Two figures appeared in the sky above Utopia. One of them was already accustomed to that sight, unlike the other who was immediately amazed by it.
-Wow...
The city seemed to welcome them with its bright lights emanating from the thousands of lanterns that adorned streets and houses alike.
For a moment, the amethysts did not reflect Utopia but a different city, with enormous buildings and lights so bright that they chased away the darkness of the night.
"So nostalgic," Morgana whispered, letting the wind carry her words away.
--It's good that I'm not the only one who feels this way when witnessing this sight.
Merlin observed the city; it bustled like any other day. But no matter how much he observed it, he had the strange feeling that he would never tire of it.
"How long did it take you?" Morgana asked. "Gathering so many people must have been tedious."
"I wasn't locked away in Sefirah Castle all these years, and no, bringing them here wasn't tedious," Merlin clarified with a huge smile, completely proud of the refuge he had created. "Even so, there are still many suffering outside, and despite that, I can't help them."
"You're underestimating yourself again," she frowned and scolded him. "Do you think someone else in your place would do the same as you?" She gestured toward the inhabitants. "Do you think they'd care about your survival? Much less your living conditions?"
Merlin remained silent, but suddenly tilted his head.
"What if you were in my place?" he asked curiously.
Morgana blinked and pointed to herself, before forming her now classic smile.
"I don't know. Anyway, I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you," the answer was sincere, accompanied by a gentle, rather playful wink. "So don't ask any more questions like that, because my existence depends on you, Father."
He scoffed; the embarrassment of using that title seemed to have completely disappeared.
"My dear daughter is very mischievous, who raised you like that?" I asked, feigning concern.
"Perhaps it was a god obsessed with money," he suggested with a bright smile.
Merlin burst out laughing when he heard her.
~You'll never forget the time I made you steal that sea beast's treasure, will you?
—No, I doubt I'll forget it.
Merlin stopped laughing and looked at her in surprise.
"Did you just read my thoughts?" he questioned uncertainly. At her level, Morgana shouldn't be able to use her abilities so casually against him anymore.
"I just guessed," he explained, gently inclining his head. "I know Father so well that I don't need to steal his thoughts to know what he's thinking," he declared confidently.
Morgana expected to receive another sneer for that statement, as was typical in their exchanges, but it never came. Hearing no response, she looked at Merlin's eyes, but instead found the welcoming gaze he had held just moments before. Instead, both their brown pools were darkened, lost and aimless.
Fearing he had overstepped the mark due to overconfidence, he lowered his head and uttered a quick apology.
—I'm sorry, it seems I said something I shouldn't have.
Upon hearing her, Merlin regained his senses; his lost gaze returned, but now his eyes regarded her with resignation and guilt. He let out an exhausted sigh and placed one of his hands on Morgana's head, urging her to stand.
"Don't worry, you haven't said anything wrong... How about we go somewhere else to talk?" she suggested, unable to find the words she had thought of. "We have a conversation we've been putting off for too long."
Morgana watched him closely; the smile her father was now showing her was very similar to that of people who realized their own mistakes and blamed themselves for them until they were exhausted.
Even so, the Angel could do nothing; speaking without knowing the exact situation could cause more harm than good. If he wanted to help, he had to wait for Him to seek his assistance.
That's why he only nodded when Him made that suggestion.
—Then let's go.
The sky of Utopia was clear again when God and Angel withdrew in the blink of an eye.
-------------
In an instant, two figures appeared in an elegant hall whose decor ranged from minimalist to extravagant. Judging by the number of seats, Morgana could guess that this place was specially designed to accommodate thousands of people.
"Are we inside the Cathedral?" he asked.
The Angel's eyes scanned the room, pausing to admire the emblem of the Mysteries at the top of the room.
Unlike Tinzu's, this one was not gold-plated, but rather a silver color so polished that it could be used as a mirror.
—Yes, this particular room is only used on special days—explained the God.
Upon hearing his explanation, Morgana turned around curiously and asked carefully.
—So... what's the reason for coming? —Her voice sounded the same as always, but he could detect a slight nervousness in her.
"Patience," he asked, pointing to one of the front seats. "Why don't we sit down first?"
The god sat down first and smiled gently at his daughter, concealing his own nervousness. He gestured to the empty space to his right and waited. Morgana blinked at the sudden change in atmosphere, yet quickly followed her father's directions, sitting beside him.
—Have you never wondered where I come from?
The sudden question confused the Angel. Even so, he remained unperturbed, and firmly replied:
"When we met, I asked myself that question many times," he admitted. "The thought 'where did such a strange guy come from' was constantly on my mind." Merlin snorted.
—Did you really consider me that eccentric?
"Father, although my emotional state at that time left much to be desired, you weren't much better," he accused mercilessly. "I remember you even smiling at a rock you found in the middle of the road." The words struck the God's self-esteem directly. "Then I understood that you were only like that because you had a great burden on your shoulders... and because you didn't want to sleep."
"The last part is unnecessary," he complained under his breath.
She pretended not to have heard him despite the short distance and her keen senses. She smiled playfully at him and continued:
"What I mean is, it no longer matters who you really are or where you come from"—in a daring move, she leaned forward, allowing her body to fall onto Merlin—"Even if the fragments of your past you've told me are all false, I won't feel deceived, because, although the past leaves a huge imprint on the spirit, Father has already shown me who he truly is through his actions and decisions... And I... I've already decided to follow the path he's created for me, regardless of whether it leads me to the abyss or to paradise."
God remained silent. His face showed no emotion, and his eyes remained hidden beneath his hood, preventing the Angel from seeing them.
"Blind faith is nothing but stupidity," he warned her after a while.
Morgana laughed, the vibration of her body reached Merlin causing a slight tingling sensation.
"Is it always like that? Well, it seems I'm really foolish," she admitted shamelessly. "I don't mind, because the goals I've set for myself align with that belief."
"Your goals?" he asked her.
"Secret," Morgana said, raising a finger and covering her lips with it, indicating her silence.
"Even so, I can imagine them," he sighed resignedly, shaking his head. "Let's try to replace them with more suitable ones."
—I will observe your attempts—I wasn't going to stop him, but I wasn't going to support him either.
The God's eyes closed, entering a short trance to calm his mind and finally ask the question that had been hanging in the air all this time without falling.
"Even if I'm a complete fraud, will you accept it?" The tone was so firm and serious that Morgana couldn't laugh.
