In the Second Heaven, Raki'a, the realm of "The Heart of God" Raphael, the Archangels gathered, bathed in a radiant, heavenly glow.
For the first time in centuries, the realm of the living stood whole, shining in the pure light of divine unity.
For the first time in centuries, the aether was clear, letting the pure essence of life flow freely.
For the first time in millennia, the oppressive rule of Hell was broken, its dark influence retreating from the strengthened heavens.
Nearly five days had passed since the First Man bravely ventured into Hell and emerged victorious, though not without scars.
Now, suspended in the air, the First Man's form lay separated into flesh, soul, and essence. Raphael, the Archangel of Healing, focused his divine energy on healing the Lord's greatest creation, weaving patterns of celestial light around him.
Sera, the High Seraphim, lifted her head and looked at her gathered siblings. In this rare moment, they stood united, their auras blending into a harmonious chorus of heavenly beings.
The air shimmered with a holy luminescence, casting long shadows that danced with echoes of ancient wisdom and unfaltering resolve. Each Archangel radiated a distinct brilliance, their focus centered on Raphael's intricate work and the delicate state of Adam's form.
Haniel, the First Angel upon whom all others were based, sat in solemn silence. With her eyes closed in deep meditation and hands clasped in a gesture of reverence, she radiated an aura of creation. Her connection to the very essence of life was palpable as she silently prayed for Adam's healing and renewal. Grounding the sacred process with her ancient wisdom, her presence was a foundation of divine strength.
Standing with crossed arms, a serene yet commanding presence, Gabriel, the Messenger of God, focused intently on the ethereal form of Adam. His role was to interpret the celestial messages embedded within Adam's essence, ensuring that every nuance was understood. Providing clarity and guidance in the unfolding divine plan, a plan that they knew nothing about.
Judging from the slowly developing frown of his brow, Seraphiel doubted her other half had found anything concrete.
Maintaining a vigilant stance, Zadkiel, the Archangel of Mercy, scanned the First Man with compassionate eyes. His focus encompassed Adam's entire being, from body to soul. Ensuring that every act of healing and forgiveness was infused with divine compassion, making sure Adam remained sound asleep, oblivious to the tearing and reshaping of his being, and allowing Raphael to focus his attention on solely restoring.
Not too far from her brother, Raguel, the Archangel of Justice, stood tall with an aura of unwavering righteousness. Her sharp gaze was fixed on maintaining balance and order within the idea of 'Adam'. With meticulous scrutiny, Raguel ensured that all three parts- Body, Soul, and Mind- were in perfect harmony. Her presence served as a beacon of balance, upholding the principles of divine law and ensuring that any influence or residues of Roo left from their brief encounter were swiftly removed.
Lastly, Michael, the Taxiarch, adorned in resplendent golden armor, stood with her hand resting gently on the pommel of her sword. She exuded an aura of authority and protection, her focus on safeguarding the sanctity of the divine process, and protecting the Lord's Blessing to the First Man.
Adam's eyes, suspended in a glass container, were submerged in the blessed Waters of Bethesda.
Michael's role was to shield Adam's journey through healing and restoration from any outside interference, ensuring that nothing disrupted the sacred work being performed.
None spoke.
The atmosphere was thick with a shared unspoken understanding and purpose, each Archangel's presence a vital part of the whole. Just like it had been Ten thousand years ago.
Seraphiel's gaze took their dedication, and she couldn't help but nod in approval. Truly, these Six epitomized all that was expected of Archangels.
On the other side of the room, however, the scene was markedly different.
Seraphiel observed with a twitching brow as some of the other angels seemed entirely too relaxed, not giving the divine task nearly the reverence and respect it deserved.
Barely paying attention to Raphael's work, Jophiel and Chamuel were occupied with cradling Lute in their arms, petting and doting while the exorcist tried to break free without causing offense.
Her sisters surrounded Lute, looking less like the proud Archangels they were and more like two schoolgirls fawning over a kitten.
