Anarius let several hours pass before sending out the mass message to the High Heavens. It was time to turn day into night. Or at least to attempt to. Imperius was very skeptical, but Anaurael was optimistic of the whole thing. She was eager to see what Heaven would look like at night.
"I'm sure it will be beautiful," she murmured to him under his helm.
"Not as beautiful as you," he muttered to her. He kissed her passionately when she blushed, cradled her close, and kept a close watch on any and all that appeared at the Crystal Arch.
"Nightfall in Heaven!" Sylauriel giggled with excitement. Jozin chuckled and let her squeeze him. All of the angelic mates were able to bring their mortal partners to this event. It would likely be the first and last time for it to happen. Even the Nephalem was granted permission with the mercenaries.
"I bet a lot of areas would open up," Lyndon mused.
"If they do, don't worry. You'll be spotted," Greed said from Gurzick's crown. He was already making plans to keep tabs on the scoundrel. "Don't think that I haven't stopped watching you!"
At the sight of the small Fetish warrior making a menacing move with its sharp dagger, it only showed how keen its eyesight was in the darkness. It was a very vigilant guardian.
"You are always watched here," Imperael growled out from behind the scoundrel. Lyndon turned quickly and stepped back with shock. The massive Archangel was improving his silent techniques. This boded ill for any that he didn't like. Even Kormac was taken by surprise, but he was grinning. Eirena was just excited that she was going to be able to witness the rare event.
"Loremy! Durlin!" Anaurael waved at her adopted brothers. They were quick to move to her side and get hugged. "It's so good to see you both."
"You, too!" Durlin beamed. Her parents were soon at her side to hug her and plant their kisses on her forehead. Her other three adopted siblings were also there to take in the sights again.
"Loremy," Imperael chuckled when he walked over.
"Imperael!" Loremy grinned and got several tickling pokes before being placed on his shoulder. "I hope I'm not too heavy for you."
"You are fine," he said. At the sight of the twin boys looking at him, he thought. Then he regarded them. "You both can behave?"
"Yes," one of them said.
"Very well. Your names?" he asked.
"I'm Jurl," the one on the left said. He had a small scar under his right eye from where he fell down in his younger years. The other had no facial differences.
"I'm Damwyn," the other said.
"What do you both plan to be?" Imperael asked.
"I want to use a spear," Damwyn grinned. "A big spear!"
"I like the bow and arrow," Jurl nodded. At this, they found themselves scooped up easily by him and settled on a giant shoulder. They both fit easily on him.
"To be here is a privilege. Do not abuse it," Imperael warned. The twins were excited at this, but a warning glare from Ilerael had them calm down. Anaurael could only laugh at her brothers now.
"I feel left out," Kalah frowned. She was excelling in healing and mystical properties. She could have easily apprenticed to the Yshari Sanctum, but she was being wisely kept secret from them. After what happened with Darania, it was decided against it. The skilled Wizard even offered to progress her training. Even Mai and Lou-yu offered to help her. It was greatly accepted.
When Kalah still seemed to pout, she squeaked when Izual placed her on his shoulder. Auriel was already holding Danyauriel. She loved holding Anaurael's sister. Itherael was chuckling at it.
"Your training goes well?" Izarius asked Durlin.
"So far," he chuckled. He was starting to fill out evenly to become a promising lad. And his nasty old attitude was fully gone. He was completely caring and loyal now. The Light in his soul was simply breathtaking to the angelic female that claimed him. She rested her hands on his shoulders and got a small smile in return. She was one of the new ones from the Courts and easily guarded over him vigilantly. She was making good on her vow to wait for him to come of age. Loremy's angelic female was from the Halls of Valor. She watched where Loremy was with Imperael with a hint of delight. She enjoyed watching him be happy and carefree. She was one of the older angels, too, and she was quick to help him train. She was an expert with a sword and shield.
"So wondrous!" Myriam said from where she stood. "This will be an event unlike any other."
"Of course, it shall be," Itherael nodded in agreement with her. At the sight of Tobirael with Mai, they calmly waved to welcome them.
"Tobi, you can put me down," Mai sighed when he carried her to stand by the spires of Light.
"No," her angelic male partner said.
"Come on! I want to walk!" she said in an exasperated way.
"And then you get tired and ask me to carry you. Your request is denied," he said.
"Sounds familiar," Imperius mused. Anaurael rose a brow at him and was rewarded with a soft laugh. Erelus was walking over with Elaine in his arms now. She was getting close to her time to give birth, too. She had another month or two to go.
