Interlude #3
He was the first to move, drawn to the child struggling for air.
She was small and wingless, her fragile form trembling with each breath.
A human. The word surfaced in his mind. He didn’t know what it meant exactly, only that it marked her as different from the angels.
And yet, despite that difference—or perhaps because of it—Yuri felt an overwhelming pull toward her, an unfamiliar but unshakable need to protect.
The girl’s pallid face was framed by loose tendrils of hair clinging to her damp forehead. Her breaths came ragged and uneven, each one a fragile victory against whatever darkness had taken root inside her. Something strange stirred within Yuri, and he knew what to do without explanation.
Yuri settled carefully on the edge of the cot, mindful not to jostle the girl’s fragile form.
Gently, he placed his hands on her sternum and closed his eyes.
With a steadying breath, he let his instincts guide him.
He imagined a golden light radiating from his palms, trailing down the girl’s body like a stream and cleansing whatever ailment clung to her.
Slowly, the girl’s breathing evened, her chest rising and falling with newfound ease. The lines on her tiny face smoothed, and her body relaxed into a peaceful slumber.
Yuri understood then why those who had passed the previous trial had been so happy. Looking at the child, his chest filled with a warmth he wanted to keep with him forever. He eased his hands away slowly, his throat tight.
He’d saved the girl’s life.
“Well done,” Azriel said from the shadows, his words carrying quiet pride.
Yuri nodded, but it wasn’t enough. He turned to the next cot. Sabriel was already there, cradling the crow in his hands. The bird’s wings remained twisted while Sabriel’s face scrunched in concentration.
Nothing happened.
Yuri stepped up beside him, resting two fingers on the bird’s back.
Once again, he let the strange instinct take over, feeling a gentle heat flow through him.
There was a sharp screech from the crow and a loud snap as its wing jerked into place.
The bird flapped wildly, and Sabriel released it with a startled cry.
The crow squawked at them before spreading its wings and taking off into the air, disappearing through the tent’s opening. Sabriel stared after it, stunned, before glancing at Yuri.
“Guess I was right about being a Soldier,” he said.
There were several others who’d managed to successfully heal their patients, and between them they managed to help all who needed their aid. By the end, however, the strain was clear. Yuri swayed on his feet, his head spinning. One of the other angels had fainted.
“Take a seat, all of you,” Azriel instructed as he stepped out of the tent. Moments later, he returned with a basket full of apples, their red skins gleaming as he handed them out.
“Your stamina will grow over time, but healing takes a lot out of us. The sugar will help replenish you. Eat. You’ll need your energy for the next trial.”
Yuri bit into his apple, the sweetness grounding him as he sat among the others. Despite the ache in his body, he couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of accomplishment. Healing had drained him more than he’d anticipated, but it’d also filled him with a sense of purpose he couldn’t shake.
Was this what Ithriel had meant when she said their fates were predetermined? That their talents would reveal themselves as soon as they were needed? The thought settled warmly in his chest.
Life as a Guardian would suit him quite well.
“Thank you for obliging me,” Azriel said, his gaze sweeping over the group before landing on Yuri. “I look forward to working with several of you very soon.”
Yuri glanced down, a shy smile tugging at his lips.
There was, however, still the matter of the last trial.
Xadriel arrived to fetch them, his commanding presence a stark contrast to Azriel’s comforting demeanor. Without a word, the angels fell into line behind him. Sabriel practically vibrated with excitement, his energy infectious.
As they passed through the towering halls of the Celestial Palace, the clatter of armor and the murmur of low voices drew their attention.
Two angels emerged from a corridor, their faces and gleaming armor spattered with blood as black as ink.
Cuts marred one of their cheeks, and streaks of black blood glistened on another’s wings.
Despite their injuries, they were grinning, their postures relaxed as if returning from nothing more taxing than a morning spar.
“What did I tell you about coming back covered in demon blood?” Xadriel barked, his voice like the crack of a whip.
The two angels halted immediately, bowing their heads in apology.
There were several more Soldiers behind these women, all of them larger than any of the novices. Their bodies were honed into the perfect instruments of war, exuding power. Yuri couldn’t look away.
“They’re all in pairs,” Sabriel noted, his eyes wide.
“Good observation,” Xadriel said without looking back. “We pair Soldiers together. While an angel is undeniably stronger than most demons, the imbalance in numbers is substantial. Having a partner ensures better odds of survival.”
“Do the pairs change with each mission?” Sabriel asked.
“No. Your partner is for life. You fight together, protect each other, and trust each other above all else.”
Sabriel nodded, then turned to Yuri with a wide grin. “I want to be paired with you.”
Yuri nearly stumbled mid-step. “You hardly know me.”
“I don’t need to know you to like you,” Sabriel said with a small shrug, as if his answer were the most natural thing in the world.
Yuri followed, his chest tightening. Sabriel’s confidence was bewildering, almost reckless, yet it carried a certainty that Yuri found himself craving.
He didn’t know why Sabriel had chosen him, but somehow, it felt right—like a step he was meant to take, even if the ground beneath it felt unsteady.
“Come,” Xadriel commanded. “It’s time we begin the trial.”
Without hesitation, Sabriel seized Yuri’s arm. His grip was firm, steadying, and together they followed the commander toward their fate.