The first thing that happened once the door was opened, and Raguel was let into the cottage under the lake, was having a towel thrown at his face.

"Thank you, kind Miss!"

The second thing that happened, once he finished drying his hair was to find a sword in his face.

"Umm..." Dropping the towel, it fell on the tip of the blade and split into two. Raguel winced. "I'm sorry about your towel." He said with full sincerity.

Getting a good look at the woman who let him in, the first thing that became apparent was that she was beautiful in a way normal humans weren't. She was exceptionally clean looking, and given the location of her home, either a magician or a magical being. The magic he could see like a storm expertly contained with her, made it possible she was likely both.

Her clothes, at first glance was a black dress with dark blue tied into it. In truth, it was some form of metallic armor acting as full-body dress. Her gold eyes had an ethereal shine to them, and her hair was blue, yet seemed azure or white as it moved in the light.

Then there was a full-body aura around her, acting as a second armor or skin of sorts. Raguel felt that was overkill just to confront him, when it would have been easier for her to refused him entry. He would have just tried his luck elsewhere.

Finally however the most odd thing to note about her was...her expression. It was surprisingly open, as at first she looking at him in curiosity. Then she frowned upon looking at how sorry he was, that he damaged her towel, even if it was her actions that caused it.

"What is an Archangel doing in my territory? Have your god gone wary that I might challenge his position as the best Holy Sword Maker, and sent you to depose of me?" She changed her expression a few times, before settling on what she thought looked aloof, yet politely angry. Raguel thought she just looked cute, trying so hard. He also noted that her aura layer had changed as well to match her expression.

"Oh!" Raguel smiled, his eyes lighting up. "Are you the Legendary Mythical Blacksmith!? Yeah, I have been told to find you! I'm so happy to meet you."

"Legendary? Mythical!?" She preened upon hearing her title, her aura body didn't. Oddly enough, her voice sounded far away, even as she was in front of him when she spoke. "Hmph. Legendary? Mythical? I didn't know Angels were in the business of flattery, or sycophancy." She said, and Raguel could hear her normally this time.

Raguel frown at this odd behavior. A theory came to mind. Raguel "pulled" back his sight in a manner of speak, in order to see less.

Oooooh! Now I see what's going on. Should I tell her I already saw through her illusion? ...Nah, let's keep going and see how this plays out.

"Oh! I'm sorry if that's not your title. I won't use it if bothers you." Raguel replied, returning his sight back to full, but now taking note of how the aura body acted.

"Eh!? No! I mean, I kinda like it." She said, her expression of panic and moue were quite amusing to see. Her voice had that distance muffle again. "Call me whatever you wish. It means nothing to me." She replied with the sound on again. "Now," her aura body extended her 'sword' in a threatening matter, and Raguel made sure to lean back. Her actual sword was still in place. "Why have you come to seek me?"

"Have you heard the Good Word of our Father, the Creator Lord God?" Raguel thought he should start talks in a slow amicable manner.

He found himself drenched again, as he was now floating in the lake outside the cottage.

"That was mean, Miss Blacksmith." Raguel said with a pout, once he was let inside again.

Behind the aura body, the woman was chuckling into her fist, before having a small guilty look, as she took in the form of the wet angel.

"You brought it on yourself for talking about that noisy drivel." She huffed, while her aura body sounded a different answer. "I worship no one, and have no interest in such dull discourse. If that's the only reason you came, I might as well send you back out."

"No, um, that's not the whole thing." He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, maybe we got off on the wrong start. My name is Raguel, what's yours?" Raguel said extending a hand.

Examining his hand, then his honest smile, the woman sighed (her aura body just looking on disinterested), then she placed her sword aside and turned around.

"You may call me, Lady Llyn." She said after dropping herself in one of the many chair nearby. Her aura body did so slower, and with elegance, before sensually crossing her legs. "Sit anywhere." She waved her hand and food and drink floated by to land on the large table before her.

"Okay!" Raguel on the chair next to her, kicking his dangling feet that couldn't touch the ground.

"You may partake in whatever food or drink you wish." Llyn said nonchalantly.

"Thank you!" Raguel said cheerfully.

He noticed how the woman's real body stiffened, annoyance colored her face, before she took a deep breath to calm herself. She made her aura body giving him a side eye, before making an aura object that looked like a cup with a saucer, that she picked up and drank from.

What did I do? Raguel wondered what possible reason she would have to be upset at him, for expressing his gratitude for her hospitality. He kept thinking about it as he picked up an apple from the table.

A trivia from his knowledge of fantasy came crashing into his mind.

I met this woman at the bottom of a lake. Lady of the Lake is a thing. Lady of the Lake was a Fairy. Fairy = Fae. Fae don't like to be thanked for something they did of their own free will, something they did as a favor.

Unfortunately, the realization came as he was chewing, with the apple already three quarters of the way eaten.

Raguel froze, mouth still full of half-chewed apple bites, and a strawberry in his other hand.

"Oh?" The woman said with a smug smile. "I would have thought you never dealt with the Fae before. It seems you just now realized what you are dealing with."

Raguel began to assess the situation. First he swallowed the rest of the apple. It would be rude to spit it out. Second he ate the strawberry. He had already picked it up.

Okay, apologize and fix this, earning her good will. Then once I'm debt free, if I am now in a debt, ask her for help in making Holy Sword, or an alliance to work with Heaven.

With a plan in mind, even if it was a simple one, Raguel turned and addressed the fairy.

"Sorry, I didn't realize at first. I didn't mean any ill by it," Lady Llyn seemed calmer and gave a small smile at Raguel. "I just want to show my appreciation and gratitude of your good will." Raguel said with an open sincere smile, that had Lady Llyn blushing, while her aura body, or rather glamour-how did I not realize that? Raguel wondered-gave a stoic approving smile. "So, how about I help you with something before I ask you what I came here for?"

"Yes!" She cried out in a hush tone as she did a fist pump gesture to her side. Her glamour just appeared thoughtful before nodding. "I accept." Then both Lady Llyn and the glamour gave a predatory look at the Archangel. "I've recently hit a small roadblock in my work and could use some...inspiration." She gave him a pointed look. "Thus till you repay my hospitality, I shall be using your body for research till I'm satisfied with the result!" Lady Llyn declared, and Raguel felt some form of unique magic snare like a lasso around, till it grabbed onto his soul and bound him.

Raguel looked down at his body then back at the fairy. Llyn actually looked a bit guilty, but her glamour showed neutrality.

Sighing Raguel stood up, causing Llyn to tense.

He took off his scarf making her raise an eyebrow in confusion.

Then he began to undress.

"What are you doing?" Llyn said in surprised tone, that was conveyed even through her glamour.

"You said you'll use my body till you're satisfied. I won't go back on my word, so...please go ahead and enjoy." Raguel blushed and looked aside. Mostly to hide the smile trying to come onto his face.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!" Llyn shouted as she abruptly stood up, slamming her hands on the table. Such was her shock that the glamour broke, as the red faced Real Llyn "appeared" before Raguel's eyes from the first time. "I meant with my sword creation and not for something like-STOP UNDRESSING ALREADY AND PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!"

"And that should cover the basics on etiquette related to the Fae. Any questions?" Lady Llyn finished her explanation.

"...You can't say 'sorry' for making a mistake? You can't say 'you're welcome'!?" Raguel asked, incredulity all over his face.

"Of course!" Llyn replied with a smile, taking enjoyment out of the Archangel's reactions. "Like I said, admitting a mistake places you in another person's debt. And 'you're welcome' is a very open ended statement."

"It's an expression of gratitude!" Raguel said with his jaw dropped.

"It's an open invitation for a Fairy to take whatever they want of you." Llyn replied with a smug satisfied smile.

Right after things calmed down, Raguel asked if Llyn could teach him about fae etiquette, in order to avoid any faux pas, or unintentional misgivings when dealing with the Fair Folk.

Immediately Llyn smiled and said "Oh? And what will you bargain with for such knowledge? I already have your cooperation?"

Raguel just tilted his head at that. "If I'm going to be your assistant, then, well, should I be able to assist you? I need to know some basic stuff in order to do that. The very first of which, would be knowing how to work well with you, so our partnership would be successful. I noticed earlier that you looked irritated when I thanked you. Why? I don't want to do anything to unintentionally insult or hurt you. So...I need to understand so I can, well, be able to talk with you." He said placing a hand on his heart.

The sheer sincerity of his tone and actions, caused her eyes to soften, only for them to inadvertently narrow for a moment when he said the word "unintentionally", before her expression turned normal again.

"There!" Raguel immediately pointed out. "You did it again. Or I did. I don't want to do that to you. So please teach me." Raguel with polite sincereness pleaded.

"...How do you know what my real expression was?" She asked after a moment, looking at the Archangel with confusion, intrigue and rising dread."Actually, why weren't you surprised by my real appearance earlier?"

"Oh! I saw through your glamour right from the beginning." Llyn's face paled. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be rude and ruin your performance, and because your expressions were really adorable and funny." Llyn's face reddened. "Also I wanted to surprise you and see what kind of face you'll make when you find out." Llyn's jaw dropped. One could almost imagine steam rising from her head, from sheer embarrassment. "There it is~. You really are extraordinarily cute!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Lady Llyn buried her face in her hands.

All harmless objects in the cottage began throwing themselves at the young Archangel's head.

After things had calmed down once again, Llyn lamented that she happened to capture the one angel who was the sly mischievous type. When Raguel pointed out he wasn't sly, it's just that people assumed because he was cute, that meant he was naïve and ignorant.

"Stop trying to act like us Fae already." Llyn said with a annoyed scowl.

"I don't fully know what that means. So can you please teach me so I can avoid that?" Raguel answered with eagerness.

"Hooo? How can I trust what you say? But lucky for me, I have the debt to force the truth out of you." Llyn smiled in a manner of one holding all the cards. Which she did but those cards were redundant.

"You...don't know how angels behave, do you?" Raguel raised and eyebrow.

"Nooo? I've heard rumors but surely they're exaggerations." Llyn now felt off foot.

"We literally can not lie. The truth is a fundamental part of our being." Raguel explained.

Llyn looked skeptical, then Raguel felt something being pushed onto him metaphysically through the fae bond."Say that again." Llyn ordered.

He did.

Llyn looked at the Archangel in complete open shock, not even bother to attempt to hide things behind a glamour, or control her expression.

"How does your race function!? You can never tell a lie except with great effort, and even then you have an obvious tell, even a blind man can see?! How are you all still alive?"

"Why is that so surprising?" Raguel was now the one blinking at the fairy in confusion.

The next few minutes were spent with Raguel telling Llyn about Angels, and answering her questions. Afterwards she took over the teaching role and told Raguel about Fairies.

"You asked me earlier how can my race function? I'm gonna have to throw that question right back at you." Raguel said at the end of Llyn's lesson. "You fae, you..." He paused to gather his thoughts. "You don't have trust. Rather, you don't interact with or accept the concept at all, to the point that now you likely can't act on it all together without a contract between you and another people." Raguel felt that was a very sad way to live.

"Good job, you caught onto that pretty quick. I suppose you're smarter than other angels to understand deceit so well." Llyn praised, wanting her new assistant like her, and slowly make him want to work for her. Maybe even on a longer term, if the debt is paid before she could finish her magnum opus.

