Chapter 201 — Heaven
Heaven had never been silent.
Even during the darkest moments of creation, there had always been something.
The distant sound of wings.
The ringing of celestial bells.
The murmur of angels moving between the great sanctuaries.
The songs that rose from the lower cities.
The endless wind that passed through the golden towers and carried voices from one end of Heaven to the other.
Silence did not belong here.
Which was why Gabriel noticed it immediately.
He stood at the edge of the western terrace, looking over the endless white expanse beneath him.
The city stretched farther than the eye could see.
Massive towers rose through clouds that glowed with their own light. Bridges of pale stone connected enormous sanctuaries suspended in the sky. Thousands of angels moved through the streets below, some carrying weapons, others carrying scrolls, messages, or relics.
It was beautiful.
Perfect.
Orderly.
And yet Gabriel couldn't hear any of it.
He could see the angels.
He could see their wings.
He could see the movement of the city.
But something was wrong with the sound.
The world felt muted.
Gabriel slowly turned his head.
Nothing.
He looked toward the sky.
Still nothing.
Then he felt it.
A faint pressure.
Not coming from Heaven.
From below.
Earth.
Gabriel's expression changed.
He closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he simply stood there.
He reached outward.
Searching.
Not for a place.
For someone.
Michael.
Nothing.
Gabriel's brow furrowed.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
"Michael?"
The name disappeared into the silence.
No response.
Gabriel opened his eyes.
That was impossible.
Michael had never been difficult to reach.
Even when he withdrew from Heaven, even when he refused to speak to the other archangels, even when he disappeared for years at a time—
Gabriel could always feel him.
A presence.
A distant awareness.
A connection.
Now—
nothing.
Gabriel looked toward the horizon.
"He's gone quiet."
A voice behind him answered.
"Who?"
Gabriel turned.
Three angels stood several steps away.
The youngest looked nervous.
The other two were older, carrying ceremonial weapons across their backs.
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"Michael."
The angels exchanged glances.
One of them stepped forward.
"Michael has gone silent?"
Gabriel nodded.
"How long?"
"I don't know."
"Is he in danger?"
Gabriel looked back toward Earth.
"I don't know."
The angel frowned.
"You don't know?"
Gabriel laughed softly.
"No."
That answer seemed to unsettle them more than anything else.
Gabriel was not known for uncertainty.
He was the messenger.
The one who carried answers.
The one who crossed boundaries other angels wouldn't approach.
The one who could enter places where even the strongest among them hesitated.
If Gabriel didn't know something—
then perhaps nobody did.
The older angel stepped closer.
"Should we alert the others?"
Gabriel considered it.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because we don't know what happened."
"Then shouldn't we investigate?"
Gabriel smiled.
"I am."
The angel's eyes widened.
"You're going to Earth?"
"Yes."
"Alone?"
Gabriel looked at him.
"Would you prefer I take an army?"
The angel hesitated.
"No."
"Good."
Gabriel turned away.
The angel followed.
"Gabriel."
He stopped.
"Earth isn't safe."
Gabriel smiled.
"Neither is Heaven."
The angel didn't know how to respond.
Gabriel continued looking toward the horizon.
"Something has changed."
"What?"
"I don't know."
"Then what are you going to investigate?"
Gabriel's smile faded.
"Michael."
A bell rang somewhere behind them.
Once.
Then twice.
Gabriel turned.
The sound traveled across Heaven.
Angels began stopping in the streets.
Heads lifted.
Wings folded.
Conversations ended.
A third bell rang.
Then—
every celestial flame in the western district flickered.
Gabriel stared.
One of the angels whispered:
"What is happening?"
Gabriel didn't answer.
The clouds beneath Heaven began moving.
Not naturally.
They pulled toward a single point.
Toward Earth.
Gabriel felt the pressure again.
Stronger this time.
His wings slowly opened.
The angels around him stepped back.
"Gabriel…"
He looked down.
Far below the clouds, something was happening.
Something that shouldn't have been possible.
He could feel Michael.
Faintly.
Not speaking.
Not calling.
Just—
there.
Gabriel's expression softened.
"There you are."
The youngest angel looked frightened.
"What did you feel?"
Gabriel looked toward him.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"But—"
Gabriel smiled.
"That's a lie."
The angel froze.
Gabriel laughed.
"Sorry."
He looked back toward Earth.
"I don't know what's waiting for me."
His six wings spread completely.
Light poured across the terrace.
Every angel nearby shielded their eyes.
Gabriel stepped toward the edge.
"That's what makes it interesting."
The older angel called after him.
"Gabriel!"
Gabriel stopped.
"Will you return?"
Gabriel looked over his shoulder.
His smile was warm.
"I intend to."
Then he stepped off the edge.
Heaven disappeared above him.
Gabriel began falling.
Not helplessly.
Not like a man thrown from the sky.
He descended with purpose.
His wings cut through the clouds.
Light followed him.
The higher clouds parted.
The world below slowly became visible.
Mountains.
Oceans.
Shinokunis.
Forests.
And somewhere—
Asteria.
Gabriel looked toward it.
His expression changed.
He felt Michael again.
Stronger.
Closer.
But there was something else.
Something beneath him.
Something ancient.
Something connected to the Earth itself.
Gabriel's wings slowed.
He stared downward.
"What are you?"
For one brief moment—
the Earth answered.
Not with words.
With a pulse.
Gabriel felt it through his entire body.
His eyes widened.
Then he smiled.
"So that's where you've been hiding."
He continued descending.
Far below—
the sky over Asteria began to change.
The clouds twisted.
The light broke through.
And Gabriel opened his wings.
He was almost there.
End of Chapter 201