Chapter 11 - Between Shadow and Light

Behind a classical white building, adorned with divine statues and vases overflowing with flowers, petals slowly dripped blood like nectar. Two dead soldiers hung upside down, suspended by tree roots that had bound their legs. Atbara stood beside the lifeless bodies, half-emerging from the wood he used as a means of teleportation, facing the corpses.

"Did you hear what happened?" he asked indifferently into the communication sphere.

"I heard. Damn, I didn't know an angel could be that insane. I like it," Aldes' voice came through the sphere.

"Are you going to inform the Marshal about this?" Atbara asked.

"The Marshal? Hmm... I don't think he's too fond of us. Besides, I was planning to spend a few days wandering through these angelic kingdoms. Plenty of pretty women around. I've got all sorts of filthy plans for them," Aldes said, his vile grin almost audible in his tone.

"Report to the Marshal first, then you can indulge yourself here as much as you want. But don't overdo it. I don't want us getting exposed for some stupid reason. You have no idea what I've endured to get to where I am," Atbara replied with a commanding tone.

"All right then, my personal nanny," Aldes ended the call at that moment.

"Damn it. If only I were working with someone more disciplined, that would've been nice," Atbara muttered, before sinking back into the tree along with the soldiers' bodies. He left behind no trace of the slaughter, only the flowers that still dripped blood.

Meanwhile, Aldes was in a hotel room within the kingdom of Troa, north of the angels' nation. The room was spacious, with a large double bed covered in a black duvet striped with lilac patterns. Big gray pillows, curtains that enclosed the chamber, vibrant floral paintings, and brown tiling gave the place a unique aesthetic, a sensual atmosphere.

"Do you have plans for later, Aldes?"

He was sprawled across the bed, surrounded by three angelic women, each more beautiful than the last. They wore only semi-transparent white cloaks that revealed glimpses of their graceful bodies. One of them, gazing at the demon with all the allure in the world, had asked him the question.

"I'm sorry, ladies, but it seems duty is calling me."

"Eeeeh!? No, don't go!" they cried out in unison.

"Hmm... very well then. I suppose I can stay a little longer," Aldes said as he climbed on top of one of the women.

She gazed into his eyes, aroused by the thought of what they were about to do together. Aldes placed both hands sensually around her neck.

"Oh, wow... You're going to make it a little rough, aren't you?" she teased, trying to provoke him.

Aldes caressed her smooth skin slowly, full of passion. But then, his grip began to tighten.

"O-Ooogh—" the woman gasped as she started to choke.

The other two women grew excited at first by what Aldes was doing.

"Y-yes... just like that... C-come on—w-wait! You're going too far! S-stop—!"

But Aldes did not stop. His grip only grew harsher. Her skin flushed red, her eyes darkened, and violent coughs racked her body. The two women now looked on in horror at what was happening.

At last, Aldes strangled her completely, leaving her dead upon the bed.

"There's nothing more beautiful than the feeling that comes right before death. It fills you with pure emotion," Aldes said as he pulled his hands away from the now lifeless woman and turned his gaze toward the other two.

"No! NOOO!" they screamed in terror.

"Hmm? Are you finished, sir?" asked the hotel receptionist, a balding, elderly angel dressed in an elegant suit. Aldes was fully clothed, walking calmly, as if nothing at all had happened in that room only minutes ago.

"Yes, I'm finished. Just... make sure someone cleans the room, if it's not too much trouble," Aldes replied with an awkward smile.

"Y-yes, of course. It's part of our service, no need to worry. Have a pleasant day," the receptionist said nervously.

Aldes left the hotel, vanishing entirely from the old angel's sight.

"How peculiar... At least he paid well, so I won't complain too much. Shaela, clean up room thirty-nine," the receptionist instructed through the communication sphere.

But no response came.

"Shaela! Tch! Looks like I have to do everything myself around here," the old angel muttered.

When he reached the room, the communication sphere slipped from his hands, shattering into a thousand shards across the floor. One of the women had bled tears of crimson from being strangled. The other two lay with their skulls crushed, their arms torn away from the maid, while the maid herself hung lifeless, impaled through the throat on the balcony railings. All four bodies drenched the bed in blood, blood that served only as fuel for the dark pleasures of a demon.

Meanwhile, in the great hall of the royal palace, the king and queen had the honor of receiving Magura, the mysterious young woman they had personally summoned.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Magura said after Queen Kaliga asked if she knew why she had been called to this chamber. She lowered her head, kneeling on her left knee alone as a gesture of respect.

