The grand halls of the celestial city were uncharacteristically quiet. The usually radiant spires seemed dimmed, their golden glow muted by the weight of the events that had unfolded. Angels gathered in solemn clusters, their expressions etched with grief and confusion.
In the central square, Seriel's funeral was prepared, a tribute to a fallen hero. His body lay atop a massive altar of white marble, his shattered sword placed beside him. Streams of golden light cascaded from above, bathing him in a divine glow as hymns of mourning filled the air.
"He gave everything for that child," one angel whispered, her voice trembling.
"And yet that child… was a being of two worlds," another muttered, unease flickering in his tone. "A child of both Heaven and the Abyss. How could such a thing exist?"
The High Council of angels stood silently, their faces stoic but their eyes betraying their turmoil.
"What do we do now?" one of them asked. "The demon lord's revelation… it changes everything."
"For now," another replied, "we honor Seriel's sacrifice. And we pray that Lucian's light is not lost forever."
At the grove, Lucian's body remained untouched. None of the angels dared approach it, as if the residual energy surrounding him was sacred. Suddenly, his form began to glow, softly at first, then brighter and brighter until it was blinding.
The angels gasped as the light engulfed him, his broken wings unfurling one final time before disintegrating into particles of luminous energy. His body dissolved into the light, rising toward the heavens in a slow, spiraling ascent.
"What is happening?" one angel asked, shielding their eyes.
"His essence… it's returning to the Creator," another murmured, falling to their knees.
The light lingered for a moment longer, as if bidding farewell, before it vanished completely, leaving only an empty grove behind.
...
There was nothing. No sound, no sight, no sensation. Only an infinite void.
"Where… am I?" Lucian's voice echoed, though he wasn't sure if he had even spoken aloud. His thoughts swirled in the darkness, fragments of his last moments piecing together in disjointed flashes. The battle, Seriel's death, his own rage, then the overwhelming pain of the demon lord's strike.
He drifted, weightless and disoriented, until a faint glow appeared in the distance. The light grew steadily brighter, warm and inviting, piercing the void with a gentle radiance.
A figure emerged from the light, a woman of indescribable beauty. Her long, shimmering hair cascaded like rivers of starlight, and her eyes held the infinite depth of creation itself. She wore a simple gown that seemed woven from pure luminescence, and her presence exuded an overwhelming sense of peace and love.
"Lucian," she said, her voice like a melody, soft yet powerful.
He stared, his breath catching. "Who… are you?"
The woman smiled gently, stepping closer. "I am the one you've always sought, though you never knew it. I am Elira, the Creator of this realm."
"The... Creator?" Lucian's voice cracked, disbelief warring with an unexpected sense of familiarity.
"Yes," Elira said, her gaze tender but filled with sorrow. "I had you placed at Heaven's gates because it was the only way to protect you. You are the product of a union forbidden by both realms. Your father, Malgron, sought to claim you for his darkness, and I… I could not let that happen."
Lucian's mind reeled. "Malgron… he's my father?"
Elira nodded, her expression pained. "He is. But you are not defined by his shadow. You are more than that. You are both light and dark, angel and demon, and far greater than either. I hoped that Heaven would teach you to embrace the light within you."
"Then why?" Lucian demanded, his voice rising. "Why didn't you help me? Why didn't you stop him?"
Tears shimmered in Elira's eyes. "Because even I am bound by the laws of this existence. To intervene directly would have shattered the balance, and the consequences would have been catastrophic for all realms. I had to trust that you would find your own path."
Lucian turned away, frustration and pain gnawing at him. "Seriel died because of me. He gave his life for someone who couldn't even protect him."
Elira placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Seriel loved you as his own. His choice was not one of obligation but of devotion. He saw your potential, Lucian, even when you could not."
Elira's radiant form shimmered with sorrow and hope as she regarded this child "Lucian, your journey has not ended, but it will not continue as you expect. I am sending you to a world far removed from Heaven and the Abyss, the Earth. A realm of mortals who possess their own unique gifts. You will begin anew."
Lucian furrowed his brow, confusion and frustration bubbling to the surface. "Begin anew? What does that mean? Will I still have my powers?"
Elira's expression softened. "Yes, but not as you once knew them. Your connection to Arcanum, your wings, and the powers of both angel and demon, they will remain within you. However, they will be dormant. You must earn them back, one step at a time. And on Earth, you will also have access to something the humans call circles, a power unique to their kind."
