User blog:Mauller/Absolution 017

Absolution, Chapter:017
 There is never a dull moment if you keep your mind active. Even sitting at a bar could be entertaining for a time if you had the right mind-set. And the only reason Alec had chosen to sit was so he could heal the various cuts and slashes on his body. ‘You are reckless as ever kid. I told you to keep your wits and to rely less on that Healing magic of yours.’ The baritone voice of the dwarf tickled the inquisitor’s ears and brought a smile to his face. He had not seen him since he had set off to Lescatie to join the inquisition. And that was a few years ago.

‘Like I always say, there is no fun without danger.’ Alec grinned and the middle aged dwarf began to chuckle. ‘But it is good to see you again old friend. It has been a while.’

‘Aye lad, it has been many a year. I still remember when you were just a farm whelp who scraped past the inductee testing. But to see you here now… If only Ana…’ The dwarf stopped then turned to face Alec. The young man was staring off into the void with a grave expression. A few clicks of the dwarves fingers produced no response. So he slammed his flagon on the counter then caught Alec on the cheek with a left hook.

Alec turned to his old companion again. His fists remained clenched as he inspected the dwarves features. ‘Don’t talk about Anastasia…’

‘You should stop blaming yourself for what happened. No one could have stopped it, you were lucky to make it out alive. Anyone was lucky to make it out alive.’

‘I should have done more!’

‘What could you have done?! Tell me?! Because I damn well wished I could have done the same!’

The pair glared at each other until the quiet was broken by the sound of the door opening. A young man stood in the doorway. His face paled when he saw what awaited inside the inn. But luck was on his side as his body began to flee before his brain caught up.

The dwarves eyes softened and he placed his hand on Alec’s shoulder. ‘You did it lad, you achieved what you wanted in the end. Didn’t you say that was what mattered the most?’ After one final mouthful the dwarf nodded to Alec. ‘The package is in room seven, here is the key. I will be seeing you around lad.’

With all said and done the dwarf hopped off his stool and left. Nothing bothered him anymore in this world, everything was a means to an end. It pissed Alec off the most, but he only felt contempt when looking at the corpse and gore strewn common room.

‘What have I become?’ He turned to the spot next to him, left behind by his old friend was a key. It did not take him long to recover what he came for. But as he left he looked back at the chaos in his wake. ‘I’m sorry Ana…’ With that said he turned and vanished into the night.

All that remained at the Milk-Maid was one lone survivor. The pretty barmaid, unconscious and unscathed. She was just a child and innocent to the atrocities of the world. He hoped the present he left would help her overcome this night.

The young girl rolled over and groaned when something dag into her side. And with haste she sat upright and looked for a place to hide. But the scene confused her. ‘Huh? How did I get in the stable? And what is this?’

She felt into the small hemp bag on the pile of hay beside her and retrieved a small scroll from within it. It was a writ of ownership to the sacred orb in the pouch, granting ownership to the holder of the scroll. Although it was a fake, the gold and gems were just as real as the originals. All that it lacked were the holy magic seals of its master. The girl wept when she saw the official inquisition seal at the documents bottom.

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">Pained screams echoed down the hallway, their agonised cries sounding close. But it was hard to stay focused, that shock had done something to me. I could not sit without falling to the side, the ground felt as though it was tilting. Although that was a ridiculous notion as I had seen various places as I faded in and out of consciousness.

<p class="MsoNormal">My eyes felt sore and my head throbbed, but the bile had settled at last. Which was a relief. I was sure I had seen the ground and circular city beneath me at one point. Then everything went dark and all I remembered were stone walls and the rattling of metal.

<p class="MsoNormal">The situation felt ridiculous and overblown. As well as binding me with ropes, they had shackled my ankles and wrists to metal spheres. The devices were bigger than me and covered in numerous runes. It was strange, a funny taste seemed to linger in the air as the runes glowed.

<p class="MsoNormal">It would have been nicer if the group of robed figures stopped glaring at me with their glowing eyes. They seemed confused at most, but the number of soldiers around me showed how cautious they were.

<p class="MsoNormal">I managed to gain more of a bearing as I looked around. The room I was in was more of a large chamber. Other similar restraining devices lined the middle of the room, but they were all empty.

