Everything seemed to be picture-perfect from there. Willis kept to himself, though he began to study what he could in the local library. Xavian began to learn of his Horadric ancestry in full with Anaurael learning with him. He even began to train with her, under the careful watch of her father. The Archangel was still untrusting of him, but he was repaying them with lost knowledge. He refused to train a human in the arts of warfare, but this was expected.

Anaurael's blood was perfectly attuned to harsh training. She was used to the long, grueling hours of holding a sword and shield. She was born to do just that. Xavian was more of a scholarly type, and he struggled at first. After a couple months, his body began to finally develop the muscles he needed to at least keep up with her for a time. Even his own father was a touch impressed. Ilerael did speak with the man to inform him of the training his son wanted, and it was readily agreed to.

"As long as he can help me with my glasswork," the man said.

"Night training, mainly," Ilerael chuckled.

"Good," the man nodded. The only thing that Xavian didn't like was how Imperius would sneer at him when he was watched and made a mistake. But, this was an Archangel. He didn't complain. If anything, he convinced Harvey to let him help fix up the waterfall statue to look better. By the time it was done, even Harvey was impressed at the final look. Anaurael could finally gaze at the waterfall fountain with a touch of pride. She no longer felt the urge to shudder and look away with disgust.

It was a month after her seventeenth birthday that her picture-perfect bliss was going to crash down around them. On a night that Imperius was to show up, she felt that something was wrong. Horribly wrong. She moved into her bedroom, shut the door and curled up on her bed in complete fright. Her mark was burning with a seething anger. Imperius was upset. What happened?! She couldn't sleep. She didn't appear for breakfast, or leave her room as she normally did. She was consumed with complete terror and rage. As she sat there trembling, her mother finally came in and saw her state of mind.

"Anaurael! What's wrong?!" she asked.

"Imperius...I...!" Anaurael cringed. Then her mark showed her a vision. The reason for Imperius's anger and rage. In a trance-like state, she whispered, "Tyrael returned."

Lilaurael's jaw dropped. She rushed from the room to track down her husband. After he was informed and back at the cottage, he saw how his daughter was. In a concerned tone, he said, "How long has she been like this? Has she even eaten?"

"No. She's been like this all day! Maybe even since last night," Lilaurael shivered. She saw Izarius, and the warrior angel's stance seemed to shift with worry. "Can you get Imperius?"

"It is doubtful," he admitted. "I can attempt it."

"Please. Anaurael's health is in danger," Ilerael frowned. "If she can't eat, or do normal things soon, then her health will decline!"

"I will go!" Izarius nodded. The ward of Imperius needed help. He saw it as a direct charge of action to see to her safety. He vanished away to Heaven and found Imperius in his Halls of Valor.

"Izarius! I do not wish to be disturbed!" Imperius snapped. He was striding down his main Hall in brooding thoughts of bitter rage. He had ordered none to see him or speak to him.

"My apologies, Great Imperius. But...Anaurael is suffering. She has not eaten yet," Izarius said lightly. Now Imperius turned to stare at him with disbelief. "If she does not eat soon..."

A part of him came back with clear recollection. She could help me. He had forgotten about her in his rage. Moving to the railing to glance out over the expanse before him, he knew he couldn't wait until nightfall. Sensing where she was, he vanished in a pillar of light. Izarius quickly followed. When he appeared in her bedroom, he barely had room to move. It was when he saw her state of mind that he felt complete worry. Lilaurael and Ilerael were on the bed and trying to help their daughter.

"Give her to me. I must take her to Heaven. I will bring her back when she is well. You have my word," he said. Ilerael looked up at him and seemed to grimace. At Lilaurael's nod, he sighed and nodded, as well. This was for our daughter.

"Can you take something for her to eat?" Lilaurael asked.

"I will have Izarius handle that," Imperius grunted and quickly pulled Anaurael into his arms. Then he vanished with her to reappear in his Halls. He moved swiftly to his most inner sanctum. The round room was gilded with gold and marble pillars that had fountains of blue energy from the Arch all around him. The floor was tiled polished diamond with a shimmering layer of blue energy. The same, swaying plants that graced Heaven's Halls grew along the borders of this room to give off their sparkling blue lights. The ceiling was a vaulted cone that allowed a single beam of sunlight to shine down within it. In the center of the light was a single, golden chair with wrought gold designs of the sun. The rays seemed to spindle out and stretch towards the edges of the circular chamber, and it was here that he sat with her in his lap on the plush seat pillow of golden stitching.

