Chapter 1
After the final battle against Seth-Rah, the worse for wear group of Ein, Lina, Fia, Cierra and Serene returned to Elendia. They quickly made a permanent settling there, taking over a second shack to house them all. On the way home, Ein asked out Fia, something he realized he wanted, but never had the time for. They lived in Fia and Lina's house with Cierra, Serene and Lina next door. Living happily, they were only afraid of one thing. Or at least Ein was.
Besides getting a comfortable living space, Ein also started a mourning period of Ledah, who had been killed by Malice. Though Malice was now dead, he still felt unsettled over what Asgard had become. He spent long afternoons just sitting outside their house and looking over the peaceful village. He wished for the return of his good friend, but that would be impossible.
One afternoon, Ein found himself in that exact spot. He remembered how Ledah had stood in front of him, open to Malice's attack to save him, how he gave his life to save Ein's. It troubled him to think that he had no repaid him. A tear escaped from his eye. He brushed it away. Ein was not about to cry over it.
"Ein?" a voice called out to him from a cloud of dusk kicked up by a sudden wind. The voice sounded familiar, but there's no way it could be…
"Ein is that you? After all you've done for them you're living in this?" The yellow dust cloud faded and a red-cloaked figure stepped out from it. Ein blinked in disbelief. Is this a mirage? he thought. He stood up slowly and walked towards the image. Ein put his hands on Ledah's shoulders. Solid. His arms, as strong as ever. His hair, still perfectly flowing blonde.
"Ledah!" Ein cried out, hugging his friend close. Ledah looked surprised, but accepted the hug. He closed his eyes and breathed in Ein's smell. It was important and had flagged ever since his return.
"But Ledah, you're dead. Malice killed you. She-"
"I was revived. The Gods heard of what had been done and they sent some magi to the maze of shadows, but you were gone. They used my feathers and trace of my DNA-hairs and things-to revive me. I had forgotten who I was for awhile, but once the amnesia had worn off, I immediately flew down to see you."
"The magi revived you? Wow…and what about Malice?"
"She's gone. They were ordered not to resurrect her, since she was too controlled by Hector. She gave up her future anyway, so she wouldn't be stable enough upon revival."
Ein took a moment to prosses this. "You're back. I-I don't know what I would have done if you were gone forever. Ledah, you are dearer to me that you think."
"I understand, Ein. People tried to make me remember you-they shoved magic mirrors with images of you just sitting here and saying my name and sighing under my nose. It took awhile for me to remember who you were, but it all came back. And you too are-dear to me, more than I could show in my emotionless state."
"Emotionless? Oh, you gave up your emotions for Lorelai."
"But I have regained them for the moment of my death, my diviner shattered and disappeared. I do not wish to regain it."
"I see…you were so powerful with it,"
"Yes, but I don't need to be. You have become more powerful that I could ever hope to be, you showed me that in our battle. And I have of course heard of your fight against Hector. And Seth-Rah…"
Ein blushed. "I couldn't have done it without your encouragement, Ledah. I'd still be weak without you."
Ledah blushed in embarrassment. He stepped toward the wingless angel. "Ein, there's something I've wanted to tell you for some time." He took a seat on the small bench next to Ein. "Before we become Grim Angels, before Hector took over our lives, before you shed your birth name of Ecthel, I watched you. The fact that the Gods chose you as the first Grim Angel, out of all of us, I was envious. But I wanted to protect you from those who would take their envy to the next level. So I followed in your footsteps.
"You urged me not to try to become a Grim Angel, you said that they rip out something of your essence and give you a weapon in exchange. You showed me your Einerjar and the absence of your wings. But still, I became a Grim Angel and made a pact to the Gods.
"I was sworn to protect you until the day I died. Even when I lost my emotions, within me remained that desire to make sure you stayed alive. I passed on however, and it was you who saved me. Shielding you from Malice was my last chance to save you. I succeeded, but still you faced Hector alone. I could do nothing then to prevent injury or even death.
"So here I am, not very articulately trying to say I l-"
"Ein!" A friendly voice broke Ledah's monologue. Fia called Ein in as she had done on many similar occasions. When he did not return, she would come out to shake him out of his reverie.
"Who's that?" Ledah asked, enraged that something has stopped him from telling Ein his true feelings.
"Oh it's Fia. My girlfriend."
Ledah's eyes went from anger to shock to cold. He watched as thee green-clad swordswoman stepped out of the small house and kissed Ein hello.
"Hi Ledah. So Ein, I was thinking-LEDAH?!" she did a double take at the solitary angel sitting cooly next to Ein. "But…you're...dead!"
"I don't feel dead." Ledah answered smartly.
"I mean," Fia gulped in embarrassment. "I thought Malice killed you."
"Apparently not."
"Well, in that case why don't you stay-"
"No, no, I don't think I will. I'd like to see the rest of your town. Village. Good seeing you Ein." He nodded to Ein and with a quick, cold stare at Fia, he moved on.
FUCKING GIRLS, always getting in the way. And at that very moment as well…he thought.
Ledah walked to the village square, where a sign pointed to various things around town. Magic guild, eh? He thought, following the northeast-pointing arrow. He arrived at what looked like the entrance to a mine. He walked in, falling uncontrollably at the drop down and catching himself with his powerful wings at the last minute. Upon landing, he saw a sprite digging sluggishly at blue crystals that glinted all around him
Ledah cleared his throat loudly. "Excuse me, is this the magic guild?"
The sprite turned around. "This is a crystal mine. The guild is upstairs," though I've never been there myself, he muttered under his breath.
Ledah looked thankfully at the sprite, who returned to his digging. He walked up the long staircase to a floor with soft sheep shin rugs and many magic books and potion ingredients.
"Excuse me, are you an angel?" A green haired wizard addressed Ledah, staring at his black wings in disbelief.
"Yes I am. And I believe you are a wizard? A sorcerer, a student of magic. I have studied your type."
The wizard nodded his head. "Your description is completely accurate. But that's not the point. Do you know someone named Ein? He's also an angel. He saved Riviera."
Ledah softened at the name. He had a far away look in his eyes as he said, "Yes, I know Ein," I know him better than that girl, he thought.
"Oh! Do you guys come from the same place?" the wizard tore into Ledah's thoughts.
"Um…yes. Asgard, the home of angels, magi and the Gods themselves." Ledah spoke fondly of his home, but grimaced after the word magi. It always left a sour taste in his mouth to think about Hector.
"Wow…home of the Gods you say?"
"I am a Grim Angel. I live to carry out the orders of the Gods. I was killed by Malice, another Grim Angel and was resurrected by magi. I have seen the other side, and it is not pleasant."
"You were once dead? I-I should experiment on you! How did you say you were resurrected?"
"By incantations of the Magi. They are the only ones who have actually seen the Gods. Angels are only messengers, used to carry out the will of the Gods."
"I see…so mortals could never hope to bring back the dead. But still…such a feat is quite extraordinary."
"Yes…" Ledah was becoming bored with the wizard's babble.
"Anyway, it was nice meeting you…uh…what's your name?"
"Ledah."
"Nice meeting you, Ledah. I am Claude. I hope we meet again." He stuck out his hand to shake. Ledah accepted it. He felt the leathery scars from magical brutality and overwork at potion making. There were paper cuts, as well, from holding magic books. Ledah guessed that he had fine muscles from holding up heavy volumes. His mind flashed to an image of the wizard that Ledah was not ready for. He shuddered, nodded goodbye, and walked in a daze to the back room.
As he trudged into the back hallway, he saw a flash of red and SLAM! He pressed right into a figure that was decidedly not male. She smelled of sulfur and magic ingredients. He stepped back to the tune of, "I'm so sorry. Are you hurt? I didn't mean to-" the girl stopped and took a long look at Ledah and said, "You're beautiful."
"What?" Ledah couldn't believe his ears. No one had ever acknowledged him in that way. Of course, it didn't mean as much as such a compliment would to a straight guy, but Ledah was not that.
"I mean, you really are gorgeous. Your hair…and your wings…you look so-strong." Cierra stared lovingly at Ledah's handsome figure. "I'm sure you're strong…are you a fighter?"
"Um….yes. I'm a Grim Angel. Or I was. I was resurrected from the dead."
Cierra had a sudden realization. "Are you…Ledah?" She looked in disbelief. Of course! The blonde locks, the ripped appearance, the slightly gay frock/cloak he wore and of course, the wings. "But Malice…she…you…how is that possible?"
"You are the magic user, correct? I remember you. You helped with my defeat."
"Actually, I was not part of the battle, as a fire person I would not have much effect against you."
"Oh…but still, you were part of Ein's party, correct?"
"Yeah. I've been living in Elendia since Hector's defeat. Not to mention Seth-Ra…but still, how are you alive?"
"I was resurrected by the magi. Like M-Hector." Ledah had to reprimand himself for saying "Master Hector." Since the malicious magi betrayed them, he deserved not to be anyone's master, no even Malice's!
"I see…well, I'm glad you came back to life. We were all worried that Ein would kill himself with remorse."
Once again, the name softened his stance. "I saw his restless afternoons…I watched him through a mirror for so long…anyway, what is your name?"
"Oh! Cierra. And you are Ledah. Yeah." She embarrassingly looked down. "So, are you staying in Riviera for long?"
"No, I must return to Asgard at once. I was allowed only a short visit since I've been under intense watch after my revival."
"Well then, I'm glad to see you're alive." Ledah turned to go. "Oh, and one more thing." He turned to face her, taking in her sight. He could tell she was an adult, older that himself, but nevertheless her figure still remained of youth quality. "Will you be friends with me?"
Ledah was taken aback by her open request. No one had ever wanted to be friends with him. It was he who first bonded with Ein, he who went to Malice with an alliance plea. But no one had ever asked him back. The thought of being friends with this girl-woman-filled him up with a sense of importance. "Sure. I would-love to."
Cierra blushed as the words washed over her. She watched the angel walk to the exit. In a sudden flurry, she ran to the solitary angel and placed a kiss on his cheek. Ledah turned to take a last, smiling glance at Cierra, then spread his wings to leave out a smoke hole in the ceiling. So maybe girls aren't that bad…