Viktor couldn’t believe his eyes. His armor and sword were completely different: more ornate, more distinguished, and he could clearly see the insignia of a lieutenant. After a moment taking it all in, he looked at Elion, who came over, hugged him enthusiastically, and shook him with excitement.

  “You show-off! I knew you had it in you!”

  Viktor was still battered, his arm hanging at an unnatural angle. Then it dawned on him: the last askara hadn’t managed to bite off his head because she’d struck the halo, which had burned her face. He looked around, but his joy faded as he noticed his company beginning to fade away. He approached the vanishing bodies, knelt down, and spoke softly: “You fought bravely. Thank you. We’ll meet again in a month.”

  Golden ash started to disappear upwards toward the snowy sky as their mutilated bodies turned into nothing.

  Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out behind him. Viktor turned in surprise and was momentarily speechless: standing before him was the Archangel Ariel, her presence filling the area with a majestic Light.

  “My men reported that there was a lieutenant here with a small squad, facing two barons and four askaras! I expected to find a slaughtered lieutenant and his company, and that I’d have to go hunting. But instead, I see two lieutenants and defeated enemies.”

  She noticed them paying their respects to the fallen and bowed her head in respect as well.

  “Introduce yourselves!” she commanded.

  Elion straightened, stood at attention, and announced, “Lieutenant Elion!”

  With great effort, Viktor stood up, exhaustion in every limb, but replied firmly, “Viktor Gale!”

  “How long have you been a guardian?” Ariel asked.

  “Twenty-six years,” Viktor answered, catching his breath.

  Ariel looked him over and stepped closer. Like the other archangels he had met, she stood nearly twice a man’s height. “Interesting,” she mused. Then she smiled and declared, “Ah, now I understand. Kneel, Viktor Gale.”

  Viktor obeyed. Ariel touched his shoulders with her radiant sword and continued, “Forget your old name. What name do you choose as an officer of Light?”

  He hesitated; the question caught him off guard, and truthfully, he hadn’t prepared anything. At that instant, she tilted her head back, went silent for a moment, then softly pronounced, “Rendil.” She gave a gentle shake of her head, as if clearing her thoughts, and said, “Rise, Lieutenant Rendil.”

  Viktor rose to his feet, the new name Rendil forged into his soul like his new armor. After so many years, it was time for Viktor Gale to be properly buried. This was who he needed to become in order to press forward.

  For them. For all of them.

  He looked up at her, still captivated by her majesty. Her armor was the most majestic he had ever seen, rare materials worked in lavish detail as Light radiated from it. He found himself especially curious about what she looked like beneath her helmet. All he could see was her green hair and pale skin, yet what struck him most were almond?shaped eyes, their silver irises shining even more brightly up close. At that moment, he simply thanked her with respect: “Thank you. May your Light shine true.”

  “And may yours shine as well,” she said warmly.

  Heat from her presence eased the sting of the wind.

  Just then, three more high angels from her royal guard landed nearby.

  “All clear, Ariel. We’ve won!”

  “Thank you for the report.” She nodded.

  Radion landed as well, accompanied by several other captains. He studied Viktor for a moment, as if he couldn’t quite place him. “Viktor? But it hasn’t even been thirty years!” He snapped out of his surprise as Ariel passed by their ranks.

  “You all performed excellently. You deserve celebration and rest.” She turned to Rendil. “We’ll be watching your progress closely.” She gave a quick, mischievous smile and lifted off with her guard.

  Elion and the captain offered Rendil their support.

  The captain turned to Elion. “I thought you both had fallen, Elion. What were you thinking?”

  Elion smiled. “You know how it is, in the heat of battle... How are we doing?” he asked, his tone turning serious.

  The captain sighed deeply. “We’ll talk in my quarters. First, we have promotions and celebrations ahead.”

  Elion laughed. “Weeell... about that promotion, he was promoted by Archangel Ariel herself!”

  Radion couldn’t hide his surprise.

  “And what name did you choose?” the captain asked.

  “I didn’t choose. She gave it to me,” he replied.

  “That’s quite unusual... So, what should we call you from now on?”

  He was silent for a moment, then answered thoughtfully, “Rendil.”

  When they returned to the battlefield, only Mona, Yassin, Yoshiro, and Artur were there to greet them.

  “Where are the others?” Mona asked.

  Elion just shook his head sadly. “We’ll see them in two months.”

  “And Carlos?” Elion asked.

  Mona repeated his gesture.

