So sorry for the update taking a while! I got sick several times and was working on my book and made several trips, and I originally had something else planned for this chapter but I had to postpone that since it was already getting long. In exchange, though, we get more interactions with Malthael. :) For Imperius fans, the spotlight will be once again on him in the next chapter, I promise!
I'll leave this top message short so you guys can get right to the chapter. :) Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 19 - Helniel
Tyrael searched for Imperius the moment he heard news that Valor had returned. The rumor had circled around the encampment like wildfire. He did not know whether the rumor was true, but he decided to invest a little faith and searched everywhere.
It was then that he found him, surrounded by a flock of his own subordinates. His eyes widened inside his hood. Was it really Valor?! His blue-tinged wings raised slightly. Though he and Imperius had drifted apart after Sanctuary's creation, and they were no longer as close as brothers, he still worried for his lost comrade. Now that he was here, his concerns washed away at once. He could feel this lift of weight from everyone's shoulders upon confirmation the Archangel of Valor was safe.
Imperius seemed to notice Tyrael's presence and straightened his posture. His armor gleamed with whatever light rained down with the setting sun. The soldiers had been about to withdraw to their tents after a long day; however, the Archangel's newfound presence sparked a fresh liveliness within the encampment. Everyone bustled with excitement, even Tyrael as he could only gawk at his fellow councilman. He drifted closer to ask what happened to be on everyone's minds. "Imperius! What happened to you?!"
"..." Imperius huffed and turned his head away in response. It seemed he was reluctant to answer. "I was… indisposed, for a time." The man raised his brilliant wings proudly. "However, I am here to fight now, and that is all that matters. I will rejoin the fight as soon as my men rest for the day."
Tyrael roamed his gaze over Valor's form. Knowing his former brotherly figure, he may not have even fully recovered if he was "indisposed." He scanned the Archangel for any signs, but from his position, he could see nothing serious. There was a rupture in his armor on his arm, but there was not a glowing mark to signify a recently closed wound. Nonetheless, Justice was still skeptical. He would have to keep an eye on him. "...Perhaps you should see Archangel Auriel, just in case there is any overlooked damage." Heading into battle after recovery was something Tyrael felt was unwise.
Imperius grunted, "Nonsense! I am able to stand and fight, so that will be enough! Now, if you will not help me, I must speak with my subordinates regarding the war situation!"
"Hmm…" Tyrael mulled to himself as Imperius turned away from him spitefully. Justice reckoned he could have a word with Auriel beforehand whether Valor would approve or not. His disappearance as well as condition was of much concern to the Heavens, so Tyrael couldn't simply believe his words alone. He turned away to do just that… and perhaps let others know of his presence.
I found myself in a bit of a predicament. I was to be Archangel Malthael's healer for the time I am here. Therefore, I was stuck in his tent until he dismissed me. I was too terrified of the consequences to disobey. But, why me of all people? Did he not have other tenders? Surely there are others who could fulfill this task better than I.
I sighed within my seat. I sat in a chair near the bed in which the Archangel laid. Meanwhile, Malthael was too occupied with other matters to pay attention to me. He pored over documents on his lap, casually filling them out but at the same time aware of nothing else, or so I thought. I averted my gaze away to take notice of my surroundings.
To my relief, there was a table beside me, and on it a fresh stock of medical supplies. I did not have to worry about fetching any for the sake of not disappointing Archangel Malthael. One of my worst fears was being faced with a dying patient with no supplies, and as a result, they die, and it would be all my fault. A shudder ran through my back.
I returned my gaze to Archangel Malthael once more. The weight of my new duties suddenly landed full-force upon my shoulders. How was I going to treat the Archangel of Wisdom himself?! I wasn't sure exactly what wounds he even sustained. What if I had to change his bandages? What if his wounds were located in… private areas? Oh heavens, no. I wasn't prepared for that. I hid my face in my hands. I wasn't mature enough to be his healer!
I winced suddenly after my sudden movement. I looked down at my throbbing side. That was right; I was partially injured as well. I gingerly tugged at my breastplate, but that wouldn't fix the dent in my side. I silently grumbled in discomfort at this dilemma. I did not have the chance to treat myself given the constant presence of men.
"I did not think an angel of Hope could be so hesitant to treat themselves."