<p class="MsoNormal">The sound of footsteps alerted me to someone’s arrival. ‘So, a spy? A scout perhaps? Or something else? What is this demon spawn doing so close to the city on its own? Did you think we are so ill prepared that one of your kind could attack without repercussions? Such arrogance.’

<p class="MsoNormal">A frail voice tickled my ears, it made them hurt as it echoed in the chamber. It was not loud yet it still pained me. I looked up at the approaching figure, his robe was a masterpiece compared to the others. The gold filigree and runes gave it the appearance of a tapestry. A ceremonial piece of artwork in its own right. The large red stole that hung from his shoulders glowed with a gentle gold. While the runes that covered it flowed across its surface.

<p class="MsoNormal">Why have I become an admirer of fine art in a situation like this?

<p class="MsoNormal">He stopped in front of me and looked down. His milky eyes had seen better days, that thought made me chuckle. But it did not elicit a good response as the old man poked me in the stomach with his ornate staff.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You should not be the one laughing. But we will get what we want from you in the end, you are a strange one. I thought your kind were more powerful than this, or did you wear yourself out already?’ He grinned then dug the butt of his staff into my shoulder. The searing pain was agonising, but I clenched my teeth. ‘Oh, so you still think yourself tough? Well we shall see, you are all dismissed, I do not believe this one has the strength to cause us any trouble.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The pain made my head spin. I was sure I caught a few voices protesting as the people began to leave. All that remained was the old man and woman in ornate armour. I could not make out her features but her brilliant green eyes shone in the darkness.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘We will get what we want from you, Edda, prepare the interrogation.’ The old man’s smile turned sinister as he raised his staff. I knew what was coming, I felt it in my body. But tensing up did not stop my vision whiting out when pain exploded in my temple.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet something strange happened, through the pain I could feel myself falling. Wind rushed past me in the darkness till something struck my back. I laid there groaning before sitting. My head hurt the most as a dull throb burned in the middle of my forehead.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘wh-what? …where did they go?’

<p class="MsoNormal">Confusion would be an understatement, the room was empty apart from me. I looked down at my gloved hands and flexed my fingers. The bindings were all gone although a dull ache remained in my body. So not wanting to sit around I stood and headed for the exit. To my surprise it was unlocked.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Erm… hello?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The hallways outside was empty, it sent a chill down my spine as it reminded me of the medusa’s lair. ‘I hope my escape was not a dream… I don’t want to be stuck with her still…’ Yet the scene was different which relieved me, ornate tapestries lined the walls along with furniture. This place looked lived in due to its cleanliness.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well, I’m not sticking around here… if I ever was captured to begin with.’

<p class="MsoNormal">A short walk down the corridor turned into a long walk. Which then felt as though hours passed. Yet the scenery had not changed. So I sat against one of the walls and sulked. ‘Where am i?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hey! Hey! Over here. Kaya knows the way out.’ The voice of an excitable girl echoed down the hallway. And upon inspection, she was looking at me through a gap in one of the doors. ‘Kaya can show you the way out, but you have to see her first.’

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked peculiar, small whiskers extended to either side of her face while two pointed ears poked out through her hair. ‘Kaya knows all of the ways out, she can show you. But first you must see kaya’s master.’

<p class="MsoNormal">This girl is strange yet I feel compelled to follow her, what do I do? Yet before I realised I was standing in front of her while she looked me in the eye. Her pupils were vertical slits and shone in the glow stone light. ‘Okay… lead the way.’ What am I saying? Yet this feels right, in a strange way.

<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled and opened the door, her furred tail stood behind her while she allowed me to pass into the room. ‘Kaya knows all the ways, master is through the door on the other side. Just walk ahead and she will explain.’ The girl, or is she a cat? Either way she walked to the door across the room and opened it. ‘Master awaits your presence.’

<p class="MsoNormal">I stopped halfway before realising the room was decorated. And sat at its centre was a fist sized crystal on its own pedestal.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Don’t stall now, Master will not be pleased. Kaya knows this from experience.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Who is your master? Where am i?’ The orb attracted my attention, a part of me was screaming to touch it. But thinking on that action made my headache worse.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Do not touch that! Kaya will get in trouble!’ The girl started running towards me, but my hand was hovering over the spherical jewel. ‘Do not touch!’ Her words dag into me like a command, my body froze.

