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~chapter 13~

[Losing a friend royally SUCKS!]

That morning as i was flying i couldn't get something off of my mind They let me go just like that? i critically injured her. Then i heard a familiar voice, singing tentatively in the morning air. i screamed "HEY REKKU!!! UP HERE!" She whipped her head around to face me, her hair following suit with her head. Fluidly, she takes off and grabs her blade in an attack against me. I rose my blade to deflect her strike and countered with a quick riposte. We landed on the ground with a heavy thud, staring each other down. "You've improved Ildecia, good. You aren't going to die immediately in the next fight." she turned her head and started to walk away when i rushed at her for a surprise attack. "what do you think you are doing? fighting with your eyes closed?" I opened my eyes expecting a sword to my throat, but simply, she had caught my katana, and held her sword in a ready position crap. "well... i just thought... i don't even remember what i thought.. oh well i wasn't thinking...sorry." Listen Ildecia, I didn't agree to train you as you might anticipate from what Nysicia said. I came with you to tell you that you falling was no mistake. let me explain."
"See, you understand the caste system right? well, there is another group of angels whom no one is supposed to know about. Ildecia, that's us. now listen. Our faction is responsible for keeping the balance between good and evil in the mortal and immortal planes of life. You and I are immortal, we are also told of in these peoples legends, let me show you." She hands me an old musty tome and on the front cover, is a crude illustration of two seraphs, one in black and one in gold fighting a demon. "is...is this us Rekku?" she curtly nods "open it up, see what is written." So i gingerly opened the book to see marvelously done illustrations of me and Rekku; but they seemed not ourselves; our ancestors. "Rekku, are these us or someone else?" she merely grinned and took the book from me. "Listen to me Ildecia. You will be faced with many grim choices with this assignment; do you remember that gilded raiment in your room when you were with Nysicia?" um... how did she know about that? "Y-yes... but how did you-" she cut me off "He made it for me. I was originally the golden seraph in these pictures; but then something happened. One day during my training, i saw that there was a fight breaking loose in the forest, and i flew off to help. Little did i know, it was another angel who had fallen, fighting natives to survive. I did what i thought was sensible. I picked a fight with that angel and killed him. At that moment, my blade drew black, my clothes turned midnight-black and i fled Nysicia, knowing that i would shame him if i went back. I became a recluse; training myself until my rigor mortis stopped me from training any further. Then you came. Don't you get it? we are meant to work together, but you should know that sometimes you will be faced with tough decisions." I sighed, confused and yet clear of mind. suddenly i heard a near silent whisper of a sword. "Rekku did you hear that? It sounded like a sword... Lets go see Nysicia... I'm worried." Oh god... I hope he is ok As we arrived his mountain, i heard a metallic clash, followed by the smell of blood. "Rekku you don't think...?" but she was already ahead of me, charging sword-first into the cave, meeting the aggressor with a quick and final slash, cleaving him clean in half. I ran into the cave further into my room, meeting Nysicia on my bed, holding his side, bleeding profusely. "Oh god... Nysicia what happened?" he merely grunted in reply, shifting so i could see his wound His left side had a deep gash in it; and one of his legs was close to cut off. He is going to die from blood loss.. i did the only thing that could come to mind. I cried. as i sat there weeping, i heard him whisper a few last words into my ear. "Save... this world... I give you... my sword and my knowledge. I also... give to you... your ascension gift. This gilded raiment... Wear it with pride." I felt the wind leave his body, and i saw his eyes go blank. he is dead... I looked tearfully towards that raiment he was making to see a completed Seraph raiment, the entire thing was lovingly built, beautifully polished gold alloy, opalescent pearl plating and sapphires faceted in it; Armored plates for the wing joints,matching shoulder plates, anklets, bracelets and the custom breastplate, designed specially for me or Rekku, but i think he changed it. On the wall next to the raiment; propped gently was the sword. Kirraq. I picket it up, feeling its power Nysicia, i promise you i will save this world, alongside Rekku. I picked up the sword and quickly donned the raiment, feeling rather awkward in this armor. then something changed. the armor formed around my body, and hid itself among my person, becoming a set of luminescent bracelets and a necklace. how did he do this? it just disappeared. as i thought this; the armor re-formed then slowly disappeared again.
I carried his corpse to Rekku, who looked at me and then turned around, I noticed she shed one single tear. "Tears for the fallen will not bring them back Ildecia; actions will. Are you ready to embrace your destiny?" I gave her a curt nod and started to proceed to the grave site. We buried him in an unmarked grave next to a tree and left him with no words of praise or regret. As we were flying into the city i heard a whisper on the wind.


This passage as well as the poem are dedicated to my friend Adam Stephens. He died in a car crash May12, 2009 and i will keep him in my heart forever.