This chapter got way bigger than I anticipated. I expected to be over 6000 words, but it ended being almost the double.
"And you have absolutely no idea what this could be?" An unnatural tone of concern was heard in Pandemonica's voice.
Azazel shrugged, quite nervous. "I already told you, no. I've never heard, nor felt, anything like this. Not even the archives in Heaven mentioned something like it."
It had been less than an hour since this being of abnormal power had appeared in Hell; an hour since Lucifer, Justice, Judgement, and the Helltaker had gone to the demon realm to investigate. The mood in the house was now tense, even though some girls were still trying to hide it.
Pandemonica was completely serious and focused. All Cerberus bodies shared a mixture of fear and anxiety. Modeus was completely buried in one of her books, ignoring everything around her as if that would make the problem go away. Malina was doing the same with one of her video games, preferring not to face reality.
Zdrada maintained that rebellious and unpretentious facade, but deep down she was as apprehensive as anyone else. Azazel, as always, had a notepad in her hands, writing down everything she considered interesting.
The atmosphere in the household remained that way for several minutes, until a portal appeared in the kitchen, which made all the girls there look at it, watching with anticipation.
Justice was the first to cross the portal, followed by Helltaker and soon after by Lucifer. Judgement was the last to cross the portal; at least the last one any of the girls expected.
"You're back! What happened down the-" Pandemonica's words, as well as her voice, fell on deaf ears the moment a last, unexpected individual crossed the portal.
The reactions of all the girls upon seeing Alinoth's figure were the same as Lucifer's and the others who went to Hell; complete initial shock and fear at the appearance of the Bearer of the Curse; at his enormous power and strange appearance.
Guided by pure reflex, Zdrada quickly steps in front of Malina to protect her sister. Cerberus does the same, encompassing the entire group as they snarl at the 3-meter-tall undead.
"It's alright, let's take it easy. He's not a threat, don't worry." Justice did what was necessary to calm everyone's nerves there, but her attempt didn't have the desired effect.
"Hey! You all heard Justice!" It took a more direct approach by Judgement for the other girls to finally calm down a little, but they still stared at Alinoth with justifiable distrust.
However, the Bearer of the Curse didn't even notice all the eyes on him, being too busy observing the entire scenario around him.
To say that everything was a shock would be an understatement. The strange smells, the appearance of everything... The Helltaker's house was obviously very different from anything Alinoth had ever seen. Everything was cleaner, with straighter and more simplistic designs. The colors, the strange objects, and technologies scattered throughout the household... For someone who was only used to the dark and rustic-looking settings of Drangleic, Lordran, or Lothric, finding himself in a place like that, no matter how alien it was, brought a feeling of complete comfort to the Bearer of the Curse, a feeling that could only be compared to the one he felt whenever he stepped foot in Majula.
The scenery around Alinoth spoke to him, revealing how much more advanced this world was in certain areas than the ones he was used to. And the outside... Looking through the windows, Alinoth could barely control himself as he went to an open one, being hit by a myriad of overwhelming sensations and emotions as he bent down and stuck his head out to see as much as he could.
Seeing that, the Helltaker couldn't help but smile as he approached the Bearer of the Curse. "So... what do you think?"
Taking a deep breath, Alinoth exhaled a few seconds later with the biggest smile on his face. "This freshness... This wind... The brightness of the sun... And this blue sky?! Do you have any idea how many millennia I've spent without seeing a blue sky like this?!"
And the scenery that accompanied all this? The designs of everything near and far? The clothes of the people walking down the streets, the strange machines that Alinoth laid eyes on? The enormous buildings in the distance?!
The True Monarch found himself in complete ecstasy. For the first time in millions of years, Alinoth truly felt alive. This was a change felt by everyone in the house. The aura Alinoth gave off became more radiant, as if he began to emanate a rejuvenating and comforting warmth, genuinely bringing a slight sense of peace and tranquility to everyone there.
He wanted more. The Bearer of the Curse wanted to go out right now and explore this world, to feel again everything he had denied himself for countless lifetimes... but he managed to control himself better in the end. Controlling his breathing, Alinoth recovered from his little breakdown, retrieving control over himself.
"Sorry... Sorry, I..."
However, the Helltaker only laughed. "If you're like this now, I think when you taste some of my pancakes, you'll die of excitement."
Smiling and calming down, Alinoth nods to the Helltaker. He got carried away so much that the Bearer of the Curse only now noticed the several more people present there, watching him with looks that varied between curiosity and caution. The vast majority of them resembled Lucifer, Judgement, and Justice, having white hair, horns, tails, and red eyes. The only different one there was a girl with black hair, blue eyes, and who instead of horns, had a strange glowing halo floating over her head.
The realization of so many gazes upon him made Alinoth's eyes widen and a slight redness of embarrassment took over his cheeks.
"Oh, damn it! Sorry for the scene, I... didn't notice you all there." Embarrassed, the Bearer of the Curse rubs the back of his neck while looking away at the same time. "In any event... my name is Alinoth, by the way. Nice to meet you all."
None of the girls there said anything, just staring at Alinoth for several seconds, not knowing how to react. The Cursed One's power was legitimately frightening, greater than anything they had ever felt in Heaven or Hell, and was obviously something to be feared, but at the same time... the man sounded and acted completely contrary to his power, at least for now.
And of course, it also didn't help that the aura he emanated was once again completely calming and peaceful, making it hard for anyone not to feel comfortable in Alinoth's presence right now.
"Well, Alinoth... Let's get to the table, okay?" The Helltaker gently patted Alinoth on the back. "I promised you some food and it will be better for us to talk."
"Yeah... alright. By the way, do you have a place where I can leave my weapons?" Alinoth then pointed to both swords on his back and at his waist.
"Just leave them anywhere. Don't worry, the girls won't touch them." The Helltaker said as he moved to the kitchen to start preparing the pancakes. He just hoped he had enough ingredients to make enough for someone as big as Alinoth.
"Uh... Okay." Analyzing his surroundings, Alinoth locates an empty corner nearby. Walking over, he picks up both his Moonlight Greatsword and Blue Flame in his hands. The great blade made with pure moonlight - until now inactive - reacted to the touch of its master, starting to glow to a blinding point that made many of those around have to cover their eyes.
"My apologies." Alinoth finally lowers both swords and rests them against the wall, blades facing the ground. An audible thud is heard as the weapons touch the ground, making it very clear that those swords are much heavier than they appear to be.
Walking over to the kitchen table, the Bearer of the Curse pulls out three chairs, lines them up next to each other, and sits down. Fortunately, the furniture was sturdy enough to support his weight. Of course, he also had to sit a little away from the large table, considering that Alinoth was too tall for his legs to fit under the furniture, but it was nothing too serious.
"So, you desire information, right? What kind?" Lucifer pulled herself a chair and sat down next to Alinoth, already bringing with her a bottle of wine and two glasses. She offers a glass to Alinoth, but the Bearer of the Curse politely declines.
