Epilogue II:
Yuan was once again summoned to the hall of the Magi. It was an eerie atmosphere with only Six Magi presentable, and the glow of the giant crystal behind them has dimmed considerably since Seth-Rah's destruction.
"Yuan, if you remember the new from some time ago, then you should be aware of Ledah's death, as well as Ein's disappearance and Hector's treachery..." A Magus stated.
Yuan nodded. "Yes. It... had a considerable effect on the community, and Malice's involvement came as a bit of surprise to me. But why have you called upon me again? The Retribution has been prevented, and the traitors have been executed... unless you still intend to activate the Retribution."
Another Magus shook its head. "No, that is not it. However, we feel you have the right to know that we have discovered the location of the Etchel the Wingless, as well as a few other interesting developments..."
"Ein?" Yuan exclaimed. "You mean, he's actually safe? He survived the Maze of Shadows and everything?"
"Indeed," Yet another Magus answered. "It appears that Etchel is residing currently in Riviera, in a village called Elendia. We have also discovered something even more vital when looking into this village, as well as observing the state of Riviera in general"
"Pardon?" Yuan asked. His curiosity was piqued.
"As you know, since the demise of the gods, Asgard's stability has been left to the powers of the Seven Magi. With Hector's treachery and apparent death, our influence has weakened considerably. We need to find one who holds our Ethereal Signature and instate that being as soon as they are ready. Apparently, one of the Sprites of Elendia carries our legacy, and they must be properly trained immediately."
Yuan blinked. "...A successor of the Magi amongst the Sprites? But... why the urgency? Didn't my buddy Ein take care of the Demon threat already?"
"Unfortunately, this brings us to our more urgent news." Magus Ymir stated. "We have observed disturbing activity beneath Parveeju Temple, the gate to the fabled Underworld where the Dread Dragon Hades has been imprisoned. Somehow, the godly chains that bound him have been broken. We fear he may spread the deadly miasma of the Underworld around Riviera before delivering his wrath upon Asgard. Without the gods, our best chance is to summon forth the full power of the Seven Magi to bind him once more. However, we have a grave concern as to who or what released him...we feel that we must replace Ledah immediately and utilize the power of the Grim Angels."
"So then...you believe that my time has finally come?" Yuan asked. "Do I still have a choice in this?"
"Yuan, as we've said before, you have shown the greatest progress during the trials, and we believe you posses the greatest potential in fulfilling the duties of a Grim Angel. This time, the world is in a crisis far worse than imaginable. The sworn enemy of the gods has been released, and we fear the worst of who is responsible. In such a time, we cannot afford to take any risks if we are to preserve Asgard." a Magus explained.
"Therefore, we ask you once again if you are willing to receive the blessing of the gods and shed your white wings. Your decision today may very well determine the fate of everyone..." Another Magus stated.
Yuan lowered his head and trembled. "Again... but why? Was it destiny that I become a Grim Angel in the end? There are so many other Angels more willing to accept this responsibility with the enthusiasm that almost matches Ein's, and yet I'm one of the remaining Angels left that is able to handle that power... but I don't want that life... I don't want to risk awakening my violent self..."
"Of course, to fulfill our originally intended quota, we once again require the instatement of the trails. We must send two Grim Angels in order to meet with Ein, and with your acceptance, we will only require one more..." a stern Magus continued.
"Yuan, have you brought the incomplete Diviner with you at the very least?" Magus Ymir asked.
Yuan nodded as he unsheathes the faded sword from a handle. "Yes. I... felt it would be appropriate to bring it with me in case our meeting had to do with this. But I was considering giving this back, too. It just wouldn't feel right to keep something like this in my possession if I cannot wield it."
"Then consider our proposition once more." Ymir suggested. "There is so much that must be dealt with in the Promised Land. Are you sure you can still deny this sacred duty?"