Raguel shook his head. Sadness on his face, but not for himself. "I'm not. I'm pretty young compared to my siblings. The youngest thus far actually. I already know Raziel is smarter than I, and for the rest, their experience surpasses my own, and likely their wisdom too." He said to her, and Llyn didn't know how to process this bit of unprompted honest humility.

"Hmph," Llyn huffed and looked aside, crossing her arms. "You angels are the ones who are odd. The only trust that exist between people is the debts given and taken between them. Us Fairies are simply the ones who embody the purest expression of that. That's just how the real world works, child."

Raguel opened his mouth, then closed it and looked away.

"What?" Llyn asked.

"I...don't want you to feel bad for what I could have said." Raguel replied with kind patient eyes.

"It's fine." She waved her hands dismissively. "Nothing you say will get to me, I'm far too old to be affected by the words of a child."

Raguel's stare made Llyn feel like he could see through her, even though now that she had gotten her rhythm back. She used her masterful control of body language to give nothing away. This time, she altered her glamour to work in tandem with her real body to hide her intentions, even against those that could see through fae illusions.

The Archangel however was staring at Llyn's very soul. Physical and magical barrier meant nothing to his eyes. It was powerful no doubt. Far more than any human or even devils he encountered in some areas. However it was so...malleable. Like it was a plasma liquid forced to abide to a specific shape, were every other soul he saw before was a solid in some manner or another.

Are Fae just not...real in some conceptual sense? Is that why they aren't good with using abstract intangible concepts like trust? But that wouldn't make sense. In all myths and stories they are some of the more wondrous magic wielders out there. I'll have to ask Father when I get back to Heaven. But for now though...

Raguel sighed, as he prepared to answer her question.

"It's easy to lie, isn't it?" Raguel started. Llyn nodded. "I mean, if someone felt for an obvious lie, they are just gullible and naive and deserve to lose whatever they ended up losing, right?"

"Obviously." Llyn replied.

"But the thing is, like the boy who cried wolf, if you lie enough times, people will just come to stop trusting anything you say at all. In fact, they wouldn't want to deal with you all together." Llyn, unconsciously began to tense up. "In fact, I would even go ahead and say that if there are an entire race of people like that, they would despise interacting with each other. They already know what another fae is like. After all, they are like that too. You can't trust them, and they can't trust you, so you don't want to deal with them, and they too don't want to interact with you." Llyn placed her hands on her lap, holding them together. Her heart beat sounding so loud. "An entire group of people, isolated, alone.

"Isolated from each other, isolated from others, isolated from the whole world. A hell of your own making." Llyn leaned further into her chair, unsure of when it was that this Archangel stopped looking so innocent. "So you fall back on the most basic of interaction. Bartering. A simple exchange of give and take. It is solid, it is simple, and you can finally interact with someone else, even if all of the empathy is taken out of the equation. ...And then you built an entire culture based on that." Llyn felt her throat being dry, which should be impossible. "You looked down on the 'Concept of Trust' as silly idealism for kids, yet your lives can't function without such a concept. So what do you do? You magically enforce it, making your entire society operate on that 'debt exchange' mindset to the point that, anyone from the outside looking in, would say your entire thought process is alien, if not outright insanity." Raguel looked upon, the admonished and silently enraged yet pensive Fairy, with regret and sorrow for her.

"In lieu of having no pillar of trust to function as one of the backbone of your philosophy and culture, you forcibly created a mishmashe broken caricature of one, all because you stubbornly refused to let go of the mindset that 'trust is naive' and that maybe it held some merit. And now," Llyn's face no longer showed emotion. "Even a genuine act of kindness is something you can't appreciate for what it is." Raguel finished.

For a long while, there was no sound in the cottage. No rebuttals or arguments sprang forth. No words were exchanged.

"Lessons are over for today," Lady Llyn stood up and turned to head to her forge. "You can have the guest room to the far right. Be prepared to rise early, as we'll start with the rise of dawn." Without another word she left.

Viviane's thoughts were empty. Her hands just moved.

Cast analysis spell on last piece of Holy Element.

Write down magic sequence on the metal that will be used in the forge, to channel Holy Element.

Rinse, repeat. She had been doing the same all night. She hadn't felt the need for sleep, and wouldn't for days even.

What the angel told her-a race that can tell nothing but the honest truth-did not matter nor bother her. Others opinions do not have to affect her. Even if her heart had never been more cut than in the last few hours-

Viviane stopped her work to breath for a moment. She then renewed her glamour spell to mask her own emotions.

It was one of the first magic abilities of glamour that a Fairy learns, but the hardest to master. To trick ones own emotions in order to present themselves how they wished. The problem was that, those unskilled with it, tended to confuse or conflate their true emotions with their mask of them.

"Miss Llyn," the Archangel's voice threw her off.

Dammit it! Couldn't he come a few minutes later.

"So, you seems pretty punctual, or are Angels just natural morning risers?" She turned and addressed him with a casual smile. An easy mask she had perfected long ago, to interact with anyone, even people she despised. "Now, first thing I'll need from you-"

"I am sorry." Raguel said with intent.

Viviane froze, feeling the weight of her debt with him increase in her favor.

"Wha-what?" This wasn't the Archangel apologizing to her mindlessly, or in ignorance of what doing so meant, especially after last night's lecture, but in full knowledge of what doing so means.

"I have hurt you, when you had been a kind host, because despite what I said, you did let me into your home without asking anything for it." Raguel said, looking down, before facing her.

No, no, stop! I already made my mind on how this deal with you would go! She said nothing, and her face showed nothing.

"You were insulted when I thanked you for your food, because you did not want anything for it. And having understood your culture now, I could see how generous you were being." He continued. "I guess this shows my lack of wisdom in not knowing how I should speak the truth, or when I should do so, or just keep my peace." He rubbed the back of his head.

"Do you understand what you just did?" She finally said.

"I know what it means to be in a Fae's debt, however given how you treated me thus far, I think you're really a good person." Raguel smiled.

How naive. Viviane thought, yet under her emotion's glamour, she could feel some happiness at the praise of someone who can not lie.

"I hope you don't think sweet words mean I will be merciful when I pull on that second debt you incurred." Viviane closed her eyes, and smirked, before flipping one side of her hair, behind her ear in an elegant manner.

"If it's you, I don't mind being in your debt a little longer." Raguel smiled with sincerity and acceptance at the Fairy.

Her emotional mask broke, as Viviane's jaw dropped, and her head felt fuzzy from how much blood filled her cheeks.

"Y-Y-You..." Viviane stumbled back, before hitting the table, and using it to keep steady.

"Miss Llyn, are you okay?" Raguel was by her side, helping stay on her feet.

"...Viviane." She muttered.

Viviane pulled on the extra debt she had on Raguel to ensure her safety, from him using the power of her name against her.

"What was that?" Raguel asked.

"My name is Viviane du Lac." She said in a more clear tone, while looking aside a blush still adoring her cheeks. "If we're gonna be working together for a long time, then being called by a fake name all the time will just be irritating."

Raguel blinked as he felt the extra metaphysical weight of the debt on him lessening. He understood what she's done and found himself smiling in turn.

"Nice to meet you, Viviane. I'm Raguel and I'm really happy to meet the real you."

"So, Raguel, I feel I must ask...are you bored yet?"

"Surprisingly no."

"S-Surprisingly?"

For the next four months, Raguel and Viviane fell into a routine of their own.

Viviane's research tended to be her observing and recording Raguel using the Holy Element in the most mundane of ways, such as summoning it, cancelling it, moving it around, and repeating those actions again and again.

They would then have lunch, continue research till dinner time, then be free to do what they want till they slept, and repeat the whole thing again the next day.

When asked why Viviane didn't want to observe Raguel use the Holy Element, for more complicated tasks or spells, she replied:

"I don't want to make a sword that can replicate one powerful spell. I want to create a sword that would allow it's wielder to use the Holy Element with the same power as an Archangel. That will be the base I will build my masterpiece on."

Raguel felt himself enjoying his time with Viviane, despite how monotonous it was at time, as he liked seeing her talk about her passion for crafting.

They discovered things about each other as well.

Viviane for example discovered that Raguel had a teasing streak in him, despite his innocent appearance. She lamented many times how he reminded her for those harmless, yet mischievous fox spirits in the far east. He liked watching Viviane's reactions, which she starchily denied ever making. She was a stoic elegant lady and none could prove otherwise.

She also found out that he was ignorant of a lot basic knowledge, such as the basic cost and-slash-or value of material goods, but thankfully was something he picked up quickly on. She never had a reason to leave her home, and buy anything, but if she ever did and had Raguel accompany her, or gave him such menial task, she wouldn't want him to be clueless.

Viviane tended to giggle to herself, when she thought of the power she had to command the Archangel. She could never enjoy it thought, because he would always look at her in amusement, and comment that her laugh was cute, ruining her moment of power fantasy.

She also found out that Raguel was pretty ignorant on a lot of the details to supernatural creatures. His knowledge about the fae before Viviane educated him, seemed more like the useful advise human parents give their children to just, be respectful, not interact with the fae, and get away from them as fast as possible.

"Honestly, do they just not bother teaching you any of the details about the world in Heaven?"

"Well in my defense, I am just about two months old." Raguel said back then.

"Huark!" Viviane coughed out during lunch at the time. "What!?"

Also much to her internal panic, Viviane discover that Raguel was so young that feared she may have to reevaluate if she should have been treating him like a child to raise, than a sorta-weaker-yet-depended-on-her-friend she was seeing him as.

"Huh? I'm so young? That doesn't really matter. I was made fully formed by Father. Despite my looks, I am not exactly a child, nor will I grow up in the same manner." Raguel explained."What? Were you hoping for me to call you 'mommy'?" He said with that damnable smirk.

Viviane threw him out of the house for that, letting him swim in the lake for a bit. No, she was not blushing at the thought, it was the Archangel completely falling for her illusions.

And right now, she confirmed what she suspected for a while. Raguel can't get bored.

Or rather he has to actually put effort into getting bored. It was an odd psychological quirk that she wasn't sure was inherent to him being an angel, or something unique to Raguel himself. It did make his learning speed much faster than the average person, and ended up making it a great assistant as a result, allowing him to keep up with her smithing, and even have an insightful idea every once in a while.

Raguel had also discovered some things about Viviane in their time together. She was very competitive for one. Sure she had the instincts of a teacher, but once you overtake her in a subject, she'll view it as a challenge to surpass you.

Raguel had asked for cooking lessons, so he may cook something for Viviane, given how much she works in her Holy Element studies and the forge. She hadn't minded, see it as a chance to relax from cooking duty every other day, and wanted to act as a strict teacher toward Raguel, harshly scoring his meals, before offering some points in his favor, and ways on how to improve.

That was not what happened.

"...It's the same." As her cooking, Viviane thought. Which shouldn't be possible because as with all things fae engage him, food grown or cooked by the fae tended to be far more delicious than normal human food could ever be. That's because it was literally magical. Using magic in making food can either be very successful, or end very, very badly. Fae prepared food wasn't just one with magic added, but woven into it with such precision, calculated amounts and order, that it would take a master spellcaster to make them.

Yet Raguel had done it after watching her a mere handful of times.

"Oh it is? Okay, I'll try to change it up, so it doesn't feel the same as when you make it. Would kinda make me cooking instead of you redundant except for the time take."

