Lament of the Fallen

As the torrent of fire subsided, Dee also felt that she was able to dismiss the Authority she had been using. Enough death had been wrought to feed it for now. In fact, it seemed that the Authority had reached the critical point much earlier, but the timing had been bad. Now she could feel that her surroundings were mostly cleared of enemies, so she could afford to return to her usual state. Well, there was one enemy, though he wasn’t really in a condition to fight at the moment.

Dee’s size shrunk to normal as the armor and blade disappeared. She felt that she had not been able to utilize them to their fullest, but they had been useful. In fact, the armor had been more useful than the sword during the attack, allowing her to shrug off most attacks. She allowed her now freed tails to spread out behind her as she slowly walked to the badly burnt body of Empyrean. The beautiful angel had lost most of his face and skin, and he had severe burns all over what was left of his body. The other clones had also all turned to ashes. Even though the clones were almost as powerful as the original, and they all grew in power when together, they were still just a tad bit more vulnerable as they didn’t have the strong desire to live that the original possessed. They were expendable.

“You look like shit.” Dee commented with a relaxed tone as she stopped right next to Empyrean, who in turn was lying prone on the ground. The Solarians could be thorough in their attack, even though they could no longer do the same to Dee.

Empyrean’s cracked lips twisted a bit, either in a grimace or a smile. “I’ll recover.” He croaked out. In a way he was right. If he managed to survive, the resiliency of an immortal would make sure he would return to normal with enough time, even without healing spells. That all relied on him being able to survive, which didn’t seem likely for many reasons.

“No, you won’t. Just in case you were planning on relying on that one clone you have stashed away under the Grand Temple of Order, you’re quite out of luck. Not a bad plan, in theory, trying to tie your soul to a clone. Two problems though. First of all, you really shouldn’t have placed the portal to the Purgatory world right next to the temple. The Fallen we set free really did a number on that place out of spite. Secondly, your soul has no chance of escaping my grasp.”

“I don’t believe you.” Empyrean managed to croak again. His unwillingness was not without reason. Even the Archangel of Death had little power over souls. And the defenses around the Grand Temple were extremely solid. Or they would have been, except many of the defenses had lost power as the light in Paradisia started dimming. Most of the guards had also joined the battle and Nasir-Sin had other things to worry about. That was another factor as well. Empyrean was relying on the god to intervene if things got too bad, but he wasn’t aware of the trouble Nasir-Sin was in currently.

“You don’t have to. I’ve read that some people enjoy causing despair in people they intend to kill, but I never really had that particular predilection. I only told you to inform you, and because you happened to make an erroneous statement. Incidentally, did you know that the Goddess of Death had been trying to groom me into her replacement? Your soul will actually pass through my Domain and I don’t even have to do a thing.” Dee was almost making small talk while Empyrean was dying at her feet.

“Kill..me..then.” The Archangel sputtered, blood flowing out of his mouth. His condition was getting worse instead of healing. Although the power of the Solarians didn’t carry the same corrupting power that Dee’s attacks had, they still had the nasty habit of becoming worse over time. Something about massive radiation poisoning and internal injuries with organs slowly turning to mush. Dee wasn’t entirely clear on the exact details, she could simply see the effects.

“Mmm, I’m still debating that a bit. Although I’m not the type to prolong someone’s suffering, you are something of a special exception. Besides, I’m debating whether I should wait until Lumen’s realm fully separates and I get to watch you turn into a Fallen before killing you. I did promise to feed you your wings, but with most of the section of your organs that deals with digesting food already being gone, I guess I’ll have to skip that.” Dee wasn’t actually seriously considering something silly like keeping Empyrean alive that long; she was just saying things for effect. Leaving a dangerous enemy like Empyrean alive for that long for a simple taunt was silly and potentially dangerous. In fact, her senses and upbringing were already screaming at her to deliver the finishing blow, just to avoid any chance of a comeback.

Dee wasn’t the only one to think that way either. “I’m fairly sure you were trained better than that. What if I tried saving him while you dithered?” A strangely familiar male voice sounded in Dee’s ears. She spun around in genuine surprise. She had not felt the man approach. Still couldn’t feel him even though he was standing right there. Being the supreme assassin wasn’t just for show it seemed. It also seemed that the previous times when they had communicated, the other party had allowed Dee to sense his presence on purpose.

