Fun Fact: Deities are immensely powerful, and even the minor deities have enough power to destroy galaxies. The highest class of deities such as Lucifer, Odin, or Shiva, are able to destroy multiple universes if they so wished.
~ ~ ~
Kleopatra was in the midst of her combat training when the sound of a tinkling doorbell caught her attention. She dematerialised her staff instantly and scurried over to the control panels, removing the holographic targets as quickly as she could. Although she was authorised personnel, she had not booked this room for practice this evening.
The girl's ears pricked as the footsteps got louder by the second. She cursed under her breath at whoever was crazy enough to use the gym at two in the morning. Kleopatra glanced at the loading bar of the simulation nervously.
"C'mon... c'mon..."
She smiled in relief as the monitor turned red and quickly grabbed her bag, darting for the exit-
"Hey Kleo, what's the rush?"
The girl gasped in shock, falling over her feet as she bumped into the figure entering her room. She hurriedly picked up her bag and apologised profusely, hoping for whichever Guardian it was to let her go.
Light flooded the room, and Kleopatra blinked in surprise.
"G-Gaius?" Her mouth hung open. "What are you doing here?"
It was Gaius' turn to look nervous.
"I... I actually came to look for you," he said sheepishly. "I'm no longer a Guardian, so technically I can't be here, but..."
He exhaled loudly, as though mustering strength for something.
"I really like you too!" He squeezed his eyes shut, shoving a hand-knitted jumper in her face. "W-will you be... be with me?"
Kleopatra stepped back, her face flushing a dark red. Her vision blurred and her heart hammered in her chest like a bird desperately trying to escape its cage. She breathed erratically, as though her lungs had suddenly grown a mind of their own.
"I... I..." she stammered as well, her throat twisting knots in her words as she looked at the trembling boy.
"I... I will!"
Gaius gasped at her outburst as Kleopatra practically snatched the jumper from him and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I can't believe it... Oh gods, finally..." The girl was sobbing hard now, burying her face in his shoulder. "You fool, of course I will. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day..."
The pair let go after a good five minutes, and Kleopatra wiped her tears while an awkward grin hung on Gaius' face.
"When did you learn how to knit?" she asked, looking at the jumper. It was plain and the workmanship was amateurish, but at least it was not shoddy.
"R-recently. I noticed how terrible your school jumper looked, so I thought to make you one myself." Gaius put his hand on his head, smiling wryly. "Forgive me if it isn't the best; I was a little too eager to finish it."
Kleopatra stared at him as though she was offended, but a cheeky grin was quickly spreading across her face.
And then she crashed her lips into his without warning.
"I love it, Gaius," she said in a breathless voice as her cheeks flushed red again. Gaius broke into a love smitten smile as well, but it quickly dropped from his face.
"I've been thinking about what I want to do with my life," he began, and Kleopatra's face darkened. "Grimoria College has closed down due to the crisis, and I'm out of a job now."
Kleopatra opened her mouth to interject, but he stopped her before she could say anything.
"I really want to use my knowledge and magic to help others, but the Guardian Council isn't the best place for me," he continued. "There has been a special school in Hydrus City that I have been planning to apply to right after college. It offers a course focusing on rescue and humanitarian aid. But-"
"-You've already applied, and this is goodbye? That's why you wanted to meet me?" Kleopatra's face fell as she looked away.
"No." Gaius held her hand. "I realised... I don't want to do this without you. What I want, more than anything else, is to keep those I love safe. I'm not going for that course anymore, Kleo. I want to stay by your side."
There was a long pause.
"Gaius, I fell for you because of your conviction. Because you wanted to help others, no matter what it takes," Kleopatra said. "I don't want you to give that up for me."
"But-"
"Hydrus City, huh?" Kleopatra smiled with a faraway look in her eyes. "It's a little old fashioned, but it's a pretty place. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures."
Gaius looked at her in surprise.
"I need to look for another course too. We're from the same college, remember?" She leaned her body towards him. "Wherever you go, I'll follow. I'll enrol with you, darling."
The couple leaned against each other, taking the moment to bask in each other's presence.
~ ~ ~
In the beginning, there was darkness. And then came its ruler, the Bringer of Light.
Contrary to his Heavenly title, the ruler commanded oblivion. He ruled over despair and nihility, devouring all those who dared to seek meaning in life, or comfort in death. For even in his fallen form, the prideful deity still sought to preserve his work in the beauty of utter nothingness.
Though surrounded by beings like himself, lonesomeness pursued him like a stubborn maggot festering in his wounds, for all others were inferior to his infinite beauty. He brooded in darkness; a warden of his own gaol, scheming for all eternity to reclaim everything that was rightfully his. He mused over his languishing plans, cursing the Heavens for thwarting his efforts once again.
A foreign presence invaded his domain, providing an unwanted respite to his agony. Power simmered within the demon king as he fought down the urge to battle this revolting intruder.
"Never took you for the gloating type, Azrael." Lucifer stopped the angel before she could taint his domain with her presence any further.
"My, my. Such hostility!" Azrael scoffed sarcastically. "What's the matter? Not in the mood to flirt anymore?"
"Watch your words, Archangel. Your power pales in comparison to mine."
"Indeed," Azrael replied calmly. "And yet you still lost. The mortals in this world are strong enough to handle the power they possess. It was not my power that won them their battle; it was your misplaced pride that cost you yours."
The darkness in the air grew heavier, but the angel stood her ground. After all, she had already won.
"This does not change the fact that you tampered in their world," Lucifer growled. "Your reckoning is nigh, sinner. You will fall from grace."
The Devil simpered, letting his power flood his domain even further. "And when that happens, perhaps I'll grant you the mercy of licking scraps off my feet."
"Is it stealing if you steal from a lousy thief?" Azrael chuckled. "You whispered death and despair into the ears of my favourites. You put your tainted view of the mortal realm in front of their eyes. And despite all that, all I did was correct your visions. My beloved, through strength borne of their own, have overcome your unfair challenges by themselves. You have lost to the forces of good once again."
"How dare you!" Lucifer lashed out, sending jagged bolts of his power at the angel. Azrael deflected the blow casually, and the domain shuddered as Lucifer's power collided with its walls.
"Careful now, we don't want to crack another half dozen universes again, do we?" she simpered, watching the demon writhe in anger.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Lucifer said. "You have no evidence of my meddling in that splintered world."
His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "But know this, Angel of Death. God cannot keep me here forever. My legion will rise again. This time, Heaven will lose. And when you lose, you will lose everything."
"So be it."
The Archangel vanished from the domain confidently, leaving the Bringer of Light to dwell in his prison of darkness.
END
Author's Note: Thank you for reading Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles Vol. 2! I had a blast creating the world and writing this story. I hope you enjoyed reading it too!
'The Harbinger's Children' is also available for reading on Wattpad, Royal Road and Inkitt. Do support me there as well if you enjoyed the story!28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtx1gDcQ5J