"Human powers?" Lucian echoed, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Yes," Elira said, her tone firm but kind. "Arcanum in Earth's realm manifests differently. Humans channel it through their will, their discipline, and their emotions, carving circles within themselves as vessels for power. Should you learn to master this alongside your celestial and infernal abilities, you will become something truly extraordinary, a being capable of balancing all three realms within yourself."
Lucian clenched his fists, doubt and determination warring within him. "Why? Why strip me of everything I've fought for? Why make me start over?"
Elira stepped closer, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "Because strength without understanding leads to ruin. You've seen this within yourself, Lucian, how rage consumed you, how power unchecked can destroy even those you love. To wield your gifts wisely, you must first understand the burden they carry."
He looked away, shame prickling at his heart. She was right. The memory of his rage, the way it had burned through him and blinded him to everything else, was still fresh in his mind.
Elira reached out, cupping his face with a hand that radiated warmth and love. "You have always been meant for something greater. But greatness is not born, it is forged through struggle, pain, and growth. On Earth, you will face trials that will shape you into the person you were always meant to be."
Tears welled in Lucian's mismatched eyes. "And you? Will I ever see you again?"
Her smile was bittersweet. "I will always be with you, even if you cannot see or hear me. My love will guide you, just as Seriel's sacrifice will live on in your heart. Remember who you are, Lucian. Not just a child, but as someone who can bring balance to all worlds."
Elira stepped back, and the light surrounding her began to intensify. "Go now, Lucian. Embrace the path ahead of you. And know that, no matter how far apart we may seem, you are never alone."
Before Lucian could respond, the light consumed him, pulling him into a swirling cascade of energy. His body felt weightless, yet heavy with the enormity of what lay ahead. The sensation of falling was different this time, not violent, but purposeful, as if the universe itself was carrying him toward his destiny.
The warmth of Elira's presence faded, replaced by the cool embrace of the unknown. Then, a sudden rush of air filled his senses, and he felt the weight of his body return.
Lucian's senses returned in a haze, the world around him unfamiliar yet strangely comforting. The first thing he noticed was the searing burn in his lungs, like he was inhaling air for the very first time. His body ached, trembling as he struggled to breathe.
A soft, distant sound broke through the fog, a woman's voice, gentle and soothing. He felt warmth cradling him, his body wrapped in something soft and delicate. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.
The light above was dim but calming, filtered through wooden beams. He realized he was indoors, in a small, humble home. His gaze shifted, and he saw her, a woman with kind eyes and a radiant smile. Her face was framed by waves of dark hair, and though she seemed human, there was something ethereal about her presence, a faint glow that reminded him of Elira.
"Welcome, little one," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
Little one? The words puzzled him, and he tried to move, only to find his limbs weak and uncoordinated. His hands, small and soft, reached out instinctively. Panic flickered in his chest as realization struck.
I've been reborn.
The woman, his new mother, gently placed him against her chest, her heartbeat steady and reassuring. "You're safe now," she whispered, brushing a hand over his hair.
Beside her stood a man, broad-shouldered and rugged, his face lined with both strength and gentleness. He looked down at Lucian with a mix of awe and pride. "He's perfect," the man said, his voice deep and warm.
Lucian's thoughts raced. The memories of Heaven, the battle, Seriel's sacrifice, and Elira's revelation were all still vivid. And yet here he was, cradled in the arms of mortals, his body no longer his own.
He wanted to speak, to ask questions, but his voice failed him. Instead, a soft cry escaped his lips, a sound he didn't expect, but one that brought a radiant smile to his new mother's face.
"He's strong already," the man chuckled. "Just look at that light in his eyes."
The woman nodded. "We'll call him… Lucian."
Hearing his name spoken aloud felt like an anchor, grounding him in this new reality. He couldn't understand why Elira had chosen this path for him, but as he looked into the woman's eyes, he felt a strange sense of comfort.
Days passed in a blur of warmth and care. Though his body was new, his mind remained intact, and he quickly realized he was no ordinary child. While he couldn't yet control his movements or speech, he could feel something deep within him, a dormant power waiting to awaken.
As his new parents tended to him, Lucian observed everything. The way they spoke, their expressions, the gentle Arcanum circles they used for daily tasks, it was different from what he'd known but fascinating in its simplicity.
He could sense their love, their devotion, and it reminded him painfully of Seriel. He vowed to himself, even in this fragile state, that he wouldn't let this new family suffer as Seriel had.