Disclaimer:
I do not own "Riviera: the Promised Land" or any of its characters.
- I'm extremely sorry for the long period of time in between updating but at the moment, a mixture of homework, exams and other stuff are keeping me busy so please be patient. Anyway, please read and review.
Ascended Grim Angel:
Ein and the others gathered within the village chief's house, as they listened to what the newly arrived Magi had to say. By this time, Serene had somewhat recovered and held onto Ein's arm to steady her, leaning her body weight onto him. Fia and Lina were by the door, as Fia held onto Lina to try and keep her quiet. Beside them, Rose was sitting down and once again writing in her book, eyes darting up now and again to study the Magi, before her hand scribbled furiously across the page, beside her sketches. Cierra and Ladie stood behind the leader of the Sprites, as he greeted the Magi while Ledah and Malice stood behind the Magi.
"Welcome to our village, Magi of Asgard," he said. "May I ask what brings you here?"
"My name is Andrea," the Magi replied. "I was one of the Magi along side Hector, until his betrayal and eventual downfall, and I come to bring a message to the Grim Angels that have taken residence within your village."
Ledah and Malice straightened, standing to attention. Ein lightly and carefully helped Serene down to sit in a chair before moving to stand beside the other Grim Angels. Andrea turned towards them, eying them one by one. She was dressed much like Hector did, except the primary colour of her clothing was dark red. Like Hector, the upper half of her face was shadowed by her oversized hat and Fia forced Lina to keep her comments to herself about the Magi's costume.
"No doubt, Grim Angels," she began. "You have many questions for me. However, I must begin by bringing you news of Asgard's thoughts upon your decisions to remain within Riviera. As you know, it is your duty to defend Asgard and its interests from demonic forces. The Magi were in turmoil, discussing your apparent abandonment of Asgard and whether we should pursue you or not. However, the Magi had finally come to the decision to allow you to do as you pleased."
Excited voices broke out behind the Grim Angels, as the Sprites discussed this strangely reassuring news. However, Ledah stepped forward, raising his arm for silence. A familiar, emotionless expression was plastered across his face, as he turned towards Andrea and held a stern gaze.
"If Asgard has truly set their Grim Angels free, then why are you here?" Ledah asked. "Why are you here, if you have already decided to let us be?"
Andrea's expression was hidden underneath her oversized hat but the air became heavy, the mood becoming grave.
"Asgard…has need of its Grim Angels again."
---
The Elder waved his arms and ordered everyone out, to let Andrea talk to the Grim Angels in peace. As the other Sprites all left, he nodded to the Grim Angels and hobbled out. Serene stood along with the rest of the Sprites but Ein immediately went to help her, carrying her by her arm once again. As he walked out the door, with Serene, he glanced over his shoulder at Ledah and a silent message passed between them, concluding with a nod from Ledah.
As Ein left, Andrea raised her hand to protest but Ledah stopped her.
"Grim Angel Ecthel will return shortly," Ledah cut in. "He has…certain matters to attend to…"
"I…understand…" Andrea replied, raising her eyebrow. "It is surprising that the love lives of Grim Angels are…so active outside of Asgard."
"Yes…well…" Malice stammered. "Um…can you continue what you were saying before?"
"Yes, let me continue…" Andrea began. "With the defeat of the Accursed and Hector, the one attempting to rule Asgard himself and disrupt the order of the Magi, we came to the conclusion that the service of the Grim Angels was no longer required. In times of peril, Grim Angels were reborn to pass justice and thus, you have done so. However, it appears that a new demonic force has attempted to disrupt the balance once again."
"Hades…" Ledah said.
"Yes," Andrea said. "Asgard's greatest enemy, as you probably already know, is on the move."
---
Serene was silent as Ein helped her back to Lina and Fia's house. Ein was silent as he helped her to sit down and rest. Serene's face, although cunningly hidden, portrayed signs of distress that could not escape the notice of Ein. In most things, Ein's mind has a delayed reaction and limited perception but when it comes to Serene, his senses are maximised to their full potential. And right now, his eyes were telling him that Serene was thinking deeply about something that was troubling her.
"Serene, is there something wrong?" Ein asked, slowly but nonetheless straight to the point. "Your face looks troubled."
"Oh, it's nothing," Serene replied, forcing her face into a smile. "Shouldn't you be returning to that meeting? That Magi seemed like she had something very important to say."
Ein shrugged and kneeled down in front of Serene, looking up into her eyes. "Ledah can always fill me in later. Right now, the person before me is more important and I need to sooth her worries."
It turns out that Ein can be quite a charmer, where Serene was concerned. Despite her thought that this rather strange coming from Ein, she found her face getting hot from the attention she was receiving from him.