"You know what it's fine, let me handle the next meal."

And so Raguel found himself in an odd contest not of his choosing, where Viviane would create more and more elaborate and difficult to replicate meals, only for Raguel to recreate it, and add a small twist, resulting in Viviane escalating to more difficult to prepare meals next time.

Eventually it reached the point where the Fairy and Archangel had to stop, because then they ended up unable to sleep for a week, and Viviane would throw herself into the forge to use her pent up energy, with Raguel aiding her.

They ended up creating Arondight, a sword whose property is that it can have multiple enchantments layered onto it endlessly. Some comment from Raguel about swordplay and dancing had Viviane decide to place the Enchantment of Elegance on the blade over and over, demanding Raguel use a rejuvenation spell when she was tired so she can keep going, till they eventually both collapsed.

They woke up two days later deciding not to go on cooking competitive streaks again.

The second thing Raguel found about Viviane was that her skill and power afforded her the position of Lady of the Lake.

It was not just a title due to where Viviane lived, but an actual position of authority, a label given to Fairy recognized by the Fae Courts of Summer and Winter.

Lakes being places were the Human Realm and the Fae Realm sometimes interact, acting as gateways into one another. Thus those who rule over those gates, has the power to decide whose worthy to traverse those worlds. At least that was the rhetoric.

The Lady of the Lake title was one that told all fae, that they are to offer their resources to the Fae Lady in question if it aids the fae's recognized talent. In Viviane's case, it's "Swords".

In turn the Lady of the Lake only answers to the Fairy Queen of her Court, should she be called upon. Which tends to be very, very rare, as the Fairy Queens would rather gather more Ladies of the Lake, to show off the potential power at their disposal but not use it.

It was a position difficult to attain, but offered a lot of power and more importantly freedom.

Freedom from the dark dealings and cut-throat politicking that always takes place in the Fae Realm.

It also explained why Viviane was so wary of Raguel at first, but also why she tends to react as she usually does to his compliments, especially after learning angel's behaviors. Everyday the debt bond showing her how Raguel never once lied to her, was a day Viviane felt a small glowing warmth, and an odd indescribable feeling.

I'm stalling. She realized.

Viviane didn't need to study the Holy Element in meticulous detail. She was skilled enough that she could have done so much faster. But the faster she advances her knowledge and skill, the faster she is to complete her masterpiece, the less time she would have with the young Archangel.

"Hey Raguel," Viviane was focused on her current blade, a prototype to her eventual masterpiece. She had laid Arondight on a magic circle that allowed her to compare and copy the magical information onto the current blade she was making to see what adjustments she needed to make. "Are you...lonely?" She asked a slow tone, not sure what answer she wanted. "Do you miss the other angels? Or...God?"

"Not really," Raguel's nonchalant answer caused her to paused, and stare at him with surprise. "I do miss my siblings, and I would like to hang out with the normal angels more, as I didn't get many chances to do that, but I don't miss Father. I talk to Him everyday!" He said with a radiant smile.

"Excuse me?" Viviane said with an open mouth. Where her wards pierced? For how long? How did this happen? Did Raguel betray her trust.

"Yeah," Raguel tilted his head in confusion at her reaction. "I talk to Him every morning when I wake up and before I go to bed."

"...You mean your prayers?" Viviane asked in a chuckle with incredulity and relief. Leave it to Raguel to almost give me a heart attack by the most innocent of means.

"Well, yeah! Obviously." Now it was Raguel's turn to look at the Fairy in confusion.

"Honestly, you..." She chuckled again, before turning and leaning on her desktop table, deciding to take a small break, as she looking at him in a playful manner. "You do realize that just making wishing doesn't mean He hears you, right?"

"No, he does." Raguel said, not in a petulant tone, but in confusion, Viviane was the one who was out of the loop on something.

"Raguel, I'm sorry to tell you that I have, not only the house covered in the strongest wards a magic wielder can imagine, but that they would work even against divine beings. Not only that but the whole of the lake, which is my personal dimension within the Fae Realm, is also under my control and heavily warded against any intrusion or clairvoyance." Viviane patiently explained. "So I'm afraid that your prayers likely weren't heard."

Raguel had a complicated expression on his face. That was the first sign that something was off. He didn't look hurt or sad, but rather conflicted, like someone about to explain a difficult concept to a child.

"Viviane...God's Prayer System is universal. The term isn't being used a hyperbole or a metaphor." Raguel explained slowly. "Father hears your prayer everywhere."

"...What?" Viviane blinked a few times. "But...even so, you haven't gotten a reply in all that time, so surely-"

"Yes I have." Raguel stated with a small amused smile spreading on his face. "Father asks me how my day was, and I tell him that I'm eating well, learning a lot and having fun. And then I get on with the day, or I go to sleep." He finished with a shrug as a explanation to how it was done.

"...Okay, you know what, no. I draw the line at this," because even if Raguel was saying the truth, or what he thought was the truth, there was no way the Creator had the power and authority to circumvent her personal realm without her noticing. Maybe he had been hallucinating due to being out of contact with Heaven for so long. Dammit, it's my fault. I have to fix this. "There is no way Biblical God has the power to just reach into my realm, and then just, talk to you without doing anything else, like pull you out and try to take you back. Raguel, maybe this is my fault for keeping you here for so long. How about going up to the Human World tomorrow, and you can talk with Him and tell Him you're alright." Viviane was nervous as she continued. "B-But of course, you'll have to stick to me as you still have a debt to fulfill."

Raguel raised an eyebrow, and pulled back his lower lip, in that manner when he saw Viviane doing something he thought was especially funny and cute. It hurt Viviane to see that look, when it was based on false perceptions.

"Okay, how about a small bet?" Raguel proposed.

"Raguel, don't-"

"Give me a week off the debt to return to Heaven and have a talk with them, while telling them I'm alright. You don't need to let me leave the lake or anything. I just need to pray for a second, and if God pulls me out, you'll have to acknowledge his power." said Ragual.

"And if I win?" Viviane asked before she could stop herself. She mentally cursed her fae nature for jumping onto a deal that was way too easy to win.

"Well...I'll ask Father if it's possible for you to have a look at a Sacred Gear, and not, then something to fulfill the debt in a fair manner."

"I..." Viviane thought about it, then sighed. If she wins, she will be far, far closer to realizing her dream, than she was before. Even if she loses, well, at least Raguel will see his family again. She didn't want to think about the other implication of what losing meant. "Three days. You return after three days."

"That's fine." Raguel nodded.

"I-If, and that's a big if, you win, you must return before three days are up." Viviane spoke with a worried tone. Not for herself. "If you don't, you'll be punished by the contract. You know that, right?"

"I know, Viviane." Raguel answered calmly.

"Okay, then...you may do it now." Viviane took a few steps back, and waved for him to start praying.

"Umm, here? Wouldn't you want me to step outside?" Raguel asked.

"What?" Viviane smirked. "Afraid God won't be able to reach you all the way here, even if he can reach the lake?" She asked with a taunting smile, to which Raguel sighed and shook his head at her ignorant bravado.

"It...might cause a mess, you know." He said pointing at the ceiling.

"It's fine, the water won't come in, even if the whole roof is removed." Viviane saif confidently.

"Oookay then." Raguel held his hands in a prayer pose, and closed his eyes. Viviane rolled her own. "Oh Heavenly Father, I wish to return and see you and my siblings for a little while-"

The moment the words were spoken, a brilliant ray of Light pierced through the ceiling, covering Raguel in a circular Light beam.

Veoomp, veoomp, veoomp.

Raguel began to levitate, while a singing choir rang out, and the Light beam made a sound that in the 20th century would be associated with alien abductions.

Then in a flash Raguel was gone, and the only thing left was a circle burned in Viviane smithy, and a perfect circle hole in her roof, which through it she could see the trail of the Light beam, that went through all her defenses and even her personal dimension.

Also Viviane was right. As she had said, the lake's water didn't fall in.

"BY THE MOTHERS AND SEASONS, WHAT THE FUCK!"

"WHAT!?" Uriel screamed in shock and horror.

The feeling of failure fell upon the Archangel like a cloak of doom whispering despair in his eyes. His innocent brother, trapped in that hellish realm of vile deceptive beings.

"Father, we must gather as many of our brothers and sisters as we can. I know Gabriel just returned from battle, but with her power we can do it. We must mount a rescue of Raguel from that world. This is my fault, and I will fix-" Uriel began to say with determination.

"Hey everyone, long time no see, how have you all been?" Raguel said, having just entered the room, only to be met with silence and shock from everyone present.

Except God, who just stared on in amusement.

"What did I miss?" Raguel smiled brightly, while tilting his head.

This is a movie theater. Raguel thought.

Oh sure, it was Father using his powers to play the events the Archangels went through on their individual missions in visual and audio form.

However, given the seating arrangement, the projector at the back of the 'room', the large screen.

"Hey, Sister Ariel, What type of popcorn is that?" Asked one of the angels present.

"It's honey flavored, would you like some, Brother Cassiel?" Said the angel next to him.

"Yes, please."

Was popcorn even a thing in this time period!? Raguel shouted mentally.

Of course, due to the setup of the "report" this time, not only were all the Archangels were present in the Fourth Heaven, but most of the passing angels ended up joining the 'room' to, of course, watch the "procedural report" on their Archangel siblings and leader. Surely there were no other motivations.

After the initial period of shouts and relief at Raguel's safe return, with his siblings hugging him wanting to hold him in their arms and not let go lest he disappears, only for them to do so, and someone else would hug him, telling him how relieved they were. It was a few chaotic moments, or hugging, reassurance, and one period of warmth and darkness, before being let go, Raguel only noticing that the last person who hugged him was Gabriel.

Was I just in marshmallow heaven?

Finally after his siblings were reassured Raguel was okay, Father told them that while he's glad for bonds, they still have work to do, and can talk one-on-one later.

After that He proposed a new methods for giving reports that day, saying it would be a refreshing change of pace for a little while.

Now all the Archangels had to do to report their missions, was to place their hand on the divine projector, and think generally on their mission. The device worked off intent, copying in the memories, and storing them for display. The way it displayed them wasn't in first person, but surprisingly in third person like it was a movie or a video game. 'Surprisingly' for everyone not the Creator or the Reincarnated Archangel.

Also Michael who hasn't returned from his mission yet.

God even made popcorn for the kids, I mean the Divine Messengers of Heaven.

While Father did not react to everytime Raguel turn to give Him a deadpan look, there was a small noticeable smile everytime.

Although I have to say...

Back on the screen, it showed graceful image of Gabriel, noble, beautiful, carrying a simple celestial weapon whose only trait was its durability.

The explosions and shockwaves on the screen, almost felt like Raguel was there feeling the actions himself. Also Raguel had never thought he would feel sorry for a Greek God.

"MERCY! MERCY!"

Ares was silenced by another fullbody hit of the lance Gabriel slammed down upon him in the formally intact church building.

"Where was the mercy when attacking our believers in our churches?" Gabriel said stoically while raising the lance and bringing it down once more like a club.

Ares had manifested inside one of the churches of Constantinople telling the Christians believers that a true God had come before them, and they are to bow to him.