I startled out of my thoughts once I heard Malthael speak from across the room. He did not turn to face me, but I could sense that he was gazing at me out of the corner of his eyes, for his quill did not move. Once his words registered in me, I was instantly filled with shame. "...Please forgive my hesitance… I am inexperienced, and have had few if not any occasions at all to show my body to the male gender…" I shifted uncomfortably. "I am an angel of Hope who is often shirked from duties, and have never been a healer on the front lines…"
He listened to me for a long moment, neither moving his quill nor turning his head. I realized I should be fearing his response, but for some reason, his patience was… greatly relaxing. I found that my words were treated with respect as he paid the utmost attention and did not interrupt me. His status would allow him such privileges, but he didn't resort to it. Perhaps the Archangel of Wisdom had a different approach than that of Valor. He then replied, "...All angels of Hope should be prepared for any situation regarding a medical emergency. Sustaining habits will prevent any needed measures in future time."
My shoulders slumped. Archangel Malthael was absolutely right. What if I received a potentially life-threatening wound if left untreated, and I was too hesitant to treat myself simply because of embarrassment? Would I be willing to die for the sake of pride? There is already a lack of healers in the Heavens as it is. These realizations also applied to my concerns regarding my treatment of Malthael. What if he was dying, and I had to remove all of his armor lest he die? I can't let my shame rule me. There were more important things in life. "...Yes, sir."
The Archangel resumed his scribbling. I suppose he wasn't even paying attention anyways. I took in a deep breath and prepared myself for my task, turning my back to him so he would not see anything meant for only my eyes. However, I found myself hesitating again once I seized the clasp of my breastplate. I could feel the heat in my cheeks. I was simply too embarrassed!
The sounds of scrawling on parchment paused once more. I glanced over my shoulder at him, filled with shame. How could I face him as an angel of Hope?
Malthael seemed like he was about to comment further, but we were suddenly interrupted. A female angel appeared at the entrance of the tent. Lenedial recognized her garb as that of an angel of Hope, complete with a cord tied at her waist like a sash. The woman stared at Malthael, and then me.
"Archangel Malthael, I have come to check on your wounds," she stated, continuing to look between him and I.
I glanced over at the Archangel. The man simply made a dismissive gesture with his hand. He didn't even grace her with a verbal response as he returned to his scriptures. My mouth pressed into a thin line. I decided to answer for him. "...I believe he just elected me as his personal healer until he recovers…"
"What? Nonsensical―is this true, sir?" she asked, directing her gaze at the injured man.
His grip tightened upon his quill, before lowering it onto his lap. However, his posture remained hunched, as if he was still poring over the documents before him. He then spoke with his mighty and attention-grabbing voice. "...Yes, but I have one more task for you to fulfill before your dismissal…" He simply pointed one of his taloned fingers toward me, then left me to respond for him once more. The Archangel of Wisdom then returned to writing.
I smiled shyly within my hood. "I-I sustained some wounds myself, b-but I am having difficulty in treating myself…"
The woman snorted. "You are an angel of Hope too, are you not? Why don't you get to it?"
I glanced down at my breastplate sheepishly. Why can't I? I returned my hand to the clasp, wincing as the dent dug into my side.
One of the most unexpected rescuers came to my rescue. Archangel Malthael's wings suddenly flared brightly with violet. His fingers tightly gripped the edges of the pile of papers in his lap. His hood lowered even more over his face, casting a deep and ominous shadow over his obscured features. His voice then rumbled with power. "That was an order."
I shivered in my seat, the back of my hands sweating nervously. Even though his rage was not directed at me, I could not help but be greatly unnerved by the display. The thought of making him angry kept me in fear. I would have to tread around such risks during my stay here.
"Y-Yes sir!" the angel of Hope stammered. She bowed as low as she could in respect to the figure before her. The woman then rushed over to me. I swiveled around in my chair to direct my back to both her and Malthael. She cleared a space on the table with the medical supplies. I realized the supplies likely belonged to her.
I sheepishly did my best to assist her in her new task so as not to cause more trouble. It certainly wouldn't do to put more on her shoulders. I removed my breastplate, leaving my torso bare enough for inspection. All the meanwhile I could not help but be distracted by Malthael's presence nearby. However, peeking over my shoulder only proved that he did not even face my way, nor did he show any signs of interest, merely continuing his duties. It was a curious fact, but an appreciated one.
