Chapter 65 - Trail of the archangels (2) (1/2)

The time had come, inside the 14th archangel sanctuary on top of the mountain range that separated the northern republic and the Kingdom a trail was commencing.

”Are you sure you're ready?”

”Yeah I am~”

”Please take this seriously!”

Understandably one person was especially worried about Dax's lax attitude.

”Alice I've been ready and completely prepared for this trial since that oversized angel appeared in Kingsted.”

While reassuring Alice Dax placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair as he put on a warm smile, making Alice relax a little bit more.

”Really?”

”Yep. I'm the commander of a former wetwork battalion, this is not the first time I've stood trial with my life on the line, nor will it be the last~”

”Okay then…”

Seeming less worried Alice trailed off as Dax continued to pat her head, that is until she heard someone coming, and then hurriedly removed Dax's hand as her face bloomed in a deep crimson.

”Dax! There's some important looking angel here- Am I interrupting anything rancid?~”

Having walked in on Dax who wore his large smile, and Alice that was blushing deeply, Terra put on a grin as she walked right up to Alice and asked.

”E-e-excuse me!”

Proving to be way too much stimulus for the young grasshopper, as apparently overloaded while making the inexperienced decision of a tactical retreat.

”There she goes… Are you ever going to do something about that Dax?”

”I might, when things have settled down a bit more.”

”Is that so?.. Are you ready for this?”

”Yeah~ Don't tell me that you're worried about me too Terra~ Are you perhaps falling fo-”

”There's no way. Please answer my questions.”

As Terra saw Dax try to play the situation off with a joke she put herself between him and the door and asked for a serious response, making Dax lose his smile as he gave a short response.

”I might be worst case, make sure everyone is prepared.”

”Got it.”

Leaving Terra behind with those words Dax walked into the main hall of the visitors area to find a single angel looking at him while releasing poorly hidden bloodl.u.s.t. The angel was about Alice's height, being a head shorter than Dax, and wore what could only be described as a mix between a wedding dress and a suit of armor, although it was not as elaborate as the one the archangel Solaris had worn.

”I take it you're the primitive that standing trail? Hurry it up and follow me, you're late. But don't get too close, you stink.”

With heavy scorn the angel told off Dax and started walking, but she only made it a few steps before turning around in response to a extreme amount of bloodl.u.s.t that was released at her back. Turning around she didn't even get to react before someone grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the wall as she was lifted so her feet barely could touch the ground. Having dropped her spear somewhere along that, the angel made a fist as she channeled strengthening magic into her arm and punched her attacker in the head, to no apparent effect.

”Call me primitive one more time and I'll rip off those pigeon like wings on your back along with the rest of your limbs as I bury you alive on this f.u.c.k.i.n.g rock your species call a mountain, understood?~”

”Hii!”

Having her first experience of qiton levels of bloodl.u.s.t the angel was lucky she had just been to the bathroom and was about to start begging for her life when Dax spoke again.

”Understood?”

”I u-understand.”

”Good~ Then let's be on our way.”

Dropping the angel as he lost interest Dax went over and picked up the spear she had dropped before handing it back to the scarred for life angel.

”...”

Being handed her weapon by someone who had just attacked her she considered retaliation.

”It is t-this way.”

Considered being the key word, for as she looked at the demonkin she saw a smile, an invitation to dare cross him once more, so he could rip her apart with his bare hands.

---

After being guided hall after hall and up various stairs Dax's frightened guard left him in front of a relatively modest white marble door. Standing there for a few moments he was about to start breaking down the door when it opened by itself. Entering Dax found a circular room that seemed to be the top of the very sanctuary. Starlight shone through the thin air and glass roof hit a half moon shaped table where the elite of the sanctuary had gathered. The 9 archangels all stopped their talk when the door opened and observed Dax with varying expressions. One of them Dax already knew, Solaris wore a thin smile in her simple silk dress and next to her sat a male angel with the same kind of smile and wings, leading Dax to think that he was somehow related to her. Next to that angel in the center of the table sat 3 angels with way more pairs of wings than the others, leading Dax to believe they were the elders close to the end of their active lifespans Solaris told him about. To the right of them was the part of the council Dax received the most bloodl.u.s.t from, 4 angels with each with 3 pairs of wings like Solaris and her presumed brother, the exception among them was a particularly hostile one with 2 pairs of pure black wings and an long black hair that matched her black eyes and white gnashing teeth that made her look like a wild hound more than a arcangel to Dax.

”Let's get this over with.”

Sitting down in a chair in front of the council members with nonchalant attitude Dax crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair.

”Well met demonkin, have you been made aware of why you have been summoned?”

As the center angel took the word Dax paid closer attention to him, he looked to be about 20 years old, with golden hair and eyes with a fair face not holding any expression, but the six independent pairs of golden brown wings on his back and immense presence of his voice reminded Dax of a qiton elder.