Redemption and Rebirth

Note: This is just my first attempt in Riviera and this is my third fan fiction in my folio. Disclaimers apply but remember that this concept happens to be mine. Hope you enjoy this.

Prelude to the Cycle

The motions of everything halted with the glance of the world hanging in the scales of the chained steps. Reverberating upon the echoes of the cries came from a distant area within the hovering platforms and scales of the disembodied form of Heaven's Gate. How it echoed with cries and whispers upon the dreams of many that have shattered within the premise of consciousness as it began to open the door to ruin.

Retribution never had its chance to engage. The Magus with its megalomaniac thoughts of obtaining his will of attaining the form of a god was questioned and shunned. Finding that Hector has been proven otherwise is due to his punishment after his particular running of his sins. But among those he sacrificed, three of these were deemed beyond judgment and proven without penance. Yet among the three sins, only one that marred two victims has been taken by sight. This is their light.

How the flickering lights of the stars made its beauty? Falling upon the celestial canopy came two stars burning in its trailing path. The carmine star and its azure half made its entry upon the alter world. Utgard, Riviera, it was not the same world upon which they descended. The lights took stray paths though it rushed upon one city. The light of the moon gave its name, Mani. Watching with a grin, the lake gleamed as it reflected the two stars taking opposing polls of the light.

And years yearned more than what we could expect…..

The blond youth turned to the sky, seated underneath the shade of the oak tree upon the woods. Gazing at the two stars that crossed paths yet parted sooner, it seemed to be a wistful dream to him. A question rose from his mind, finding his form to be light in some sense. Raising his hand upon the level of his face, he calmly albeit curiously pondered about reality. His eyes then turned upon the sleeve of his robe then to the crimson mantle crossing upon his body to cloak his form. However, even before having a chance to raise his question, a number of images rushed its aching line to his head. The definite ones began to bear resemblance. The hues of his eyes gleamed with the light of the moon, the deep shade casting its vision as the images were playing upon his sight.

What they were, it seemed too much in its random order. The faces, the screams, the flames upon fallen enemies, the voices, they all made their fleeting moments. The images that recurred circulated upon two people. A youth dressed in an apparel of a blue shirt, a pair of shorts with the same color of a lighter shade, the scarves rounding his shoulder and neck bore white and blue, a pair of gloves and a pair of boots. The gloved hand carried the sword with its aura of gold as it gleamed with its sacred influence. His short hair of its dark blue shade gave its appearance to its familiar form, though his recollection gave an obscuring haze to his face. The other had the same color scheme, bearing robes of blue and white, sporting elegant blond hair in its length reaching her back. The cold gaze and the axe crafted in its frigid design gave an aching sensation to his head, remembering the cold-blooded blow behind him. His heart pounded upon realizing the shock of the attack in the mind's image timed its working. He resumed perspective, finding himself revert sight to the present. He gasped for air as he struggled to rise from the ground.

What's going on? The blond youth pondered as he staggered in his ascent. His body attempted to erect his posture, his vision partly blurred yet setting to clarity. Clasping his head, he tried to recall what was wrong until it hit him. A sharp pain upon his back bothered him and made him remember instantly. "I am still alive?"

He gazed upon the sky, staring at the moon. A question came to thought as he made his silent thought. "This doesn't seem to be Riviera. Yet it is much alike." He then averted gaze to the ground.

Feeling the strange pair of limbs mounted on his back, the moonlight cast its shadow upon his form as it revealed the jet-black wings in its curled state. He felt a jolt upon them as it opened, spanning its form. The nigrescent feathers danced with the wind as it made its motion. A pair of names played upon his head, recognizing them as it crossed. Knowing one was his own, the other was uttered in his cold voice.

"Malice…" he whispered.

