Chapter Text
The Citadel towered above the clouds, like an eternal temple of light. Its towers pierced the sky, and stained glass windows reflected the sun’s rays, casting colorful reflections on the marble walls. There was no place for chaos here. Order reigned, and everyone knew their place.
Itoshi Sae walked through the main hall, passing under a series of arches and columns, each step precise. His snow-white cloak fluttered gently behind him. On his shoulder was the symbol of a seraph, the highest honor. He felt no pride. Only calm resolve.
No darkness entered these walls. There were no doubts. No evil. Sae believed in this. That’s why, when he was summoned to the Council Hall, he went without asking questions.
The Council never called without reason. If they assigned him a task, it meant it was necessary. It meant he was the best person to carry it out. He stopped at the massive doors of the Council Hall. The intricate patterns on them glowed with a soft golden light, acknowledging his approach. The doors opened silently. Inside, there was only silence.
Seven elders—shining figures behind translucent curtains—sat in a semi-circle, like the living embodiment of heavenly will. Their faces were hidden in noble shadows, but their voices were clear.
— Seraph Sae, — spoke the central voice, strict yet not hostile. — You have been summoned on a matter of utmost importance.
Sae bowed his head in respect. — I am listening.
— Distortions have been reported in the southern province. An energy interaction that cannot be classified. Local messengers have reported strange dreams, disappearances, and disturbances in the balance.
— A demon? — he asked shortly.
— Not confirmed yet. We cannot take any risks. You are assigned to investigate and, if necessary, eliminate the threat. But most importantly, maintain the balance.
A pause.
— You are to act alone. This is important. We do not want panic among the lower ranks.
He nodded. — Understood.
— You will receive the details in the archival scroll. You depart immediately.
Slowly, as if confirming an invisible decision, the seven figures lowered their heads. The angel turned and left the hall without asking unnecessary questions. He was not accustomed to doubt.
The journey was long, and Sae was used to such travels. Over the years of service to the Council, such tasks had become almost routine: one task replaced another, and each day was a point on a line that he passed through precisely. Over the years, he had developed the habit of ignoring distractions; everything had to be done according to plan.
He moved forward, step by step, watching as the landscape changed. The forest gradually gave way to open land, and before him stood an abandoned temple. Nothing special, a meeting place for those who wished to settle matters without being noticed—angels and demons alike. Sae did not like coming here, but it was on his route.
He sat briefly on a stone bench at the temple’s entrance, observing his surroundings to ensure nothing threatened him. A familiar ritual—subtly surveying the area, noting details that could betray the presence of other beings. This was neutral ground, and one could often find uninvited guests here—angels or demons seeking a break from their duties.
Inside the temple, there was silence, occasionally interrupted by the rustling of angel wings. Sae surveyed the empty wooden panels on the walls and the old stone walls. This was all part of his usual routine. As he walked down the corridor, his attention was caught by a demon standing by a distant table, watching him carefully. Sae had no reason to worry—everyone here was familiar, within acceptable bounds. He continued on, habitually ignoring any strange looks that might distract him.
But this demon did not stop watching him. Its gaze, piercing through Sae, was too attentive, almost as if it wished to study him. For a moment, Sae thought it strange to feel like someone was watching him. The sensation of being observed quietly lingered, and he quickened his pace. At first, it seemed unimportant, but soon his gaze slid to the figure that did not let up, simply hiding in the shadows. Sae didn’t stop. He continued moving, walking confidently deeper into the grounds. He knew there was no danger—this was a usual place for such meetings, but the strange feeling of being watched wouldn’t leave him.
He reached the far end of the grounds, where he intended to continue his task, and finally glanced back. The demon that had been following him had disappeared. Sae sighed, pushing aside all unnecessary thoughts, and focused on the task at hand. Everything remained as it should.
Sae continued moving through the ancient temple, inspecting every corner. The place seemed abandoned, its air filled with a long-forgotten sorrow, as if no one had been here in ages. Sometimes, he could hear the faint sound of wind in the corridor, but everything else was still, as if time had stopped.
He passed through what appeared to be the remains of old rooms and corridors. Why the Council had chosen this place for the meeting was unknown to Sae, but he did not ask unnecessary questions. He simply followed orders, as always. He was meant to inspect the area, and that’s all.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling that broke the silence. Sae instinctively tensed, listening. The rustling grew louder, and it seemed someone was approaching.
He turned, expecting to see a lost traveler or perhaps an angel who had wandered into this place by accident. But instead, a demon appeared before him. Its eyes glowed with red fire, and dark, entwined wings spread behind it. The demon said nothing, merely leaping toward Sae. Taken by surprise, Sae barely managed to dodge to the side, but his opponent was too fast. The demon attacked confidently, its wings unfurling and slicing through the air. Sae felt one of its wings slash him across the side, leaving deep gashes that immediately began to bleed. He hadn’t expected to be attacked on neutral ground, where angels and demons typically avoided conflict.
— Damn... — he breathed, dodging the next strike. He drew his sword, preparing for a fight.
The demon seemed to revel in Sae's struggle to fend off its blows. It moved confidently, each strike more assured, slicing through the air with its wings as though this were not a battle, but simply a game. This was no ordinary encounter. Sae understood that this demon was not just a random attacker.
He tightened his grip, feeling the blade of his sword slipping from his hands, blood continuing to flow from his wounds. But there was no time for weakness—he could not afford to be defeated. Sae focused, his movements becoming more precise, but the demon was in no hurry. It struck again and again, not only causing physical pain, but also mentally pressuring Sae, as if expecting him to give up.
