Chapter 27 #2
“She’s right,” Uriah said, piercing eyes on the Fae male. “He’d also die quicker. You forget one cycle for us is one thousand for them. We age much slower than the Faerèth. Then all of the other races. Wanting a male that isn’t an angel is literally begging for heartbreak.”
“Granmanmi’s up,” Hosea butt in.
I squeezed Evanae’s hand in support as she sighed sadly, finally turning away from the fae male. We sat back into our cloudchairs, our wings hanging over the back. Granmanmi Asarah floated out of a chamber. It took me a moment to realize it was the imperial box of the Empràr.
“Wings high, Elledelliens of Ouanaviel!”
“Wings high,” we all chorused. Every angel leaned forward, slapping their wings together twice, before leaning back.
Immediate silence fell over Titombwe. Granmanmi was in her pristine, ivory Farasee robes, her hair adorned beautifully as her purple eyes gleamed in the starlight.
I noticed she was scanning the mass of Titombwe, looking for something. When she spotted us, her grand-younglings, she beamed. Alongside my siblings, I bowed my head, acknowledging her with reverence. Satisfied, Granmanmi kept speaking.
“On behalf of Empràr Zadkias Claudevin and the entire imperial family, the Farasee Order, and Ouanaviel at large, I want to welcome all of you to our first Timtobwe…” A pause. “With our newly Ascended Disciples.”
A raucous shout exploded across the colossal amphitheater as Angels, Shifters, Faerèth, and Gods all cheered.
“Would every Disciple from Temple Efysis please stand.”
Hearts swelling with pride, I pushed out of my seat and floated into the air.
Each of us Disciples, spread out across the amphitheater, received an ovation.
Even from where I sat, I could tell who belonged to which Order.
I kept my chin high as Granmanmi watched me, a proud smile on her face as her eyes danced.
“Each of these Disciples you see have all flown and survived the first Starfellien Ascent in over one thousand cycles.”
Wait. What? What did Granmanmi mean the first one in a millennia? That couldn’t be true. Farasee Esau and Davithius said—
“What?” Jael cried, tilting her head up at me. My brothers did the same. The look in their eyes made me question the joy that was flooding through my veins. They all looked…angry. But why?
“That’s what she meant by bodies dropping,” Hosea grumbled. “No one makes it through that Ascent without shedding their blood.” His eyes burned. “Let me guess. Started with seven thousand and ended up with three?”
I pressed my lips together, my joy withering. My chest tightened. He wasn’t wrong. He was spot on. And the anger flashing in his purple eyes told me he knew more about the Ascent than even I did.
“I cannot believe you were thrown into a rotting culling,” Ezekiel spat. He turned his head to Granmanmi, the veins in his neck growing taut.
I lowered back into my seat with all the other Disciples as Granmanmi began a long, elaborate but eloquent speech about her love for the Infinite, Temple Efysis, and being a willing servant to the Saccrent.
I squirmed in my seat as Ezekiel consistently snuck glances at me, his eyes fuming. He was not happy to hear I’d had to fly the Starfellien Ascent. I bit my lower lip, trying to stay focused on Granmanmi’s words.
“We want to acknowledge all of our other guests present. The Shifters, Gods, and Faerèth. Thank you to all of you for joining this momentous occasion. Unfortunately, the Merriens were attacked once more by the Serène and couldn’t make it.
We pray the Infinite will give them a sure victory over the sirens. ”
“Arèmen!” We all chorused together.
“Now.” Granmanmi gestured to the large audience.
“This cycle is also special, because the Infinite saw fit to challenge the Farasee Order in a new way. As a means to continue strengthening our defenses against Fallen attack, and breach of the Seal Gate, we launched a new initiative. The pairing of our Hallowed Disciples…” Granmanmi paused, letting her words hang in the air.
Then. “With the Legionnaires of Azarath Academy.”
“No rotting way,” Uriah seethed. “Are they nuts?”
Ezekiel slowly swung his head my way. His eyes had lost all color, the hue becoming raven black. My spine began tingling. Stars. What was my brother trying to piece together?
Granmanmi was undeterred, speaking through all the hushed whispers that broke out.
“We have brought a small subset of the Azarath Legions into Temple Efysis.”
She took a moment to let it sink in. I knew the bomb she was about to drop before she did it.
“Including the Xadari Legion, which is made up entirely of Fallenspawn.”
A roar broke out, mainly over the angels, as bellows exploded at the mention of the Fallenspawn. Granmanmi spoke without shouting, using ethèr to amplify her voice over the millions of shouting angels. Ezekiel’s gaze burned into my skin as Granmanmi kept speaking.
“And yes, the Xadari Legion is led by none other than Quazar Valoryen. Fallen Prince—and heir—to the cursed, exiled, and Fallen angel, Zemshaza Beliah, High King of the Souls Court and ruler of the six, abominable, Hèls.”