noticing that Raziel's words were careful showing that she prepared herself to deal with a fae. Viviane was at least glad that there would hopefully be no misunderstandings. "Shall we move to the dining area?"
"Will you show us?" Said Remiel.
"This way." Viviane lead them to the feast table. She also noticed how not saying "please" and "thank you" were grating on the Archangels, but they followed the fae etiquette to the best of their ability. Viviane thought that maybe there should be a way to lessen the contract magic instinctive to the fae, so that well...things would be a bit more comfortable to some of her guests, like the angels.
After everyone sat down, Viviane took a bite to show the food was safe, as to let the guests eat as they will, since the owner of the house already began dining. Viviane's smile froze, and she forced herself to look normal, as she saw that Gabriel who had been silent till now, had placed Raguel on her lap.
"So, why have you come to see with such haste, Archangels of the Lord?" Viviane began the small talk.
"In your research to make a Holy Sword, you need an Archangel to study Holy Energy to a better degree." Gabriel was the one who answered, cutting off anyone from speaking first. "I would like you to transfer your debt with Raguel to me. It should serve your goal as Raguel is the weakest Archangel, while I'm the strongest. Meaning you'll get the better research study for your holy sword creation."
WHO STARTS A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT!? Viviane shouted in her mind, while keeping her smile. Looking around she noticed that the other two female Archangels and Raguel were also just as surprised at Gabriel 'deal-making attempt'.
It was a normal day in the First Heaven during the Great War.
The Devils were constantly attacking in mass droves.
The Angels were defending with fervored zeal.
And then a Red Dragon Emperor crashed into both sides.
"WHERE IS HE?" Ddraig shouted, focusing more on the angels than the devils.
"Fucking shit! A dragon is one our side! We can finally break through deeper in the holy winged fuckers' territory." Shouted one optimistic devil. It was his last day too.
Last day before a week long vacation of course, not last day on the war. Then he wouldn't get another break for a hundred years.
"BRING ME THE DRAGON SUMMONING ANGEL!" Ddraig shouted, and of course while thrashing around and hitting everything.
A swing of his claws vaporized a platoon of angel. A swing of his tail and wings splattered a dozen battalions of devils, thinking the sudden arriving dragon was on their side. Including the optimistic devil mentioned before.
"BRING ME RAQUEL! SUMMON MY ONE TRUE ENEMY! I WANT TO FIGHT ALBION NOW!" Ddraig continued to shout.
"WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Shouted Ariel taking her post in defending the First Heaven today. Her shout got Ddriag's attention, enough for her to get another word in. "We don't have an angel by the name 'Raquel' and literally no angel can summon a dragon!"
Ddraig opened his mouth and breathed fire in response.
"ARIEL!" Cassiel, friend and usual paired buddy, shouted and pushed her out of the way.
Ariel stared in horror at her friend, the incoming flame, and know neither she, Cassiel or anyone around would survive.
The Draconic Flame reached the angels, and was met with Holy Flames.
"FEAR NOT!" Uriel shouted as he and the other Archangels arrived.
"Sanctuary!" Sariel cast his signature spell. An all-purpose defensive area of effect spell, and increases the durability, power and range of all Holy Magic. It even provides healing for allies within the range of the spell.
"Holy Amplification!" Raphael cast his own spell to reinforce Uriel's flames.
Even with all that, the Holy Flames were burnt and eaten by the Red Dragon's flames, and would soon overtake them.
""Divine Resonances!""
Metatron and Sandalphon cast their synchronized spell causing both flame attacks to go out of control, and explode.
""Holy Wall!"" Raphael and Sariel cast the barrier spell stopping the explosion from reaching their side. The backlash of the attacks had damaged the devil side far worse the the angels'.
The devils strategically flew further away so as not to get in-between the angels and the Red Dragon, but close enough to observe.
"We'll have to hold out until Father arrives." Raphael said in a quiet tone to his brothers, but his words were transmitted to the angels with him as well. "Those injured retreat, the rest defend as best as you can. Stay safe, brothers."
"Dragon, you have no quarrel with us. We can not grant you your wish for your enemy, for we have not the ability to grant it. If you do not leave here now, you'll have the might of Heaven itself, strike down upon you!" Uriel demanded with angelic authority.
"BRING IT, SQUEAKY BIRDS!"
With a roar that shook the Great War's battlefield, Ddraig launched himself at the Archangels and their brethren.Last edited:
It's been a whole hour of an Archangel and a Fairy telling each other to sod off, and let go of Raguel in a very polite manner.
It would be so funny, if it wasn't terrifying. And I wasn't literally stuck in the middle. Raguel thought as Gabriel placed another piece of lasagna in his mouth.
"You kept saying making a Holy Sword was delicate work. And yet you still haven't given a reason why it has to be Raguel?" Said Gabriel.
"I have said why. Starting my research from scratch to accommodate your specific Holy Energy would be too much work. I would even have to create new instruments because of how strong you are!" Viviane countered.
I wonder if Viviane is struggling in his conversation because Gabriel had yet to make a single personal attack, or because Viviane is actually trying not to cause any actual animosity between her and my sister. Raguel thought.
Thus far Remiel had been either eating, or covering her mouth to hide her chuckles. Raziel after having a brief meal, opted to just observe the talk between the two head-strong women.
Raguel couldn't get into the conversation, because whenever he so much as open his mouth, Gabriel would just feed him something to keep him silent. Gabriel didn't want Raguel to open his mouth, and put himself into further debt to the fairy.