"According to Marshal Ilfar Mildura, the presence of an angel, more precisely, a visionary, has been detected within the kingdom of Tamasi. He personally confronted this figure in the forest, but reason led him to believe that the visionary had business in this realm," the king said.

"It is said to be Prince Oriel Frizina, the fourth son of the royal family of angels," Kaliga added.

"There is a strong chance he has gained information regarding the birth of General Igorus' son, Uanamangura," the king declared.

"This would create an unpleasant situation for both sides. What do you think, Magura?" Kaliga asked the young woman.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It would indeed be a problem," Magura replied, still kneeling.

"The protective barriers of the entire island will weaken in eight years. We cannot afford such a setback. We need results quickly. We need a plan that will not waste our time. For that, we require your skills of infiltration, Magura," the king said.

"You are only to gather information. Learn what the angels are plotting. Atbara and Aldes are currently within their kingdom, sent to obtain even a single feather from the royal family, but I doubt they will succeed. You possess the strength and intelligence they lack," Kaliga added.

"Tomorrow, you will depart for the angels' nation, directly to the kingdom of Saint Zagra. Once you have finished gathering intelligence, return here immediately. Do you understand?" the king asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Magura answered.

"You may go," Kaliga commanded.

"Very well then. My apologies," Magura said as she rose to her feet, bowed her head respectfully, and began to leave the chamber. The soldiers who stood guard eyed her with fear, intimidated by her very presence as she passed by. Magura departed the room.

"Magura... Magura Donogrey. Former guardian of the Ninth Circle of Virgiel's Tower. She was banished from the demons thirteen thousand years ago. What she had done was beyond even their sense of morality," Kaliga said.

"The Guardians of Hell, hmm? I've heard of them," King Kasama replied.

"Nine in total, each tasked with protecting one circle of Virgiel's Tower, the dwelling place of the demons," Kaliga explained.

"But what could Magura have done that was so vile, so twisted, that even the demons themselves could not tolerate her?" the king asked.

"The Kindus vanished thirteen thousand years ago, destroyed by the demons, or so the legends say. No one alive in this kingdom is old enough to confirm whether it is truth or myth. But Magura was banished during that very time," Kaliga said.

"To think that she is far older than anyone in our nation... Do you suppose she had a hand in their extinction? Her race and that timeline match too perfectly to be mere coincidence," the king remarked.

"True enough. Fernia is weak against Lagus, which has made it difficult for us to peer into her mind and memories. She has served our kingdom for over two thousand years. Her loyalty is a boon to us, and strange at the same time," Kaliga said.

"Strange? In what sense?" the king asked with curiosity.

"It seems as though she is trying to give her life meaning by serving us. She does not rebel, she causes no quarrels, she does not kill. She merely follows orders. There must be something more to her story," Kaliga replied in a contemplative tone.

"I fear this entire matter will remain a mystery for some time," the king said.

Kaliga glanced at the king, then turned her gaze toward the chamber's windows, where sunlight shone across her right hand.

"Aldes, where are you now?" Atbara asked the demon after leaving the angels' domain through his teleportation ability. He was now riding his horse along a small waterfall in the Guhojre Forest.

"On the road. Why?" Aldes replied, soaring high above with his dark wings.

"Why do you think? I need to know where you are. We're carrying out a plan, remember? Now tell me your exact location," Atbara asked, his tone edged with irritation.

"Near the border of the angels' nation, by the Guhojre Forest," Aldes replied.

"More precisely?" Atbara pressed.

"Uh... what was the name of the kingdom... Lorena, yes," Aldes said.

"Don't tell me you caused some major trouble over there," Atbara asked.

"Nothing big. I killed four women in Troa; three prostitutes and a maid," Aldes answered, utterly nonchalant.

"What did I tell you before? I know you're a demon, but damn it, resist the temptations at least. You could've waited for me. Did you get what I told you to?" Atbara demanded.

"Hmm... Ah, yes. I got it."

"The queen asked us for a feather from the royal family, but we couldn't have chosen a worse time to attempt it. Even if we had stayed longer, they would have eventually found us. I trust you understand that, Aldes. That's why I gave you a different destination," Atbara explained.

"With me, you're fine. But what the queen will say... that's the real dilemma," Aldes remarked.

"True enough... Everything is reciprocal, Aldes. I do my part, and you do yours. Keep that in mind always," Atbara said as he watched the water cascade down the falls.

"I would've killed those little angels in a far more brutal way. Maybe even eaten them alive, if you hadn't rushed me," Aldes said, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance.

"Don't get spoiled now. We'll meet at tree number 122,347?"

"Fine," Aldes replied, continuing his flight while idly twirling a torn angel's feather in his hand.