"So, why are we here again?" Byden asked.
"To see how much Heaven will glow," Nikauriel said and kept her hands on his shoulders.
"But...I know what a glowing city looks like," he frowned.
"This may never happen again," she said. "and it's here in Heaven. It was never nightfall in Heaven before. Think of it like that."
"Ahh. So, a rare event. Okay. I'm in," he chuckled and got his shoulders squeezed.
"Are you sure you're well?" Zynaurael asked Vincent.
"I'm fine," he insisted. "Anarius had looked me over again just a bit ago to ensure it. I'm no longer tainted by that thing."
"I still don't know why it went after you," she muttered.
"Because I was in its way," he said with a shrug. "It didn't want to be trapped. I was next to the jar. It went after me to escape. It was futile."
"SISTER, DO NOT GIVE IN TO DESPAIR. THIS ONE IS PURE ONCE MORE. HIS MIND IS WHOLE. I ALSO MADE IT HARDER FOR ANYTHING ELSE TO MAKE A REPEAT OCCURRENCE," Anarius chuckled from where he stood to regard her.
"You did?" Vincent blinked. At this, Anarius waved a hand over his forehead to let a very faint prismatic dot glow from his forehead.
"He did! He gave a very small mark to you! Nothing will get into your mind again," Zynaurael said with a tinge of complete relief and joy.
"YOUR LIGHT WILL OVERCOME ANY OTHER DARKNESS THAT TRIES TO INTERVENE. YOU ARE PERFECTLY SAFE NOW," he nodded. Vincent sighed and nodded.
"Would any others need this?" she asked.
"NO. ONLY IF THE NEED IS DIRE. LET THEM DO AS THEY MUST," he said wisely. As Anarius still waited for any others to appear, Mirdael was calmly watching over Moolara.
"I am fine," she smiled.
"We are still lacking," he muttered to her.
"No. We are not," she said. Now he glanced down at her for an explanation. "I noticed something odd just the other day. I said nothing to ensure I was not wrong."
"You fought while...?" he paused and seemed to stare at her in shock.
"If I did not, then we would not have prevailed," she said evenly. He gave out a very disgruntled sensation. "We have new allies now. Do we not?"
"Yes..." he sighed. There were still quite a few Fetish warriors around her from her armor. Even a couple shamans were able to linger. They clearly wanted to be here for the event. "You will not fight after this. I will not let you."
"As if that stopped me before?" she seemed to grin softly at him. He sighed and shook his head. He was also laughing quite softly. He knew she was right.
"Will anything bad happen?" Anabelle asked from where she stood with Zayl.
"Hopefully not. If something does happen, I'm sure it will be killed off rather quickly," Zayl smiled and squeezed her.
"Hah! Sure! Something bad happen with all of us here? Please!" Humbert snorted.
"I still say we should drop you over the side..." Malthael muttered, as he passed in front of the skull. Humbert sputtered, and Zayl cringed to keep from laughing.
"Hmm..." Kalgor brooded in thought from where he stood with his arms crossed.
"What is it?" Salauriel asked and squeezed his shoulders.
"Nightfall in Heaven. It does not sound right to me," he admitted.
"We were told that the sun will not set. It will be hidden," she said.
"It's supposed to, well, hopefully, resemble a solar eclipse," Lou-yu said when he walked over with Kylariel. "A natural event and harmless."
"It still does not feel right," Kalgor said.
"There was something that I discovered," Salauriel whispered in his ear.
"Hmm?" he glanced at her.
"Several angels found mates in your people," she chuckled. That got him smiling.
"Good! I look forward to meeting them," he nodded. Then he blinked when several other Barbarians, both men and women, walked over with their angelic counterparts. They all clasped hands and began to discuss how it came about.
"When is this supposed to start?" the Nephalem asked.
"Momentarily. Anarius has to focus," Tyrael said.
"What do you hope to happen?"
"I'm not really sure. I think it's just curiosity to see if it can even be done. Night has never touched Heaven. I think he's just curious to see how it would look," Tyrael chuckled. Then an odd hush fell over them, as Anarius began to focus. He was standing between the pillars of Light and was gently touching them to amplify his power. Very slowly, the sky began darken. The sun began to fade out to become shadowed, but there was no sense of corruption at all. It was, in fact, a rather peaceful feeling all around. Imperius was amazed.