<p class="MsoNormal">I see, something is not right here. The room’s appearance seemed to shift, the only things unchanging being the girl and the orb. So I forced my body to make contact with its surface. A cold chill ran up my arm and into my head. The room then flashed and the girl disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal">I was alone again and feeling more confused than before. The room was no longer decorated, the stones had turned a dark purple. Crystals lined the periphery and cast the room in a dull red light. And a single black door appeared as the lone exit from my confinement.

<p class="MsoNormal">My only option was the door, so I crept towards it and opened it a crack. Darkness greeted me from the other side. I sighed then opened it all the way. ‘What is going on with this place? Where am I anyway?’ I continued forwards until I was in the middle of a long room. Large braziers lined the walls but they were not lit, only a dull glow illuminated the walls allowing me to deduce the room’s dimensions.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh? How strange, what might you be doing here little one?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The smooth and domineering voice sent a chill down my spine. I turned and looked to the far end of the room. A pair of glowing red eyes looked back at me from the shadows. Although I could not see her pupils, I knew she was looking at me.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Come now, no need to be frightened… little boy? Now this is very interesting. Oh, so you are in Lescatie? Hmm…’

<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to run, yet my body would not move. Her eyes had power over me, I wanted to go towards her, but part of me refused. The sweet chuckle that echoed in the room made my stomach feel strange. And the moment her eyes looked away from me I collapsed to my knees.

<p class="MsoNormal">Why do I feel so exhausted? Damn my head hurts so much.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You are odd little one, yet interesting. You were able to overcome my compulsion, I commend you for that.’

<p class="MsoNormal">On the other side of the room was another door, I needed to escape. This woman was dangerous, every part of me was screaming to run. So I stood and broke for the door, but my body froze once more and I fell to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh, leaving so soon? But things were starting to get interesting… what? How are you?’

<p class="MsoNormal">I pushed with all my might, as heavy as my legs felt I moved forwards. The click of heels on stone alerted me to the woman’s approach, I had no time to wait.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Who are you?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Me?’ the woman chuckled. ‘I will give you one guess little boy.’ Her laughter sent a chill down my spine and caused my hackles to stand.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet salvation was within my hand, or rather the door handle was. With a quiet click the door opened into the darkness beyond. The footsteps continued their approach, yet I felt safe as they echoed in the distance still. But when I turned the pair of red eyes were only a hands width from my own.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Boo.’

<p class="MsoNormal">I screamed as I fell through the doorway, but help never came. The floor had abandoned me to the darkness as I fell into the abyss. Yet as I continued to fall a light appeared in the distance. It continued to grow brighter as I flailed, yet that became hard as a numbness overcame me.

<p class="MsoNormal">And when the light engulfed me, I hit my face against something.

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">A soft light illuminated the table I was resting against. My body felt as worn as after a sparring match with Lin. Yet I felt lighter than before, warmer, more at ease as my senses returned.

<p class="MsoNormal">Huh? No shackles? And the collar is gone. What is happening?

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh good, I managed to pull you back from wherever you went.’ The young woman’s voice made me wince. Something about it hurt my ears. ‘Well, I guess we have nothing to worry about with you, little one. Just a night in a cleansing room and I think you will be okay to leave.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The voice was calm but strong, very feminine although domineering. It made me think of someone strict, yet with a mischievous streak in their nature. And here I am, going on with another strange decomposition and analysis of the world around me. Bugger, just did it again.

<p class="MsoNormal">Although my head felt leaden I looked up at the person opposite me. Her hard green eyes were not the first thing I noticed, it was the four silver wings behind her. Too small for flight, so why would she have them? Is she one of the bird people I saw outside the city?

<p class="MsoNormal">She peered behind herself for a moment then smiled at me. The wings behind her fluttered before extending beyond anything I imagined, filling the width of the room with ease. If she were outside I could see her wing span being greater than three times her height. But after her display they retracted and appeared to shrink behind her to only an arm’s length.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Edda, my name. Now stop gawping, you are making me embarrassed.’ Her boastful laugh and smile betrayed her words.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘M-Martin… where am I?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh? So the little monster finally speaks.’ She bit one of her nails while holding a small crystal orb in her hand. ‘Well it is a pleasure Martin. Now here is the funny part, when the cardinal bopped you on the head, your furry little hat fell off. It surprised him so much that he jumped. You should have seen the old bugger, you near frightened the life out of him. Even more so than when he thought you were a Baphomet.’ And with that said, she burst into a fit of laughter.