Instead, she simply lifted the corner of her lips affectionately.
"Aren't I the swindler? Even if the Lord were too, it wouldn't be any different for me"—the amethysts were fixed in Her hands on Her lap—"But I see it's necessary to repeat"—Her head jerked up and Her eyes focused on those hidden beneath the hood—"I will not abandon Him, NEVER, so I hope You will have the patience to bear with me."
Merlin perceived the truth both in her bright eyes and in the smile that had taken on a mischievous tinge. His heart finally calmed, banishing his worry. The hood that concealed her head fell back, revealing her eyes, which now held a warm and nostalgic glow.
—In that case, I'll tell you a story—the abrupt change of subject disconcerted the Angel.
"His life?" he surmised with hidden anticipation.
—Yes and no—she placed her hand where her heart should be—. Now it's just a shattered future.
The Angel of Liberty didn't comment. She only listened, every detail, every adventure, captivated like a child listening to a bedtime story invented by her parents.
And when the story ended, he finally understood the reasons behind each of his Father's plans, but he also realized the immense pain He had endured.
Morgana gazed at the god—no, the human—who had lost everything he loved, not once, but twice. Promising herself once more to stay by his side.
~If you were willing to lose yourself, then I will be too.
-----------
The City of Mysteries, Utopia, continued to grow as the hands of the clocks moved at great speed.
The changes and goodbyes gradually became inevitable.
-----------
Year 25, Second Era.
"Morgana, the real Morgana?" Athanasia ran to the Angel and took his hands with a huge smile. "We finally meet! I am Athanasia, Second Saint in the service of the Lord!"
Morgana blinked, not expecting such enthusiasm from the other party.
—Yes, it's a pleasure... wait a minute, what do you mean by 'the real Morgana'? —the Angel frowned, having a certain theory about it.
—Uh, well... —she nervously looked away.
"When we met the Lord, He was using your appearance," the dark-haired man clarified, finally gaining Morgana's attention. "Lucas, the Lord's First Saint," he introduced himself with a mocking smile, earning a look of disdain from Athanasia that he easily ignored. "In fact, He was even wearing that same outfit," he indicated the King of Angels' new attNow she wore that same purple dress, along with the pointed hat Merlin had worn before, in his new guise. The only difference between the two outfits was that the black earrings Morgana had worn before had been replaced. Although they still represented the singularity of her path, their design was now different. The earrings began with a diamond from which, suspended by a chain, hung three orchids made of amethysts. The last of these supported two more chains, each ending in a diamond.
~The design is somewhat exaggerated but it's more eye-catching than the other one; the previous form was so simple and only black, and it bored me too quickly--moving away from his memories, he returned to the present.
—I see, that explains a lot —she whispered, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. ~I knew it was strange that she gave me this outfit days after arriving in Utopia for no apparent reason.
"Please don't be upset with the gentleman; he was probably just embarrassed to introduce himself directly," the blonde tried to explain, but her words only made her lips curl more. "Uh, uh, uh," she said nervously at the growing smile.
"You know, you even have your own honorific title in the Bible," the dark-haired man said, pulling a Bible out of thin air and flipping through it until he reached a few pages in particular. "Here, don't you think it sounds great? I think it suits you."
"Lucas, stop provoking the Angel of the Lord!" the blonde shouted internally, worried that the Angel might decide to retaliate.
Contrary to Athanasia's fears, Morgana simply snatched the Bible from her hands to read it herself. The two amethysts focused on the five lines that, together, spelled out her honorific name:
"Ancient Melody in the Symphony of Time;
Second Birth of the River of Destiny;
Angel Freed from the Chains of Yesterday;
Guide of Those Who Walk in the Mist of Mysteries;
The Watchman of the Sefirah Castle, Morgana Hermes."
Her gaze softened and her lips relaxed into a small smile. The deep nostalgia that graced her face at that moment silenced both Saints.
After a while, she slammed the Bible shut and threw it back at the dark-haired man.
"Just because I like that description, I'll forgive him," Athanasia sighed, finally at peace. "Father seems to have a talent for creating the best honorifics."
Both Saints bowed their heads upon hearing the word "Father." Morgana smiled at them, amused by their confusion, and playfully commented.
"Oh, don't you know? He's not only my Lord, but also my Father." She turned to leave, but stopped and looked over her shoulder at them. "By the way, Father seems to have high expectations of you; don't disappoint him."
Athanasia and Lucas froze, watching as the Angel disappeared just a few steps away. When they finally snapped out of their shock, their eyes met and they immediately screamed.
—If she's his daughter, then who's her mother?!
Meanwhile, The Madman, who was observing the entire conversation from Sefirah Castle, covered his face in obvious embarrassment.
Days later, the rumor that the Lord had a secret wife spread throughout Utopia; resigned, He was forced to use His puppets to clear up the misunderstanding.
—So this was your revenge—he declared, looking at his daughter, who was clearly hiding her laughter under that serene smile, her playful gaze betraying it.
—Simplicity is sometimes best.
—I don't doubt it... but don't do it again.
----------
Year 56, Second Era.
Inside the fog barrier, the Fool's avatar finally met Hong Chinjin, the divine Oracle appointed by Morgana.
—Are you God?
The one who asked was no longer a teenager who had been crushed time and time again, but an almost elderly adult who had the experience of a long life full of bumps and obstacles overcome.
—You can consider me an extension of Him.
"I never thought a part of God would have that shape," he said with strange amusement. "I guess I still haven't gotten used to how weird some things can be."
Unlike the Fool himself or his Angel, who always maintained a mostly human form, the avatar had taken the form of a black cat with golden eyes, which slept most of the day on the roof of the building he had been assigned to protect.
"You're quite a strange monster," the cat said, stretching, having just woken from one of his naps. "Why did you come? Is there something you want?"
Hong Chinjin shook his head and replied,
"Nothing. I don't believe in God or any of his miracles"—his voice was firm, demonstrating his resolute stance.
The cat tilted its head curiously and replied:
—Weren't you saved by His Angel? That too can be considered a divine grace given by Him—the example did not disturb the winner of sequence 5.
"Maintaining my life was just a whim of hers," he clarified.
"That's not wrong either," the cat yawned and lay back down on the roof with its eyes closed. "Anyway, if you don't have an order, why did you come?" it repeated.