Then he noticed how the High Heavens began to sparkle and glow. He actually caught his breath. Heaven was beautiful at night. The plants shimmered and glowed in the blue energy waters. The windows were glowing with a warm, sky blue glow of their own from what was reflecting from inside them. The moon even came out lightly to give over an eerie, yet mystifying light over the marble structures, as though to make the Silver City truly resemble its name. There were even a few twinkling stars that showed in the sky. Tyrael was in complete awe.
"I AM IMPRESSED," Anarius chuckled. "I WILL LEAVE HEAVEN IN THIS STATE FOR ONE HOUR. EXPLORE AT YOUR WHIMS. AT LEAST, SOME OF YOU CAN EXPLORE."
He gave a knowing glance a Lyndon. That got the Nephalem to crack a grin. Imperius moved to place Anaurael before a ledge that looked out over the Silver City. His mark on her glowed a fiery gold in response to his form. Even her hair seemed to glow with his Light. She was simply stunning.
"Amazing..." Itherael whispered, as he gazed at her.
"This is the real reason why nightfall happened," Izarius whispered lightly to him.
"I can see why," he responded. Then Imperius simply plucked her up and took flight with her. Various other angels were quick to do the same to survey the Silver City from above in this rare state.
"Can I carry you?" Nikauriel asked Byden.
"Ah...if you think you can..." the Crusader said and cleared his throat. Much to his surprise, she was quite strong. Now he was able to see the wondrous Silver City from the air. It was something he'd likely never forget. The same was now being done with other mortal and angelic pairs. Elaine was speechless from how breath-taking the sight was from above. Tyrael even let Izual help him with a short flight just to let him see what the city was like.
Imperius was busy taking Anaurael to every place he knew of in the High Heavens. He wanted to see how she looked everywhere. He had a very short window of opportunity, and he was clearly making the most of it, as he vowed he would. And he was very glad that he did.
As the last spot he took her to, it was at the very pinnacle point of the High Heavens at the Crystal Arch. Anarius lifted her up in his arms to hug her to his brightly glowing form.
"I WILL WANT TO SEE THIS AGAIN. IN TIME, OF COURSE," he chuckled.
"It is beautiful at night," she agreed.
"Wait," Imperius said. "Before this lifts, I want to do one last thing with her."
"WHAT WOULD THAT BE?" he asked.
"Let me take her back to my sanctum. Grant me twenty minutes," Imperius requested. Anarius nodded, and Anaurael was gathered up to be taken away. He brought her to his sanctum and sealed it, but he left one opening available. Instead of sunlight to stream down, it was moonlight. She was set in his throne, and he gazed at her. He was trembling with how beautiful she was there.
"Imperius?" she asked with a soft, blushing smile.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you," she whispered back. On a whim, he carefully removed his helmet. Then she blinked with surprise. "Imperius! Your shadow! I can see an image of your face!"
"What?" he asked. She gestured to the floor, and he paused with sheer wonder. He definitely appeared to give off the strong lines of a militia man. He was very surprised. At how she moved to trace over his invisible face, he shivered and kissed her passionately. He pulled her into his arms to cradle her, and she blinked at a question that suddenly appeared in her mind. Then other things began to surface. At how her mark began to flare to show distress, she cringed.
"Imperius," she said softly. "I need to...ask you something important."
"Yes, my ward?" he asked gently. The he paused at the sudden change in her.
"If...I was forced to...forget...something...and I had no control over it...would you...despise me?" she asked. She was starting to shake. "Would you...abandon me...?"
"Anaurael?!" he gasped. She was starting to remember everything. When Anarius focused for Heaven to become night, he lost his careful control over her thoughts. Sunlight suddenly streamed down, as the sun came back in full. Anarius soon appeared in the sanctum to snatch her directly from Imperius. Unlike the others, he was able to get to any part of the High Heavens, even if the area was carefully locked down for privacy. The Heavens were made from his original body. He knew this in full.
"MOTHER! NO! DO NOT GIVE IN TO DESPAIR! NOW IS NOT THE TIME!" he seemed to beg, as he rocked her. At how she kept shaking, he knew there was no going back now. Her offspring were now at risk. Her mind was on the brink of mental collapse.
"What is going on?!" Imperius demanded and placed his helmet back on. Luckily, Anarius's visit didn't harm anything at all. His sanctum was still sealed.
"I'm sorry...my son..." she whimpered in his protective embrace. "I can't...I don't want to...hide anything from him...anymore. It's not fair to him..."
