Hōrō no Tenshi
Chapter 3: Trying
Celestial Realm
Sanctuary Entrance
Fifty years have passed since the accident at the Lake of Wishes. Since then, many things have changed in the Celestial Realm...
Among them, the novelty is that Mila has been promoted to the role of Sensei for aspiring angels who will become Patrollers in the future...
But...
What has happened to Anna during these years?
...
...
...
A door creaks open.
- Fiu... I'm so tired...
...
Eh... today... today marks 30 years since she's been asleep...
She hasn't opened her eyes since that last time at the lake...
She takes a damp cloth and places it on her forehead.
The fever has been constant over the years...
You know, Anna? I've never told you this during all these years, but...
... day after day, you become more unbearable.
I know deep down it's my fault since I was the one who decided to help you and brought you to my nest.
Still, there are days when I really wish you would wake up.
It's frustrating having to play babysitter every day while you just lie there sleeping all day.
Every day.
For 30 years...
...
I don't know if you'll wake up, or how many more years will pass...
But, if you're there, give me some sign to keep supporting you.
I feel like it might be too late...
Or is it...
Could it be that...
The ground begins to tremble.
Eh!? Wh-what was that!?
Bebé peeks out the window to see what is happening outside.
I don't see anything—
The nest house starts to shake... and suddenly:
A huge hand grabs the roof of the house.
N-no, it can't be...
- Well, so this is where you were, Bebé...
- Raqiel...
- So, for these 30 years, you've been hiding like a coward, turning your back on your people...
And not only that...
I also see that you've become quite friendly with one of them...
- Don't you dare come closer! Or else... Or else...
- Oh come on, brother, why don't we share this feast together?
A young angel like her knows best...
Her mouth watered...
- Don't do it, please don't do it! I'll do anything!
- What are you saying? Do you think I'm incapable of swallowing that angel and taking you back to Hell at the same time? Pay attention...
Raqiel extends his arm toward Anna's body...
- Stop!!! Bebé stepped in front of Anna to protect her, but...
Raqiel, with no hesitation, grabbed him and closed his fist.
- You don't learn, huh? Haha...
- Agh... ah...
Bebé was inside the fist, agonizing in pain...
- You know, Bebé? I've always thought that among all the demons, you were the whiniest. You didn't contribute anything during expeditions, and yet you were always Dad's favorite...
Ah...
This isn't right... I should be his favorite.
Oh... I know, how about we add a seraph to my lunch today? I've never tried one before...
Bon appétit...
Raqiel devours Bebé, swallowing him in one gulp.
...
...
...
- A...n..n..a...
S-save... me...
- AGHHHH!!! IT TASTED HORRIBLE!!!
Damn... even as a snack, that useless one was no good...
And now...
Here you are.
Anna wakes up.
- Eh..what? What's happening... who are you?! My wounds...
- Hahaha... it's funny you ask that after having lived with my brother for 30 years.
- Her...brother?
- Bebé.
Hearing that name, Anna could relive and recall the memories from 30 years ago... what happened that tragic day and her encounter with Bebé... tears began to well up in her eyes.
- Bebé..., oh, where is Bebé? Where is he? I need to talk to him!
- Poor thing... you seem desperate, huh?
- Eh? Hey... do you know something about Bebé?
You're his brother after all, aren't you? Siblings love each other—
Raqiel opened his mouth, showing Bebé's body on his tongue, all broken up...
Anna froze.
A sudden silence filled the house, only the pounding of Anna's heart keeping rhythm with the mourning that—
-DAMN IT!!! Anna lunged at the giant with a swift movement.
Raqiel prepared to swat her with his massive fist...
(Damn, I think that was a very hasty decision! He's about 5 meters tall!!! I'll have to use my technique, even though the last time was a disaster...)
(Here I go, if I don't do it... no one will...)
-Eternal Mirror-
Eternal Mirror was able to 'deflect' Raqiel's blow and made him receive up to 200% of the maximum damage!
Raqiel's body suffered the consequences of receiving such a counterattack. He ended up being defeated...