The angel of Hope addressed my wound with speed and precision. I took a moment to assess her features. She wore a robe instead of armor, but there were some places plated, such as her shoulder pads and gloves. Her clothes were a peach color, a color soft and bright enough to contrast the dullness of the camp. Her wings took on a faint rosy hue, and her wing pattern was more circular instead of the usually angled designs.
She was silent as she treated me, but I could not help but ask questions of her. "What is your name?"
The angel glanced at Malthael briefly, as if awaiting an order, but she received none. Finally, the woman addressed herself. "...Helniel, angel of Hope."
"Helniel… Well, it is very nice to meet you," I offered. It would be bad for us to part on such bad terms with the possibility of us crossing paths. This was already a dangerous-enough place to be in. It was close to the front lines, and she wasn't sure if all angels here were allies to her yet. In the beginning, they had wished to slay her, after all. Imperious had been the only thing between them and their goal.
"..." She proceeded with her work, not gracing me with a response. I allowed her this privilege; me being as friendly as I was, it was a bit much for the gruffness of the battlefield. It was here where hardships were aplenty, thus it would likely cease any sort of pleasantries provided in the Heavens.
Suddenly, the tent was intruded by yet another. It was a man, a grand and somewhat familiar-looking angel with bright blue wings streaming from his back. His brightly golden armor gleaned from the fading bright light outside. This was none other than the Archangel of Justice, Tyrael. Unfortunately, I was left in such awe of his form that I forgot I was practically nude from the waist-up, so I had swiveled around partially to get a good look at him, to the dismay of Helniel.
"Malthael, I have great news," beamed Tyrael. His voice was like a proud ray of heroic courage; I could never get tired of listening to it. "Imperius has returned. He intends to do battle on the morrow."
Malthael considered his words for a second, then replied, "I suspected as much. Tyrael…" He then made a dismissive gesture with his hand. I wondered if it was a habit of his to constantly dismiss others using only hand gestures, but I knew he was a man of few words. He seems to focus on his work and whatever other important matters are at hand.
Tyrael was about to depart—he did not seem bothered by Malthael's curt demeanor—when something seemed to have caught his attention in my direction. I was frozen in place when his hood stared straight at me. In mortification, I realized the state of my dress, and my cheeks swiftly heated. I quickly turned away while shielding my body with my arms, and he in turn flustered at the sight he viewed before him.
"P-Pardon my intrusion," Tyrael stuttered. He was audibly flustered, as well as I. However, before I could say anything, he immediately departed.
I hadn't expected a visitor, so I was greatly dismayed. It was the Archangel of Justice, no less! I do wish I had been more proper upon officially meeting the man! Oh Heavens, will the Arch grace me with many a misfortune?
"Now that you have embarrassed yourself, may I please resume my treatment?" Helniel asked me curtly. She did her best to phrase it as politely as possible, but they could only fill me with shame. I sat up straight and allowed her to resume her duty. Soon I became lost in my thoughts once more.
It wasn't long before Helniel finished her task. As she made sure her supplies were in order and making sure I had enough to continue treating Malthael with, I thanked her for treating me, but the woman gave no response. She tidied up, bowed to Malthael, and then left the tent.
It was now Malthael and I left to fend for ourselves. I glanced over at the Archangel, but all he did was pore over his documents, revising and retreading them as he went along. The man seemed to be a workaholic. I constantly glanced at him fretfully, but he showed no signs of relenting.
It wasn't long until I found both my patience and my restraint waning. However, as I was about to inquire as to his condition, his hood dropped and the hand holding his parchment thudded against the bedding. I immediately rushed to his side. "A-Archangel Malthael?!" I stuttered in my bout of panic.
He then held up a hand to ward me off. His limbs seemed heavy and tired while he gathered up his dropped pamphlet and set it aside. Right as his fingers trembled and was about to drop his important documents, I quickly leaned over him to help him place them on the nearby table. My attention then turned back to him as he leaned his head back and eased his shoulders. I could tell that, both physically and mentally, the man was exhausted.
"You should rest," I offered. I slowly moved my hands to his upper arms to give him time to refuse.
The next motion of his took me off-guard. I was pulled to him, suddenly plastered against his chest. My face was brimming with heat. What was he doing?! I froze completely, unable to move. All that covered my chest were the bandages from Helniel. All that covered his chest were his bandages, likely from Helniel. In other words, our bodies were utterly close. I inwardly cursed the medic angel for leaving us alone like this.