"EVEN AT THE COST OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?" he asked softly.
"He needs to know. Because...after his offspring are birthed...he will have to know..." she whispered. "It hurts...so much...and I love him so deeply..."
"MOTHER..." Anarius seemed to cringe. Now Imperius knew that something was going on.
"He needs to know..." she whispered. Anarius sighed deeply. Then he nodded.
"IMPERIUS. I CAN TELL YOU ALL. BUT, WE NEED IZARIUS HERE TO HELP KEEP HER CALM. ALSO, IF YOU DESPISE HER, JUST KNOW THIS. SHE WAS DOING EVERYTHING, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ORDERING HER TO DO SO. SHE WANTED NONE OF THIS. SHE WAS, AND IS, FULFILLING HER DUTY TO HEAVEN. AND SHE IS STILL NOT DONE. YOU WILL NOT ABANDON HER. YOU WILL NOT STOP LOVING HER. AS YOU HAVE DUTIES TO HEAVEN, SO DOES SHE. SHE MAY BE YOUR CHAMPION, BUT SHE IS HEAVEN'S SAVIOR. IF SHE FALLS, SO DOES EVERYTHING I HAVE PUT INTO MOTION. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Anarius regarded Imperius fully. He was talking to him as Anu right now.
"I understand," Imperius nodded. His sanctum opened, and Izarius charged in.
"What happened?! Anaurael? Anarius? What's going on?" Izarius asked.
"MY MENTAL STRENGTH SLIPPED. SHE...REMEMBERED THINGS. SO, NOW, IMPERIUS NEEDS TO KNOW ALL. IMPERIUS, PLEASE GO TO THE LIBRARY OF FATE. HAVE ITHERAEL SHOW YOU WHAT WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT THE PROPHECY. YES, WE FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS. BUT, WE SAID NOTHING, BECAUSE WE KNEW HOW YOU WOULD REACT. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO YOU AFTER THINGS WENT INTO MOTION...BUT..." Anarius shook his head. Now Imperius was floored. They knew that something was going on and didn't tell me?! At how Anaurael was shaking, she knew, too. But, she was forbidden to say anything. He knew she would have told him. She was ordered to keep silent. And it was forgotten.
"I wanted...to tell you..." Anaurael said, as she shook violently. "They wouldn't...let me..."
"Anaurael!" Imperius hissed at her mental state.
"I don't know...if I'm...worthy of you...anymore..." she said, as tears fell.
"Anaurael, no! You know you are worthy of him! You only share your love with him. You vowed to love no others like him, and you have been keeping that vow in full! No others can share this love. No others can ever break that bond," Izarius said to encourage her.
"But...I accepted...this fate..." she whimpered. "willingly..."
"BECAUSE YOU HAD NO CHOICE," Anarius sighed. "I AM TAKING HER TO THE CRYSTAL ARCH. IF HER MIND SHATTERS, I WILL BE UNABLE TO APPEAR PROPERLY. IT IS A PRECAUTION. WE MUST GO, IZARIUS."
"But..." Imperius said. He ached to hold her. To comfort her. Izarius seemed to give a sense of an apologetic gaze before teleporting away with Anarius.
When he appeared at the Library, he found himself stared at by Malthael, Itherael, Auriel, Tyrael, and Imperael. Izual would have been there, but Tyrael had him in the Courts for now. It was to protect his mind from all of this. The other mortals were taken back down when the event suddenly ended, but Myriam was still there. She refused to leave, and she looked very upset.
"Imperius..." Itherael sighed heavily and carried over the parchment. "Please read this."
"Why was this kept from me?" Imperius asked when he walked over to where the table was set up to hold the precious document. "Why has none informed me of anything?!"
"Because we knew how you would react. And Anaurael's health is now wavering in the balance. If you reject her because of this..." Auriel seemed to shiver. "None of us wanted this of her, either."
"I do not understand," Imperius said.
"You will...after you read..." Malthael said and gestured to the writings. Imperius noticed how Tyrael was watching him calmly. And he was holding Mal. Imperius didn't know why this was, but he moved to the writings and began to glean what it said. And as he read, his disbelief was easily felt by all.
"No! This...this cannot be...!" he said with outrage.
"You started this prophecy with your developing offspring," Tyrael said. "Itherael is destined to make the next one. It may be Malthael after him. Imperius, please, you must understand! It's for Heaven! To end the Eternal Conflict! To fully eradicate the demon blood from the humans!"
