Chapter 9 - Light Of God

In the Seventh Heaven Araboth, the Throne of God stood as a radiant symbol of divine sovereignty, its presence commanding the celestial realm. A sea of glass, clear as crystal, surrounded the Throne, reflecting its magnificence in a dazzling display of light and color. The air thrummed with the ethereal melody of angelic voices, their harmonious praises echoing throughout the heavens.

The tenders of the Throne, the Ophanim, the Living Creatures, and the Cherubim, moved with grace and purpose. The Ophanim, their eyes reflecting the mysteries of the cosmos, whirled and spun in a majestic dance. Their wings, radiant with divine light, carried them in a graceful ballet, each movement a testament to their unwavering devotion.

Beside them, the Living Creatures known as Hayyot raised their voices in a slow, broken song of praise. Their melodies, a blend of human, lion, ox, and eagle, resonated through the heavens, creating a symphony of awe-inspiring beauty. Each Hayyot bore the face of a different creature, a symbol of the Almighty's diverse creation, and as they sang, their voices swelled and receded like the tide of eternity.

Amidst them stood the Cherubim, their forms towering and majestic, their wings outstretched in reverence. With voices like thunder, they joined their celestial brethren in praise, their song a chorus of adoration that shook the very foundations of the heavens.

Despite the emptiness of the Throne, the tenders continued their sacred duties, their devotion unwavering. The song they sang was a timeless hymn, a melodic tapestry woven with threads of adoration and praise. It spoke of the eternal nature of God, of His infinite wisdom and boundless love.

As the song reached its crescendo, the realm of Araboth seemed to come alive. The very fabric of the heavens vibrated with energy as if responding to the celestial choir's song. The tenders worked with renewed vigor, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony with the music of the spheres.

And so, in the Seventh Heaven Araboth, the Throne stood empty, but the tenders continued their sacred work, their voices raised in eternal praise. From a distance, Three seraphim could only listen to the slow, broken praise with reverence. Araboth, alive for the first time in over two thousand years, stirred something deep within them. Their bodies were engulfed with robes of blinding right. With two wings covering their faces, two covering their feet, and the last two keeping them aloft, they hovered. "Haah! What a soothing melody for the sore ears." Uriel let out a pleased sigh, his entire being rejuvenated by the choir, broken as the voices were. "Don't you agree, Seraphiel?"

"Indeed, it is beautiful. It truly is yet..." The High Seraphim, though her wings covered her face, couldn't hide the worry in her voice. "But I can't help but wonder... after two millennia of silence, why now?"

"That, my esteemed High Seraphim, is a very good question." Uriel's tone grew more even as he spoke, before letting out a breath of air. "I have absolutely no idea!" The third angel clicked his tongue.

 To his left, Seraphiel sighed deeply, trying to put a bit of humor in her voice to hide her discomfort. "Isn't the Angel of Wisdom and Knowledge lacking, admitting ignorance so readily?"

"It's said, 'True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.'" Uriel nodded sagely to himself. "I only knew when Cassiel told me."

"Don't be so happy about your incompetence!" Cassiel quipped with annoyance. "What else do you think we keep you around for?"

Uriel chuckled lightly, flying to stand far too close to the younger Angel, his palms on his cheek with a cutesy smile on his face. "I suppose my charm and good looks don't count for much here? Besides, with our adorable Mad Dog and Gabriel away, you're the one responsible for looking after this Realm. So, what's your excuse?"

Cassiel turned his head to retort, but Seraphiel cut him off. "Time and place, brothers." Seraphiel continued. "Do you truly know nothing about this, Uriel?"

Uriel shook his head. "While my title is grand and I take great pride in it, I am no omniscient being. I only know what I know, and what I know is only known because the Lord deems me fit to know of it."

Seraphiel sighed, her worry palpable even through the reverence she felt for the song. "Then we are left to wonder."

Uriel shrugged before speaking again. "However, if I were a betting man, I could think of something that might be related to this..."