He turned to the sky once more as he motioned his wings in a flap. The momentum it carried brought him to flap his wings once more, pulling him from the ground as he hovered. Soon, he reached the sky to search for her. Crossing the heavens, he caught glimpse of the world below him. The woods where he was once situated came to view, drifting through the rush of verdant colors. Before him came the ruins of a city. Made of stone, steel and glass, its fragments are missing while burning under the night's dominance. It was a conclusion of where he is, outside Riviera or Asgard. The world was seemingly below Riviera itself, in its lower parallel.

Distance was being closed at every moment; the fallen city was coming to proximity. The smoke being visible as shadows that lurk came with feral influence. Bodies of humans lay fallen upon the ground. The grim one descended from the sky, beckoned by the sight. With the dark wings, he glided his way to the street, gazing at the monstrosity that howled and growled with savage nature. Hovering from the ground, he laid his foot upon the solid earth as his wings folded conveniently. His eyes mirrored his thoughts, wishing that this carnage be halted. What seemed to be a forgotten phrase, he began to speak with those words.

"You're sins shall be purged." He said in a voice cloaked of emotion, seemingly devoid of such. Scarlet light gathered upon his hand, crafting the spear upon his grasp. The flames quelled and brought the familiar weapon to gleam with its aura under the full moon. He stared with the cold intent, prepared to strike.

The monsters held still upon seeing the strange being. Their feral desires magnified, they began to succumb to primal instinct. On that moment, they charged with their fangs bare and claws prepared to taste his blood and flesh. Pouncing forth was one wolf-like creature with its blackened form. The Grim Angel clasped his Diviner and gave a horizontal swing, dividing the foe through his fangs and onwards. Blood sprayed out upon the blow but it began to sizzle and its crimson steam filled the air as the carcass burst to flames. The other monsters glared at him and continued to groan and roar at the thought of threat. The Grim Angel charged forth upon the bear-like being and met the crimson spear upon its chest. A lithe demon lunged towards the crimson fighter from behind, only to be met by a blow from the hilt of the spear whilst the other demon gave a blood fountain before it burned when the Diviner left its mark. Pushed back, the demon was stunned as it staggered back; to be met by a diagonal stroke upon ascent as it seemed to be a crimson flash. Yet the blow wasn't dealt to end, another stroke in its horizontal swing followed, and then a thrusting blow that sent its body away with tremendous force as it began to split into pieces then blazing under the night. Remaining quiet, he flicked his spear to clear the blade from the blood.

Stating no word, he sauntered as he left the fallen fray, still clasping his weapon. His mind gave thought to one thing as he felt his scarlet mantle catch the evening breeze that danced gently. His hair followed suit as he went through the road with the fallen buildings aside. Questioning his surroundings, judging the architecture of the broken ruins that partly towered through the forsaken city; he started his theory within his mind.

The buildings dictate that this isn't Riviera. Could it be…he thought to himself, a doubtful theory surfaced as he whispered the name of the realm, "…Midgard?"

Drifting to the shadows of the night, after the flash of light in its cold sapphire glow vanished, she felt the firm and sturdy hold of the marble surface that her body laid itself upon. The wind began to caress her face in a gentle manner, brushing a strand of her blond hair aside. Her eyes opened upon feeling the gesture, welcomed by the sight of a ruined piece of architecture standing before her. The way it was made brought a memory of a cathedral. The question quickly flashed to mind as she gazed upon her surroundings, then averting her gaze upon her own body. She laid her palm upon her gut, feeling the fabrics and the surface of her robes of blue and white. She then clasped her face and felt the warmth of her flesh. Raising her eyes to gaze at the cathedral once more, a sharp pain rushed to her head. Images in random order flashed upon her vision as it seemed to blur her perspective of reality.

The images brought a recurring subject. A Magus wearing heavy robes of dark hues, feeling the punishment as she was sacrificed holding a mortal, a girl with hair of emerald shade. Feeling the scorching pain impressed to her, her sight turned white as she saw the image of a man, an angel in specific terms. The blond hair in its scattered manner and short length gave identity, the robes of black and the mantle of scarlet covering his form whilst his nigrescent wings span open. Reaching his hand to her, clasping the side of her cheek gave a startling fact to end her reverie in recollections.