  “Aaah,” he sighed, “it’ll be crowded at all the lakes again.”

  Just then, Mona noticed Rendil’s halo.

  “You... you!” she began, sounding annoyed, but then her face brightened. “Congratulations, Lieutenant!” she said, hugging him.

  “Look after him, I’m off to get our orders. It’s cold, and I’m sure we have several wounded, I doubt we’ll be marching for three days. And one more thing: from today, it’s Lieutenant Rendil! He was named by Ariel herself,” Elion explained.

  Everyone listened in astonishment. Elion walked away, while Artur stepped up to Rendil; they had once been the same height, but not since Rendil’s transformation. “I can’t believe it!” he said, rubbing a hand through his mid?length brown hair. “So, a lieutenant! Well, well.” His fingers moved to his stubbled jaw as his blue eyes studied Rendil. “How did this... when did this happen?”

  “I’m not even sure myself,” Rendil admitted. “It all happened so quickly, and I need to get my head around it.”

  Yoshiro bowed before him, dark hair falling forward. “Lieutenant! My sword is yours!” He was immediately smacked on the back, making him snap upright; a brief flash of irritation crossed his ivory face, his teeth showing beneath his neat moustache before his expression smoothed again.

  “He’s a real hero!” Yassin called out, playfully brushing her fist across his cheek. “So, Rendil, huh? Looks like, in the end, we’ve got a lot to learn from you!”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Rendil said. “Everything changed so fast, I'm not sure what to think yet.”

  Elion returned. “Just as I thought, the losses are huge,” he said, shaking his head sadly. “We’ve been given space in a nearby fortress for a few days. Come on, help him, he needs to rest. We’ll take him to the captain.”

  Yoshiro and Elion supported Rendil, while Radion was already waiting.

  “Come,” Radion said. “You’ve about half a day’s march ahead. The Frozen Crystal Fortress isn’t far. I’ll carry the new lieutenant and look after him.” He took Rendil by his good arm, slung it over his shoulder, and in an instant, they were airborne.

  Below them stretched a frozen landscape of forests and rivers. The icy wind whipped at his face, but it was his first time flying and he enjoyed watching the scenery go by. He still couldn’t quite believe what had happened.

  Me, a lieutenant? Rendil?

  He was saddened by the loss of his comrades, but he knew he would see them again within two months. It felt as if they had only gone away for a while. Now that he was a lieutenant, he hoped he would finally learn more about this mysterious world of Light.

  He decided to clear his mind for a while and simply watched the landscape until they landed at a fortress of massive blocks of ice, shining in the sun. The names of these fortresses are, as always, spot on. They landed on the roof, where the Light streamed in, and entered through an opening into a room with a small pool, where Radion set him down.

  “Take off your armor and roll up your sleeve,” Radion instructed.

  Rendil obeyed. It wasn’t his first time being treated for an injury, but he’d never experienced such a severe fracture before; usually it was just cuts that healed quickly after a meal, or he simply hadn’t survived. Now, curiosity got the better of him.

  “How do you treat injuries like these here?” he asked.

  “As you know, everything here is made from Light. I just need a bit from this branch.” Radion took off, and a fragment of Light from the Tree floated down onto his outstretched hand. “Normally, I’d just rub your arm with it and bandage it, but with a break like this...” He shook his head. “It would be better to cut it off and let it grow back,” he said, drawing his sword and raising it.

  Rendil’s face instantly went pale, his eyes wide with horror, until Radion burst out laughing.

  “Just kidding! I can’t believe you fell for that!” he laughed. Still chuckling, he added, “Come on, I’ll rub some Light on it and start the healing.”

  Rendil just shook his head in disbelief. He’d fallen for a joke he used to play on his own children! Radion applied the “ointment” to his arm, then brought the Light he held to the break; Rendil felt the bone set and slide back into place.

  “Hold on, don’t move your arm yet. The bones need to stay aligned for at least two days,” Radion warned, taking a bandage and a splint from the cupboard.

  As he looked around the room, he noticed the branches of the Tree were full again. The room was as unique as every other he’d seen so far. The walls and ceiling were made of clear ice, and the smooth floor of blue stones reflected light throughout the space.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Once he was treated, they headed to the barracks where they would stay for now and wait for the others.

  “What would you like to drink?” Radion asked.

  “Raspberry brandy. Maybe it will numb me a bit,” Rendil said with a smile. He eased down onto the bench by the wooden table; the bench squeaked as it took his weight.