Jophiel's warm smile beamed as she gently embraced Lute, pulling her into a snug embrace, nearly squeezing the breath out of her. "Oh, look at those precious eyes! You're absolutely adorable!" she exclaimed joyfully, her voice brimming with genuine adoration as she ran her fingers through the exorcist's hair. "I hope that means Sera is not giving you a hard time."
Lute sputtered, trying to maintain her composure. "N-not at all, Your Holiness," she managed, her voice strained but respectful.
Chamuel, not wanting to be left out, gently mushed Lute's cheeks, her fingers tender and affectionate. "You're just the cutest thing, my little feather," she cooed, hugging Lute into her chest, nearly choking her with affection. "I could just gobble you up!"
"T-Thank you, Your Holiness," Lute's voice was strained, a blush coming up on her face.
The Angel of Love beamed at her. "And she's so polite!"
Sera watched the scene unfold with a mixture of disappointment and mild irritation. For the sake of her sanity, she pretended not to see the pleading look Lute sent her and turned away. The exorcist's struggle continued as Jophiel and Chamuel remained oblivious to her discomfort.
What she saw was even more disappointing.
Uriel stood uncomfortably close to Cassiel, self-satisfaction and amusement rolling from his form even with the mask on his face. His finger hovered mere millimeters from Cassiel's face, darting in and out like an annoying mosquito.
Cassiel's patience was wearing thin, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "Seriously, cut it out!" he snapped, his voice a low growl.
Uriel chuckled softly, enjoying the rise he was getting out of Cassiel. "Cut what out, Junior?" he feigned innocence, his tone dripping with mischief.
"I swear, Uriel, I will break your finger," Cassiel threatened, his voice tinged with frustration.
Uriel's grin widened, undeterred by Cassiel's warning. "You can try," he teased, his voice laced with playful defiance. "But remember, I'm not even touching you."
Cassiel's jaw tightened further, his temper flaring. He took a deliberate step back, trying to regain his cool composure. "You're beyond insufferable," he muttered through gritted teeth, his irritation palpable.
Uriel shrugged casually, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe just a smidge," he admitted, his grin unapologetic.
"Uriel..." Sera called out to him tiredly.
"I'm not doing anything!" Uriel protested innocently
Sera sighed heavily and turned away, choosing to ignore Uriel's antics for the sake of her own peace of mind.
Emily and Azrael sat together in a cozy corner, playing pate-a-cake. Emily's excitement bubbled over as she animatedly recounted her day. Though at this point, it seemed that Azrael simply kept her palm up, and let Emilt let do all the playing.
"Okay, Azrael, oh my gosh, guess what happened today!" Emily exclaimed, clapping her hands together eagerly. "I met this Winner, Lysander, and he was like, the nicest person ever! He took me to this garden, Azrael, oh my wings, it was like... like stepping into a fairy tale! Flowers everywhere, glowing like little stars!"
Azrael nodded, her expression calm. "That sounds lovely."
"Wait, Azrael, you don't get it! These flowers, they sang! Well, not really sang, but they shimmered, and it was like they were whispering secrets to me," Emily rambled on, her eyes wide with excitement. "And then, and then, I saw this flock of heavenborn, they were like... flying, Azrael, flying in circles and making these beautiful patterns in the sky!"
Azrael smiled gently, nodding along. "That's nice."
"Oh, it was! And then, Azrael, listen, I met this little Winner, Milo, and oh my halos, he was hilarious," Emily continued, barely pausing for breath. "He kept telling these jokes, and they were so bad, but I couldn't stop laughing! He's like a little comedian up there! Oh, and then, he-"
She smiled warmly as she looked at the younger Seraphim, admiring her innocence and joy. She wished to preserve that pure happiness for a little while longer, but...
"We are tools. Nothing more, nothing less."
Sooner or later, they would need to speak.
Now, however, there were more urgent matters to take care of.
Raphael's hands dropped, the First Man's body reconnected, and all levity left the room. As one, the archangels straightened up.
Raphael's voice, deep and resonant, filled the chamber with a commanding presence. "Adam's physical form has been restored," he declared, his words carrying the weight of divine authority. As he spoke, the Archangels' focused gazes shifted to the now-mended body before them. The flesh appeared whole once more, seamlessly knitting itself together, yet an unmistakable sense of incompleteness lingered.