"Can you pass on a message?" he asked with a nostalgic smile.
—Mmm? —one of his eyes opened curiously.
—Tell the Master that I have finally fulfilled our agreement...and that I am grateful to her for giving me a reason to live, even if it was somewhat false—as he finished, Hong Chinjin turned his back to leave and murmured—I will also make sure to rest in a place that is easy to find, so that she doesn't put too much effort into searching for me.
A small knock on the ceiling made him stop.
"I can't pass on the message now, but there might be an opportunity in the future. But you could be dead by then," the avatar explained.
Even so, the smile on the now old face did not fade.
"It doesn't matter. After all, I'm just a mere mortal with no connection to the divine," he said, resuming his walk toward the stairs. "It's only logical that the only time I try to send a message to the Divine, it will take years to be heard."
The old man retreated down the stairs under the watchful eye of the black cat. When he was completely out of sight, the cat got up and climbed to the top of the building, surveying the landscape beyond the ruins.
—So the agreement was finally fulfilled—the gold in his eyes reflected columns of smoke in the distance, all concentrated in one place— You worked very hard to achieve it—he acknowledged, Hong Chinjin had faithfully fulfilled his role.
The agile tail swayed calmly while the rest of the body felt the wind ruffling its fur.
—Hmm, I'd better go back to watching the prayers.
With feline grace she descended, lying down in the sun and closing her eyes. Hundreds of prayers echoed in her furry ears.
They were all waiting for an answer or a sign.
-----
Year 76, Second Era.
"This is unexpected," the Madman said, flashing a deceptive smile, feigning surprise. "To what do I owe the visit of such important entities?"
Just a few minutes ago, he had detected the approach of two powerful entities to Utopia. Quick divinations revealed their identities, so he went out to meet them.
The Fool could guess their motives, but he still considered himself polite, so he wanted to hear it from their own mouths.
"Fool," called the larger of the two.
—I'm honored that you know my name, but shouldn't you introduce yourself? It's rude to arrive at someone's house and not do so.
His sing-song voice seemed to irritate the shorter one, who was about to say something, but was silenced by the older one.
—You are in the presence of the Giant King Aumir and his son Badheil—after finishing the introduction, his red eyes turned toward the Fool—. Are you the successor of that being?
"Maybe yes, maybe no," the answer made the Giant King frown. "But that question isn't the reason for your visit, is it?"
"How arrogant," Badheil whispered, earning a reprimanding look from his father that made him back away.
"That's right, I've come to propose an alliance."
The Fool raised an eyebrow, an action that was hidden by the mist above the upper part of his face.
"Was it your idea or your wife's?" El Loco questioned, aware that he was pressing a button.
The God of Giants seemed to swallow his pride and looked at the God of Diviners with annoyance.
—My wife believes that those of us who belong to the humanoid races must stand together to face the non-humanoids.
"I admit you have a point, but unfortunately I'm not interested." Badheil tensed at the firm rejection. "I have no interest in joining a war that isn't mine; nor is there any benefit in joining your alliance."
Aumir frowned at his words.
"You will regret this. When they rise to power, you will not be able to protect your servants alone," his voice boomed, as if he were uttering a prophecy.
However, El Loco, as such, only let out a raucous laugh.
"Your main path has no authority over Fate." The laughter vanished, and the radiant gold gazed at him with the coldness of a god. "You can barely keep the madness caused by that feature of the path of error in your body under control; do not attempt to use it if you do not wish to become a maddened creature once more."
The warning directed at his father enraged Badheil, who could no longer contain his fury.
"Arrogant! You're a complete fool. Do you think you can withstand all the waves that will crash against your lair?" The Fool frowned beneath his cloak, but let him continue. "In the end, you'll lose everything, and you'll be ol..."
Badheil's voice stopped, surprising both father and son. Young Angel tried to speak again, but he seemed to have lost that ability completely.
"When the Gods speak, the Angels remain silent," the melodious voice echoed in the void.Behind the Fool appeared a female figure with snowy hair and amethyst eyes, bearing a mocking smile that turned into a serene one when she looked at her Lord.
—Morgana, didn't I ask you to stay in Utopia and keep watch?
Without seeming intimidated by the reprimand, the Angel replied:
—I have left several of my avatars behind; there is no danger to the city even if I leave—he informed before looking at the uninvited guests—I believe my presence will be more useful here.
The two-on-one match became two-on-two. Although that balance didn't mean much.
"A subsidiary Goddess?" Aumir asked, resisting the urge to merge with the newcomer. "She's quite pleasing to the eye."
The covetous gaze of the Father of Giants towards his daughter enraged Merlin, who had to struggle to suppress his murderous intent.
"She's my daughter," he clarified, looking at Aumir with eyes full of warning, an action that tense the King. "Morgana, give her back her voice."
He was clearly referring to Badheil, who was keeping a scathing look on the one who had stolen his voice.
At his command, Morgana nodded and snapped her fingers, restoring speech to the son of the Giant King.
"Damn bitch," he cursed, his hand still on his throat, as if he still had difficulty speaking.
"Be quiet, haven't you learned your lesson?" the Angel scolded him coldly. "You must not interrupt conversations between the Gods."
Badheil finally fell silent, but his gaze remained fixed on her, as if waiting for an opportunity to take revenge. This action was completely ignored by Ella, who continued to float silently behind her father.
"After this little setback, I think we can finally end this conversation," El Loco informed Aumir.
The King of the Giants let out a sigh and asked again.
"Are you sure you don't want to accept the alliance?" The Madman nodded. "If you change your mind, you can always join."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, glancing at Badheil for a few seconds before turning his gaze back to the Giant King. "Have a safe journey back, both of you."
Both Giants departed, leaving the Madman and Morgana alone in the cloudy sky.
"Why did you intervene?" he questioned, not sounding like a scolding.
She shrugged as if the reason were obvious.
"I was going to touch on a sensitive subject; I thought it best to keep quiet before you completely lost your temper," she explained, earning a sigh from her father. "If Father were to move, wouldn't you have lost something more important than your voice?"
Merlin didn't deny it; if Bedheil had continued, he didn't know to what extent he could use his humanity to restrain his divinity. At that point, the giant prince could have lost his life and been transformed into a puppet.
"It's true that it was becoming quite irritating; thank you for handling it properly," she nodded.
Without hiding her joy at the praise, Morgana floated up to his side and looked at him with renewed curiosity.
