“Sister! STOP!” (Ezme)

...Ezme?

Dazed from her last clash with Alarice, she turned her head towards the source of the familiar voice, with severe pain in her head as she perceived Ezme’s figure.

Divine Regeneration.

“I won’t let you hurt her!” Ezme declared with determination while Amara felt the pain in her head fade.

When her vision regained its focus, Amara looked up at the back of the angel who had intervened. The angel wore clunky armor that seemed to do well enough to protect its wearer but looked unwieldy. Her posture made her seem familiar, yet the light, pastel pink hair that flowed down her back told her that it wasn’t someone she had met before. And despite that the angel wore armor, Amara could see a shudder go through her.

...Who is she? She sounds just like Ezme, but...maybe she’s a sister Ezme never told me about?

While the two angels were having a staredown, Amara - who realized that she was stark naked after having her clothes burnt away - pushed herself up on weak legs and tried to peek at the newcomer’s face. Although she couldn’t see all her facial features from behind her, she could only conclude that it wasn’t Ezme. 

“Umh...excuse me, but who...?” Amara asked quietly.

The angel seemed to have heard her, because she flinched in response. Within moments she started stammering while her body was shaking, before she howled at Alarice. “Y-y-you-YOU BROKE HER!!”

Amara blinked in confusion as she heard the frown in Alarice’s cold voice. “I did not.”

“SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER ME!” Ezme shouted in grief and anger, making Amara feel like her heart was pinched. “HOW COULD YOU?!”

“Fluffles?” Amara asked as her eyes widened in surprise. It’s really her?!

The angel suddenly relaxed with a relieved sigh before she turned to her with a faint smile. Amara saw a pair of moist, grey eyes look into hers with concern. A gauntlet reached up and stroked over her cheek when Amara heard Ezme’s faintly sniveling voice. “Yes, Amara. It’s me. Everything’s okay now.”

Amara stared dumbfounded as the angel suddenly brought a white piece of clothing out of the thin air, tossing it to her before she turned towards Alarice again. While standing with what Amara recognized as one of the toga dresses that Ezme usually wore, her brain processed what had happened. 

It’s really Ezme?

Why does she look different?...Did I get brain damaged?

Divine Regeneration.

...Nope, still pink. Maybe the skill isn’t able to fix it?

Damn it. If it’s already considered fixed...what then?

The angel sounded and spoke as if she was Ezme. Although her eyes were just like Ezme's, the rest of her facial features were different from what she was used to. 

Amara’s thoughts were interrupted as she heard the faint anger in Ezme’s voice. “Why?”

“...You should leave, Ezme.” Alarice said in an icy voice. “The mortal is an interference.”

“No!” Ezme howled. “Why are you doing this?! You froze me, and beat up Amara so bad she almost forgot about me! WHY?!””

...Maybe I’m just hallucinating. Or dreaming. 

Ouch! Nope, seems like it’s real. Ezme’s really making her stand?

Amara listened to the exchange in confusion as she looked up at the angel’s protective back, which had her wings extended from it as if to shield her from Alarice. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt her eyes tearing.

Is this really Ezme? What happened to her?

“...I’m fulfilling my duty as your sister. To keep you safe.” Alarice replied.

“Amara isn’t a threat!” Ezme shouted.

“All mortals are a threat!” Alarice retorted in a voice infused with anger. “You are merely too young to understand.”

“I may be young, but I’ve lived long enough to know what mortals are like!” Ezme cried as her shoulders shook. 

“No, you don’t.” Alarice’s low, cold voice made a shiver run up Amara’s spine. “You don’t know.”

Ezme inclined her head and clenched her fists. After a few seconds of silence, she asked calmly.  “Y-you always say they will betray us, but I don’t see it that way. Yes, there are mortals that might betray their allies for their own gain. But not every mortal would betray us. I-in fact, few would. And Amara isn’t one of them.”

“I recall you saying something similar when I warned you about getting close to that mouthpiece of yours.” Alarice replied coldly. “Remind me how that whole ordeal ended.”

Ezme winced in response. 

Amara frowned and looked at Alarice over Ezme's shoulder, who was glaring coldly with glowing eyes at the angel between them. “That’s a pretty low blow, even for a coldhearted bitch like you.”

Alarice glanced at her coldly as she spoke. “Silence, mortal.”

Amara snorted. “No, I don’t think-”

“Amara.” Ezme interrupted her quietly as she glanced back at her. “Let me handle this.”

