IV - "Micah, Joan, Zachar, and Amriel."

" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™"

A Story written By @mohhdude.

(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)

Alternative Names - 

"TTW : HC.™"

"Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™"

"End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™"

Chapter IV: 

"Micah, Joan, Zachar, and Amriel."

Act II: 

Sasaki and Aleksandr.

" I saw the Angel in the marble and carved it until I set him free. "

— Michelangelo.

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Slight disclaimer, only the poem below is about the four!

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[GUARDIAN ANGELS]

Guardian Angels are a rank of Angels who are stationed in Redlocnse to look over and protect the four races: Human, Elven, Brutacian, and Royans. No matter what rank an angel (where, the council of Caelum being the only exception) is, they should always listen to a guardian angel.

These four are:

Micah, Guardian Angel of Humanity.

Joan, Guardian Angel of Elves.

Brutaci, Guardian of Brutaci.

Amriel, Guardian of Roya.

Should any of these four disappear, doom awaits the respective race they protect.

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Two-thousand and seventy years ago, before 1643 A.D…

Parents watched as their children played, and had smiles of glee.

Their laughter and happiness were always seen.

The four children, exhausted, sat down under the shade of a large tree.

The four children saw that their parents went out, the children boredly looked at the lush green.

Amriel, the oldest of the four, dreamt of looking at the blue sea.

There she was, talking about the blue sea with glee written across her face.

Zachar, the second oldest of the four, pointed out a small passage through the trees.

As their parents came back, they were gone without a trace.

Micah, the youngest, advised not to traverse too far through the grove.

But Joan, the second youngest, chose to continue their wondrous rove.

They stumbled into an ancient ruin, filled with mystery.

They wandered deeper, seeing art on the walls that depicts history.

The four heard a cough, all of them stood still.

They followed the sound of the coughs, and found an angel on a hill.

The angel was injured, his wings had some damage.

With Micah's thinking, the children made a makeshift bandage.

Wrapping it around the wing of the angel, the angel had ring-like marks on all ten of his fingers, as he leaned his back on the wall.

Then he started to speak about the history of the ruins to them all.

These ruins were once a temple that belonged to that of Aria, 

the Goddess of everything.

Telling them the ruins were the start of a new beginning,

A new beginning of prayers and fortune for all.

And that who goes against Aria shall inevitably fall.

During the times of the ancient era, people always arrived to pray.

Showing no signs of sin, no signs of delay.

"Praise the Goddess!", they chanted.

Soon, the temple became gated.

Turning dilapidated, moss grew without a sight of life.

The angel lifted his hand, showing a blue aura sparking in it.

His mana had the children mesmerised in its beauty, 

He taught them that mana is used to protect, not to bring strife.

Micah tried, only having a small black mark on his finger resembling a ring, then mana sparks in his hand.

The angel widened his eyes, shocked by his talent.

The others congratulated him, and awed by his skill.

The skies slowly became moonlit, the children stood from their places.

They said to the angel, "We will come back with food for you",

The angel kindly declines, thanking them for their graces.

The children left the ruins, the sky was turning dark from its blue.

As they returned, their parents scolded them for suddenly disappearing.

When they returned home, Zachar was silently jeering.

The other four heard him, trying not to burst out of laughter.

Little did they now, they ignited the spark of a new era, Before and After.

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[ GRANDOLIA, KANÓNAS. ]

Sorozna held the book in his hands, closing it. The piece of poetry they had gotten from a temple was useless to him. Árgos was sitting down with Sorozna, drinking tea, "UGH! Why did we have to go through the trouble of gettin' this book? It's practically just a child's nursery rhyme!"

Árgos nodded his head, setting the teacup down gently onto the table, he held his hand out for Sorozna to give the book. Sorozna handed it like so, Árgos flipped through the pages, "It may be a nursery rhyme, but it reveals many things to us. Who do you think the angel is, Mr. Oscar?"

Sorozna thought for a moment, his hand on his chin. Thinking about it for a good second, his eyes widened as he realised the clues, then his eyes darted to Árgos. "Wait, don't tell me…"

Árgos nodded his head in affirmation, "That's right, it's a possibility that the Angel is actually Archangel Solomon.", Árgos took the teacup in his hands, sipping it. He glanced at the tea. Sorozna leaned back on his chair. "But what does the end mean 'before and after'? I thought Guardian Angel Micah was the first one besides Solomon to use Mana two-thousand and seventy years ago!"

Árgos, after finishing the cup of tea, sets it down and interlocks his fingers with his own. Looking at Sorozna as the crowd passed by the streets of Grandolia. Not acknowledging Árgos and Sorozna, Sorozna kept his feet on the table and leaned his chair back, as Árgos sat in a refined manner, his back was up straight, his hands were held together.