"And Hope? What is to come of Hope?!" Imperius demanded.
"I am to assist. And I vow that no others will occur after me," Imperael said with a heavy tone. Imperius was floored. "We all fought this. But...Anu was the one that insisted that this had to happen. He hid various thoughts from you, by hiding Anaurael's thoughts from herself."
"I remember..." Imperius shuddered. "she was...trying to tell me something. That Anu was having her keep secrets from me. That she wanted to tell me. It made her suffer terribly."
"Yes. It was...possibly...remembered after I took her into my old sanctum..." Malthael said. Now Imperius glared hard at him. "Anu ordered it, Imperius. To help him be the proper champion he is now. We cannot fight his orders."
"So...she willingly let herself..." Imperius seemed to growl.
"Only her body. Her soul and love are still yours," Malthael said. The moment Imperius began to stumble and slip in his rage, the High Heavens shook. And it was with pain. "NO! ANAURAEL!"
"What...?!" Tyrael gaped, as Malthael lost his form. Mal now showed that Malthael was within his body. At the sudden crying from the despair that was given, he realized that something horrible had just happened. Myriam was about to go into shock.
"Her mind! She shattered it! The moment the golden one thought of leaving her, it shattered!" Myriam seemed to wail. "He must fix this! Now!"
"What?!" Imperius asked. Then he blinked as he felt something return to him. My missing Light. She gave it back to me. His clarity and reason returned. And he realized one thing. It was true that she had to give over her body to help Heaven. But, her soul and love were fully and completely for me. In that single moment, she felt him despise her. That I couldn't trust her. I was ready to abandon her. She gave her life fully and completely to me, and I was ready to toss her aside. Now his offspring were at risk of failing. It was true that they could be born, but they wouldn't be as strong as they needed to be. Without his Light to fuel them, they wouldn't develop properly.
"Fix!" Mal managed to say in his small tone. "Now!"
"You can't come out now, can you?" Tyrael asked him. At the toddler's frown and head shake, he grimaced. "Imperius..."
The powerful Archangel couldn't say anything. Itherael was actually glaring at him. "If you do not mend things with her, then the Burning Hells have won! This was something we did not want to happen! You must mend this! If none of us can have our mortal offspring appear, then all of Anu's work was for naught! We were planning to never have to do this again. To let her fully be at your side once this important work was done. But...if she gave you back your Light..."
"Where is she?!" Ilerael said when he appeared. "My daughter! I felt something wrong!"
"Her mind shattered," Myriam said and walked up to him grasp his hands in hers. "We are trying to fix this. Imperius has learned of the prophecy. When Heaven turned to night, Anarius lost his control over the girl's thoughts. She remembered all and refused to let him remain in the dark. She gave him back the Light that was his. If he cannot give back the Light that she is to hold..."
"No..." Ilerael seemed to panic. Auriel was quick to move to hug him. When Lilaurael appeared, it was Imperael that moved to comfort her. Then Ilerael looked at Imperius. "Please. Save her. Fix this. Yes, I found out about this, too. But, even I was against it. I only wanted her to belong to you! But...Anu said she had no choice. That this was her fate and destiny. That after this was done that all would be well. This was...is...her primary duty to the High Heavens, Imperius! If she can't fight, then she could at least assist with bringing forth new warriors to fight for us! I can't...I don't want to think..."
"Husband..." Lilaurael whimpered, and he moved to hug her tight. "I can't stand the thought...of her suffering like this! She doesn't deserve this!"
"No. She does not," Imperius nodded. "I will fix this now."
"Go now!" Myriam urged. He needed no further convincing. He loved Anaurael dearly, and he knew that she loved him. I wronged her by letting the thought in that I couldn't trust her. Everything she did was for Heaven. And for me.
He found himself at the Crystal Arch, and he paused at the scene before him. Izarius was standing in a frozen time shield with his hands in hers. Anarius was holding Anaurael close to his chest. Then he noticed her hair. It was the mortal shade of golden blonde. And he saw something else that almost made him stumble to his knees. Her mark from me was nowhere to be found.
He started to panic, but he felt his missing Light charge forth to calm him. I had to fix this. I can fix this. As he regained himself, he realized that not all of his Light had returned to him. Anarius froze time around them right before the last of my Light had a chance to flee from her. Taking a deep breath, he reached into the time sphere bubble. When he touched where her mark should have been from within the circlet, he got pulled in.