She blinked as she looked at Ezme. ...Is she telling me she wants to handle this on her own? Or that I’m getting in the way?

Ezme suddenly glanced back at her again and hissed at her quietly. “And get dressed! Shameless!”

Look at you, Fluffles. I don’t even know if I can call you that anymore.

Amara smiled wryly as she replied in a quiet, teasing voice. “Yes ma’am.”

She saw how Ezme’s flinched while Alarice frowned at her reply. Amara grinned while putting on her clothing, and heard Ezme take a deep breath. “Sister Alarice. I’m grateful for teaching me, and I’ve always heeded your advice. And I will always keep your advice in mind in the future as well. But I’ve chosen to go my own path from now on.”

Amara was finished dressing in time to see another shudder go through Ezme. She knit her eyebrows in confusion and concern. What was that?

Amara reached out and put her fingers against Ezme’s warm feathers as she whispered. “You alright?”

Ezme nodded faintly while she kept eye contact with Alarice, whose eyes had lit up and were glowing dangerously. “Ezme, you’re making a mistake. There’s too much you’re unaware of to make this decision right now.” 

Ezme shook her head as she replied calmly. “Sister Alarice, I’ve followed your teachings for a long time, sister. But...I’ve never been able to agree with your view of mortals. I think that we could cooperate with them. Help them get stronger. If we did, then they could stand on their own, and maybe even-”

“You think you’re the first to have that idea?” Alarice said with a voice as cold as ice. “It’s been tried, and failed. Because the mortals couldn’t be trusted.”

Ezme clenched her fists as she replied. “B-but that would be solved if we were closer with the mortals! Have a relationship where we’re not just allied with them, but friends-”

“We did that!” Alarice snarled in anger. “We consorted with them! Yet they still betrayed us!”

“B-but…” Ezme hesitated.

“You want to know what they did?” Alarice asked harshly. “You really want to know?”

A tense silence ensued, where Amara saw how Alarice was glaring coldly at Ezme, who in turn inclined her head. Amara gently stroked the warm wing to soothe the angel. Well, I’m curious at least.

“...What...what happened, sister?” Ezme eventually asked quietly as she looked up to meet Alarice’s eyes.

Alarice’s eyes shook before she seemed to clench her jaw and replied coldly. “I have a twin brother. Alaric. Much like you, he had great hopes for the mortals’ potential.”

Amara’s eyes widened in surprise, and she soon noticed that Ezme’s even more affected. It was more accurate to say that she was shocked.

...Ezme had no idea that Alarice had a twin? 

“Alaric?” Ezme asked in confusion. “Why...why didn’t you tell me? Why has nobody mentioned him? Is...he no longer with us?”

What the hell? Why wouldn’t she tell Ezme she has a twin?

And yet she’s saying all that crap about being her sister!

Alarice was silent for a while, staring at Ezme. Amara started to suspect she wasn’t going to answer, when the quiet, icy voice replied.

“Alaric enjoyed consorting with mortals. He trusted them. We gave them knowledge...helped them protect themselves. But in the end…” Alarice’s voice faded before she continued, her voice infused with anger. “In the end, the power we gave them wasn’t enough for them, and they betrayed us. When we were finally winning the war, the mortals consorted with the demons. Together they set up a trap, and my brother - oblivious of the betrayal because of his blind trust in the mortals - walked straight into it. We both did.”

Another tense silence followed, where they all stood as if time stood still. Amara frowned as she contemplated.

Well, that could explain a few things. Sure you’d get pissed off if someone you loved is betrayed and killed, but...isn’t she overreacting? You can’t really blame all mortals for it.

And wasn’t this a really long time ago? Ezme’s pretty damn old when compared to a human, and it sounds like this happened before her.

How the hell can she justify despising mortals for so long?

“...Ala-Alaric is gone, isn’t he?” Ezme asked hesitantly. “Like our other siblings that were defeated by demon lords? They won’t be reborn again, no matter how much time passes.”

Alarice looked at Ezme expressionlessly before she replied quietly. “No. They are not gone.”

A confused silence ensued before Alarice continued. “The siblings we lost are now the demon lords.”

Amara raised an eyebrow and felt how Ezme’s wing suddenly started shaking before she stammered. “Wh-what?”

“The trap set by the mortals and demons was to capture my brother’s soul. Then the Devourer made him into a demon lord.” Alarice said in a cold, yet strangely calm voice. “The very first.”

Ezme’s wings and shoulders drooped as she inclined her head. Amara knit her eyebrows in concern. Okay...that would explain a thing or two.