"I do not ask for much, actually. Just information on how this world works. It's origins, if possible. Vital information a complete stranger would need to know. And in exchange, I'll tell you about my world and even myself."
The Bearer of the Curse crosses his arms. "Curiosity is lurking within your eyes. Curiosity about me, but more than anything, my power. You're wondering how a mere 'human' possesses such might. Well... knowledge for knowledge. Satiate my curiosity and I'll be an open book."
For a moment, Lucifer was honestly impressed. Was Alinoth able to read her so well? He was even more cunning than he let on. But in any event, what the Bearer of the Curse was offering was a reasonable offer. She didn't need to tell Alinoth the very secrets of heaven and hell, just the basics and what else she deemed necessary for him to know.
"Very well." Opening the bottle of wine, Lucifer pours herself a glass and takes a sip. "Let us start at the beginning of everything: the dawn of creation."
Lucifer's explanation, overall, was simple and to the point, yet still extremely cohesive. She only gave emphasis and more details where she felt it was deserved. She spoke to Alinoth about God, the creation of everything, Heaven, angels, Hell, and then demons, giving Alinoth a general overview of everything in this world while the Bearer of the Curse listened to everything with total focus and attention, without even blinking for several minutes.
And yet, after hearing all that, all that information and revelations about this world... Alinoth had only one question:
"Wait, so... Are you all demons?" The Bearer of the Curse asked as he pointed to all the girls.
"Almost all of us. Azazel lives with us, but she's an angel." Justice answered for Lucifer, resting her arm on the angel's shoulder. Alinoth dodges his gaze to the black-haired girl with a halo on her head who had caught his attention earlier.
The angel in question almost flinched when she noticed Alinoth's gaze on her, being extremely nervous. However, the Bearer of the Curse merely raises an eyebrow before looking back at Lucifer.
The Queen of Hell raises an eyebrow. "That... is the only question you have? If we're all demons? After everything you've heard, don't you have any other questions?"
"No... Not really." The sincerity in Alinoth's voice surprises Lucifer. "Many of the concepts you explained to me are things I'm no stranger to. I know them, just by different names. I mean, the way you described angels? It's almost identical to an old foe I fought once, one that was always lurking in the dark..."
"But anyway... you all being demons?" The Bearer of the Curse blushes slightly as he scratches his beard. "Let's just say that, when compared to the demons I'm used to, you're all much more... good-looking."
Alinoth's words make Lucifer let out a light laugh. "We appreciate the compliment, but what you see are not our true forms. If you saw us in our true natures... you would quickly reconsider your words."
"I doubt your true forms could be worse than a giant toad with the arms and face of an old woman, but I'll let you believe that." Alinoth chuckled, obviously joking. Still, Alinoth's description of an old, singing demon he fought once puzzled Lucifer, making her frown.
But seriously, if Lucifer or any of the other girls only knew about all the horrors Alinoth had seen... And also, she and the other girls weren't the only ones who hid their true forms with a human facade.
The moment Alinoth and Lucifer finished talking, the Helltaker approached the table, bringing with him a plate completely piled high with pancakes and placing them in front of the Bearer of the Curse.
"I hope this might surprise you, compared to what you might be used to eating.", the Helltaker smiled as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cloth.
"If they taste as good as they look, this will surely be the best thing I've ever eaten in my life." The Bearer of the Curse smiled as he studied the pancakes. They were rolled up neatly, and covered in a delicious-looking chocolate sauce. And that wonderful smell...
With his mouth watering in anticipation, Alinoth took the fork provided for him and, careful not to break anything, quickly picked up an entire pancake and brought it to his mouth.
And well... to say that those pancakes were just tasty would be the biggest understatement in all of existence, because they were much, much more.
Alinoth opened his eyes as wide as he could and was completely paralyzed as he was hit by the myriad of flavors from the pancake. Magical was the only word he could think of to describe it as he chewed and swallowed the food. The perfectly seasoned batter, combined with the rich and sweet flavor of chocolate... No food he had ever tasted in his life could match the extremely good flavors and sensations that this pancake offered.
In that instant, all and any self-control Alinoth had was lost. Looking at the other pancakes, the Bearer of the Curse simply attacked them with total ferocity, resembling the Covetous Demon in wanting nothing else than to consume more and more. How many lifetimes had it been since Alinoth had eaten such delicious food? Real food?
"Mmnhnfhbm..." Alinoth, still in ecstasy, tried to say something, but his mouth was still full of pancakes for any cohesive words to come out.
In fact, there were so many pancakes in Alinoth's mouth that he was genuinely having trouble swallowing them all. The True Monarch had to take a few chugs from his Estus Flask to help the food go down.
Such a vision makes the Helltaker let out a belly laugh. "My man, relax! The pancakes won't run away from you!"
"Kinda reminds me of Lucifer." Said Malina, trying her best not to bust out laughing.
That made the CEO of Hell dodge her attention to the Sour Demon. "Excuse me?! I never acted like this!"
"Oh, but you did! Remember when we first came to Taker's home and you first tasted his pancakes? That time you thought no one was looking?!" Said Zdrada with a big grin on her face.
A blush takes over Lucifer's face as the Queen of Hell is both very embarrassed and extremely angry. She tries to shout something, but the words refuse to come out of her mouth. In the end, she just screams in frustration and sinks into her chair, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Finally swallowing everything, Alinoth pauses for a few seconds to recover from what was truly a life-changing experience for him. Taking a deep breath, the Bearer of the Curse turns to face the Helltaker.
"I... I... What kind of magic do you use to make these pancakes, friend?! This... was simply the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life!" The enormous enthusiasm in Alinoth's voice and the huge smile on the man's face were things that could not be hidden. It was contagious, and the Helltaker also found himself with a huge smile on his face.
The mortal man just shrugs. "It's just an old family recipe. But yes, I don't deny that there's something special about this recipe."
Watching all this, several of the girls couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation. The Helltaker chocolate pancakes had conquered yet one more.
Running his finger across the plate in front of him, Alinoth picked up some of the chocolate syrup and brought it to his mouth, savoring a little more of that sweet and addictive flavor. For the first time in ages, the Bearer of the Curse felt satisfied and fulfilled, and all of these feelings were caused by just a few pancakes.
"Look... it's been a long, long time since I last felt this light. So... happy." And those words were far from an understatement. Memories of simpler times filled the man's mind, times in Forossa, before the curse. However, these memories were a double-edged sword, for as they did bring happiness to Alinoth, they also showed the Bearer of the Curse everything he had lost, everything that had been ripped away from him because of an old fool with a god complex who cursed humanity in fear of losing his power and authority.
Alinoth then assumed a more serious and closed posture and expression. The total and sudden change in the atmosphere inside the household was noticed by everyone there.
Alinoth takes another deep breath, turning to face Lucifer right after.
"Well, I think it's my turn now. My turn to tell you what you want to hear. However, it's not just me who has things to say. It was imperceptible to all of you, but I didn't come to this world alone. Someone else came with me."