Right as I was to voice my complaint, he suddenly raised his hands to my wings. His fingers began to play with the tendrils as if they were strings upon a harp. His actions caused me to shudder tremendously. It took all I had to swallow down my discomfort.
"You wish to assist me," the Archangel stated in his deep and emotionless voice. "If you do, allow me this... Investigating the subject of my interest…"
In other words, the item of interest was my wings, not me specifically. Delving into the unknown with a firsthand tool soothes him, apparently. How could I say no? For one, he held my wings hostage, and it would be very painful if I happened to struggle. Secondly, he was of higher rank than I—if not the highest possible—so going against his wishes could wreak severe consequences. Even if he did not earn my consent, he still won, and he knew it. All I could do was try to become comfortable against his side and radiate heat from my face. I was beginning to miss being in Imperius's company terribly compared to this. Dealing with a bad attitude was one thing, but having an Archangel invading my personal space was another.
He tampered with my wings in an almost excruciating matter, but without bringing me pain. I could not help but squirm slightly in his grasp. It was highly uncomfortable, but I had to bear it for now. I gnawed on my lip and did my best to think of other things.
After a long while, he settled down in his excitement. I wondered why he stopped messing with my wings. I raised my head to look at his hood. I then realized his head was slumped backwards, resting against the bed frame. Had he fallen unconscious?
I whispered softly to him, "Archangel Malthael…?"
I received no response. I observed his form for a moment as his chest fluttered and fell. He must have been in pain, having been hunched over documents with a chest injury like that. I carefully snaked my arm around his torso and lowered him to the bedding. He did not budge or utter a word as I did so. In the process, I got a feel for his body; he was much thinner than I had anticipated, but in exchange I could tell he was quite a tall man. His feet nearly hung over the edge of the bed once I made sure he was comfortable.
I lowered the back of my hand to check his temperature. It was not particularly warm, but beads of sweat did fall onto his brow. He must have strained himself from working, and that was why he needed some reprieve. I placed my hand on his bandages. I could tell they did not need changed yet, but the opportunity would likely present itself when he wakes. Seeing as there was little else I could do, I grasped a rag and wetted it before dabbing at his forehead and body to rid him of his sweat. Hopefully he would take a break from his work—and his fascination with my wings—long enough to make an adequate recovery.
I was content for now regarding his condition, so I moved back to my designated seat and reclined. I wondered if I was really cut out for this; however, time will tell.
Tyrael flustered at the sight he had seen before abruptly leaving the tent. Why did Malthael have a guest? A seemingly wounded and half dressed female, at that?! It was unlike Malthael to allow visitors into his tent save for the council members. Justice was puzzled, and rightfully so.
The man did his best to push his embarrassment to the back of his thoughts while he marched to the hospital tents, where Auriel resided. There were more important thoughts to focus on, like the state of Imperius's evaluation. They needed to make sure Valor was in a stable condition. The golden Archangel was indeed stubborn, so he would take a little more effort to convince getting a checkup.
He approached the tent and bypassed the guards in front to search for Auriel. He caught an angel of Hope and asked her as to where Auriel's location would be.
"I am deeply sorry, sir, but Archangel Auriel returned briefly to the Heavens to discuss some matters with Archangel Itherael," the woman informed him.
Tyrael felt deflated. Perhaps this was a sign from the stars above that his concerns were unwarranted. He should stop underestimating his former brother and fussing over his condition. "Thank you; that will be all." He dismissed the angel with a brief phrase, then floated away, toward his own tent. He should unwind before the approaching battle on the morrow.
Back in Heaven, a curious development has begun to form. An angel of Valor was sent to investigate the Gardens of Hope after a violent disturbance was reported in the area. The man searched the gardens for any signs of destruction. At last, he came to an abode at the edge of a string of structures and caught sight of a building with no door.
Intrigued, the angel approached the entryway and noted the door was not missing, only knocked off its hinges. Perplexed, he peeked into the establishment to glean some enlightenment as to the cause.
The inside was completely trashed. Books were scattered across the floor, broken glass littered the desk, and scratches were imbedded deeply into the ground. He entered the building to search for any signs of angels or enemies with his weapon raised. He could see a scythe was embedded into the other side of the desk, confirming that this was indeed an attack.
A quick glance at the side room yielded no results. The building was completely absent, even of bodies. Whoever clashed here was either taken away or fled the premises.
He searched through some of the scattered documents upon the desk to determine who this abode belonged to. He froze once he read a name on a sheet in particular. It was Lenedial's, Archangel of Hope's.
The soldier quickly scurried to notify the currently known Archangel within the heavens: Itherael, Archangel of Fate.
"Itherael, sir!" the angel of Valor stated as he kneeled in front of his desk. "And My Lady, Auriel!" He acknowledged both Archangels within the room.
Itherael was currently sitting at his desk with Auriel at his side. They had been discussing matters relating to the transfer of crippled patients. Fate glanced at Auriel briefly out of the corner of his hood. The matter seemed urgent, so he wondered what could be the matter. After all, if this was a matter on a smaller scale, the scroll of Fate would not go out of its way to notify him. "You may speak, Angel. What is it?"
"The angel of Hope, Lenedial's abode, has been ravaged!" the angel stated frantically. "There is no trace of her anywhere!"
Itherael stiffened. Auriel let out a concerned gasp, then placed her hands over her mouth. Fate glanced at her solemnly and knew the woman cared deeply about each and every one of her subordinates. He did his best to soothe his friend's concerns by stating, "You are sure there is no sign of her? No body, not even essence?"
"No, sir. I searched the entire premises, but there is no indication of her state or location."
"I see. Thank you." He noticed Auriel's body ease, and it was enough for him to relax as well. If there were no signs of Lenedial being hurt or slain, there was less cause for concern. However, since the unusual angel was both his and Auriel's responsibility, they needed to find her. "Search the rest of the gardens. If you find no traces, return to me. She may not be within the Heavens any longer."
"Yes, sir!"
Itherael sighed as he watched the man go, then massaged the bridge of his nose. He did his best to keep his composure for Auriel's sake. After all, if she could not be strong, he could not be weak. Morale was key in maintaining a steady council. "Auriel, I believe we can discuss the transaction another time." He noted her distress as her body language conveyed her being lost in thought.
The woman seemed to snap out of her thoughts, then nodded. "V-Very well." She stood and bowed to him. "I will take my leave."
"..." Itherael suddenly thought better of it. He reached out and took her hand in his, then placed his other hand on the back of her hand reassuringly. "...We will find her. Do not fret, Auriel…"
"..." Auriel's thumb stroked his palm as she eased. "...Thank you, my friend…" She let him clasp her hand for a moment longer, then lifted the back of his hand to her lips and lightly kissed it.
Itherael stiffened, then his wings twisted into knots. That sly vixen… She would do anything to tease his lack of masculinity compared to the other council members. His face bristled with heat as he retrieved his hand from her grasp. "If you have the time to tease me like this, Lady Auriel, you could be spending it upon sorting the transaction…"
Her laughter chimed like beautiful bells once more. The man both loved and hated that laugh, seeing as she was tormenting him, but he could not help wishing to hear more. "I cannot help myself, Old Friend. You fall for it every time." She giggled again, then curtsied. "I will now adhere to my word and depart." She then disappeared in a flash of light.
Itherael shook his head and scooted his chair closer to resume his paperwork. The day Auriel stopped teasing him would be the day the Angels won the war. Once—or if—they did, even Fate did not know if he would miss such subtle banter or not.
Heaving a sigh, as he once again was left much to think about, he continued to fill out the endless forms stretched upon his desk.
Edit! I just want to thank SnowWhiteAbyss for inspiration this chapter! The idea was for an angel stumbling upon Lene's abode. So, thank you! :)
EditNumber2! Oh dear, I just noticed the links in my profile did not display properly after 3 years ;_; Why didn't anyone tell meeeeee~ They're fixed now, so now they are viewable! A "dot" is in place of . so you have to change those to follow, but other than that, yay it's fixed!
Review Response
Heaven-water-sister: So sorry for the long wait, but the new chapter is here! ;_; Thank you for reading, reviewing, and sticking with me!
Reaper1024: I feel like you're going to enjoy this chapter, because it features more Malthael. XD
Pffft, no, your story is awesome! Although you do flatter me. x) To prove it, I will be dropping your story some reviews sometime tonight~ I caught up last night~
Hehe! More Mal to come in the future as well! ;) Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Sad rain in the cold winter: So sorry for the long wait! And indeed, she is now his healer from here on out! x) His fascination with her odd wings is high~ Stay tuned for more! Thank you for reading and reviewing! :)
SnowWhiteAbyss: Sometimes I do that too, skimming over some parts since what I'm reading is exciting. I'm glad you think my story is part of that category. x)
Imperius saved her good! Malthael's orders were to keep an eye out for corrupted angels as he knew they had infiltrated the encampment. So, naturally they would call out to alert the others before acting on their own, but Imperius put a stop to it before it could get violent. x)
Lenedial is a healer, but she is a special case as well. She doesn't have much experience when it comes to the battlefield or even leaving Heaven because of her circumstances. Itherael and Auriel tend to want to keep a good eye on her because of her special wings, so naturally she would be nearby, just not heavily constricted seeing as she hasn't acted out. So, naturally, seeing her in a war zone is unusual.
Hehe, I imagine Mal would use his sickles often. x) After his mood took a turn for the worse after the soulstone's destruction, I've pretty much had to guess his behavior right before his disappearance. Dark, brooding, not as much in the mood to talk to anyone, and maybe a little snappy. Just like how anyone would act in a state of stress, but for him it would be constant stress that would not deteriorate. However, finding new knowledge within his reach may bring some light aka a better mood, which is where Lenedial comes in. x)
I'm sure some people had to touch her wings seeing as they are such an anomaly, like researchers in the Wisdom department, or acolytes of Fate. Malthael will be one of those people, of course, so she will be a little pestered to be touched. XD
Your design ideas are always cool, and again, Mirka Fortuna is a beauty. x) I would say the Trinity Blood manga artstyle is among my favorites~ Although the anime's isn't so bad either, just elongated.
I'm sure Imperius letting Lenedial get away with things would be a shock. After all, I imagine Imperius would give anyone a hard time, so for him to give anyone special treatment would be a sign of favoritism maybe even trust. There would certainly be many questions involving how she got him to do that. x)
Don't worry, we all have concerns about stories we like. Certain decisions might lead readers to become frustrated, so it would only be natural for you to feel a little wary. And don't worry about the constant reviews, you certainly are not bothering me! I love you all~
Thank you for reading and reviewing! :)
Guest (LightswornVindicator): Thank you so much for the compliments! :D I assure you Kyriael will appear again next chapter! Thank you for reading and reviewing! :)
CrypticAngel78: Aww, that's alright! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! :) There's some more Malthael in this chapter too~
Aww, I'm glad you thought Imperius's action was sweet! x) Have to give him some credit; he's developed so much since the second chapter~
I feel your pain. Writer's block and laziness strikes me all the time. ._.; A lot of people underestimate how difficult it is to write a story as creativity is hard to come by. However, it ends up being very rewarding, the feeling that you created something, so keep carrying on or else you might regret it. :) Again, though, it is purely your decision to carry on with it though. But sometimes you must discipline yourself to get anything done.
Ah, the youthful female with the odd wings, and the brooding veteran with endless reserves of curiosity... There's something poetic about it, two sides of a spectrum. ;)
That's certainly some cool knowledge from Skyrim. I'll be sure to check it out. o: And no, I haven't gotten to play it myself, but I have seen some videos of it before. x)
Thank you so much for the compliments, it is very flattering. :D This story is good practice for my future occupation~ You guys help so much with ideas and criticism. x) Thank you very much for reading and reviewing, and good luck! :)
G BRO THE NEPHILIM: Aww, I hope the hard times get easier for you! Glad you liked the last chapter! :) Certain plot points will pick up in the next chapter~
Yeah, I understand. Making stories requires a lot of dedication and effort. Just don't give up, you hear? You might regret it if you do! Even if your passion wanes, the fulfillment of completing something is far worth it! This goes for the both of you. Work hard!
Your story seems very interesting! o: I can't wait to learn more from you! Martial arts I feel is an underused genre/fighting style I feel like in fantasy, as most of the time people focus more on cool weapons and the like, but sometimes no weapons can be just as cool. x) Feel free to send me a PM regarding your work, that is if you trust me enough to; I know it can be difficult to trust people. But I will say other people have trusted me with their work before, so I make the utmost effort to return the trust. After all, if I betray the trust of my readers, I don't deserve to have readers in the first place.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, and good luck! :)
zeii: Ahaha, the wait is not long, my friend, for it is here! Huzzah! x) I apologize for the update taking so long, however. Anyways, thank you for reading and reviewing, and stay tuned for more! x)