Upon exiting Morpheus’s workshop, the doors closed behind them. Amara looked at Sophelia, who was returning her gaze with a soft smile.

Awkward. I hate awkward silences.

“I’ll escort you to your chambers.” Sophelia’s serene voice carried as she began walking.

Welp, I’m being imprisoned. Again.

“Am I not allowed to walk around the city?” Amara asked as she caught up to Sophelia.

“You are. There is simply nothing to see that you are permitted to, so you could consider the silver city a...barracks, if you will.” Sophelia explained. “My siblings, other than Morpheus, have little reason to be here so long as they have duties.”

Amara sank into thought as they walked.

Jeez, I really don’t know what to talk about. Nor do I know how to feel about Sophelia. She’s like a box of chocolates. 

Amara thought of her conversation with Morpheus as they walked in silence. As they arrived at Amara’s chambers, she took the opportunity to ask Sophelia.

“Hey, can I appraise you?”(Amara)

“Whether it is possible, the answer is yes. But I do not believe that is what you’re asking.” Sophelia cocked her head as she closed her eyes, gentle curve on her lips as always. 

“The truth in the heart is forbidden to be told, and the heart is also reluctant to lie.” Sophelia opened her eyes as the final answer came.

What does that mean? Is she just playing games with me? 

But the look in Sophelia’s eyes was telling a different story. Like they were urging her.

So she can’t give me approval, and doesn’t want to say no. Huh, cause it could be considered helping me? 

Doesn’t her telling me that much break the rules then? This is making my brain hurt.

Whatever. I guess shamelessly appraising people without permission is the way to go. 

Appraisal.

The rush of information didn’t come instantly, just like when she had appraised Alarice. Sophelia’s eyes blinked as the information began flowing into Amara’s head in a slow, steady stream. Completely unlike the flash flood when she appraised Alarice. Time passed as the stream continued and Amara heard a familiar sound.

[Ding!]

[Ding!]

[Ding!]

[Ding!]

...Oh...kay...I’m just gonna try and ignore what the magnitude of those numbers mean. All I know is that she’s strong as hell.

Amara frowned and felt her frustration rising. If there are angels this strong, why can’t they go out and wreck the demons themselves? How the hell are they even losing? Are the demons that strong? What am I supposed to do against people that are that strong?! This is so unfair!

“Why couldn’t an angel become a champion? Why did they have to pick a mortal?” (Amara)

Sophelia’s smile was unchanged as she tilted her head. “You need not fear that Ryc’zamul has strength that rivals my own, for he does not. The Devourer will not send one of his strongest lieutenants to become a champion - just like we would not. It is a waste to have someone that powerful kept indisposed for a millennium. Even if a millennium is but the blink of an eye, it is at such a moment your enemy makes the pounce.”

“But why me! One of the lower angels then, why couldn’t they do it! I don’t want to be your damn champion!” Amara exclaimed in anger. 

Sophelia simply smiled serenely. Amara’s frustration didn’t alleviate, but she began to feel a little guilty for snapping at Sophelia.

Eventually Sophelia responded. “All beings serve a purpose. Know that angels are not easy to create, and the loss of any angel - no matter their rank, is greater than any number of mortals. From the perspective of mortals as well as ours.” 

Sophelia paused as she looked somewhere Amara couldn’t see. “Worlds can be retaken. Souls can be reborn. Angels, once lost, are gone forever. And in the end, more mortals will suffer all the more once their guardian is no more.”

Amara crossed her arms and brooded. Even in the event what Sophelia was saying was true, she didn’t feel good about it.

“Then what happens to the souls in my domain if I lose? And mine? They go to the Devourer don’t they?”(Amara)

Sophelia blinked slowly as she turned her eyes to Amara. “Indeed.”

Amara frowned as her anger increased when Sophelia didn’t elaborate. “You’re not going to answer?”

Sophelia considered for a moment. “It is better for you not to know. Both for in the event that it leads to you gaining knowledge that breaks the rules, and because that knowledge is forbidden to mortals.”

Amara’s anger finally boiled over with her suppressed emotions. “Fine. I get it. You asshats pull me into this crap war of yours, with no plan or suggestions for how I’m supposed to win, and won’t even let me know what fate awaits me! It’s bloody perfect! Go to hell!”

Amara turned to stride off into her chambers when Sophelia’s voice came from behind. “Mortal.” 

“What!?” Amara shouted with an angered face as she spun around.

“Many things have passed my sight. My siblings may believe you doomed to fail, and I too have doubts. However, you are a previously unrecorded existence.” Sophelia cocked her head.

Amara raised an eyebrow. "So?"

“Know that nothing in heaven happens by accident. If Father chose a mortal from your world to ascend, he did so with a reason. I only know that the fact he allows such an existence is an enigma.” (Sophelia)

“You make it sound like people from Earth are special.” Amara snorted.

Sophelia gently shook her head. “Not at all. However, you come from a civilization that is sufficiently advanced and stands upon an important threshold. Where certain decisions are yet to be made, a result of its history’s course. That, combined with your homeworld’s lack of mana gives rise to the right circumstances.” Sophelia closed her eyes.

“Circumstances? For what?” (Amara)

“That you must find out on your own.” Sophelia stated simply.

After a pause Sophelia opened her eyes and turned her head to Amara. “The keys to pass the gate that is adversity, are the goals one sets. A key is forged not with emotion, but with the purpose of opening the gate.” 

Sophelia blinked slowly and continued. “Goals must be untouched by what you feel is possible, lest you wish your keys to be reduced to aesthetics. Only with the knowledge of what is possible by the rules of the game, that are the locks, must the keys be forged.”

Amara frowned. “Haven’t you broken the rules telling me all this?”

Sophelia lips for the first time went a little wry and responded as she turned away. “I merely reminded you of what you already know. I prefer the phrase ‘bending them over’, on this occasion.” 

Wow, that was a pun. 

Amara watched Sophelia’s departing wings. She turned and walked into her chambers, her anger a little subsided.

Sophelia likes talking in riddles or poetically I guess. I can think about that later.

Aside from what Sopehlia had told her, Amara had gained a useful piece of information in her expedition.

Divine Power can be stored.

_________________________________________________

After spending time brawling the wall to alleviate her frustrations, Amara chose to heed Sophelia’s advice-but-not-really-advice. She laid on her bed and looked through the rules to see not the limits, but the possibilities, and began writing them down.

Theoretically, I could give the mouthpiece telepathy and allow them to contact other worlds, but if it uses divine power they aren’t able to.

If I can send items, I could send lots of items stored with divine power to the border of Teyrin in preparation for the battle. As long as I can identify where the border is.

Amara suddenly thought. I wonder if demons aren't considered mortals? I need to ask Ezme. If they aren’t, I could summon them here as punching bags. Maybe let a few lose in the silver city. That ought to teach those self-important angels and Tom not to mess with mortals. 

More on that later. Here’s what I think I need:

Wow. I just realised how dirty the last clause sounds.

Amused Amara decided to write the number 6 in front of it and giggled at her own, genius childishness.