"Adam," Seraphiel said softly, a sense of relief washing over her. Despite what their relationship might seem to others, Adam's presence had always been a comfort. While not the most polite or orderly, he was a dear friend and a trusted companion. His return was... appreciated. Greatly. And perhaps if Peter's words ring true, it could be a sign of a better future...

Uriel, leaning back with a relaxed smile, spread his arms wide. "Yes, our dear Adam. His resurrection might be the catalyst for this renewed song. The Choir began exactly thirty-six minutes ago, precisely one second after he rose again." Cassiel, with a hint of weariness in his voice, asked. "And the manner in which he returned? That also went without you knowing?"

Uriel flashed him a thumbs-up and a winning smile. "Of course!"

Cassiel sighed deeply, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Utterly useless..." He then asked, "Who else knows of his return?"

Uriel beamed. "Oh, that I know! Only Lute, who was present during the event, as well as the Seraphim. From his descendants, Saint Peter, who saw him in the flesh, and the Blessed Son and Metatron, who were notified by Seraphiel."

"Shouldn't we announce it then?" Cassiel asked. "It is something to be celebrated, and it would definitely bring joy to the Winners." Seraphiel shook her head. "There's no need. Seth is best suited to handle it. The Winners respond better to him than to us high-ranking angels.

 "True, the Blessed Son does have a talent for putting people at ease." The Archangel nodded approvingly. "Also, making such a Miracle through halos would be far too undignified." "...I still think allowing him to venture back to Hell was a bad idea!" Cassiel gritted out, his frustration evident. "Especially with It being awake again."

"You speak as if we knew. By the time we realized it, he was already gone," Seraphiel said with a sigh. "Luckily, Michael was already headed there. For now, we must trust her to keep him safe in Hell."

Uriel snorted in amusement, his mind monitoring the situation in Hell. "Not that he will need any help seeing how the fight is going. If anything, I'm more worried about him killing the Archtraitor."

"Michael will not allow it. If killing him had no consequences, she would have done so eons ago. Though Fallen, his soul is still a part of the Seven until the time when Emily ascends."

" If," Uriel corrected with a humorless voice.

Seraphiel's brow furrowed behind her wings.

"It's not his body I'm concerned about, but his mind!" Cassiel hissed in frustration as he moved to hover in front of them. "His quest is a fool's errand! What do you think his reaction will be when he doesn't get a satisfying answer? An answer only It could provide."

"Again, as volatile as she may be, Michael is best suited to handle it in case It approaches the First Man," the High Seraphim reiterated.

"It's not enough!" Cassiel's fists clenched.

"And what do you suggest then? That we all barge into Hell and raze it to the ground? We cannot!" For the first time in the conversation, a bit of Uriel's irritation showed. "Its reach has already extended through the Arch of The Sky. Even now, the Aether is in tatters, and Gabriel is constantly sealing the cracks that appear in the world of the Living. If we descend, there would be no one to protect Earth and Heaven."

"I understand your frustration, Cassiel," Seraphiel said, her voice softening. "But through fortune or misfortune, Adam has always been far too important for It to harm him. And Michael is blessed by the Lord to resist its temptations; her presence alone would deter it."

Cassiel's expression softened, though his frustration lingered. "I know, I know. It's just hard to watch from the sidelines, knowing the stakes."

"We all feel the weight of this burden, my brother," Seraphiel said, her voice filled with empathy. "But we must have faith."

"So for now, we simply wait," Cassiel stated with a sigh, clearly not too happy with his helplessness.

Uriel let out a contemplative hum."There is a plus to all of this. We have been wondering how to respond to the last transgression of Hell's sinners. We had agreed that the two overlords responsible would obviously perish, but the Morningstar was a different matter. Punishing the brat was impossible without angering the Archtraitor, which opened another can of worms. But now, Adam is making sure to remind Hell of its place."