<p class="MsoNormal">Wonderful. So I end up as someone else’s toy. When will the humiliation end?

<p class="MsoNormal">‘And that is not the best part either! Everyone thought you were a girl!’ Her cackles chipped further at my confidence. It was low enough from my predicament, I did not need reminding. I would repay Kimiko the humiliation when I saw her again, that was for certain.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What did you mean by… get me back?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The young woman’s curiosity seemed to peak as her smile grew. The small orb in her hand glowed for a moment as she held it towards me. ‘This, I was using it to test you, to see what kind of a person you are. Well, I was trying to find out what you knew. It is a kind of… interrogation, without the nasty stuff. Just make a person think they are in a situation and they often blab everything you want to know. But…’ Her head tilted as she carried on watching me.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Erm… but?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh yes.’ She sat up straight and pocketed the orb. ‘Something odd happened, why did you not follow Kaya?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well…’ What do I tell her? The truth? That I was afraid for my life? That something tugged at my mind and pulled it elsewhere? About that woman? ‘I don’t know…’ that was all I could manage as I turned to look away from her.

<p class="MsoNormal">She chuckled as I heard the scraping of wood. ‘No matter, you are not a monster and even with what happened I do not think you are a threat.’ She smiled as she walked to the door. ‘Now wait here a moment while I get the papers for your release.’

<p class="MsoNormal">After she left I sat contemplating. With everything that had happened, time seemed a blur. I had no idea what day it was since leaving my friends. Especially with the incident in the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal">Thinking about that left me wondering how Inka and Marie were. I hoped they found Marie’s sisters. But my thoughts were soon answered when a squeal pierced my ear.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Surprise!’ The mixture of unexpected stimuli unbalanced me. My pocket and arm shifted to the side while something grabbed my head. ‘Ooh! So is this lescatie? It reminds me of her place… how drab.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Inka! What are you doing here! You need to hide before she comes back!’

<p class="MsoNormal">The energetic mimic continued to hug my head as I looked up at her. She was still as full of smiles as when I last saw her. ‘I came to see you, that and Marie’s big sister kept tying me up... But enough of that! How are you?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Just hide!’

<p class="MsoNormal">We both froze when the door rattled. Something must have hit it from the other side. And the choice number of curses was amusing. Why is that amusing? The person must have hurt themselves… never mind.

<p class="MsoNormal">I still wonder what kind of person I was, this makes me want to not remember. More so since the strange dreams are getting worse.

<p class="MsoNormal">I froze when the door opened. Edda was rubbing her head while looking down at something in her hand. ‘Blasted doors, I forget that these do not open on their own. Although, come to think of it, that would be a bad idea since this is an interrogation room… hmm…’ The winged woman stood their looking up.

<p class="MsoNormal">The irritating Mimic would not move so I started pushing against her. But the daft girl ended up wrestling with me rather than returning to my pocket. ‘You are going to get us caught!’ I tried talking as stern but quiet as possible. Yet the girl snickered as we rocked the chair from side to side. And with a final yelp she pushed me over and onto the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What was that? Where are you Martin? …Martin?’ Edda walked into the room, I could see her armoured legs approaching. But my eyes began to water from the thick layer of dust that was kicked up from my fall. But I still sneezed in the end.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘urgh… down… blegh… down here… wait, is that my voice? Oh yes!’ I jumped to my feet and the woman froze. ‘What? Is there something on my face?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Intruder! What have you done with the child?!’

<p class="MsoNormal">My vision blurred when my back was slammed into the wall. Edda spent no time between seeing me and my subjugation.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What did you do with the… boy… why are you half naked while wearing his clothes?’ A moment of confusion crossed her face before her glare returned.