Immediately the most pious refused and were killed for it. Ripped apart by Ares's hands. The God of War then tried to claim their soul, only for Gabriel to fly in from the ceiling like the literally wrath of God, and punch him into the ground, then lay on him hit after hit, like it was a bare knuckle beat down.

It took Raphael to remind her that she had a weapon when the Furies and Greek Spirits focused too much on her, for Gabriel to remember to use her weapon. At that point Raphael had healed and evacuated the citizens, and placed a barrier around the church, which had crumbled to pieced from the divine battle at this point.

After Gabriel thanked Raphael in an absentminded manner, that reminded Raguel of kuudere characters, he was shown that, Raphael didn't tell the Strongest Angel to use her weapon because she might be overwhelmed, but because she might take took long to beat the Greek Panthotic beings by hand.

...I never would have thought that Gabriel was Unga Bunga Archangel. That's a lance Gabriel, not a club!

Because that's what was currently happening. Gabriel had just been using her weapon as a club to hit all of Ares's body into the ground over and over.

He's covering his face now, and turned to the side. Is this bullying?

Then a figured was teleported into the sealed ground by Raphael. A devil. From his cloak and mannerisms, one of the high ranking devils under Leviathan. The instigator of this whole mess.

Aaaand now she's beating the Leviathan lackey chump with Ares.

The battle ended when Zeus arrived, threaten retribution if his sons and the Greek divine beings aren't let go, along with compensation for what happened to his people.

When Gabriel in a polite fashion told him to shove it, Zeus summoned his lighting on Constantinople.

At least he tried, but God, without even appearing on the battlefield, had taken control of the skies and lightning from the God King of Olympus, telling Zeus to just take his people and leave.

"Oooh? Or else what?" Zeus scoffed.

A vast pressure fell upon all the Greek pantheon present, making it a struggle to stand, or even be.

"Heaven or Olympus, shall we find out who shall survive the era?"

Zeus took his people and left.

There was a lot of claps as the "report" ended.

The others weren't so action packed. Oh sure, Sariel, Sandalphon, Remiel and Metatron were attacked by an army of devils in Narona, but they were easily dispatched.

Is it a bit too easy?

"Father, are we going to see Uriel and Raguel's adventure now?" Asked Cassiel. "I mean, report."

...Oh, shit. I just spent the past few months lazing with a Fairy. How would that look?

"It's really much less battle-oriented compared to what Gabriel, Metatron and the others went through." Raguel tried to play down his mission.

"Nonsense, brother! It was a strategic battle worthy of tale. More than that, you survived the Fae Realm, that is definitely a great achievement." Uriel boasted, causing the other angels to look at Raguel in awe and curiosity.

You're not helping, Uriel!

Raguel turned to the one person that won't let him down.

"Oh yes, it is quite the tale, wouldn't you say so, Raguel? After all, you did succeed in finding the Mythical Blacksmith?"

Excited gasps went all around.

How could I forget? Raguel paled at God's mischievous smile, as his and Uriel's report started playing. God made man in his image, and what do parents love more to do than embarrass their kids!

"...Summon Dragon!" Shouted the memory Gabriel's youngest Archangel sibling on the giant magic wall.

She had to admit, watching his distractions to buy time for his fellow angels had been a bit funny, and while he might not be a warrior, Raguel had demonstrated a lot of courage in covering for his angel siblings, and protecting them from attacks that passed by Uriel.

Like others present, Gabriel had been surprised by Raguel's use of Raziel's Salvation spell. She had thought that Raguel was too frail for war due to how he didn't try to kill any of the enemies, even though they were devils.

Gabriel could understand the conundrum of it. War by it's nature denied virtue, the suffering it causes, all the violence, death and destruction was antithetical the concepts of peace, love and prosperity the angels should promote on Earth, promote God's Word. However...

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

In the beginning, Gabriel had been elated to be made of Father's Might. To be the rampart against the evils that prey on humanity. Monsters, tyrants, and evil dragons alike. Then her brothers and sisters began to Fall. Then a race of manifested Sin began to arise.

And the battles grew not only in intensity but duration. Then she found out about her Father's Great Task.

Peace seemed to fade ever more away from her sight. Could it even be achieved? Will the war ever end?

In a way, watching Raguel being ready to sacrifice himself to save Uriel and the others made her remember how she was in the beginning. Although her youngest sibling was approaching the issue from the complete opposite angle, wanting to preserve life rather than peace.

In her heart, Gabriel wanted him to preserve that pure outlook, but she also wanted him to not die or Fall due to it. Maybe he would find a solution where she didn't, and only focused on preserving Heaven and Man till Father solved the situation.

However, I need to teach Raguel how to fight. He can not place the lives of vile devils over others. That unborn child he saved with his act of mercy, would result in a stronger soldier in the future. He needs to understand that. ...I also need to teach him that thatlanguage is really inappropriate and that he absolutely must not make love to mothers, as they are married, or widows who are mothers as they are grieving. Seriously, why would he prefer mothers for carnal pleasure anyways? Heck, carnal pleasure shouldn't be something an angel prioritizes at all to even have preferences for. That sounds like something Azazel would do. ...I see, this is all Azazel's fault.

Far out in the Fallen Headquarters, Azazel felt an odd shiver, as if his days were numbered.

Then the memory report showed Raguel falling into a lake and meeting a Fairy.

No... Gabriel stared in horror as the deceptive fae bound Raguel to her. Gabriel looked at Raguel only to see him covering his face not out of guilt or shame but...out of embarrassment? As this is only a memory, does he get out of his debt?

Yet as Gabriel watched more and more of the "report", Father specifying that He'll only show the important moments, rather than the whole four months, rather than fear, a feeling of worry began to overtake her heart. Worry? Why am I worried? Raguel is here and not with that heart-struck fae, so there is no reason to...

Gabriel halted at the thought, "heart-struck".

"Hey, Viviane, something about what you told me struck me as odd. Why do the fae spoke the technical truth at all times? Like if the truth is something so antithetical to you, why do you acted as if you're compelled to, well, never technically lie, is a better way of putting it?"

"That's because we are compelled. A long time ago the Queens of both Fae Courts worked with the Ancient Seasonal Mothers and cast a blood ritual so powerful that it affected the whole of our kind. Anyone with so much as a drop of Fae blood would be compelled to not lie. It's why we can have deals with others or one another at all. Of course 'not lying' and 'telling the truth' are two very different concepts."

Gabriel didn't focus too much on the talk between Raguel and Viviane too much, however she noted that it did reinforce Raguel's scathing opinion on the fae race as a whole.

The memory report the showed Raguel and Viviane talking about names and their importance and the conditions around it, such as no worry of something learning a fae's name except in certain circumstances, but Gabriel didn't care for that. Father gave her and her siblings their names, she would like to see a fae try and take it.

Her thoughts went back to what she knew about the fae. Beings of such magical complexity and might due to their power of blurring the lines between reality and dreams. Even their very being oscillates reality and dreams.

However it is because of that nature that they can overflow with the emotions they hold.

'Burn with envy'. 'Heels over head'. 'Cry a river'.

All these idioms and sayings came about due to the fae.

Because they all happened.

A fae that was jealous of another, but couldn't do anything about it, so burst into flames. A fae so in love the world reoriented around her. A fae so sorrowful a new river was made.

Their emotions came too strong and too fast. It's why the best advice for mortals when dealing with the fae, boiled down to being unmemorable and uninteresting.

It makes sense that they have a cultural practice to mask their emotions. If not, they would be too chaotic to manage. As for why they place so much emphasis on etiquette, it's all a very tightly controlled play, and the winner is the one who can play their role longer without breaking out.

Gabriel decided that she needed to talk with that fae. She needed to lay down some rules about her courting, that she, for her own sake, better to never harm Raguel due to an uncontrolled outburst of emotions. Viviane also needed to show how committed she was to wanting to be with Raguel.

"Brother Raguel...are you gonna get married?" Asked Cassiel.

"Huh?" Raguel looked back with wide eyes, as if the question was something he never contemplated.

Gabriel found it interesting that Raguel wasn't aware of the strength of his emotions toward the fae. Is it due to his age, to the magic link between him and Viviane, or he never thought about it, thus never realized those emotions were there?

"Of course not," Ariel scoffed. "Haven't you just watched the insight into their race. They'll all too deceitful. Lord Raguel, you shouldn't associate with them too much, or you'll be too deceitful too, and Lie and Fall." She said in distress.

"Sister Ariel I think you're overreacting again." Said another angel.

"I'm not!"

"But, but shouldn't we help them. Those fae as a people...they're all so sad." Said another angel.

"Yeah!"

"That's right."

"They should have someone to trust."

"That is a wonderful sentiment, my children. However if you truly are dedicated to the salvation of the Fairies, it would require a lot of training in interacting with them. Simply showing them goodwill without foresight, will lead to a tragic outcome. Those who wish to pursue such endeavor can come for a lecture from me and Raguel later on."

"Wait, what? We're converting the Fae?" Raguel asked with an incredulous look.

Gabriel ignored such talk as it doesn't concern her. She wanted to talk to Raguel soon, and arrange a meeting with this Viviane.

Gabriel felt someone tapping her hand. She looked to the side to see Raziel and Remiel, giving her a knowing look and nodding.

It seems she won't be going to this meeting alone. Hopefully they won't overwhelm the Lake Fairy with their presence.

===x===

"Despite how it looks, it will not explode."

"Hmm."

"Fascinating how it looks, don't you think? One could easily think the rock was exploding, yet that's just how it seems. Also, it's not expanding or growing either, that's an optical trick."

"Hmm."

"The thing about the Prima Materia is that, it is to matter, or rather Creation Blocks as anti-matter also exists, what the Aqua Doctrinae is to souls."

"Hmm."

"Of course, this is the Lapis Prima Materia, not the Rotundum Prima Materia. The Lapis being a unity of all elements, rather than the latter which is chaotic disunity of Everything. And of course, one should confuse the Lapis with the Lapis Philosophorum."

"Hmm."

God and Raguel were in the Fifth Heaven. In a secluded yet sacred corner, considered most holy, was God's Workshop, although none called it that, except Father.

Here He was creating humanity's newest tool to defend themselves and battle evil. A miracle made manifest, known as a Sacred Gear.

"Go ahead, Raguel."

"Hm-Huh?" Raguel blinked as he stopped looking at the Prima Materia the Creator was fashioning into a case for the Sacred Gear.

"You are usually far more engaged and excited for this. I don't need divine insight to know something is bothering you."

"..."

"It's fine, my child. I will hear whatever you want to say."

Raguel looked down. It was something that had been lingering in the back of his mind for a long while now, ever since he "learned" how to see souls. He was always too busy, or occupied, that it was only in this quiet moment back in Heaven that the thought ram back in to the front of his mind.

Fear didn't want to voice it though. He didn't want to see his Father's response. Yet seeing the kind, encouraging look on His face, he couldn't help feel even more conflicted.

Thus with all his courage, Raguel looked at God, eyes watery from the thought, and cried out lest his voice loses the message.

"I'm not your replacement!"

Father seemed proud of Raguel's courage, which just made Raguel feel shame and worry.

"No, you are not. That is not the role I planned for you."

The sheer shock and relief of his Father's answer, had Raguel fall to his knees.

"Th-Thank God." Raguel sighed.

"You're welcome."

Raguel gave the Creator a pouty glare, which was met with a cheeky smile, before he floating up to stand once more.