The revelation, combined with Alinoth's change in tone, surprised Lucifer. Had someone else come with Alinoth? Who? The Helltaker hasn't found anyone else with the Bearer of the Curse.
Looking away from him, Alinoth looked directly at all the other girls who weren't at the table and who were just watching everything unfold before them. "I would recommend all of you to take a few steps back. Just to be safe."
Such words only confused all the girls present. However, the heavy atmosphere that took over the house and the Bearer of the Curse's completely serious face was enough to make the girls obey and take a few steps back. Yes, even the always chaotic and rebellious Zdrada decided not to risk it, more for Malina's sake than anything else.
"And as a final warning... don't be scared by his appearance. As threatening as Aldia may be, he is not dangerous. Not without a reason, of course."
The girls barely had time to get confused about who this Aldia was before it happened. Out of nowhere, violent flames emerged from the kitchen floor, scaring everyone present, except Alinoth himself. From the middle of the flames emerged a shapeless and grotesque mass, similar to a pile of twisted wood and roots on fire. The semblance of a face could be seen in the distorted mass, with a single eye, a nose, and a mouth.
The sight of such a deformed and unknown creature sent chills down everyone's spines. Many of the girls took even more steps back, with Justice and Judgement stranding in front of everyone to protect them all, if necessary.
Watching all that, the shapeless mass only let out a slow but chilling laugh for the audience there.
"Please, there is no need for fear. As Alinoth himself already explained, I wish no harm to any of you.", spoke the grotesque mass. Its voice was extremely guttural and almost distorted, sounding like several male and female voices speaking at the same time.
Lucifer herself did not react for several seconds, still in shock from the sudden appearance of that thing. After some time, she could only stammer: "W-what are you...?"
"I am Aldia." Said the distorted mass, revealing his name to everyone. "I once was a mentor for Alinoth, but today I am no more than an advisor. He far surpassed the needs for my teachings."
"Me and Aldia go way back. He's my oldest friend and greatest ally. He's also a great responsible for the power I possess today. It was because of Aldia and his teachings that I managed to go beyond Light and Dark and became a True Monarch."
"True... Monarch?" Lucifer questions.
"I'll explain this in a moment. First, you need a general context, to understand the roots of everything about my world and myself." The Bearer of the Curse rests his hands on the table, a serious countenance never leaving his face.
"It all begins in the so-called 'Age of Ancients', when the world was unformed and shrouded by fog."
Alinoth's explanation was slow and meticulous, with Aldia also giving valuable insights. They both talked about the world ruled by the Everlasting Dragons, and about the dragons themselves. They also talked about the First Flames and its sudden emergence without sparing details, about the Disparity it brought, about the mighty Lord Souls found within the Flame and the four ancient pygmies that claimed them, the subsequent war between three of those four against the dragons and the creation of humanity by the Furtive Pygmy.
Alinoth's entire countenance shifts just thinking about those three Lords who challenged the dragons, especially their leader, Gwyn - the so-called 'Lord of Light'. The Bearer of the Curse clenched his fists and took a deep breath.
"Gwyn, that bastard... seeking nothing more than power, manipulated the newborn humanity into serving him from the beginning. He used humanity as expendable soldiers in the form of the Slave Knights to fight in his bloodiest battles. He tricked the Pygmies, gifting them a prison cloaked as a city..." Alinoth's words were laced with venom.
The Cursed One's aura now was volatile and fiery, growing even wilder by the second. It felt as if the entirety of Alinoth's rage was slowly piling up, and that made everyone there shrink away a little.
Also, Alinoth changed himself physically. His eyes, before bright blue, turned into a bright yellow - with narrow, vertical pupils resembling those of a reptile.
But even with all the inner rage boiling up, Alinoth's voice remained eerily calm.
"And yet... he decided that wasn't enough. Gwyn, afraid of the power humanity had decided that he had to do even worse. He decided to curse humanity, to completely deform and put a leash on us all."
By pure reflex, Alinoth brings his hand to the back of his left shoulder, touching the place where that accused Darksign once existed upon his body, burning deeply and constantly as a reminder of all the sins committed by the Lord of Sunlight.
But as suddenly as it happened, it ended. Alinoth's frightening aura ceased, returning to be as comforting as it was before. The Bearer of the Curse closes his eyes, slowly breathing as he opens his fists and eyes, with both orbs returning to their usual blue coloring.
"I apologize for this. I... The mere thought of Gwyn makes my blood boil. Everything he did... How much he made humanity suffer. How much I suffered..." Alinoth lets out a tired sigh. "In any event... Allow me to proceed, to make you all understand more."
The Bearer of the Curse then proceeded with his explanation of it, now talking more about the leash Gwyn placed on humanity: the Darksign, on how humanity was not only deformed into a 'fitting form', but on how it caused humanity's greatest suffering; the Undead Curse.
"As the First Flame naturally fades out, the Darksign grew weaker. That allowed humans to return to their original form of an undead. However, even weakened, the Darksign still fed on the person's humanity - their shard of the Dark Soul - slowly making the human lose itself, its memories, its life... until they were so lost that they would become a shell of their former self, a mindless being that would prey upon others to feast upon their souls: a Hollow."
The process of Hollowing was something Alinoth was more than familiar with and still was haunted by it. Not only did he nearly become hollow once, but also…
The Bearer of the Curse had to control himself to not shed a tear as he thought about Lucatiel. To watch powerless as the knight of Mirrah - the woman he loved - lost herself to the curse... And when he found a way to properly help her... It was far too late. To this day, that is Alinoth's greatest regret.
The Undead Curse was Gwyn's greatest sin against humanity. But Gwyn's true sin, the one he committed against existence itself, would still come when the First Flame began to naturally fade out.
After explaining how the Witch of Izalith and her Daughters of Chaos tried to create a new First Flame, but instead created the Chaos Flame and with it all the demon race... Alinoth sighs. "Gwyn couldn't accept that his Age of Fire was coming to an end. So, he did the unthinkable. Going against the world's wishes, against the nature of existence itself... Gwyn gave up himself and his soul to rekindle the First Flame, to artificially prolong the Age of Fire... And that act, that single act, ultimately doomed the world."
Aldia grunts in anger as the scholar also thinks about Gwyn's actions. "The Lord of Light not only defied the natural order of existence, he completely warped it. He shackled the world by a yoke of falsehoods, twisting fate itself. That, as a whole, composes Gwyn's greatest mistake; the First Sin."
"A sin that many would fight to preserve.", stated Alinoth. "And the gods' manipulations over humanity, making us believe that the Age of Fire should be preserved, that it was the only way for our welfare... It made humanity mere props on the already set stage, making us twist and deform the world even further."
The Bearer of the Curse lets out a dry laugh. "Mere props. And no matter how tender, how exquisite… A lie will remain a lie!"