"He seemed very determined not to accept the alliance. Is there a transatlantic plan?" Merlin smiled.
—What do you think?—he wanted to hear if her opinion coincided with his.
—It's not worth accepting a hand when the other is holding a dagger.
Merlin nodded in agreement before correcting her.
—Well, it's not exactly Him who's holding the dagger.
Morgana raised an eyebrow in confusion, but this was quickly replaced by astonishment, which then turned to amusement. With a sinister smile, she asked:
—Is it the mother who is carrying the dagger?—the silence alone was a confirmation—How interesting, very interesting.
"Love and benevolence will always be the perfect disguises for manipulation and deception," God warned him.
—Totally agree--as Angel of the Marauders couldn't be better based on that theme.
--------
Year 125, Second Era.
Athanasia walked with a strange smile through the cathedral corridors. When she spotted the door leading to the Pope's office, her smile turned foxy.
He burst into the room, without even knocking or announcing his arrival, and was met with the tired gaze of the dark-haired man.
—Greetings, Great Pope Luke the First—he gave a slight bow, obviously all to mock him—. I have come to bring you your mail.
"Please don't come bothering me today. Do you know how much work I'm behind on?" She pointed to the pile of papers in the corner of the desk. "I don't have time."
"Oh, believe me, I know. But I didn't lie when I said I was bringing the mail," the blonde clapped her hands twice.
Immediately, a door opened in mid-air and two enormous stacks of papers emerged from it.
Athanasia pointed them out happily.
"These are proposals submitted by the citizens; each one needs to go through an approval process. Some are... interesting, to say the least," he said, picking one up and handing it to the Bizarro Sorcerer. "What do you think, Papa? Will you have any free time this weekend?"
—Ahhh, are you enjoying this? —the gleam in the blue eyes hidden beneath the veil gave her the answer—. I see.
Lucas stretched out his hand as if he were going to take the sheet, but ended up grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him, sitting her on his lap.
Athanasia was mortified by his audacity.
"What are you trying to do?" she asked, her face flushed.
"I can't let you get away with this," he assured her. "If I, as Pope, have to approve all these documents, you, as Saint, can read them and only pass on to me the ones that truly have potential."
"And why would I bother helping you?" he asked, tilting his head in a gesture that seemed too tender to the dark-haired man.
Lucas looked at her and, to Athanasia's surprise, he moved closer to her face and kissed her on the lips.
The kiss only lasted a few seconds, because in her astonishment Athansia pushed him away from her.
"You!"—his face was now completely red.
Athanasia wanted to teleport away because of the embarrassment she was experiencing, but even if she did so at that moment, as Lucas was maintaining a strong grip on her, he would end up moving with her.
"My dear girlfriend, you must help your boyfriend if you want him to have time for you," the dark-haired man declared, leaving the blonde speechless.
"WHO IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND?!" he seemed to have used up all his vocal capacity, as the shout echoed through the hallways, informing everyone what was happening inside the room.
—It's you—on the contrary, Lucas maintained his playful and perverse tone.
"Since when?!" she retorted angrily.
"Always," Lucas's eyes lit up as he recalled a certain permission. "The Lord agrees too."
—You two... did you two agree on this or something? —Athanasia's eyes trembled with rage.
—She once told me that your gift was the veil so that I wouldn't get so angry.
—Get angry?—Athanasia didn't know what she was talking about, when had she ever been angry?
Lucas looked at her; she was still as innocent as ever. He raised his right hand and grasped one of the golden strands that covered her face.
"You're beautiful, Athy. Do you know how many eyes you get just walking down the hall?" Athanasia's eyes widened, surprised that Lucas had suddenly kissed that lock of hair. "But that's nothing. Do you know how I feel when you walk down the street and all the men stare at you?"
Her face, which Athanasia thought couldn't get any redder, turned a full tomato. Even so, she maintained a surprisingly firm voice for her situation.
"You're jealous," he declared.
"I know; everyone knows, you were the only one who didn't."
Athanasia wanted to hit him for his shameless attitude but held back.
"I have a jealous boyfriend. Oh, couldn't God have mercy on me?" She looked up as if searching for the Lord on the ceiling. "If anything, she should look down; she lived up there for a long time after all."
Lucas tensed up at her statement and looked into her eyes, which now looked at him with a certain resignation, but with hidden joy.
"Will you accept me?" he asked hopefully.
—There was no other option, anyway.
In a swift gesture, she leaned down and kissed him, though only lightly.
-Just control yourself and don't kill anyone.
Interestingly, the day they officially announced their relationship was the fourteenth day of the second month of the year.
-------
Year 234, Second Era.
In the middle of that year, Merlin heard barking coming from the vicinity of Sefirah Castle, where no creature, regardless of its level, dared to approach.
With a nostalgic smile, he opened the castle gates, allowing beings from outside to enter. Almost instantly, several figures emerged from the mist and rushed at him, knocking him down.
"Woof!" The red-eyed puppy barked happily.
"Haha, I'm glad to see you too," he admitted while stroking the head of the pack leader.
"Woof!" Another bark caught his attention to his right, where another Fulgrim hound was waiting its turn to be petted.
—Yes, yes, everyone will have their turn.
Morgana appeared through the mist, and the Angel blinked in confusion at the unusual sight. She couldn't understand where this pack of dogs, surely supernatural, had come from, and why her father was lying on the ground while they surrounded him, waiting their turn to be petted.
"They look like children begging for treats," he couldn't help but compare; the hounds' red eyes, though visually striking, shone with too much affection directed towards their father. "Where did so many puppies come from?" he asked curiously.
Upon hearing her, the hounds finally realized she had arrived. Some even stood up, preparing to pounce on her.
However, before the hounds could attack her, two birds descended on each of the Angel's shoulders and glared fiercely at the dogs, causing them to back away.
—Sonata, Orchestra, what are you doing here? —The Angel of Liberty looked at his pets with amusement.
Both birds were the owl chicks Merlin had rescued before his ascension. Both chicks turned out to be Eurasian Eagle-Owls. A large, nocturnal bird of prey, recognizable by its robust body covered in brown and streaked plumage, its piercing orange eyes, the characteristic tufts of feathers on its head resembling ears, and its powerful talons. Moreover, thanks to the Angel's whims, both were now creatures beyond.