She snapped back to the reality where she is situated. She felt the need of rising from where she laid on, meeting the gleam of the night sky as the moon played host. She felt the limbs upon her back reveal its form, feathers of black fell to the ground as it sprouted forth and spanned. They retracted once more as she sauntered through the cobblestone path, leading her to the structure. Sober, she approached the cathedral.

This reminds me of Asgard. This cathedral…She pondered as she touched the wall of its side. The surface felt damp and weathered, the moss lining the stone. Yet her mind wandered as she remembered the image impressed upon her head, hinting the stranger that held her face. A name left her lips as she glanced partly at the woods and the silhouette that it made.

"Ledah…" She whispered.

The environs of this realm brought two worlds to be impressed in her mind. The houses and the other buildings within the premises of the cathedral were crafted in the same likeness of architecture, bringing this city to be once beautiful. This was brought as a reminder to her home, Asgard. But the woods around it gave a hint of Riviera in its environment. She winced at the thoughts given by these impressions of beauty but it gave her more of the angst that it burdened her with thanks to the memories that flashed before her. The agony was drawing her short of breath, taking her chest to be grasped harshly from within. Closing her eyes, she recalled the sacrifice that she had to take into practice.

Why…? She questioned mentally. She found that two worlds might have converged to her memories as one; this was but an impression to her. Though beautiful, it bore agony to what her past suggested.

She sauntered, ignoring the doubt, and searched the cathedral for an entrance. Glancing at every corner found on that moment, she caught the details of the shattered glass windows with its decorated stained portraits. At last she reached the door, the wooden surface still in tact. She pushed the door open, feeling the curiosity of finding what lies within it. Creaking upon motion, she ambled through the door, treading across the marble floor. The moonlight peered through the broken ceiling and through the shattered windows. The pews were able to retain their form; though covered with a layer of dust upon it, obscuring its luster. The altar was left as is with the chalice and the cloth atop its mouth remaining with its cover. The windows with its colored glass portraits have been broken, save the one that remained on the very center where the altar is. And suspended on a host of chains is a sculpture of two angels, bearing only a wing on each being whilst hand in hand. She beheld the statue and its image came to remain with a question. Silenced, she remembered the bitter memory as it deemed its wounds. She began to set the memory aside, suppressing the pain.

A clatter of steel echoed through the empty halls. She stirred as her eyes turned to every side, her senses heightened and alerted. From the shadows came the glowing eyes of the demons. One by one, they came forth from the darkness with their fangs gleaming with their bloodlust. As each held a weapon, she noted the threat imposed to her whilst counting them.

"I don't care how many you all are." She shouted with a hint of arrogance with her tone. Light began to amass upon her palms as its azure aura crafted form. An axe with a halberd-like form came to her hand, glowing with its unique shape and frigid aura. Whirling it, she took stance as the Diviner was clasped in poise of a blow. Her wings flicked open as she readied to fight.

Without any hesitation, she charged at one demon who wielded a scimitar. The demon charged at her as well, brandishing the blade upon her. The strike was deemed useless; the blade of the axe broke through the sword and touched the flesh of the adversary, spraying the blood from the demon with its stroke. Another with a scythe dashed to her side, lunging with the blade affront. The angel sidestepped to her sinistral side, evading the curved blade that came to her. As her foot touched the ground, she lunged at the enemy and whisked the Diviner upon the assailant's flesh. The blow still not done dealing its damage, she gave a counter slash and brought the demon to be sliced in half. The remainder of the group charged in, either with their armaments or their fangs and claws. Already annoyed, she gripped her weapon as it began to flicker with a cold light of sapphire. She twirled her blade upon the air, being covered by a mist of white frost and azure light. The flashing weapon stopped upon her grasp and, without warning, she struck the ground. The shockwave unleashed brought a torrent of frost towards the incoming foes, freezing them in place. The ice glittered upon their hindered forms, giving the Grim Angel a chance to end this battle. She rushed upon them and gave a number of bone-shattering blows that rendered her enemies to die in pieces. Dealing the final blow to the last demon, the hall was cleared as chunks of frost fell to the ground.

