Despite the heavy losses, they returned to celebrations at the fortress. The mood, however, was more subdued: Radion would be gone for an estimated seventeen years, and four lieutenants and their squads were also missing. Still, everyone congratulated the new captain.

  Elion was downing beer after beer, recounting how the whole situation had played out:

  “I wanted to rush to help Lorian, but this guy stopped us all, told us to run! I thought he’d lost his mind!” He waved his mug from side to side. “Then he said there was a lord up there, which we all heard, and suddenly what he’d said started to make sense!” He crashed his mug on the table.

  “He went up alone to rescue the captain, told us to take you back to the fortress, but I thought, there’s no way I’m leaving him alone; who would he rescue then?” He laughed heartily.

  “We climbed all the way to the top while that nasty mackerel was spouting; he’d already killed Radion. We almost managed to get the commander out, but he caught us! Then I look back and see him get smacked by a tentacle, sent flying to the moon; I thought he was lost! But then I look again; he’s back, and with wings, saving us, just like I planned from the start!” Elion declared, laughing again.

  “Is that true?” Yassin asked loudly.

  Rendil nodded. “Every word!”

  He grabbed Elion by the shoulder. They drank like this until late into the night. Eventually, everyone went to their rooms; only the two of them remained at the table.

  “When I first met you, I never would have guessed someone so scared had so much potential inside,” Elion said, taking a sip of beer. “I’m incredibly glad I was wrong. After these forty-five years, it’s an honor to call you my brother.” He raised his glass.

  Rendil mimicked him and nodded.

  Elion lowered his voice. “There’s something I still need to say about what really happened.” He drew a breath. “The truth is, I honestly didn’t want to tell you that you could enter the Heavens once you got your halo. But I changed my mind and went to tell you; the moment I started talking, you took over the conversation.”

  Elion’s shoulders fell. “And after what you said, there was no point in bringing it up. I knew it would only bring you more pain, since it would open a choice you couldn’t make. I talked it over with Radion, and we agreed not to tell you for now.” His eyes dropped to the floor.

  “And you were right. Yes, hearing it for the first time was a shock. But right after, I remembered my own words, and they still hold true.” Rendil replayed their conversation in his mind.

  None of this changes anything. I won’t rest until we free all the Gates. I’m at peace with being a guardian, even for ten thousand years!

  “There’s just one last thing I want to cover, and then I won’t bring it up again. Lindi wasn’t transferred, was she?” he asked.

  Elion shook his head. “After she came down from the Tree, Radion told her about the option. She didn’t hesitate for a second, she had family waiting for her on the other side.”

  At that, Rendil stood and walked over to Elion. “I’m not angry with you. You did the right thing. We’re brothers to the end. When we win, we’ll meet on the other side, and I’ll introduce you to my family.”

  He stretched out his right hand, palm against his own chest. Elion mirrored the gesture, pressing his palm to Rendil's. They clasped hands and embraced. They sat back down. Elion had tears in his eyes and started sniffling quietly. Rendil gave him a brotherly smack. Elion was speechless for a second, then burst out laughing, echoing through the barracks.

  “You never let me owe you anything, huh? Let’s have another.”

  “Or three,” Rendil laughed.

  Elion walked over with another beer.

  “But now I have to ask you something,” Rendil said.

  “And what’s that?” Elion asked, handing him a mug.

  “Why didn’t you move on?”

  “Weeell... isn’t it obvious? I don’t know what’s waiting for me on the other side, but this...” he spread his arms wide to the whole barracks, “this is what I fought for my whole life. It’s a dream for a Viking like me. Every night, feasts and training with my siblings. And then we get to fight those monsters from dawn to dusk. And when you die, you’re reborn! If this isn’t the closest thing to Valhalla, I don’t know what is!” Elion shouted.

  “There’s no Odin or Thor here, but there are archangels with hammers and spears!”

  “And there’s no one waiting for you on the other side?” Rendil asked more seriously.

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  “I believe there is, but I’m sure they’ll understand. I won’t stay here forever! But first, I have to beat you! And we still have a ton of adventures ahead of us, captain!” he laughed beneath his red mustache.

  They sat a while longer before deciding it was high time to go to bed. Rendil was about to leave when Elion stopped him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To bed!” Rendil declared.

  Elion stared at him. Then it hit Rendil. “Aaaah, but I don’t have to sleep anymore!” After the initial surprise came panic. “My meeting with Ariel!” And he shot out of the barracks to the Keep.

  When he arrived, Ariel was already waiting for him, arms folded, one eyebrow raised. “You’re late!”

  “Yes, yes, I’m sorry, I got caught up with my friend. There were a few things we had to discuss.”

  “I’ll let it slide this time,” she said, amused.

  She wore a robe, her wings were hidden. For someone so tall, she was incredibly elegant.

  “How many years has it been since I gave you your name? Fifteen? Seventeen?”

  “Nineteen,” Rendil corrected.

  “Ah, yes, I remember now. Twenty-six years as a soldier, nineteen as a lieutenant? You've come far. You’re not the only human to have achieved something like this, but progressing this fast is still quite rare.”