Yuan sighed as he contemplated the current situation. "Ledah is dead. Malice was bestowed the powers of a false diviner behind her back, only to be used by the cold-hearted bastard that Hector became. And although Ein defeated the power of a god with unexpected help, we might still be in for a situation far worse than what happened with Ragnarok, considering Hades' release. Yeah, we certainly can't sit on our laurels now, but I can't be an effective Grim Angel if I refuse to accept the will of the gods..."
"If this makes your decision any easier, then do not consider this as a matter of submitting yourself to the gods' servitude, but a matter of what you want in the end." Ymir added, as if being able to read the young Angels' mind. "Etchel and Ledah came forward and received the blessing of the gods with their own reasons in mind. You must come forward with your own..."
Yuan nodded. "My own reason? But... what would be worth sacrificing my freedom? What would be worth risking my very sanity for?" he thought.
Suddenly, his mind rested on his dream that took place in Riviera. It went through the image of that green-haired woman and the beautiful home she lived in. He recalled the desire that Ledah and Lorelei shared to explore the Promised Land together. He remembered the helpless, abandoned Angel that was ruthlessly abused by the entrance of Heaven's Gate. Finally, his mind observed the vision of an Angel fully revived with thick golden wings.
It was the vision of the future. Something he foresaw after researching the 12 Fallen Angels and their golden city of Tetyth.
All of these thoughts centered on the Promised Land, the very realm entrusted to the sprites by the gods.
At that point, the young Angel found his resolve.
"Fine... this is still a hard decision for me, but I'll do it. Please allow me to receive the blessing of the gods, the holy Diviner, and my new black wings." Yuan concluded before kneeling down and offering his incomplete Diviner.
The Six Magi nodded in unison as Magus Ymir received the Diviner and held its blade above Yuan's shoulder.
"Angel Yuan. Thou hast proclaimed thy sacrifice of freedom. Upon receiving the blessing of the gods, you shall receive great power bestowed to you by your Diviner dubbed Fafner, the blade of flame. However, with this act, you will also swear an oath to enact the gods' will far greater than any before you. Dost thou accept?" Magus Ymir stated.
Yuan swallowed hard as he nodded. "I do..."
"Then let it be done." Ymir answered.
At that point, Yuan felt a portion of his spiritual energy drained into Fafner. The Six Magi chanted an ancient tongue as the crystal resonated with godly brilliance.
As the crystal grew brighter, Yuan's body slowly grew heavier, and his senses became keener.
"This is... impossible... am I actually feeling... the influence of the gods around me? Are they slowly shackling me to accept my sacrifice?" Yuan thought in horror.
As soon the crystal reached the peak of its brilliance, its energy flowed into the Diviner, gradually filling it with color and power. Yuan felt a portion of this power flowing into him, which caused his wings to molt slightly.
After a few moments, Fafner finally became complete. Its entire form was steeped in ruby, the very same color as Yuan's eyes.
"Angel Yuan. With this Diviner in hand, you shall become a true Grim Angel. Now, accept the power granted to you by your sacrifice!" Ymir announced.
Yuan's hands trembled as he became reluctant to complete the ritual. However, he already felt himself connected to the gods, and there was no turning back. Slowly, the angel moved his arms towards until Fafner finally came into his grasp.
Immediately, its overwhelming power shot through his body. His previous pair of wings molted completely as his new black pair grew out in an instant. Although he did not scream, he was quite terrified by this sudden transformation. Slowly but surely, he was able to feel the presence of everything around him. But at the same time, his body grew unbearably heavy.
"The shackles of the gods... they're binding me to ensure my loyalty..." Yuan thought as he grit his teeth.
As soon as the immense shock passed, Yuan's body glowed with a faint red light as his casual white vest transformed into a long crimson coat, and his former white shorts extended into longer white pants with streaks of red flame. Eventually, his body was relieved of the mysterious weight, but he still felt a presence hovering over him.
"It is done." Ymir announced. "On this blessed day, the Magi recognize Yuan as a true Grim Angel."