“Hassan-i-Sabbah.” Dee almost spat out. Somehow his presence felt appropriate, so that didn’t surprise her. Something about him being here just felt like she should have expected it.

“If you don’t want to deal the killing blow, do you mind if I do it? I actually have some old grudges against him, and the reason you were trained by Zabaniya was to kill him. Well, him and a few others like the Morningstar, but mainly him.” The assassin suggested in a relaxed tone as if asking for a simple favor. Which, in a way, it was. Empyrean was powerful so Dee would gain quite a bit from killing him, but she didn’t really care about those gains anymore. Beyond that, it didn’t really matter to her who finished the Archangel off. Except for one tiny little thing. She didn’t feel like obliging the assassin.

“Just for that, no.” Dee stated firmly and a weapon suddenly appeared in her hand. The roughly cane shaped object suddenly extended a large psionic blade, which Dee plunged straight into Empyrean’s head. She didn’t stop twisting until the Archangel’s soul had been completely consumed by the Well of Souls.

“Well that was unnecessarily brutal, but I kind of liked it considering who the recipient was.” Hassan stated with a tone just as calm as before. If someone listened to just the tone of their voice, they might think they were discussing a cooking recipe or some sort of trivial gossip. Death was simply something mundane for the two, and taking a life was nothing to them.

“So, what do you want?” Dee asked pointedly. The two really weren’t really on terms that allowed for small talk.

“I come with an offer.” Hassan said. “I…have reached the end of my road. My life no longer has a meaning. You are one of the people that have a justifiable grudge against me, so I thought I might as well offer you a chance for revenge. I can’t really think of anyone I’d rather have the pleasure of killing me. Besides, I think you’ll make it quick, unlike some others.”

“Just like that?” Dee asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Just like that.” He spread his hands to the sides, showing that he was completely open to attack and had no plans to defend himself. “Incidentally, you’ll find a small present inside my spatial ring as well. I think you’ll appreciate it. I made it personally at the time you were rescued by the templars as a kid.”

“No. Just because you asked, I’m going to refuse. Besides, I think it would be worse for you to live.” Dee stated stubbornly.

Now it was Hassan’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You’re really forgoing revenge and letting me live? After all I put you through?”

Suddenly a dark hand made of pure shadows and darkness plunged into his back and pulled out his still beating heart. He offered no resistance. “Nope. On a second thought, I changed my mind. You know me better than that. You are one of the few people who truly know better. If someone wants to die, I’m happy to oblige. I simply wanted you to feel, just for a moment, the feeling of having your wishes rejected.”

She gave a small sigh. “With today I have closed the circle. Today is the last time I’ll play along to the wishes of others, while tomorrow I’m following my own path, wherever it might lead.” Dee felt the need to explain herself just a little, although she was mostly talking to herself. The man had died almost instantly, and the only one present to hear her musings was Croestia, who decided to remain quiet.

Her rejection had been somewhat symbolic. Now she had the power to make her own choices without acquiescing to the wishes of those more powerful, and she had also repaid those favors she had been given while still weak. She had killed Hassan because she wanted to, not because he had asked. The difference was small but important to her. She looked around at the devastated ruins left behind by the attack of the Solarians. She also looked beyond, towards the devastation she and others had wrought to the holiest part of Paradisia. So much death in one day. She didn’t bother asking why. The reasons didn’t matter. What was done was done. And after the last anchors were destroyed, the whole thing would be over.

-----

Lumen and Selvaria were watching over the battle together. Lumen was also handling the defense of her realm and a dozen other things, but she was a goddess capable of multitasking. Selvaria had just finished helping the last angels inside her personal dimension and the portal was currently seeing the Fallen rushing to safety as well. Mit-Amen was now overseeing things and had laid down the law to prevent the Fallen and Lumen’s servants from fighting. Apparently, the threat of being thrown back outside and into the battlefield was a sufficient threat to keep the peace. For now at least. Later on, there would be others helping keep the peace.

“That was the third anchor.” Lumen commented.

Selvaria couldn’t really see what was going on, but that wasn’t truly why she was here. She felt it was her duty to stay here and wait for the triumphant return of her daughter and some of her friends like Mneventh. “How is she?” There was no need to specify who.