<p class="MsoNormal">I held up my hands and tried to smile. ‘It is a long story… I was going to tell you, but I guess you have the time to kill?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The young woman’s eyebrow twitched as she let go of me. ‘Sit. You better have a good explanation for this, or trust me, I will put you through hell.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Once we were both sat, she crossed her arms and put her feet on the desk. Her happy attitude was long gone. She seemed more like she wanted to break my arm than listen to what I had to say.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well go ahead then, you better have a good explanation. I train the Valkyrie squadron here, so trust me when I say I could break you in over a hundred different ways.’ The grin she gave was unsettling. But what I noticed of her physique, I was not going to argue. And the way she manhandled me reminded me of Lins ridiculous strength.

<p class="MsoNormal">If I put those two together… oh no, that would be horrible. I doubt the city would survive.

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my random thoughts away then smiled. ‘Well, it kind of started like this…’ The explanation was as long and detailed as possible. With a number of alterations. I might have wanted to survive, but something told me to hold back on a few details.

<p class="MsoNormal">Edda’s face softened as I continued my story, a few snorts coming from her on occasion. But she broke when I mentioned the Lamia nest. It seemed that being chased by a horde of snake women was the funniest thing she had heard. More so than being chased by wolves and almost drowning. Yet my explanation of how my child like form occurred only earned a sniff from her.

<p class="MsoNormal">What sort of things does this woman see every day to think being chased by those monsters was so funny?

<p class="MsoNormal">‘So that is how I ended up here…’ I folded my arms and watched her. She continued studying my face, looking as impassive as when I started my explanation. But she seemed to come to a conclusion when she sighed and stood.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Very well, wait here for a while, this is going to take a lot of explaining to my superior.’

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">Far away in a distant land that was still bathed in moonlight, a woman stirred in her bed. She tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position as thoughts raced in her mind. The thing that annoyed her the most was how sound her companion was in his sleep. And as much as she loved him, he agitated her something rotten at times.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Urgh… can’t sleep.’ She mumbled and groaned, beating her pillow had left her with one less pillow. The damned thing had exploded in a rain of black feathers all over the bedroom floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Have you tried counting sheep?’ Her partner rolled over to face her. His words slow while he stretched. ‘Don’t tell me it’s that time again?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘No it is not…’ The woman grumbled and glared while her partner smiled at her. His dopey grin often left her more agitated, but the shoulder rub was a nice touch. ‘I just had a strange dream.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Her partner rolled his eyes before turning over again. ‘You always have strange dreams, you have had them since I met you.’

<p class="MsoNormal">She snorted before kidney jabbing him with her knee. ‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

<p class="MsoNormal">The man sighed while rubbing his lower back. ‘Fine, if you are going to be funny then I am sleeping with Lisbeth…’ She felt a pang of jealousy as her partner rose then sat on the edge of their bed. ‘At least I will get some sleep then, I will see you in the morning. You have your meeting so make sure to rest.’ Although when he rubbed her chin she felt a pang of regret. Even if she wanted to break his arm at that moment.

<p class="MsoNormal">She sighed and covered her head with their duvet. ‘It is like you love our daughters more than me at times…’ A small grin crossed her face as she shuffled towards him. ‘And I feel awful lonely at times…’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Maybe I do love them more, it’s not like they are always hitting me because they can’t get their own way.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The woman’s eye twitched and she sat bolt upright, revealing her ample bosom. ‘And what is that supposed to mean?! You are supposed to be my husband you know? That means you are to comfort me in my times of need!’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘For crying out loud woman! You are the one overreacting here, so tell me then, what is the problem?’

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked down and played with the duvet. It was an odd moment, she felt like a little girl again while telling her father something. ‘Well, there was this boy in my dream… and don’t look at me like that, it was not that kind of dream. Anyway, it was strange, like a mental link. But I have never linked with someone in a dream. And the strangest part was when I found out where he is.’

<p class="MsoNormal">Her partner kept watching her, his eyes inspecting her face. His stupid beard and nose moving as he thought to himself. She loved him so much.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘I see, to make a connection over that distance and without your consent. Very odd, but Lescatie? Maybe he was a spy of some sorts?’

<p class="MsoNormal">She shook her head. ‘No, he was more afraid than anything. The strangest part was how I could see a man and a boy at the same time, as though they were the same person. Something was strange and a little familiar about him… but I don’t know.’ She sighed and closed her eyes. Surprise filling her mind when she fell towards her husband but found nothing but mattress. ‘Hey! Where are you going?’