Each blow left new scratches, but Sae could not allow himself to lower his weapon.
The demon smiled, its eyes still burning. Sae barely managed to rise in the last moment, dodging a direct hit. He kept fighting, and despite the pain, he knew he had to hold on. But something in the demon's behavior was strange. Its attacks seemed deliberate, planned, rather than just a random assault.
At one point, Sae realized this demon was no ordinary foe. Its fighting style was unlike most demons. It was smarter, understanding how to not only inflict physical pain, but also to confuse the opponent, as if it expected Sae to surrender. Exhausted, Sae continued to struggle against the demon, which struck with overwhelming force. Its wings were damaged, and each new blow felt like his body was running out of strength to defend itself. The demon left him no chances: slashing at his wings, making Sae tremble with pain, while it became more and more confident in its victory.
Sae lost his balance and fell to the ground. His wings, broken and torn, felt as though all strength was leaving him.
Suddenly, like a thunderstrike, something heavy knocked the demon off its feet. Sae felt his attacking foe fly away from him and land several meters from the temple wall.
The demon jumped up, its gaze full of confusion. It looked at the one who had intervened, but didn’t make a move—it retreated and, in the next moments, disappeared, unable to withstand the wrath of the one who had stopped it.
The noise faded, and now the temple was silent again. Sae, struggling to catch his breath, looked toward the one who had saved him. His gaze landed on the figure now standing a few steps away.
A man with wings spread behind him stood with a cold expression on his face. He said nothing, but his presence was still powerful. He extended a hand, and although he said nothing, the gesture was clear.
Sae, feeling his strength at its limit, swayed slightly. His body ached, but in that moment, he didn’t want to accept help. He was used to relying only on himself. With effort, he pushed himself to his feet, trying to stand straight and not show weakness despite the pain. His response held neither gratitude nor anger.
— I will manage, — he said dryly.
The demon hardly moved, just standing in the shadow. Its eyes gleamed, as if catching the light. A smile curved its lips. — Are you alright? Or do you need more time to be "perfect"?
— I... don’t need your help, — Sae replied hoarsely. His wings were heavy, scarred. Blood dripped from their feathers.
— Leave, — the angel said coldly.
— Are you out of your mind? — the demon exclaimed, stepping closer as if not noticing the danger.
— This is not your territory, angel. Just go and die with some dignity, or let me help you.
Sae holds himself back, not allowing himself to fall. His eyes are cold, but there's a hint of exhaustion in them.
— I’m not asking for your help. And I don’t want you to... — he doesn't finish the sentence. He's resisting too much.
— You’re not asking. But you look like someone who’s just realized they’re not invincible.
He moves closer to Sae, his gaze sliding over his wounded wings.
— Isn’t this a bit too risky? How did you even end up in this situation?
— It’s a mission, — his voice is cold, but there’s tension from the pain.
— Yeah, a mission... To fall into a trap, — he leans closer, his gaze piercing through Sae.
— You do understand this isn’t just an assignment, right? It’s a setup. Someone among your own wanted something to happen to you.
Sae falls silent, his eyes darkening. He doesn't answer.
The demon smiles slightly, noticing the vulnerability in Sae.
— You’re a seraph, which means you don’t belong in these territories. Why are you even alone? You don’t quite fit into this game. I think your mission here isn’t really your mission, — he looks at Sae, understanding that this conversation might be the first step toward his inner change.
— You know, you probably thought you were always under protection. And now, you almost died.
— I... would’ve handled it myself.
— Really? You’d have survived with those wounds? And not noticed you just signed your own death warrant? — he looks at Sae with new understanding, but doesn’t hide his mockery.
— You’re too confident, Seraph. And too naïve. Think about who sent you here. This wasn’t a coincidence.
Sae remains silent. His gaze moves from his wings to the demon, and something new appears in his eyes. Perhaps uncertainty. Maybe this is the first time Sae has felt that his perfect life might not be... so perfect after all?
Sae breathes heavily. He’s staying on his feet only through stubbornness and inner resolve, but his whole body shakes.
Demon moves closer, seeing the blood dripping from his wings.
— You’re going to lose even more if you stand there like a statue, — he extends his hand, not touching, just hovering an inch from the wounded feathers.
— They’re stained. Let me.
— Don’t touch me, — Sae says sharply.
He flinches, takes a step back, but almost falls. His knee gives way. The demon catches him just in time, holding him by the shoulders.
— Hey, you can be proud and stubborn later. Right now — you’re just covered in blood, — he gently touches his wing as softly as he can.
— I won’t hurt you, — the demon says quietly.
— I’ll manage, — Sae stubbornly repeats.
— Of course, you’ll manage. But not alone, — he kneels down, pulls out a cloth, and carefully wipes the inner part of the wound, doing it skillfully and tenderly.
— Sorry if it stings. This... isn’t my usual job.
Sae remains silent, tense. He doesn’t even look at the demon, just standing still with his wings extended, allowing himself to be weak for only a second.
— I know a place nearby. No hunters, no angelic eyes. You can recover there, — the demon says after a pause, looking him straight in the eyes. — Don’t be stubborn. Come with me. You won’t make it on your own.
Sae tightens his fists. He’s used to being the one who makes all the decisions. But right now — he can’t. And inside him, there’s irritation, anger, pain. But even stronger, fatigue. And maybe... a little trust.
— Lead the way.