36

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise...

Those were the words her father used to cheerily say when she would get up late for school every morning. Now, as Grace looked out of the window and watched dawn break, she wondered if she had in any way achieved those last three adjectives. At any rate, life in Hell had changed her schedule and made her sleep earlier than she used to and get up earlier still. There certainly was something about the cool wind that blew inside that filled her with a healthful, soulful energy.

Soulful... she barely thought of the word and Azel's face came to mind. The way he had smiled at her...

She turned around and went down the stairs. She may not be lucky enough to meet him again, but she could certainly go on a morning walk and see if she could spot some beauty out there by herself.

*  *  *

Lucien threw his covers off as he felt the dawn break and the temperature turn from chilly to pleasant. He smiled as he stretched, and was about to fall asleep again when he heard a soft sound outside his door. Was that Grace? Was she all right?

He got out of bed and opened the door, just in time to see her walk down the hallway. He followed her curiously – until he saw her go out of the main doors at last. His eyes widened. So Kuro had been right. He really had seen her return from somewhere yesterday morning. But where from? And where to now?

He frowned. Could it be...?

*  *  *

Grace walked around the place she had explored with Azel yesterday. She visited the dead tree – which wasn't as dead as it looked – and smiled as she noticed the leaves below had grown larger.

She picked up some rocks, and counted seven red ones and twelve yellow ones. She even found two orange ones!

As she walked on, breathing in the refreshing air, she looked for the unruly plant whose bud she had seen. She wanted to see if it had bloomed yet.

'Where was it...' she said to herself, looking carefully amongst the scattered weeds – no, plants! – and crouching down as she thought she had spotted it, but it wasn't it after all. 'Hmm,' she pouted, getting up. 'It's not this one... though even this plant is rather lovely...'

'Not unlike yourself,' said a soft and calm voice behind her that made her turn around, startled.

'Oh, Azel?!' she exclaimed happily. 'I didn't think I'd see you again!'

'Nor I, you,' smiled the angel. 'But I'm glad you chose to come out. The hour before the sun rises is one of the most beautiful times in a Hell day. Are you looking for the bud we saw yesterday, by any chance?'

'Yes,' said Grace. 'But I can't quite find it.'

'It's a little way back,' said Azel. 'You'll see it on your way home – by the two tall trees, remember?'

'Oh, yes!'

'That flower happens to bloom in the sun only. I think you should see it open before your very eyes, when the first ray of sun touches it today.'

'That's rather poetic somehow,' said Grace.

'Nature is poetry. Poetry in motion,' said Azel. 'Since you seem to have an interest in these things, would you like to make some new discoveries on another walk with me? I'd be glad of the company.'

'If... if it's really all right with you,' said Grace hesitantly.

Azel smiled and took her hand. 'I told you before: I only speak the truth. If I did not want you with me, I would tell you so. Now, do you see that tree, over there?'

'Oh, yes,' said Grace. 'It's rather gnarled, isn't it?'

'It somewhat resembles an oak when it's alive,' replied the angel. 'Unfortunately, that particular one isn't so anymore. But when it is, it's very beautiful.'

'There's one thing that's been on my mind,' said Grace curiously.

'Ask away.'

'Well, there's so many of these dead – or dead-looking, at any rate – trees everywhere, but not a single one that's really covered with foliage or healthy branches. How come?'

'Ah, good question. Well, you see, even Hell does have seasons, not unlike Earth. We have summer and winter, autumn and spring. In summer, almost everything burns and dries up and almost dies. In winter, too, almost everything stops growing and almost dies. But in autumn and spring, everything comes to life again. It's very beautiful – well, for Hell, anyway.'

'Oh! Which season is it right now?'

'Summer – well, the end of it now, almost. Those saplings we found under the linoya tree yesterday herald the coming of autumn. So does the petula plant that I found you observing earlier.'

'Makes sense, considering how hot it's been. Does the weather get any better in autumn? And – I say, don't things die in autumn? Then how come things are growing near it – as though it's spring?'

'That's because spring and autumn are alike in Hell – temperate and very much alive,' smiled the angel. 'Because the summer and winter are both so extreme.'

'Wow, really? So autumn here is like a second spring?' said Grace, astonished.

'Yes. As you can see, God's mercy is evident even in Hell. And it's ever-present; regardless of whether anyone notices it or not.'

'That's... amazing.'

'It is,' said Azel, gazing at the horizon for a few seconds before turning back to her. 'Grace, have you seen the nearby stream?'

'I have! I found it so beautiful – though it's awfully hot. Lucien told me that you call it God's mercy.'

Azel smiled. 'Yes, it is. I'm surprised he actually remembered that.'

'Why, though? Why are you always a little judgemental of him?' said Grace. 'Did he ever do anything wrong?'