<p class="MsoNormal">Her partner was halfway to the door by the time she noticed. ‘Going to sleep with Lisbeth, I doubt you will fall asleep anytime soon.’

<p class="MsoNormal">She grabbed the duvet and covered herself again. ‘Fine… be like that. It’s not like I wanted your company anyway…’

<p class="MsoNormal">Her partner sighed then carried on to the door. Once he was halfway through he looked back to see her peeking at him. ‘Well goodnight dear.’ Her huff and the disappearing of her head beneath the duvet made him chuckle. Even after the long years of them being together, she still acted like the self-righteous spoiled child he met many years ago. Well at least when they were alone.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet as he walked to his youngest daughter’s room he remained thoughtful. The various bits of damage to their home reminded him how she could be in public.

<p class="MsoNormal">He shook his head and sighed. ‘She will never change… as headstrong as the day I tried to kill her…’ And with a quiet creak, he entered their youngest’s bedroom to find her awake. She froze when she saw him, knowing it was past her bedtime she chuckled at being caught. But he smiled and hugged her all the same.

<p class="MsoNormal">His better half as she likes to call herself, might think she knew what was best for them. Yet they would always be daddy’s girls.

<p style="text-align: center;"> *****

<p class="MsoNormal">I felt relieved since we had left the interrogation room. Edda had also managed to find some clothes that fit, even if they were itchy. It was better than what I had considering my growth spurt tore my old clothes into rags.

<p class="MsoNormal">At least the cape, hat, gloves and boots survived. They seemed to grow to fit me, it would have been nice if my clothes had.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘So you still do not trust me?’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Nope!’

<p class="MsoNormal">The winged woman, who informed me that she was an angel, was walking beside me. It had taken a few repeated explanations to the guard commander, but I was free in the end. Kind of.

<p class="MsoNormal">She seemed like a cheerful woman, when things did not involve her work. Yet the oppressive atmosphere of the underground tunnel was getting to her. The way her wings twitched on occasion was a sure sign. They had reduced to the size of my hand, turning into a mass of downy feathers between her shoulders.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was rather amusing with the way her three pairs of wings reacted to her mood. Did I just count that correct? Three pairs? But I was sure she had two earlier.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘What? Is there something on my back?’ The angel glanced at me and plucked a feather from her pauldron.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘No, I was just curious as to why you have three pairs of wings, I was sure you had two.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh that.’ She looked ahead and the cute little puffball wings on her back fluttered. ‘You see, all angels are born with three pairs of wings. Something to do with a holy trinity or something like it. I never looked much into it. But what I know is that the more powerful an angel, the more wings they can use and the bigger they grow.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Ooh, I see. So you must be rather strong then with your two pair?’ I smiled at her and she just rolled her eyes and snorted.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You could say that. We can grow stronger though training, I only just managed to increase the span of my primary wings after an intense month.’ She then shrugged. ‘But we can’t all be prodigies.’

<p class="MsoNormal">The tunnels continued ahead of us and into the dark. I was lucky to have Edda with me as her armour let out a faint glow that lit our way.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘You sound a little sore… I mean, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.’

<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled at my comment then punched my shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, we are all friends here now that I know you are not some monster in disguise. But some angels are born with a gift you see, as if the power dwelling within them was set free at birth. We call them Seraphim, you would know one if you spotted them.’

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Why is that such a sore spot for you? And please don’t hit me again. Your gauntlet hurt.’ I was still rubbing my arm from the last blow.

<p class="MsoNormal">After a few moments of silence and a short staircase up, we stopped in front of a door.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Well, you could say that I have this pain in the arse younger sister. And before you say anything I am not jealous…’ Her eyebrow twitched before she opened the door. The daylight revealed her features, she was a stunning young woman in her late twenties. Her olive skin suited her along with her long brown hair. And the green dress she was wearing under her armour accentuated the green of her eyes. They still appeared as hard as before, but I could see the curl in the corners of them. She was a mischievous one by the looks.

<p class="MsoNormal">I froze when I looked out of the doorway, the scene surpassed everything I expected. <p class="MsoNormal">‘Welcome to lescatie Martin. The city of heroes.’ Edda chuckled as she pushed me from the darkness and into the light.

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