"His eyes did not join the body," Michael spoke, looking down at the pair of eyes still swimming unchanged in blessed water.
"And his soul remains suspended in the air." Sera pointed out at the burning flame still hovering in the air.
"Precisely. Yet, my announcement still rings true. the body that belongs to Adam has been repaired." Raphael continued with a sigh, "But the soul..."
"...will not connect," Raguel finished, his expression troubled as he looked towards the flickering flames representing the First Man's soul.
Emily, her expression anxious, spoke up. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Uriel began solemnly as he stepped forward, pointing towards the soul suspended in the air, "that the soul doesn't recognize the body as its own." He then gestured towards Adam's physical form. "And the body," he continued, shifting his gaze to the mended body, "...doesn't recognize the soul as its own."
Gabriel, nodding in understanding, added, "They are out of sync with each other."
Raphael, his brow furrowed in concern, interjected, "This discordance between body and soul poses a significant challenge."
Jophiel's brow furrowed as she voiced her hypothesis, "Perhaps the prolonged separation between Adam's body and soul has caused this. It has been unoccupied for over two weeks, after all."
"In a regular corpse, yes. But this is an angel's body. It wouldn't have rotted or deteriorated in the usual sense." Cassiel returned from his position.
Chamuel leaned forward, her brow furrowed in deep contemplation. "True, but consider this: even though it's an angel's body, there's more to decay than just physical decomposition. The body is delicate and intricate. Perhaps the prolonged separation has disrupted that harmony."
Zadkiel shook his head."It must be the soul. If it was an issue of the body deteriorating, then the soul would have rushed back the moment Raphael repaired it." He turned toward Azrael. "You said that Adam's soul never passed through the Aether."
Azrael nodded in agreement, her voice soft. "It did not."
Cassiel crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "So, we are considering that the soul could be compromised. Roo's influence?"
Raguel shook her head. "Couldn't be. There is no trace of it. Of that, we're absolutely certain."
"Trauma, perhaps?" Uriel suggested. "Emotions linger even post-mortem. Considering the way he passed away and his history, Adam's soul may very well still carry unresolved regrets."
Azrael spoke softly, her gaze fixed on the suspended soul. "And without passing through the Aether, Adam's soul hasn't undergone the necessary purification and reconnection."
From her position between Jophiel's arms, Lute spoke up anxiously. "B-but why didn't Adam's soul pass through the Aether in the first place?"
Chamuel gently squeezed Lute's shoulder, offering reassurance. "It's possible there was an interruption, something unforeseen that prevented the journey through the Aether."
"It could be due to the Angelic Weapons? This is the first time a Heaven-born soul was actually slain by one," Michael offered, suggesting a possibility.
"But Azrael said she found the souls of the exorcists in there," Emily said timidly. While she had been against the exterminations, she was still heartbroken that her fellow Heaven-born had been killed. The fact that they would return, even if it took time, was very appreciated.
"Heaven-born souls, yes. Adam is a Winner," Michael countered. "It could very well be that human souls react differently. Sinner's souls are destroyed permanently; it wouldn't be odd for the Angelic steel to affect Winners, even if it's to a lesser degree."
"Maybe it's something about the nature of his soul itself," Uriel mused. "After all, Adam is the First Man. There could be unique properties or conditions we've never encountered before."
Azrael nodded. "It could be something inherent to his existence as the First Man, something we don't fully understand."
"Then.... how did his soul get to Heaven the first time?" Emily asked, her voice hesitant.
She noticed how her question seemed to make everyone a bit uncomfortable. For a second, no one seemed willing to answer. Emily turned toward her mentor. "Sera..?"
The High Seraphim let out a sigh and turned to Emily with sad eyes. "We were not allowed to see him back then. After Eden, Roo, and what happened to Abel later on, the Lord did not.... trust us to handle it."
Emily looked around the room, seeing the solemnity on the faces of the other angels. "So, no one here knows how it happened?"