The anger in Alinoth's voice was almost palpable. The same anger was shared by Aldia. Out of pure selfishness and hunger for power, Gwyn doomed the world completely. The First Sin was the trigger for existence itself to slowly deform until it reached the point of collapse.
"By the time I was born, tens of thousands of years had already passed since the First Sin. Even if the gods themselves were long dead and their names forgotten, their manipulations lingered on. It didn't matter if someone tried to allow the flame to die out, another one - guided by manipulations - would always come and rekindle again, slowly killing the world."
The Bearer of the Curse crosses his arms. "The fire fading was always marked by the Darksign growing weaker, marking the return of the undead curse upon the world. It was during one of those times that my first journey began."
Alinoth didn't say a thing about his past life, instead jumping straight into when he was afflicted by the undead curse and went on search of a cure, on how he was drawn to the kingdom of Drangleic like a moth drawn to a flame. His journey through the fallen kingdom, his hunt for the Great Souls, meeting Aldia and King Vendrick, searching for the ancient crowns, and finally seeing through the lies and manipulations set by the gods of old; what allowed Alinoth, in the end, to ascend towards the cycles, becoming a True Monarch and transcending reality itself.
"...but it was only when I stood at the Throne of Want after killing Nashandra, after proving myself for Aldia... that everything made sense. To be a True Monarch isn't to be a mere ruler, but instead be someone able to make any choice, whatever it may be. Someone who isn't shackled by anything, having complete free will and being able to choose by their own accord, without limitations."
Aldia grunted in agreement with Alinoth. "That, to this day, remains my greatest teaching for Alinoth. It was never my desire to manipulate him. Instead, I merely wanted to show him all the paths he could take, all the choices he had. And as a True Monarch, Alinoth was free to choose whatever he saw fit."
"Light, Dark, or something else entirely. I could, despite everything I've learned, proceed to the throne, accepting my place as a pawn in the cycles and either rekindle the flame or try and allow it to fade out. I had that choice ."
Closing his eyes, Alinoth takes a deep breath. "But I chose to leave the throne. I chose to go in search of something else entirely, something beyond Light and Dark. With the ancient crowns and Vendrick's Blessing, I couldn't go Hollow anymore. Like Aldia before me, I had escaped the cycles. And so, I wandered the world from that day forward, searching, until the inevitable day came and the world was no more, collapsing by so many artificially linking the First Flame. In the end, me and Aldia were the last remaining beings in a world taken by ash."
"However, we still lacked answers. Many questions were left blank." Aldia said. "Deciding that we needed to learn more, me and Alinoth agreed that the barrier between worlds shouldn't be our limit. Using the Looking Glass, one of my many creations, we started traveling between different worlds that also contained the First Flame, worlds similar to our own. A process that we repeat throughout time immemorial."
"Time immemorial...?" Lucifer blinks. "Exactly how long have you been doing this? How old are you?" The Queen of Hell questions Alinoth.
The Cursed One thinks, scratching his beard. "I was inflicted by the undead curse and stopped aging when I was 38 years old. From that day until now, for me, it has been more than... 15 million years."
Upon hearing that, Lucifer couldn't avoid opening her eyes wide and dropping her jaw. "You are 15 million years old?!"
"15,174,947, to be more specific." Said Alinoth. "I can even tell you down to the exact months, weeks, days, and even seconds of my age. And yes, I have it all memorized."
That was yet another piece of information about Alinoth that not only left Lucifer speechless but also several others there. 15 million years old? That made Alinoth much, much older than the universe itself!
Looking down, the Bearer of the Curse sighs heavily as he runs his hands over his face. "15 million years where everything I did was to travel through hundreds of worlds, witnessing their birth and death. I was searching for something beyond Light and Dark, something beyond cycles. I did everything you can imagine... But it didn't matter what I did, nothing changed in the end, or I even made things worse..."
"Do you still have a way to travel between worlds?" Lucifer asks.
"No. The looking glass was destroyed and I don't have the materials to create another. I mean... maybe I can find materials here that would serve as replacements, but..." Alinoth lets out a tired sigh as he covers his face with both hands. "I don't even know if I want to make another portal..."
Pure fatigue and exhaustion were obvious in Alinoth's countenance and voice. At first, the True Monarch was optimistic and confident. He had successfully tricked the curse and escaped the cycles and wanted to share this gift with the rest of humanity. But by this point and after all this time - after trying, trying, and trying without achieving anything substantial... he no longer knew why he continued, why he still persevered.
Lucifer's expression softened as she looked at Alinoth. The Queen of Hell couldn't avoid but to sympathize with the True Monarch. She knew all too well the desolation Alinoth was suffering. Trying to change things for the better, only for them to remain the same, or even get worse... Lucifer was more familiar with that feeling than she liked to admit.
The CEO of Hell takes another sip of her wine, looking intently at Alinoth. "And what do you intend to do now?"
"You speak as if I have a myriad of choices at my disposal." The Bearer of the Curse dodges his gaze. "I honestly don't know. For the first time in millions of years... I don't know what to do."
"But you do have a myriad of choices at your disposal. Isn't that the basis of your existence, True Monarch? Your past responsibilities are no more. You are free to do whatever you want." In a move that surprises Alinoth, Lucifer rises from her chair and walks over to the monarch, stopping in front of him. "But until you decide, you're going to need a place to stay. And well... I think we can arrange a spot for you here."
Alinoth blinks at the demon. "Okay, what's the catch?"
"None. It may be hard to believe, but I just wish to help you." A genuine smile was visible on the Queen of Hell's face, something that surprised some there. Lucifer knew the feeling of complete helplessness, of being alone in an unknown place, with no one to count on, and so she wanted to aid Alinoth against that.
The Cursed One just stood there, observing Lucifer for a few seconds, genuinely surprised. He didn't sense any ulterior motive coming from the Queen of Hell, no hidden desire... nothing. She genuinely wanted to help the Bearer of the Curse. This was a sort of kindness that the undead had lost all familiarity with.
"It really won't be a problem? And you, Taker? What do you think? Aren't you the true master of this abode?" The Bearer of the Curse questions the human.
"Technically the truth, but I also don't see a problem." The Helltaker shrugs, always with a smile. "You genuinely seem like a nice person to be around, and if Lucifer thinks it's alright, then I have no objections."
"Well... then I would be as mindless as a hollow if I did not accept such an offer." Said the Cursed One, as he rose from his chairs.
The CEO of Hell smiled upon hearing Alinoth's words, extending her hand towards the Bearer of the Curse. Alinoth returned the gesture and both monarchs shook hands, sealing what Aldia would call an unofficial covenant.
After talking to everyone in the morning, Alinoth didn't do much else. Some time was used to introduce Alinoth to other things new for him, such as a greater array of technologies that were common sights in this world. Television, in particular, was what caught Alinoth's attention the most.
Aside from that, nothing much happened. The vast majority of the girls were still apprehensive about the presence of the Bearer of the Curse in the house, so Alinoth didn't talk to anyone other than Helltaker and Lucifer for a while, but they both had other responsibilities to deal with, so Alinoth found himself alone for the rest of the day.
