My wings have changed?
I looked behind me, getting a glance at the once abyss-black wings that protruded from my back.
But now, they were different.
The black wings had mottled stripes of red running through the bone lines which seemed to glow softly.
It was a majestic sight, and with it, I seemed to have gained a new understanding of myself.
I felt as though I had a deeper control of my wings.
Like if I simply willed I, I could retract them back into my spine and have them return by simply willing it.
Like I could beat the wings with a certain rhythm and create gusts of wind currents to defend myself or attack my enemy with.
Or perhaps even fly...
"I don't know what has happened to me... It's like, her the baffle has awakened something inside of me."
Faye watched me with a strange eye, as though I were a new being.
And I thought I noticed a hint of fear coming from her.
But I was more focused on what had happened to the angel.
Was she dead?
"We need to find her corpse. If she's no longer alive, then we can take the soul source from her heart."
I began to make my way over, but Faye didn't move. Instead, she looked at me with her red eyes.
"You still want to bring the heartstone to Gavalis'? After what the angel said."
She had me completely mistaken.
"No, of course not. But if the source exists, I'd rather we keep it and use it for ourselves. It will help in the battle against Gavalis."
Killing Gavalis was something I had already decided as soon as the angel told me the truth about the third layer.
The man could not continue to live, and I realised then that my hatred grew deeper than I thought it had.
It went past just the ten pillars and those who were involved in the murdering of my parents.
It extended to the demons and the creators of this hell.
Faye hesitated for a moment but nodded to me. Whatever her thoughts on the situation were, she decided to follow along for now.
---
We found the corpse of the angel collapsed against a building in the city.
Her form was crumpled and slowly began to disintegrate into the air.
No part of me felt bad for what I had done.
She had been forced to live a life that she did not wish to live, and I had freed her from her curse.
Faye had shed a tear, which was something I did not understand. So I ignored her.
Once the corpse had completely disappeared, a small black stone crystal was left behind.
I reached over and picked it up in my ashen hands, and instantly I knew that there was a power deep within that could be tapped into.
Something told me to take it for myself. To absorb it into my very being, though I did not know how to.
So instead, I tucked into the pockets of my white robes.
Faye seemed to have no problem with me keeping it for myself. Perhaps she would feel a pang of guilt using it herself.
"How do you plan on using it?" She asked me, but I wasn't sure myself.
"The angel claimed that Gavalis used it to strengthen his sword. Before I take his life, I will have him tell me how."
Faye gave me the look again. The look of fear in her eyes that she had ever since I transformed my wings, and shot the beam of power from my hands.
And perhaps she was right to. After transforming, I felt anew.
I felt dangerous.
Like further power resided inside of me that, once tapped into, would make me a being capable of achieving my goal.
"Let's head back before we're interrupted by any other angels or demons." I suggested.
But Faye hesitated.
"What about Yoseph? Do you not want to find him?"
...
I had completely forgotten about hunting the prince. But it could wait.
"Gavalis is who I am focused on at the moment. After I kill him, an opening to the fourth layer should appear. And if Yoseph survives his encounter with an angel and returns to the palace safely, then I'm sure he will be able to meet us in the deeper depths."
Satisfied with my response, Faye began to follow me as we made our way back to the palace with a singular goal in mind.
To slay the man with no face.