"Then...then why can I do what I'm able to do? Every time we talk, and you show me something," Raguel thought for a moment on which word to use. "Technical, I'm able to do it. And I get that knowing how to see emotions and understand the intend behind them, helped me against Azazel. How seeing souls help me in stalling against the Gremory Devil. But all of these things..." Raguel looked to his shaking hand. "None of my brothers and sisters can do them. Yet obviously You can, so...why Father?" He gave the Creator a pleading look.

"Do you know what your name means, Raguel?"

"I..." Raguel blinked at the non-sequitur before answer, knowing when God wanted to lead him to a realization. "It means 'Friend of God'. So what? I get...special privileges?" The words felt dirty in Raguel's mouth. As if he was unworthy. He wasn't even sure unworthy of what. Being an Archangel? Fighting beside his siblings? Everything? It made him feel less.

"Raguel," God place a hand on the young Archangel's shoulder. "To me, you are special, so are each and every single one of your brothers and sisters. As well as each and every single one of my children." He said, including all of mankind. "There is a saying in your world, 'when every one is super, no one will be'. I think that statement is simply wrong. I see all of you as 'special'. Beyond position, status, innate gifts, or even talents. Not connecting similarities, or exalting differences. I just see you, and I know you are worthy of everything."

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Raguel told himself. He failed.

"Then..." Raguel rubbing his eyes to dry them. "Why?"

"Because I need you to catch up."

"Huh?" Raguel looked at his Father to see His usual smile.

And yet there was a seriousness that he was viewing for the first time.

"The thing about omniscient is seeing how strained for time you are. Even if you can control time." God then smiled reassuringly. "Fear not, that is simply one of my tasks to mull over. You however, simply need to do your best where ever you are, actually listen to your conscience and act upon it." Father poked where Raguel's heart was.

"I...yes, Father." Raguel smiled as he placed a hand over his heart. "But...How will I know the right choice? In all the situations I found myself, it had been pretty easy, but what about later on?"

"The right choice is always easy for the virtuous, Raguel. It is following through on it, that is difficult."

"Yes, Father." Raguel said, feeling relief and certain of himself again.

"Now, let go back to the creation and inner workings of the Sacred Gear. This will help you when you have to go to the Svar-loka later on."

"The what? And why do I have to go there?"

"One of the Hindu Pantheon's seven spirit worlds." God answered-Wait, am I imagining it, or did Father just roll His eyes? Raguel thought in disbelief. "As for your second question, dragon business. Don't worry about it for now."

"Oookay." Raguel knew he should just be quiet now, and wait for Father to continue his lecture. However! "Heaven does have seven layers." Raguel couldn't help but comment.

God was still smiling. But now it was a sly pointed smile.

"Just saying." Raguel looked aside, and kicked his feet where he stood.

"Heaven, is one singular spirit world divided into seven parts, and it is vastly limitless. The Loka are seven different spirit worlds. Sure each one is technically a universe, but they are still finite. Honestly those Hindu, for beings that exalt virtue, they sure are prideful show offs."

That...has to be about the most candid I've ever heard Father speaking. So this is what a divine dick measuring contest looks like.

"You know, given how you were feeling today, let's put the educational lectures aside for now. I feel you have finally come to a point were we need to have The Talk."

"The...talk?" Raguel could hear the capitalization, and instinctively took a step back, ready to flee.

"The Sex Talk."

"F-Father, I am reincarnated from a fully grown man. I was married and had kids. I know fully well what sex is." Raguel summoned up his Holy power to do...something.

"Yes, but now magic is part of the equation, son, and since you thought playing along with anime conventions that results in you seducing a Fae would be funny, you need to face the consequences." A classroom chair and desk came into being. "Now, take a seat Raguel." God said with a smile.

"SALVATION!" Raguel cast the spell, targeting any place in Heaven other than the Fifth Layer, in order to escape.

Raguel found himself in the chair. He couldn't get out of it. He couldn't look away from the whiteboard in front of him.

"Let's begin."

God brought up a PowerPoint presentation.

Raguel screamed like a girl.

In the darkest pit on Hell, within the Capital of the Damned, Lucifaad, the First Satan languished within his castle, in his throne room.

Lucifer watched with a bored look as his creations, the devils-those worthy to be his generals-were discussing and arguing within themselves the logistics of the war.

Usually it would be some bullshit on which family needed to add more forces on the constant assault on Heaven. Sure, in the thousands of years since the war began, they have yet to reach past the First Heaven, yet the attack must press on. Just as long as their side paid the lowest price.

If they keep this up for another ten minutes, Lucifer was going to kill one of them, so they can start being productive. That usually results in one of them having a useful or creative idea.

I wonder if Aphrodite will go for it. He thought of his latest corruption and the idea he proposed to the Greek Love Goddess.

It is during Lucifer's reminiscence on one of his most creative ideas, a child made of devil and fae blood, hidden by incubating it within a human woman, that one of the Lucifuge-a family who were Lucifer's personal servants-came and whispered something to him.

"WHAT?!" Lucifer's shouted as he stood silenced the chaos in the room.

He took some deep breath as he gathered his thoughts.

"That fucking God." A migraine fell upon every devil in the room, making any below Ultimate Class struggle to retain their balance. It was an effect specific to when Lucifer spoke the Lord's name, which he did even if it harmed his minions. "Fine!" He turned to the Lucifuge servant, whose name he didn't care to remember. "How did they find the cambion? Who did it? Michael? That fucking brown nose, Raziel? Well!?"

The Lucifuge devil told him.

"Who the fuck is Raguel?"

===x===

Thank God that's finally over. Raguel thought as he left God's Workshop. No, he did not care for the irony in that thought.Seriously, that should have taken 10 to 30 minutes at most. Not several hours!

Never the less it was that Talk was done, and he was free. With ample time he can make it back to Viviane without worry.

"Raguel," he looked up to see his three sister Archangels waiting for him, Raziel, Remiel and Gabriel. "Brother, we would like to speak to you about a few things." Said Gabriel as the spokesperson of this group.

"Okay?" Raguel wondered why he started feeling worried.

"Chiefly among them is your martial ability." Said Gabriel with a serious expression that left no room for confusion about what she wanted them to do.

The moments the words left her mouth, the youngest Archangel summoned his Holy power.

"Salvation!" Raguel shouted.

And apparently had forgotten that Raziel had came up with the spell.

Tick-tock.

The first day Viviane was too busy remaking her wards, which to her irritation she found out, weren't broken. Rather, it was like all the tiny weakpoints that could theoretically used where lined up and widened, all to pull out Raguel, then closed up again. There was still a hole in her roof though.

So the first day was one were Viviane rebuilt her wards piece by piece, as though it was a magical ship of Theseus.

Tick-tock.

The second day Viviane started working on remaking and improving her wards. She had thought they were at their strongest, but it looks like she slacked off. Well, now she will truly make them impenetrable.

...She also couldn't stop thinking on Raguel.

She was going to see him again, right? Soul related magic was the most potent there is, so clearly the Biblical God won't be so merciless as to keep him back, out of some jealousy, right?

No, no, Raguel always espoused on how kind their 'Father' was. So they won't be punished for interacting with a Fairy and incurring a debt, right?

Viviane pushed the thought away for now. She needed to perfect her wards so nothing could go through them.

In fact, let's add Arondight as one of the centerpiece for transforming and shifting wards. Now that I made the fortress defenses, let's see some thieves try and sneak pass these. Viviane giggled at the thought and went back to work.

Tick-tock.

It was the third day and Viviane couldn't keep still.

There was a large smile on her face, as she went about cooking some small amount of food, to show off to that chibi-archangel whose the ruler of the kitchen.

Sure, her feast table was filled over, but that's because she cooked a tiny bit of many things. Maybe there might have been one or two, too many 'lasagna' dishes Raguel showed her, mentioning it was his favorite, but that because she didn't notice she made the first or second one. Silly her.

After cleaning up the house, finishing the food and enchanting it to stay warm, she sat down to do a little reading. She had nothing better to do.

She couldn't read. Her eyes would slide off the pages and look at the clock.

Tick-tock.

He should have been here by now.

Viviane was drinking some nice calming tea. Not for any reason, she was already calm. She just liked the taste. Liked it so much she was on her fifth cup.

Twelve hours till the three day period was up. Raguel was late, but still in the safe zone. So it's fine. It's all fine.

Viviane was fine.

Tick-tock.

Eight hours left.

"Honestly, that no good, teasing little feathered brat. What is he thinking not being here by now? It's his life he's playing with. Is he an idiot? Is he stupid? I even made the contract ensure the time in the Human World and the Fae World would sync up when he travelled. So two days should have passed in his world. He should have rushed here much, much earlier!"

Viviane was pacing.

She was pacing so much, that she wore down a literal trail on her carpet.

Honestly, she had prepared many things for that Archangel, and yet he still didn't show up? How dare he!? Well, she was taking away all the food, and won't greet him when he comes back.

It will all be just back to work right away.

Tick-tock.

Three hours left

Maybe he didn't plan on returning. Viviane thought laying down on the floor. The carpet broke down from her walking, so she burned it. ...She'll get another one later on. Maybe she can go shopping with Raguel?

"IF HE'LL APPEAR ALREADY!" Viviane shouted to her empty home.

She huffed and rolled over, pounded on the floor with her hands and feet for a bit, and let out a squeal of frustration. She huffed once more as she layer her head on her arm, and tried to empty her thoughts of anything.

I better get up. It will look bad if he arrives only to find me laying on the floor like some street urchin.

Tick tock.

Two hours left.

What if it's my fault? Viviane thought sitting on her large cushion chair with her legs pulled, and rested her head on her knees, rocking back and forth. What if I made the wards too strong?

Viviane considered reasons for why Raguel hadn't arrived yet, till she reached her current conclusion. Sure the wards were now so thick one might mistake Viviane to have been in war. Of course the entrance being left as a way in would be a clue that the Lake Fairy wasn't paranoid, or thinking she was in battle.

If said entrance wasn't covered with dozens of spells to identify intent, subtle, hidden, magical or otherwise, and would boot out even potentially unaware enemies. The only people that could even stand in front of her door, were those with no ill intent. The only ones who could enter were those who Viviane specifically invited in, and actually liked their company.

Was that too vague? ...Do I not like Raguel as I thought? Do I dislike or hate him deep in my heart?

The answer after some soul searching was no. She did not dislike him.

Maybe I should lower the wards enough to look outside. Viviane considered.

She had made it so that she couldn't observe the outside of her house, as some magic users or beings could use observation to teleport. The only thing she would detect outside her home was anything with neutral or negative feelings toward her.

That's the problem isn't it? I wouldn't have noticed anyone outside who had good will toward me. That's it!

Viviane went to work on her wards.

Tick tock.

30 minutes left.

It had taken a considerable about to work in a hurry, but she had managed it. Viviane could now see outside of her house.

And there was no one.

Is...is he too late? Should I just take the whole thing down?

As she looked at the clock, she realized there was no time to do anything. Even if she hurried with all her strength, she couldn't take down the wards. They were made too strong, durable and self-repairing.

She wracked her head for reasons why. Why was Raguel not here yet? Why did he not appear yet? Was it possible he lied to her? Everything confirmed that he did. So why?

I should have given him more time. Viviane stared at the clock in despair. Three days were too short.