The True Monarch then went to the back garden of the Helltaker's house, where he stood there, just observing and absorbing everything around him; all the sights and sensations, old and new... Alinoth breathed in peace as he felt refreshed by the sensation of the wind blowing against his face, the gentle warmth of the sun leaving soft kisses against his skin...
And the sky... Once again, Alinoth found himself mesmerized by that blue splendor, absorbing with his eyes all that beauty he had not seen for thousands of years. The Bearer of the Curse remained standing in that garden for hours, and before Alinoth knew it, the sun had already set and night fell upon the mortal realm. Gazing at that starry night sky, Alinoth, for the first time in tens of thousands of years, felt... fulfilled and happy.
The Cursed One was pulled out of all his reverie and contemplation when he noticed the sound of footsteps approaching him. Looking back, the Bearer of the Curse finds the ever-smiling figure of Justice approaching him, both hands in her pockets.
"The others told me you've been standing here for hours. I know you're as tall as a tree, but you don't need to be planted in the garden like one." The smile on the Awesome Demon's face grew even wider as she teased Alinoth.
Justice's words elicited a light chuckle from the Bearer of the Curse. "After spending entire millennia in a gray and lifeless world, just being able to observe all this beauty again, no matter how simple, is more than enough to make me happy."
"I bet it is." Justice's smile fades after a few seconds, an extremely rare sight coming from the Awesome Demon. Most of the time, Justice didn't mind her blindness, but the demon would be lying if she didn't say that sometimes she wished she could still see; to see the beauty and splendor of the human world with her own eyes and not just through the descriptions of others.
Alinoth couldn't help but notice the sudden change in Justice's mood, but before he could ask anything, a big smile quickly returned to adorn the Awesome Demon's face, looking like it had never left.
"But hey, I came here to tell you that we've already arranged a place for you to sleep." Justice said, acting as if nothing had happened just a few seconds ago.
Alinoth raises an eyebrow, but just shrugs and forgets about it for now right after. "And where would that said spot be?"
"My room." Justice answers bluntly.
Blinking, Alinoth takes a few seconds to fully take in the demon's words. "...I beg your pardon?"
Justice can't help but laugh at the utter confusion in Alinoth's voice. "You heard, my room. Unfortunately, we don't have any more vacant rooms, so you'll have to share one with someone. The other girls weren't comfortable with the idea, but I don't mind. But what about you? Do you have any problem with that?"
"Uh... no. It just caught me by surprise, that's all." Alinoth exclaims. "And you? Do you have no problem sharing your room with me?"
"Not at all! I already told you when we first met, but I already liked you. And after everything you've told us... I just know it's going to be a lot of fun having you as a roommate."
Alinoth scratched the back of his neck. "If you say so... And I appreciate the vote of confidence."
Justice's smile grew even wider, if that was even possible. "You're welcome! Anyway, I already got you some extra mattresses, but you'll have to sleep on the floor. Sorry, but obviously we don't have a bed frame for someone as tall as you."
"Just the mattresses will do, thank you. And to be honest... I don't sleep much. Not for lack of will, it's because I don't need that much rest." That was an understatement. The Bearer of the Curse could very well go several years without even yawning or feeling tired, time that Alinoth would use to continue his studies and experiments without stopping almost ever.
Justice shrugged. "Whatever you say, dude. My room is on the second floor, last door on the right. When you're ready, you can come in without even knocking." Alinoth thanked Justice once again, to which the Awesome Demon, as always, responded with a smile and a few slaps on the Bearer of the Curse's arm. The demon then turned around and went back inside the house.
The Cursed One watches the Awesome Demon going away, catching himself smiling. From everyone he met today, Justice had that constant aura of positivity and just pure fun. She certainly was someone who lived life at its fullest and overall just a delightful company to be around. After such a long time with just Aldia, having someone like her as a roommate should be quite fun.
Alinoth stood there for a few more minutes, but it was getting late. Even though Alinoth didn't need to sleep, he didn't have much else to do for the next few hours. Of course, he could always review his notes, and continue his experiments a little longer... However, the Bearer of the Curse simply didn't feel like doing any of that.
Taking one last look at the wonderful starry sky above him, Alinoth turns around and heads back inside the Helltaker's house. By this time, almost everyone was already in their rooms, with the only exceptions being Malina and Modeus, who were watching something on the TV that Alinoth didn't pay attention to. The girls were so focused that they didn't even notice the Bearer of the Curse walking past them and heading towards the stairs.
However, Alinoth stops in his tracks the moment he feels he has stepped on something odd. Looking down, the Bearer of the Curse comes across a small notepad lying on the floor. Curious, he picks up the object and flips through its contents.
A variety of extremely detailed information related to Heaven, Hell, angels, and demons marked the pages of the notepad; with several things that Lucifer had not told Alinoth and that he found very interesting.
All that information, combined with the handwriting that Alinoth recognized as characteristic of someone who wrote everything very quickly, revealed to the Cursed One that this notepad belonged to Azazel.
Flipping through it a little more - until the final pages of the notepad - Alinoth found the most recent notes, all referring to things like souls, the First Flame, the curse, Light, and Dark... basically everything Alinoth had revealed to everyone this morning.
Several footnotes accompanied the notes, all filled with questions regarding information Alinoth had revealed.
'How this First Flame came to be?'
'Can souls be used to give life to an object?'
'How souls and blood are linked?'
'How much pain can an undead endure? Can they grow their limbs back?'
...and several other notes of that type. Many of them were valid questions from someone who knew almost nothing. As for others... Well, for someone who already saw and did of everything, some of the things Azazel was pondering raised gigantic warnings inside Alinoth's mind.
"Heh heh... It seems to be a constant so-called 'beings of light' to be far more twisted and depraved than any creature of Dark." Aldia exclaimed within Alinoth's mind.
"That is a truly unbreakable cycle, I suppose." Alinoth sighed, thinking about everything he had just read. For the next few seconds, the Bearer of the Curse paced back and forth, pondering what he could do. Many of the things he had read, while some valid doubts, were still things not even a demon would question. Azazel might not have wicked intentions directly, but these signs were still worth heeding.
"I'd better gather more information before I act." That would be for the best. Closing the notepad, Alinoth uses a little magic to clone the item, keeping that copy with himself. Moves up the stairs, he then goes to the second floor, where most of the rooms in the house are located.
Walking through a hallway full of doors, Alinoth stops in front of the door of Azazel's bedroom. He could feel the angel's soul inside, and also hear a significant amount of erratic movements joined by an almost desperate voice.
"Where is it?! Where did I leave it?!"
Reaching out, Alinoth knocks softly on the door. All the noise coming from inside the room stops for a moment, with Azazel's voice resounding soon after: "Just a second!"
A few seconds pass before the door opens and Azazel finally shows up, smiling and expecting to find one of the girls or the Helltaker, not the 3-meter-tall, armored undead.