Near the royal palace, Igorus and Kaies were seated in a tavern filled with wooden stools and chairs, taking a break from their duties.

"How's your son?" Kaies asked.

"He's doing well. A bit noisy at night, but nothing we can do about that," Igorus said.

"Pleasure always comes with consequences at the end of the day."

"Hey, stop it now!"

"Hahahahaha!" Kaies laughed.

"Did you order the cherry tea?" asked Igorus.

"Do they even make that at this place?" Kaies asked.

"I think so. Want me to order it for you?" Igorus offered.

"Better not. I went to Miskulruk about four days ago. I can make it myself perfectly," said Kaies, fidgeting with his fingers.

"Did you buy sugar?" asked Igorus.

"I drink tea without sugar," replied Kaies.

"Seriously? Since when?" Igorus asked, surprised.

"Since I was a child, Igorus. You really don't remember that I drink tea without sugar?" Kaies shot back, puzzled at Igorus' lack of attention.

"I guess I forget when I see something that isn't normal," Igorus said.

"Not normal? Tea without sugar isn't normal?" Kaies asked.

"Well, my tongue tells me it isn't," Igorus replied, laughing.

"Sorry for wanting to be healthy," said Kaies, a bit irritated.

"You're so obsessed with those cherries that you even wrote that song. Remember it or not?" Igorus teased.

"Don't remind me of that, please. I sang it in front of the whole school, and everyone laughed at me," said Kaies, embarrassed by the memory that still clung to him.

"Hahahaha... But tell me, how's work going? Anything unusual?" Igorus asked, shifting the direction of the conversation.

"Not so far. Just reports of theft, corruption, small things. At least there haven't been any murders in this kingdom. Or the nation, for that matter," Kaies said.

"We're a peaceful people," Igorus replied.

"More peaceful than we ought to be. Pfff... Hmm!?" Kaies suddenly reacted.

"What is it?" Igorus asked, startled by Kaies' reaction.

"There. Look," Kaies pointed with his finger.

While they sat at the café, both of them saw Magura stepping out of the royal palace. Her slow, elegant strides carried an air of authority, and she didn't glance at anyone or anything around her.

"Magura? Damn, it's been a while since I last saw her. She looks incredible," Kaies said, a trace of jealousy in his voice.

"If she's been summoned to the palace, something serious must have happened," Igorus said in a worried tone.

"You may be right. Usually Atbara and Aldes handle these kinds of matters, but Magura is summoned only when her intervention is absolutely necessary," Kaies said.

"The queen is closer to her," Igorus remarked.

At that moment, he recalled a conversation he'd had with Marshal Mildura, when the latter mentioned reporting to the queen about Oriel's affair. Igorus made the connection and concluded that the queen must have summoned Magura for that very issue. Still, he decided to keep that suspicion to himself for now.

"She's even offered her a place amongst us. Queen Kaliga is very welcoming to those who aren't part of the Dominion," Kaies added.

Magura walked past them, casting a sidelong glance. Her violet eyes captured both Igorus' and Kaies' attention. Then, she chose to stop.

"I assume you're General Igorus Friola. And you must be Chief of Intelligence, Kaies Friola. Am I right?" Magura asked in a monotone voice.

"Y-yes. Exactly right," Kaies replied, a little nervous.

Igorus closed his eyes briefly in a gesture of regret.

"Can I help you with something? I noticed you were watching me rather closely," Magura said.

"N-no, it was nothing important. We just happened to notice you passing by," Kaies replied, still visibly nervous.

"We don't often see you on the streets of the kingdom. We were wondering what brought you to the royal palace," Igorus added.

"Igorus!" Kaies said, embarrassed.

"Nothing of significance. It had simply been a while since they'd last seen me, and they wanted to check in. Both King Kasama and Queen Kaliga," Magura answered coolly.

"Are you free this evening? I'd like to invite you out," Igorus said, entirely resolute.

"You're married, you fool," Kaies shot back.

"That's not what I meant, you idiot," Igorus muttered, tugging his brother's ear.

"Ouch!"

"Here at this café? Or somewhere else?" Magura asked, perfectly unfazed.

"Somewhere more private. There's something I want to discuss with you," Igorus said, looking straight into Magura's violet, cat-like eyes with utter seriousness.

Magura glanced around the kingdom for a moment.

"You're right. This realm is a little chaotic. Then your house it is. I wanted to take a look at the Uanamangura anyway," Magura said.

Igorus hadn't expected such an answer, but...

"Very well, then. When the sun nears Diaboros, you'll find me there..."