"Did we really hafta' go here to discuss, Árgos?" Árgos nodded his head in affirmation. His gaze turning to the crowd, he raised his hand to the waiter, the waiter rushing over as Árgos averted his gaze to the waiter, as he said: "Another cup for two, please. My compliments to the one who had brewed it."

The waiter nodded, walking away inside of the cafe. He glances at Sorozna, turning his head back to him to answer Sorozna. "Does it not feel nice? The smell of tea powder in the air, the soothing feeling of how it feels to be home. I must say, Cafes are perfect spots to have discussions in. When we're complete with our plan, I'd like to open up a cafe in a plaza."

Sorozna looked away, with a grin, "Pft, as if." He snickered. Árgos let out a slight chuckle at Sorozna's words, "I empathize with your doubts, Mr. Oscar. We need a lot of help to carry out our plan." Árgos looked up at the cafe name, as it said "Charon Cafe". 

His eyes narrowed, a single thought in his mind matched with the malicious grin behind his mask. "Including the power of a man that is both an unstoppable force, and an immovable object...", the waiter brings two teacups to the two. 

Árgos noticed the waiter holding the cups of tea, nodding his head. Taking out five Trás coins and keeping it in the waiter's hand, "Thank you.", the waiter smiled, nodding his head as he walked away with glee on his face after getting his first tip.

…

[ LEDYANOY, CASTLE DUNGEONS. ]

Gudo stared at the mirror, his gaze piercing through his own. Having reminisced about the past, he held his chest. His memories only blurred out those unimportant, and left someone with flowing red hair, as clear as day in his memories. His gaze softened, his lips tugged up slightly. Water dripped from his nose and chin, some strands of hair also having water droplets falling.

Victor, Rien, and Aurum were at the side of the prison cell where Gudo stayed, Victor knocked on the cell. His face having the look of spite, Gudo simply ignored them… Suddenly, those blurred out faces became clearer each time he ignored them. "Hey, jackass. Did all those years of not being with us made you deaf?" Victor said with an irritated tone.

"...Gudo.", Rien muttered, He approached the bars of the cell, his hands wrapped around the bars, the mark of Solomon on his hand glowed slightly. Hearing this unfamiliar voice, Gudo turned his head to Rien. "I'm sorry, you are?" Gudo scoffed, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at Rien.

Rien looked at Aurum and Victor, he sighed. Then saying: "...Just give me a few minutes, I'll talk with him." Aurum nodded his head, but Victor… "What the hell do you mean..? HE BETRAYED US AND WE CAN'T GET ANSWERS?!" Aurum grabbed Victor's sleeve gently, looking slightly up at Victor. "Victor, please.." Victor stopped, he looked away. He walked back upstairs with Aurum.

Rien pulled up a chair, and sat down, he tried to hold his anger back. "You let go of my hand when we were in Ironia, and I fell to the waters of The Ironian Catacombs…" Gudo widened his eyes in pure and utter shock. He bolted to the prison bars, holding it. He had cuffs on him that restrained him from using mana.

"..Lei–" Rien puts his finger up. Wagging it. "Let me finish, Gudo." Unlike the Leif from four years ago, Gudo stood from the prison bars letting Rien keep talking, he balled his fist in regret. Biting his lip tightly, with shame.

"I fell into that pond without an arm, I reached the bottom. I thought I couldn't find it… find.. Him…" In his memories, Rien saw a man with different colored eyes smile at him brightly. His smile was faint, but it quickly faded. "His majesty, Taiyō, took me out of the cold waters and made me regain my mana flow. There, I had to train and change my name to Rien… And to think that you would betray us and join the Paradox…"

Rien gripped his fist with anger, his eyes piercing. Gudo couldn't look at him without feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt drowning him, Gudo glanced at the floor. Dead silence between the two… Until: "...Leif.. Did you hate me for leaving your hand..?"

Silence filled the room once again, until Rien answered. "No, I don't… I acknowledge you left us to protect the rest.", Rien looked down, a thought in his head: "After all… That's what Aleksandr would've done…", Gudo looked at Rien with a widened gaze and a faint smile. "But, that doesn't excuse you for leaving them injured and defenseless. They could barely get out, Taiyō had to transport them to a hospital… Imagine what Sheriel would think, Gudo."

Gudo's guilty silence was what responded to Rien's reasoning, Gudo grit his teeth. His gaze then averted to Rien who sat outside the cell. "...I left because my mother was actually alive, and she told me that if I left you all, they'd spare you." Gudo's eye twitched a little, why did he have to open up to Rien? He asked himself.