The smile on Azazel's face quickly fades and she quickly widens her eyes as she looks up, meeting Alinoth's gaze.
"Ah! M-Mister Alinoth! W-what can I do for you?" A nervous smile takes over Azazel's features as she stammers, trying to remain calm in Alinoth's presence.
The Bearer of the Curse watches the nervous angel for a few seconds, before forcing a gentler smile. "Please... no 'Mister'. Just Alinoth, okay? Also, calm down... I just thought you might like this back."
Alinoth shows the notepad to Azazel. As soon as the angel sees the item, her eyes light up and, with extreme speed, Azazel plucks the object from Alinoth's hand.
"Y-you found it!" Azazel turns his attention from the notepad back to Alinoth, the biggest smile on her face. "Thank you! Thank you so much! This notepad contains vital information for my research! You saved me from having to redo months of work!"
"I'm happy to help! I know all too well the pain of losing important notes, believe me. It's happened to me more times than I care to admit." By 'more times', Alinoth means it's only happened twice. And both times his notes weren't lost, but rather accidentally destroyed during a battle. Alinoth never forgave Gael first destroying his notes, nor that accursed "Eternal Queen" for the second time it happened.
Azazel quickly flips through the notepad, checking to see if everything is in order. She sighs in relief when she sees that everything is exactly as she had left it. Turning around, the angel then takes the notepad and leaves it next to a large pile of several other notepads. There were so many that to anyone not paying attention, the lack of just one would be unnoticeable.
The sight genuinely impressed Alinoth. "You certainly are someone who valuates knowledge."
Azazel looks back at Alinoth. "Why, thank you! I've always had this desire to know about everything, to learn everything I can about the universe, all of its secrets..."
"And that's one of the reasons an angel like you is living in a place full of demons?" Alinoth asks as she raises an eyebrow.
"Of course! Since I was young, I've always been fascinated by demons. However, I wanted to learn more, far beyond the basics that are taught to us in Heaven. That's why I ventured into hell and agreed to live with the others here in the first place. I want to learn everything possible in practice."
"An angel venturing into hell... Aren't you worried about the possibility of you becoming a fallen angel? I recall Lucifer mentioning that possibility for me." Alinoth crosses her arms as he stares at Azazel.
However, in a quick movement, the angel waves her hand, dismissing Alinoth's words. "Nonsense! Falling is a mere fairy tale. We angels are too pure to be corrupted."
Azazel's words made Alinoth's eyes widen slightly. Did all angels believe in such ignorance, or was it just Azazel? The Bearer of the Curse had learned all too well that nothing and no one was incorruptible, that everyone could fall.
Gwyn was corrupted by his lust for power and his selfishness. Vendrick, once a just and worthy king, was corrupted by Nashandra for years and only realized it when it was too late. The Old Iron King was corrupted by his greed and debauchery, causing his castle to sink under the weight of the king's pettiness.
These were just a few of the countless examples of fall and corruption that Alinoth knew of, just a few of the many that the Bearer of the Curse had witnessed over millions of years. So no, no one was incorruptible, not even seemingly immaculate and pure beings.
"But anyway..." Azazel's words take Alinoth away from his reverie. "I thought I would be content with just unraveling the secrets of everything in the universe, but now... I see so much more; that there is even more for me to learn!"
"Let me guess; because of me?" Alinoth asks as he raises an eyebrow.
"Obviously! Your mere presence here already confirms that the multiverse is a fact. And everything else you told us earlier, about your world, many of its concepts... the possibilities for learning are endless!" Azazel's voice is even more excited than before.
Pulling an empty notepad and a pen from his pocket, Azazel looks at Alinoth with great anticipation.
"Could you, please, share more of your knowledge with me? You've traveled through many different worlds and is older than creation itself! It's obvious that what you told us this morning is nothing compared to all the knowledge you have. Do you think you also could...!" And just like that, Azazel started to have a mental breakdown.
The angel was talking about so many different things and everything extremely fast. As the seconds passed, even Alinoth could barely keep up with all the words Azazel was uttering.
Having enough, the Bearer of the Curse shakes both his hands in front of Azazel. "Hey, hey! Slow down!"
Both Alinoth's moments and words fortunately were enough to take the angel away from the reverie. Blinking several times in a row, Azazel finally realized what she was doing.
Looking at Alinoth's face, a deep blush takes over the angel's face. "Ah, I... I'm sorry, Alinoth! It's just that just having you here opens so many doors for me! You have no idea how important it would be if you...!"
...and here we go to another breakdown, this time with Azazel desperately apologizing.
"Ah, for Faraam's sake...!" Alinoth grunts as he also facepalms.
Deciding that enough was enough, Alinoth ignites his Pyromancy Flame in his right hand, casting a fireball right in front of Azazel. However, that wasn't a dangerous fireball at all - quite the opposite.
Floating in between the Bearer of the Curse and the Curious Angel, the small fireball emanated a comforting, extremely calming warmth.
Aside from that, it was completely different from your usual fire; being completely black in color, lacking any sort of yellow or red appearance a regular fire would have.
The moment Azazel found herself in the presence of the black fireball, her entire countenance shifted within a second. Completely ceasing to mumble excuse after excuse, Azazel instead focused solely on the small black flame in front of her.
The way the fire crackled, basically dancing in front of her, was mesmerizing. And the extremely calming, even pleasurable warmth that the flame emanated? It was simply divine. It was like being hugged by the person you love the most in all of existence.
With all of these elements combined, not only did Azazel quickly calm down, but she was also finding it impossible to keep her eyes open for even a second longer.
"Hey!" With wide eyes, Alinoth quickly lunged forward with both arms outstretched and caught Azazel's unconscious form before she could hit the ground. Quickly checking on the angel, Alinoth breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Azazel was still breathing and that she was merely asleep.
"I think I overdid the power of that pyromancy."
However, Alinoth was quickly pulled out of his thoughts when he heard several thud noises coming from the rooms around him and also from downstairs as if several things had hit the floor in sequence.
Alinoth's blood ran cold as the Bearer of the Curse's eyes widened once more.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
With Azazel still in his arms, Alinoth moved downstairs. Finding himself once again in the living room, the undead was surprised when he found both Malina and Modeus, still on the couch, but both completely knocked out and fast asleep, with Malina even snoring. That sight only confirmed Alinoth's suspicions.
The Bearer of the Curse let out a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes. "Okay, I DEFINITELY overdid the power of that pyromancy."
Inside Alinoth's mind, Aldia lets out a slow but sincere laugh.
In the past, the Bearer of the Curse would have found such an act strange coming from Aldia, but nowadays Alinoth was already used to the return of this more human side of the Scholar of the First Sin.
"Yeah, yeah... Laugh it up, Aldia..."
Seeing that, in an attempt to calm only Azazel, he accidentally knocked out the entire house, Alinoth goes back up to the second floor and returns to Azazel's room. Entering the room, he quickly locates the angel's bed and places her on it, covering her with a blanket soon after.
