Ah, cafes. They're pleasant. Sometimes elegant, others casual. Regardless of the intended atmosphere, they're always so relaxing.
Even Hell, a place full of Sinners, understood what a café was supposed to be. There weren't any obscenities on the premises. The menu selection was perfectly curated. And, should any riff-raff appear, the staff and patrons would happily come together to put them in their place.
Truly, cafes were a comforting delight. To this, everyone agreed. Even the most ruthless or sadistic of Hell felt this way. Funnily enough, a trio of individuals matching such descriptors was having brunch at a café.
Alastor, the Radio Demon. Stella Goetia, of the Goetian Royal family. Rosie, of...Rosie's Emporium. To be fair, that last person WAS considered an Overlord, so it wasn't as if she was a random individual.
A tall, slender woman with a pale complexion and black eyes. No, not black irises. Literal ceaseless voids that took the place of eyeballs. Combined with her fanged smile, something she shared with Alastor, the woman was a beautiful and fitting depiction of a Demon.
The trio sat with each other at a table positioned on the far side of the café. Partly for discretion regarding their conversation but also to not feel crowded as they chatted and ate.
"I'm sorry for being so late." Stella apologized. Alastor and Rosie had been kind enough to order ahead. The tea that awaited the avian was delicious.
"Oh, please, dear. You're not late at all." Rosie replied with a dismissive hand gesture. "We ALWAYS arrive early. Ensures you get the best seats possible." She said.
"Plus, it allowed me to get Rosie up to speed. If only a little bit." Alastor chimed in.
"How much did he say?" Stella asked.
"Enough to pique my curiosity." Rosie began. "Alastor, for the first time I've ever known him, spoke in such a reserved manner. No sensationalism. No performance or sales pitch. All he conveyed was the importance of this meeting. When Alastor is serious, I know not to be frivolous." She answered.
"Wow. I'm impressed." Stella admitted, complimenting him. "No offense, but I didn't think you'd be tactful." She said.
"None taken. I do love to put on a show." Alastor assured, aware of himself. "But this is far too important to waste time with chicanery. I stressed as much to Rosie before you arrived." He stated.
"He told me that even the Magnes are involved. Is that true?" Rosie inquired.
"Yes. As well as Azrael, Michael, and Gabriel." Stella informed her.
Upon hearing those names, Rosie nearly choked on her tea. The poor woman went into a brief coughing fit.
"My apologies. I should've waited for you to finish drinking." Stella said, not meaning to cause that.
" *Cough* It's... *Cough* Not your fault..." Rosie responded, slowly regaining her composure. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I wasn't expecting to hear the names of three of God's children." She told her.
"I doubt anyone would," Alastor commented. "I know you understood that I wasn't joking nor exaggerating when I described the gravity of the situation. But still, no one's prepared for such a revelation." He said.
"Indeed. Although, if you can believe it, the things I have to share are FAR more alarming." Stella warned. "But before we get into those details, I want to clarify what I shall say. I can't give you EVERYTHING; there's far too much. However, I promise to provide enough to paint a bit of the picture. Forgive such secrecy, but this is of the most importance. We're not here to gossip about Nobles or share stories of sadism. Yet, it's not business, either. It's something bigger than all of us. If that's too much for you, Rosie, I understand. But know that if you decide to walk away afterward, that'll be it." She explained. "Do you understand?" She asked.
"I do," Rosie confirmed while nodding.
"Then, let's begin," Stella said before proceeding with the conversation.
Elsewhere, At The Magne Estate...
Lilith and Azrael. With Lucifer's recent fixation on Samuel, Mars, and Doom, his Sister and Wife spent a fair amount of time together. However, these hangouts weren't usually filled with conversation and banter. After all, there was only so much that either could share or say.
The duo didn't mind spending their get-togethers mostly in silence. They simply appreciated the other's company. But, now and then, a thought would enter Lilith or Azrael's mind. Thus, a conversation could commence.
"Azrael," Lilith spoke. Both women busied themselves with several magazines and papers. Each was curious about the happenings of Hell and its Rings.
"Yes, Lilith?" Azrael replied.
"I know it's impossible to say, but what do you think is happening between your Father and Gabriel? Surely, it can't ALL be a conversation." Lilith asked.
"You'd be surprised. Father is known to have the longest monologues." Azrael answered. Her tone was serious; that was not meant to be a jest. "Yet, if I were to gamble, I'd feel confident in saying that our Father has spent all of this time working alongside Gabriel to explore the possibilities." She said.
