The Cherub's Chug, Part 1

THE RAUCOUS RASCAL was a fine, reputable tavern. Nestled in the center of the slums, it offered the tastiest food, the strongest spirits and the kindest customer service. Anyone who disagreed would get a knife between the ribs.

In truth, the place was infamous for catering to the worst of the worst: cutthroats, bandits, smugglers...

Crackdowns by the authorities came a copper a dozen, but just like the roaches in the sewers, the tavern always seemed to come back to life. Each closure only added to its legend, and on this particular night, a brand-new story was brewing.

For reasons only Zarielle could fathom, an unusual patron had shown up.

It was the rogue demigod — Galardos Alessia, in the flesh, drinking alone amidst the Rascal’s affable clientele.

Whispers floated throughout the tavern, with even the loudest regulars sitting on edge. The demigod had come out of nowhere. He ordered a drink, then another.... and then one more.

Anyone watching would assume he was drowning his sorrows, but what in the world would a freaking demigod be doing in the Rascal, of all places? Even as an outlaw, he surely had better places to go, right?

Such were the questions burning into everyone’s minds, but unbeknownst to them, Galardos had paid them a visit for a specific purpose…

He was fishing.

Even after the charade with Vahram, it was a no brainer that his visit to Gizelle would draw attention to her. So, the rogue demigod offered himself as bait.

Being the most infamous tavern in town, the Rascal was chock-full of informants. In the world of power brokers, everyone and their grandmas had someone in there, so having Galardos drinking in public was an open challenge to approach him.

The local patrons — or just the Rascals, as they were affably called — were placing bets to see who’d show up to mess with the demigod.

And lo and behold, it didn’t take long for someone to bite…

Judging by the commotion outside, the visitor was sure to be a big-shot.

Could it be Arlene, the demigod’s scorned lover?

Or could it be Isabella, ready to arrest him?

Their hearts were racing with expectation, dying to know which Rascal would win the jackpot. But alas, as the mysterious visitor entered the tavern, more than one of the regulars quietly soiled themselves.

It was an angel — and she was no mere grunt from the Zarian Order.

Oh no.

This celestial warrior, clad in holy armor from head to toe was…

“Archangel Urielle, First Champion of the 3rd Angelic Legion. Fancy meeting you here,” said the demigod, raising his tankard to her.

“It’s been a while, Galardos. Have you been well?” she replied, ignoring the mob of miscreants as they scurried away from her.

“I’ve seen better days. And what about you? Care for a drink?”

“Sure. I don’t usually partake, but I’ll make an exception this time.”

The Rascals stared in awe as the demigod poured a tankard of ale for her.

Urielle took a seat in front of him, and then…

“To your health.”

“Cheers!”

Their jaws dropped to the floor.

Was this a dream?

Did they drink one too many pints?

‘Cause for the life of theirs, the Rascals could swear they just saw an angel and a demigod down an entire tankard in one go.

“Brrp!”

“Whew! Pardon me.”

The sight of Urielle was mesmerizing as she gracefully brushed the foam off her lips.

“Hah. I’ve gotta say, not bad at all. Do they teach you to drink up there?”

“Oh, the mortals often invite me when we’re in Crusade. It’s good for camaraderie, every once in a while.”

“Consider me flattered, then. It’s not often one can hog an angel’s company all to themselves these days.”

“Indeed, the same is true for you demigods. I can’t seem to remember my last time of merriment with one of your kin.”

“Really? I thought you see my father often.”

“I do, shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield. But seeing how refreshing it is to unwind like this, I might take a bottle with me to share.”

“That would be a sight.”

Galardos smiled as he refilled their tankards with a flagon.

However, as much as he’d like to continue indulging with her, he knew Urielle hadn’t come just to enjoy the evening with him. And thus he had to ask…

“So. What brings you here, Urielle?”

He dropped the question as he passed her the ale.

“I’ve come to help you,” she replied, accepting the tankard but not drinking from it.

“How so?”

“Don’t be coy; you know what’s happened.”

“No, I’m not being coy with you. I’m just in so much shit, I don’t know which of all my problems you’re talking about.”

“I’d like to say all of them, but first…” the angel paused for a moment, and with a flick of her fingers, she erected an invisible barrier around them. The Rascals were dead silent for the most part, but with her magic, no sound would leave the table anymore.

“Now we can talk. Galardos, I’ve been briefed about multiple events in the Empire that the Zarian Order can’t ignore. Chief among them is a raid to a Leyline Sanctum of ours, followed by a spatial calamity to the south. We have reason to believe you were directly involved in the latter.”

“Guilty as charged. That was me.”

Urielle narrowed her eyes.

Lying to her was pointless, as her halo was imbued with a permanent Zone of Truth.

Thus, Galardos was honest while saying as little as possible.

“Can you explain why?”

“Not yet. Just as you’re bound to the Zarian Order, I’m bound to the Empire. I may be in exile, but that doesn’t change my loyalties.”