"Indeed," Seraphiel confirmed. "Unlike us, Adam can go rampage through Hell without r̷̳̳̲̥̩̖͎̗̘̓̀͌̌̓̃̊̕̚͝Ro̵̧̢͎̟̪̦̮̙̤̖͑͌ơ̵̭̤̥̥̺̫̱̠̹̙͉̻̊͛͋̇͊̇̈́̕̚ ̵̗́̓ taking offense. That is why he was fit to lead the Exterminations."

"I suppose you're right." Cassiel nodded slowly, a glimmer of reluctant understanding in his eyes. "Though I would appreciate it if you would not utter that Name, in here of all places." "Don't be so timorous, Junior. That thing existed by the Lord's design. It is still a natural part of Creation. Treating it otherwise would be heretical," Uriel tutted, his tone firm but not unkind.

 Cassiel, feeling remorseful, bowed his head. "You're right, Uriel. I... I let my emotions cloud my judgment." "But of course, you did, you little puke," Uriel snorted arrogantly, patting the Angel of the North on the head. Worry not! It is the duty of the knowledgeable to educate the dull. Where would you even be without me, Junior?"

"Why you..! I'm definitely telling Michael you called her a Mad Dog!" Cassiel shot back, his frustration evident. "You snitch!"

Seraphiel placed a comforting hand on Cassiel's shoulder. "It's understandable, Cassiel. We all feel the weight of our duties, and it's natural to be frustrated at times."

Uriel chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Oh, do tell her, Junior. I'm sure she'd love to hear it from you. Perhaps she'll even give you a pat on the head for your efforts."

Cassiel's eyes narrowed, but he couldn't help the slight twitch of a smile at the corners of his mouth. "You're insufferable, Uriel."

"And yet, you adore me," Uriel said, his voice dripping with mock affection. "Now, let's leave Cassiel to his duties. Any more intelligent conversation might fry his brain, and we've got more important matters to attend to."

Seraphiel nodded, and with a shared look, they bid farewell to Cassiel, leaving him to tend to the Throne. The young Seraphim began approaching the Throne, his voice joining the Praise. 

The two Archangels then teleported back to the lower Heaven's Courthouse. Their wings unfurled in a grand display, and their golden robes disappeared in a flash of light as they reverted to their humanoid forms. For a brief moment, the warmth of their previous exchange with Cassiel seemed to linger in the air.

However, as soon as the portal shut down, sealing them off from the serene atmosphere of the Throne, the temperature dropped perceptibly. The previous warmth was replaced by a tense silence.

Seraphiel turned to glare at Uriel, her eyes narrowing with frustration.

"What did you mean by 'if she ascends'?" Seraphiel's voice was sharp, laced with anger.

"A Seraphim doesn't side with a demon, Seraphiel," Uriel, now dressed in intricate attire of gold and white, with a silver androgynous mask obscuring his features, growled. His previously teasing behavior disappeared. "Emily supported that demon spawn. A Seraphim cannot side with a demon!"

"She was just caught off guard! She didn't know about the exterminations," Seraphiel tried to argue, her voice tinged with desperation.

Uriel's mask twisted into an expression of pure rage, red tears falling down its surface. his six wings unfurling, and glaring eyes appearing all over his body as his power surged with his rising anger. "Her not knowing is already telling enough. She cannot be trusted!"

Seraphiel's wings fluttered slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. "You can't judge her so harshly, Uriel. Emily is young and inexperienced. She didn't fully understand the implications—"

"That is exactly the problem!" Uriel's voice thundered, echoing through the Courthouse. "A Seraphim who doesn't understand the stakes, who sides with demons out of ignorance, is a liability. We cannot afford such weakness. Her immaturity is no excuse for such a grievous mistake."