"Precisely," Uriel confirmed, his tone somber. "The details of Adam's first ascension to Heaven were kept from us. The Lord handled it personally. He welcomed Adam to Heaven himself."
"That means we don't have a precedent to follow. We're in uncharted territory." Raguel frowned.
Cassiel rubbed his temples in frustration. "So we're basically flying blind here."
"Not entirely," Chamuel said softly. "We know that Adam's soul did make it to Heaven once. That means it's possible, even if we don't fully understand how. We just need to find the key."
Raguel broke the silence, her tone thoughtful. "So, where does that leave us? Are we leaning towards the issue being with the body or the soul?"
"Both." Haniel, who had been silent the entire time, spoke from her seat.
The other angels turned to her, surprise and curiosity evident in their expressions.
"What do you mean, Sis?" Uriel asked, brow furrowing.
"What Raphael and I have done was mere healing, restoring the body to what it considered its Ideal Form. Yet, his wings and halo, both of which remained after his death, are not present."
"Are you suggesting that the body and soul are both incomplete without those elements?" Jophiel asked. "If that is so, we shall just make new ones for him as we've done to all Winners."
"You misunderstand," Raphael spoke, his back still turned to the rest of them. "They are not missing. The body simply casts them away. The body you see before you have rejected its angelic attributes because Adam's soul has taken on a new form."
"What do you mean?" Cassiel's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Adam has reincarnated as a human once more."
The room fell silent as the weight of Raphael's words sank in.
"Reincarnated?" Seraphiel repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "But how? Why?"
"And it's not just the body that changed," the first angel continued solemnly. "The soul has changed as well. It's aged."
"Isn't that normal?" Zadkiel questioned, his voice tinged with confusion. "Souls aging is something to be expected. It is how we angels grow and become stronger."
The first angel shook their head slowly. "Not in this manner. When souls are separated from their physical forms, they typically remain dormant in the Tree of Life."
"In Adam's case, that never happened because his soul never passed through the Aether," the Angel of Wisdom lamented. "Now we're faced with not only joining a human body with a divine soul but also reconciling a two-week temporal difference between the two."
"More," Haniel interjected.
"Haniel?" Seraphiel asked, raising a brow.
"The difference between the soul and the body is more than two weeks."
Jophiel hummed, her hand absentmindedly stroking Lute's hair. "I guess we have to consider the time Raphael spent healing him too, so that makes it what? Nineteen days? Twenty-"
"Six million, nine hundred ninety-one thousand years."
"...Pardon?" Uriel exclaimed, leaning to stare at his older sister.
"Six million, nine hundred ninety-one thousand years."
"Six million, nine hundred ninety-one thousand years?" Uriel repeated, his eyes widening in shock behind his mask. The other angels exchanged stunned glances, struggling to comprehend the enormity of the temporal discrepancy.
"But that's... inconceivable," Zadkiel murmured, his voice barely audible.
"How is that even possible?" Seraphiel whispered, her hand covering her mouth in astonishment.
Haniel nodded solemnly. "It seems that Adam's soul has traversed a considerable span of time while his body remained dead."
"No, no, no! Waiting for Uriel to get out of the toilet is a 'considerable span of time..'"—Junior!?"— "..Seven million years is older than even some of the angels!" Cassiel protested. "How did that even happen?"
"At this point, are we even sure it's Adam's soul?" Raguel added, voicing a question that hung heavy in the air, cutting through the disbelief and confusion that gripped the assembly.
Uriel frowned deeply, contemplating Raguel's question. "It's a valid concern. It seems far too old to be human."
Haniel, ever the voice of reason, shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought. "We've observed his soul, its complexities and characteristics. Despite the age, there are unique resonances that align with the essence we knew as Adam. The soul is undoubtedly Adam's, as is the body."
"But how could his soul have aged so much? What could have caused such a profound temporal discrepancy?" Seraphiel, her expression troubled, interjected softly, turning to look at her twin. "Gabriel?"