'His father did,' said Azel gravely. 'I don't want to go into it, but he did some very bad things. Lucien is a lot better, but he is a demon, and demons are very... erm... how should I put it... suspectible to choosing the wrong way. That's why so many of them are born here; it's where they naturally belong.'

'But Lucien isn't like that – and I'm sure not every demon is the way you say. What makes them so different, anyway?'

'They were made from fire,' said Azel. 'Humans were made from earth. That's the difference. Earth grows, nurtures, endures. Fire only burns and smoulders and destroys. Despite what they were made of and all the guidance and mercy they were given, most humans do not even barely reach their full potential and choose the wrong way instead of God's. So, what to say of demons, who were made from the stuff of chaos?'

'I didn't know all this,' said Grace thoughtfully. 'But still, there is a possibility of a demon being good, isn't there? Even if it's very less?'

'Yes, technically. It is possible. But the majority of demons can't help being better off here. It's not like they're all pure evil; they're just... quite chaotic. This is really the best place for them. Not at all as a  punishment! – but as their habitat, so to say. Humans thrive on the land of earth. Demons thrive in the land of fire. Do you see what I mean?'

'I see it...' said Grace. 'But just like some humans end up here due to their character, shouldn't some demons be allowed on Earth for the same?'

'You have a point,' admitted Azel. 'But it's not so easy to judge what is right and what is wrong. Who is good and who is evil... that's only for God to decide and no one else – not even high angels like me.'

'But you can tell to a certain extent, can't you?'

'Yes, but I can make mistakes. It's best for me to follow orders and stick to my duty. Such decisions are not mine to make.'

Grace said nothing, and only looked ahead as she noticed the cool breeze had stopped blowing and the heat had begun to rise ever so slightly.

'The sun is about to rise,' said Azel. 'It would be better to turn back now if you wish to see that bud open and turn to a flower. I'm sure you'll like it very much.'

'Oh, let's go, then!' exclaimed Grace. 'I shall run!'

'No, you will reach on time even if you walk,' said the angel calmly. 'Sometimes, wisdom is not in chasing, but in approaching.'

'You can be cryptic sometimes,' said Grace, slowing down.

'You don't seem to mind,' said Azel with an angelic smile that made her heart skip a beat because of how beautiful it was.

'No, I like it. I feel clarity when I spend time with you,' said Grace. 'I think I, too, misjudged you a little when I first saw you. I thought you were rather rigid and uncaring.'

'I understand. I can certainly be perceived that way,' said Azel calmly. 'And now?'

'I think you do care. But just in your own way. I think an angel can't help being an angel – and that's why you might seem that way sometimes...'

'You're right. We are all defined by not only the boundaries set upon us by our Maker, but also by the principles we live by; and I am bound by both. In spite of that, perhaps, in certain cases, I admit I may still err and make incorrect choices. But my intentions and emotions are always pure, if I may say so in my defence.'

'I understand,' smiled Grace.

Azel smiled back, before bending down and waving at her to come.

'Oh, there it is!' she exclaimed. 'Gosh, the bud is bigger and already opening!!'

'Ssh,' said Azel ever so softly. 'You don't want to disturb the flower. Observe as quietly as you can, if you will.'

'Oh, okay,' said Grace in a whisper, watching in awe as the petals unfurled before her eyes.

'Look,' whispered Azel reverently. 'The sun is about to touch it – and – there!'

'It's blooming!' whispered Grace excitedly. 'The flower is open!'

'Welcome to the world, beautiful flower,' said Azel with a smile, reaching out and touching it with his little finger with almost no pressure at all – like an ant on a blade of grass.

The flower was a gorgeous yellow and resembled a crocus somewhat. It seemed to deepen its colour at his touch, and its leaves almost didn't look ugly for a while.

'It likes you,' giggled Grace.

Azel smiled in a way that was far more beautiful, far more graceful than laughter, but she could tell that he was both happy and amused. 'I hope so. Or maybe it's actually you whom it likes!'

'No, no,' said Grace, waving him off before looking up at the now-risen sun. 'Looks like it's officially day now...'

'Oh, good morning,' smiled Azel. 'And goodbye, then!'

'Thank you,' said Grace, 'for another beautiful time!'

Azel only gazed at her radiently and nodded, before disappearing upwards in a flash of light that rivalled the sunlight around her.

'Gosh, he's brilliant,' said Grace aloud, before laughing at her own joke. 'Lucien would probably find that funny! I've got to go and tell it to him!'

She ran all the way back home to the castle, and was glad when she reached the doors and walked through them before it got too hot or anything strange happened.

However, her smile faded when she saw Lucien already seated in the parlour with his arms crossed, waiting for her with a rather hostile expression.

He looked up at her as she entered the room, with a cocked eyebrow and a set jaw. 'So, you're back, human...'