Sonata was a Sequence 4 Apprentice: a Sorcerer of Secrets. While Orchestra was a Seer, also of Sequence 4: a Bizarre Sorcerer.Both birds spent most of their time following Morgana, so Merlin had begun to joke that wherever she went, a whole entourage of the roads she ruled would follow.
"They're so jealous," Merlin said, sitting down on the floor while continuing to pet the dozen puppies.
"They've been like this ever since you gave them to me. Did you really think I'd train them properly?" she questioned as both large birds twisted their heads at incredible angles to scare the hounds, who began barking at them.
Sefirah Castle was finally freed from its usual silent atmosphere when owls and dogs started arguing.
"I clearly remember giving them to you because I thought it would be a good way to increase your humanity," he reminded her, finally standing up. "Being the guardian of something as fragile as the lives of both chicks allowed your remaining humanity to increase."
"I don't deny it; they've both become very important to me." She truly appreciated both birds. "Besides, it was great fun scaring the locals with their help."
—Because of that game I had to send an oracle and say that they were actually divine messengers—Merlin let out another sigh that was interrupted by the lick of one of the hounds on his cheek—Calm down—he ordered, stroking the head of the daring one.
"What are you complaining about, Father? You had fun too."
Merlin couldn't deny it.
The stunned reactions and expressions of the inhabitants of Utopia had truly been very funny.
---
Year 289, Second Era.
At the Court of the Giant King, a meeting was held between Giants, Elves, and Vampires. Each race was represented by the Giant King Aumir, the Elf King Soniathrym, and the Blood Ancestor Lilith, respectively.
Among the three races, taking a neutral role to guide the meeting, was Omabella who, despite being the Giant King's wife, as the one who had suggested this Alliance, had decided to take this role.
"I'm glad everyone has decided to give the formation of an Alliance a chance," Omabella began in a welcoming voice. "Since creation, non-humanoids have always posed a danger to everyone..."
"That's true," interrupted Soniathrym. "But each species has always been able to deal with them, so what's the reason for a sudden alliance?"
The abruptness of his words left the room in a tense silence.
"Soniathrym, are you short on time?" Lilith asked in an animated voice. "Are you in a hurry to get back to your wife?"
Soniathrym huffed, shaking her head at the words of the bloodthirsty Goddess.
-Don't play around Lilith, this is a serious matter.
"You don't seem to take it as such," this time the voice came from Aumir.
Soniathrym frowned, giving the Giant a withering look.
"I don't like it when they beat around the bush," he was obviously referring to Omabella.
The defamatory comment about his wife enraged Aumir. The Giant King was about to respond, but his wife raised a hand, stopping him at the exact moment.
"I understand your complaints," she said to Soniathrym, turning to him. "I will try to be more concise."
"The reason is simple, we are not the only ones considering this option-" Lilith and Soniathrym were the only ones to react to his statement, Aumir already knew this information-"Yes, as you must have already imagined, the non-humanoids are also in the middle of talks to forge an Alliance."
Unable to control her temper, Soniathrym slammed her fist on the table and shouted in a thunderous voice.
"Impossible! Are you saying that those savages who always killed each other are now forming a treaty?!" He couldn't believe it. "Don't talk nonsense!"
"They aren't," Aumir said, defending his wife. "My servants have already confirmed this. Does that serve as proof?"
"Ha!" Soniathrym exclaimed, dissatisfied. "She's your wife! You could have fabricated the evidence!"
Aumir narrowed his eyes at such an accusation. His patience was running out.
"I don't understand why you're here then!" he pointed at Soniathrym, raising his voice above the Elven King's. "If you weren't going to believe any of our words, why did you come?!"
"Perhaps to see such a terrible spectacle!" he shouted in response.
Seeing that both Kings were about to erupt in battle, Lilith, who until now had decided to remain silent, stepped forward to calm them down.
"That's enough," the kind voice held an unusual coldness. "You are both gods, stop fighting like children." He gave each of them a reprimanding look.
Both kings clicked their tongues but obeyed, dispelling the powerful aura that had enveloped the room. But not everything could be controlled with a simple reprimand; the withering glares between them did not cease.
"Thank you so much for calming them down, Blood Ancestor," Omabella's voice calling Lilith echoed in the now silent room. "Thanks to you, I can continue with my three guests."
"Yes, it's a pleasure to help," he replied.
Both men were so engrossed in their staring contest that they didn't notice the dry smiles the two Goddesses exchanged. Omabella regarded Lilith with calculating coldness, while Lilith looked at her with contempt and disgust.
A sudden request from Soniathrym broke the exchange between the Goddesses.
-Omabella, continue quickly, I will listen to you until the end, but don't waste any more time--it was more of an order than a request.
-You...aren't you the one...
"Understood," his wife interrupted. "As I was saying, the non-humanoids—the Dragons, Mutants, and Phoenixes—are in the middle of talks. They could reach an agreement soon."
"Do you know the reason behind this?" asked the Elf King more calmly. "They couldn't have suddenly started getting along."
"Isn't it obvious? What do you think the reason is?" Lilith seemed amused by Soniathrym's blindness. "They want to wipe us out. They've been trying on their own for years without success. After all this wasted time, why not try together?" She raised an eyebrow, as if inviting someone to challenge her analysis.
Omabella followed her.
"The Blood Ancestor is right, there is no other reason," she confirmed before looking at everyone present. "They wish to devour us to take our power, we cannot allow it," she affirmed, joining her hands as if she were going to pray.
Soniathrym finally seemed to be seriously considering the idea.
"It is true that any of us would not be in a good situation if one were to face three," admitted the Elf King.
"Finally, I thought I'd have to call your wife to get you to consider the idea," Lilith said. "However, your pride and confidence continue to cloud your mind," she warned coldly. "If any of us were surrounded in that way, it wouldn't just be a bad situation, it would be annihilation."
There was no other possibility, Lilith was sure of it.
"I agree with Lilith, and that's precisely why we can't allow it," she looked at Soniathrym. "Will you fall because of your arrogance?"
"I don't intend to accept that kind of scolding from someone like you," he warned, narrowing his eyes.
Lilith rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh.
~Here they go again.
Omabella also didn't seem willing to continue with so many interruptions and arguments.
"Aumir, Soniathrym, please don't let yourselves be controlled by bad feelings," pleaded the Goddess of Abundance, closing her eyes and feigning tiredness. "Shouldn't you try to get along better in this situation?"