...Ezme seems to be taking this hard.

“Every demon lord that has been made since is a result of that betrayal. The Devourer uses our former siblings to capture and enslave us.” Alarice said coldly. 

Ezme’s shoulders shook slightly as she spoke with a voice filled with grief. “T-then...our siblings that haven’t returned…”

“Yes. All of them.” Alarice replied as her glowing eyes turned to Amara who was looking over Ezme’s shoulder. “Because of them.”

Amara frowned. “I wasn’t there.” 

“You would not know if you were because you don’t keep your memories of previous lives.” Alarice replied coldly. “But you’re right, you weren’t there. However, your nature is the same. Don’t tell me you have never considered turning against us - you have already attacked me once.”

Amara’s frown deepened as her voice was laced with anger. “You deserved it. Because you’re all arrogant and forced me to fight in a war that isn’t mine.”

“And again with the shortsightedness of mortals.” Alarice snorted coldly. “This is everyone’s war. Sooner or later, every world will be engulfed, unless we turn this war around.”

“You damn hypocrite! Even if that’s the case, haven’t you more or less enslaved me to fight for you?” Amara snarled. “Since you’re pissed at what happened to the other angels, maybe you’d have a conscience. And if I lose, the Devourer gets my soul too!”

“And your soul would have fallen in his hands once the war reaches your world regardless, unless we sweep in to save the souls.” Alarice replied icily. “Now, your soul has some value as a sacrifice in the plans for us to win the war and free all souls. Yours included, even if I question whether it deserves it.” 

Amara felt her anger rise. “You-”

She was interrupted as Ezme raised her hand, partially blocking her eye contact with Alarice. Ezme was glancing back at her with tear-filled, determined eyes. Amara let out a shaky sigh as she suppressed her anger and nodded to her. "Alright."

Right. This is Ezme's fight now, not mine.

Ezme gave her a grateful look before she turned back to Alarice. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“You weren’t ready. Still weren’t ready.” Alarice let out a sigh and looked at Ezme calmly. “I know you well enough. Even now, you have yet to process this revelation. And it will affect you greatly once you have.”

Ezme inclined her head in thought before she replied. “Maybe you’re right. But I know one thing; I won’t hold all mortals responsible. And I won’t mistrust all mortals either.”

Alarice’s expression darkened. “Ezme. You’re making a mistake.”

“Maybe.” Ezme shuddered as she turned her head up to meet Alarice’s gaze. “But I believe in the mortals. I always have. It’s...who I am, you know that. Don’t you, sister?”

Alarice glared at her when her blue eyes lit up with an intense glow. “If you choose to go down this path, I know where it will end. Not even I can protect you from betrayal.” The anger in Alarice’s voice became more apparent as she continued. “Are you truly willing to follow Alaric’s path, knowing the fate he now suffers? The fate that will await you as well?”

Ezme was quiet for a while as she looked at Alarice. 

What’s going through her mind right now? Is she hesitating?

Ezme suddenly drew a deep breath. “Sister Alarice. I’ve always tried to heed your advice, but...sometimes, I don’t agree. When it comes to mortals, I believe helping them will help us more than it will set us back. So I will walk my own path from now on...but I also hope you will still offer me your guidance in the future.” 

“Ezme, don’t.” Alarice snarled.

“But if you hurt Amara again, I won’t forgive you.” Ezme said sternly. Although Amara knew that Ezme was serious when she spoke, she couldn’t stop her lips from curving.

Adorable.

When the silence was suddenly broken by the sound of applause, their attention was drawn to the doors to the observation deck, which had been left open after Ezme’s arrival. 

“Congratulations, sister. You’ve finally grown into your own.” Sophelia said with a gentle smile as she passed through the doors, ignoring the door bell that rang to announce her entry.

“...Sophelia.” Alarice said coldly.

“Alarice.” Sophelia met her gaze calmly. “You’re not thinking of denying our sister her wish, are you?”

Amara glanced at Alarice, and saw that the angel was hiding her face by inclining her head while clenching her fists. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? You knew, and did nothing.”

Sophelia tilted her head, seemingly unfazed by the anger in Alarice’s voice when she looked at her with a faint smile. “I wasn’t certain.”

“But you suspected it!” Alarice's head flew up as she shouted angrily. “Why didn’t you do anything?!”

Amara stared at Alarice in shock as she saw lines of tears on her face; her eyes shaking and unfocused as they glared at the newcomer. 