Gabriel straightened up from the wall where he had been leaning, his expression troubled. He sighed heavily before addressing the gathered angels. "That's exactly the issue we're grappling with. Despite all attempts to discern the nature of Adam's soul, the more I delve into it, the more perplexing it becomes. So feel free to add his Mind to the list."
Lute, perched on the edge of her seat, her eyes wide with curiosity, dared to ask, "Perplexing how Your Highness?"
Gabriel's gaze shifted towards Lute, his expression a mix of contemplation and concern. "His soul carries traces of experiences that defy any mortal understanding. There are glimpses of knowledge and wisdom that surpass even our collective understanding in Heaven. Yet, intertwined with these profound insights are layers of confusion and uncertainty. He is aware that he is Adam, and the major events of his life remain the same, but they are slightly altered."
"For example?" Sera prompted, her curiosity piqued.
"The Garden of Eden, for one," Gabriel began, his tone weighted with the weight of centuries. "He understands his expulsion from the Garden, but in his mind, it was he who ate the apple. Lilith, from what I could tell, was removed from his psyche. Entirely. As far as Adam's concerned, Eve was the only other human at the time, but..." Gabriel paused, rubbing the bridge of his nose in consternation. "He thinks that Michael is Eve."
The assembled angels exchanged bewildered looks, struggling to grasp the implications of Gabriel's words. In unison, their gazes turned towards Michael, who had been quietly sitting to the side, a mild expression of surprise on her face as she held a glass container.
"M-Michael?!" Emily sputtered, her face flushing slightly and her hand covering her mouth.
Gabriel cleared his throat, his expression grave as he continued. "Adam's perception of events seems to blend memories. He recalls moments from his life in Eden with startling clarity, yet his interpretation is skewed. It's possible that in his subconscious mind, Michael embodies qualities that Eve possessed in the Garden—the companionship, the trust, and the pivotal role in his narrative."
Uriel began slowly, choosing his words with precision, "So his memories seem fragmented as if pieced together from different epochs." He paused, casting his gaze around the assembly of angels who listened intently. "These gaps are not mere omissions but seem deliberate as if certain aspects of his soul have been shielded or obscured. It's as though someone—or something—has woven threads of different narratives together, creating a tapestry that is both rich in detail and frustratingly elusive."
"The Abomination couldn't have done it," Haniel interjected firmly. "While she possesses the strength for such a task, she would never manipulate Adam's memories in a way that would that would replace her in favor of Michael of all people."
Zadkiel nodded in agreement. "And I doubt she would ever taint her 'beloved' in such a manner."
Michael, her voice barely above a whisper, spoke with solemn softness. "It's the work of the Lord." Her eyes, deep and searching, focused on the orbs in her grasp. The eyes seemed to peer straight into her soul.
The other angels exchanged knowing glances, the truth of Michael's words settling heavily among them. Adam's soul, woven with threads of disparate memories and perceptions, bore the imprint of Divine intervention.
Uriel nodded thoughtfully. "If the Lord has intervened in Adam's soul, it must be part of a greater plan, beyond our current understanding."
Haniel sighed softly, her expression reflecting a mix of reverence and concern. "Whatever the Lord's purpose, we must trust in His wisdom."
"Still, it has to be a test for us," Cassiel said, his gaze shifting from Michael to Gabriel, the Messenger of God. "Gabriel, did you find anything of the sort in Adam's mind? Any indications that this weaving of memories and perceptions might serve a divine purpose?"
Gabriel sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the responsibility placed upon him. "I have searched tirelessly," he began, his voice a mix of frustration and reverence. "There are traces of intent, threads of purpose woven into the fabric of Adam's soul—nothing more than barely coherent echoes, but... there was a fragment of a memory."
He paused, gathering his thoughts as the other angels leaned in, their attention focused intently on his words.
"It was a fleeting glimpse," Gabriel continued, his voice softer now, filled with a solemn weight. "I saw Adam standing... facing something. I couldn't decipher who or what it was by shape alone, but I think it was an old man."
The other angels remained silent, their expressions thoughtful as they exchanged glances, attempting to grasp the significance of Gabriel's words.
