The High Halls
Michael and Raphael sat in their towering crystalline chairs, the air heavy with anticipation as they waited for Lord Gabriel.
"What do you think this meeting is for?" Michael asked, tapping his fingers nervously.
"I don't know," Raphael replied, looking toward the golden arches. "But he said it was urgent."
The doors swung open, and Lord Gabriel strode in. The two Archangels stood and bowed deeply.
"Please, take your seats," Gabriel commanded. Once they were settled, Raphael leaned forward.
"Why the sudden summons, Lord Gabriel?"
Gabriel didn't speak. Instead, he laid a single page of parchment on the table. It was one of Elowen’s mission reports. Michael and Raphael leaned in, their breath hitching.
"Wait... is that what I think it is?" Michael whispered.
"Is that... angel's blood on the report?" Raphael asked, his voice trembling.
"It is," Gabriel said gravely. "The big question is: what has Elowen been doing that caused her to shed blood? Angel bodies are vastly more durable than a mortal’s. We do not damage easily, even if our skin feels soft to the touch."
"Exactly," Michael agreed.
"Can't we use the God Pool to see?" Raphael suggested.
Gabriel shook his head. "We cannot use it on a single subject multiple times in succession. We have already observed Elowen three times; the pool is restricted for a full year now."
Michael picked up the page, studying it with Rachel. The handwriting was jagged, the ink pressed so deep it had nearly torn the paper.
"I believe the friction of writing so intensely, without pause, caused the injury," Gabriel mused. "She is writing with a desperation we did not anticipate."
"If that’s true," Raphael said softly, "then we might have pushed her too far."
"But did we have any other options?" Michael countered.
Gabriel sighed, looking older than his years. "This is one of my hardest decisions. We cannot let her break the laws, but we cannot allow this intensity to continue either. This is intense if it continues then it will shatter her mentally"
The room went cold as they realized the stakes. If Elowen's spirit broke, she wouldn't just be a "Fallen"—she would be lost.
"If only Lady Amora hadn't interfered," Michael muttered. "We could have erased her memories before she realized the depth of her feelings."
"But she did interfere," Gabriel noted, "and I signed the deal. We need to separate them, not break them. Our plan is working... yet it is failing all the same."
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After hours of tense debate, the Archangels reached a final decision.
Earth
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Amora’s voice echoed through the apartment. "Urgh! I should have known it was a trick. When that fossil said ‘every single detail,’ I didn't expect him to send a new assignment for every single sentence Ren says to you!"
Amora paced the room, her wings twitching in annoyance. "Elowen, did you at least use the pen I gave you?"
Elowen looked up from a pile of crumpled papers. "I tried! But it only writes in poetry! I tried to write a simple psychological progress report, and do you know what came out?"
She fished a scrap of paper from the dustbin and read it with a look of pure horror.
"Subject Ren’s eyes are like the evening sky after a storm, and his voice is the only melody my soul wishes to play on repeat."
Elowen slammed the paper onto the broken desk, her wings fluttering in a chaotic, silver blur. "I can't submit that! If Lord Gabriel reads that, he won’t just fire me—he’ll probably strike me with lightning just to put me out of my misery!"
She glared at the pen as if it were a cursed relic. "I tried to write 'Target is healing,' and it translated it into a three-page poem about how the scent of his shampoo makes my heart skip a beat!"
"Eh?!" Amora blinked, stunned.
In the corner, Eros and Philo were covering their mouths, their tiny bodies shaking as they tried not to explode with laughter.
Amora’s face turned pink. She covered her eyes, her voice dropping to a shy whisper. "I... I forgot. My pen writes ten times faster, but it only speaks the language of love. Sorry for the trouble..."
"No, no, it's fine—" Elowen was interrupted by her phone buzzing.
The three of them huddled around the screen. Elowen and Amora froze as they read the official notification from the Council:
WEEKLY REPORT UPDATE: Requirement reduced from 5,000 to 4,500. New assignments for conversations between Messenger and Target are hereby suspended. Difficulty level remains unchanged. Penalty for late submission applies.
"Amora... am I dreaming?" Elowen whispered.
"When did Gabriel become so merciful?" Amora asked, baffled.
"Is it another trick?" Philo wondered.
"Maybe that grumpy angel finally understood he should support us!" Eros cheered.
Elowen stared at the screen, her mind racing. Did Arian do something? But…
Ting-Tong.
The doorbell sliced through the silence.
"Oh no!" Amora hissed. "Eros, Philo—hide!" She snapped her fingers, turning the boys invisible, before diving behind the living room curtains.
Elowen took a deep breath. Who could it be?
She opened the door to find Ren standing there. He was perfectly dressed, his eyes sharp and filled with a rare, burning intensity.
"Philo, look! It's the same boy," Eros whispered.
"He looks... intense," Philo added. Since they were invisible, only Amora could hear their commentary. Behind the curtain, the Goddess was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Elowen," Ren said, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands. "I just want two minutes. Then you can kick me out. But please... I want to say something really important."
"I... I’m listening," Elowen replied, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Elowen, I heard you were leaving your apartment. I don't know the reason, and I won't force you to stay, but... there is one thing I have to tell you. You are kind, sweet, amazing and..."
"And?" Elowen prompted.
Ren took a step forward, his gaze locking onto hers. "And... I love you, Elowen. Even if you hate me for saying it. You were my best friend, but I love you more than that."
Behind the curtains, Amora was beaming. Eros and Philo’s eyes turned into sparkling stars.
Elowen stood frozen, a deep blush creeping up her neck. Ren looked down, his shoulders slumping. It’s okay, Ren, he thought bitterly. Better to be lonely again than a hopeless romantic. You said it. Now go back to your boring life and—
Suddenly, he felt a surge of warmth. Elowen had lunged forward, throwing her arms around him in a fierce hug. Ren’s breath hitched; he hadn't expected her to accept.
"Ren, you dummy!" Elowen muffled her face into his shoulder. "Couldn't you have said that earlier? I love you too, silly! I’ve always loved you. I could never hate a boy like you."
Ren’s brain officially short-circuited. "I... I can't believe it. Does that mean I'm your boyfriend?"
Elowen pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes shining. "Yes. And I’m your girlfriend. This time, there’s no 'space' between the girl and the friend."
"OH MY GOD, THEY FINALLY CONFESSED!" Amora shrieked, jumping out from behind the curtain.
Ren and Elowen both jumped, staring at the woman who was currently vibrating with pure joy. Amora froze, realizing she had just ruined the moment.
AMORA, THIS IS NOT THE TIME! Elowen screamed internally.
Ren, now as red as a tomato, looked at the stranger in his girlfriend’s living room. "Elowen... who is she?"
"Oh!" Amora panicked, rushing toward them. "I forgot to mention—I'm Elowen's elder sister! My name is Amora. Nice to meet you! Anyway, since you've confessed, take my little bird out on a date!"
She began pushing them both toward the door. "Thank me later!"
SLAM. The door shut in their faces. Ren stood in the hallway, blinking. Is being beautiful a genetic thing in the Shirogane clan?
He turned back to Elowen. "You never told me you had an elder sister."
"Actually, she’s my... cousin. Very supportive," Elowen lied, her face still burning.
Ren smiled, the "thunderstorm" in his eyes finally replaced by sunlight. "I see. So... do you want to go out on a real date this time?"
Elowen looked away, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Sure.”
And just like that, a new chapter of their lives began—
one written in love…
and quietly watched by forces that would soon try to tear it apart.