Leaving Azazel's room, Alinoth heads to everyone's rooms, entering carefully to check. Lucifer and the Helltaker were already sleeping peacefully in their shared bed, but everyone else was knocked out on the floor. The Bearer of the Curse then spends the next few minutes putting each girl in their respective beds, avoiding snooping around their rooms as much as possible as a way of respect.
Finally picking up both Malina and Modeus from the couch downstairs and taking them to their respective rooms, Alinoth lets out a sigh of relief when he sees that it's over, growing a little calmer.
"I just hope everyone doesn't get too angry when they wake up." After that, Alinoth would have to control himself even more around everyone in the house. He just wanted to calm Azazel down and ended up doing that... Everyone there was formidable in their own ways; however, when compared to the beings and the level of power that Alinoth was used to, they were insignificant next to the Bearer of the Curse.
All this confusion exhausted Alinoth mentally. Walking down the hallway, he makes his way to the last door on the right, to Justice's room.
However, Alinoth stops halfway. Still thinking about what he read in Azazel's notepad and his interaction with the angel. The signs were there to be seen, but how should Alinoth act?
Turning around and facing the door to Azazel's room, the undead re-enters the room. The Bearer of the Curse doesn't even care about the mess the room is in, instead focusing solely on Azazel's sleeping figure on the bed, watching the angel.
"If she continues the way she is, I'll give 1000 years until she becomes a problem. Maybe even less." Alinoth exclaims.
"Hmm... a shrewd observation." Aldia replies inside the Bearer of the Curse's mind. "The angel is too eager, erratic. She seeks more and more knowledge only for the sake of having it, without trying to first understand those she already possesses. That only leads to questionable acts and grim consequences. Furthermore, she believes her ilk to be incorruptible, pure, and just - unable to fall. Such thinking makes her carelessly search after the forbidden, tainting herself."
Both Alinoth and Aldia spoke from experience. Curiosity of that magnitude... could be a blessing. However, when left unchecked, curiosity turned venomous, slowly killing not only the individual but everyone around them.
"Just being near her... my instincts scream that something is wrong, that I need to deal with her right now. Burn her body and soul beyond ash..." Watching the sleeping angel for a few more seconds, Alinoth moves even closer, kneeling next to Azazel. Only now being this close to the angel does the undead notice a few things; first, her ebony black hair had a few white parts here and there, that would be unnoticeable if you didn't look close. There was also the halo above the angel's head, which was slightly cracked. Those weren't good signs at all.
Reaching out from inside his bottomless bag, Alinoth takes out a strangely shaped, heavily curved dagger. The dark blade in question emanated a slightly red glow, a result of being imbued with the literal concept of death.
The Bearer of the Curse acquired that from one of the many worlds he visited; in specific, one that Alinoth, by accident, helped to create. Back then, he couldn't have guessed what would happen when he changed things so drastically...
Dagger in hand, the Bearer of the Curse slowly brings the blade to Azazel's neck, pressing the death-imbued blade against the angel's throat. He genuinely considers killing Azazel right now, just sliding the blade and watching as the angel bleeds to death. It would be easy to come up with excuses and convincing reasons for her sudden disappearance. It wasn't the first time Alinoth did something like this.
Just slit her throat... Destroy her body and burn her soul... This angel was a risk... She needed to be exterminated…
Alinoth takes a deep breath as he considers what to do, the blade still pressing against Azazel's throat, nearly piercing her skin and drawing blood. In the confines of Alinoth's mind, Aldia watches, not judging Alinoth, but curious to see what choice the True Monarch would make.
"...no. No, I..." In the end, Alinoth couldn't go through with it. Putting the dagger away, the Bearer of the Curse sighs heavily as he observes Azazel's peaceful form.
"I am not like that. Not anymore... Besides, she did nothing wrong. Azazel is just a curious child, a young soul eager to learn more and more. All she needs is..."
The Bearer of the Curse runs a hand over his beard, pondering a few things. "Yes... Yes, I could..."
Taking one last look at Azazel, Alinoth turns and leaves the angel's room, resuming his path to Justice's room. A greater purpose could be seen in the man's walk.
"All Azazel needs is a teacher. Not just a teacher, but a friend... A friend to guide her and show her the necessary limits and that seeking more and more knowledge incessantly is not everything. Well, it's been lifetimes since I last took a pupil, but... maybe I'm what she needs."
However, even as he said this to himself, those whispers about Azazel still lurked in the back of Alinoth's mind, warning him to be wary of the angel, to just end her life. It was something justifiable, after all. Alinoth has seen this cycle repeat itself countless times; scholars with good intentions who over time are corrupted, starting to not care about anything else and carrying out unspeakable and heinous acts just to gain more and more knowledge, no matter the consequences.
"...but just to be sure, we'll keep an eye on her." The Bearer of the Curse stops walking. Knowing that his surroundings were clear, Alinoth - by just snapping his fingers - summons a certain figure to aid him with his plan.
Suddenly, a dark figure emerges from a strange fog out of nowhere, right in front of the Bearer of the Curse. It was as tall as Judgement, wearing a pitch-black, sinister-looking armor from head to toe. Despite the grim attire, the slimmer appearance of a female was noticeable for those who looked close enough. The black figure also carried both a greatsword on her back and a coarse-looking scythe on her right hand.
However, the most unsettling characteristic of the black figure was not her armor or weapons, but her face; or better speaking, the complete absence of one. Instead of a face of any type, pure and complete darkness was the only thing under the hood that the figure wore.
Alinoth was more than used with the dark figure of the Forlorn. Those beings were once human, but thanks to the experiments made by Aldia and his fixation with the First Sin, they lost their corporeal forms and a world to call their own. They now exist among worlds as specters, forever drifting in search of a new home, at the same time they faithfully serve Aldia. When the Scholar of the First Sin took Alinoth under his wing, the Forlorn also swore complete allegiance to the Bearer of the Curse, following Alinoth's orders without any questioning or doubt, whatever they may be.
With an army of immortal, wanderer specters at his disposal, Alinoth usually used the Forlorn as spies or personal assassins, an eternal role that they would fulfill once more.
"I want you to keep an eye on Azazel at every single moment from now on. No matter what she does, where she goes... Keep her under your watch at all times and inform me of everything." The True Monarch ordered the Forlorn.
The Forlorn in question never said a word, as it wasn't necessary. Bowing to her monarch, the Forlorn moves away to fulfill her lord's orders, apparently vanishing away. But Alinoth and Aldia knew better. She was still there, instead lurking in the shadows, her presence invisible to anyone besides the Bearer of the Curse and the Scholar of the First Sin.
Satisfied, Alinoth then walks back towards Justice's room, ducking through the small door and closing it as he enters.
The Awesome Demon was already in her bed, fast asleep, having been placed there by Alinoth. The Bearer of the Curse had not given the room any thought when he first entered, being too concerned with everyone's well-being. But now, Alinoth finally stops and observes the room more calmly.
