Chapter 17 - The Cursed Cage

"On a mission?" Magura asked, her voice laced with indescribable disbelief.

"Hmhmhm... Have you forgotten, after all these years, that it's not only angels who possess individuals capable of gathering intelligence? Did you forget me as well, Lazrael Hathwaye, the mad divine scientist?" Lazrael replied, combing his hair back with a twisted smile.

"At least I remember that you're still repulsive," Magura said, looking at him with sheer disgust.

"Still sharp-tongued, I see. At least your pride hasn't rusted away with time," Lazrael said, a trace of envy in his tone.

"I never imagined you would be involved in something like this, Lazrael," Magura said as her eyes scanned the room within that cage.

"Do you really think the demons have been silent? No, we've been gathering information through my unique expertise. True, this may not seem a rational way of doing things, not for us... nor for you, Lord Magura," Lazrael replied.

"Nonsense. You've never cared about the demons. You've only ever cared about yourself, always slithering in the shadows like a coward, changing your face to hide the fear that grips your soul," Magura retorted.

"How amusing to hear that from someone in your position. You too, Lord Magura, are an individualist. Because you acted on your own emotions, you now stand alone," Lazrael said, stepping closer to the bars of the cage, his gaze sharp and intimidating.

"You don't know what you're talking about. You know nothing of me, nothing of my actions," Magura shot back in defiance.

"At the very least, I know you've been betrayed, more than once," Lazrael said, pulling from his pocket an orange-colored apple identical to the one Magura possessed.

"So that's why Atbara delayed... why he remained silent beyond the apple? He was negotiating with you? Cursed vampire," Magura muttered under her breath, furious.

"Your greatest mistake was trusting someone like him, someone not of your kind, Lord Magura. But I can understand why. You longed to place your faith in something, however fragile, however meaningless. You've lived through centuries, millennia of despair... crushing loneliness. Yet a demon should not harbor such complex emotions, Lord Magura. A demon should kill with a cold heart, savor the scent of blood, revel in the chilling screams before slaughtering their prey in grotesque ways, devouring lives without feeling anything. That's what you felt when you slew those angels, wasn't it? In that moment, you were yourself again."

Magura stared deeply into Lazrael's eyes.

"At least my existence isn't as meaningless as yours, Lazrael. You falsify everything here, all to serve a cause you don't even understand what you stand to gain from. At least I am free now to do whatever I wish. You, on the other hand, are bound by the shackles of a worthless responsibility," said Magura.

"How ironic for you to say such words while locked in a cage. Have you ever asked yourself why this cage is completely immune to you? "asked Lazrael.

Magura's eyes widened in reaction.

"The reason... is you."

Magura was taken aback.

"I am the reason?!" she whispered in disbelief.

"I think you remember very well the reason why you were banished from your people, our people, 13,000 years ago, even though you are the sister of King Xael," said Lazrael.

Magura glared at Lazrael with pure hatred, waiting for him to speak the truth she already knew.

"You don't need to remind me," Magura snapped, agitated.

"Oh, but I must remind you. Remind you of the only moment of true importance in your otherwise dull life, the murder of our father, Agh'Urunda, god of demons," said Lazrael, his tone uneasy, his eyes gleaming with the light of remorse reflected in the flicker of candle flames.

"And the most beautiful part: after you killed him in treachery, you sealed his powers inside a purple tulip with a black stem, just like yourself. Doesn't this cage give you a strangely familiar feeling?"

Magura began to study the cage around her with sharper focus.

Once she understood the reason, she turned to Lazrael, her look conveying the message clearly.

"I see... beyond your alluring exterior, you also possess an impressive intellect. Very well. I managed to obtain a petal from that tulip and conducted a series of experiments with it. It held far too much consciousness, even though it was just a flower. It wouldn't allow me to interfere further, so I sent it away, far beyond this island, into the supercontinent of mortals," Lazrael revealed.

"And how did it fall into your hands?" Magura asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

"A magician never explains his tricks, or so the books of this wretched world say. The demons still seek the tulip. They have searched for millennia, never realizing it rests in a place beyond their reach," Lazrael said with a bitter smile.

"You just proved what I said earlier. A true snob," said Magura with a look of disgust on her face.