"Such as?" Lilith inquired, wanting to know more.
"Firstly, there'd be Gabriel's interrogation of Doom and what it truly is. Secondly, they'll start discussing how best to move forward once that is settled. Lastly, Gabriel will want to know why our Father remained silent. If Samuel's theory is correct, that our realities exist in the same space, then there'll be FAR more our Father must elaborate on." Azrael told her.
"I've been trying to wrap my head around it," Lilith confessed with a sigh. "It just doesn't add up. If God knew, did he think Doom would never be a problem? If he didn't, what does that mean? Is God only all-knowing in the domain of his making? If so, how can he be referred to as a deity? Does such an entity even exist?" She questioned.
"Oh, believe me, Michael and I have also been driving ourselves mad about it," Azrael promised.
"How is Michael?" Lilith asked, now looking at her Sister-In-Law.
"He's done his best to maintain the peace in Heaven. I'm proud of him. It's not easy to suddenly take Gabriel's position, but he has. No one else was so quick to volunteer." Azrael answered, looking at her as well.
"Poor thing," Lilith said with a frown. "Although, I could say the same about Gabriel. He wears his duties well, but I know it must weigh on him." She added.
"Everyone in our family is aware of how much Gabriel works himself. I don't think he's ever taken time off or even a small vacation. Before recently, the man barely left his so-called home." Azrael responded.
"Whenever possible, we're forcing him to relax." Lilith firmly stated. "I don't care if we'll need to restrain him. Gabriel needs to learn to take better care of himself." She continued.
"Preach it, Sister." Azrael cheered while returning to her reading.
FWOOM PLOP
Lilith and Azrael jumped backward in their seats. Out of nowhere, a portal opened in front of them. Then, at the same time, Michael flopped out. He landed face-first on the floor.
In the moments that followed, neither woman did or said anything. They were stunned into silence and inaction. Thankfully, Michael wasn't injured or incapacitated. So, he quickly sprang to his feet.
"LUCIFER!" Michael shouted. His hair was messy, his attire disheveled, and his eyes darted in every direction.
Swiftly, the frenzied man's eyes fell on his Sister and Sister-In-Law.
"LILITH! AZRAEL!" Michael yelled, immediately getting in their faces. "WHERE'S LUCIFER?!" He asked.
SMACK
Purely on instinct, Lilith slapped the poor fellow.
"I'm so sorry!" Lilith apologized, still startled.
"...No...thank you..." Michael replied, slowly pulling away from them. "I...needed a nice jolt to...bring me back..." He muttered.
"Michael..." Azrael started while cautiously observing her sibling. "What's happened? You act as if Heaven is on fire." She asked.
"No, everything's fine on that front. Stressful, but fine." Michael answered. "It's Gabriel. Or, rather, the Ivory Tower. Or, even more specifically, Dad. It's all three at once." He said.
"Michael, breathe, sweetie," Lilith instructed, gently touching his shoulder. "Tell us what happened." She requested.
"Okay..." Michael agreed, doing as he was told. "So, I was taking a nice nap in Gabriel's office. I put a bed in there for full comfort. As I was sleeping, I had what I thought was a dream. Instead, I quickly realized it was a vision from our Father. The tower was open, Gabriel stood at the entrance, and I heard a voice beckon me. But it also told me to gather all of you." He recalled.
"Michael, you know I love you. But could this not possibly be an ACTUAL dream?" Azrael suggested. "You've been worried about Gabriel non-stop. Combine that with his work, and you've dealt with a lot lately." She reasoned.
"Nope. Nu-uh. I am POSITIVE of what this was!" Michael passionately exclaimed.
Briefly, Azrael and Lilith looked at one another. They wanted to believe Michael, but as some might phrase it, the man was off his shits. Still, there was no harm in confirming it. So, they ultimately agreed to go along with him.
"Alright, Michael. We'll get ready to leave." Lilith said as she and Azrael set down their reading materials. "Unfortunately, Lucifer is on Mars right now." She informed him.
"Eh, two out of three isn't bad," Michael replied with a shrug, abruptly grabbing onto the women's wrists. "Come on! We're wasting time!" He exclaimed.
Before either could react somehow, Michael pulled Azrael and Lilith through the portal. The rift dissipated once all three were on the other side.
A Short While Later...
The ascent to the Ivory Tower was a big deal for everyone. Michael was elated at getting to see Gabriel AND his Father again! Lilith, admittedly, was quite nervous. She'd never met her Husband's Father. At least, not so personally. She busied herself with her appearance and hair.
