Chapter 171: THE STORY OF THE BLACK SMOKE

Desperate.

Lonely.

Confused.

Born whenever negative thoughts fills the air,

If they were visible in the human eye by then,

Perhaps no one would be able to see.

How odd.

That they were born from people's unwillingless to live,

But it is they, who wanted to have a permanent form to taste freedom at least.

No memory.

No family.

No love.

Just desire to feel anything other than desperation.

A longing for identity and colors.

A longing for purpose, though they're shaped by chaos.

Azazel saw great things in such desperation,

It was the perfect lab sample.

Naive, without a memory, just floating without mind,

They're easy to manipulate,

And so easy to find.

It was easy to find depression and sadness in the atmosphere,

Heavy, never leaving, always so near.

The energy, the curses, the sorrow is never fleeting,

He concentrates them all, (it takes a lot) to make a new being.

And even if it fails more since not all emotions can be as stable as the others,

Some thriumph, and his pride seemed immeasurable.

Azazel couldn't be more happy when the new subject opens their eyes,

Knowing just who to call as Master,

unknowing of what lies beneath his warm smile.

But...isn't having a body what this black smoke want?

So why does Eligorr feel like this body, he shouldn't have?

Surely he earned it for hoping hard enough, right?

But...he felt so confused, and felt half willing to fight.

Whoever this man was that owned his body,

Was a kind man indeed, with how Lluming's expression turned bloody.

Lluming was unwilling to have Eligorr taint Eleazar's history.

He felt puzzled, yes, but what filled him more was envy.

He realized with every swing of attacks,

That he wish not to have this body but love.

He wanted to feel like he mattered for who he was,

But...really,

who was he?

Who was he if not following Azazel's commands?

Who was he if he's not free to do whatever he wants?

He wanted to feel anything other than this negative emotions that gave birth to him,

He wanted to ask Lluming just how it feels.

Lluming knew his opponent is distracted,

The softness of his eyes and the slowed speed made it apparent.

He may have asked him what the problem was if not for the fact that he's very mad,

And thus, he took the opening, undeniably glad.

Eligorr was slammed to the ground, his wings disappearing by reflex,

As he watch the monsters around him, lose the healing ability,

till no one was left.

He gagged and looked at Lluming,

As if begging him to give him one more chance,

And the archangel, though merciless than most,

Saw the sadness in his eyes.

He swore it looked like Eleazar the last time they talked,

As if Eleazar knows he won't come back at all.

He tried all his best to plunge the glowing sword into his chest,

But why couldn't he? All he saw was a victim,

much like the rest.

Eligorr took his kindness, to his advantage,

Though quite shocked that the Angel was not swallowed by rage.

"Thank you for your mercy."

Eligorr whispered, as he panted heavily.

Lluming did not break a smile, but he swore even with the rain, his celestial opponent unmistakably had tears falling,

As he looks at him,

As if recalling something.

"I do not give you mercy.

God touched my heart as to give you a chance to redeem my brother,

You do not deserve it, but I heard a faint whisper,"

"If that's the case...

...then your God is a fool."

Eligorr quickly blasted Lluming away,

Which knocked the archangel easily as the rise of day.

Eligorr smiles and claimed victory,

However, as he was about to kill him,

He felt a new emotion.

He felt guilty.

As if there was an invisible force whispering to him not to hurt Lluming.

Telling him to go off and claim his win.

He felt confused, as he was sure it was not his Lord Azazel.

He tried his best to complete his mission,

But he too, failed.

Soon, as he threw his own dagger away,

He just planned on taking Lluming to Azazel,

But before he could carry the unconcious angel,

Ken quickly blasted him a shot that even Eligorr, wasn't aware.

Angered, he picked the dagger and transformed it into a sharp thin dart,

"This is what you get for being a brat,"

The quick vivid light that he emitted,

blinded the unsuspecting Ken for minutes.

The reaper behind him was quick to change their positions,

Having the sharp dart go to his location.

It went to his right eye,

But despite the pain did not regret his decision.

Ken was saved.

The plan did not fruit succession.