“She just killed Empyrean and surprisingly the assassin who was responsible for her childhood suffering. Incidentally, the latter one she didn’t have to fight. The assassin apparently wanted to die. Couldn’t tell you why.” Lumen never understood giving up like that. Things could always get better. If not for you, then at least you could help things getting better for someone else.

They were quiet for several minutes before Selvaria spoke again. “Incidentally, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”

“Go ahead.” Lumen prompted the woman. For some reason, the two felt a certain amount of kinship.

“So I know Dee became the focus of chaos. Chaos and darkness are all about the individual and it makes thematic sense to have a single person be a focus of all that. But as I understand it, you’ve been channeling the power of light to all angels rather equally through the connection with Paradisia.” Selvaria started off.

“That is roughly correct, yes.” Lumen replied, now suddenly curious about where this was going.

“Well, I’m guessing the connections we’re now breaking have a lot to do with that. You are pulling your gift back so to speak. So where does that power go now? If this was a very organized recall of power, I’m guessing it would go back to you fully, but this is more like a forced separation. I’ve got a feeling things won’t go so smoothly.” Selvaria voiced her concern. She was a scientist and matters like this were her forte. She could see the potential implications better than almost anyone.

“That’s…actually a very good question. I hadn’t thought of that. I can make a guess though. My sister described it rather well once. I’m essentially building a dam to hold back that stream of power, but there’s already a crack in that dam. So if I had to guess, the power would rush towards that crack.” The goddess made a guess.

“So, Dee?” Selvaria suggested a little wearily. Dee always seemed to end up involved with these kinds of things. Selvaria wasn’t sure she was thrilled about the whole thing.

“That’s my best guess. Eh, she won’t mind. She already has more power than she knows what to do with, so she won’t mind a small bit more.” Lumen dismissed the worry.

“Just how much would that ‘small bit more’ be?” Selvaria had a bad hunch.

“Well…quite a bit actually. See, my power has been instilled to the very being of Paradisia. Yes, some of it goes to the angels and will help maintain the light of Paradisia for a few more centuries, but the power has been building within Paradisia for…well since the time I created the angels. The place itself is special, and all that power will come rushing back once the connection is cut. Some of it will come to me, but…” Lumen shrugged.

“That’s not a ‘small bit more’,” Selvaria stated with some actual worry in her voice. “Dee’s going to be pissed you didn’t tell her.”

“Err, I think I’ll be busy for the next eon or two. It’s going to take me at least that long to rebuild something worthy. You can handle it.” Lumen decided escape was the best option. Still, she mentioned a real worry. She wasn’t entirely sure what she should do if she was being honest. That was a problem for the future though.

-----

Qazarass was extremely annoyed. The Aspect of War had led the group with the most power behind it, but they were the last group to sever their anchor. The Archangel of Glory had managed to push them back, and although both the Archangel and her elite troops looked to be on the edge of defeat, they were still holding on. Most of the light protecting them had faded away and more than half of them lay dead on the field. On the other hand, several of the dragons the two Aspects had brought along had died as well, though their losses were significantly less severe than their counterpart. The presence of the Archangel of Glory was a powerful force, but even she could not stop two of the most powerful Aspects completely. She had been forced to focus on defending the anchor and her subordinates had borne the brunt of that choice.

All the efforts of the Archangel were turning out to be for naught, as the people from the other groups started gathering at this anchor. Glory was still standing tall, but even she was starting to feel resigned as she saw Mneventh, Fawwaz and Dee approach. Defying the odds and fighting the impossible fights was what she stood for, but standing alone against five rank thirteen immortals, all equal or stronger than her was too much even for her abilities. And the worst part was that the light of Paradisia was fading and the people were losing hope. Their desire to win and the will to fight was what sustained her power and made her strong enough to fight the two Aspects for so long. And now that willingness to fight was fading fast.

The Archangel didn’t actually know much about Dee, but she was slightly shocked to see that the others obeyed her as she waved them to stop attacking. The half-demon half-angel spoke. “I think there has been enough death today. Paradisia has already lost Order, Justice, Death and the Morningstar. In addition, Mercy and Hope have been forced into exile by your own actions. As a reward for doing your duty so well, I’ll allow you to live. As long as you stand down and allow us to sever the last anchor, you can help your people fight against the shadows still running amok. Or you can choose to throw your life away in a futile gesture that everyone will forget as soon as it happens.”