"Just why are you insistent on keeping my brother besides you? I can't trust that you won't harm him." Gabriel finally said.
"I would never do that!" Viviane shouted, as she slammed her hands on the table standing up. Gabriel was about to do the same, before remembering Raguel was on her lap, and settled for leaning forward and glaring. Raguel felt the weight on his shoulders increase.
"If I may," Raziel interjected to stop the argument from escalating beyond words. "I believe we are missing something important in this discussion. So, I would like to ask you both to reclaim your calm for a bit." Looking at her, the two aggressive women held themselves back. Viviane even sitting back down, and Gabriel leaning back into her chair.
Raguel let out a sigh of relief.
"I...hope this poor conduct didn't sour your meal." Viviane said diplomatically.
"I'm sorry too, Raziel." Said Gabriel.
"It's fine, Sister, Lady Viviane. I understand how heated some topics can get." Raziel said with a calm smile, hiding her sly intentions. "Like family members beholden to forcefully servile vows."
Gabriel nodded, her eyes showing determination again.
"That's not it!" Viviane vehemently objected. "Raguel isn't my servant or slave. I would never treat him ill."
"And yet that is the nature of your bond. One where he must serve you till your conditions are met."
"He assists me, not serve me!" The fae tried to argue.
"How you implement your contract now, might not be the same in the future. Who knows how your relationship would go, or if things between the two of you would always be amicable." Raziel raised a hand to stop further argument before she finished her point. "I am not dismissing that you two seem to treat each other well, or suggesting that in some forceful effort to protect Raguel, we should limit or change interaction with you, Lady Viviane." Raziel gave Gabriel a pointed look, who had the decency to look way slightly ashamed. "Rather than the nature of your contract that concern us. Should it be changed to all sides would find more agreeable, you would have your 'favored assistant'," Raziel struggled not to chuckle. Viviane blushed under a glamour, which only Raguel saw. "And we would have the peace of mind that our brother will be well, when with you." Raziel explained.
"I..." Viviane calmly thought on the Archangel of Mysteries' words. "What are you proposing?"
"She's saying cancel the stupid debt and get married, you idiots." Remiel blasted her way into the conversation.
"W-W-Wha..." Viviane nearly lost her glamour, only interactions with Raguel helped her train herself to maintain it under surprising turns.
"Tact, Remiel. For Father's sake, tact." Raziel muttered, sighing as she rubbed her temples.
Gabriel pouted.
"I-I-I, that is..." Viviane appeared quiet and contemplative, but was stuttering under her glamour.
"Of course, we also need to ask someone who has been silenced till now." Raziel said, sending an amused look at Gabriel and Raguel.
The youngest Archangel placed his hands over his mouth, while the older Archangel's fork paused, the food attached to it inches away from his covered mouth, ready to feed him again.
"...I don't want to eat anymore." Said Raguel in a low tone.
"Gabriel. Sister." Raziel said pointedly with a lop-sided smile.
Gabriel sighed and put the fork down.
"Now, Raguel, Viviane, what do you both think?" Asked Raziel.
"Wh...what about the bridewealth and dowry?" Viviane asked, finding the topic of a deal's details to be familiar ground she could stand on, till she got her thoughts in order.
"Remiel." Raziel gestured, and the Archangel of Hope stood up, with a flash of an inventory spell removing an object, Remiel had a bundled wrapped up large object in her arms, which she handed to Viviane.
Viviane took the clothed item, slowly, instinctive casting spells to look for any poison or curses, before widening her eyes, as her magic identified what's in the wrapped cloth.
"This is..." Viviane pushed the chair back from the table, and unwrapped the item, already knowing what it was. A Holy Sword. Her eyes widened upon seeing which one. "Durandal!"
Viviane looked up in shock, her eyes going to all the Archangel, seeing only Raguel was as surprised as she was.
"Father decreed, for the cancelling of Raguel's debt, you may study Durandal to further your holy sword creation research for a day, and you would have two of us sans Raguel stick around to supervise and take back the sword after the time period is up." Gabriel said with a firm tone, that hide her reluctance. "For making the vow of marriage however, you may take the blade for a year and a day to use as you wish. Supervision will be left up to Raguel."
The youngest Archangel looked up at Gabriel in surprise, then back down to see Viviane also staring at him mouth open in shock at this new development. Viviane stared back down on the blade, trying to rack her mind on what to do, or how to proceed.
"And that...dowry?" She asked, looking back up at Gabriel after a long look at Durandal.
"It should be obvious, shouldn't it?" Remiel commented with a shrug.
"It would be the product of your research." Raziel clarified. "The Holy Sword created by a Winter Fae." She paused to let the news sink in.
"How...how do you know I won't cheat you on this deal? It's pretty vague. I could make something great, then give you an inferior copy afterwards." Viviane couldn't help pointing out.
Raziel turned to her brother. "I suppose it all depends on our little brother here," She said. "If Raguel accepts this vow as well, his word alone would be enough for us. Whether you give us the real thing or a weaker variant, if he trusts you, then Heaven will do so as well."
Raguel was now the center of attention.
Raziel look on with calm enjoyment of everything, Remiel with open amusement, Gabriel with worry, while Viviane was a mess of emotions. There was hope and yearning, yet fear and anxiety.
Finding himself on the spot like this, Raguel took a moment to look inward.
So...this is really happening. He didn't think he would face commitment like this so soon, but with a strong resolve, seriously look inward at himself. What do I actually want to do?