Sophelia was silent for a while, letting Alarice regain her composure before she replied. “Yes, I suspected this might be the outcome. And despite your efforts to teach her, she never learnt to distrust mortals. Nothing either of us could have done would have changed the outcome. It is simply her nature; we can only accept it.”

Alarice’s fists shook until she suddenly asked quietly. “...How important is the armistice for your plans?”

“S-sister Alarice!” Ezme exclaimed. Amara suddenly got a bad feeling. 

The armistice? ...Right, she isn’t really talking about the armistice. She wants to get rid of me, doesn’t she?

Sophelia blinked before she replied calmly. “It is essential.”

“Then, can we...” Alarice gestured towards Amara as her voice faded. Amara clenched her fists, as she turned her eyes to Sophelia to see her response. 

Sophelia won’t throw me under the bus just to placate Alarice.

“One armistice is not the same as another.” Sophelia smiled serenely. “I’m sorry, Alarice. I know what you are thinking, but we can not change the situation. The champion is of more value to us intact.”

Amara made a displeased frown at Sophelia’s reply. I know she’s helping me out here, but damn...did you have to say it like that?

I hate having my fate determined by others. Or...maybe she’s just saying it that way to calm Alarice down?

“Besides, the champion is not really responsible. The champion was merely a catalyst for the inveitable.” Sophelia spoke in a considerate tone. “You’re taking this too personally, Alarice. The past may not repeat.”

Alarice stood still with clenched fists, before she suddenly turned towards the door and strode towards it as she snarled through grit teeth. “It will. It always will.” 

“S-sister Alarice-” Ezme began as she followed her with her gaze. Alarice ignored her as she continued towards the doors, before suddenly extending her wings and disappearing. A strong wind brushed over the remaining trio, making their hair swirl in the sudden gust. 

Ezme’s shoulders and wings drooped as she hung with her head dejectedly. Amara patted her wing to comfort her as she glanced at Sophelia, who gave her a gentle smile in understanding before she turned her eyes to Ezme. 

“Worry not, sister. Alarice may not be able to accept your choice right now. But she will. Give her some time.” (Sophelia)

Ezme’s head went up as she looked at Sophelia to reply with a voice tinged with sadness. “Thank you, sister Sophelia.”

Sophelia smiled and slowly blinked her eyes as she turned away. “Perhaps it will help her accept it, if you can show her that your choice wasn’t wrong.”

After Sophelia left, Amara stroked Ezme’s wing and asked quietly. “You alright?”

“...I’m alright. Better than I would have expected to be, but...” Ezme sighed. “I guess I’m just a bit confused.” 

Ezme turned around to face her. “What about you? Did she hurt you?”

Getting a good look at Ezme’s appearance, Amara was stunned. As she thought she had seen, Ezme looked different. Her cheeks were fuller, and the angle and shape of her eyes was less sharp. Although the changes themselves weren’t immense, it was enough to give Ezme an entirely different air to her. If the Ezme that Amara was familiar with could be compared to the perfection of a white rose, her new appearance made her a cherry blossom.

“Amara?” Ezme knit her eyebrows in concern as she tilted her head.

Amara felt like a jolt went through her, as she realized that the greatest difference to her normal appearance was how expressive it was. Before, she had seemed more expressionless, and it had sometimes been difficult for Amara to tell what emotions Ezme was feeling. Now, everything was conveyed - perfectly mirroring the emotions that Amara expected the angel she knew to be feeling.

“Amara!” Ezme exclaimed as her eyes moistened, her voice faintly laced with panic as she grabbed Amara’s shoulders and shook her gently. 

Ah.

“Oh. I’m fine. Mostly. Erm…” Amara scratched her head as she averted her eyes. “Might have some brain damage or something.”

...Sophelia didn’t look different. Neither did Alarice.

Just Ezme.

“Brain damage?” Ezme asked with a concerned voice, as she tried to move her head to meet her gaze. 

Did Alarice do something to change how I see her? 

“Umh...yeah. You look different.”Amara felt her cheeks heat up. Damn it, she’s adorable.

I mean she was always adorable, but now it’s like...wow.

Minus one sexy, plus a hundred cute.

Ezme froze up before she suddenly shook her harshly while she howled. “Dummy! You’re not brain damaged!”

“I’m not?” Amara asked as she raised an eyebrow to look at her.

“I changed my appearance!” Ezme muttered as her cheeks grew pink before pouting. “Idiot.”

“You changed your appearance?” Amara asked in surprise. “Why?”