What he found in her mind confused him. There were no lush gardens anymore. There was no scenery. It was an endless stretch of inky blackness that threatened to swallow him whole. But, he knew she was here. The small amount of Light left in her was calling to him. It was the faint echo of my Song. He chased after the sound without another moment of hesitation.
"Anaurael?!" Imperius called out. There was no response given. He continued to move to where he was pulled. He found himself in front of a dirt mound. Her inner mental sanctum. He wouldn't know it, though. Walking around it, he found no entry in. Steeling himself, he charged into the wall of dirt. And he found himself inside it. It sealed up behind him.
When he walked deeper into the small cave, he found Izarius standing alone. But, he was holding a small ball of Light. "Come no further, Imperius. If you do, I might lose what's left of her."
"What? No! I never...meant to..." he started.
"Anarius brought her to the Crystal Arch where he would have more control. He needed me with him to help stabilize her. To protect her. The moment she felt you slipping away...that you despised her and wanted to fully abandon her...she said one thing. 'I want to forget him. It's too painful.' The moment it happened, the Light within her fled back to you. Her mark sputtered out. Her hair is...normal birth hair now. Anarius froze time around us. He ordered me to bring her here. To her inner mental sanctum. As I held her, I felt her mind split and shatter. You were a full part of her life, Imperius. She would have...forgotten everything. Her parents. Me. The High Heavens. All of it."
"No..." Imperius trembled.
"Don't order me to give her back to you. I simply can't. Her Light is too weak. You'll absorb what's left of her, and we'll have no chance to help her. You have to restore her memories first. Then you need to give back what was given back to you. Only then will she be strong enough for you."
"How...are you able to...?"
"I am her best friend, Imperius. She...trusts me fully. Completely. I will never give up on her. I have been there for her, since the beginning. I found her first. I took care of her as an infant. I gave her comfort when she needed it most, and I still do that to this day. And, you want to know something else? Anu told me...that I was worthy of creating offspring with her. But...I knew how you would have reacted to it. No, I'm not part of that prophecy. It's just..."
"I know," Imperius admitted with a sigh. "And...you are worthy of making at least one mortal champion with her. I understand how this is her duty. She cannot fight with any weapons now. But, she can assist with strong champions to help Heaven fight. Maybe, in time, she can fight with her children. To fight at my side again, as she did in Pandemonium. None of this is her fault. It was...wrong of me...to even think of rejecting her. I...I need to fix this. I have to fix this."
"We must treat her mind like Izual's. The mental needs to heal first before anything else. Her memories are scattered everywhere. And, as you find them...you will see everything from her eyes. She will be watching you, too. The moment you falter..."
"All is lost. I know," he nodded. "Let me get to work. How much time do we have?"
"Anarius froze time here. The world still moves elsewhere. I don't know how much longer he has to do this, but please hurry! She suffers so much..." Izarius whispered with a form of pain. The glowing ball of Light in his hands pulsed heavily.
"Show me where to start," he said.
"Walk outside of the sanctum. I'll try to get her to show where her memories are. I'm not sure what they'll look like, but you should be able to gather them and sort them."
"A question, though. Would this also...include the ones that were forgotten? By me?"
"It may be possible," Izarius nodded. "I'm not sure."
"Very well," Imperius nodded back. When he moved to leave the dirt mound, he realized the entrance stayed open. Anaurael was watching him now. And he sensed that she didn't know who he was. It actually hurt him far worse than any wound he ever gained. "I am sorry, my ward. Let me help you. Please, let me fix this! I vow...I will never falter my thoughts about you ever again..."
At this, he saw a spark flitter in front of him. It was much like that of a firefly. When he touched it, he saw her memory of gazing at him as an infant. He felt the protection she felt when he held her. He felt ill at how he let such doubts hit his mind about her. Another flicker was seen and touched. Another memory was gained. When he had touched a few more, a whole field of flickering lights was before him. He had to touch them all.
He lived her life as she did now. He felt how proud she was to be under his care and guidance. He realized how much she truly did love and trust him with all of her being. When he got to the memories with Itherael's accidental kiss, he could only shake his head. She would remember this, but all was forgiven long ago. She would also remember that she fell from Heaven, but she would know that he rescued her and brought her back. When he found the hidden memories of what Itherael had to do, a shock of rage did hit, but then it was quelled swiftly at how Anu was the one that ordered it.
