After the training session ended, Kael Veyris stood quietly upon the highest balcony of the Veyris Empire.
Below him:
Infinite worlds moved.
Stars drifted.
Reality itself flowed like rivers of light.
Kael looked upward.
Not toward space.
Not toward dimensions.
Not toward narratives.
Higher.
Then
he took one step.
And vanished.Kael arrived at a place unlike the fractured battlefields of the outer war.
There were no collapsing realities.
No distorted frameworks.
No void storms.
Only endless golden skies.
White rivers of light flowed through the heavens.
Massive pillars of radiant energy stretched beyond sight.
Countless celestial wings drifted like feathers through the air.
At the center of that realm stood enormous gates.
Ancient.
Beautiful.
Silent.
And beyond them
sat the one known throughout countless heavens as:
The Heaven Father
But before Kael reached the throne
he noticed someone standing nearby.
A warrior.
Tall.
Calm.
Powerful.
Silver-white armor reflected heavenly light.
Large radiant wings stretched behind him.
A sword rested at his side.
Michael.
Michael's eyes moved toward Kael.
For a moment
neither spoke.
Then Michael smiled faintly.
...So you're Kael Veyris.
Kael nodded.
...Correct.
Michael crossed his arms.
...I've heard stories.
A pause.
...Most of them sounded impossible.
Kael answered simply:
...Many are exaggerated.
Michael stared.
Then slowly looked into the distance.
...I somehow don't believe that. From beyond the golden throne
a voice spread through the heavens.
Calm.
Ancient.
Vast.
...Kael Veyris.
The entire heavenly realm became still.
...Welcome.
Kael looked toward the throne.
...You requested my presence.
The Heaven Father replied:
...Yes.
...Because something approaches.
Golden stars shifted overhead.
Images formed:
Ancient beings.
Unknown symbols.
Shadowed figures standing beyond the edges of existence.
...Even heaven has begun sensing disturbances.
Michael's expression sharpened.
...Another war?
Kael looked at the projection quietly.
...No.
Silence.
Michael blinked.
...No?
Kael looked toward the distant shadows.
...Something else.
For the first time
the Heaven Father became quiet.Far beyond Heaven...
Far beyond realities...
Far beyond even where stories usually ended...
Something opened its eyes.
And for the first time in ages
Kael Veyris narrowed his eyes slightly.
Michael immediately noticed.
...Wait.
...You actually reacted?
Kael stayed silent.
Which somehow worried Michael more.