“...Because I felt like it.” Ezme glanced at her before she averted her eyes shyly. “What you said before made me realize a few things.”

Oh. My. God. ADORABLE!

Hold on. What did I...right.

Amara sighed as a wave of guilt washed over her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

She was interrupted when Ezme put a finger over her lips and looked up at her with narrowed eyes. “Let me make this perfectly clear.” Ezme said in a hoarse voice, barely more than a whisper. “I had mostly forgotten about my appearance. Yes, you were right in that I changed it before to look more like Alarice. But I’m different now, and my choice to change my appearance now had nothing to do with what you said. Clear?”

Amara looked at her, dumbfounded before she nodded. I take it back.

That was sexy.

“Good.” Ezme stepped back and sighed as she crossed her arms. As Amara continued looking at her, she seemed to get embarrassed and averted her eyes as her cheeks flushed red.

Adorable...

“Well?” Ezme asked harshly. 

 Amara blinked her eyes in confusion. “What?” Just let me look at you, Fluffles!

“Well?!” Ezme frowned as she glared at her. “What do you think?”

...Ah.

Amara smiled wryly when she closed the distance and put her hand on Ezme’s cheek. 

When their lips finally parted after the slow and prolonged kiss, Amara whispered. “Does that answer your question?”

“Tsk.” Ezme averted her eyes as she clicked her tongue. “Shameless.”

Amara grinned as she leaned in for another kiss, but had her lips blocked by Ezme’s palm. “Get a bath. You stink.”

Ah. I suppose that’s true. 

Amara grinned. “I thought you liked my fried bacon.”

Ezme’s lips twitched as she shook her head. “You really are brain damaged.”

Amara chuckled and stroked Ezme’s cheek with a smile. “Will you be here more from now on?”

Ezme’s lips twisted. “I don’t know. I’ll still go on patrol-” Her eyes widened, before she met Amara’s gaze. “I need to run an errand. Shouldn’t take too long.”

Amara sighed with a faint smile. “Alright. Get back soon, okay?”

Ezme frowned. “I just told you I wouldn’t be long.”

Amara smiled wryly as she leaned in and kissed the angel’s cheek. “I don’t trust an angel’s concept of ‘a long time’.”

“Insolent.” Ezme muttered as she pulled away to walk towards the observation deck, her lips curving up high. 

Amara watched the angel until the doors were closed and let out a sigh before heading for the bathroom. While relaxing in the bath, the bell in her head brought focus to her scattered thoughts.

[Ding!]

Huh. I’m glad it wasn’t something permanent. 

Amara frowned as she was reminded of what Alarice had done. When she remembered how the white fire had been consuming her, a shudder went through her as she was hit by a wave of nausea.

Damn that bitch. I swear, once I’m stronger...

Amara took a deep breath and unclenched her fists to calm herself as she rested her head against the edge of the pool.

I was lucky Ezme got here when she did. But...what if she hadn’t?

Amara frowned as she was reminded of Sophelia, the words she had said most recently and who she had said them to. 

...Can I really trust Sophelia? 

I mean she hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, she’s the one who has helped me the most after Ezme. 

Maybe I shouldn’t doubt her just because of something she said to diffuse the situation with Alarice. Like she said before...it’s not just about the words, it’s about the underlying intent.

I may not be able to do much about my situation now, but...I won’t simply let others decide my fate again. I need to get stronger. 

Strong enough so that Alarice, Tom or anyone else can’t trample over me. Ezme might try to keep the others from doing so, but...she might not be able to stop it in the future. Just like I don’t.

I have to get stronger...but how? 

Maybe I should’ve gotten a proper combat class...no. It wouldn’t have made a difference. I’m fighting using divine power anyway, which doesn’t really have anything to do with the classes.

...I guess I’ll start off with fighting a few demons. Or more than a few.

Amara sighed as she relaxed and looked up at the ceiling.

Fluffles did it. She really did it. She stood up against Alarice.

And she wasn’t even mad at me, or sad. As if she had never been upset. 

I guess Sophelia was right.

Amara’s lips curved up as images of an unimaginable cute angel kept resurfacing in her mind. 

Damn it. She was cute before, but now...I don’t know if I can handle it.

I wan't to eat her up even more now! ...Damn it!

I can’t wait to see what she will look like sleeping next to me in bed-

At a sudden realization, Amara slapped the water with her hand before putting her palm against her forehead.

Damn it!

I need a new bed.

...And a new eighty-five inch flat screen.