As much as he would be upset at Anu, he learned why it had to be done. That Myriam discovered that it was all needed for Anu to develop at full strength. As he learned more and more, any doubts he had were removed by the proof that he was shown through her. She defended my honor fully.
He watched the memory of Malthael begging for her to say that she should love him, too. And he felt humbled at how she defiantly refused. Her love for Imperius was her vow. No other would ever gain the same level of devotion and pride that she had for me. He felt ashamed of himself for doubting her. She didn't deserve that at all.
When he finally reached the last few parts of her memories, he felt how shamed she was on all of it. How rejected she became when she felt that he no longer wanted her to be a part of his life. She would have become a simple living shell to care for her current offspring. He didn't want that. I need her in my life. I want her to hold the Light that was rightfully hers. He didn't want to have this part of him unless she was there to help him.
"Oh, my ward! The lost part of my Light! Please forgive me. Take back from me what you have given me. You are worthy of being at my side. I vow to you, my ward, that I will always see you as I always have. You are my ward and champion. The mother of my current and future offspring. I know that you are fulfilling your duty to the High Heavens. That you wanted no part of this. I know that you never wanted to be a part of this. It was thrust upon you without any say-so. I will never doubt you again. And...I know of the prophecy. The importance it holds. I will allow this mortal Council to form. If we are to remove the demon filth in full, then it must form. Please...hear me..."
"Imperius," Izarius said when he approached. "I'm going to give her to you now. I am going to risk it. If your words are true, then she will know. But, if they are false..."
"Give her to me," he said, as his hand stretched out to retrieve her. Izarius hesitated at first, but then he nodded and carefully handed over the glowing ball of Light. Imperius held it to his chest and rocked it in his usual, loving way. "My ward...I love you..."
:You abandoned me...: she fretted in his thoughts.
"A mistake. A vile mistake. I slipped. I had no focus. You are my focus. I was wrong to do so. It will never happen again."
:But it will...:
"Do not hold doubts of me. As much as I dislike what you have to do, I know that you have no choice in this matter. Our offspring needs you. Heaven needs you. I need you, too."
:I loved you so much! I did everything for you! And for Heaven! I had to do my duty, Imperius! When I felt you slip...how you wanted me in no part of your life...I hurt! What am I to think now? How am I supposed to react to you? I was your faithful servant. I was your missing Light...:
"You still are my missing Light!" he growled out and squeezed his hands around the ball of Light. "I will never hold anymore doubts of you! I will always hold you in the highest regard! I promise you this! I vow! I cannot lose you!"
:Imperius...!: He heard her cry out. He felt his Light pull from him to fuel the ball in his hands. The landscape returned in full. Her soul appeared as a golden Aurora once more before him. When he felt her hand gently touch his armored cheek, he gazed at her topaz blue eyes when she regarded him. His mark on her was flaring in sync with him once more. Her hair was that shimmering color of molten gold that he loved to see on her. And, as he did in the beginning, he sealed the gap to kiss her.
Outside of her mental mind, Anarius was finally able to drop the time lapse. Imperius came to and watched Anaurael's hair shimmer back from blond to molten gold. When he removed his finger from her forehead, his mark on her flared out in full sync with his form. Anarius nodded with intense relief and let Imperius take her from him to cradle against his chest. When she wanted to speak, he pressed a finger to her lips. She burst into tears and let him crush her carefully to his form.
"I hope I don't have to do that again," Izarius sighed.
"If you do, I would trust no other with the task," Imperius said, as he cradled Anaurael. "Anarius, I have a request of you. If you can?"
"SPEAK YOUR MIND," he said.
"As the Burning Hells have minor Aspects, I would like Izarius to become one. But, he should hold the title of Truth. He always knows what is going on. He never lies. He should become a minor Aspect of Truth. He can still belong to Valor, but I feel this is important," Imperius said softly.
"I DO AGREE. BUT, INSTEAD OF TRUTH, HE SHALL BECOME HONOR. TRUTH CAN BE RESERVED FOR ANOTHER THAT IS WORTHY OF IT," Anarius chuckled. Izarius found his body glowing as the Song of the Arc filled his being. Once again he was honored for protecting Anaurael. As he embraced her, he knew there was only one thought on his mind. I will be able to have an offspring with her after her duties were done to create the mortal Council. And, like Imperael, he would ensure that no others would happen unless they came from Imperius after the mortal Council had come to pass. She deserved that much from them all.