  Radion brought over two glasses and raised one in a toast to the Eternal Light and the new lieutenant. Rendil clinked glasses with him. The brandy burned warm down his throat and left a raspberry aftertaste that spread through his mouth.

  “What’s going to happen to me? Will I be reassigned like Lindi?” Rendil said.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely stay under my command. I’m not letting you go anywhere!”

  “I still can’t believe it, after twenty-six years,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re one of the fastest-rising people I’ve ever heard of. Most never reach this status, even after hundreds of years!”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to save my family. Maybe that’s what keeps me going,” Rendil replied.

  Radion smiled, his dark eyes going distant for a moment, as if centuries of experience flickered within them. “Motivation lies within each of us, my brother, but its roots run deeper than we think,” he said quietly. “Let’s set aside our worries and duties for now: tonight is for celebration and simple words over a drink. Let’s enjoy what we have; this evening is yours.”

  For a moment, the room fell silent, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the muffled hum of conversation in the background. Radion turned to Rendil again, pride clear in his voice. “I remember you from before. You’ve changed so much. You’re no longer that frightened man who didn’t understand anything. As a sergeant, you did exceptionally well; people trust you. I believe you have many great deeds ahead of you, and you’ll play an important role in this war.”

  The door opened, and the remaining members of his battered squad filed in. They greeted each other with relief, sat down wearily, and poured drinks to warm up. Cups clinked as they raised their drinks in a toast to the fallen and to victory. Voices and chatter filled the room once again, but Radion’s words of sincere praise lingered in the air.

  The captain stood up. “That’s all from me tonight; I need to check in with the high captain.” They raised a toast and said their goodbyes.

  The others talked about Ariel: her majesty, the battle, the defense, and how the archangels had intervened, but most of all, they celebrated the new lieutenant.

  After a few hours, everyone went to bed. Only Rendil and Elion remained; Elion smiled at him from across the table.

  “So, how do you feel?” Elion asked.

  “It’s a strange feeling; I’m still processing it. I’ve got a golden ring above my head, my armor is unfamiliar, my weapons are different. Every strike felt stronger; I feel lighter; it’s hard to describe.”

  Elion grew serious. “You’ve unlocked a higher potential in your soul, let go of fear, and accepted your destiny. You mostly have control over your dreams, but there’s something you should know...”

  Rendil cut him off mid-sentence: “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! Fear? What is there to be afraid of here? Death just means a month or two...”

  Elion interrupted, “For you, it’s a year on the Tree now!”

  “A year, then, it makes no difference. What are we really risking, apart from losing some time in darkness while our bodies regenerate?”

  “The risks aren’t entirely clear to me either,” Elion whispered. “And I haven’t gotten an answer from anyone. We know the Tree’s power weakens with every gate that falls, right?”

  Rendil listened quietly and nodded.

  “That means resurrection takes longer. But what happens to those regenerating on the Tree if the last gate falls? Do they stay there forever? And what will happen to the city? I can’t even imagine it,” he continued.

  “And one more thing: do you feel like we’ve won?”

  “Without a doubt!” Rendil declared.

  Elion just shook his head. “As our Light fades, the darkness grows stronger. Our resurrection takes longer, but they can produce more demons and return even faster! Even though we brought down a lord today, we lost more than ten high angels. They’re already taking over a hundred years to regenerate! At this rate, Hell will bleed us dry.”

  Rendil had never realized it before. Elion was right.

  “Have you heard of any plan to retake one of the gates?” Rendil asked.

  Elion just shook his head. “No, not a word. And honestly, I don’t think such a plan exists. But we mustn’t lose hope! We have to believe there’s a greater plan, that the Almighty is on our side!”

  He waved his hand. “I won’t burden you with worries. Today is a day for celebration! Come, let me show you your temporary room.”

  “My room?”

  “Yes, you won’t be sleeping in the common quarters anymore; you’re a lieutenant now. That comes with its perks!”

  “When I interrupted you earlier, what were you going to say?” Rendil asked.

  “It doesn’t matter; it’s no longer relevant. Forget it, and come on!”

  They crossed the courtyard to the next ice building, went upstairs, and Elion opened a door for him.

  “It’s nothing fancy, but you’ll have some privacy!” Elion said, his hands on his hips.

  Rendil looked around; it was more than he expected. He had his own bed, a shower, a desk carved from wood, and a chair draped with a fur throw.

  He asked the Light for a few more glasses of raspberry brandy.