The room itself was simple, yet extremely charming. The ceiling was completely white, while the walls were an extremely beautiful and vibrant combination of red and yellow. There was also a window overlooking the outside of the house, covered by white curtains.
As for furniture, the room had only a double bed, two shelves filled with items, and a large closet with a large mirror attached to one of the doors. However, what caught Alinoth's attention the most was seeing objects that he quickly identified as more refined and modern versions of dumbbells and a punching bag, with the latter being quite worn, indicating frequent use.
Justice's room was extremely vibrantly beautiful and cozy at the same time. It was undoubtedly one of the most unique places Alinoth had ever seen in his life, but at the same time, it made him feel a little sad.
Looking away from him to Justice's sleeping form, the Bearer of the Curse's heart ached a little. She lived amidst all this beauty, but could not enjoy it to its fullest.
Alinoth was no stranger to blindness. He remembers a time, early in his journey through Drangleic and when he was still a weak soul. He was exploring Black Gulch and one of those damned poison-spitting statues hit him right in the eyes, corroding them and leaving the Bearer of the Curse blind.
He remembers the despair he felt, having his most important sense ripped away like that. Alinoth was completely terrified, even after he managed to return to Majula. That sudden darkness he wasn't used to... Fortunately, he recovered after only five days, mainly because of the combined efforts of Rosabeth, Carhillion, and Licia (and of course with Licia being the snake that she was, that damned, treacherous cleric charged a salty amount of souls to help.)
Although Justice had said that she didn't mind her blindness, Alinoth felt that this wasn't true. Perhaps he could help the Awesome Demon in the future if she would let him.
Looking at one of the corners of the room, Alinoth spots the pile of mattresses that Justice had mentioned earlier. Arranging and stacking several of them most suitably for someone his size, Alinoth finally leaves his swords, the Crown of the Ivory King, and Lucatiel's mask in safe places and removes his armor, remaining only in his pants.
Laying down on top of the mattresses, the Bearer of the Curse takes a deep breath as he thinks about everything that has happened today. His arrival in this world... Everyone he met today... Even though the situation wasn't ideal, for the first time in millions of years, Alinoth felt... happy again. He felt excited.
He now had an entirely new universe to explore, and new things to experience... and he was in the company of several extremely interesting individuals.
For the first time in millions of years, Alinoth will go to sleep with a smile on his face, looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.
All of humanity knew how the afterlife worked; sinners and the wicked were condemned to Hell after death, where they would suffer eternally for the evils they committed in life. Meanwhile, those who were just and kind would have their souls taken to Heaven, where they would live eternally in peace, happiness, and harmony.
A lie, but mankind knew no better.
Heaven was far from a completely peaceful place; instead, it resembled more of a military dictatorship ruled with an iron fist by the Archangels, and where only those deemed "worthy" were accepted. God Herself did nothing against such acts, only watching Her creation, silently judging.
And today, in particular, things were even worse. Heaven was on a state of high alert.
Things were in complete chaos in Heaven's main intelligence center, the place responsible for watching over not only humanity but also Hell. Several angels were running in all directions, carrying mountains of files, frantically typing on computers, and, in general, trying to understand what was happening.
Quickly, the doors open and a figure enters the room. Even amid the chaos, the presence and reputation of the figure in question are enough to make everyone there look away and focus solely on the figure.
She was dressed, from head to toe, in a complete military uniform; it was an immaculate white with several golden accessories decorating the entire outfit, with the only exception being a blue rose pinned to the lapel of the uniform. All of this communicated to everyone who saw, without the use of a single word, the extremely important and superior status of the figure in question.
Michael, the greatest of the archangels of heaven, had a very unfriendly expression, even less so than usual for her. Walking among the angels, she advances towards a certain angel who was holding a clipboard and who, unlike everyone else there, wore glasses.
"Gabriel. Any new information?" The Archangel questions her right hand.
The bespectacled angel quickly flips through her clipboard. "We haven't found anything in any of our files that even resembles this presence. It's something completely new."
"Where is it now? Is it still in Hell?"
"No, not anymore. Now it is on..." Suddenly, Gabriel hesitates to keep talking, making Michael raise an eyebrow. Before the archangel can question the other angel, Gabriel stares directly into Michael's eyes, her expression giving the archangel the answer she wanted without any words.
Michael couldn't avoid opening her eyes wide and slightly dropping her jaw. "Are you serious?"
Gabriel only nods in confirmation.
Clenching both her fists and her teeth, Michael has to close her eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm herself. After a few seconds, the archangel opens her eyes again, instantly turning around to face all the angels in the room.
"Everyone, leave!" The archangel ordered. All the angels there, except Gabriel, are quick to apply to that order. No one there was stupid enough to defy any of Michael's orders from her, especially now that she sounded really angry.
Now with only her and Gabriel in the room, Michael doesn't stand anymore. Dropping onto a nearby chair, the archangel covers her face with both hands as she lets out a grunt of discomfort.
"Are you certain of this information, Gabriel?"
Gabriel nods. "Absolutely, my lady. Whoever this powerful being is, he is now located in the mortal realm, more specifically in the Helltaker's home."
"Damnit!" Unable to control herself, Michael punches a nearby computer, completely destroying the device. "I thought Lucy and I had a deal! What is she up to this time?!"
"What should we do? Should I talk with Raphael?" Gabriel asks.
Michael thinks about Gabriel's suggestion for a moment. Normally when dealing with Lucifer, Michael considered only her and Gabriel as enough. But this time…
"Call Raphael right away and tell her to prepare her best soldiers. Something tells me we'll need them." The archangel informs Gabriel.
Gabriel nods, writing down a few more things on her clipboard as she leaves the room.
Now completely alone, Michael sinks further into the chair, covering his face with his hands once more.
The archangel was confused as to how to proceed further. On Michael and Gabriel's last visit to Lucifer and Helltaker, the archangel was surprised to see her sister's eyes sparkle whenever she looked at Helltaker, a vibrant and genuine glow that Lucifer possessed only when she was still an angel. Even though Lucifer didn't show it most of the time, she loved the Helltaker more than anything and would do anything to protect that love.
And that was why Michael was confused. The archangel knew that Lucifer would not risk her new life for anything, but then what would explain the sudden emergence of this incredible power right in hell? A power that surpassed everything in creation?
Even though she doubted that this was some of Lucifer's plans, Michael decided to take precautions. If everything went as the archangel expected, she would just have a peaceful conversation with Lucifer where the fallen angel would give Michael the answers she was looking for.
But still, Michael liked to be prepared for any kind of surprise.
Fun fact: did you know that all the Forlorn invaders in Dark Souls 2 are female? If you use mods to remove their armor, you'll see that they're all black, headless women.
According to christian scholars, the age of both the universe and earth from the moment they were created by God would be, more or less, 6000 years. But then, that's merely speculation, but using it as base, I've decided to make earth and the universe in Helltaker a little older, being 15.000 years old.