Kael: (Kael's voice was low, rough as he stared at his own reflection, the girl in the mirror a stranger with dark brown hair falling in waves around her shoulders.) "What in the seven hells have you done to me? This… this isn't my body. Why change me into… this?"
Justicar Maltael: (The being, if it could be called that, looked down upon him with a gaze that seemed to carry the weight of ages. Its wings folded in solemnly.) "Your old body is no more, Kael. It was shattered beyond repair. This new form was necessary—for your survival and to protect you from those who once knew you. The path ahead is treacherous, and you must walk it unseen."
Kael: (His frustration boiled over, anger threading through his words.) "Protect me from Jean? From Andrea? Why should I need to hide from them? They're my juniors, damn it!"
Justicar Maltael: (The angel's voice was calm, almost too calm, as it spoke of fate and destiny.) "Jean and Andrea are no longer just your juniors, Kael. They are players in a game far greater than any you've known, and they must not know of your existence here. Should they recognize you, the balance of this world would be thrown into chaos. Their destiny must remain untouched by your hand."
Kael: (His hands clenched, nails digging into unfamiliar flesh, the reality of his situation gnawing at him.) "I've guided them, watched over them. And now, I'm supposed to do nothing? To just stand by and let them face whatever this world throws at them without me?"
Justicar Maltael: (The angel's eyes seemed to soften, though the pity in them was cold comfort.) "Their journey is theirs alone now, Kael. You must trust in their strength, as they once trusted in yours. Your place in this world is elsewhere—far from them, where your presence cannot interfere."
Kael: (He forced himself to breathe, though each breath felt like a blade to the chest.) "And what of this world? Where in the seven hells am I going?"
Justicar Maltael: (A long pause, as if the being weighed its words carefully.) "The land is called Homer, vast and untamed. You will be sent to a region unnamed a place of wild forests, jagged peaks, and deep valleys that can swallow the unwary whole. It is isolated, remote. There, you will have the space to learn, to adapt to your new form, and to survive. But it is not without danger. Few settlements exist, and those that do are far between and suspicious of outsiders."
Kael: (He absorbed the words, each one like a stone sinking in his gut.) "And Jean? Andrea? What fate awaits them in this cruel game?"
Justicar Maltael: (The being's gaze grew distant, as if seeing far beyond the void that surrounded them.) "They will face trials, as all who are chosen must. They will stand against darkness, forge uneasy alliances, and make decisions that will shape the fate of Homer. They are strong, Kael, as you always knew them to be. But you cannot aid them. They must walk their path alone."
Kael: (His voice was barely a whisper now, the weight of his new reality pressing down on him like a heavy cloak.) "To do nothing… to let them face this without me… it feels like a betrayal."
Justicar Maltael: (There was no anger in the angel's voice, only a quiet understanding.) "It is no betrayal, Kael. You are not powerless. You have a hundred points—a chance to choose the tools you will need to survive, to carve out your own path in this world. What you do with them is your decision alone."
Kael: (He looked down at his hands—slender, feminine, unfamiliar—and a fierce resolve began to burn in his chest, though it was laced with sorrow.) "If I cross paths with them… if they see me… what then? How do I live as a stranger to those I once knew?"
Justicar Maltael: (The being's wings stirred, the air around them growing colder, more still.) "Should that day come, you must remain a stranger. They must not know you for who you once were. For their sake, and for yours, your identity must remain hidden. The risks are too great."
Kael: (His eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his voice as he tried to make sense of the situation.) "You've told me about this world, about Jean and Andrea's fate… but you haven't explained the why of it. Why am I here? What's the true nature of this world, this Homer? And why are you so desperate to keep me hidden away in some remote corner? There's more to this than you're telling me."
Justicar Maltael: (The angel's wings rustled softly, as if a breeze stirred them, though the air was still. Maltael's gaze shifted, a shadow passing over his serene features.) "Homer is not just a world, Kael. It is a battleground—a land where the forces of Heaven and Hell wage war for supremacy. The conflict has raged for eons, a struggle that neither side has yet won. The balance has always been delicate, but there is a prophecy, one that speaks of a final battle where the fate of Homer will be decided by those not of this world."
Kael: (The revelation hit Kael like a punch to the gut, but he masked his reaction, his voice steady as he pressed for more.) "Outworlders… you mean people like Jean and Andrea? That's why they were brought here? To fight in this war of yours?"
Justicar Maltael: (Nodding slowly, Maltael's expression grew more grave, the weight of his words heavy in the air.) "Yes. The prophecy foretells that outworlders—those who are not bound by the laws of Homer—will tip the scales in the final battle. Jean and Andrea are but two of many, brought here from across the realms to play their part. They will be tested, Kael, in ways that will push them to their very limits. But they are not alone. Others have been summoned as well, each with their own role to play."
Kael: (A bitter laugh escaped him, though there was no humor in it.) "So, they're pawns in this cosmic game of yours. And what about me? Why am I here, if not to fight? Why hide me away in some backwater while they're thrust into the thick of it?"
Justicar Maltael: (The angel hesitated, his wings drawing close as if to shield himself from the truth he was about to reveal.) "You… you are different, Kael. Your presence here is an anomaly, a result of a bargain struck between the forces of Heaven and Hell. You were not meant to die in your world, not yet. But your death was hastened by forces beyond our control, and now you are here, a piece that does not fit on this board."