“My people would not forget the best of us standing against evil!” Glory declared in defiance. Defiance in the face of defeat was pretty much the only thing she had left.

“Any other day, you might be right. But not today. There will be things that will be remembered from this day, but your death would not be one of them. What they will remember is that the cronies of Order tried to slaughter the refugee believers of Lumen and tried to stop the goddess from leaving a race that had rejected her. What they will remember is that today the mad God of Order died at the hands of the ascendant Goddess of Darkness leading a coalition of hundreds if not thousands of other deities, among them such gods as Death and Sol Invictus. You might think otherwise, but the history will remember this as a justified crusade. Why? Because history is written by the winners. And this day will be remembered as the day when the Paradisia became Fallen and the last faithful angels went to seek refuge elsewhere. Now tell me. Do you think the sacrifice of a single Archangel will matter compared to such momentous events?” Dee was doing a bit of theatrics. She was feeling unusually melodramatic.

“Even if they don’t remember, I will die knowing I did the right thing.” Glory stated, now less sure of herself.

“Will you though? Self-sacrifice is often glorified, but I think that’s taking the easy way out. The hard thing, the right thing, is to live and stay behind to rebuild something from the wreckage. But what do I know? I’m just the Champion of the Goddess of Light sent on a mission to save what can be saved. And the Champion of the Goddess of Darkness, who joined hands with her sister because she couldn’t watch the injustice that was happening.” Now Dee was straight out lying about the motivations about the deities. But it sounded nice. It sounded like the sort of platitude she should spout in a situation like this.

The Archangel of Glory wasn’t convinced, not by a long shot, but Dee had made one good point. Dying was easy. Living with responsibility instead was as heavy as a mountain. And heavy duties were something she was meant to carry. Perhaps she could help turn the narrative of the so-called winners of this history. So she lowered her spear. Lowering her spear went against everything she stood for, but it was what she had to do. Even while lost, her people still needed protection.

Qazarass finally got to sever the final anchor and the effects were immediate. The light and power started draining from Paradisia and all the angels left behind became stunned. The reason they became stunned wasn’t because of the disappearing light, but the fact that they were all Falling. Almost ninety percent of the angels still within Paradisia watched in horror as their wings turned black and the grace of Lumen was withdrawn from them. Even some of the angels inside the pocket dimension experienced this, as they were not true believers of Lumen but spies and infiltrators.

There were some exceptions. Glory and her closest guards retained their pristine wings. They may have not been fervent servants of Lumen, but they had chosen the side of Order for good and principled reasons. Glory was foremost a soldier and a warrior. She honestly thought that the more militant side of Order brought the best chance of victory for her people. For someone on the side of Order, she wasn’t someone who enjoyed plotting and power plays. She was honest in her convictions.

On the other hand, Zacharael was one of the first to Fall. The Archangel of Wisdom might have been a neutral force, even leaning towards Lumen’s side most of the time, but he was above all a realist. He knew what had to be done and had the moral flexibility to do it. That clarity allowed him to make the choice to betray the Archangel of Death for the good of his race. It was also the reason he accepted his Fall quickly. He had hoped otherwise, but inside he knew this would come.

“Have all the original Fallen been recovered?” Dee messaged Mit-Amen.

“Just about. We’ll be finished in a couple of minutes. The Fallen travel light and fast it seems.” The leader of the white faction replied. She was already planning for the future. Perhaps the pro-angel faction would turn into a faction of actual angels and Fallen? Maybe they could get the Goddess of Light to support their faction? Wouldn’t that be a real coup.

“Then let’s get moving. We’re done here.” Dee voiced her order for everyone to hear.

“What will happen with the shadows?” Teresa asked with curiosity.

“The attack should theoretically subside a bit after I’m gone. Though that said, it might grow larger if Umbra truly starts attacking Nasir-Sin. Our battle may be over, but the day isn’t. A lot can still happen. That’s none of our business for now though.” Dee declared and turned to lead her little coalition away. A coalition that would likely crumble as soon as they had reached safety. She could try holding it together, but she didn’t honestly care enough to do so. A coalition like that might help bring a tentative peace between the dragons, angels and the Assembly, but that wasn’t her problem. Let others deal with that issue by themselves. She didn’t want to set herself up as some kind of peacekeeper.