"Demons cannot pass the Zangh'Trighis barrier because they cannot recite the incantations. They are prisoners here forever. I enjoy playing with them. It's quite entertaining," said Lazrael.

"And how could you leave the island if you are a demon? Have you found some way with your wretched science?" Magura asked with disdain.

"I can leave the island for the same reason you can," Lazrael replied with a smile.

Magura reacted in shock to Lazrael's words.

"But more importantly, Lord Magura, I am leading a revolution," said Lazrael.

"A revolution?" Magura repeated in disbelief.

"I will unite all the divine nations, even the mortal ones."

"Unite the nations? That is absurd. The very existence of the Uanamangura is proof of a future dystopia," said Magura.

"Well, I have found a way to kill the Uanamangura," said Lazrael.

"W-what?" Magura gasped in shock.

At that moment, she noticed a green light glowing behind her and turned around. She was staring at the abomination within the tube, the one that had caught her attention moments earlier. The body of a human boy, its form still undeveloped, floated in the strange liquid.

"Am I... in the same place as before?" Magura asked herself in disbelief.

"You are in the other side of the royal palace. What you saw earlier was just a trap of mine, meant to draw your attention further. It's not entirely logical, but I enjoyed experimenting with the lives of mortals," said Lazrael.

Magura glared at Lazrael with hatred.

"Bakabali," she whispered, "the other side of the legend's coin."

"Exactly. As well informed as I expected. I'm sorry you will remain imprisoned here, while I bring peace to this world," Lazrael said with a smile.

"Hypocrite! Do you really think I would believe such filth from your vile mouth? You mean to say killing the Uanamangura? He's only a child. Perhaps he holds the power to destroy everything, but if he is raised as he should be, all of this could be avoided," Magura cried out.

"A living blasphemy. Even if you are a god, it is impossible to escape fate, no matter how tragic it may be. My duty is his execution, by any means necessary," said Lazrael.

"You will pay dearly for this! Even though I am a demon, you will be punished by the dominions. You're nothing but a filthy coward hiding behind the false kindness of angels. You are nothing but shameless!" Magura shouted angrily as she spat in Lazrael's face.

Lazrael wiped her spit off with his finger and studied it closely.

"Hmmpf! I find this brutal side of yours rather attractive. It's so natural," said Lazrael with a smile, "perhaps you might even be useful."

He stepped closer to Magura, running his hand seductively through her fiery red hair.

"Such diabolical beauty is rare to see here," Lazrael said.

"And where exactly are you going with this act?" Magura asked in a tone dripping with disgust.

"Have you ever asked yourself why you're so loyal to the Dominions? What compels you to obey their commands? What do you gain from them? You know very well that on your own, you could crush them without the slightest effort. General Igorus, Marshal Mildura, the king and the queen, they are powerless before you. And yet, you act as though they hold you in their hands," Lazrael said.

"The reason is... I don't remember. I only know I must be grateful to them. I don't remember why," Magura answered, her eyes fixed on her flowing red hair.

"I see. Then I'd say the Clouds of Angapotea are perfect for you," said Lazrael.

"Angapotea?" Magura asked, confused.

"It's an unusual group of clouds above the Elven kingdom, green in color, about thirteen thousand meters high if I'm not mistaken. Exactly like the crime you committed so many years ago. They say that instead of raindrops, chains fall from it. I'd call it a perfect punishment, the sin of you still being alive. Consider it fortune that you haven't already perished here, Lord Magura," said Lazrael.

Magura looked at Lazrael out of the corner of her eye, saying nothing, not even bothering to argue with a single word that came from his mouth.

"So obedient at the end of the day. These years have done you well, sharpened you. What do you think Lord Xael would say once he learns his sister has fallen to such a pathetic state?" Lazrael asked.

"You think I care about that bastard?" Magura snapped, her temper flaring.

"As expected," said Lazrael with a dismissive glance.

"Take me to those clouds, since you've already made up your mind. But once I escape from there, you'll find your intestines served on a platter, and the lower half of your body skewered on a sharpened pike," Magura said coldly.

"I can't wait to see that masterpiece. If you manage to escape, of course. Hahahaha!" Lazrael laughed devilishly as he walked away from Magura...