He watched Izarius appear to set up a small wooden table with a few things on it for her to gain nourishment. After he was gone, Imperius finally relaxed and looked at his ward. On studying the mark on her forehead, he sighed and focused to be completely calm. Only when that happened, did she finally start to respond. She had tears streaking down her face, and he held her to him.

"Imperius?!" she gasped.

"I'm here..." he soothed gently. Now she looked at him with surprise. He never used that tone with her before. In his inner sanctum, he could be himself. He had no worries to be spied on. To be looked after. To be called for. He had all of the freedom he needed here. Now that she looked around with complete shock, he said, "This is my personal chamber in the Halls of Valor. My place of retreat. We are safe here. What happened?"

"I was...waiting for you..." she swallowed and pressed into him. "Then...I felt afraid. Angry. Enraged. I...ran to my room...and blacked out..."

"I see," he pondered.

"Then I...I saw Tyrael..." she whispered. He was surprised at that. "I saw why you were so upset. I mean...I don't know what it means..."

"He called me a coward. Then he...ripped off his wings in front of the entire Council."

"You?! He called you a coward?!" she gasped.

"He did," he growled. "I tried to judge him for his actions in destroying the Worldstone and interfering with the lives of humanity. He said he was only acting in what judgment was best. When I went to attack him with Solarion, he was able to take my weapon from me to thrust into the floor. He said that he was Justice, itself, and that I had no claim to judge him."

"He...took off his wings..."

"To no longer stand as our brother here," Imperius said with a heavy, bitter sigh.

"You are no coward," she said with her own form of trembling rage. "I've known you all my life, Imperius. I do fear you at times. But, I have never seen you cower down before anything. Or anyone."

"You need to eat. Then we need to talk," he said.

"About what?"

"Anything. Everything. And we shall do so here," he nodded. He let her move from his lap to finally eat and curb her hunger. She didn't eat enough, but it was done in haste. She didn't want to keep him waiting on her. When he saw how little she took, he grounded out, "Eat more."

"But..." she frowned.

"No. Eat your fill," he commanded. She sighed and nodded. "I told Ilerael and Lilaurael that I would bring you back when your mind was mended. We will remain here for another of their days, if we must. Regain your strength. I will not have a weak ward."

"Of course," she nodded again. Once he judged that she had eaten enough, he gestured for her. She climbed back into his massive lap to get cradled. "What did you want to discuss?"

"Just...listen..." he said lightly. She sighed with a form of contentment that only he could give her. He began to talk about how his bitterness and anger began. How his discontent started. She was a touch awed that she was being trusted with his innermost thoughts. She would never betray his secrets. She listened to him gloat, rant, and rave. She learned of his disappointments, his prides, and his joys. He felt that, with each confession he gave her, a part of him seemed to revive. It may not fully be there in full, but it was just enough to give him the will to continue as he was. This mortal, angelic child was clearly my new strength to survive against everything. She would never judge me for my faults. She believed in me. She trusted me. She encouraged me.

After what seemed like several hours, he went silent. She glanced up into his invisible gaze and smiled. She leaned up a bit to plant a kiss on his invisible mouth within the helmet, and he cradled her closer. He sighed after it finished and silently reflected on what happened.

"What happens now?" she whispered.

"Do you feel better?"

"I should be asking you that question."

"I feel well enough."

"Good."

"You need to return back to Sanctuary."

"I don't want to leave," she shivered and felt him squeeze her. "I belong here. With you."

"You still have training to do."

"You can train me here."

"True," he gave a small chuckle. "But, I vowed to return you."

"Next time, don't vow," she grumbled. That got another chuckle from him.

"We shall see," he nodded. She nodded back and let him rise up from his chair with her in his arms. Instead of taking her back, though, he carried her out of the sanctum and walked down his Halls with her.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Nowhere yet. I want to show you where your true home should have been," he said. He took her to a ledge and let her gaze out over the awesome sight of the city that should have been hers. She was speechless. This was where I belonged. This is my home.

"Can I...come back here?" she asked weakly.