  “Why are we here? I mean, at night? Right now?”

  “Angels handle many things after dark, while the world rests. Since we don’t need to sleep, we have plenty of time beneath the moon’s glow. I wanted to thank you. If I had gone alone against four lords, my fate would have been... uncertain,” she said calmly. “With Radion gone for at least seventeen years, his absence also made your current placement easier. You’ll be acting captain of his unit. You’ve earned great respect from commander Vesaria again, as well as from both my brothers.”

  “But they barely saw me!” he said, wanting to continue, but she stopped him.

  “Michael is a soldier; he rarely shows his feelings or gives praise, but he was very impressed. I’m sure Uriel was interested as well.”

  She paced thoughtfully in the moonlight. A snow-white robe, woven patterns, a trim of platinum and diamonds. Green hair, cream-toned skin, gentle almond eyes with silver irises.

  “Come fly with me,” she suggested.

  “But I still don’t really know how...” he protested, not wanting to make a bad impression, feeling inexperienced and awkward about his flying.

  “Don’t worry! I know how long you’ve been captain,” she said with a smile.

  Her wings burst forth, and she leaped from the tower. Jumping down, even with wings, was a completely new experience for Rendil. After a deep breath, he ran and jumped. He flapped his wings hard and breathed quickly. Ariel circled around him. They flew over lagoons, palm groves, islets, and beaches washed by the sea.

  On a nearby islet, Ariel landed and sat in the sand. Rendil followed, landed awkwardly, and sat beside her. Cool grains of sand pressed between his fingers, and the hush of the waves filled the silence between them.

  “Tell me about yourself.” She looked at him.

  Rendil hesitated for a moment, then began: “I’m human, or at least I always thought I was. Just ordinary, like anyone else. I had a great life: four beautiful children, a wonderful wife, Sara. Until I lost it all.” He let out a long exhale.

  “I was always determined; I knew what I wanted to achieve. What many would call luck, I had, although I never really believed in luck. I surrounded myself with good people I trusted, and thanks to them, I got where I was. Even if I wasn’t the most trustworthy myself...” He let that hang in the air for a moment.

  “I tried to build a place where I’d find peace in old age. But it all fell apart. I underestimated my illness and ended up here. At first, I didn’t understand: how does it work? Heaven? Hell? Why would anyone send people to Hell? Only later did I realize how it really was.” He put his open hand in front of his face pointing forward.

  “I try, just like before, to analyze situations and look for the best strategy. Sometimes I feel like I’m in some kind of video game.” He dropped his hand and put it in his lap.

  I hate losing, and here, I can’t afford to lose. More than that, I don’t want to see my friends get hurt. That's why I think I've come this far... That’s about it, in short.” He grabbed a handful of sand he’d been playing with and tossed it in front of him.

  “And you? An archangel in the army of Heaven, here with me, a newbie captain?” he asked, smirking.

  She watched him with interest and smiled back. He didn’t expect an answer, but after a while, she looked away, gazed at the sky, and began to speak: “Once, before all this, we lit the stars and made something from nothing. With my brothers and sisters, we lived in harmony with the Father. Life was simple...” She closed her eyes.

  “I had few worries. Then one day, the Father came to present us with something He’d created. In that vast universe, He showed us a little planet. And on it, beings like us. I loved watching them. But one day, everything changed.” She opened her eyes. Her gaze was full of anger.

  “Father was angry. Lucifer defiled His creation and led humanity to taste the forbidden fruit, the one thing He had forbidden.” Her silver eyes reflected in the moonlight.

  “I hardly remember when or how I ended up in the middle of that fight, where so many of my brothers and sisters rebelled. In the end, it erupted into all-out war. I didn’t know who could defeat Lucifer, but the Father was right: what he did was outrageous,” something old and unforgiving moved across her face.

  “Michael was appointed to take responsibility. He united us and defeated Lucifer and suddenly the Rebellion ended. I thought things would go back to normal. But then something unexpected happened.”

  Rendil watched her quietly with interest as she spoke.

  “Fratricide, brother killing brother. And instead of redemption, Cain's soul went elsewhere. Where Michael sent our brothers and sisters, where they were to create their own world. Then we knew we couldn’t leave it at that. Every soul the Father created can never truly die. Those worthy He bound with His Light, but for some, He no longer had the power.”

  She paused, staring at the horizon. “So, in short: I’m here, in a war we’re losing. I want to help my brothers win, but I don’t know how, and every day I feel it’s hopeless.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “It’s wonderful to talk to someone like this. Please, let it stay between us.”

  He just looked at her in silent agreement. Ariel stood up and walked away.

  “I hope I’ll see you again... Rendil.”

  Her wings unfurled, and she shot into the sky, vanishing into the darkness. He sat there a while longer, watching the blue moon and stars reflected in the pure sea water. Time passed, then he took off and returned to his residence. Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling.

  Am I strong now?

  Remembering Michael smiting Leviathan made him feel small. That was might that couldn't be matched. Ariel's vulnerability. Lindi's choice. So much in one night. At least he had many sleepless nights ahead to sort through it all.

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