Kael: (His eyes flashed with anger, the truth gnawing at him.) "An anomaly? A mistake, you mean. So, what then? You're hiding me away to keep me from upsetting your precious balance?"
Justicar Maltael: (His voice softened, tinged with regret.) "Not quite. You see, the forces of Heaven and Hell have agreed to a truce of sorts, one that allows you to remain in Elysia, but only under strict conditions. You must stay in Homer, far from the eyes of the outworlders and the battles they will face. You are not to interfere, not to influence the outcome. This is the price that was paid for your existence here."
Kael: (Cold realization settled over him like a shroud.) "So, I'm to be kept hidden, out of sight, out of mind. A prisoner in all but name, because your masters couldn't agree on what to do with me. Is that it?"
Justicar Maltael: (Maltael's eyes met Kael's, a flicker of something—pity, perhaps—passing through them.) "You are no prisoner, Kael, but neither are you free. The truce was necessary to prevent an all-out war between Heaven and Hell, one that could destroy not only Homer but countless other realms. Your presence here, unbound by prophecy, could tip the scales in ways no one can predict. That is why you must remain in the shadows, to keep the balance intact."
Kael: (He turned away, his thoughts a whirlwind of anger and despair. His fists clenched at his sides, the frustration of his powerlessness nearly overwhelming.) "So, I'm to sit quietly while Jean and Andrea are thrown into this nightmare, while the world burns around me. And I'm supposed to just… accept this?"
Justicar Maltael: (With a sigh, Maltael took a step closer, his tone gentle but firm.) "I understand your anger, Kael. But this is the only way. You have been given a chance to survive, to find your place in this world, even if it is far from the battles that will determine its fate. In time, perhaps you will see the wisdom in this. For now, you must focus on your own path."
Justicar Anders: (A new presence materialized, the air crackling with a sudden, intense energy as another angel appeared. Anders was taller, more imposing, his wings darker, his expression severe as he fixed Maltael with a stern gaze.) Maltael, enough! You've said too much already.
Justicar Maltael: (Startled, Maltael turned to face Anders, his wings fluttering slightly.) "Anders… I was merely explaining—"
Justicar Anders: (Cutting him off sharply, his voice like the crack of thunder.) "Explaining too much, brother. The outworlder does not need to know the intricacies of our war, nor the full extent of the truce. He is here by accident, yes, but we must not burden him with knowledge that could lead to… complications. His role is simple—stay hidden, survive, and do nothing to draw attention to himself."
Kael: (Turning back to face the two angels, his voice cold and measured, despite the storm raging within.) "I'm standing right here, you know. If you're going to discuss my fate, at least have the decency to do it to my face."
Justicar Anders: (His eyes narrowed, but there was a begrudging respect in his tone.) "You are here, yes, but you are out of your depth, mortal. This war is older than your world, older than your very soul. The less you know, the safer you will be. Take what has been given to you and be content with it."
Justicar Maltael: (His voice was softer now, almost apologetic.) "Kael, please… heed Anders' words. This is for your own good. The forces at play here are beyond anything you've ever known. You have a chance to build a new life in Homer, far from the eyes of Heaven and Hell. Use it wisely."
Kael: (He looked between them, his jaw set, his mind churning with everything he had just learned.) "Fine. I'll play your game, stay in my little corner of the world. But don't think for a second that I'll just sit back and do nothing. I'll find a way to make my mark, one way or another."
Justicar Anders: (His lips tightened into a thin line, his voice a warning.) Do not test the bounds of this truce, Kael. Remember your place.
Justicar Maltael: (With an intense lingering look, Maltael began to smile, his tone gentle but firm.) Farewell, Kael. May you find peace in this new world, despite the shadows that surround you.
Kael: (Watching them mocked him, he was left alone with his thoughts, the weight of the world's secrets pressing down on him like a heavy, cold cloak. He clenched his fists, a fire igniting in his heart.) "Peace? In a world at war? We'll see about that." (His jaw tightened, the lines of his face hardening with grim determination.) "So be it. I'll survive, and I'll find a way to make a difference, even if it's from the shadows. But know this—I'll not just sit by while others fight the battles that need fighting."
Justicar Maltael: (The being's expression did not change, but there was something like respect in its gaze now.) "I believe you will, Kael. You were always one to defy the odds. But this world is vast, and the challenges you'll face are unlike any you've known. Survive first, then find your place in this world. And remember, this is a new beginning—a chance to build something anew, something greater than before."
Kael: (He glanced one last time at his reflection, the girl's face staring back with eyes that held a storm of emotions.) "A new beginning… perhaps. But the past is not so easily forgotten."
Justicar Maltael: (Its form began to fade, the light dimming as the void around them shifted and shimmered with the promise of a new world.) "The past shapes us, but it does not define us, Kael. You are stronger than you know. Now, step forward and claim your place in Homer. Your journey begins now."
Kael: (With a final nod, Kael squared his shoulders, ready to face whatever lay ahead, the echoes of his old life still whispering in the back of his mind.) "Then let it begin. I'll be ready."