She came to ease herself as she lowered her weapon. Her mind adrift to the silence of the cathedral, she felt the glowing resonance upon her Diviner in its faint manner. Gazing at the weapon, she beheld the slow flashes, oblivious.

The crimson Grim Angel sauntered through the streets, leaving charred bodies of accursed demons behind as he passed by. The chaos of the city has given him reminder of the moments of his past, dealing each foe with rightful judgment. His mind raced however, unable to fathom what was stirring inside him. Something was leading him, pulling him.

What's going on? Was there someone calling me?

He grasped his crimson Diviner and sauntered, finding his path being blocked by a group of demons. This time, they're armed with swords and scimitars. The squad charged at him with fierce impulses, feeling the thirst for death. One after the other, they pounced at him. A demon wielding a gladius pounced at him with a thrust, only to be dispatched with a stroke of the spear. The force burned him rather than being sliced upon. Another came from the air with the blade brandished overhead. The Grim Angel gave a rising stroke in diagonal motion, sending a crescent wave of flames upon this opponent. The demon fell incinerated. The remaining three charged at him altogether. The scimitar wielding demon swung a barrage of slashes at him. The angel caught each blow easily, catching two strikes by leaving the spear to stand on a vertical position. The other four were parried by the spear's head as he twirled the pole arm to the enemy. Rendering the blows useless, the angel gathered crimson energy upon his Diviner's tip. With a thrust of his spear, he sent his foe into distance, immolated with the attack. The other two continued to gain distance. The angel winced at them as he struck the pommel of his spear to the ground. He stretched his hand upon the enemies' direction and harbored a sphere of ruby light upon his palm. Raging with its burning form, he sent the flaming sphere upon the fray and collided with them in an explosion of flames. He sauntered passed them as the pillar of fire burned them to ashes.

The moon guided him, feeling that there would not be any more of these. The Grim Angel ambled through the streets as his path gained ascent. His Diviner spear began to flicker in form as its aura resonated. The erratic glow caught his attention, casting his gaze upon his weapon.

"What's wrong, Lorelei?" he whispered.

"Skadi…" the woman gazed upon her weapon, its glow flashing hues of its aura as it signaled someone was about to come before her. She turned her head towards the door and wondered what was going on.

The doors were wide open, revealing what was coming from outside. Clasping Skadi, the woman stared at the entrance. The silhouette was showing itself as the red mantle on his robes of black fluttered to the wind. The blond hair this stranger sported upon his head was seemingly familiar, so was the black wings that came behind him.

The Grim Angel came past the gate, opened wide and broken down. Nothing hindering him in his approach, he continued with Lorelei in hand. Deep inside him, he was being stirred despite the sacrifice. The essence of his emotions, the capability to express pathos, it was forcing his heart to palpitate with a confusing sensation. And reaching the door that was open before him, he ascended the steps that led to it and entered the cathedral. Welcomed by its ancient interiors, something caught his gaze that made him tighten his grip to the spear Lorelei. His eyes met the woman in robes of sapphire and white. Noticing the blond hair and the wings on her back, he kept quiet as he stood. The Diviner that he saw her carry made him know her completely.

The woman never uttered a word upon seeing this stranger. Her mind gave impressions of who it was. Her Diviner, Skadi, was giving erratic resonance. Her heart began to increase pulse as she felt a mingling of agony, guilt, and something more bittersweet in between. The day did come, outside the realms that they knew. Of all the places of judgment was Midgard, the realm they remembered not being in.

(End of Chapter)

Well, there's my first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I had a thought about it and probably, it might work out. But the question remains. As you may know, this is a possible fic with Ledah and Malice in it. If you think it's a Ledah x Malice thing, you might be right. Please review, suggestions and comments are welcome. And if there are things that you might bring up, let me know.