-...
-...
"Up with positive vibes!" Lilith announced energetically. "Let's smile now and leave the weapons for the physical battlefield."
"Ah, well, I accept this Alliance," declared Soniathrym. The rest wondered if she had truly considered it or if she simply wanted to get out of there once and for all. "But only until we annihilate those savages!"
Lilith nodded in agreement.
"That seems fine to me, we'll have no reason to maintain it after its defeat," he tilted his head to one side and looked at Aumir. "We Sanguines also accept."
Aumir nodded, unable to tear his gaze away from Lilith. This action of the Giant King was noticed by his wife. The Goddess of Abundance could barely suppress the grimace of indignation that threatened to form on her face.
Omabella clapped, drawing everyone's attention to Ella. She looked very pleased, with a soft smile and warm eyes that gazed at everyone present.
"I'm glad we were able to reach an agreement," she said, lowering her head in a small gesture of gratitude. "We hope to stay in touch to coordinate our armies."
The meeting was about to end; Omabella's words clearly signaled its conclusion.
But Soniathrym seemed to have other thoughts.
"Wait a minute," he stopped her. "Now that I think about it, someone is missing from this meeting."
"Mmm, how unexpected, and I thought you'd fly out that door once they signaled the end," she said, crossing her arms, curious about the sudden interruption right at the end.
"He is not someone we can ignore; he would be a strong ally," the Elf King assured him. "That's why I was wondering why he wasn't present."
"You have a pretty good opinion of him," she bowed her head. "Now I'm interested too. Who are you talking about?" "
You're talking about the Madman," Auirmi replied. "He didn't agree to participate."
"Did he refuse?" Aurmir nodded. "Why on earth did he refuse?!
" "Soniathrym, you seem surprised. What's behind that reaction?" Omabella questioned. "Are you close to Him?"
Aurmir and Lilith were also attentive to the answer that was to come.
"I've never seen him personally, but many of my servants have interacted with His Subsidiary Goddess." Omabella nodded in understanding. "His territory is small, but it lies right in the middle of one of the most frequently used routes by my ships. My servants often rest there before continuing their journey. According to their reports, 'the city is full of humans. At first, they were wary of our arrival, but they seemed to calm down upon noticing the guide at our side.'"
"I knew his servants were mostly human, but I never imagined they were all," admitted the Giant King.
"I wouldn't call them all human; some are very similar to my soldiers."
Aurmir and Omabella stared at him in feigned shock. Humans with powers? Weren't humans the weakest creatures, the bottom rung of the food chain? How could they possess abilities?
Lilith lowered her head, letting her hair conceal their faces. Her hidden eyes trembled with emotion. Aurmir and Omabella might not believe Soniathrym's words, but she did. The secret of her true identity allowed her to.
"The Madman, it seems you'll soon be receiving a visitor."
"Humans with abilities are a surprise, but I'm more interested in knowing why he refused," Soniathrym spoke again, snapping the rest out of their stupor.
"He said he would remain neutral," Aumir told him, recalling his first impression of the mysterious deity. "He's not someone easy to read," he acknowledged.
"For you, no one is easy to read," he insulted him in the face. Aurmir only stopped because of his wife's gaze.
"We can't do anything if he's already made a decision, we can only wonder if he's blind to reality"—it was the first time Omabella had insulted so directly.
Soniathrym did not seem pleased; he looked at Omabella mockingly.
-Him, naive and blind? HAHAHA--laughter crashed against the walls and returned, filling the entire room--He's as naive as Lilith's ugliness.
The Blood Ancestor raised an eyebrow and smiled flatteredly.
"You're very creative," she acknowledged, pleased by Omabella's almost imperceptible trembling. "What makes you so sure of that?"
"If I were as innocent as you say," he looked at Omabella, "the city he built wouldn't have been there before any of ours."
------
Year 326, Second Era.
unusually strong storm has been battering Utopia for almost a week. The streets turned into rivers when the drainage system collapsed, and shops were forced to close for an extended period.
In the Cathedral of the Mysteries, the thunder seemed to be sounding too loudly in one particular room.
In it, an elderly man with white hair and a face covered in wrinkles lay, his eyes clouded and glaring at those around him. Most of the people in the room were deacons or priests who stood in a corner. A few nuns paced briskly back and forth. Finally, closer to the old man, a woman and a man sat to his right and left, respectively, clasping his calloused hands.
"Ha, why the sad faces? Do you know how awful your faces look right now?" The old man tried to laugh, but a loud cough interrupted him. "Cough, cough! Damn, I can't even laugh anymore."
"Father," the woman to his right whispered worriedly.
"Don't strain yourself; your body is no longer in a condition to joke around," the man told her.
Both adults had jet-black hair, with bright blue eyes that brought back old memories for the old man.
"Don't be a spoilsport, Kai. My body may be in this state, but my spirit remains the same," he chided his son. "If I go to my grave laughing, it'll be a very funny story to tell."
"Father, don't say such things!" The woman could no longer hold back her tears, which began to stream down her cheeks. "Mom's gone now, are you going too?"
"We're all leaving, some before others," the old man with long white hair said sadly. "Bella, you won't be alone; you have your brother and the rest of the church, and the Lord and his Angel. You'll never truly be alone."
Bella, whose name had been given as a tribute to her grandmother who had passed away almost two centuries ago, nodded her head.
"Do you really want to see your mother again?" Kai asked in a low voice.
—I've made her wait too long; possibly, instead of welcoming me with open arms, she'll yell at me and ask why I took so long—the joke didn't seem to go down well with her tired smile.
As he closed his eyes, the image of a woman with golden hair and bright blue eyes, covered by a black and gold veil, came to his hazy mind. She smiled at him, noticing his gaze, and extended her hand, inviting him to follow her.
"What's wrong, Lucas?" His voice was mocking, as always. "Afraid of death?"
"Athy... don't rush me. Can't you see the children don't want to let go of me?" Lucas let out a deep sigh. "If I had known this would happen, I never would have let you die first; you leave me with all the heavy lifting."
Lucas opened his eyes; they seemed much more tired and darkened than before.
"The new Pope has already been chosen," he said, looking at the deacons and priests, who nodded ruefully. Then his gaze shifted to the adults who still behaved like children before him. "And you two are adults now. Whether you continue down the path your mother and I showed you, or choose a new one, that is your decision." The reprimand was delivered gently, with what little warmth remained in his aging body. "But never forget your birthplace, and that, unlike a child who grows up, it will always need your protection."