"Serene, are you alright?" Ein asked again. "Your face is rather red…"
Ein reached out to caress her face and Serene found herself leaning into his touch. Serene closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She felt calm from his touch, like her troubles were being washed away. It was like she wanted to stay like this forever. Slowly, her voice began to sound.
"It's just that…" Serene began, hesitantly. "When that Magi arrived, I remembered that you were originally from Asgard."
"Yes…and so? I'm a Grim Angel, not a Sprite. It would make sense that I wasn't from Elendia."
"No, you idiot," Serene chided. "I meant that I realised that there was chance that you would have to return there. I was afraid that you would be forced to go back to Asgard…because of your duties as a Grim Angel…"
Serene's smile faded and once again, Ein was worried.
"But…I'll never leave you," Ein protested. "I love you, Serene. I want to be with you. I want to protect you. I want to be there, when you laugh and join in. I want to be there, when you cry so I can wipe away your tears."
Serene choked and tears formed in her eyes. Hastily, she raised her hand to wipe them away but Ein stopped her. He held his finger to her tears and smoothed them away. Serene leaned forward and leant her head on his shoulder.
"I don't want to be alone again," she said. "I don't want to be the Lone Arc once more…"
Ein closed his eyes, holding Serene to him in their embrace, stroking her hair with his hand. "Don't worry…I promise you won't ever be lonely again…"
---
"What?" Malice exclaimed. "You're saying the boundaries between the realms are…weakening?"
"Yes," Andrea said. "Because of the chaos Hector brought about, the very foundations of Riviera were shaken and the barrier separating Utgard, the realm of the demons, and Riviera is weakening. Normally, the power of Ursula would prevent or slow the flow of demons into Riviera but now…"
"Her powers are no longer here to protect Riviera…" Ledah muttered, looking out the window, his gaze lost in some far-distant thought.
"Don't blame yourself, Ledah," Andrea said. "You merely acted unde orders from Hector."
"But it was with these hands that I nearly destroyed all of Riviera…" Ledah said, holding up his hands. "These were the hands that wielded Lorelei in that mindless will of destruction."
"Then use those hands to protect what you have endangered in the past," Andrea commanded. "Raise your Diviner and once again bring judgement upon the demons."
Ledah glanced up to meet Andrea's gaze, before reaching behind him and grabbing Lorelei. The red Diviner shone brightly, its power and lust for battle shining through. Malice reached out and placed a comforting hand on Ledah's shoulder, before turning to Andrea again.
"There is another thing that I wish to know," Malice ventured hesitantly. "Why is that…our powers seemed to be magnified in some way? Why is that…I, a failed Grim Angel, am also able to wield such Executioner Level attacks…"
Andrea smiled and replied, "It is because, as repayment for your deeds and sacrifices, we have returned to you what you have given up to become Grim Angels. Ein's wings have returned, as well as Ledah's emotions. Also, Malice, you're future has been restored. No longer are you bound to a fate of doom by Hector. Your life is free for how you wish to shape it."
"But…Hector said that I failed to become a Grim Angel. He said my Diviner was a fake that he crafted."
Andrea shook her head and replied, "Do you not understand that the traitor himself was misled? He believed he wielded the power of the Magi, that he alone could overthrow the rest of us once he combined his powers with Seth to become Seth-rah. At that moment, when he abandoned the gods and chose to wield demonic power, his ties with the Magi were destroyed and he lost what knowledge and power he had as one. The only thing he had at that moment was the destructive powers of Seth and what he manipulated it into with his greed for more power."
"But what does that have to do with Skadi?"
"Your Diviner, Skadi, is a real Diviner. Despite what you were told, you were destined to wield it. Never before have I seen anyone wield it with such power and ferocity as you have. Skadi was crafted by long ago, before Ragnarok, some sources believe. The name of Skadi's crafter and its origin has been forgotten but it has been stored by the Magi for a long time. Many believe that is not a true diviner, as Hector did, since there was no Grim Angel to wield it. Hector took it and gave it to you, believing that whatever power Skadi and you had separately would be enough for you to act as Grim Angel, until he had no further use for you. However, Skadi and you belong with each other. You are a true Grim Angel, Malice."
Malice fell silent and gazed at Skadi, finally realising that the power she felt from it, the kinship feeling she had when she wielded it, was not an imagination."
Andrea glanced at both Ledah and Malice, before raising her hands and saying, "Now arise, Grim Angels. Asgard has granted you freedom in return for you devotion and sacrifices. Let it be long that you protect this land of Riviera with your powers, safeguarding it from the corruptive hands of the demons. From this day forth, you shall be kown as the Ascended Grim Angels."
