The First

Khalkydrius entered the illegal ⌈Gate⌋, met by ice and winds and frost.

Yet, he was undeterred.

He had a mission. 

He had a duty.

He was the instrument of the collective wills of the Eleven Heavens. 

He stood atop a high peak of a blackstone mountain, the very air cold enough to form frost on his heated metal skin. 

...colder even than the highest layers of Mount Celestia. 

But no element-- no entity would impede his path.

Tyrael needed to be returned to Celestia. The Council of Thrones bade it so. 

The mountain path led to a clearing, a runed circle carved from stone, kept safe from the unrelenting winds. 

And at its center stood a single being. 

"I *thought* I sensed an angel acting in direct violation of the Laws... but a Solarion? Really..."

The purple-skinned devil turned to face him, his arms crossed in front of his chest.