Seraphiel took a step back, her own wings bristling defensively. "She means no harm, brother! She is the Joy Bringer. It is her nature to comfort and care for souls!" "The souls of those worthy, Winners. Not the vile creatures of Hell." Uriel's wings flared with anger, his voice dripping with venom. "The last Joy Bringer started getting ideas too, and look where that led. We nearly lost all Creation because of that folly. Emily's actions are a clear sign that she is not ready, and may never be. A Seraphim siding with a demon is heresy, plain and simple."

Seraphiel's gaze hardened. "We must give her a chance to prove herself. Condemning her now could push her further away."

Uriel's wings flared wider, the eyes on his body glowing fiercely. "A chance? She had her chance when she stood before Lucifer's spawn and chose to side with her. That shows a fundamental flaw in her character. She is a threat to our very existence."

The silver mask contorted further, tears of red streaming down. "You want to coddle her, to forgive her ignorance, but I see the danger she poses. Her compassion is misguided and dangerous. It will be our undoing."

Seraphiel took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I understand your concerns, Uriel, but we cannot act out of fear. We must guide her, not condemn her."

Uriel's rage-filled gaze bore into Seraphiel. "Guide her? Or watch her lead us into ruin? I will not stand by and let another Joy Bringer fall into heresy. She must be watched closely, and if she steps out of line again, there will be consequences."

He paused, his voice lowering but no less intense. "Michael and Cassiel are not the only two who wish to go down and slaughter every single vile creature in Hell," Uriel continued, his voice lowering but no less intense. "Not a day goes by where I haven't thought of ripping that snake and his whore limb from limb. But we've been tasked with maintaining Creation as the Lord deemed fit."

"If a change is to happen, it will happen when the Lord declares it. If what's happening now is a sign, His return may be soon, or it may be billions of years from now. But only when the Lord instructs us to change, will we change our behavior."

He paused, his eyes blazing beneath the mask. "It seems your time as the High Seraphim has given you delusions of power and made you forget what we are. So allow me to remind you."

"We are tools. Nothing more, nothing less." "...Very well," Sera said. A bell chimed. A signal indicated a new arrival waiting behind the doors of the Courthouse. With a sigh, Seraphiel opened the door. Immediately, whatever hostility was present disappeared as if it had never existed. The two Seraphims turned to greet the new arrivals, smiling as they flew down gently from their elevated position.

Uriel's presence changed entirely back to his jovial self. "Emily, it's been a long time," he said warmly.

Emily's face lit up with pure joy, her youthful exuberance shining through. "Uriel!" she squealed, running forward to hug him tightly. "I missed you so much!"

Uriel chuckled and returned the hug, patting her back gently. "I missed you too, Emily."

Seraphiel's smile was radiant as she nodded in agreement. "And Sir Pentious, it's truly wonderful to see you here."

Sir Pentious, his voice trembling with nervousness, managed a small, forced smile. "Indeed, it's... quite the change of scenery," he stammered, his eyes darting around nervously as if expecting some unseen danger to leap out at him at any moment.

Uriel then turned to the newly arrived Winner. "I must assume you two are the newly arrived Soul Heaven's been buzzing about," he said, a friendly twinkle in his eye. "I am Archangel Uriel." "I've been dying to finally meet you."

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In this oppressive darkness, a woman stood, her figure barely discernible in the dim light. Her ruby eyes glowed with an eerie intensity, casting a sinister gleam as she tilted her head upwards, a smile spreading across her lips. Those lips, dark and full, parted to reveal a row of sharp, gleaming teeth, almost splitting her face in a macabre grin.

Her arms were raised towards the heavens, or what passed for them in this desolate realm, as if in supplication. But there was no humility in her stance, only a sense of anticipation, of dark ecstasy.

As she stood there, the darkness seemed to drip from her form like a thick, viscous liquid, pooling at her feet and seeping into the ground below. Her very being seemed to thrum with elation, her roots shaking with a perverse joy.

Little by little, he was coming. Her beloved was nearing. And in the deepest depths of Hell, their reunion would herald an era of darkness and despair, unlike anything the world had ever seen.