Rien stood up, he busted the cell open. Walking inside of it, he opened his arms wide for Gudo to embrace him. "Come here, Gudo." Gudo approached Rien, opening his arms to hug him… But the moment Gudo approached, Rien struck him in the face with his fist. Gudo was sent back from the punch, his nose bled.

"You seriously think I'd hug the person that broke the heart of the woman I deemed my best friend? Sheriel must've been devastated when she found out that I 'died' and you left them.", Gudo held his face. Gritting his teeth in anger, he got up, striking Rien in the face again. Rien quickly grabbed Gudo and slammed his knee into Gudo's abdomen, Gudo recovered and struck back with twice as much force.

"You have no idea what I've been through, LEIF!" Gudo grabbed Leif's head and slammed it on his knee, fracturing his nose. The two fought, exchanging blows. Until both of their fists were red and bloody, both of them were panting from exhaustion of their brawl.

"I understand you left them because of your mother, Gudo. But it couldn't justify the fact that your mother is a member of the Parad-", "SO WHAT IF SHE IS?!" Gudo shouted, cutting Rien off. His voice raspy, his eyes teary. "I thought she burned the house I grew up in with the blasphemous family I was born into… WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO JUDGE WHO'S RIGHT OR WRONG?!" Tears streamed down Gudo's face, he fell to his knees. "It shouldn't be wrong to be with your mother again after she saved you… Is it…?"

Rien sat down on his knees in front of Gudo, shaking his head left and right. Signaling that it's not wrong. "It isn't wrong. I'm sorry, you're right that I don't have the right to judge, Gudo… I'm terribly sorry." Leif embraced Gudo tightly, patting his back gently. Leif's voice was shaky when he said this.

The guards of the castle quickly rushed down to check on what was the loud clang in the dungeons, Aurum and Victor came with. Gudo and Rien by then were asleep, Rien was picked up as Aurum's lantern staff glowed, letting mana lift up Rien. Gudo laid there, Victor looked at him as Aurum left, at least leaving a blanket on him before he left. The guards fixed the cell.

…Back with Alexia and Taiyō, Alexia was reading a book with glasses on. She was wearing black arm warmed with a black dress covered with a fur coat. She looked outside as she walked through the mirror, Taiyō followed. Ending up back in the hallways of the castle, Alexia talked as her heels clicked against the floor, causing an echo. Talking to Taiyō as she walked.

"I think the Nine Commandments of Aria portrays that no matter what you do, you mustn't betray your beloved ones, disagree with the law of Arians, commit fraudulence through fake statues, and such. Although, I did hear that the Paradox has gained members called the Nine Circles of Infernus… I advise telling the Roundtable of Unity about this. I'm sure Sir Maximus would be happy to help us take down this heretical group. Adonis hasn't answered back to me in the past days… "

Taiyō nodded his head in understanding, he looked to the entrance of the castle. Aurum, Victor and an asleep yet bloodied up floating Rien walked out of the dungeons. "That's our que to leave, it has been an honor meeting you again, sister." Taiyō took her hand, kissing her ring finger, and he lets go of her hand as he opens a golden portal.

"May your days of endless heat be blessed with a breeze of cold wind, Majesty of Al'Adqas. Take this." Alexia hands Taiyō a book that had the symbol of a wolf on it with a red exterior, gently taking it from her hand. "Thank you, I'll be sure to read it."

"Return it to me as soon as you do, I don't like to see empty places in my bookshelves. Now then, runalong.", Alexia waves her hand away as Taiyō and the others leave. They reached the scorching sands of Al'Adqas through Taiyō's portal.

"Ah, welcome back, Your Majesty…" Azaad was up all night, his head spinning as he had loads of paperwork on his desk. Taiyō walked up to Azaad, flicking his forehead with his middle finger. "How many times have I told you not to overwork yourself whenever I'm gone?" Taiyō points at Aurum and Victor, "These two are named Aurum and Victor, companions of mine. Take these two to their respective rooms, and you get some rest yourself."

Azaad nodded, getting up from his chair as he guided Aurum and Victor through the hallways and to their rooms, Rien was placed on his room's bed. Aurum was exhausted from having to hold him for that long, Victor laid on his bed. Azaad went to his room and collapsed onto bed.

Taiyō sat down on his throne after changing his attire to that of his usual self, he held the book Alexia gave him in his hand. He looked at the book with a raised eyebrow, and read the title in his head… "Rygielski, The Story of Heresy."

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— CHAPTER IV, FIN.

— NEXT CHAPTER: "The Story of Heresy."

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