Like her Brother, Azrael was excited to see Gabriel and their Father. Yet, she was also curious. What did it mean if it turned out that Michael's dream WAS a vision? Were they about to have the same experience Gabriel did when he entered the tower? Or did something else await them?
"We're almost there!" Michael gleefully shouted.
"Do I look alright?" Lilith asked Azrael, ignoring his outburst. "I don't want to look like a slob." She added.
"Perfect as always, Lilith," Azrael assured, making her smile. "Honestly, you shouldn't be worried about your appearance. Even if you were messy like Michael currently is, I doubt anyone would notice. After all, we ARE here for FAR bigger reasons." She said.
"I know. But technically, this will be the first time God and I have met. I've never seen his true self, let alone be in the same room as him." Lilith responded. "What's it like? If you can give me the details." She inquired.
"I...don't know how to describe it. I'm unsure if there's even a proper answer to that." Azrael confessed. "Father was never too bothered by the lack of a defining form. He was comfortable with an entirely ethereal appearance, as were we. It didn't matter what he looked like; Dad was still Dad. That's all that mattered." She explained.
"Aww, that's so sweet," Lilith smiled, happy to hear such a wholesome thing about their past.
"We're here!" Michael unintentionally disrupted their conversation as he reached the top.
A moment later, Lilith and Azrael arrived as well. When they did, the duo couldn't help but notice a glaring difference from Michael's vision.
"The entrance is closed," Lilith said.
"Give it a few seconds!" Michael replied. "They were probably just waiting for us!" He insisted.
Again, the women exchanged a glance. They did hope Michael received a vision. Otherwise, this was greatly concerning, and they needed to take him back home with them ASAP.
...
...
Suddenly, a sound was heard. It was mechanical and heavy. Michael and Azrael recognized it, but Lilith was a bit confused. However, clarity came soon enough.
The front of the Ivory Tower was opening. A set of large doors slowly parted. The trio could see someone even when there was only a crack between them. It took no time to ascertain their identity.
"GABRIEL!" Michael yelled with deafening joy, throwing himself at his Brother.
"OOF!" Gabriel grunted as his sibling impacted. Despite the suddenness of the embrace, the Archangel welcomed it. "Why, hello, Michael. Good to see your abundance of enthusiasm has not left you." He greeted.
"Gabriel!" Lilith called out with a friendly smile as she and Azrael hurried over.
"Ah, sights for sore eyes," Gabriel replied, happy to see them too. "It feels as though an eternity has passed since I last saw either of you." He admitted.
"It might as well have been," Azrael said, she and Lilith joining the hug. "Sorry that Lucifer isn't here. He's been busy with Samuel, learning everything." She explained.
"I suspected as much. There's no need to apologize." Gabriel assured, the embrace finally ending. "...Michael, you can let go now." He told his clingy Brother.
"Hm? Oh. Right. Sorry." Michael replied with a light blush before releasing him. "I couldn't help myself! It's so good to see you!" He exclaimed, a grin never leaving his face.
"And the warm reception is appreciated. Why, it might be the warmest I've ever received. Not counting each of my Niece's hugs and welcomes as one." Gabriel said.
"Far be it from me to end the pleasantries," Azrael interjected, getting down to business. "But we ARE standing in front of our childhood home. This is also the starting point of what we assume is Creation." She reminded.
"Yes, very true," Gabriel responded. "On that note, I'm afraid I cannot prepare you for what will happen. There are no words that could fully encapsulate the shock you'll experience. The same applies to the information you'll receive. The five days I spent here were not only for conversation. Most of them went to my mental and emotional recovery." He stated.
...Whoa. That...was a heavy thing to mention so casually. The others needed a moment to process it and ensure they heard the Archangel correctly.
"...Gabriel." Lilith began, the first to come to her senses. "What is about to happen? In any way at all that you can describe it. Please." She asked alongside a request.
"Father said something to me when I arrived. The cost of knowledge is the inability to forget it. Even if something happens to your memories and all record is destroyed, no information is ever lost. You need only to look in the right place for it. Unfortunately, the search for answers must be carefully considered, no matter how justified. Father wishes to stress to ALL of you that you can walk away right now. If you choose to do so, I will be his voice. But, as I stated before, there is no way I can ready you for what you'll learn. You have to understand that and take the plunge. There is no other way." Gabriel answered.
Hoo, boy. More. Heavy. Shit. Michael, Azrael, and Lilith were all certain they were prepared. That is, until this moment.