  As Elion finished his drink, he put it on the table and spoke again. “Listen, before I leave you, you’ll have some time to process... all of this. Just know that the only thing holding you back from starting training is your arm. For now, get some rest. Tomorrow I’ll answer any other questions you have.”

  “Is that an order?” Rendil chuckled.

  Elion laughed and closed the door behind him.

  He woke early the next morning, still hazy by the memories of his dream. They had been strangely ordinary: no visions, just fragments of everyday life, as if he’d returned to Earth for a while. The first thing he did was make himself his usual “morning cocoa.” Mug in hand, he headed to the bathroom, needing once more to make sure it wasn’t just an illusion: the halo really was shining above his head.

  I am a lieutenant!

  Even after everything he’d been through, he still couldn’t quite believe it.

  After washing up, he paused by the window. The sunrise over the fortress was especially beautiful today; the walls gleamed with golden light, and it was snowing beyond the gates, as it almost always did. He took a deep breath, letting the freshness of the morning fill him, soaking in the joyful atmosphere that lingered here despite everything that had happened.

  He grabbed breakfast in the barracks and sat down at a table just as Radion, Elion, and Lorian walked in. “The lieutenants will assign your morning duties,” captain announced curtly. Then he glanced at Rendil and gave a subtle nod for him to follow.

  They met in his quarters. Radion gestured to the chair across from him.

  “Sit down. From today, you’re under my direct command. You’ll be in charge of the first, second, third, and fourth squads.”

  Rendil blinked. “Didn’t Elion command them until now?”

  The captain shook his head. “Not anymore. Previously, Elion and Lorian each led six squads. Going forward, you'll each have four. I’m deliberately giving you the second squad as well; it’s good to have someone you trust most by your side. Once you’ve recovered, you’ll need to start training. I need you to master the Light Beam, Light Crescent, and Light Step techniques as soon as possible.”

  He was already familiar with these techniques; Elion and the captain had demonstrated them in battle some time ago.

  Rendil agreed. Radion fell silent for a moment, then his tone shifted. “Now I’m speaking as a friend. Many eyes have noticed your progress. You were named by Archangel Ariel herself! Achieving the rank of lieutenant in just twenty-six years is unheard of. You’re one of the last souls to arrive here, and your growth has been... rapid.”

  He paused, considering. “Do you think someone here might want to harm me? I thought envy and ill intentions had no place here.”

  Radion shrugged. “They shouldn’t, and I’ve never seen it before, but lately I’ve had a strange feeling that something isn’t right. The fall of the gates, the weakening of the archangels; I don’t believe they were defeated so easily. You’re a lieutenant now, so I’ll be honest with you: there are not only humans here, but also angels who were never human. Our rules may not apply to them. But that’s just my suspicion, so do not let it trouble you for now; just stay alert. That’s all I wanted to say.”

  Rendil took it in silently, the quiet broken only by a log popping in the fireplace. At that moment, the door flew open and Lorian and Elion burst in.

  “So where are you, colleague?” they teased. It was strange to see an old Viking using modern phrases.

  Rendil smirked. “I doubt this was our last adventure, don’t you think?” he said, pulling on a theatrically sad face.

  “Definitely not!” Elion laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.

  “To the new lieutenant!” Radion declared, handing out glasses.

  “Hey, Captain, it’s barely nine o’clock!” Elion laughed, but he took a glass anyway.

  They chatted and joked a while longer, then headed out to the training grounds, where the captain introduced Rendil as the new lieutenant and announced new squad assignments.

  Over the next few days, Rendil rested and got to know his people better. Soon his arm had fully healed. After the morning briefing was over, nothing stood in the way of starting his training. But everything about it felt different. Elion stood opposite him, while Radion circled around them, closely watching every move, commenting on new stances and Light control.

  Rendil’s attacks were noticeably stronger, and he moved faster than ever before. They trained all day, and at day’s end, sat down with the squads. Rendil made his way among the groups, talking, listening to their stories, and getting to know his people better. Later chairs creaked and good?night wishes drifted across the room. When the defenders had gone to bed, only the lieutenants and their captain remained at the table.

  “I’m sure you have plenty of questions,” Radion said, encouraging him.

  “I feel like I’m always the one asking!” Rendil said with a shake of his head.

  “You’re the newest here, so go on! What’s on your mind?”

  Rendil paused, thinking. “I want to know why we have to start all our training from scratch, and why I can’t just learn Light attacks or the Light Step right away.”

