Ch. 1- In The Beginning
Location: The Eternal Library, Heaven
The Eternal Library stood as Heaven's grandest monument to wisdom and order. An endless sprawl of towering shelves stretched into infinity, filled with books woven from divine essence. Each tome pulsed with celestial energy, containing the histories, fates, and secrets of countless worlds. From the first breath of creation to the last flicker of existence, every moment was recorded here.
The air shimmered with the hum of knowledge, a quiet chorus of whispers from the past, present, and future. This sacred space belonged to the Watchers of the Cosmos, angels entrusted with the task of observing all worlds, ensuring that balance was maintained.
At the heart of this celestial sanctuary, Hikaru, the Angel of Insight, and Uriel, the Angel of Wisdom, stood side by side before a grand celestial sphere. Suspended in a pool of divine light, the sphere was an orrery of the cosmos, a model of the infinite universe that displayed the turnings of every world in meticulous detail.
Hikaru's silver eyes traced the rotation of the planets, his expression calm but keen. The sacred duty of the Watchers was simple yet absolute—observe, but never interfere. No world, no matter how tragic its fate, could be altered by celestial hands.
But as Hikaru prepared to conclude his vigil, something caught his attention.
A flicker of movement. A disturbance.
His gaze sharpened as he pointed to a small, blue and green world spinning delicately within the cosmic mechanism.
"Hold on, brother," he murmured, his voice carrying an edge of concern. "What's going on there?"
Uriel followed his gaze, then exhaled, folding his arms.
"Oh, that? That's just Earth," he said, his tone dismissive. "There's no need to concern yourself. They are always like this."
---
At that moment, the celestial sphere pulsed, and glimpses of Earth's suffering unraveled before Hikaru's eyes.
A battlefield, drenched in blood, where men and women fought in the name of gods they no longer understood. The air was thick with the cries of the dying, the thunder of war machines, and the stench of death.
A starving child, her ribs visible beneath torn rags, scavenging through mountains of waste for a scrap of food while the rich dined in excess, oblivious to her existence.
A village ravaged by disease, where the sick lay abandoned, their moans ignored by those who feared infection more than compassion.
A trembling dog, battered and left for dead, whimpering as cruel hands struck it once more.
Hikaru's body stiffened. His heart, woven with celestial light, shuddered at the suffering before him.
"This seems important, Uriel! Those people are suffering!" Hikaru's voice was urgent, his wings shifting uneasily.
Uriel shook his head, his golden locks glinting under the divine light. There was nothing new here.
"Brother, stop. I know what you're thinking, but Father has forbidden us from intervening," Uriel said, his tone steady. "We are meant only to observe and report. We cannot change the fates of mortals."
Hikaru's hands curled into fists. How could he say that so easily?
"But—"
"Let it be, Hikaru." Uriel turned away. "It is not our place."
Hikaru watched his brother exit the Eternal Library, his golden wings vanishing beyond the grand marble doors. The conversation was over, as far as Uriel was concerned.
But for Hikaru, this was only the beginning.
---
A whisper of the past slipped into Hikaru's mind.
A sunlit field.
He saw her.
His little sister, Kurai.
She was curled up on the ground, shielding her face as a group of larger children loomed over her, fists raised.
"Leave her alone!" Hikaru had commanded, stepping between them.
The bullies hesitated, sensing the fire in his voice. They outnumbered him—but they did not overpower him. Grumbling, they dispersed.
Hikaru knelt beside Kurai, his heart aching as he lifted her tear-streaked face.
"Are you hurt?"
Kurai wiped her eyes and shook her head. "Big Brother Hikaru, why did you help me? You don't even know if you could take them all."
He smiled gently, brushing her silver hair aside.
"Because it was the right thing to do."
That memory burned in his soul as he returned to the present.
---
The breaking point was finally reached when Hikaru turned back to the celestial sphere.
His eyes darted from one horror to another—more wars, starvation, suffering, cruelty. His hands trembled at his sides.
How could Uriel ignore this? How could Father expect them to stand by and do nothing?
The sight that finally shattered his restraint was a small, broken-winged bird.
It lay helpless on the ground, its tiny chest rising and falling with labored breaths. A man loomed over it, his boot raised.
Then—he kicked it aside.
The world blurred.
Enough.
Hikaru's fury blazed like an eclipse, the divine light around him flaring uncontrollably. His wings unfurled, their radiance casting long shadows across the Library's golden halls.
"I've seen enough," he growled.
His voice rippled like thunder, shaking the marble floors.
"Something needs to be done, whether Father likes it or not. This isn't okay."
With that, he stormed from the Eternal Library, the heavy doors slamming shut behind him.
---
Location: Throne Room of God
The next morning, Heaven's peace was shattered.
A figure clad in celestial armor stormed into the grand Throne Room, his breath ragged. Hephaestus, the Angel of the Forge, fell to one knee.
The chamber, an endless expanse of golden light, pulsed with divine energy. At its center sat God, the Almighty, upon a throne woven from celestial flames.
His expression was calm. Omniscient. Unshaken.
"FATHER! FATHER! IT'S URGENT!" Hephaestus cried.
God's voice was like a mountain speaking—deep, eternal, patient.
"Calm yourself, my son. What troubles you?"
Hephaestus swallowed.
"The sword, Father! It's gone!"
A flicker of something ancient passed through God's gaze.
"Which sword?"
A pause.
Then—
"The Holy Sword, Durandal."
The chamber fell silent.
A ripple of divine energy coursed through Heaven, shaking its very foundations.
---
The scene shifted to the Armory of Heaven, an immense hall lined with the legendary weapons of divine warriors past.
Each blade, spear, and bow radiated celestial power—artifacts of divine judgment.
Yet among them, one pedestal stood empty.
A golden plaque gleamed beneath it, engraved with a single name:
HOLY SWORD, DURANDAL
It was gone.
---
Far below, beyond Heaven's gates, a streak of silver light tore through the clouds.
Hikaru soared toward Earth, the Holy Sword, Durandal, strapped to his back.
As he crossed the threshold into the mortal realm, his celestial form began to dim, his radiance flickering as the laws of Heaven loosened their grip on him.
As the heavens grew distant, his resolve only strengthened.
If Heaven would not act, he would.
For the weak.
For the suffering.
For the ones who had no voice.
His quest for Earth's salvation had begun.