Gabriel spoke with such sincerity. I mean, he always did. But this was different. There was a noticeable concern in his tone. As always, he offered to hold the burden so they wouldn't have to. Gabriel was willing to be the only one cursed with this knowledge.
"...You know, being so selfless isn't healthy," Azrael spoke after a few minutes of silent thought. "I'm serious. We're your family, damn it. We don't need protection." She told him.
"That isn't what I'm-"
"NOPE!" Azrael exclaimed, catching him off guard. "There it is! That's PRECISELY what I'm talking about! Stay silent! Allow us to make our choices! And, depending on the outcome, let us stand alongside you. It has never been your duty to handle everything alone." She asserted.
"Yeah! Azrael's right!" Michael agreed. "Look at me! I've been doing your job in your absence, and I'm fine!" He exclaimed.
For a moment, there was silence again. The others had functioning eyes. There was no fooling them. Still, the sentiment was sweet, and he meant every word, even if it wasn't truthful.
"Heh, very well," Gabriel said with a chuckle. From within the shadows of his form, he smiled. He felt blessed to have such loving kin. "Well then, what are your choices?" He asked, despite being confident in their answers.
"I'm in," Azrael answered.
"As am I," Lilith answered.
"Do I even need to say it?" Michael questioned with a smile.
"Three for three, how surprising." Gabriel jested before turning around. "Alright. Come in. However, you better not get angry at me later." He told them as he walked away.
"No promises~" Azrael playfully replied as the trio followed.
As the group ventured into the Ivory Tower, its doors closed behind them. Yet, they weren't then shrouded in darkness. The entrance led directly into the center of the structure. The tower's rooms and spaces were located on its seemingly infinite number of floors.
"Father!" Gabriel called out as the group stopped in the middle of the room. His head was tilted back. "Lilith, Azrael, and Michael are here! Lucifer is indisposed at the moment! We'll have to talk with him later!" He informed his parent.
Looking upward like the Archangel did, everyone saw nothing for the first few seconds. But then, something came into view. A shapeless mass of energy descended toward them.
The group silently waited for the energy to reach them. A voice was heard once it was on the ground level, a few feet from Gabriel.
"Ah, my children. It's so wonderful to see you." The entity greeted. Its voice sounded like a man's. The tone was calm and compassionate. "The same is expressed to you as well, Lilith. I've long wanted for the day I could see you so directly." He said.
"I feel the same, sir," Lilith replied while politely bowing. "I'd love to shake your hand, even hug you, but I don't think there's anything for me to get a hold of." She told him. Surprisingly, this made him chuckle.
"Worry not. That won't be an issue for much longer." God assured. Of course, this confused Lilith. However, Azrael and Michael were also bewildered.
"Um...Father, what do you mean?" Michael asked.
"Gabriel," God said, addressing his other Son. "Perhaps you should tell them. I don't know if I could properly answer that question." He suggested.
"Brace. Your. Selves." Gabriel stated with emphasis, slowly looking at them. "Sit on the ground. I mean it. What you're about to see may send you to unconsciousness. I barely remained on my feet." He insisted.
The trio was speechless. What was about to happen? Sadly, they had no time to ponder. God was doing something.
The shapeless mass they assumed WAS God's true form was...disappearing...a...figure could be seen...
...
...
There were no thoughts. No emotions. No reaction. As Gabriel warned, Azrael, Michael, and Lilith experienced something indescribable.
The shapeless form was gone. In its place, an intimidatingly large creature floated across from them. Its body was a gorgeous yet never-before-seen fusion of flesh and technology. Every detail of its appearance was ornate and carefully crafted.
On the creature's backside sat a set of golden wings. Yet, they were not normal. Instead, the appendages, like the body, were a combination of two parts. The limbs themselves were physical. In contrast, the wings were entirely made of energy.
Rather than legs, a mass of tendrils hung from the torso. The arms, while having unique characteristics, were mostly normal. The body, apart from its size, was also seemingly ordinary. But then, there was the head.
A mouth rested beneath a single eye. There was no nose or any other notable feature. However, like every aspect of the creature, it was beautifully sculpted. Was it truly their appearance? Armor? A disguise? Regardless of its nature, it was...Divine. The only other thing to mention was its colors. They consisted of red, white, silver, and gold.
"Hello." The entity greeted. What was assumed to be its eye, which was blue, looked at them. The mouth that rested beneath it smiled. "I am Samur Maykr. Your God. Your Creator. And, to my children, their Father." He stated, introducing himself.