  Elion chuckled into his beard as he helped himself to venison with honey and paprika, gnawing on one piece after another while mumbling, “You can’t, because you need to learn how to focus the Light better and master your new strength. First the basics, then the more advanced techniques!”

  Radion nodded in agreement. “It’ll be many years before the forces of Hell try to attack this gate again. They suffered losses too; their alliances will fall apart for a while, so we have time to train and catch our breath. Don’t focus on what’s coming; focus on what’s here: be present, live in the moment!” He raised his mug of beer.

  Rendil reflected. “My dreams have stopped; it feels like I sleep almost the way I used to on Earth.”

  “You’ve achieved your halo, and that means overcoming most of your sins. As we’ve said, you’ve conquered your fear and found inner peace with your past. It’s not easy, but dreams can still surprise you. With this control over Light, you’ll need less food and sleep, but those needs haven’t disappeared completely,” Elion explained.

  Rendil asked curiously, “If I remember correctly, as a captain, you don’t need to sleep anymore. Do high angels no longer need to consume Light, or food in the form of it? You know what I mean?”

  Radion shrugged. “I suppose that's true for high angels and archangels, but I can't say for certain. I've never heard of a human becoming a high angel, and I still see Vesaria eating regularly.”

  “And what about those who used to be human and are now captains? How did they manage that? Have you ever heard of anyone like that?”

  Radion straightened with pride. “You’re looking at one.”

  “What?” Rendil nearly spit out his beer in surprise. “Who were you, and how did you do it?”

  Radion paused, then began his story: “To your first question, who was I? I was a merchant and a soldier in what is now Dubai. Back then, it was just a dusty crossroads for caravans, a place where traders from all over the world would meet. I never had a family; I lived only for business. I made plenty of mistakes, just like you. The only thing that ever attracted me was money. I was a fearless fighter, and that was my downfall. During a pirate attack on one of my ships, my own greed got the better of me. I couldn’t bring myself to abandon my wealth and escape... and that was my undoing.”

  Rendil leaned in, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Stories from the distant past always fascinated him; they fueled his desire to know what the world used to be like.

  “Did you kill a lot of people?” Rendil finally asked, his voice quiet and cautious.

  Radion nodded. “Only in self-defense, never for pleasure or gain. In my time, death was swift and often unjust.” He trimmed his neat mustache with his fingertips as he spoke.

  A moment of silence passed before Radion continued, “And I can’t tell you exactly what needs to be done. It’s not just about actions; it’s a state of mind, a deeper reconciliation with your own sins. The heaviest still lie dormant within you, but they don’t always come to the surface; be mindful of that, Rendil.”

  Lorian joined in. “Focus on your training.”

  Rendil straightened, determination in his voice. “I’ll train until I master every technique, and I’ll make peace with whatever awaits me here. I am an Eternal Guardian. I’m ready to stay here forever; my fate doesn’t matter; I have to save my family.”

  “Why forever?” Lorian pressed.

  “Hmm, does it come from the name? Eternal Guardians?” Rendil remarked in surprise.

  Everyone laughed at that.

  Radion went on, “We’re not called Eternal Guardians because we’re here forever. We’re called that because we guard the Eternal Light! We have to have faith in Michael, that there’s a higher plan, and that in the next century we’ll see it. The angels’ goal isn’t just to slow this calamity, but to overcome it.”

  Elion nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

  Rendil insisted, “I need to get to the Library. I’d like to study a few things: types of demons, the history of this place.”

  But Radion stopped him. “There are books in the towers, but the information is limited. You’ll learn more from us. We won’t be here forever, soon we’ll be rotated out to the city and replaced by another wing. For now, just wait, listen to our advice, and focus the next few years on training.”

  Reluctantly, Rendil agreed.

  “I can’t stop thinking about the archangels,” Rendil sighed.

  Elion smiled. “Yes, seeing them fight for the first time leaves a mark, but remember, even with all their power, they can’t win this war without us! We need to get the squads organized and start patrols as soon as possible. In the meantime, master your new strength and get to know your people as a real leader should. You’ve been a manager, so you know why this is important: you knew them as equals; now you must be recognized as their officer.”

  He's right. Getting recognition from my squads so they know they can count on me and building strength should be my top priorities now.

  “Let’s get some sleep. We’ve got another day ahead of us tomorrow,” Elion said, finishing his venison. After they finished their drinks, everyone went to their quarters.