Kael was running.His lungs burned. His heart, a steel hammer on the verge of snapping.
In the distance, District 6 was surrounded.The masters of Belchiour Convent had sealed all entry points with dark gray concrete walls. The Sealed — young apprentices with Bonds forged in faith or despair — were already in position.
Among them stood Iko.Famous. Feared.One of the rare few who bore a Bond with the Abyssal plane… yet still blindly followed the Celestial Throne.He was a walking paradox. A prodigy shaped by Maedros himself.
Kael saw Iko. But it didn't matter.His eyes only sought Arua, being ordered to enter the District.
— PLEASE! — screamed the desperate mothers.— OUR CHILDREN! THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE!
Kael shouted, spitting blood and rage:
— YOU FUCKING BASTARDS! I'M GOING IN!
He tried to climb the containment wall.But Iko yanked him down violently, slamming him into the ground.
— KAEL! STOP! YOU DON'T HAVE PERMISSION!
Kael raised his eyes.Iko's gaze held no hatred. Only order.
And Kael… saw nothing but an obstacle.
— I don't want to hurt you. — Iko said, calm.
Kael smirked. Slowly rose, like the beginning of tragedy.
Iko struck with a swift kick — but Kael dodged it with precision.He dropped to one knee, grabbed a massive stone from the ground…
And swung it.
Iko's skull cracked with the wet sound of flesh and bone.The stone came down again.And again.And again.
Four strikes.
Blood gushed like profane ink.
Kael stood, panting like a wounded beast.
— So powerful… defeated by a rock. Pathetic.
He climbed the wall as the women's screams faded into echoes of despair.The air stank of burning… and rotting faith.
Below — the sky tore open.
And Uriel descended.
A radiant blue light engulfed everything.A Seraph. An Executioner. The right hand of God.
— I shall be merciful, humans. Quick. Compassionate. Understand this as divine protection.
Kael dropped to his knees.Not by will. But because his body could not withstand that presence.
— No… this isn't mercy.— This is a criminal God...
Uriel raised his hand.
— The purification of District 6 begins in 3... 2... 1.
Then, blue flames fell.
They didn't spread.They appeared wherever Uriel willed. And consumed all.
Kael saw kneeling people. Children clinging to their mothers. Men crying.He saw Arua walking straight into the fire…
And felt himself die.
— I CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS! — he shouted.The flames touched his body.
He closed his eyes…And saw her.
The woman made of smoke and spirals. A voice that couldn't be heard, only felt.
— "Surrender, Kael. But not to them. Become the fire."
He opened his eyes.
— I… surrender.
A Bond was born.Not from the Heavens.But from below.
Two blades formed in Kael's hands. Purple. Midnight-dark.And when Uriel's divine fire struck him, he did not burn.
He moved within the flames.
Uriel turned, surprised.
— Hm?
Kael rushed. The blades cut the air.Uriel dodged with a single effortless step — too fast.
— Your name?
— Kael.
Uriel hovered in the sky, like a verdict.
— Do you understand why I purify, Kael? Do you comprehend the dogma?
Kael gave no answer.
Uriel sighed.
— Then die… for your human arrogance.
The heavens trembled.
A colossal sword descended from the clouds.Made of blue fire. As tall as a cathedral.
Kael collapsed to his knees.His blades fell from his hands.
— W-What is this?— Is this… the power of an angel?
The sword fell with divine fury.Slicing air. Time. Hope.
But… it stopped.
A single figure blocked it with a small dagger.
— Maedros.
The master stood firm. Dagger raised. Feet sinking into the dirt.His face… smiling.
— You nearly erased me, Uriel.
Uriel hovered closer, his expression cold.
— I won't kill you… only because of your worth to the Throne.But protecting him was a mistake.That child will be your undoing.
Maedros held his gaze.His eyes as firm as the dagger he wielded.
— Maybe.But I believe… he's more useful alive.