Disclaimer: I do not own +anima.

"Wh-wh-waiting for us?" stuttered Marca. She was still shocked by Fly's grotesque appearance. Fly smiled at her.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "I know what you're probably thinking right now. Probably wondering why I haven't died, right? And yes, I was waiting for you."

"How did you know we were coming?" said Husky.

"I didn't, but I figured that the Research facility would make an effort to find me," said Fly. "Considering that I am the king's nephew, I would be surprised if they didn't try to find me."

"If you don't mind me asking, why aren't you -" Soline, embarrassed to say the word, faltered in her speech.

"Dead?" said Fly, smiling his I-know-what-you're-thinking-because-I'm-smart-like-that smile. "Well, that's a long story. You might want to make yourselves comfortable."

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"When I was a child, my parents wanted me to live forever," began Fly. "Don't ask me why, I do not know. They must've wanted our heritage to literally live on for good. Anyway, there was a magic man who lived near my parents' home. They had pleaded with him to make me live forever, and every time he has denied them their request. But one day, they drove him absolutely crazy. My father had 'accidently' broken windows on his house and left some dents in the outer wall of his hut. But that one day, my father broke a crystal ornament that was greatly valued by the magic man, whose name was Kraden. So that day, Kraden granted my parents' request and allowed me to live forever.

"But when he granted it, the immortality was more like a curse than a blessing with the conditions he added on to it. He made it that only my spirit would truly live on. So, if my body suffered death, it would rot away, but my spirit would linger among the bones for good."

"So, that's what's happening to you right now?" asked Cooro.

"Very true, Cooro. My body will rot away, and my spirit will stay with my remains. But Kraden was not completely heartless. He made it that I could pass on, but only if I was carried up in the arms of an angel."

"So that's why you created Blanca," said Husky.

"Exactly. But then Kraden he said something to me, some sort of like this: 3 will come, but one will leave. 1 and 3 will take, but 2 will forsake."

"What does that mean?" asked Cooro.

"I do not know myself. But I believe it may help me pass on."

"Was Blanca your only attempt at creating an angel?" asked Marca.

"Blanca was the only angel I tried to create, but she was the second angel to cross my path."

"Who was the first?" asked Cooro.

Fly smiled "You were."

"Me?"

"Yes, Cooro. While you are a crow +anima, because of the circumstances in which you became a +anima, you are also a black angel. So, you were the first angel."

"Maybe that's what the rhyme means, then," said Soline. "If there was a third angel, then the rhyme would mean this: 3 angels will come, but one angel will leave. The first and third angels to come will take you on, but the second will lead you to your death. Didn't Blanca leave you and lead you to your death?"

Fly looked puzzled. "Yes, she did. And that does all make sense. But who would the third angel be?"

Soline closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Then, she spread her wings and began to shine. Fly gasped.

"You're the third angel."