The young Angel felt his newfound power flowing within him, but it made him feel ill at ease. He remembered talking to Ein about this experience, how the removal of his wings was most excruciating, but at the same time, how the sensation of his new power was refreshing.
But Yuan felt differently. He felt he recklessly threw away something important to him on a whim. That in some way he had made a huge mistake. This was something he never wanted, yet something that most Angels, including his dear friend Lazuli, would be truly envious of. But here he is: the one Angel in all of Asgard that never wanted to become a Grim Angel, now the bearer of its renowned black wings.
Yuan bowed his head in respect, but partially in self-shame. "I will... fulfill my sacred duty... to the best of my ability." he reluctantly swore.
The six Magi nodded content of the new Grim Angel's answer.
"Well said." A Magus from the side answered. "Before you head out to Riviera, you will have to be patient as we select another Angel to accompany you on your mission."
"That will not be necessary." Yuan answered abruptly.
An awkward silence followed as the Magi stood by in uncertainty.
"Yuan, please explain yourself..." a Magus called out.
Yuan nodded. "I would rather not have another angel make such a sacrifice for this cause. I feel that most of my fellow angels do not understand what it is they must be done in order to become a Grim Angel. I believe... most are just too caught up in the honor it brings." he explained.
He then had a nervous thought in the back of my mind. "Plus, a certain someone said they would sacrifice their Fear. As convenient that might before them, I have a feeling it isn't something that the Magi would consider "precious" enough to sacrifice..."
"I see. Then do you have another proposition in mind?" another Magus asked.
"I do." Yuan answered confidently. "Please allow me to take Lazuli with me."
"Lazuli?" a concerned Magus uttered.
The other Magi spoke amongst themselves. Then a concerned Angel moved forward.
"Do you realize what it could mean if she steps foot on the soil of Riviera?" the Magus asked.
Yuan nodded. "I understand completely. What I know for certain is that Lazuli will get better."
"Do you understand what it is you're dealing with? Are you aware of what she is" Another Magus answer.
"I learned all I could from the Archives. I am well aware of her heritage, but I also know her personally. Lazuli is a kind-hearted soul. You can be assured she will not falter under the burden of sin." he sternly stated.
The Magi took careful notice of Yuan's solemn eyes.
"If anything" Yuan continued, "Lazuli's latent powers should prove to be beneficial. If the Twelve Fallen Angels managed to obtain such power that could incur the wrath of the gods, imagine what that same power could do for us."
The new Grim Angel's words sunk into the minds of the Magi.
"Very well. Since you've assured Lazuli's cooperation, then we will allow it. However, she is your responsibility. If she ever succumbs to her power, you must carry out your duty as a Grim Angel and do what must be done." a stern Magus stated.
Yuan bowed. "Do not worry. Everything will be fine." he assured.
"Good. Now take Lazuli with you and head towards Heaven's Gate. Once you make you make it to Riviera, you are to meet up with Etchel and discover the Sprite that is to replace Hector. We will fill you in on further details once all of this has been accomplished." the stern Magus explained.
"Understood." Yuan answered. He then placed Fafner into his sheath and calmly left the hall of the Magi.
The Six Magi were once again left by themselves to deal with their usual business, but Ymir had developed ideas of his own. He turned to his colleagues to voice them out.
"My fellow Magi. It appears that with these circumstances, we may need more than the powers of Asgard. If we are to succeed, we should consider entrusting the sprites, as the gods did so long ago. If there is anything we have learned from observing the battle of Seth-Rah, it's that these sprites possess a formidable spirit." Ymir explained.
The other Magi found Ymir's argument intriguing.
"Yes. It seems that in their personal battles, the sprites have aided Ein significantly, and even allowed his potential to be brought out to an unprecedented level." Another Magi answered.