The archangels, seeing that Eligorr is weakened,

Quickly went out to aid their friend.

Eligorr quickly tried to fight them,

And the archangels were surprised,

When he was still good and fast,

Out of only spite.

But soon, the inevitable came,

And Eligorr started to feel pain.

The numbing potions were not working anymore,

And like Samael, he felt like anytime, he'd fall to the floor.

Afraid of losing, he quickly emits his final light,

As he speeds away, as Gabriel asks to follow.

Michael quickly denied, and told him not to,

As the blue archangel, obediently nods.

Selaphiel saw the damage the fight had brought,

And saw how many reapers have been lost.

He was happy the archangels did not fight at this cost,

So they gave Raphael their flares, to have more energy to heal everyone's own that had been lost.

It was taxing, and if they fought as well,

Things may have been...different to tell.

They weren't even sure if that's the last of them,

So if they give their all on first..

Well, they may not solve more problems.

Soon, Barachiel admired how the sky cleared up.

The crying thunder, now had fully stopped.

He feels a bit lighter, having surrendered enough flare,

As Raphael thanks him,

But the angel of patience wasn't listening too well.

His mind wandered off to a distant memory,

He isn't sure of, if others remember the same as he.

He smiles when the sun's warmth greeted his skin,

But soon faded completely, when he heard the reapers cry for their fallen kin.

The barrier.

He knows there's a time it will fade.

A time where they'd need to refuel their flares.

But hopefully, not today.

He doesn't want to see another say their farewell.

He still had a lot to do,

To make up for his shortcomings,

Regrets.

Promises, he opt to keep till

his very last breath.

He would have stared more if not for Jegudiel's voice,

"Let's walk inside now, Selaphiel ordered us to go."

...

Ken finally was able to see the colors,

And thanked God as loudly as he could.

He felt regretful however, for screaming too loud,

When he realized how much painful he feels just now.

He looked at the small group of beings surrounding him.

Mar, Stacy, Gabriel and Michael,

But what first popped on his head,

Was Lluming.

Right. He was planned to be taken away!

And he passed out before he was even sure if the plan was delayed.

He looked around, frantic and tensed,

Until finally, Gabriel broke the silence.

"He's fine. Just very passed out, but fine.

You need not to overexert your mind,

You should rest.

You had enough of the fight."

"The...enemy?"

"Escaped, unfortunately.

I don't know how strong he is but he was surprising,

He was already on the verge of passing out but he still was able to dodge us,

And left,

Hopefully that's the last of him."

But...what was he?

Ken's mind was filled with questions.

Although it seemed like they've met before.

Everything may have happened in a blur,

But somehow he managed to recall.

The face of the angel that helped him.

Those eyes...could not be mistakened as someone else's.

Despite it's dozen disguises.

"I want to bring justice to sir Lluming's brother,"

He found himself, softly whisper.

However, it also feels a bit wrong,

Since Lluming have had many changes to plunge his chest with the sword,

and he chose not to.

It seemed like Lluming could still see traces of Eleazar in him,

Or maybe...still...even a little believes.

That he's there, somewhere, hoping to get out.

Ken wished to understand Lluming's illogical decision somehow.

But it felt odd to see the stoic Lluming fall down short.

Whenever the memory of his brother is brought.

"Sir Lluming really loved him that much?"

"I assure you, those two went through a lot.

For Lluming, Eleazar was a part of himself,

Losing him, was worse than Death.

Lluming was desperate to seek revenge,

But how can he do it so heartlessly?

When the face of the attacker is the one who loved him the most.

Lluming may be cold and distant,

But he also had weaknesses like us.

In this case, it was his brotherly love.

His inability to accept the sad fact,

That whoever the man was...

isn't Eleazar anymore.

Lluming lies to himself saying that it's over,

That he's passed the stages of grief.

No matter how hard his exterior may be,

He's still the same...overly emotional kid.

Ken, do not judge him though,

For you do not yet understand,

How much he had lost.

How important is Eleazar to his judgement and being?

I'm afraid only he knows.

For now, try to understand his feelings more.

Denial, sadness, and longing, couldn't simply disappear like smoke."