"An old man?" Emily repeated, her brow furrowing in curiosity.
Gabriel nodded slowly, his gaze distant as he recalled the vision. "Yes, it was as if he stood before a being of pure essence, untouched by mortal existence. The aura was unmistakable—a presence that transcended all earthly understanding. What I felt was... True Divinity. Adam referred to him as the King of Gods."
"He saw the King of Gods? The Almighty Himself?" Uriel's voice thundered through the chamber, echoing off the walls. "Gabriel, what did He say? Is He returning?"
Cassiel's wings fluttered with agitation as he exclaimed, "What did Adam experience in His presence? Did he receive any divine message?"
"Does this mean the end times are truly upon us?" Azrael asked softly, barging into Gabriel's personal space her hands clasped in front of her chest.
"Did he receive any divine message?" Uriel demanded, voice echoing through the chamber. "Should we prepare for His return?"
"D-did the Almighty say anything about Sir Pentious?" Emily yelled from the back, trying to approach but her siblings' larger forms stopped her.
"Was there a warning for us?" Raguel questioned, brow furrowed in concern. "Are we ready to face His judgment?"
The assembly erupted into a cacophony of voices, questions tumbling over each other in a frenzied panic. Just as the chaos reached its peak, a booming clap silenced them all.
"Silence! Have you forgotten your status?! We need clarity, not hysteria," commanded the High Seraphim, her gaze sweeping the room. Her six wings unfurled, and numerous eyes glared at her siblings, prompting some to murmur apologies. "Gabriel, continue, please."
The angels quieted, hanging on Gabriel's every word, their expressions a mix of fear and anticipation.
The room fell into a heavy silence as Gabriel gathered his thoughts, the intensity of the moment hanging in the air like a weight. The angels leaned in closer, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension, waiting for Gabriel to break the silence and reveal what he knew.
A weird look came over Gabriel's face as if he was hesitant to say the next part. He opened his mouth, only to close it again.
"Today, if you could," Uriel gritted his teeth, receiving a look from Seraphiel. He shrugged, sensing the urgency in the room.
Gabriel took a deep breath, his voice low but carrying across the chamber. "The Almighty and Adam... their interaction was intense. They seemed to engage in a... physical exchange."
"Wh-what does that mean?" Cassiel looked at him, clearly lost. He glanced at the others, finding them just as bewildered. "What're you trying to say?"
Gabriel's face contorted even further, his cheeks heating from embarrassment. "They started punching each other."
The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the faint rustling of wings and shifting of feet. The Archangel only continued to stare at Gabriel.
"...what."
It was... unexpected," Gabriel began cautiously, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. "The Almighty and Adam... they engaged in a physical confrontation of sorts. Adam appeared to mimic the Almighty's movements as if mirroring His actions."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the assembly, the angels exchanging bewildered glances as they struggled to comprehend Gabriel's revelation.
"After that," Gabriel continued, his tone measured, "the memory abruptly ended, and Adam awoke in the mortuary next to his lieutenant."
Zadkiel furrowed his brow, leaning forward in his seat. "What do you mean, 'mimicking His moves'? How can a mortal mimic the Almighty?"
Gabriel shook his head slightly, his expression troubled. "I can't fully explain it. It was as if Adam was embodying the essence of the Almighty momentarily, engaging in a form of communion that transcended mortal boundaries."
Uriel, ever cautious, spoke next. "Was there any indication of why this confrontation occurred? Any message left behind?"
"No," Gabriel replied solemnly. "The memory was fragmented, elusive. There were no clear answers. But I don't think the Almighty was crossed with Adam. If anything, He seemed happy."
The room buzzed with whispered conversations and exchanged glances, the angels trying to make sense of Gabriel's revelation.
"He seemed happy?" Chamuel repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "How can that be? What could possibly have transpired to bring joy to the Almighty?"
Gabriel sighed, his gaze distant as he recalled the fleeting memory. "It's difficult to discern His intentions, but there was a sense of... approval, perhaps. As if whatever occurred between them held profound significance, something beyond our understanding."
