A beautiful young woman approached the throne, her golden eyes gleaming around the room especially at the bloody trail.
Ebony black hair falling down to her shoulders, the surrounding light bouncing off its surface.
Her garb is cheap and simplistic adorned with a variety of flower petals with cheap jewelry lining her hands. Her outfit wasn't one fitting for an audience with the Tyrant of Boundless Light.
"Your Eminence, it's great to see you again." said the woman bowing slightly to Michael looking towards Ratella's direction curiously.
"Tavria Heartweaver, a pleasure as always. What can I do for the virtue of generosity?" asked Michael, taking a familiar and friendly tone with the woman dropping his guard completely in her presence.
"Who is this winged guard at your hip?"
"I mere observer think nothing of his presence. He is just here to learn the ways of Kathoros' political sphere."
Ratella hadn't actually learned anything important about politics, only what his Edict is capable of.
"A mere observer doesn't stab a hole in a man's leg and leave a bloody trail of the deed." said Tavria, a line of hostility and anger laced within her words.
"Count Sable was speaking treasonous slander about Seraphina and me so his actions were justified. In my opinion, his head should be severed but I'll follow my friend's decision."
After Michael's words Tavria's face returned to a normal graceful expression when looking at Ratella seeing his action as merciful.
Respecting his decision to not behead the man and be generous with his life.
"I'll retract my earlier hostility towards the angel at your hip. If you would be so kind as to reveal your name to me, friend."
Ratella remained silent awaiting for Michael to speak for him, a feeling lurked in his mind that revealing his name wouldn't be allowed by the Tyrant.
"Sorry but I cannot grant you that request. I'll happily hear any other requests that you may have."
"Its of no concern, I'm sure we'll meet on the field of battle." said Tavria, a broad graceful smile plastered upon her face. "Your Eminence, I bequeath you to send reinforcements to the frontlines. The Seven Sins have appeared and as much as I hate to admit most of us can't match their strength. We virtues are mainly supporting fighters against warriors of their caliber. We lack the strength to beat them back."
"The Sins have reared their heads then, this is quite the unsettling situation."
Ratella watched the conversation unfold, lowering his wings slightly to get a better look at the woman.
"Diligence, Discipline, and Temperance are holding their own against the sins but the rest of us can't fight back against their warpower."
"You seven haven't had this problem before so why is this time different?"
"I believe one of the horsemen is amplifying their power. I'm unsure which horsemen it is but if one really is commanding the Devils we won't be able to hold on if they show themselves."
"It'll be the Horsemen of War. If she is commanding the army of Devils and Fallen we are in a dire situation indeed."
"That's why, I beg you to send a Dominion to aid us on the frontlines with their aid we may be able to slay the Sins and root the Horsemen of War from their hiding spot."
"A Dominion may not be able to defeat the Horsemen of War completely, that is my main concern. The second of the Horsemen is a truly imposing threat to us. I've decided, Tavria." declared Michael invoking a couple of beads of sweat to run down Ratella's spine after all he was to aid the Horsemen of War.
"I'll command Seraphina Vulcan of the Sun and Selvar Moonborne of the Moon to come to your aid."
"Thank you, my lord. With their help we will surely beat back the filthy Devils trampling over our sacred land."
"To ensure our victory, I'll send one of the Seraphim." declared Michael incurring the gaze of both Tavria and Ratella looking at him with surprise.
"That would be most helpful, my lord. We would gladly welcome Lady Luna upon the frontlines."
"No, Luna is busy settling grievances somewhere else and Zafkiel would be of no help retreating back to his library at the slightest inconvenience." said Michael, his voice distant not speaking to Tavria more to himself airing his own grievances about his friends out loud.
"Don't tell me you are going, my lord. That would invite the gaze of all the horsemen; it's not a strategy I would ever suggest."
"Of course not, I'll send the lance at my hip here. The newest Seraphim to join the Choir."
"Huh?" blurted out Tavria baffled at the situation.
Michael gave Ratella a telling look to display his wings in full force to get his point across.
Ratella launched his six wings backwards displaying their radiance in front of the suspicious woman.
"I am Ratella Evergarden, it would be my pleasure to assist in the war against Devils."
Tavria peered into his emerald eye holding her fist to her chin while he returned his wings to their normal position.
Ratella was deeply conflicted, he had to make contact with Liliana and receive further instructions from Nuit on how to handle these troubling developments.
"Ratella will be a great boon to your war power despite his age he is quite the formidable warrior. Do not doubt his strength."
"Thank you, my lord. I've gained much more than a slight boon to our warpower with this meeting. Ratella, I hope we meet on the battlefield to show me what that eye is capable of."
After her words she swiftly left the throne room uttering no goodbyes, only waving her hand behind her.
"Quite the character, she is." said Ratella letting his thoughts about the woman slip.
"Yes, all the virtues embody their title to the letter. Tavria is a woman of charity giving all her earnings and even the clothes on her back to the less fortunate. The picture perfect representation of an angel." said Michael, his compliments going further than admiration bordering on exposing a deep rooted affection for the woman.
Ratella noticed this obvious affection, interested but also wary of what the consequences could be if she was to die.
"You love Tavria don't you?"
"I suppose you could call it love. I just wish that she was able to see my actual body, I'm just a ball of talking light to her." said Michael, his tone growing somber, a longing for affection hidden within his words.
Michael's arm outstretched his grasp closing in on the fleeting figure of Tavria.
"When am I going to the frontlines?"
"Once you've completed your first mission handed down by the Primordial Light. You are to execute a traitorous angel who governs a town within the confines of the Moon Dominion."
Ratella fists clenched behind his wings, fury spilling into his brain at the twisted order to witness the horror which be felled his village again.
Although he didn't care for the people in the village, the order was still vile and cruel to purge a whole village because of a couple of people's actions was the height of cruelty.
"Is this a purge order or a single execution order?"
"A single execution order, the town is higher in the Choir's priority so it hasn't been deemed necessary for purging."
"Name?"
"Baron Roda Fate is currently governing over a town called Scepter. If you ask around you'll be able to find him."
"Okay, when do I depart for Scepter?"
"First thing in the morning, I'll teleport you there. After you complete the mission you are to head to the frontlines immediately. I'll provide you with a map of Kathoros so you don't get lost on your flight."
Ratella nodded in response to the Tyrant's plan, assuming his previous position covering his body with his wings watching the next few audiences with various members of the Choir and Royal Ladder growing tired of the endless talking about mostly meaningless requests.
Thoughts raced within his mind on how he would aid the Primordial Darkness while keeping up the ruse he was still loyal to the Primordial Light and Kathoros.
He would only have to wait to make contact with the Horsemen of War.
The order of assassination of an angel didn't really bother the boy's mind, inducing no feeling of guilt or anxiety. His mind is already becoming cold towards the thought of bringing death to others.
Even Ratella was confused by this feeling, he expected to at least feel nervous about murder but no such feeling came unsettling him deeply.
However his resolve was firm even if he had to become a monster and a warrior of unbridled bloodlust to save Luna, the one he loves he'll do it a thousand times over.
Eventually the audience came to an end allowing for him to rest in his room taking in its appearance and atmosphere one last time. Most likely never returning to it anytime soon.
Staring up at the familiar ceiling, the many memories made since his time in Nova came flooding back.
"Boom Boom Bun Man, I wonder if you are doing well." whispered Ratella rehatching the past with the fatherly figure in his mind putting his hand out towards the ceiling.
Longing for another meeting and a bite of his delicious food.
The many thoughts dancing along his mind began to eat away at his consciousness, reducing him into a deep slumber much needed for the trials lying in his wake.