"I'll make sure of it," he promised. He kissed her again in a rather passionate way now. This female is mine. He would slaughter both friend and foe alike if anyone tried to tear her away from him. A part of him was fighting with himself now. I want her closer. But, now is not the time. She has to train more. She has to learn more. He knew this. He let her gaze out a bit longer at the vast expanse of golden, spiraling towers among the clouds. Most of the towers were silver, but they radiated with the golden light of the sun. He was letting her ingrain the image of her birthright home in her mind. She needed this. To know where she belonged.

At the feel of him moving to turn away from the viewpoint, she snuggled into his armored chest a bit more. She didn't want to go back. He knew this all too well, but he did vow. Her parents did no wrong to me. They were true, honorable warriors of Heaven. He was now glad, for the first time that he could remember, that it was the two of them that made such a wonderful female come into his life.

"I do want to say something," she said.

"Hmm?"

"I wouldn't mind armor like yours," she chuckled. Now he looked at her with a bit of surprise. "I mean, if I'm to be your ward and champion, you would think it would be expected."

"True," he agreed. "Let me test something."

"Okay," she nodded. He set her down and stretched out his hand to call Solarion. It slammed down into the ground for him in a beam of light and solidified into a golden spear. He pulled it from the ground and looked at her awe-stricken face.

"This is Solarion. My Spear of Valor. I forged it, myself, in the heart of a burning star. Only true, powerful angels can touch my spear. I want you to try," he nodded. "It will not hurt you. It may only feel unfit for your hands. You bear my mark. I want to see if it is true."

"Very well," she agreed. As she took up the spear, she marveled at how perfectly it fit for her. She was in complete shock. As she held the spear in its proper position, he noticed that it was his mark that allowed this. It may also have changed her hair color from birth, too. Now an idea came to mind at what he could do for her. If she could wear and use fully angelic weapons and armors, then it simplified things completely for me on what to craft for her. He was able to reclaim his spear back from her to unsummon it.

"A rather nice experiment," he nodded. "I am pleased. Come. I must return you to Sanctuary now. We cannot idle around any longer."

"Yes, Imperius," she nodded. He lifted her up to cradle her and vanished back to the land below. On appearing, Ilerael and Lilaurael were there to see their daughter. They were relieved that she was whole again, and Imperius told them that he had to reconcile his thoughts to help her regain herself. That had them a touch speechless, but it was from his mark. It was then that he told them on what happened with Tyrael's return.

"He did as we did?!" Lilaurael paled. "He removed his wings?!"

"He did," Imperius grunted. At Anaurael's soft smile, he kept calm. "Time will tell what happens now. There are more demons showing up, though. You need to keep her safe. You need to protect yourselves, too. It's getting too dangerous in other lands."

"Understood," Ilerael nodded.

"Should we try to find Tyrael?" Lilaurael asked.

"No. Not yet. He still needs to find himself, I think. I shall have to train the troops again. I have a...bad feeling," Imperius admitted lightly. "However, I shall always return for you."

"Good," Anaurael nodded. Ilerael seemed to blink at how Imperius regarded his daughter. What exactly happened when he took her away? When Imperius vanished, both parents looked at her. "Mother. Father. Imperius entrusted me with his personal thoughts. He...showed me his inner sanctum. I recovered myself there."

"He...took you to his...personal...?" Ilerael's eyes went wide.

"Incredible..." Lilaurael whispered. "He never does such a thing!"

"I can only say this," Anaurael said with a slight glower. "Tyrael may have to earn my trust. He called Imperius a coward before the Council. It was why he was so enraged."

"Tyrael...oh..." Lilaurael breathed.

"I can see why," Ilerael sighed and shook his head. "You did eat?"

"Yes. Imperius ordered me to," his daughter smiled. "It was some time ago, though."

"I did make supper. Come. Let's eat something together," her mother nodded. As the small family went into the cottage, Itherael was watching through the viewing chamber with complete shock. Imperius never ceased to amaze him now. He took a mortal into his most personal chamber to show his complete trust in her. He felt completely whole with her.

"He truly does love her. It is all that my Scroll has said. It has come to pass," he muttered to himself. "But...there will still be more hardships. Hmm..."

He opened his Scroll again to read, but even the words that appeared seemed to mock him. But, there was one thing that he did read that made his invisible eyes widen. He had to keep this knowledge to himself. He couldn't let any know. The child was not only made to champion Imperius. But...could she also become a mother to his future offspring? At the way things were going, it seemed highly likely. And this offspring would become powerful. Likely as powerful as the Nephalem from long ago.