- His stomach... it should be around...
Here!
Anna pierced Raqiel's belly with one blow.
- Please... please be there...
Bebé! Bebé! Are you there!? Bebé!!!
Ah... I have you... I have you...
- A...n..n..a..?
- Bebé... oh, what has happened to you... your wings... please hold on.
- Anna...
- Tell me... what do I do? What do I do? H-how can I save you!!! Please tell me!
- The... lake, the... lake...
-Lake! To the Lake of Wishes!
Anna carried Bebé and ran as fast as she could to the Lake of Wishes.
- Agh... ahh Anna fell to the ground, began to cough up blood, the sky began to distort... she started hearing malevolent laughter in her head.
- Oy-A..n..n..a...
An..na
Anna had fainted...
(BB: There's no other choice...
I know it was supposed to be my last resort but...
If I don't do it, we'll both die here)
Bebé began to drink the blood of Anna that was on the ground...
(Angel blood, for us demons, is an elixir that helps us heal from chronic illnesses or wounds... but now that I have this seraphim appearance, who knows if it will work...)
...
...
...
- Ahh... Bebé?
- Oh, good morning, Anna!
- What happened? Eh!? Y-your wings!
- Ah, that... well, you see...
Bebé told Anna what happened, about how she had fainted and he had to drink some of her blood to regenerate...
- Oh... I see.
- And that's how my wings changed color, they now look a bit more like my species'...
-It's a beautiful color, and don't worry, you're not like them! You would be an even better angel than I...
- Really?
- Of course! Unlike me, I bet you'd get along well with the other angels...
- Well, you might be right, but... that's not possible...
- Eh?
- Keep in mind that I am a demon, my soul is demonic, yet I only possess this seraphim appearance in which I reincarnated.
So, if I were to approach other angels, they...
- Would end up with you...
...
...
- Does this mean you plan to stay alone for the rest of your life?! It's... terrible...
- You understand me better than anyone, don't you, Anna?
- Yes...
You're right.
- And yet you're still here, standing, fighting day after day to try again. I admire you, you know?
I couldn't stand living with my Father anymore...
I couldn't bear seeing so much suffering in that place, everyone living off the rage of wanting to live, of wanting a second chance and to be saved...
I couldn't handle it.
I couldn't.
That's why I decided to stay here in the Celestial Realm, to live another life, far from so much horror.
...
...
...
And...
...I'm really sorry that Luz was taken away because of me, truly...
- Don't cry... I've made more mistakes than anyone on this earth, and I'm only 150 years old!
You must have felt fear at that moment, didn't you?
- I was afraid of dying, Anna, even though my life wasn't great, I felt I had to do everything possible at that moment to survive...
I had no other idea but to call Him.
- Don't worry...
After all, you've reincarnated as a good person, very kind and benevolent, worthy of a seraph, haven't you?
- Eh?
- Hey, how about I stay here a few more years to live with you, how does that sound?
- But, you should return to your other companions...
- Ah... yes, I know, but honestly, I still don't feel ready... I'm afraid of being rejected again.
- You must try anyway, you know?
- ...it's the only way I'll find out, isn't it?
- That's right.
- ...okay, but I still need to prepare myself mentally, you know!?
- Well, as you wish...
- Ehm, so can I stay?
- I'd like some salmon for dinner, if possible?
- Thank you so much, Bebé!
She hugs him.
...
...
...
20 years later...
Celestial Realm
Sanctuary
- Well, we're here.
- I see it's been a long time since I last walked near here, hasn't it?
- Who knows, anyway, are you ready?
- Yes... I have to try. It's the only way I'll know if there's any chance of being accepted...
- Are you afraid?
- I'm angry.
- Oh really?
- I'm angry that I can't love others or be loved. I'm tired of this circus that I have to live in...
If you hadn't saved me that day, who knows if I would be here today, standing and ready to change my life...
I thank you for that.
- Well then, go ahead.
- Here I go.
- Goodbye, Anna, see you later.
- See you later, Bebé.
Anna opens the doors and enters the Sanctuary.
End of Chapter 3.