The adults nodded resignedly, accepting that they could no longer hold their father captive.
"Good heavens, these kids... they've turned out to be troublemakers." Her vision began to darken. "I hope... the Lord will have... patience with... both of them."
With the Pope's last breath, the room fell into absolute silence. The deacons, priests, and nuns bowed their heads and prayed for the safe passage of his soul to the Kingdom of the Lord. Only the constant rumble of thunder drowned out the loud sobs of the Saint's descendants.
And without anyone noticing, the soul of the deceased was embraced by slender hands, providing it with strong protection.
In the spirit world, Morgana, with a gentle smile and a wistful gaze, held the cluster of brilliant colors that protected her from harm.
"Come, I will guide you to her..."
--
The burial of the first saint appointed by God took place two days later, in the morning, when the rain finally subsided. The inhabitants of Utopia gathered to pay their last respects at the ceremony led by the saint's own children.
His death not only bid farewell to the Second Pope, but also marked the end of the first generation of humans who entered and lived in Utopia, turning it into what it is now: a refuge in a world without sun.
Now, that duty of protection passed entirely into the hands of a new generation. A generation that hadn't arrived from outside the walls in the darkness, but had been born and raised in this city.
—
In Sefirah Castle, the Fool held the soul that Morgana had brought him two days ago. The Deity gazed at it for a few seconds before closing his hands over it, and when he opened them again, the colorful fragments had coalesced into a small scarlet star, similar to the others that illuminated the mist.
"Finally you can rest, next to the person you love," she whispered affectionately.
Without further delay, the God gave it a small push, allowing the red cluster to float until it was fixed very close to another scarlet star, which seemed to emit a small pulse of recognition, as if expressing its happiness at finally having it by its side.
The gold in the God's eyes lit up and in them, instead of two crimson beacons, two children were glimpsed who, little by little, grew up to become adults and finally a family.
The God lowered his head, closing his eyes.
—Goodbye, you pair of brats—in the eyes of God, it seemed as if it had been yesterday when he had met them~~Thank you for accompanying me.
A few feet behind Him, Morgana removed her pointed witch's hat, placing it over her heart and leaning gently forward, a small bow as a farewell.
~Goodbye...it was fun while it lasted.
It was just a few seconds, but the mist of Sefirah Castle seemed to clear from the warm glow of both stars, who, despite the sadness of those left behind, could not hide their own joy at the reunion.
-----------
Year 523, Second Era.
Although it was later than expected, as Omabella and Aurmir had reported, the Dragons, Phoenix and Mutants formed an alliance.
Although the Imagination Dragon Ankewelt, the Phoenix Ancestor Gregrace, and the Mutated King Kvastir had barely reached an agreement, the balance of power between the three species and their shared goals overwhelmed all resistance.
With the two Alliances formed, the balance of power between both sides reached a stalemate.
On the humanoid side, Giant King Aumir, Blood Ancestor Lilith, and Elf King Soniathrym remained on alert, awaiting an attack. On the other side, the non-humanoids—Dragon of Imagination Ankewelt, Phoenix Ancestor Gregrace, and Mutated King Kvastir—awaited the perfect opportunity for their first strike.
The rest of the species also took their positions.
The Demons, under the reign of the Demon Monarch Farbauti, and the Demonic Wolves, under the leadership of the Annihilating Demon Wolf Flegrea, did not wait for the opportune moment and launched random attacks on both sides, following the orders of their lords to cause chaos and annihilate everything in their path.
The humans under the Madman's rule remained silent, trying not to get involved in the fighting as their god desired. Expeditions to the outside world steadily dwindled until only a small group of elites could leave Utopia without risk.
But as the years went by, tensions only increased, due to the various skirmishes that both sides launched against each other.
Winds of war swept across all the divine territories, foretelling the inevitable.
---
Year 675, Second Era.
Lilith sat on the balcony of her residence, gazing at the crimson moon. Her eyes were clouded, and her pale skin writhed as if something were trying to emerge from beneath her.
She was being influenced by something. Her state had reached such a point that her consciousness barely surfaced at certain moments.
Auernia, her Subsidiary Goddess, watched her from inside her room with complicated eyes, not knowing what to do to help her Lady.
Condemned to witness Lilith disappear, I lower my head and remain silent.
However, heavy footsteps in the hallway, getting closer and closer to the room, made her raise her head and head to the entrance to see what was happening.
As the elegant doors opened, Duke Olmer appeared on the other side, looking surprised that he hadn't had to knock, but quickly recovered upon seeing the inquisitive gaze of the Goddess of Beauty.
"My Ladies, I fear an attack is imminent"—despite her apparent calm, her voice conveyed urgency. "
Explain yourself," Auernia ordered.
-The guards have detected a horde in the distance, it's made up of Mutants, Phoenixes and Dragons and they're heading this way!
The eyes of the Subsidiary Goddess trembled, as if she sensed something; she turned towards her Lady who remained in the same position, showing no sign of consciousness.
"Did they find out about the Ancestor's condition?"—her eyes flashed with anger—"Is there a traitor among the bloodsuckers? Or is the Ancestor's condition so obvious that the other gods can detect it?"
-Auernia....--the call was weak but the subsidiary Goddess heard it perfectly--Warn our allies and prepare the army.
Lilith turned her back on the moon, which seemed to shine crimson brighter than usual. She was in a rare moment of semi-lucidity.
-The war has begun.
At the end of that year, the long-awaited conflict finally erupted, with the area near the City of the Moon becoming the first battlefield where, for the first time, the blood of the eight supernatural species mingled in one place.
-------
Year 764, Second Era.
The Fool watched intently as the River of Destiny reached one of its tributaries after so long. Looking up, his eyes caught sight of one of the hanging buds beginning to crack, revealing the soul within.
The woman with black hair and a slender figure left the cocoon after a sufficiently large crack was created. Her soul then escaped from Sefirah Castle into a body submerged in blood.
—Welcome to reality, old friend— He whispered after the soul left His Kingdom. —I know you can endure this world; you did it once before.
On that day, the Goddess of Misfortune, Amanisis, a subsidiary goddess of Phlegraea, fell in battle after vanquishing all her enemies. The blood-soaked body of the Demonic Wolf was later brought back to life when the soul of a modern-day human possessed it.