"However, the power of those four women could easily fall behind the Grim Angels'. Despite their good intentions, they could easily become a liability the other Angels will be forced to protect. Do you remember the one that Etchel called Fia? The one that Malice abducted for the Retribution?" an objective Angel argued.
"That is indeed a good point," Ymir said, "However, there must be some reason as to why Ein and Ledah entrusted the future to these same sprites. I am interested in seeing how far they can go with further aid."
The other Magi grew curious of Ymir's idea.
"What do you propose?" a Magus asked.
"I believe they are entitled to some gifts." Ymir answered. "The weapons vault should hold something fitting for such an occasion."
The other Magi stared on in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" one Magi asked.
"Come with me if you wish." Ymir insisted. He then floated towards a wall behind their glittering crystal and scanned the wall for something specific. After spotting a seemingly normal portion of the wall, he held up his special rod towards it, and the wall created and opening. The Six Magi then went inside a secret room lit up by a runic pattern etched all over the room. The walls were lined with numerous weapons, some of which resembled Diviners. However, there was a pedestal in the far end of the room supporting a giant white chest with golden linings and patterns.
Ymir slowly made his way towards this special chest gazed at it somewhat fondly. After finally reaching it, he lifted the lid, and a powerful radiance shone out. He then took out four particular weapons and laid them out to show his colleagues his choice:
One was a big azure longbow, another was Golden Scepter with a ruby embedded at the tip, and the last was a scythe with an enormous black blade.
"The Tempest Bow, One of the Twelve Saint Scepters, and the Night Scythe. Fitting tools for our ally sprites, don't you think?" Ymir grinned.
The Magi pondered over the idea of offering these weapons to Ein's sprite companions.
"Two weapons once held by the greatest champions of Valhalla from the time of the gods, and a tool crafted for a Fallen Angel. Interesting choices..." A Magus stated.
"You must have a lot of confidence in their abilities to give them weapons of such power and magnitude. These are treasures even we do not fully comprehend." another Magus answered.
"At least they're far more durable than the replicas they managed to claim from the Accursed." Ymir grinned. "I'm quite impressed that they managed to defeat Seth-Rah, one with the power of a god, without these. With such a feet under their belt, I'm curious what kind of power they can draw from these weapons against a foe well beyond Seth-Rah's strength?"
The others were astonished, but they understood Magus Ymir's argument perfectly.
"As we have told Yuan, we cannot afford to hold anything back. If you believe that these Sprites can handle such weapons, then we will allow it. We will trust your judgment, Ymir." One Magus stated.
The knowledgeable Magus nodded. "Thank you, my fellow Magi." Ymir answered.
He then gathered the weapons in his grasp again. "Now, if you excuse me, I shall deliver their gifts personally. I shall make my way to Riviera once Yuan and Lazuli begin their journey."
The hall of the Magi became dead silent as their generous colleague made his way out of the great hall.
Back at the field of flowers, Lazuli once again looked forward to another day with her friend. Yuan soon showed up as a changed Angel.
"Yuan!" Lazuli exclaimed as she pointed to his black wings. "Y...You're a Grim Angel? Is that what your meeting was about?"
"Yes, that's part of it, but I'll explain the details later." Yuan answered. "Anyway, we have to head to Riviera immediately and meet up with Ein. Thankfully, our old friend is still alive."
"What? Etchel is... still alive? In Riviera? But why are we going there? Why where you ordered there? And why am I coming with you?" Lazuli asked in her excitement.
"Like I said, I'll explain all that later. But for now, let's hightail it to Heaven's Gate, okay?" Yuan demanded.
Lazuli sat there, frozen in confusion for a few moments. After finally regaining all of her senses, she nodded quickly grabbed onto Yuan's hand to join him. "Okay! Let's go!" she cried.
The two Angels then took flight and rushed towards Heaven's Gate at considerable speed.
For a moment, Yuan gazed thoughtfully at Lazuli before focusing his attention in front of him.
"First of all, there are a few things she deserves to know..."