Cassiel leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "Could this mean Adam has been chosen for a greater purpose?"
Uriel nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. "It's possible. The Almighty's actions are always deliberate, never without purpose. If He engaged with Adam in such a manner, there must be a reason."
"But why a physical confrontation?" Jophiel interjected, his wings twitching with agitation. "What could the Almighty hope to achieve through such means?"
Gabriel shook his head, his uncertainty evident. "I don't know, but I believe those moves that the Almighty showed... they were the same Adam used when he returned."
The room grew quieter, the angels absorbing Gabriel's words with growing realization.
"The same moves?" Cassiel murmured, his eyes widening in astonishment as he recalled Adam's final decisive strike. "Thinking back, his last attack carried a hint of Divine Blessing. True God's Right Fist, he called it."
Uriel leaned forward, his expression thoughtful, brow furrowed in contemplation. "Could it be a lesson? Perhaps the Almighty was imparting knowledge or preparing Adam."
"Then that means Adam's descent into Hell was not merely an act of defiance," The Angel of Beauty interjected, her voice steady but laced with excitement. "It was by the Lord's command."
Raphael's voice carried reverence as he spoke once more "There was a poem of humans that spoke of this:
'O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight!
And to the rescue came.'
His stance was solemn, wings slightly unfurled, as he pondered deeply, his gaze fixed on the assembled angels. "Could it be referring to this prophecy by the Lord's design? Speaking of Adam's second ascension?"
His words hung in the air, prompting the angels to ponder. The idea of a divine prophecy woven into mortal literature wasn't new, but if Adam's return was foretold as a "second Adam," it would explain the guidance he seemed to receive.
"I don't think the child who wrote it was even aware of its true meaning, but..." Uriel nodded thoughtfully. "It fits. Adam's arrival and his actions, especially confronting the Archtraitor in the realm of shame and sin, seem to align."
"So for now, it seems that Adam's condition is merely momentary, a transient state as he undergoes his final ascension. This is not merely a trial but his ultimate test, a crucible forged by the Almighty's will." Haniel declared, prompting the others to nod. "As for us, we shall not stay idle."
Gabriel nodded in agreement, his wings unfurling and rising "The prophecy unfolds, and we must remain vigilant. The path ahead is fraught with peril, but it is by His design."
Raphael, standing tall with a look of determination, added, "We must prepare ourselves, for the time draws near. The signs are clear, and we have been entrusted with this divine mission."
Chamuel, with a thoughtful expression, remarked. She released Lute and rose to stand by her siblings."It is a test of faith and strength. We must be ready to uphold His will and guide Adam through his ordained path."
The assembly of angels stood united, their resolve unwavering as they prepared to fulfill their roles in the unfolding divine plan. The echoes of prophecy and the decree of the Almighty filled their essences.
"And the Seven Trumpets shall sound," Zadkiel intoned, his voice filled with reverence. "The heavens will declare the coming trials, and all of creation will bear witness."
"The First will signal the beginning of the end: the seas will roar, the earth will tremble, and the heavens will proclaim His glory," Uriel joined in.
"The second trumpet will bring the great mountain burning with fire, cast into the sea," Jophiel continued. "The third will see a great star fall from heaven, blazing like a torch. The fourth will darken the sun, moon, and stars, plunging the world into deepening chaos."
Raguel's voice joined in, "The fifth trumpet will release the torment of locusts upon the earth, sparing only those sealed by God. The sixth will unleash the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates, and they will kill a third of mankind."
Emily looked around at the frenzy her older siblings seemed to be driven into, their words frightening her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat as she felt Seraphiel's hands on her shoulders in a vice-like grip, wings unfurled and authority bearing down on Emily.
A warning.
Emily could only watch in despair as Sear joined."The seventh trumpet will announce the final victory of our Lord, His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"For the Almighty's decree is clear. "When the First Man and the Lord's champion awaken, " Michael declared, stepping to the front, her six wings unfurled in all their glory. Her voice resonated with divine authority.
"The Child of Sin will be presented for the slaughter."
And in seeming approval of their devotion, the First Man's soul burned brighter