-Where...?
The future Goddess of Eternal Night finally opened her eyes.
--------
Year 987, Second Era.
The war cries finally reached Utopia; centuries of peace were interrupted by the continuous and random arrivals of Mutants, Dragons, Phoenixes, Demonic Wolves, and Demons.
The humans were not afraid; it was a scenario they expected. Their Lord always protected them, but even He could not prevent the conflict from reaching them.
It was time to return the favor, to show that the faith the Lord placed in them was not in vain.
Humans rose up to defend their home, their only refuge. The battles were led by the descendants of Athanasia and Lucas's children.
It had happened exactly as both Saints had predicted; even after their deaths, their blood continued to protect the city they loved so much. Under a new shield, the children with their blood took the name "Luxumbra" as a tribute to both ancestors and rushed into battle without fear of death.
The riverbanks ran red with every drop of blood spilled. Corpse after corpse was collected after long battles; the bodies of the fallen protectors were buried by their own families, while the bodies of the invaders were gathered and transported within the city.
Their bodies were a mine of mystical materials that the city did not waste and quickly stored, managing to fill dozens of warehouses in a few years.
But what began as isolated attacks gradually escalated into waves of enemies arriving on their shores. From that moment on, the Angels could no longer remain silent.
—
The King of Angels let out a breath as another body joined the mountain of corpses, which was a mix of Phoenix, two or three dragons, many Mutants, and a few dozen Demonic Wolves.
"Take them back to the city for processing," she ordered the three beyond and a demigod standing a few steps behind. "Helga Luxumbra, you are in charge of these actions from now on."
The Sequence Four Demigoddess nodded quickly, her black hair and sapphire-blue eyes revealing her lineage.
—At your service!
Morgana watched them for a few moments before stealing away, heading towards another area.
She let out another sigh, which turned into a puff of smoke in the low temperatures. The winter wind came with force, whipping her white hair and almost snatching her pointed hat away.
—Winter is already here —he commented, looking up at the sky, although the darkness prevented him from seeing them clearly, there were too many clouds— It could snow soon.
The arrival of the cold was not a good sign for humans; unlike non-humanoids who could ignore most non-extreme weather conditions, humans would have difficulty fighting for long periods of time while enduring low temperatures.Looks like I'll be mobilized more often. Ah, if only there were an interesting opponent"—the Angel raised her hand and pulled; a demonic wolf that had tried to drag her into a dream fell to the floor dead as its heart stopped—"But they're all small fry, at most a demigod shows up once in a while, but Father asked me to leave them to the saints of Utopia themselves so they'd get used to fighting."
Morgana blew on the smoke and watched it being carried away by the wind; it was a habit she had developed a few years ago during a particularly boring winter.
Her two amethyst eyes gazed at the eternal night that was the sky of this world. Above it, two enormous birds flew back and forth in search of more enemies. Like her teacher's dress and hat, their bodies bore different traces of blood that gave them a far more terrifying appearance than usual.
After a while, staring at both birds, who detected no enemies nearby, Ella closed her eyes and began to recite His honorary name.
—The Fool who does not belong to this age; The First Distortion of the River of Destiny; The Incarnation of Miracles who brings good fortune—feeling a slight vibration in his spirit, he spoke—Father, the cleansing of this area is complete. Is it necessary to move on to the next?
The response was immediate.
"There are no more enemies in the surrounding area, nor will there be any more attacks for a few days," Merlin assured after making a few divinations.
The Angel lifted the corner of his lips when he saw that he would finally have free time.
"What should I do in the meantime?" As that thought echoed, Morgana whistled and both owls landed on her shoulders. "Good work, you two." The two owls raised their heads in satisfaction.
Before Morgana could focus on them any further, Merlin spoke to her again through their connection.
"How about a walk through Utopia?" he suggested. "It's been a while since we went out as a family."
Morgana's smile widened with obvious excitement. She stole all the blood and filth from her body and the owls' bodies before entering the spirit world on her way to Sefirah Castle.
The following days were a much-needed respite for both Utopia and those who protected it.
Angel and God wandered the streets, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
------
Year 1236, Second Period.
Loud howls filled the city, alerting its residents. The frightened inhabitants locked themselves in their homes, barricading doors and windows, praying to God for protection.
Outside the walls, beyond Sequence 8, a defensive force was deployed. Screams and cries of agony were emitted by both sides, but no matter how many fell on each side during the fighting, neither side yielded.
That day, the eternal walls of Utopia witnessed the greatest bloodbath to ever befall the city; the cracks in its walls remain as a record of this battle....
Where Angels and Gods clashed.
----
Extra: Divine Preferences.
"So...does it bother you that people think you're married?" Morgana asked suddenly.
God froze in His seat.
-Why bring that up now? Didn't I tell you to leave that subject behind?
"Yes, but your reaction when it was rumored that you were in a relationship... was quite interesting," the Angel pointed out, further worrying God about where the conversation was heading. "You don't seem to hate marriage, so is the issue the 'partner' you were assigned?"
"That's not it," he replied immediately, cursing inwardly for not being able to give a more convincing answer.
Morgana clearly hadn't believed it.
"Of course, so you're worried that the person you like will hear the rumor and misunderstand?" Merlin robotically turned his head towards Ella. "Anyone would abandon an unfaithful lover."
-I don't have a lover.
"My mistake, YOUR FUTURE LOVER, are you afraid that he will hear the story and refuse to be with you?" she smiled maliciously, seeing the God tremble.
"I repeat, I do NOT have a lover," she declared firmly.
She raised an eyebrow without losing her smile.
"Oh, the green-eyed poet is going to be devastated when he finds out," Merlin said, his eyes widening in panic.
"My dear poet and I are not lovers..." The god covered his hands in shame. "Not again..."
"Your beloved poet will feel betrayed if he is not recognized," he assured her. "I suggest a direct approach."
"Direct approach?" the God asked, confused.
Leonard hadn't even been born yet.
"Yes," she affirmed, and in her hands appeared a black and gold book with the sacred emblem of God. "How about putting it in the Bible? Wouldn't it be better to get a head start?"
-...
"I'm sure 'Mother' would love it if you did," she looked at him with amusement. "What do you think, Father?"
-.....I'm not going to put Leonard in the Bible.
~Still.
Notes: