The land was vast. Uncountable lives roamed it, yet it felt empty. It did not help that some of the ones that resided in it were dangerous and wicked beings. Danger could lurk anywhere, waiting for him to lower his guard.

That was precisely why he advanced, each step and glide taking him further away from the others. His bright blue eyes trailed the distance, hoping to catch another glimpse of the figure that was evading him.

That angel, he had seen again. She had seen him too, he was certain. Although she was clad in hooded robes and kept eluding him, he managed to note most of her features. Every time he found her trail in the barren wasteland, she would be somewhere far, observant. It did not make sense.

His mind could not understand why she kept hiding, moving away each time he caught her standing on some cliffs or between crags. He could only theorize, fearing that her mindset was similar to the one of his captain.

Angels should band together no matter what. Even if they were the strongest race, roaming alone could make them easy prey of those monsters, be it humans or devils.

“Maybe…” He kept walking through the dark, his advances having led him to a small, shady forest. “Are you afflicted by fear?”

He had pondered it for two days. She certainly did not look like a warrior. No, the robes she wore were lean, not meant for battle. They looked like ones he once had worn.

Why in heavens would they send a scribe with a scouting squad?

She was agile, he had to admit. But that was not enough. She should be wearing armor, like him. It did not look like she wore any chainmail under her robes.

Concealment and evasion were a must in these lands. He knew. That was why he tensed when something rustled in the dark, not too far.

His training was not as extensive, but he still was a capable fighter. He unsheathed his sword promptly and took a defensive stance, his white feathers ruffling as he imagined what could have been that noise.

There were not many trees around, but the woods were full of tall rocks and ruins. There were multiple places where to hide, prowl. Humanity could not settle in these parts, so that left him with too possibilities, one worse than the other.

Novik was no coward; in fact, his audacity was all too dangerous. Although easy to startle, he always buried that feeling deep inside, to defy it in the most impulsive optimistic manner.

He did see something. Something big that was moving in the shadows, stalking him. He hoped it was a bear. That, he could confront. Still, if it was, he would rather scare it away; like all angels, he considered the creatures of this world to be inferior, but he did not detest them. That was why he grabbed a stone at his feet, to then fling it at the shadows where he heard rustling.

There was a thud, then silence. He exhaled after some seconds, believing that the noises could have been caused by a rabbit… completely unaware of the huge beast that was descending from the rocks behind him.

He neared some scrawny bushes and eyed the area, folding his wings while the demon sneaked closer. Two gleaming red eyes narrowed, piercing him in a hateful manner.

Novik was unaware of how Lykaios loomed, each second nearer. At first, a fast leap would have been needed for those claws to sink, then just a single swipe. Angelic senses were not as sharp as the ones of demons, but they were still perceptive. When the shadows of the dusk shifted subtly at his feet, his blue eyes widened in realization.

Fight or flight; there was no time for the second option. Novik gasped and swung his sword back, just in time to stop those huge nails from sinking into his wings. He panted in fear and surprise, staring up at the red eyes that glared down at him.

He blocked that swipe of claw, he did. Sadly, there was another one, and the devil could balance his heavy weight all too well on its slender hind legs. Like a bear, it lifted its bulky torso and raised its other limb, opening its feline-like maws in what looked like an annoyed snarl.

Those nails came down, and there was no real choice. He stepped back and let go of his sword, knowing he had to. His weapon was stolen by that huge claw, but he managed to evade the slash that would have probably knocked him out cold.

The demon scoffed, realizing he was not clutching two things as intended, but only a weapon. With a mean lean of neck, the sword was thrown multiple feet away, allowing him to go onto his four again to chase after him. The angel took some distance, and that was something that angered the devil greatly.

Long ago, there were long serpentine tails, ones that were used to corner and threaten. They had been cut, lost. That was why the huge feline acted quickly, his mind as sharp as his fangs.

Lykaios huffed and leaped, while Novik tried to open his wings to take off. Without a weapon and no knowledge of spells, a direct fight was an unfair one. Both knew.

Those red eyes noted how the angel jumped in the air, very close to a rotten crooked tree. Angelic wings were usually huge, because a lot of strength was needed to lift their bodies. If unfolded for flight, they always took most of the space available.

Novik would have managed to rise high enough to evade all swings of claw… but then something else made collision against him. With a loud gasp, he tumbled down. He barely registered how the devil lunged forward, but not to leap up to him and drag him down. There was a loud crack nearby, right by his side. After a thud and blink, he was on the ground, with a very heavy rotten log on top of his back.

He huffed and snarled, realizing that the demon had torn a nearby tree, to then push it towards his general direction. The branches struck his wings, stopping his flight before it could be of any real advantage.

While he pulled and thrashed below the rotten debris, the devil chuckled. It was all too human, direct and mocking. Both exchanged a hateful glare while that claw loomed again. His wings kept jolting and struggling to get free, pinned, yet there was no stopping those nails from lowering slowly.

There was satisfaction in those red eyes. Deep inside awoke a hunger that was being reconsidered, even if his intentions were non-lethal. Lykaios was standing on top of the log, keeping Novik still with the combined weight.

Novik closed his eyes with an angry scowl, feeling how the claw brushed his feathers at last. Some were cut… but that was the last touch he received from the demon. There was a gasp, but it did not come from him.

When he opened his eyes again, he did so because the devil stepped off, most of the crushing weight gone. He also heard rushing wind. It was no breeze or sudden storm, but a figure that glided down and struck the devil with two big fair wings.

Novik stared mouth agape, awestruck by the sight of another angel. Although still clad in those old robes, now he finally was granted with a clearer glimpse of her features. Her wings were outstretched mightily over the demon, her stance one of valiant defiance. She kept her head high even while inches away from the beast, some beautiful blond streaks of hair escaping the shadows of her big hood.

She did not glance back at him once, keeping her gaze on the devil, who growled in pure anger and inched closer again. That was when she unsheathed a golden sword and threatened, pointing the blade with a snarl.

“Keep your claws off.”

Those red eyes, they narrowed, and he saw something in them that he regarded as fear. The demon did step off, but with an aggressive prowl. There was an attempt at stepping around her, one that she prevented with a small swing of sword.

That seemed to do the trick; the demon flinched and inched away. She did not doubt to chase when it bolted off with one last guttural snarl. Her wings opened, letting her glide off past the ruins that the beast climbed.

Novik gasped, startled by the fact that she rushed to chase the demon alone. The two were now out of sight, while he was still trapped under the broken tree.

“W-wait!” He kicked and huffed, breaking some branches to free his right wing. “Fair lady!”

By the time he managed to push the log off and stand, he was completely alone. There was no sound of wings or claws; it was as if the woods were void.

He dashed for his sword and jumped past some crags and ruins to find her trail, but he saw no feathers or footprints. It was like if she had vanished into thin air.

He stood there in the dark, his breathing unstable. It was not only for the scuffle. His heart raced, still enchanted by her stance and wings. Although seemingly not a warrior, she had showed the same grace as the mightiest of priests.

“Where have you gone?”

He asked to the silence dreadfully, not afraid for himself. She had a sword and bow, but she was chasing a terrible monster, which could tear her apart if so inclined…

—————

He truly wanted to smack the back of her head, but he controlled himself.

“Every day, I question who is more foolish, you or your father.”

“I may be reckless sometimes, I admit… but I am not the stupid one at the moment, Lykaios.”

He snarled at that, hating how she was glaring down at him in disapproval. In his small form, she could tower over him. He refused to change while he complained.

“That angel should have, at the very least, lost his wings!” He circled her, scolding her actions even if he was the one who acted more impulsively. “You kept taunting him, letting him chase you! What for, if not to cripple him and take him off the board?! A wingless angel can’t bring harm!”

“You know very damn well what stealing their wings does! It’s no different from killing, maybe even worse! It truly bothers me that you can entertain the idea!” They were far enough and hidden in some hollows, so she knew she could yell at him. “I was not letting him follow me to take him out! While trailing me, that angel is not out there killing people! My distractions were efficient enough in preventing death!”

“Death is necessary! Eventually, that fool would have reached you and caused yours!”

“Well, then we would have taken measures! I was doing just fine in the meantime! One less idiot in that squad to burn villages, easy to handle if push comes to shove!” Aurora sighed loudly, knowing perfectly well why he had acted behind her and Ariel’s back. He lunged at that angel without her approval. “You’d rather kill than let the most insignificant of risks threaten us.”

“It’s not an insignificant risk!” He paced back and forth, trying to deny his paranoia, even if he knew that the angel she lured was no match against her. She could kill in a heartbeat, but she would not need to invoke such spell to assert her dominance. Nevertheless, he was scared. “All angels are bloodthirsty zealots! Adamant in their slaughter! Any could kill suddenly with a single fervent touch! No skill is needed when they lash out in instinct and blind-“

“I think I’ve heard enough.”

Lykaios flinched, seeing her bat her wings and tug at her hood. She turned to leave back towards Ariel, who always roamed in their small tank to survey their surroundings.

“You can’t go!” She stared blankly at nothing when he bit onto the end of her robes, pulling at the folds like an anxious kitten. “The angel is surely seeking us! Wait a while! He will attack you, and I will have to-!”

“Lykaios, that fool yelled fair lady when we pretended to clash away. You must agree that could not have been directed at you. He does not have a damn clue that I am a devil. No angel did either when I entered their stupid holy citadel.” She nudged him with her foot, gently but sternly. That finally made him open his mouth and let go, a whine escaping him when she stepped away with the same gruffness that Alexis’ would show. “As long as you don’t get in between, I can keep leading him on. And let’s be clear, if we end up needing to take him out, it won’t be by ripping him apart. You won’t take a single bite, understood?”

He was always blunt. This time, however, he decided to swallow the fact hat he had pondered eating that idiot. He gave her a meek nod, unable to display his usual arrogance and pride at the moment. Aurora’s glare softened at that, knowing deep inside that he acted out of care, even if he was tempted by his feral instincts.

“Come on.” His head perked up when she patted her side, inviting him to follow with a tired smile. “Keep teaching me to track scents. I need to make him run in circles. Can’t let him near civilization.”

Lykaios would have wagged his tail if he still had one. He quickly padded to her side, in a manner that did not resemble at all the beastly ways in which he prowled while instructing them.

————————-

Serenity… it was something he rarely felt. There was silence, inviting, untainted by ominous thoughts or fears. His mind was at peace. Sadly, good things never lasted.

At first, all was black. It was a non-ominous darkness, soothing. Soon, however, there was a sound. It made his heartbeat fasten, for he could not recognize what it was. It was an intermittent faint murmur, unintelligible and slightly unsettling.

As he tried to listen, his vision cleared a little. Past the thick shadows, he saw a figure. He did not feel threatened when the whispers intensified into a twisted odd lament, because he recognized those wings.

He tried to advance, near his daughter. Somehow, he couldn’t. He was not sure why, but any move he attempted did not seem to erase any distance between them.

Wishing to reach her was an innocent and kind-hearted intention at first, but then it turned into a fearful urge. He was not the only one who stood in the dark, but he was the only one who could not move.

Another figure walked in the dense shadows, and it was advancing towards her. Their two silhouettes were not easy to discern, but he could see very clearly that they had something in common, even if different: wings.

The memory of silver glints struck him. There was a sword there, sheathed but at hand. That stance, it was angelic, no doubt. A dangerous monster was near her; it did not matter who, but what. He knew his kind all too well.

He struggled, pulled. No matter what, he could not move closer to protect her. Somehow, he did not manage to call or yell when their silhouettes began to fade from sight, their wings opening. Shadows tangled all around, a labyrinth he could not traverse.

The thought of an angel hurting them was one of his worst fears. And it was horrifying to him that there was something he feared more, unwillingly. The whispers became louder, shouting warnings he did not understand. The sensation was painful, but he could not recognize it.

There was something that took his attention, rendering all other feelings into nothingness. He truly felt bound. He had once felt ropes dangle from his wings, and he could swear he was feeling that shattering weight all over again, even if he had lost those limbs.

What he lost was not there at all. He could not move them, and there was no blood. Yet the cuts felt fresh. He recalled the intense hatred of that icy gaze… because he was feeling it on the back of his neck again.

He turned to look back at the presence. The sight was so striking that it finally released him from the horrible nightmare. He shot up with a jolt and gasp, slamming his hands on the ground as he tried to cower.

He had intuitively tried to shield himself from those sharp daggers, only to hit what laid around him in the small tent. His sharp stumble almost broke the thin layer that shielded him of the cold air of the night. It was thanks to the two backpacks on the way that his flinch did not send him tumbling out.

He panted there wide-eyed. If he had a clear mind, he would have thanked god for the fact that they had settled as far as possible from all others, on a small hill. He had screamed, even if faintly, and that could cause trouble when all were apprehensive of sudden ambushes.  

Alexis looked all around him, registering that he was in his tent, and that he was alone. There was no killer threatening him with an unmerciful intent glare. However, there was no demon either. He sat there frozen for some seconds, recalling what he saw last in the nightmare. The fact that Uriel was not in his bedroll was alarming, even if the possibility of the sight being real was all too slim.

He scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the tent, scared. Luckily, before he could reach the slightly distant camp, he was stopped. He felt a grip when a presence stepped out of the shadows. His fist raised immediately, but he stopped himself.

Uriel looked down at him with the most puzzled of stares, keeping a gentle but firm hold on his arm to prevent him from running off. In his other claw laid what he had set off to snatch from the medical tent in the middle of the night, when no one would see him sneak in.

“Where were you running off to so urgently?”

Alexis breathed out, and Uriel did not understand the immense hint of relief that crossed his amber eyes. The angel forgot instantly about waking up the others to ask where his demon was. The dream was so horrifying that he had wanted immediate reassurance.

“I w-was-“ A groan escaped him, his head feeling like it was being hammered. “Had a nightmare.”

Uriel was very aware of those. The more time passed, the more Alexis would cope. Nowadays, it was rare for him to get this startled by them. Knowing this, he dared comment.

“You are dreaming about her, aren’t you?”

Again, his demon could read him like a book. He hated it. Luckily, he managed to swallow what had truly bothered him about the nightmare. There was no point in saying he saw her holding a bloody dagger, with Uriel dead behind her. That was a nonsensical and impossible delusion.

“It’s just this fucking ache.” Alexis eyed the bundle Uriel carried, able to smell the herbs even as an angel. “D-did anyone see you?”

The night was very dark. Still, his sharp eyes noted well the uncomfortable stance, the way in which his shoulders trembled. Common symptoms. They were bearable, but not pleasant at all. It was also dangerous if sensed by others…

“All are awfully tired.” They had finally been sent off north to that bigger camp, and the journey was harsher than any before. Most of the ones in the procession were outliers, so the commanders put pressure to toughen them up. “What few outlooks are awake, they roam by the tents of the officials. No one pays much mind to the areas where the negligible troops sleep.”

Alexis reached slowly for the bundle, but instead of taking it, he kept a hold on it. Uriel leaned his head, watching how his angel seemed to focus on brushing his claw with his own hand, like if he was pondering his very presence. When the whisper came, it came right out of left field.

“What would you do if you saw her again?”

Uriel blinked, stunned by the question. Granted, Alexis had ended up talking with him about what he saw on those chasms, but the topic was quickly buried away; whenever he spoke about that incident, he just grumbled about how he wouldn’t have to see Wilton’s stupid face again, thanks to the fact that he stayed in those outposts.

Alexis barely reacted when Uriel set a claw against his forehead, not bothering to answer the question. The blond leaned to the touch, ignoring completely the concerned remarks of his devil.

“Hmm, you don’t have a fever, but-“ Uriel shook his head, seeing clearly that Alexis was not quite himself at the moment. “Come, I’ll check your scars. I’ll also mix these into vials before anybody can get suspicious.”

He pulled at the angel, who let out another hissed groan. With him fully awake now, the pain in his head began to fade, leaving him to feel how some sharp feathery remnants tried to pierce his skin.

Uriel let go of Alexis and let him re-enter their isolated lonely tent. Before following into it, he stood there and glared back. His violet eyes trailed with great apprehension the outlines of the nearby tents, able to smell other devils in them.

His gaze softened when he looked away, but it still hinted slight fear. It was concealed, but uncountable years had made him very aware of the real nature of the one he wished to protect.

Must be careful.

He entered the tent with a sigh, already pondering how to deal with those remnants and the blood he would need to provide. There was always little time for sleep, and they usually needed to waste it veiling their secret.

As a demon, he was hated by some humans… but his angel would be reviled by all if the truth were ever discovered.

————

She eyed the landscape with apprehensive admiration. Although arid and apparently lifeless, it was grand. If one stood far from the chasms, ruins, and crags, they could observe a very beautiful and distant horizon, endless plains.

She stood there, by some small ruins. Her steps slowed down to halt their determined march momentarily. All ever cautious, she neared some tall broken pillars to rest against them. She reached for her backpack, intending to find some repose in the night.

Her hand stopped before she could grasp the object she intended to use. Tensing, her icy eyes moved to glance sideways, with the alertness of a bird or prey. She heard something, and it did not take her long to spot a shadow in the plain nearby.

A figure stepped down a crag, to begin striding towards her direction. She stood still, not only recognizing it as an outlook of the federation… but a devil.

That demon had spotted her, able to see her clearly in the dark thanks to his inhuman eyesight. He was nearing with his rifle in his claws, but she quickly noted his posture. There was no hostility while he approached, just simple suspicion towards her presence.

She did not dare run off. After all, all that he could perceive was a defenseless lost refugee. Her right hand clenched in controlled fury after two minutes, when the devil finally stood close enough, pointing the rifle at her.

“Who are you?” Her head bowed a little more, all ever subtly. The devil did not like the way in which that motion shadowed her eyes, even if her hood was down. He inched closer with a small snarl, having been designated to the area with a radio to make daily reports. “I asked you a question. Humans like you should not roam around these-“

That was the last he was able to say. He had gotten too close to question her. The next sound he let out was a gurgle, one that was surprised and pained. He stumbled back all too late; a dagger had already sliced through his neck.

She sheathed her blade, standing still to watch how the soldier tried to growl, aim at her, and flee, all at once. The rifle ended up falling from his claws, because they quickly latched onto his rapidly bleeding wound.

There was only one emotion on her expression while she watched him bleed out. She stepped closer, giving his demonic features a glare that was full of revulsion and hate. She could only see a vile creature while staring at those ram-like horns and feathery tail.

Death was all too quick in her opinion. Eventually, she moved away and left him to rot by some bushes. She had not intended to come upon a demon in the middle of the night, but she did not regret the coincidence.

She sat by the ruins and hid in the shadows, sighing. With that monster dead, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the area for as long as she wanted. Others would lurk to investigate soon. Still, she needed to halt, make her own report.

She took two things from her bag. Both were things that were only reserved for the most trusted of officials. She set the radio on a rock, and then stared at the crystal in her hand. Its surface was white, yet inside gleamed multiple shades. They had different tonalities, and they looked like living smoke.

Few were ever allowed to hold a mineral like this. Their discovery in the isthmus was a blessing. The world was finally granting them the same magic that those retched creatures displayed, allowing humanity to fight back.

A small smile grew on her lips as she inserted the stone into the radio. At last, she was able to use it without suspicion, far enough from any outpost. There came the echoing buzz, one that felt eerie yet comforting. There was minute of silence, then she heard his voice.

“State your position.”

She answered without doubt, with a zealousness that only angels could match.

“The wall is far behind me. Outposts evaded through some chasms. I stand past their frontlines, in uncontested grounds.”

“Good.” She already knew her orders well, but she listened well to Jamin’s reminders. “Blend in. Keep your eyes open and inform me if you notice any use of the crystals in their ranks. Do not let them discover who you are, Ayane.”

She did not answer, for he ended the call. The buzz died out, letting the silence of the night reign again. Her icy eyes narrowed, fixated on the horizon. Perhaps the land was not adequate for agriculture, but it was rich in metals and other resources. Humanity could thrive and prosper here, if only both continents were united.

There were towns not too far, full of devils she couldn’t afford to hunt down. Past them, stood a big garrison, the base where the federation gathered most of its technicians by the wall. She needed to reach it, and then feign a tolerance that would enrage her.

Ignorant bastards…

If to end these creatures she had to walk between them, she would. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her people from feeling trapped and hungry. Angels and devils, it made no difference. All magical beasts needed to be slain.