She could do nothing but start at the spot Raguel was summoned from, and the clock on the wall.

10 minutes left.

Please, please Raguel. Please come back. Viviane pleaded in her mind.

5 minutes.

Should I pray? Is that it you vengeful God? Do you just want me to submit to return my love without harm!? Were you jealous that Raguel dared to care about me? Well, what is it!?

3 minutes.

"This is stupid." Viviane muttered and left the spot Raguel was summoned from.

2 minutes.

She came back to the spot, and started praying.

Fine! I pray to you oh merciful, generous Lord! Let me see Raguel once more, safe and whole. Please return him as you took him. Please...give back my love to me.

1 minute.

"Raguel..." Viviane muttered, the name literally heavy on her tongue.

Her eyes watered as she had come to realize. Raguel was important to her. It had been a short few months, but in that time, the innocent, pure, mischievous archangel had captured her heart. For the first time she felt like she wasn't alone, like there was someone whose company she was glad for. Someone whom she did not want to do without.

And now she had to face the possibility that she would never see him again. Because she didn't trust him to return to her.

"Raguel...I love you." She said the words as though saying good bye.

A ball of light flashed on the spot Raguel left from. It expanded and in a second flashed out and left the familiar small Archangel in place.

"Hey Viviane! Father did I miss you. I know it's been three days for you, but for me, it's been a few mon-"

"IDIOT!" Viviane grabbed the Archangel and pulled him to her bosom. "Stupid! Fool! Imbecile! Halfwit dunce dolt! What kind of moron would come back at the literal last minute of a three day magic contract!? I almost lost you, you you thickheaded dullard!" She cried out, tears falling from her eyes, as she hugged Raguel as tightly as she could not wanting to ever let go. "Loveable idiot." She cried again in a soft tone, smiling as she felt the Archangel's hair against her cheek.

While Viviane was letting loose her feelings, Raguel had a different thought in mind, while enjoying the warm embrace.

Father returned me literally a minute before time was up to make a Suspense Bridge Effect. ...Nice, Dad. Raguel literally could feel a divine thumbs up in his head from his Heavenly Wingman.

"I'm here, Viviane." Raguel said, rubbing circles in the fae's back. "I'm here. You're okay, you're okay."

As Raguel told reassurance to his fae friend, and maybe more, he slowly tried to move her toward the couch so they could sit down. A difficult endeavor to be sure, as Viviane didn't want to let go in any way, which forced Raguel to fly them both to the couch with Viviane latched onto him.

"Easy, easy there. While tears of joy are beautiful on you, as you are the Lady of the Lake, the snot not so much." Raguel chuckled.

"Stupid." Viviane pinched him, and pushed down a laugh while hastily using magic to clean up her face. "Don't you know if you say that to a lady, she might curse you."

"If it's someone I care for, I don't mind baring any curse." Raguel said as he finally separated, and now they faced each other. "Someone like you." He said just to drive the point home.

Viviane looked away blushing.

"Cheap talk won't be enough to make up for the distress you put me through." Viviane said without heat.

"Sorry." Raguel said sheepishly.

"Idiot!" She shouted. "What did I tell you about apologizing?" Viviane said as she felt the debt increase in her favor.

"Ah, right." Raguel rubbed the back of his head. "Don't...worry about it for now. Or rather it will end up being paid off later on from some stuff later on." He shook his head, then looked at the fairy intently. "Viviane there is something important I need to tell you."

Viviane straightened at those words, fearing the worst.

"What is it?"

"My sisters want to meet you." Raguel said gravely.

"...Excuse me?" The words didn't register right away.

"Yeah, Raziel, Remiel," with each name Viviane's thoughts began to race as she became more and more focused on facing this challenge. "And Gabriel want to meet and talk to you."

Viviane paled as she began to think on how to deal with this obviously very important meeting.

"How...how much time do we have?"

"Eh, Father said he'll give us a sign."

A ringing and a flash of light came from where Raguel arrived. The two looked to see a ball of light with the number "1:10" on it. The "10" started decreasing.

"Oh...we have about a minute."

Viviane jumped and ran around the house to preparing everything in a panic.

During the one minute of alarm, Viviane had to seriously consider, if she maybe wanted to strangle Raguel or not.

"Okay, first, my glamour."

"Yeeeah, they already know what you look like."

"What!? How?"

"Father decided to make the last report all the Archangels made 'visual', so they already saw what you looked like."

"Wa...wait. Your Father showed, all four months we spend together to all the angels of Heaven?"

"Nah, just the highlights."

"Phew."

"Like you cuddling me in your lab when you overworked yourself."

"Aaaaaaaaaah!"

"Also they know your name from me, which protects from them using it, right?"

"THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW! THEY LIKELY THINK I'M SOME SORT OF CRADDLE ROBBER!"

"Wait, you're not?"

"AAAARRRGGHH!"

Viviane lunged at Raguel hand stretched to his neck, only for Raguel to jump into the lunge to hug her, barring his face in her bosom.

"You, you, you-"

Viviane's face burst red as her thoughts halted for a moment.

"By the way, 20 seconds left." Raguel looked up to her face with a smile.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Viviane threw him off, from which he just floated away, and went back to making her home presentable.

20 seconds were up and the ball of light shined then in it's place were three Archangels.

"Hello and welcome to my humble home, I greet you as the Lady of this house and the Lady of the Lake." Viviane said, the picture of elegance and calm, while Raguel stood a bit away from her covering his mouth with his hand, trying to appear as stoic as possible.

His shoulders were shaking. He failed.

Under a glamour Viviane hit him with her elbow once.

"We greet you as well, Viviane, Lady of the Gleaming Lake." Raziel replied, using Viviane's full title and the added epithet specific to her. Since there were multiple Ladies of the Lake, each one has an epithet that in someway relates to the talent that gained her, her title. 'Gleam' referencing the light reflected of her swords. "You have a beautiful home and it's a pleasure to see it, and you as well. I hope we can get to know you better on this visit."

"Welcome, I have prepared a feast, please partake and enjoy yourselves to it as you wish without bounds." Viviane said back, noticing that Raziel's words were careful showing that she prepared herself to deal with a fae. Viviane was at least glad that there would hopefully be no misunderstandings. "Shall we move to the dining area?"

"Will you show us?" Said Remiel.

"This way." Viviane lead them to the feast table. She also noticed how not saying "please" and "thank you" were grating on the Archangels, but they followed the fae etiquette to the best of their ability. Viviane thought that maybe there should be a way to lessen the contract magic instinctive to the fae, so that well...things would be a bit more comfortable to some of her guests, like the angels.

After everyone sat down, Viviane took a bite to show the food was safe, as to let the guests eat as they will, since the owner of the house already began dining. Viviane's smile froze, and she forced herself to look normal, as she saw that Gabriel who had been silent till now, had placed Raguel on her lap.

"So, why have you come to see with such haste, Archangels of the Lord?" Viviane began the small talk.

"In your research to make a Holy Sword, you need an Archangel to study Holy Energy to a better degree." Gabriel was the one who answered, cutting off anyone from speaking first. "I would like you to transfer your debt with Raguel to me. It should serve your goal as Raguel is the weakest Archangel, while I'm the strongest. Meaning you'll get the better research study for your holy sword creation."

WHO STARTS A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT!? Viviane shouted in her mind, while keeping her smile. Looking around she noticed that the other two female Archangels and Raguel were also just as surprised at Gabriel 'deal-making attempt'.

It was a normal day in the First Heaven during the Great War.

The Devils were constantly attacking in mass droves.

The Angels were defending with fervored zeal.

And then a Red Dragon Emperor crashed into both sides.

"WHERE IS HE?" Ddraig shouted, focusing more on the angels than the devils.

"Fucking shit! A dragon is one our side! We can finally break through deeper in the holy winged fuckers' territory." Shouted one optimistic devil. It was his last day too.

Last day before a week long vacation of course, not last day on the war. Then he wouldn't get another break for a hundred years.

"BRING ME THE DRAGON SUMMONING ANGEL!" Ddraig shouted, and of course while thrashing around and hitting everything.

A swing of his claws vaporized a platoon of angel. A swing of his tail and wings splattered a dozen battalions of devils, thinking the sudden arriving dragon was on their side. Including the optimistic devil mentioned before.

"BRING ME RAQUEL! SUMMON MY ONE TRUE ENEMY! I WANT TO FIGHT ALBION NOW!" Ddraig continued to shout.

"WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Shouted Ariel taking her post in defending the First Heaven today. Her shout got Ddriag's attention, enough for her to get another word in. "We don't have an angel by the name 'Raquel' and literally no angel can summon a dragon!"

Ddraig opened his mouth and breathed fire in response.

"ARIEL!" Cassiel, friend and usual paired buddy, shouted and pushed her out of the way.

Ariel stared in horror at her friend, the incoming flame, and know neither she, Cassiel or anyone around would survive.

The Draconic Flame reached the angels, and was met with Holy Flames.

"FEAR NOT!" Uriel shouted as he and the other Archangels arrived.

"Sanctuary!" Sariel cast his signature spell. An all-purpose defensive area of effect spell, and increases the durability, power and range of all Holy Magic. It even provides healing for allies within the range of the spell.

"Holy Amplification!" Raphael cast his own spell to reinforce Uriel's flames.

Even with all that, the Holy Flames were burnt and eaten by the Red Dragon's flames, and would soon overtake them.

""Divine Resonances!""

Metatron and Sandalphon cast their synchronized spell causing both flame attacks to go out of control, and explode.

""Holy Wall!"" Raphael and Sariel cast the barrier spell stopping the explosion from reaching their side. The backlash of the attacks had damaged the devil side far worse the the angels'.

The devils strategically flew further away so as not to get in-between the angels and the Red Dragon, but close enough to observe.

"We'll have to hold out until Father arrives." Raphael said in a quiet tone to his brothers, but his words were transmitted to the angels with him as well. "Those injured retreat, the rest defend as best as you can. Stay safe, brothers."

"Dragon, you have no quarrel with us. We can not grant you your wish for your enemy, for we have not the ability to grant it. If you do not leave here now, you'll have the might of Heaven itself, strike down upon you!" Uriel demanded with angelic authority.

"BRING IT, SQUEAKY BIRDS!"

With a roar that shook the Great War's battlefield, Ddraig launched himself at the Archangels and their brethren.

It's been a whole hour of an Archangel and a Fairy telling each other to sod off, and let go of Raguel in a very polite manner.

It would be so funny, if it wasn't terrifying. And I wasn't literally stuck in the middle. Raguel thought as Gabriel placed another piece of lasagna in his mouth.

"You kept saying making a Holy Sword was delicate work. And yet you still haven't given a reason why it has to be Raguel?" Said Gabriel.

"I have said why. Starting my research from scratch to accommodate your specific Holy Energy would be too much work. I would even have to create new instruments because of how strong you are!" Viviane countered.

I wonder if Viviane is struggling in his conversation because Gabriel had yet to make a single personal attack, or because Viviane is actually trying not to cause any actual animosity between her and my sister. Raguel thought.

Thus far Remiel had been either eating, or covering her mouth to hide her chuckles. Raziel after having a brief meal, opted to just observe the talk between the two head-strong women.

Raguel couldn't get into the conversation, because whenever he so much as open his mouth, Gabriel would just feed him something to keep him silent. Gabriel didn't want Raguel to open his mouth, and put himself into further debt to the fairy.

"Just why are you insistent on keeping my brother besides you? I can't trust that you won't harm him." Gabriel finally said.

"I would never do that!" Viviane shouted, as she slammed her hands on the table standing up. Gabriel was about to do the same, before remembering Raguel was on her lap, and settled for leaning forward and glaring. Raguel felt the weight on his shoulders increase.

"If I may," Raziel interjected to stop the argument from escalating beyond words. "I believe we are missing something important in this discussion. So, I would like to ask you both to reclaim your calm for a bit." Looking at her, the two aggressive women held themselves back. Viviane even sitting back down, and Gabriel leaning back into her chair.

Raguel let out a sigh of relief.

"I...hope this poor conduct didn't sour your meal." Viviane said diplomatically.

"I'm sorry too, Raziel." Said Gabriel.

"It's fine, Sister, Lady Viviane. I understand how heated some topics can get." Raziel said with a calm smile, hiding her sly intentions. "Like family members beholden to forcefully servile vows."

Gabriel nodded, her eyes showing determination again.

"That's not it!" Viviane vehemently objected. "Raguel isn't my servant or slave. I would never treat him ill."

"And yet that is the nature of your bond. One where he must serve you till your conditions are met."

"He assists me, not serve me!" The fae tried to argue.

"How you implement your contract now, might not be the same in the future. Who knows how your relationship would go, or if things between the two of you would always be amicable." Raziel raised a hand to stop further argument before she finished her point. "I am not dismissing that you two seem to treat each other well, or suggesting that in some forceful effort to protect Raguel, we should limit or change interaction with you, Lady Viviane." Raziel gave Gabriel a pointed look, who had the decency to look way slightly ashamed. "Rather than the nature of your contract that concern us. Should it be changed to all sides would find more agreeable, you would have your 'favored assistant'," Raziel struggled not to chuckle. Viviane blushed under a glamour, which only Raguel saw. "And we would have the peace of mind that our brother will be well, when with you." Raziel explained.

"I..." Viviane calmly thought on the Archangel of Mysteries' words. "What are you proposing?"

"She's saying cancel the stupid debt and get married, you idiots." Remiel blasted her way into the conversation.

"W-W-Wha..." Viviane nearly lost her glamour, only interactions with Raguel helped her train herself to maintain it under surprising turns.

"Tact, Remiel. For Father's sake, tact." Raziel muttered, sighing as she rubbed her temples.

Gabriel pouted.

"I-I-I, that is..." Viviane appeared quiet and contemplative, but was stuttering under her glamour.

"Of course, we also need to ask someone who has been silenced till now." Raziel said, sending an amused look at Gabriel and Raguel.

The youngest Archangel placed his hands over his mouth, while the older Archangel's fork paused, the food attached to it inches away from his covered mouth, ready to feed him again.

"...I don't want to eat anymore." Said Raguel in a low tone.

"Gabriel. Sister." Raziel said pointedly with a lop-sided smile.

Gabriel sighed and put the fork down.

"Now, Raguel, Viviane, what do you both think?" Asked Raziel.

"Wh...what about the bridewealth and dowry?" Viviane asked, finding the topic of a deal's details to be familiar ground she could stand on, till she got her thoughts in order.

"Remiel." Raziel gestured, and the Archangel of Hope stood up, with a flash of an inventory spell removing an object, Remiel had a bundled wrapped up large object in her arms, which she handed to Viviane.

Viviane took the clothed item, slowly, instinctive casting spells to look for any poison or curses, before widening her eyes, as her magic identified what's in the wrapped cloth.

"This is..." Viviane pushed the chair back from the table, and unwrapped the item, already knowing what it was. A Holy Sword. Her eyes widened upon seeing which one. "Durandal!"

Viviane looked up in shock, her eyes going to all the Archangel, seeing only Raguel was as surprised as she was.

"Father decreed, for the cancelling of Raguel's debt, you may study Durandal to further your holy sword creation research for a day, and you would have two of us sans Raguel stick around to supervise and take back the sword after the time period is up." Gabriel said with a firm tone, that hide her reluctance. "For making the vow of marriage however, you may take the blade for a year and a day to use as you wish. Supervision will be left up to Raguel."

The youngest Archangel looked up at Gabriel in surprise, then back down to see Viviane also staring at him mouth open in shock at this new development. Viviane stared back down on the blade, trying to rack her mind on what to do, or how to proceed.

"And that...dowry?" She asked, looking back up at Gabriel after a long look at Durandal.

"It should be obvious, shouldn't it?" Remiel commented with a shrug.

"It would be the product of your research." Raziel clarified. "The Holy Sword created by a Winter Fae." She paused to let the news sink in.

"How...how do you know I won't cheat you on this deal? It's pretty vague. I could make something great, then give you an inferior copy afterwards." Viviane couldn't help pointing out.

Raziel turned to her brother. "I suppose it all depends on our little brother here," She said. "If Raguel accepts this vow as well, his word alone would be enough for us. Whether you give us the real thing or a weaker variant, if he trusts you, then Heaven will do so as well."

Raguel was now the center of attention.

Raziel look on with calm enjoyment of everything, Remiel with open amusement, Gabriel with worry, while Viviane was a mess of emotions. There was hope and yearning, yet fear and anxiety.

Finding himself on the spot like this, Raguel took a moment to look inward.

So...this is really happening. He didn't think he would face commitment like this so soon, but with a strong resolve, seriously look inward at himself.What do I actually want to do? Do I want to marry Viviane? I mean, my whole interaction with her started as a joke, but now it's serious and...I guess I don't mind?

The moment he completed the thought, Raguel mentally recoiled in self-disgust. Images of his past life, of him just going with the flow, getting married because it was the expected thing to happen. Because he didn't mind, he didn't dislike the woman ended up marrying.

No, this isn't like that! Raguel forced any thoughts on his past life to the far dark side of his mind, never to think about again. I actually like Viviane. I actually like spending time with her. I'm hesitating because...it's a big step. It is a big deal. That's what commitmentis. Images of a possible future came to mind. Of a peaceful life with a war over, with him and his wife living in a simple house, surrounded my their children. ...and I could mess it up.

Raguel looked back at the nervous Viviane.

And I'm afraid of hurting her. Of getting hurt. He concluded.

"I think..." Raguel started, only to realize he was still sitting on Gabriel's lap. "Excuse me," he floated up, and left his seat, moving to Viviane, and grabbing a seat to sit close and facing her.

"Raguel?" Viviane looked at uncertain at the Archangel's quietness.

"Viviane, I..." Raguel began to formulate his answer again.

"You...don't want to?" Viviane's glamour acted neutral, but he could hear the worry in her real voice.

"I actually do," Raguel finally faced her, an odd relaxed smile on his face. "Not right this moment, but I actually don't mind it in the future. Like the very soon future. It's just..."

Viviane let out a breath, and cast a glamour to make herself focus, and actually think on his words, and on Raguel and what he is saying. Her anxiety was still there, but she was easily able to push it down now.

"You're afraid." She noted.

"Yeah, I mean...what if I mess up?" Raguel looked down, and just let the floodgate on his worries open. "What if things break down between us, because I misunderstood something? Or I couldn't have this relationship as a priority, because the war demanded precedence. Or in the future, if we have a child-"

"C-Child!?" Viviane's face was ablaze once more.

"And we drift apart, or they just get detached and we can no longer connect." He looked up to face her again. "I am fine with dying for Father and Heaven if it's to fulfill my duty, but with a family my life isn't just mine alone. I have to live to fulfill all my duties. To Father, Heaven and you. I can't afford to die and that...is a surprisingly heavy responsibility."

Thing were quiet as everyone took in Raguel's words. Viviane extended a hand, and took one of Raguel's that was laying on his lap, and held his hand with her own. There were too many things she wanted to say, yet couldn't voice them all out, she just felt happy at Raguel's acceptance. At him placing such importance on her and their relationship.

"I'm..." Viviane began. "Actually kinda glad that you're afraid."

"Huh?" Raguel looked back stupefied.

"I mean," Viviane giggled. "I'm glad that this is so important to you, that you thought about it to that extent." She said. "But you know, you're not alone in this. I also have duties to uphold, and I will not fail them or you." They locked hands together. "So even if it's scary, I want to face those challenges with you. Your fear mean you'll do your best not succeed, and so I will do the same." Viviane and Raguel smiled at one another.

"So Raguel, you heard her answer." Raziel spoke. "You don't want to get married now, but do want to in the future, after being sure of this match."

"Um, yeah." Raguel was startled, as he forgot his sisters were there for a second. Remiel chuckled, while Gabriel frowned, before sighing in resignation. Raziel continue to smile warmly.

"Then you're in luck. The marriage vow won't be exchanged until Lady Viviane's blade is delivered. So till then, you'll both just be betrothed, promised to each other." Raziel explained. "How does that sound?"

Viviane looked back at Raguel with a smile. "I suppose marriage would be too quick. Very well, I accept this betrothment, till I finish the dowry for my Raguel."

"And I accept it as well." Raguel smiled back, squeezing Viviane's hand with his own, and feeling her response back.

It was a peaceful fulfilling moment that would shape relations between angels and fae going forward.

Then the whole lake shook with a tremor of an earthquake.

The defenders of Heaven struggled with all their might. For the most part the devils all but retreated, allowing the angels to focus their efforts on the dragon.

The forces of Heaven were holding out, but slowly, bit by bit their numbers were dwindling.

Ddraig roared as he slammed into the Holy barrier made by four Archangels. Raphael, Metatron, Sandalphon and Uriel maintained the barrier, while Sariel attacked.

"Bright Nova!" A sphere of condensed Holy magic was shot from Sariel into Ddraig's face at point blank after the Dragon hit the barrier.

The Red Dragon roared in rage rather than agony. The spell while powerful was slowly and limited in the area it affected due to it's focused strength. Had it been a devil or a fallen, they would have been crushed and shredded. For a normal dragon it would be enough to fell them from the sky. For Ddraig it annoyed him and made him more eager to fight.

The Dragon flew back a bit, recovering from the attack too quickly.

"He's going to breath fire again!" Alerted Metatron.

"Barriers once more!" Shouted Sariel.

"BOOSTED FLAME!" Ddraig cried out, forming and launching his breath attack, much faster then the Archangels anticipated.

The Seraphs knew they won't make it in time, yet called on their Holy Power anyways. To fend their weaker siblings if nothing else.

"GLORY ONTO GOD!" Shouted Uriel, calling on his flames with every ounce of his being as he flew past everyone.

"URIEL!" Raphael and the others called after him, Uriel didn't stop.

Uriel's flame grew till they enveloped him. All of the Light within him was pushed outward, as he drew deeper onto the essence of what his Father made him with. Not just Light but Fire, thing matter the produced light, heat and pushed forth life, or destroyed it.

What Uriel called upon was the Divine Essence, God had given each of his creations. The spark of Light that was unique to each individual. What one would call the light of their soul manifested outward. For many they would search their whole lives to unlock it.

For a Human it would simply be known as Touki.

For an Angel they can already access a small portion of it as the Holy Light.

And for an Archangel...

"CHOKHMAH INCANDESCENCE." The Flame of God set himself alight as he let loose the Divine Essence within without any control, only focusing it outwardly as his fires burned brighter than ever before.

The blazing Archangel drove into the sea of fire, yet his shine was still visible.

Ddraig realized too late that Uriel was aiming to stop the dragon fire at the source, and pushed out more flames. Only for Uriel to shout out in determination, and burn brighter.

The Archangel slammed into the Dragon's mouth, causing an explosion whose shockwave extended out through all the battlefield.

"Impressive." The Red Dragon Emperor admitted, showing a slight respect for his opponent. "Yet pitiful." As now Uriel was caught within the dragon's maw.

Ddraig crushed his jaws together...to feel and taste nothing. His prey was no longer there.

"It seems I arrived just in time." A figure more radiant than any other stood in the skies of Heaven, holding onto His son in His arms. "You really have been quiet noisy, Y Ddraig Goch." God spoke, as His aura extended outward, healing all his angels of all injuries no matter how severe, then to the rage and despair of the watching devils from afar, revived the few killed angels back to life.

"Hmmm." For the first time since the battle began, Ddraig grew quiet, acting more cautious, and observed his opponent. "So you're God, huh?" The Red Dragon grinned, his teeth resembling rows of towers of death. "A bit small for someone supposedly so strong."

"F-Father." Uriel looked around, then at his Father in surprise at being alive. He quickly flew from his Father's arms, to fly under his own power, so as to not inconvenience the Creator too much.

"You did a good job, Uriel, but it's still too soon for you to call upon the Holy Spirit within you. Yours and your Archangel siblings were made a bit more volatile your other Angelic brethren. You need more enlightenment to use it correctly." The Creator said.

"Yes, Father." Uriel answered with full focus on his Father's words.

"OI!" Shouted Ddraig.

"I have not forgotten you, Red Dragon." God said turning their glowing divine eyes to the dragon once more. Feeling that gaze, even Ddraig felt a shiver run through him, before he broke it with prideful rage. With a gesture from his Father, Uriel flew behind to join his siblings, knowing this battle was as good as over. "I know that you won't listen to words, but I will tell you this anyways. I and my angels do not lie. We simply do not do it." The force within those words forced Ddraig to acknowledge them as true, even if he refused to accept that truth, or rather he didn't care as much anymore, as he found an opponent that annoyed and excited him.

"You think that will save you from my wrath." Ddraig growled out, still grinning.

God chuckled, seeing the Dragon's challenge as cute. "Simply clarifying a few things. We do not have a angel named 'Raquel', although there is one with a similar name, and he does not have the ability to summon dragons, or your rival. That was simply a rumor that got out of hand. And finally," God shifted their stance, making the Dragon tense, and prepared for the attack. "Before we do this, I have one question for you."

"A last request is it?" Ddraig bellowed out in laughter, enraging the angels present. God just smiled.

"What do you think of Lucha Libre?" God asked.

"Huh? What's that? Sounds dumb."

God jumped high above the Red Dragon, arms extended upward in a v-shape and glow brilliantly.

"Tu cara!"

And then God body slammed the Red Dragon Emperor into the earth where he stayed unmoving.

Ddraig wasn't dead.

He just couldn't move from the sudden consistent pain that suffused every muscle, bone, nerve in all of his body. The Red Dragon didn't know that Holy Light could hurt like this. He already experienced it from the Archangels and it wasn't like that.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..."

The great dragon let out a wheeze.

Then God dropped a mountain on top of Ddraig

"Father is amazing! To think you could defeat and seal that vicious dragon so quickly!" Shouted Metatron in excitement.

"Seal?"

The next day, Ddraig who was still in a world of pain had the minor pleasure of seeing his fated enemy slammed into the earth next to him.

Albion had heard about the battle of his rival waged against Heaven in search for him, and so the White Dragon went to face the forces of Heaven and demand that tell him where Ddraig is, as well as fight him to prove he could slaughter a greater amount of them then Ddraig.

God arrived and elbow dropped the White Dragon on his neck, before grabbing him by the wing, flipping both of them till they are facing the ground, and then spun and flew toward it at great speeds.

When Raguel would hear of this, he will shout in dismay at missing God preforming an Initial Lotus drop on Albion.

Then God dropped a mountain on both Ddraig and Albion, after the first one broke from Albion's fall. After that, God dropped another mountain on top, fused both mountains, then shrunk and condensed them making them look like a hill. Thus the region of Snowdonia, in northwest Wales gained a very dense hill.

Seeing his rival, all thoughts about his loss to God were pushed back into the recess of Ddraig's mind, and he could only focus on battling Albion. Even with all the pain wrecking him Ddraig gathered up all his strength, all his will...and moved a finger.

Albion could only do the same.

And so the two dragons, Red and White, battled each other under the earth...

...By trying to poke each other.

A gentle light seemed to fall down, or come into being and chime, around the Archangels.

It was right after the verbal agreement between Raguel and Viviane had been amended. Raguel felt the debt binding him fall away, and a new bond take its place, one equally held by him and Viviane. The contract this time was the most flexible one Viviane had engaged in.

Viviane would be loaned Durandal for a year and a day, during such period she could study it as much as she wanted or needed, and upon completing her Holy Sword, she and Raguel could form a marriage contract if they wished. During that time Raguel was mainly free to spend as much time with Viviane as both wanted, except for when Raguel was called away by God.

It was as frightening as it was exhilarating to have such a contract, because despite allowing so much leeway, she felt reassured as it was with Raguel.

The light then was there, and the Archangels were given a new task. Intent, rather than words or images alone, were transmitted to them.

"Go help Michael return to Heaven, and deliver the item he went to find."

The Archangels understood immediately what they must do, where they must go, as well as who this mission applied to.

"What's going on?" Viviane asked appearing calm, taking the new development and show of God's power in stride.

The light only appeared for a few seconds, holding the Archangels' attention, then lessened into the normal light of the cottage.

"A mission from Father." Gabriel noted with seriousness.

"Gabriel, Remiel and I will have to go find our brother. Raguel will stay with you, as he wasn't called upon. Your company was quite enjoyable, but we must be on our way." Raziel said with a smile, as she and her sisters were about to leave.

"Um..." Raguel's noise got their attention. He looked from Durandal to Viviane to his sisters, appearing conflicted for a moment, before just giving an encouraging smile. "Good luck."

Raziel noticed, but didn't say anything just smiling. "Of course, and may God be with you too, brother."

"Good bye for now, brother." Said Gabriel with a gentle look.

"Try to focus on the work, and not on each other too much." Remiel said with grin, leaving Raguel to give her a dry look, and Viviane a huff, while actually blushing under her glamour.

Viviane saw Raguel's troubled look, and understood his concern at all three of his sisters being needed to retrieve the Archangel Michael. That meant their mission was likely a dangerous one.

"Wait," Viviane said, stopping them. "If your mission requires all three of you, it would be wise to assume it's dangerous to go alone empty handed. Take this with you." She said, presenting Durandal to the female Archangels.

Raguel snorted, before covering his mouth. All four women looked at him in confusion, only to be met Raguel shaking his head, gesturing for them to go on.

"Are, are you sure?" Asked Gabriel as she went to accept the Holy Sword back.

"Yes, a cursory look was enough to sate my curiosity." Viviane then huffed nonchalantly. "Besides, I plan on making the Perfect Holy Sword, basing it on an existing one would tarnish my skills, with critics thinking I can't make something wholly original."

"But, we promised-" Gabriel felt bad that even if they followed the letter of the agreement-even if it's only verbal-they weren't following the spirit.

"Gabriel," Remiel interjected. "If she wants to help us then she's free to do so. Don't put down her charity." Said the Archangel of Hope. "Besides, we can always return the blade once we get back from our mission."

"Didn't you hear me?" Viviane interjected with a confident stride. "I said I didn't need it anymore. You don't have to bother with such needlessness."

"Eh? But-"

"Time of the essence. Go on now." Viviane almost made a shooing notion.

"She is right," Raziel said with a smile, trying not to laugh, having figured out the fae just didn't want others to intrude on her with Raguel any longer. "We must be on our way."

Speaking of said young Archangel, he was currently smiling brightly at Viviane for her action, who was trying to not appear affected by his actions. That she was above the need for such praise. Under her glamour, she was preening.

The Archangels said their good byes, and in a flash of light they vanished and a ball of light was left in their place. Then the light ball flew into the ceiling disappeared through it, and from the house and lake completely.

"S-So..." Viviane turned to Raguel, smiling that they were finally alone. "Shall we get to work?"

"Can we rest a bit before that? I feel way too full to do anything right now."

"Ah, right!"

On the shores of a small Saxon occupied sea village name Iken, in the East Anglia region, ships and boats were dropping another group travelers. Both Saxons and Anglos.

"So, you still haven't changed your mind?" An old Saxon boat captain told the young boy he just dropped of.

"Still the same," said a young boy who only recently came ten years of age.

"Medraut, I know you don't have anyone, but you would if you stuck around, talked to people. Going at it alone like you plan, you're not gonna last the week. And that's if none of the damn Britons don't kill you on sight." The old man warned once more, knowing his words will fall on deaf ear, but he had to try one last time, since he felt some sympathy for the kid.

"Enough already." Medraut waved him off. "New land, new people, I'll figure something out. What's the point of a new start, if I'm going to live the same way everyone else, had been doing."

The old man shook his head in exasperation. Medraut's idea of starting a new life, was literally walk into the forest, live there for a while, then find a Briton village that would accept him, and just start a new life there.

A plan that pure, idealistic and above all, dumb, could only come from the mind of a child. The old man wasn't going to stop him, he wasn't Medraut's father, and compassion only goes so far. If the kid gets himself killed, then that's that, and if he succeeded, well guess the gods favored him.

The old man was about to say something when the sky, lit up and all the people, Medraut included, looked up to see in the far distance a large object falling to the Earth.

Medraut's eyes widened, as he saw a colossal white dragon and a divine figure grappling and dive bombing it from the sky to the Earth. The two distant figure kept falling till they disappeared from view, then a loud rumbling was heard, and the ground all of Britanna shook slightly.

There was panic and shouts for a few moments, with some mentioning that same thing happened the day before.

"You still wanna go at it on your own?" The old man asked, wide-eyed from what he just witness.

"By Freya's massive tits, yes!" Medraut couldn't stop his grin if he tried. A new start, a new adventure, carving his own path in a life worth living. What more could he ask for.

"PRAISE GOD! WOOOOOOOAAHH!" Shouted a squire as he jumped up and down the training field.

"Hey Ector, did Arty hit his head or something? Since when is he so pious?" Asked Sir Kay.

"Since he saw God punch a red dragon into the Earth." Said the old knight. Kay looked at him incredulously. "That's what he told me."

"I mean, I did see a dragon falling in the distance, but I'm pretty sure I didn't see the Lord or anything else." Sir Kay said slowly.

"Well, at least he's enthusiastic about training now." Sir Ector shrugged but couldn't help smiling as he watched over his young charge.

"I'M GONNA TRAIN TILL I CAN BEAT DRAGONS WITH MY BARE HANDS LIKE JESUS CHRIST!" Shouted the young Arty as he swung his practice sword with enough energy to disrupt the winds around him.

"I don't remember reading that in bible class." Said Kay.

"If they had, Father Elliot's lessons would have been way more engaging." Ector nodded in agreement.