“Even if this loyalty could lead to war?”

“Trust me, I’m trying to avoid that. Fighting you once was enough for a lifetime.”

“Then why do you remain silent? You don’t strike me as being the villain in this, but if you refuse to talk to me, then I can’t clear the suspicions my Order has of you.”

Galardos broke eye contact, staring at the ale swirling in his tankard.

In truth, he wanted to trust her and accept whatever aid she could offer, but he had a gut feeling that something was amiss.

Although she mentioned a raid on one of their facilities, she didn’t say a word about a fallen Seraph. By all means, finding Angeline should be her top priority, yet she was calm enough to casually drink with him at the Rascal.

To Galardos, it seemed like she didn’t know about her death.

“The picture is too unclear right now,” said the demigod, choosing his words carefully. “If I tell you everything in a moment of haste, I fear it’d make things worse.”

“I know our past history isn’t impeccable,” replied the angel, looking straight at him. “We’ve crossed blades before. I regret that bitterly, so I came here to find common ground with you. But in order to do that, I need your help.”

“I’d give it to you freely if I could, Urielle. I’m grateful that you reached out to me, from the bottom of my heart. But I’m in no position to tell you anything as far as that incident is concerned.”

Her gaze hardened as she stared at him.

“That said, I won’t let you go empty-handed,” he added. “I’ll give you an oath.”

“An oath?”

“I swear to you, with the Goddess as my witness, that my involvement in these events was at her direction. I prayed to her for guidance, and in her mercy, she answered me. Everything that followed was in her service, even now.”

The archangel was shocked as she heard the words, for she sensed no lies in them.

“It can’t be. The Lady has blessed you?”

“Not exactly, but she did point me the right way.”

“That itself is a blessing. Even to us, she rarely gives an oracle.”

So the rumors were true, Galardos thought.

There was a common misconception that the Zarian Order was in regular contact with their patron, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Zarielle was mostly an absent deity, and she only meddled with mortal affairs when existential threats were at hand.

And yet she helped the demigod in his time of need.

To Urielle, this revelation changed everything.

“Lord Galardos, if may I be so forward to ask… Could I see your soul for a moment?”

“Well, that’s a personal question if there ever was one,” he replied, though it was rich coming from him, given he did the same thing to Milla earlier.

“I know I’m asking a lot, but I have to insist. If you truly saw the Goddess, then she must’ve left her mark on you.”

Did she?

He certainly heard her voice and witnessed her power, but to carry a piece of her with him after the fact? At the very least, he didn’t feel any different.

“Very well. If it’ll clear your suspicions, then so be it,” Galardos gave his approval, beckoning the angel to approach.

“Pardon me,” said Urielle as she placed her hand atop his chest.

Closing her eyes, she channeled her magic into him.

Her palm radiated with a soothing, golden light, making the demigod and the Rascals stare in wonder. The latter had no clue what she was doing, but Galardos could feel how delicately she probed into his heart — as if she were handling something sacred.

A hint of sorrow clouded her expression for a moment, to the point of quietly shedding tears. But soon enough, the pain gave way to a gentle smile on her lips.

Whatever she was looking for, she must’ve found it.

“I’m sorry,” said the angel, wiping her eyes with her glove. “In all my years, I have seldom met a soul so tragic, and yet so beautiful.”

Her comment put the demigod on the spot there. He had no idea what to say.

“You bear such a dreadful curse... so great and terrible, it would drive lesser men to madness. But lying next to it, there’s a shard of divinity from the Goddess herself.”

Ever so slowly, Urielle pulled back her hand until she gently rested it to her chest.

“There’s no mistake. Your oath is true, Lord Galardos. I shall question you no more.”

He couldn’t help but give a small sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry for bringing this on you, Urielle. But our present circumstances are difficult, and I’m not the only one involved.”

“I understand. There was a report about you meeting with Madame Gizelle recently, but I trust she’s a benevolent actor in this affair.”

“She is. In fact, she might be the key to resolving everything, so I would ask you to give her space if you can afford to.”

“I’ll see that it’s done. By the Lady’s grace, no one shall bother you.”

“Thank you, Urielle. It means the world to me.”

“It’s only natural that I help,” said the angel, smiling brightly. “We’re comrades under a common master; I’ll do everything I can to assist you.”

Talk about a 180 degree turn, thought the demigod.

By the looks of it, Urielle had become his staunchest ally from this debacle.

“I’m glad that we’re in agreement after all. If I’m being honest, the idea of fighting you again made me shudder,” he admitted.

“Oh, I don’t even want to remember. You and your men were the stuff of nightmares!” the angel laughed, remembering the stalemate Galardos had fought her into.

Indulging in the memory, Urielle reached out for her drink.

The demigod followed, and the two of them raised their tankards.

“To never cross blades again!” he declared.

“Amen!” she agreed, and —

Clang!